The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-15
THE EXPLORERS.
CLUSTERS EXPEDITION.


CUSTER'S EXPEDITION.
THE GENERAL WHO PLANNED THE BLACK
HILLS ExPEDrTIoN-ITs PURPOSE, PROGRESS
AND REsULT-THE IMPORTANT GOLD DIS
CovERIEs.
Curtis the correspondent OF the Chicago
Inter Ocean, with Clusters expedition, thus
sums up the salient points in the history of
that now famous exploration: The scheme
was Clusters own, although it had been sug-
gested long ago, and an exploration at
tempted frequently. Congress made no ap-
preparation, but instead of giving the army
something OF this sort to do, sat in its
halls and talked about Production Bill"
1t was Clusters enterprise that originated
il, and Clusters energy that carried IL out.
When the Northern Pacific railroad was ex-
tended to Bismarck, it became important
that military post should DO established
near that place for its protection from the
Indians that haunt that country, and the
present site of Fort Abraham Lincoln was
fixed upon. Gen. George A. Custer, who
was in the southern territories at the time,
was ordered with his regiment, the Seventh
cavalry, to garrison 1t, and his jealous eye
was Immediately fixed upon a new field of
conquest. That field he has won-not easi-
ly, but by that indomltable energy that has
characterized his whole brilliant military
career. He could not go into the Black Hills
last season, for he had to follow Stanley up
the Yellowstone; but no sooner was he es-
tablished on his return from that campaign
but he began to urge
THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS SCHEME
upon his official superiors. Congress was
appealed to, but made no response. The
secretary of war was finally induced to al
low reconnaissance, if it could be made
without expense to the government. In
Gen. Sheridan Custer found sympathizing
superior, and urged upon him the necessity
ofan exploration. But Sheridan's hands were
tied for the appropriations t)r his department.
would allow no such expenditure. Then
Clusters ingenuity was called into play, and
he discovered a method to meet all objec-
tions and carry his scheme into play He
calculated the expense of the expedition,
and much to the astonishmens of the superb
ors, he announced that he would make it,
and save the government money. The esti-
mate was suggested to Gen. Sheridan, met
his warm approval, and the Black Hills
exploration seemed certainty. By the es-
innate it was shown that the government
would save in forage more than enough to
pay all the expenses OF the expedition, and
have a balance of $4,000! and subsequent
developments proved that Gen. Custer had
been mistaken only in the amount of the
balance, which was found on the return of
the expedition to have been over Sl6,O 900.
Thus the expedition was, as Gen. Custer
claimed, a measure of economy in more
senses than one. The peace commissioners
then had to be- satisfied that Custer had not
blood in his eve, and did not mean extermi-
nation; but formal message was sent to
all the agencies announcing the expedition,
and stating that the object was entirely
peaceful one. People claimed that the en-
trance of troops on to the reservation was an
aggression, and objected on that score, but
Gen. Gu ,ter showed them that the treaty
of SO expressly provided for an exploration
and Typographical survey of the Black Hills.
THE RESULTS OF THE RECoNNoIss ANcE.
Finally all difficulties were overcome, all
objections answered, and the expedition
moved on the I'd of July. How it went, and
saw, and discovered, has been duly told in
the columns of the Inter-Ocean, and it
would be useless to-day to review the march.
The country vas found to be indescribably
beautiful, and rich in all the gifts of the Gre
ator There is gold there in vast quantities,
and the ground has simply to be caressed to
yield up its treasures; there Is iron, and per-
haps silver; gypsum in large quantities, and
| timber sufficient for all the uses the country
may suggest. There is plenty of pure, cold
water, and the soil is as rich as any.on Gods
tootstool. Although the valleys are very
narrow, they are very r1cn, ana the aEr1cul-
tural attractions are such as viii tempt
the best class of citizens. 1t was one
of the duties of the commanding officer
and the corps of engineers to select. a
| feasible site tor the building of a military
post, if such a protection should ever be
required. Gen. Custer made careful sur
vey with this point in view, but will state
in his report that he found no location with
in the limits of the hills that would be
adaptable; first, because of the extreme
! difficulty of entering them, and secondly,
because there were no level places large
natural requirements. But, however, he
will advise further investigation of the
country near Bear Butte, on the Belle
| Fourche river, where he thinks a fit loca-
ton can be found. If ever the country is
opened to settlement 1t will be- absolutely
for the nearest military station is over 25C
miles away.
THE PROBABILITY OF SETTLEMENT.
To those who were in the hills, it scarcely
seems possible that they should remain un
occupied long, and since the results of tn,
exploration have been announced, the feel
ing of the country, if what find here is al
indication, is such as to influence Congress
to an abrogation of the reservation treat,
Immediately. We saw no indications of it
occupancy by the Indians-the Black Hill
are simply summer hunting ground 70
r small parties. and there is not sufficien
game there to support a large tribe of In
dams. AS it is the country is useless-idle
{ when il might be utilized for the benefit O
{ all mankind. The people on this frontis
are fairly crazy to push forward to thi
:. little Eidorado. Could the supple
be obtained 1 have no donbt there woul
be an expedition retiring in week. TIL
Bismarck paper, which lies before me,
fairly bristling with excitement, and it
columns are full of such paragraphs as these
Y Bismarck merchants are already layin
? in a stock of mining tools and miners out
fits. An expedition will undoubtedly leay
this point this fall, intending to winter il
the hills,..where there is an abundance D
game of all kinds.
. GoIJ l., ,ba <x~ass ~oof, ard ot .,o@4l, !,