The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-08-27
The Black Hills Expedition.

Gen. Custer reporting the progress OF
the Black Hills expedition from July
- I" Aug ,. The previous dis
patch was sent from Prospect Valley,
Dakota. On the Goth. after crossing the
Belle Fourshc River. the expedition be-
gan Skirmi>hing with the Black Hills by
feeling its way along the outl wing ranges
of hills, seeking Il weak point through
which il mi CHI make its way into the in
terror. On the cath Gen. Custer at
tempted the passage of the hills. He
experienced considerable delay from
fallen timber, but the command was
able To make eleven miles when they
went into camp in Il valley where wood.
water and grass were abundant. This
valley. (sav> Gen. CuStcr> 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 heheld it. In no private or pub
ne park have | ever seen such IA profuSc
display of flowers. Every step of our
march tina, day was amidst flowers of
the most exquisite colorS and perfume.
80 luNuriant i'll growth were they that
mvn rlucicd them without dismounting
from The saddle. Some belonged to new
and uncla>>iticd species. 1t was Il
strange sight to glance back at the adj
Nanrlng columns of cavalry. and behold
the men with beautiful bouquets in
their hands, while the head-scar of the
horses were decorated with wreaths of
flowers nj to crown IA Queen of May.
nccmin- it Il most fitting appcllation. l
named Ills Floral Valley Gen. For
syth. a one of our hal,ing- places, chosen
Al rait'lom, pluckcd seventeen beautiful
flowers belonging to different species,
and within a space of twenty square
icu'. The same evening, while seated at
mcSs-tahle, one of the officers called at
tcnllon to The carpet of flowers strewn
under our feet. and it was suggested that
il II" determined how many different
flowers could he pluckcd without leaving
our sea ut dinnrr-tablr. Seven bcauti-
t(.l Varieties We're thus gathered. Prof.
donaldson. the hotani>t of the cNpcdi
ten. estimated the number of differ
rN' Kinds OF flowers in bloom in
Floral Valley at fifty, while an
equal number Of varieties had doomed
" were yet to bloom. The number of
trees. shrubs and grasses was estimated
II Twenty-Five. making the total flora of
the valley embrace l25 species. Through
This hraU1ifUl valley mcaalcrs Il stream
OF crystal water. 50 cold rs to render ice
undesirable even II MONDAY. The tenn
found lowing into il was taken. and as
c"rtaincdto be A and Az dc grees respect
lively"
The next day the valley was assembled
Gradually until Gen. Custer discovered
that hc was on the crest of the western
ridge Of the Black Hills, when he en-
camptl under scarcely less favorable
conditions than those of the day before.
The DAY following traces OF Indians were
discovered and the heavy scout was sent
forward with twenty braves to recon
hotter The dispatch continues: This
party had been gone but a few minutes
Whrn two of Bloody knifc's' Young men
came malloping back and informed me
that they had discovered five Indian
lodges Il few miles down the valley, and
that Bloody Knife, rs directed had
concealed his party in Il wooden ravine.
where they awaited further orders. TAX
ing a company with me, which was after
ward reinforced by the remainder of the
scouts and Col. Harris company, pro-
crct.cd to the ravinc where Bloody
knife and his party lay concealed, and
from the crest beyond obtained a full
view of the five Indian lodges, about
which Il considerable number of ponies
were grazing. was enabled to place
my command still nearer to the lodges
undiscovered. then dispatched guard,
the interpreter with flag of truce, ac
Conlpanitl by two of our Sioux scouts
to a'qUain; the occupants of the lodges
that We were friendly disposed and de-
sired To communicate with them. TO
prevent trcachery and flight on their
part gallopeu the remaining portion of
my advance and surrounded the lodges.
i his WAS accomplished almost before
they were aware of our presence. l then
entered the little village and shook lands
with the occupants. assuring them,
Through Interpreter, that they had no
cause to fear. as we were not there to
MODEST them. invited them to visit our
camp, and promised presents of flour,
sugar and coffee to all who would accept.
This invitation was accepted. l entered
into an agreement with the lead
ing men that they should encamp
with Us few days and give us such in
formation as We might desire; in return
for which service | was to reward them
with rutinn> With this understanding
loft them. The entire party numbered
twcn,y.>cven. Later in the afternoon
t",:r of the men. including the Chief,
'pnc stab visited our camp and desired
the promised rations, saying the entire
party would move up and join us the fol
lowing morning, as agreed upon. | Or
tcrrd presents OF sugar, coffee and bacon
to be given them. and. to relieve them
of their pretended anxiety for the safety
Of their village during the night, / or
dcrcd party of fifteen of my command
to return with them and protect them
during the night: but, from their great
Discrimination to wait Il few minutes till
the party could saddle up, and from the
fact that two of the four had already
slipped away, was of the opinion that
they were not acting in good faith. In this
was confirmed when the two remaining
set off at gallop in the direction of
their village. | sent party of our
scouts to ovcrtakc them and request
them to return. Not complying with
this request. | sent Il second party.
with orders to repeat the request, and, if
not complied with, to take hold of the
brides of their ponies and lead them
back. but to offer no violence. When
ovcrtaken by our scouts one of the two
Indians seized the musket of one of the
scouts and endeavored to wrest it from
him Failing in this he released his
hold, after the scout became dismOunted
in the struggle, and set oft as fast as his
pony could carry him, but not before the
From blood discovered afterward it was
evident that either the Indian or his pony
was wounded. l hope that neither was
seriously hurt: yet the Indians have
their own bad faith as the sole ground
for the collision. One Stab the Chief,
was brought back to camp. The scouts
galloped down to the valley in sight of the
village, when it was discovered that the en-
tire party had packed up their lodges
and fed, and the visit of the four In
dams TO our camp was not only to obtain
their rations promised them in return for
future services, but to cover the flight of
the lodges. l have perfected arrange
mcnts by which the Chief, One Stab, will
be with us as a guide three days longer
when he will take his departure and re.
join his command"
The next few days were devoted to
exploring the Black Hills region, when