Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-09-02
WONDERS OF THE BLACK HILLS.
A valley blooming with Il Great Variety
of Gold, Lead, and Indications of Sill,

"A tauey blooming with Il Great Variety
OF growers - A New Eden - Discoveries
yer. ...
Correspondence N. Y. World
The following is part of the official
report OF Gen. G. A. Custer to the AS
sistant Adjutant General of the De-
partment Of Dakota:
MY last dispatch was dated July Is,
and sent from Prospect Valley. Dakota.
longitude 1O3 deg. IS min., latitude Is
deg. 70 min. After leaving that point
this expedition moved in southwest
erly direction until it reached the val
ley OF the Little Missouri river. no
which we moved twenty-one miles.
During our passage up the valley of
the Little Missouri we had entered and
were about to leave the territory of
Montana. Our course was nearly due
south. We reached the Belle Fourche
on the evening of the 18th of July, en-
camping where good grass, wood and
water were abundant, and at point a
short distance above that marked 15)
fifteen on Reynolds map, just west Of
the line separating Dakota from Wv
omlng. The following day was spent
in camp.
On the Goth we crossed the Belle
Fourche and began, as it were, 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
to 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
several varieties of oak. AS we adj
vanced the country skirting the Black
Hills to the southwark became each
day more beautiful
On the evening Of the 22d, we halted
and encamped east of and within four
miles of the base of Inyan Kara. De-
string to ascend that peak the following
day, 1t being the highest in the western
range OF the Black Hills, I did not
move camp the next day, but taking a
small party with me, proceeded to the
highest point of this prominent land
MARI, whose height IS given as $500
feet. The day was not favorable for
obtaining distant views, but I decided
on the following morning to move due
east and 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 in descending into valley.
the pioneers prepared the way for the
train, and we reached camp by two
o'clock, having marched eleven miles
We here found grass, water and wood
Of the best quality and in great abund-
ance.
On the following day we resumed our
march up this valley, which I had ex-
plored several miles the preceding
evening, and which led US by easy as
cent almost southeast. After march
ing 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 most beauti-
full aspect. Its equal I have never
seen; and such, too. was the testimony
of all who beheld it. In no public or
private park have [ ever seen such
profuse display of flowers. Every step
of our march that day was amidst
howers OF the most exquisite colors
and perfume, and of such growth that
men plucked them without dismount-
ing from the saddle. Some belonged
to new or unbiased species. It was a
strange sight to glance back at the ad-
vancing columns of cavalry, and be-
hold the men with beautiful bouquets
in their hands, while the head gear of
their horses was decorated with
wreaths of flowers st to crown a queen
of May. Deeming it most fitting ap-
pellation, [ named this Floral valley.
Gen. Forsyth, at one of our halting
places, chosen at random, plucked sew
enteen beautiful flowers belonging to
different species, and within a space of
twenty feet square. The same even
ing, while seated at the mess table, one
of the officers called attention to the
carpet Of flowers strewn under our feet.
and it was suggested that it be deter
mined how many different flowers
could be plucked without leaving our
seat at the dinner table. Seven beauti-
full varieties were thus gathered. Pro-
lessor Donaldson, the botanist of the
estimated the number of
flowers in bloom in Floral Valley, at
fifty, while an equal number of varie-
ties had bloomed or were yet to bloom.
The number of trees, shrubs and
grasses were twenty-five, making the
total flora Of the valley embrace 125
pieces. .....
Through this beautiful valley mean
ders stream Of crystal water so cold
as to render ice undesirable even at
The temperature of two of
the many springs found flowing into it
was taken, and ascertained to be 40
and Al Q respectively.
AS there are scientific parties accom-
panying the expedition, who are exam
lining into the mineral resources of this
region, the result of whose researches
will accompany my detailed report, I
omit all present reference to that por-
ton of our explorations until the re-
turn of the expedition, except to state