Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-09-25


very inferior country is found, which
was fully described in my official re-
ports and in the letters of the cores
pondents accompanying theexpelition.
keporter-YOu Fpeak Of deviating
from Your course in marching to the
Black Hills-why did you deviatef
Custer-My instructions and the Oh
jects of the expedition contemplated
an exploration of as great an extent
OF the unexplored region as possible,
and made the deviation in order to
take in country wholly unexplOred.
| marched three or four days on a di-
rect route from Bismarck to the Black
Hills, then took westerly course into
Montana, then southerly into Wyom-
ing, then sOutheasterly into the Black
Hills, entering them from the west.
RepOrter-Are the hills accessible
from other directiOns2
Custer-lt is believed that all at
tempts to enter the Hills from the
South or East will lie futile. Imade
several attempts to pass through them
southwark but failed to find passage.
I had no difficulty in entering them
from tie west or in passing out to-
ward the northeast.
RepOrter-I see it is claimed that
old Forl Pierre is nearer ON the maps
than Bismarck to the Black Hills
region.
Custer-Referring to Reynolds, who
passed over the route from Fort Pierre
to Bear Butte in 1859, l find that he
pronOunces against the country. On
page 81 he says: ave have now
been out ten travelling days, and are
one hundred and forty miles from Fort
Pierre. The whole country traversed
is entirely unfit for the residence of
white men," This, as l understand it,
is the trail that some parties have
talked of taking. l do not think it a
feasible route or one likely to be
adopted. 1t cannot he compared with
the direct route have suggested, run
ming southwesterly from Bismarck,
crossing at nearly right angles the fol
lowing streams: Little Heart, Can
non Ball. Battle Greek, Grand River,
Owl River and Cherry Greek, striking
the Cheyenne at lts forks. These
streams are all small, and excepting
one or two, afford good water and
every facility for camping.
RepOrter-!s there danger of inter
ference on the part of Indians on the
route suggestede
Custer The country is neutral
ground, and is not occupied by them,
though small war parties or hunting
parties pass over it occasionally. 1t
is unquestiOnably the safest route; the
Indians located at the agencies south
and southeast of the Black Hills are
very liable 70 give trouble to immi-
grants. Many outrages have occurred
in that locality of late, while not
single outrage has occurred i'll my dis
trict during the past season except
two cases of stock stealing.
RepOrter-What is the probable
policy of the military toward persons
seeking to enter the Black Hills this
fall!
Custer-The government has enter
I'd into solemn treaty with the In
lians whereby they agree to keep off
Ill tresspassers. This is law of the
and, and should be respected, and
Zen. Sheridan has already issued in
to the military to prevent
entering upon the reser-
ration and parties contemplating 60
ng have been warned to keep off.
Rcporter-But, General, you are
lware that you have a long line to
;uard and small parties may slip
lcross the line and enter the reserva-
ion while the military is p0werless to
prevent it.
Custer-That is true to some extent,
nut until Congress authorizes the set
lement of the country the military |
will do it's duty. When the Indian
title is extinguished the military will
id the settlers in every way possible.
shall recommend the extinguishment
# the Indian title the earliest moment
for military reasons.
RepOrtef-What are these reasons,
General!
Custer-The Black Hills region is
lot occupied by the Indians and is
eld0m visited by them. 1t is used as
0rt of a back room to which they may
scape after committing depretiations,
in safety until quiet is again
cstOred. 1t is available in keeping
ID communication between the agency
indians and the hostile tribes located
4 the buffalo region northwest of the
ILLS, and if the Black Hills region is
rested from them this cOmmunicA-
ion will be broken mp and q fruitful
ource Of trouble will he removed.-
he extinguishment of the Indian title
0 the Black Hills, and the establish
rent of a military post in the vicinity
{ Harney,s Peak and another at some
oint On the Little Missouri will settle
be indian question SO far. as the
northwest is concerned.
RepOrteI-A region as valuable as
ia Blacx Hills are for agricultural
urposes it would seem ought to be
Dened for settlement. Their agricul-
lral worth alone ought to cause the ,
Of the Indian title
ere there NO other reason. Il
Cnster-Too much cannot be said !
favor Of the agricultural worth Of /
- valleys in the Black Hills. No
,untry in the world is superior for ,
.ock srowing-the grazing Is nnsur- !
assed, the valleys are sheltered ffom