New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-07
THE BLACK HILLS.

| THE EXPLORING PARTY ON THE MARCH.
OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION - THE GEOLOGICAL
PARTY THE MILITARY ESCORT - GENERAL
ORDERS on THE MARCH-EARLY INCIDENTS.
| fFROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 90 THE TRIBUSyI
| CAMP ON RAwHIDE CREEK, May 26.-A
courier Baptise post guide at Fort Laramie. brought
the mail today and returning tomorrow morning. takes
| the first news from the Black Hills Expedition. Gen.
Bradley, whom this kindness Is due Is gratefully re-
membered tonight In many tent and beside our camp
fires. I Joined the expedition on the 24th. Tne com
already River that day, but
fortunately only to encamp hence 1t was an easy matter
TO overtake the party The purposes OF the expedition
and the details OF its organization have been explained
in THE TRIBUNE, and few words are needed NJ
an introduction to the correspondence which Will
follow The Government determined 10 negotiate for the
purchase OF the supposed golden fields lying north Of tho
Platte River and cut by the 104th meridian, and owned
by the Sioux pursuant to the treaty of 1853 Pending
the negotiation mineral and geographical survey OF this
land Is ordered; and hence this Geological Surveying
Party or including the military, the Black Hills expedi-
ton 1t should be remembered that this Is distinct from
the expedition be conducted by Gen. Custer TO tho
Yellowstone, and thence to the Big Horn Mountains
That has entirely different end in Views It Is to pro-
coed north OF the locality which now enosses pub
lie attention although during the Summer the column
may IN its march reach the Black Hills IL is properly
only military organization, and is intended 10 effect
military ends among which may be the troubles arising
Prof Jennys surveying party Is ordered primarily TO cx
pore the mineral resources OF the Black Hills and Gen.
Dodges command is escort It. The exploration II the
objective point 1t is urged that proper valuation OF
the land that will furnish the authorities with an APP
proximate estimate OF what ought 10 be paid, VIII
distract the attention Of the OF men waiting AZ
the boundaries conclusion OF negotiations at Wash
ngton. The only man In the expedition who can give
any information, Prof Jenny, does not offer even sug
geson, considering the policy Of the Government very
properly OF his business.
The geological party consists OF Prof Jenny Mining
Engineer In charge; Capt. futile, Astronomer; Dr.
McGilcuddy Typographical Engineer; Mr. Newton,
Assistant Geologs; Mr. Root, Head Miner and Prospec
ter; Mr.. Brown General Assistant; with miners, labor
er packers volunteers, and cooks, making In all about
Is or 20 people.
The military escort includes: Gen r. I. Dodge. 23d
Infantry, commanding; Lieut. Morris loot, 9th Infantry
Adutant; Lieut.. @. F. Trout 23d Infantry, Quarter
master; Lieut. Bourkc, 81 Cavalry, Typographical Engi
neer; Assistant Surgeon Geo. Jacquete, Medical Officer
Acting Surgeon Lane Assistant Medical Officer; Capt
Burts Company, 9th Infantry Capt. Munsons Company
9th Infantry; Capt spaulding's Company ID Cavalry
Lieut. Halls Company, % Cavalry Capt Hawley's Com
pany, Sd Cavalry; Capt Russelrs Company Sd Cavalry
Capt. VESSELS Company, Sd Cavalry; Lieut. Kings
Company 81 Cavalry; Lieut.. Creg. 9th Infantry, com
manding section artillery with guides scouts teamsters,
packers, and herders numbering about 100 men.
The command broke camp the Platte River on May
25, at H., and took up the line Of march northeast
for Rawhde Creek The following order contains an In
teresting outline OF the duties prescribed:
HEADQUARTERS BLACK HnLs ExPriIrIos,l
NEAR FIR. LARAMIE, May "a. 1870. }
column mne IN 9S: htgI csySlrx cos O. censr
Sd Cavalry, Cos A, II, |, X Left-oth Infantry Cos III
and e. ,,,
545 Assembly 6:lj; Sick call D. m; Stable call bali
III The Leading company OF cavalry will be- the pho
reomn nd he IL ri
day. The company commander Is exoico ohccr Oh th'
The other officers OF the company are officers o. the
guard on the marh 1t will be followed Immediately by
The cavalry force follows these then the in.
fantry and artillery, Headguarter wagons COMPANY
wagons glar train, aud traders wagons follow IN sue
cesson The company Of cavalry on guard and ~ AL.
vance day will be rem guard next day and bring
up everything The cattle herd VIII be driven ON nanks
Of column IL will be IN direct charg, o. the
Connssary Sergeant The officer In command o. lss,
officer and six 10 report 10 the Conlssafy sergeant
TO guard and assist IN d,is lne c" conmanar o.;
Leading company will throw out pckeis on al proninens
points, So To command thoroughly all approaches 10
camp One officer and one nan tne company VII o' IN
saddle guard over the herd until Il brought VA AZ
stablecal No horse or mule VIII be turned loorei rarh
animal must be secured by hopplos SIDE lne or lafats
Each cavalry company will be- responsible Tor the safety
stoned officers and six will be- detailed
from each company "a stable guard One non
awake at all times during the night. ~ sentinei-
may form running guard one over he picket IN. AZ
time The Adutant Will make detail eacn Gay 81 two
non commissioned officers and egheen men from the 10
iantry companies as headquarters ana man mai,
control Of officer of the day. When the animals have
been brought IN at stable eau, All we p.as,s WI w.
three reliefs and posted with the intiniiy guard 80
as 10 protect entirely the outside Line Of camp In add
ton to the regular guard. each company commander
will detail one nOncomInissOned Once ANA sh men as
guard for his animals or herd IhsS' men wil D"
armed only with pistols, and will tide IN aud among the
herd until it ia brought in. - ,.-, 49,.
herd aud detail from II TO - teastcrs To be- with
and among the herd while grazing these men w,n ee
the herd at once ~ the corral
By command Of Leut.-Col r. T. Dodge, I'D Infantry
NJ. Z. FooT. First Lieut. 9th Infantry, AdJutant
II will be observed that in the order particular stress IL
laid on the protection OF the herd The herd includes the
cavalry horses, mules and cattle upon s safety de-
ponds the material question whether We are on foot or
on horseback; the cavaryman with nothing To ride
would be no longer cayaryman; with our cattle gone
there would be short raons OF beef which, with no
game in the country would materially lessen the plea
sures Of the table and with the loss OF the mules there
would simply be permanent camp. So important .
matter is this the plains that you hear officers remark
of a comrade as a compliment, che never lost boof
Perhaps some readers may innoceny inquire whence 10
this xpeence in the expedition do not an
tcipatc an with the Indians but all agree that
they are not trusted with advantage in meeting
small parties individuals who may leave the column
TO hunt or prospect and that they Will try To steal our
stock Is certainty Signal fires have been seen and the
trail OF Indian scout The Indians know OF the e1pe-
dton; the fires TO announce our departure They
have been told that the expedition may be Of advantage
TO them and this fact, and the consideration that Wa
have some OF their chiefs hands at Washington. viii
perhaps prevent any serious trouble. Certainly Gen
Dodge will not give the Indians any opportunity for sur.
prise.
30 far the distance marched Is 90 miles, 10 Ia the hst
camp, on Rawhide, and 10 this point. The country
passed over is upandsome of broken. The road has
hao, very heavy from the sandy nature the soil The
principal work done the astronomical surveys
establishing principal points by observations and map
ping country Several good things have been done In
this line much TO the satisfaction Of Capt Tute Dr. Nc