The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-03
From the World
CUS'EEEs,s RETURN.
The Black Ia,,is Expedition at Fort
Lincoln.

Lincoln
A NEW REGION EXPLORED on rfif RETURN
MARCH-No HOSTILE INDIANS MET WITH
THE WORK OF THE EXPEDITION
PROSPECTS OF THE GOLD FIELD.
TORT LINCOLN, Oak, Aug. 80, !
via Bismarck, OAK, Aug. 81.
After an absence of nearly two months
months the Black Hills Expedition, which
left this post on July Q, under commander
General Custer, to explore the Black Hills
of Dakota. returned to Fort Lincoln to-day,
the explorations having been completed and
all the instructions gwen to the command.
ing officer having been faithfully carried
out. The return march from the hills to
the fort was by way Of the valleys Of the
Little Missouri AMI Heart rivers.
The valley of the former stream, the
greater portion of which had never been
visited by white men before the expedition
entered it, was explored. The exploration
resulted in the discovery of magnificent
region, including large area of rich and
valuable soil which is well timbered and
promises splendidly for agricultural pur-
pesos.
Contrary to the expectations that pre-
vailed at starting, and fortunately for the
uniform success of the work which the ex-
petition was organized to perform, the COM
mai.l has met with no distractions from
the Sioux on its march, no hostile Indians
having been encountered during the ad-
vance, or on the return since it left this
post.
OF what has been done since the depart
ure of the command from Fort Lincoln,
The World has been kept fully informed
through letters and dispatches sent at in
tervals of the march from trackless regions
and ntrusted to the care of trusty Indian
scouts, who have been compelled to ride
hundreds of miles through perls arising
from the presence of hostile Sioux TO this
post and Fort Laramie, to have the news
forwarded by mail and telegraph.
The expedition returns to Fort Lincoln
full of the half military and half-adventurous
spirit which guided it on its long and weary
journey of | 200 miles, and soldiers and
civilians are no less enthusiastic over the
beauties and richness of the Black Hills
country than sanguine of the great results
that must follow when by proper arrange
ments with the Sioux, to whose unaisturbed
possession this favored region is now guar
anteed by treaty, the newly discovered To-
calities SHALL be left free to the advent of
the white man.
itch briefly, it may be said that in accom-
plishing the discovery of the Black Hills
and the Little Missouri lands expedition has
repaid its cost twenty fold
Starting hence on July. 2, with instruc-
tons to be absent sixty days, General Gus
ter, with his command of 600 soldiers, ac-
companied by perhaps a hundred civilians,
scientists, Transfers, herdsmen, &C.,
reached the outskirts OF the western range
of Black Hills on the 20th the number of
miles marched daily averaging seventeen.
The country traversed from Fort Lincoln
to the Hills was variable in appearance, in
the qualities CT the soil, and in its condition
as regards timber, pastureSnnds. and run
ming streams. On July 10 and II the first
Indians were encountered, after march of
227 miles from this post, the bearing being
about south and west from here. The
band, however, soon disappeared, and the
only evidence of the presence of | dams
after that was given in smoke-signals,
which appeared along the line of march.
On July 10, from Prospect Valley, Oak.
near which locality the Indians had been
seen, the expedition moved souhwesterly
first to the valley of the Lift Missouri
river. passing through portion Montana
Territory, and then, in a southerly direc-
ton from that river, to the valley of the
Belle Fourche, short distance from the
dividing line between Dakota and Wyoming.
This was on the 18th. From the goth TO
the 22d General Custer was engaged in
seeking the best passage into the interior
of the hills. Ascending the valley of the
Belle Fourche on the Esd, the command
before reaching the top of the western
ridge, entered a most beautiful valley,
through which for an entire day the men
! A.,,,- 9 dali
and exquisite hue, which sprang profuse on
every hand. Professor Donaldson found
the flora OF this valley-which General
Custer appropriately named Floral Valley
to comprise l25 species, ofwhich 100 are
varieties of flowers. The water in two OF
the springs marked A degrees of tempera-
ture.
Descending the interior slope on the next
day the expedition passed through another
floral valley, scarcely less beautiful or rich
in flowers than that met with on the day be-
, fore. Proceeding for about thirty miles
towards Harneys Peak, the highest point il
the Black Hills, the command reached &c
within five miles of that mountain on the
,, Both. After a stay Of two weeks in the
Black Hills, which was passed in exploring
, the country lying between Harney's Peak
/ and Bear Butte, on the northern side of til,
NILS, tHe COullldnu Oh inc lotu VI august
took up its march for Fort Lincoln, taking
} in on its way the large tract of countr,
+ lying in tie valley of the Little Missouri
which was up to that time unexplored, ant
= of which mention is made in the first para
: graphs of this despatch.
= The interest connected with the wtrI O
8 the expedition just at present naturally cen
v tres in the question of the gold-bearin
n properties of the lands discovered. Maxim
n due allowance tor fancy and eXaggeration
= the fact is patent that what has been relate
=, of the richness of the Black Hills in its de
/ posts of gold. and, in some localities o
v silver and veins of lead as well, is full
o sustained by the results of investigations b.
n the practical miners and the biologists O
e the expedition, as well as by the casua
|, 'inds of individuals of the party. IL mus
e be understood that no effort beyond I'll
most cursory was made to elicit the exac
!. truth in this matter, as the command wa
n almost constantly on the move.
i, Gold has been discovered in quantitie
"a large enough to warrant the belief of III
N miners that the working may be made t
l. pay in some places S100 TO each individua
70 for a days work Some of the stream
10 were found to yield particles of gold IN pay
is ing quantities from single painful of eartl
while in one place, wh.re more deter
mined effort than usual was made TO reac
s. the precious metal by digging a hole seve
n. or eight feet in depth, the result was tn,
ps enough gold was obtained to pay for tn
Of labor In this case the gold particles wei
@, found from point just under the surfao
IN TO the bottom of the hole, showing un
a. form richness of soil to that depth.
re The specimens OF the biologists are
!? course important in consideration of TIL
Il | a n