The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-08-20
The BLACK HILLS,
eus1ER's FloWERY REPORT.
Ne FINDS HIS ElDoRADo.

IL
r1oN, 8 IL MILES SOUTHEAST OF
HARSEY's PEAK, Aug. 2, via FoRr {
LARAMIE. 9Th August. +
TO Assistant Adjutant General, Department
of Dakota, St. Paul, Mimi:
Ny last di spatch was dated July Is,
and sent from Prospect Valley, Dakota,
longitude 103 degrees and 46 minutes,
latitude As degrees and ~ minutes.
Two of my Indian scouts left as bear
ers of the dispatch as soon as their de-
parture could be concealed by the dark
ness. After leaving that point, this ex-
petition moved in a southwesterly di-
rection until it Preached the valley Of
the Little Missouri, up which we moved
81 miles. finding this valley almost des-
titutc of grazing.
ALONG OUR LINE OF MARCH
1 ordered the water kegs filled and a
supply of wood placed in the wagons,
and left the valley il, search OF better
camp ground. 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. After a further
march of about nine miles we arrived,
before shutdown, at q point capable of
furnishing us good grazing and water
for our animals, having marched over
thirty miles since breaking camp in the
morning. From this point to the VAL
ley of the Belle Fourche, we found the
country generally barren and uninvit-
ing, saving few isolated places. We
reached the Belle Fourche on the even
ing of the 18th Of July, encamping
where good grass, wood and water were
abundant, at point short dis lance
above that marked fifteen on Reynolds
map, just west of the line separating
Dakota from Wyoming. The following
day was spent in camp. On the Goth,
we crossed the Belle Fourche and be-
gan, as it were,
sKIRMIsHING WITH THE BLACK HILLS.
We began by feeling our way care
fully along the outlying ranges of hills,
seeking a weak point through which
we might take our way to the interior.
We continued, from the time we ascend
ed from the valley Of the Belle Fourche,
to move through very superior coun-
try, covered with the best of grazing
and abundance of timber, principally
pine, poplar, and several varieties of
oak. As we advanced the country
skirting the Black Hills to the south
ward became each day more beautiful.
On the evening Of the 22d we halted
and encamped east of and within four
miles of the cave Inyan Kava. Desir-
ing to ascend that peak the following
day, it being the highest on the western
range of Black Hills. | did not move
camp the following day, but taking a
small party with me proceeded to the
highest point Of this prominent land
mark, whose height is given at 8, 900
feet. The day was not favorable for
obtaining distant views. l decided on
the following morning to move due east
and attempt the passage of the hills.
We experienced considerable delay by
fallen timber which lay in our pathway.
With this exception, and a very little
digging, rendered necessary in descend
ing into valley, the pioneers prepared
the way for the train, and we reached
camp by 2 o'clock, having marched
eleven miles.
We here found grass, water and wood
Of the very best quality, and in great
abundance. On the following day we
resumed our march up this valley,
which / explored several miles the pre-
ceding evening, and which led us by an
easy ascent almost southeast. After
marching nearly twelve miles we en-
camped at an early hour in the same
valley. This valley, in one respect,
presented most wonderful as we'll as
beautiful aspect. Its equal I have
never seen, and such, too, was the testi-
mony Of all who beheld it. In no pri-
vate or public park have l ever seen
such
PROFUSE DISPLAY OF FLOWERS.
Every step of our march that day
was amid flowers of the most exquisite
colors and perfume so luxuriant in
growth we're they that the men plucked
them without dismounting from the
saddle. Some belonged to new or I'M
classified species. 1t was a strange
sight to glance back at the advancing
columns of calalry and behold the men
with beautiful bouquets in their hands,
while the head-gear of the horses were
decorated with wreaths of flowers fit to
crown a queen of May. Deeming it
a most fitting appellation, named this
''Floral Valley" General Forsyth, at
one of our hating places, chosen at
random, plucked seventeen beautiful
flowers belonging to different species,
and within space of twenty feet
square.
The same evening, while seated at
the mess table, one of the officers called
attention to the carpet of flowers under
our feet, and it was suggested that it be
determined how many different flowers
could be plucked without leaving our
seat at the dinner table. Seven beau
tiful varieties were thus gathered.
Professor Donelson, the botanist of the
expedition. es timated the number of
species 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 gras-
ses was estimated at twenty-five, max
ing a total fora Of the valley embrace