The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-01

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information. There is 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 Shey-
enne. I have seen nuggets
from Big Horn and Tongue riv-
ers, and many specimens from near FORT
Stambaugh, in the upper Wind River
country, where mining has failed Tor
want of water for alluvial washing and
from the hostilities of the Indians, and
have good reason to believe lin fact, it IS
quite certain, that gold exists IN the Owl
Greek mountains on the lower Wind
river. and on the headquarters Of the
Powder river, and all these localities,
being under the general meaning IN the
Black Hills and outside of the territory
comprised in the treaty Of 1862, except
so far as the privilege to hunt game. It
has been nv intention to communicate
much information this coming summer TO
the government on the above described
country. and as the Indians have no
absolute right to the soil, there may De
but little difficulty in extinguishing their
hunting privileges. I purpose, II you
do not object, to open up the
Yellowstone river by sending General
George A. Forsyth and Colonel Grant, OF
nv staff. up the Yellowstone to the mouth
Of the Big Horn as soon as the ice breaks,
which will give the lowest tide water.
having already secured steamboat to
make this exploration. If Gen. Forsyth
is successful will send General Custer
with the command from Fort Lincoln
across the mouth of Powder river. thence
up on the south bank Of the Yellowstone,
crossing the Powder river, Tongue river,
Rosebud river, and on to the mouth OF
the Big Horn. This country IS as yet
fairly unexplored.
An expedition may develop very
valuable auriferous section. and make
Father Desmet's story to some extent
true: but | am of the belief that the
mountain of Mica has not changed to
gold.
I will also send an expedition down
Wind river, through the Owl Creek noun
tains, from Fort Hamburger. via Fort
Brown to the mouth Of Big Horn. will
bring it back through the parks about
the headwaters of Powder river. visited
by Capt. Mills and his command last
summer. These parks are, for beauty
fully equal to those described so graph
ically by Gen. Custer as existing III thu
{ Black Hills of the Cheyenne. may alst
say from nv own knowledge that the val
lev of the Big and Little Pagoogie, Little
Wind river and main Wind river car
scarcely be excelled in beauty and fertll
ity, while the student Of nature will tine
i. there the most extraordinary upheaval
of the earth's crust probably to be found
on this continent. | am of opinion Thu
country is gold bearing, but of its abund
, ance there can only be conjecture at pres
ent.
feel quite confident Of our ability t
/ prevent tresspass on the rights of tn
Indians and the cavalry and infantry il
, the Department of Dakota are bein
moved at the present time to the mos
available points to carry out my dlree
| tons of September Sd, last year. Wer
q it not for these precautions on the part
! the government there might be repiti
;. ton of the California gold beach and gol
i lake humbugs, with still greater scfferint
f as many of the persons now crazy to 6
a to the Black Hills never think Of how the
d are to exist after they get there, or no
v they could return in case Of failure.
e they will only wait for further inform'
v ton from the government, which no
V seems desirous Of making concessions
n meet these new interests, there will
s no one more willing than myself to Al
4 in ascertaining their value. SO far as II
It troops are concerned will promise a
v tivity in the present emergency and u
!. conscientious performance OF dut.
d Should the points from which nine
# start be 80 remote as to make it imposs
) bic for our scanty force to watch Their
we can occupy the two or three gaps in Il
- Black Hills and effectually exclude tire
= passers. Very respectfully,
P. II. SHERIDAN,
- Lieut.. Gen. Comm 6.