The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-05-20
THE BLAJiE HlLLS.
Clusters Second Expedition to So "
June-MOre Territory to he Explored.


[FrOm the New York World, May IL
General George A. Custer. the leader OF
the Black Hills expedition of last year, is
in this city attending 10 private matters
before returning to the plains to organize
his men for the trip OF exploration which
will set out under his command during
the summer of 1873. This second eXpedi-
ton will penetrate further, and complete
the work entered upon lastyear. General
Custer will proceed to Fort Lincoln, and
about the lst or 18th of june the eXpedi-
ton will start out from the Missouri River.
The armed force will number about 600
men, many of whom have been over the
route before as members of last years ex-
petition. Since their return in the fall,
they have been spending the time in Lou
isiana, carrying out Federal instructions
there. Seventy-five Indians, well ac-
quainted with the district to be gone over,
will also be included in the expedition
The utmost caution will be exercised in
the selection of the men, as none are de
sired who cannot on occasion :" shift for
themselves A journey of nearly fifteen
hundred miles is laid out through the
Black Hills to the country lying west Of
it, into region which as yet has never
been explored by white men. There is
an impression, founded on circumstantial
evidence, that this region is far richer in
precious metal than the Black Hills proper,
and General Sheridan in his last letter
gives it as his opinion that such is the
fact.
THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY.
This district is, however, filled with hos
tile Indians. In tract of 100 miles square
nrnh0hlU M lace fhat, IN mn TnAians no
to be found in the summer season. These
include men, children and squaws; fully
5000 fighting men, and they have hereto
fore resisted all attempts to invade the
land. A short time ago a party Of $50
miners. armed and determined to make
the entry, started out from Montana to eff
feet passage from the western borders.
They were driven back by superior num-
bers of Indians, with considerable loss,
making a retreat of several hundred miles,
exposed to a continual harassment frOm
lurking savages. These hostile Indians oc-
cupying the western portion of the Black
Hills and the country Immediately adjac-
ent, do not make it a permanent residence (;
nor are they of one tribe. During the
winter they subsist at the agencies along
the Missouri and other rivers, and in the
spring, as soon as the grass is of sufficient
length to afford their ponies nibble. they
leave the posts and make for the hunting
grounds. They are sections of different
tribes. mainly, however, composed Of
Sioux Indians Of Il bad type. They are all
well armed and will leave the station in a
few weeks, while the expedition cannot
leave till the month of June sets in, since
the plains near the base of the hills are
still covered with water, and unfit for
wagon travel. This moisture will dry up
towards the latter part of May, but the
Indians, having no wagons, are able TO
take an earlier stIIt, and be on tle,r sum-
mer camping-grOunds ready to receive
their white friends from the agencies.
THE SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS.
The time required to make The observa-
tiOns will be three months or more. Sci
entfic observers will accompany the par
ty, the whole to be under the command of
General Custer. who will receive the re-
ports from the geOlOgists and others and
them as part OF his general
report. There are several objects To be at
tanned in the sending out OF the eXpedi-
rion. Beside the small group of miners
which have already been taken from the
Black Hills country by the United States
troops, there are large and well-OrganZrd
about starting from Cheyenne,
Omaha, and the vicinity of GanktOn, de
to work n passag- into the hills
They will be driven out, and
every pI ecautiOn taken to prevent any in
vaSiOn of the reservation so long as the
present treaty holds. The main object of
The trip is to gain information and trust
worthy knowledge on which Congress
may act at its session next winter on the
matter of continuing or discOntinuing the
treaty by which the lands are resei we'd.
General Custer will prepare his report at
Dnce on his return, and have it ready be-
Orc the meeting of Congress. General
Custer is only to determine the nearest
point, on railway or river, from which a
road could be most exDeditiOusly opened
% the Black Hills in case they We're
thrown open to settlement by the whites.
NAVIGATION OF THE YELLOWSTONE.
Another point to be determined during
he present season is the navigabiliiy OF
he Yellowstone, exactly how far it NAV
De successfully navigated by boats of vari-
)us draught. and what kind of Obstruc-
ions are to be met with. A steamboat is
low fitting up at Fort Lincoln to go up
he river.
Col. Fred Grant will accompany the ex-
)edition.
The interest throughout the West and
.lOng the whole frontier is very great in
egard to the expedition. Had no step of
he kind been taken by the Government
he influx of miners could not have been
Many of the eager frontiers
nen are now content to wait the return of
he expedition and its report. feeling con-
ident that the gates to the hills will yet
'e legally opened.
A Partisan HORROR.