The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-09-03
From Gen. Clusters Expedition.


The report of Gen. Custer to the De-
partment commander, dated Bear Butte,
Black Hills, ID. r., Aug. Is, was received
this morning at Gen. Tcrrv's headouar
tiers. After detailing his operations and
explorations, and the finding in one di-
rection of an impossible barrier which
was finally clrcumvented, the General
says: 81 propose to return by differ
ent, although perhaps not shorter, route
than that adopted in coming to the Black
Hills. l am induced to make this change
IN order to embrace larger extent of un-
explored country within the limits of our
explorations, and particularly to enable
us to locate as much as possible of that
portion OF the Little Missouri, of which
nothing is now known. l expect the cx-
petition TO reach Fort Lincoln on the 3lst
OF August. The health of the command
has been and is most excellent. The ex-
petition entered the Black Hills from the
west side, penetrated through the eastern
and most southern ranges, explored the
major portions of the interior, and passed
out the most eastern ranges which form
the boundary of the Black Hills. From
the fact that in all our principal marches
through the Black Hills we have taken
without serious obstacle heavily-laden
train OF over 100 wagons, it may be in
ferred that the Black Hills do not consti-
tute the impenetrablc regions heretofore
represented. In entering the Black
Hills from any direction the most seri.
Gus, if not the only, obstacles were en-
cOuntered at once near the outer base
This probably accounts for the mystery
which has so long existed regarding the
character of the interior. Exploring
parties have cOntented themselves with
marching around the exterior base, and
from the forbidding aspect of the hills,
as viewed at a distance, inferred that an
advance toward the interior would only
encounter increased obstacles.
lin regard to the character of the coun-
try inclosed by the Black Hills, l can
only repeat what have stated in previ-
GUS dispatches. No portion of the United
States can boast of richer or better pas
turage, purer water, the temperature of
which in summer as it flows from the
earth is but twelve degrees above the
freezing point, and of greater advantages
generally to the farmer or stock-raiscr
than are to be found in the Black Hills.
Building stone of the best quality is to
be found in eXhaustible quantities Wood
for fuel and lumber sufficient for all time
to come. Rains are frequent, with no
evidence in the country of either drought
or treshets. The season, perhaps, is too
short and the nights too cool for corn,
but believe all other grain could be pro.
duced here in wonderful abundance.
Wheat would particularly yield largely.
There is no doubt as to the existence of
various minerals throughout the hills.
As this subject has received the especial
attention of experts who accompanied
the expedition, and will be reported upon
i'll detail, l will only mention the fact
that iron and plumbago have been found,
and beds of gypsum in apparently mex
haustible quantity.
~ referred in former dispatch to the
discovery of gold. Subsequent examina-
tions ut numerous 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. Our brief halts and rapid
marching prevented anything but very
hasty examination of the country in this
respect, but in one place, and the only
one within my knowledge where SO great
a'depth was reached, a hole was dug
eight feet deep. The miners report that
they found gold among the roots of the
grass, and from that point to the lowest
point reached gold was found in paying
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 l can state
that my beef herd, after marching up
ward of 600 miles, is in better condition
than when l started, being now as fat as
is consistent with marching condition.
The same may be said of the mules of
the wagon train. The horses of the
command are in good working condition.
II have never seen so many deer as in
the Black Hills. Elk and bears have
also been killed. We have had no col
lision with hostile Indians.
(Signe6
&c. A. CUSTER, Bvt. Maj Gen. T.. S.A.,
Commanding Expedition -