The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-04-01

the Black Hills of the Shvenne. I have
seen nuggets from the Big Horn and
Tongue Rivers, and many specimens
from rear Fort Stambaugh, in the Up
per Wind River County, where mining
has failed from want of water for alluvi-
al washing, and from hostilities of the
Indians; and I have good reason to be-
have, In fact it is quite certain, that gold
exists in the Owl Creek Mountains, in
the Lower Wind River, and in the head
waters Of Powder River and the Rose
bud; all these localities being, under the
general meaning, In the Black Hills, and
outside Of the Sherman, AugJr, and Ter
ry treaty of 1869, except so far as the
privileges to hunt game. 1t has been
my intention to communicate much in
formation this coming summer to the
Government on the above described
country; and, as the Indians have no
| absolute right to the soil, there may be
but little difficulty in extinguishing their
hunting privileges.
l purpose, If you do not object, to
open up the Yellowstone river, by send
ing Gen. George A. Forsyth and Col
Grant, of my staff, up the Yellowstone
to the mouth of the Big Horn, as soon
as the ice breaks, which will give the
lowest tide of water, having already Sc
cured a steamboat to make this explora-
ton. If Gen. Forsyth is successful j
will. send Gen. Custer, with a command
from Fort Lincoln, across the mouth of
Powder River, thence up on the south
bank of the Yellowstone, crossing Powd-
er River, Tongue River, Rosebud, and
on to the mouth of the Big Horn
This ,o,1rtru optiro1v
plored, and the expedition may develop
very valuable auriferous section, and
make the Father de Smet story, to some
extent, true; but I am of the belief that
the mountain OF mica has not changed
to gold.
will also send an expedition down
Wind River. through the Owl creek
Mountains, from Fort Stambaugh, via
Fort Brown, to the mouth of the Big
Horn, and will trace it back through the
parks about the head-waters of Powder
River, visited by Capt. Mills and his
command last summer. These parks are
for beauty fully equal to those described
so graphically by Gen. Custer as exist
ing in the Black Hills Of the Shyenne.
[ may also say, from my own knowledge,
that the valley of the Big and Little Po-
po-agie, Little Wind River, and Main
Wind River, can scarcely be excelled in
beauty and fertility, while the student
of Nature will find them the most ex-
trAordinary upheavaIs Of the earth
crust probably 80 DE found ON this con
tinent [ am OF the opinion, that this
country is gold bearing, but of its
abundance there can only be conject-
ure at present.
[ feel quite confident of our ability
to prevent the intended trespass on the
rights of the Indians, and cavalry end
infantry in the Department of Dakota
are being moved at the present time to
the most available points, to carry out
my directions of Sept. 3, of last year.
Were it not for these precautions on the
part of the Government, there might be
repetition of the California Gold Beach
and Gold Lake humbugs, with still
greater suffering, as many of the persons
SO crazy to go to the Black Hills never
think Of how they are to exist after they
get there, or how they could return in
case of failures.
If they will only wait for further in
formation from the Government, which
now seems to be desirous of making con-
cessions to meet these new interests,
there will be no one more willing than
myself to aid In ascertaining their value.
So far as tue troops are concerned, [
will promise activity in the present en-
ergency and a conscientious performance
Of duty.
Should the points from which the
miners start be SO remote as to make it
impossible for our scauty force to watch
them, we can occupy the two or three
gaps in the Black Hills and efectually
exclude trespassers. Very respectfully,
(Sgned) P. III. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant-General Commanding.
rTEyE 1lrohien that has tnrrnented q