Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-03-31

unpPCUGU 10 Uc IL NOW 1O[K 8OO IL was
there brought to my recollection by prom.
inent gentleman, who asked where Father
De Smet was to 10 found, and insisted that
some one should be sent at once to get from
him the secret of the gold noun
tain, which would pay the National debt.
After ] had informed him it was an old and
exploded story, bis ardor cooled, and excite
ment about the mountain Of gold again sub
sided.
itso happened, however, that the Black
Hills country was embraced in my military
command, and two years ago II became ap.
parent to me that a military post in the
Black Hills Of the Cheyenne would soon
become necessary for the proper protection
Of settlements In Nebraska from the raids Of
the Sioux, who always, before they COM
menced depredating on the frontier, secured
. safe place for their families and villages in
the locality mentioned, believing these In-
dams would never make war on our settle.
ments 30 long as we could threaten their
families and villages In this remote locality,
Astounding in game and all that goes 70
make Indian life comfortable, and with this
purely military objectin view, an order was
given for Clusters reconnaissance. Discov.
ering particles Of gold by alluvisl washing
near Harney's Peak on the eastern slope Of
the Black Hills Of Cheyenne, followed and
brought to the surface Father De Smet's
story for the third time. The Black Hills
described by Gen. Custer are situated be-
tween the north and south forks OF the riv.
or, one Of which IL known as the Belle
Bourche and the other the South Fork and,
al nh hou a ;k -
statement Of Gen. Custar and Gen. Forsyth,
of my staff, that gold was found near Har.
neys Peak, may safely say there has not
tesn any fair test yet made to determine its
existence in large quantities. There is no
territory in the West where gold does not
exist, but in many Of them the quantity is
limited to color, which is as much as has yet
been obtained near Harney's Peak. The
geological specimens brought back by the
Custar expedition are noilfavorable indica.
lions Of the existence of gold 10 any great
quantity. Stil II may be there. But a
the treaty Of 90 duly ratified the deeds Of
this portion of the Black BILLS to the Sioux
Indians, there is no alternative but
to keep ont trespass.r.. But To 60
back to Father De Smet's informa.
ton: There's not much doubt of the
correctness of his statement that gold
exists In large quantities in the Black
Hills, but much further west than the
Black Hills of the Cheyenne. have
seen nuggets from Big Horn and
Tongue river, aud many specimens
from near Stsmbaugh, where mining
has failed from the hostilities of the In.
dams, and have good reason to be.
lleve, In fact It 10 quite certain, that
gold exists In the Owl creek noun.
tains. And all these localities are, un.
der the general meaning, In the Black
Hills, and outside the Sherman, Augur
and Terry treaty Of 1869, except
90 far - the privilege to hunt game,
! purpose, IL you do not object, to
open up the Yellowstone river by
sending Gen. Geo. A.. Forsyth and
Col. Grant OF my staff up tho Yellow
stone to the mouth of Big Horn %
soon as ice breaks. Ii Gen. Forsyth
10 successful / will send Gen. Castar
with command from Fl, Lincoln
across to the mouth of Powder river
and on to the Big Horn. feel quite
confident OF our ability to prevent the
intended trespsss ON the rights OF the
Indians, and cavalry and Infantry In
the department Of Dakota are being
moved at tho present time to the most
available points 10 carry out my d.
rections OF Sept. Sd, last year.
Very respectfully,
fSigned) P. H. SHERIDAN, Lt.Gen'l,
Commanding.