The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-09-03
THE BLACK HILLS EXPEDITION.
An Official Report by General Custer
"A Productive COuntry-ImpOrtant
Gold Discoveries.

ST.. PAUL, MISN.,. August 22.-The re-
port of Gen. Custer to the Department
Commander, dated Bear Butte, Black
Hills, Dakotah Territory, Aug. Is, was
received this morning at Gen. Terry's
headquarters. After detailing his opera
tons and explorations, and the finding in
one direction of an impossible barrier
which he finally circumvented, the Gene
raj says: Ipropose TO return by a differ
ent route, although, perhaps not a short
er route than that adopted in coming to
the Black Hills. | am induced to make
this change in order to embrace a larger
extent of UNEMPLOYED country within the
limits of our explorations, and particular
" to enable us TO locate as much as posi-
bic of that portion of the Little Missouri
of which nothing is now known. | ex-
pect the expedition to reach Fort Lincoln
on the 3lst of August.
This expedition entered the Black Hills
from the west side, penetrated through the
eastern and most southern ranges, eXplor-
ed the major portions of the interior, and
passed out the most eastern ranges, which
form the boundary of the Black Hills.
from the foot. That in all our principal
marches through the Black Hills we have
taken. without serious obstacle, heavily
laden train of over one hundred wagons,
it may be inferred that the Black Hills do
not constitute the impenetrable regions
heretofore represented on entering them
from any direction. The most serious
obstacles were encountered once near
the outer base. This probably accounts
for the mystery which has so long existed
regarding the character of the interior.
can repeat what | have said in previous
1;enofohnc No artn of tho IInitn1 StataS
can boast of richer or better pasturage,
purer water, 1.-THE natural temperature of
which, in summer, as it flows from the
earth. is but u degrees above the freezing
point,) and of greater advantages general
ly to the farmer or stOck-raiser than are
TO be found in the Black Hills. Building
stone of the best quality is TO be found in
inexhaustible quantities. Wood for fuel
and lumber sufficient for all time to come.
Rains are frequent, with no evidence In
the country of either drouth or freshets.
The seasons, perhaps, are too short, and
the nights too cool, for corn, but believe
all Other grain could be produced here in
wonderful abundance. Wheat particular
" would yield largely. | will only men
ton the fact that iron and plumbago have
been found, and beds of gypsum of appa-
rently inexhaustible qCantity. | referred
in former dispatch to the discovery OF
gold. Subsequent examinations at nu-
merous points confirm and strengthen the
fact of the existence of gold in the Black
Hills. On some of the water-courses
almost every painful of earth produced
gold in small yet paying quantities.
Brief halts in rapid marching prevents
anything but very hasty examination OF
the country in this respect, but in one
place, and the only one within my knOwl-
edge where so great depth was reached,
hole was dug eight feet deep. The mi
ners report they found gold among the
roots of the grass, and from that point to
lower point reached, gold was found in
paving quantities. 1t has not required an
expert to find gold in the Black Hills, as
men without former experience in mining
have discovered it at an expense of but
little time or labor. AS an evidence of the
rich pasturage to be found in this region,
can state that my beef herd, after march
inc upwards of 400 miles, is in better
condition than when | started, being now
as fat as consistent with marching cpndi-
ton. The same may be said of the mules
of the wagon train. The horses of the
command are in good working condition.
[ have never seen as many deer as in the
Black Hills. Elk and bear have also been
killed. We have had no collision with
sostile Indians.
Brevet Major General L. S. A. Commanding
FXnpditiOn.