New-York tribune., 1874-09-14
HOME FROM the BLACK HILLS.
EXCITEMENT IN WYOMING.


meeting was held here Friday night TO
organize q company TO prospect In that region
Gov Campbell OF Wyoming informed your correspond
ent that although the excitement In the territory was
great st he anticipated collision with the military
authorities as nothing would be done by the
citizens in opposition 70 Gen. sherdans order
of prohibition The Hon. W. r steele, delegate from
Wyoming in an interview yesterday said the Govern
nent had no legal right TO stop citizens going
into the Indan country, ceded by the treaty
of 1868, as Congress had ratified that
treaty He is counsellng the citizens. however, TO
abide the decision Of Congress 1t is currently rumored
by persons who profess know, that small party has
already efs for the Black Hills ths neighborhOod
THE RETURN OF CUsTER's EXPEDITION.
THE HOME ROUTE VIA THE LITE MssoURI-INDIANs
PRoPHKsY AN ENGAGEAIENr-No FOE on The
FIELD-GRAss BURNED ON THE LINE OF MARCH
SAFE RETURN or THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AC-
COMPIIsHED BY THE SCIENTIFIC PARTY.
TFRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUSRI
FORT ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ID. T., Sept. L.
There Is nothing like keeping your engagements.
Punetualty is the life Of business" wisely said Poor
Richard "Sxty days, Custer shalt thou be absent and
do all thy work." said Gen Terry but the sixtyrst
thou shalt from thy labors" And IL was So Six
hundred hungry horses, 700 hungrier mules. and 500
dusty sunburnt soldiers Joined III the
benedictory Amen"
Lovely indeed were the Black Hills charming soli-
tude beyond the grace OF pencil pen. should like
stay the OF fe." said enthusiastic
officer. The wish found few dtt0es. But when the
band one day, seeking outlet from the
hills, played with the best of intentions wretched
parody Home. Sweet Home" the charms of this
delightful region had not benumbed our affections
that we could not recognize the sentiment con-
cealed IN the discord. really believe there were
some large drops tear saeks-or even soldiers
have such outdt-Teady to roll down brOnzed and
had ma mil Of Ia
more successful
Al all events we we're ready TO About face" We
hated the dreary the plains. but the Mis-
River had in imagination amiable how, and
we louged TO watch 1t once more.
Il the 14h OF Aug. that climbed the last ridge
of the eastward range OF hs deep pneringed cleft
In the ridge opened wide vista 10 view. We were
a lovely harbOr; great ocean rolled miles away,
until melted into blue sky the far distance SO it
seemed TO But 1t was great land ocean, lacking
most what II best imtated-an abundance q water.
It was with a great dislike that launched upon
this waterless ocean which many thousands Of years
ago lay at the OF the and boasts ati
tude OF 5000 feet above level. There who
wish this country st az the bottom Of the
1t have been much improved by eleva-
10 its present position II there Is
ever to be another food, Western Dakota would
offer an excellent ste-prOvided Only that the second
Noah could find timber enough there to build his ark
The thought that we going home tinged our dis
like with i0vful quality, which extinguished fifty per
cent OF our thirst.
OBJECT OF THE HOMEwARD ROUTE SELECTED.
day at Bear Butte collect ourselves. and then we
struck out for Fort Lincoln via the Little Missouri
River This via was disastefui TO few and fur
nshed desired topic for grumblng. Such topics were
rare and therefore eagerly sought to satisfy craving
mental need of the soldier. Fort Lincoln Is $50 miles
TO the northeast-why strike country and go
there directly instead Of gong $50 miles due north and
then turning 10 the and marching the same
distance r. Soldiers love diagonal. But Gen. Custer
had sufficient BY travelling north and striking
the Little Missouri hoped the make of water for
his stock When necessary to leave the Little Missouri
we could then easily strike the headwater OF the Heart
River which into the Missouri near Fort Lincoln
A second object 20 give Col Ludlow a chance TO
ocate the Little Missouri River the meanderinss Of
which had never previously been properly traced and
recorded A third object was give palBontOlO-
gis Mr. Grnne, opportunity TO explore the Little
Missouri Bad Lands vertebrate fossils. The pro-
gramme laid out strictly pursued though it COM
PEELED few long hard marches not congenial to the
health OF our mules.
Though for sixty days have been out OF theireach
and influence of all sensational and untruthfu newsDa
pers we found first days march from Bear Butte
that we not out OF the reach Of sensational and
uncOnscentous reporters though happily none Of them
were connected with the expedition. This time they
were four wandering Sioux bound for the agencies, who
our scouts These Sioux, though they had their rifles
cooked all the they talked with the scouts were
instantly friends. They mad news OF immense i'm
portaBee to every man IN the command who was not
badheaded They time in divuging IT, and then,
for reasons best themselves, Illustrated cant
Western phrase by skinning out' possible
The news reported n very large type aud occa-
stoned an unofficial camp bulletin at once, which
rapidly circulated from with the following
purport Two thousand Indians thirsting for
blood Encamped on the Little Missouri waiting for
chance 70 drink IL Are determined 10 surround
before we get to Lineoln They are well armed and
equipped A fight inevitable "
NO OPPORTUNITY FOR FIGHTING.
Tie report created undOubted interest though not
n shadow Of alarm. and served 20 relieve the mOnouony
Of a day's march. The ordered programme vas not
changed a whit. The military routine was not altered
only more strictly observed. We needed TO make no
prenarations for Indians; both camp and march in
constant readiness for dusky visitors am not sure
bat some perhaps majority of the soldiers we're anx
ions 10 do little professional work. Bat the oppor
tunitydid not come The prophesied battlefield lay
night IN our ne OF march, We found there every ele-
toent OF a great battle except foe. Had we been
Tess well prepared 10 meet enemy we should prODa-
by have found one But the foe expected was not and
had NOT been there Somebody had lied. The general
oniniop condemned the four Indians vho had warned
m of our danger Indians do not coats but II they
1o am certain that the four casual Sioux who started
,h,s report would have gone TO Grand River laughing
mst Bttle in their sleeves.
But the hostile Indian was not there, he had left
black card behind him which excused his absence A
section country from 50 TO rs miles square mad been
reduced 20 charcoal result Of vast prairie tires
which mad consumed nearly every blade OF within
their range There was Just advantage In this IL
made an excellent road cactus had been consumed
with the grass and spine was left TO torture Dan
II the Indians burnt the country to Destroy