Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-21
BLACK HILLS WONDERS.
A yerifable Eden-DiseOverieso of Gold,
Lead, and Indications Of silver.
Correspondence OF the New forA nO.ia-


CORRESPONDENCE Of the New York World.
The following is part Of the official re-
port of Gen. G.. A. Custar to the Assistant
Adiutant General OF the Department 0i
Dakota
NV last iispafrfi was dated july Is, and
sent from Prospect Valley, Oak, longitude
lO3 deg. 46 min. latitude A deg. 20 min.
After leaving that point, this expedition
moved in a southwesterly direction until IL
reached the valley of the Little Missouri
river, up which. we moved twenty-one
miles. During our passage up the valley
of the Little Missouri, We had entered ana
were about to leave the Territory OF Mon
tana. Our course was nearly due south.
We reached the Belle FOurche on the even
ing of the 18th Of July, encamping where
good grass, wood and water were abundant,
and AZ a point short distance above that
marked ('1j'D fifteen on Reynolds map,
Just west Of the line separating Dakota
from Wyoming. The following day was
spent in camp.
On the 2Oth we crossed the Belle Fourehe
and began, rs it were, skirmishine with the
Black Hills We began by feeling our way
carefully along the outlying ranges OF hills,
seeking weak point through which we
might make our way 10 the interior. We
continued from the time we assembled from
the valley Of the Belle FOurche to move
through a very superior country, covered
with the best Of grazing and abundance of
timber, principally pine, poplar, and sew
erll varieties Of oak. rs we advanced the
country skirting tbe Black Hills TO the
southWard became each day more beauii-
full. -... J.r-...-
On the evening Of the 22ni We halted
and eneamped east Of and within -four
miles Of the base Of Iuyan Kara Desiring
10 ascend that peak the following day, 1t
being highest in the western range Of the
Black Hills, L did not move camp the next
day, but taking a small party with me- pro
ceeded 10 the highest point Of this proml-
Dent landmark, whose height is given as
6.eOO feet. The day was not favorable for
obtaining distant views, but decided on
the following morning TO move due east
aud attempt the passage Of the hills. We
experienced considerable delay from fallen
timber which lay in our pathway. With
this exception, and very little digging,
rendered necessary descending into val
lev. the pioneers prepared the way for the
train. and we reached camp by O'Clock,
having marched eleven miles. We here
found grass, water, and wood OF the best
quality ant in great abundance.
A PROPULSION OF FLOWERS.
On the following day we resumed our
march I'D this valley, which | had explored
several miles the preceding evening, ana
which led US by an easy ascent almost
southeast. After marching nearly twelve
miles we encamped at an early hour IN the
same valley. This valley, in one respect,
presented the most wonderful as well as
beautiful aspect. Its equal / have never
seen: and such. too, was the testimony OF
all who beheld Il. In no public or private
park have / ever seen such a prOtUse DIS
play Of flowers Every step OF our march
that dav was amidst flowers OF the most
exduisite cOlOrs and perfume. 80 luXllrlant
in growth we've they that men plueked them
without dismOunting from the saddle.
Some belonged TO new or unelasslled
species. IL was a strange sight 10 glance
back AZ the advancing columns OF cavalry,
and behold the men with beautiful DOu-
auets In their hands, while the head gear
oftheir horses was decorated with wreathS
of flowers ff % crOwn 4 queen OF
Nav. Dcpming it most fitting appella-
tion. L named this Floral Valley.
Gen. FORSYTH. at one # our halting places,
chosen al random. plucked seventeen bedll-
tifti flowers belonging to different species
and within a space Of twenty feet square.
| The sam. evening while seated NJ the
naess table. one Of the officers called atten-
| tion 10 th,. carpet OF flowers strewn under
our feet. aud il was suggested thai II be de-
tsrnined how many different flowers could
| b. plucked without leaving our seat at she
dinner table. Seven beautiful varieties
yere thus gathered. Prof. Donaldson, the
| botanist ofthe expedition, estimated the
number Of fl .wers in bloom in Floral val
lev at fifty, while an equal number OF va
| rieties had blOOmed or were yet to bloom.
The number of trees, shrubs, and grasses
| we've twenty-fire, making the total flora OF
the valley embrace 12j pieces
| Through this beautiful valley meanders
a sfrearn Of crystal water so cold rs to rem
der ice undesirable even at MONDAY. The
temDerature of two Of the many springs
found flowing into il was taken, and as
certained 10 be "A and Az degrees resPee-
lively.
| PRECIOUS METALS. -H--
As there ale scientific parties accOmpar
nvino the expedition, who are examining
into the mineral resources Of this region
the rasult of whose researches will accom-
pany my detailed report, omit all presen
reference to that portion OF our expiora
tions until the return OF the exPedlslOil
except to state what will appear IN an,
event in the public prints-that gold ma
been found az seseral places, and L Is IN
belief of those who are giving their atten
ton to this subject that it will be found u
paying quantities. have upon my am, ar, |,
forty or fifty small particles OF pure golI
in size averaging that OF small pin-heAu
. | "A fr1rn ON