Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-04-02

done and what the government proposes to
do in the matter Immediately. and concerns
all who contemplate going the country for
gold. -.---.
HEADQUARTERS,
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, I
CHICAGO, March. %, 1875. )
To General Sherman, Headquarters Of the
Army, st. Louis: ..f
GENERAL In reply to your question what
do you know of the Black Hills2 | respect
fully submit the following remarks. My
first knowledge OF the Black Hills was de-
rived from an interview with the late Father
Desmet, noted Catholic missionary. whom
| met many years ago on the Columbia river
in Oregon, from whom | heard an Indian
romance Of a mountain of gold in the Black
Hills; and his explanation of that extraor-
binary and delusive story Of the Indians
frontiermen and explorers. The Black Hills
country is much more extensive than that
particular locality brought to the notice of
the public by the recent explorations OF
Gen. Gustav, and gets its name from the
/
grows on the sides and tops Of the noun
tains and hills. 1t comprises the whole
OF the country bounded ON the east
by longitude lG2 degrees, on the south
by the Sweet Water and Laramie
rivers, on the west by the Big Horn
and Wind rivers, and on the north by the
Yellowstone river. This Is really the country
of the Black Hills, but embraced in it are
several localities called Black Hills, for in
stance the Black Hills of Laramie. the
Black Hills of Powder river, and the Black
| Hills of the Cheyenne river the latter being
the locality in which Gen. Custar made his
Reconnaissance last summer, and about
which there is - much speculation At the
present time, and within bounds OF which
! it is supposed by large number of people,
! is to be found Father Desmet's mountain Of
gold. Father Desmet's story was that
while living with the Sioux Indians he was
shown by them nuggets of gold wblchthey
informed him had been obtained at different
points in the Black Hills, supposed to be
IRON the beds of the Big Horn, ROse-bu
| and Powder rivers, and from branches OF
the Tongue river, and on his representing
/ that such yellow metal was Of great value
they told him that they knew where noun
| tain of it was to be found. Subsequent in
mountain OF gold was nothing more than
| formation OF yellow mica, such a. may be
| found in number OF places in the above
| described country. | had scarcely given
the story thought after this until about
| three years ago. when | happened 10 be in
! New York, and 1t was then brought to my
recollection by some prominent gentleman
who asked me where Father Desmet was to
| be found, and Insisted that some one should
be sent al once 10 get from him the secret OF
the gold mountain. which would pay the
national debt. and - after had informed
him that it was an old and exploded story
his ard0r ceased and the excitement abated
and the mountain Of gold again subsidized.
IL happened however, that the Black Hills
country was embraced ia my military com
mission ard two years ago 1t became APP
parent 10 me that u military post IN the
Black Hills OF the Cheyenne would soon be-
come necessary for the proper protection OF
the settlements in Nebraska from the raids
OF the Sioux Warriors, who always before
they commenced iepredaiIug on 5he from
tier secured u sale place Tor their families
and villages IN the locality mentioned. Be
iieying that these Indians would never
make war ON oar settlements a long "a
We could threaten their families
and villages in this remote locality,
ab0uudIng IN game and all that goes to
make Indian life comfortable, and with
this purely military object in view, an
order was given for ten. Clusters recon
nOissaDce The discovery of particles OF
gold by alluvial washing near ilarvey'-
Peak, on the eastern slope OF the Black
Hills OF Cheyenne followed, and brought to
the surface Father Desnet's story Tor the
third time. The Black Hills OF Cheyenne
a Il .Hs..NN
tween the north and south forks OF tina;
river. one OF which Is known as Belle
FOurche, the other a. the south fork. and
although have the utmost confidence IN
the statements of Gen Custer, and General
FOrsythc OF my staff, that gold was found
near Harvey Peak, may safely say there
has not been any fair test yet made 70 de-
termlue it, existence IN large quantities.
There j. not a territory IN the west where
gold does not exist. but IN many Of
them the quantity l. limited to color,
which l. l. much a has Yet been
been obtained near Haryey's Peak The
geological specimens brought back by the
Custer expedition are not favorable indica-
tlens cd the existence OF gold IN great
quantities. still 1t may be there but a.
the treaty Of 1850, duly ratified. virtually
deed, ihi- portion of the Black Hills to the
Sioux Indians, there J. no alternative but
10 keep out trcSpa,sers. Bat 10 20 back To
Father De~met'- information, there i not
much doubt of the correctness of his state
nent that gold exists IN the Black Hills. bat /
much farther west than the Black Hills OF I
the Cheyenne. have seen nuggets from !
the Big Horn and Tongue rivers and many /
specimens from near Fort S,ambJugh in the I
Upper VI Ind river country where the min
ny ha, failed Tor tie want %. water for /
ailuvial washing, and from the hostility of |
the Indians, and have good reason 10 be-
lieve. in tact 1t i quite certain that gold |
exists in the Oh Greek mountains on
the Lower Wind river and on the head .
waters OF Powder river and the Rosebud,
all these localities being under the general
meaning in the Black Hills and outside OF
the sherman, Ausur and Terry treaty of
1869. except 80 far as the privilege 10 hunt
game Ii has been my intention to cOmmu-
nicate much information this coming sum
mer to the government. on the above de-
scGIbed country, and as the Indians have no
absolute right TO the soil there may be
but little difficulty IN exunguishing
their hunting privileges, | purpose II you
do not object 70 open up Yellowstone river
by sending Gen. Geo. A forSythe and Col.
Grant OF my staff up the Yellowstone TO the
mouth of Big Horn as soon as the Ice
breaks, which will give lower tide water,
having already secured steamboat TO
make The exnloration IfGsn F1rsvfbe i
sncccs.r5l will send Gen Custer with a
command from Fort Lincoln across the
mouth of Powder river thence mn an the
sonrn bank of the Iellnwstone crossing
Powder river, Tongue river Rosebud river,
and on u the mouth ct B.s lI1rn. This
,,nntrv T.. A. ,rt eutireX unexnlnred
and tie ,x.eiiti,n may dsyelnnr very
Ill, ,1r,c-r,,. ..-.I1..,. md nab
+ ,tb,.r p, s,,et'- .r,,,. r., s,,,. .,t.p+trpa
,9t am If the b..lief that - monptsin ot
mr., has nor changed =, ,,,Ij Iw,iI,Is,
md .nrxncnit;ond ownN mi river tbrouyb
he O,,l 1,reek mountains tr,m F,rt seam
,ongh via Fort Rrown IN the montb nt Ri
-, ,JvlI Lr;,,,,, hac, ,I~tn.,b 81,
- -, 10 boaS ,,a 80 = ~, y a. ,
- -;1ital H. a1,n,,;,, NIL anJ ~; ',,,,
aarj -, 1,,nuaI rhasn -, 40 g.
na.t ,,. E.i,,' - L', I ~ 'ui :
= tia,ii,, t,- ,.n,sai c. i
m mn -, :