The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-27
Letter from General Sheridan ON
the Black Hills COnntHy.

tAAG 1AAAgA AkA4A1 GWMAANIs
CHICAGO, March 2O.-Lieutenant Gen
cral Sheridan has written the following
highly interesting letter concerning the
Black Hills country II sets forth what
has been done and what the government
proposes to do in the matter, and imme-
diately concerns all who contemplate go
ing into that country for gold:
IIpQRs MILITARY DIVISION or FIlR MISSOURI,
CHICAGO, March y, 1873,
General ", Z. Sherman, Headquarters q he
Army, S. Louis:
GENERAL :-In reply to your question,
"What do you know Of the Black Hills y
/ respectfully submit the following re-
marks: My first knowledge Of tho Block
Hills was derived from an Interview with
the late Father Desmet, the noted Cath
olic missionary, whom met many years
ago on the Columbia river, in Oregon,
from whom heard tho Indian romance
Of mountain OF gold In tho Black Hills,
and his explanation Of that extraordinary
and dclusiye story, To the Indians, from
tiersmon and explorers the Black Hills
country IL much more extensive than that
particular locality brought to the notice
Of the public by tho recent explorations
Of General Custer, and gets It's name from
the black, scrubby character OF tho tim.
ber which grows on the sides and tops Of
the mountains and hills. II comprises the
whole Of tho country bounded on the
east BY longitude 1929, on tho north by
tho Sweet Water and Laramie rivers,
on tue west by the Big Horn and
Wind rivers, and on tho north by
the Yellowstone river. This y really
tho country Of the Black Hills, but
embraced In IT are several localities
called Black Hills, for instance "Black
Hills OF Louisiana "RlaCk Hills Of
Powder River" and "BlaCk Hills Of
shyennc River" the latter being the 10.
CaIity in which General Custer made his
reconnaissance last summer and about
which there IL so much speculation at the
present lime, and within Its bounds, II IL
supposed by large number OF people, IL
to be found Father DesmGlS' mountain
Of gold. Father Desmot's story: While
living with the Sioux Indians he was
shown by them nuggets OF gold which
thoy informed him had been obtained at
different points In the Black Hills, sup.
posed to be from the beds OF Big Horn.
Rosebud and Powder rivers, and from
the branches Of the Tongue river, and on
his representing that such yellow metal
was Of great value they told him that they
knew where thero was q mountain oil 1t.
SubSeullent Investigation however proved
that the Indian mountain Of gold
was nothing more than forma-
tlOn Of yellow mica such ~
may be found in mineral places
In the above described country. | had
scarcely given the story thought after
this until about three years ago, when l
happened to be In New York andit was
there brought tO my recollection by q
prominent gentleman, who asked me
where Father Desmet was to be found,
and insisted that some one should By
sent at once to got from him the secret Of
the gold mountain, which would pay tho
National debt &c, After / had told him
that 1t was an old and exploded story his
ardor cooled and tho excitement about
tho mountain Of gold subsidized. 1t 80
happened, however, that the Black Hill
country was embraced In my military
command, and two years ago II became
apparent 10 me that u military post In the
Black Hills Of the Shyenne would soon
become necessary for the proper protec'
tion Of tic settlements in Nebraska from
raids by the Sioux warriors who always,
before they commenced depredaLing on
the frontier, secured safe place for their
families and villages in the locality men.
toned. Believing that these Indians
would never make war on our settlements
IN long IA we could threaten their iami.
lies and villages In this remote locality,
Astounding in game, and all that goes 10
make Indian life comfortable; with this
purely military object In view tic order
was given for the Custer reconnaissance.
Discoveries Of gold by alluvial washing
near Tfarney'a Peak, on the western slope
Of the Black Hills, followed, and brought
TO the surface the Father Dcalnet story
for the third time.
The Black Hills Of Shyenne, described
BY General Custer, are situated between
tho north and south forks Of that river,
one Of which IL known hS the Belle
FOurChe, and the other ns South Fork;
and although | have the utmost conf.
tlencc In the statement OF Generals Custer
and ForBytlie, Of my staff, that gold was
found near Ilarneys Peak, may safely
say there has not been any fair test made
yCt to determine la existence in large
quantities. There Ia no Territory In the
West where gold does not exist, but In
many Of them the quantity Ia limited
10 the color, which Is as much as has
vet been obtained In tho vicinity Of
Harney's Peak. The Geological spec.
linens brought back by the Custer ex.
petition are not favorable indications OF
the existence Of gold In great quantity,
still II may be there, but as the treaty III
1869 duly ratified virtually the deeds for
this portion Of the Black Hills to the
Sioux Indians, there 10 no alternative but
to keep out tho treSpassors. But 10 60
back to the Father Desmet Information
: there Is not much doubt az 10 The correct.
ness Of his statement that gold exists In
large quantities In tho Black Hills. but
much further west than the Black Hills
OF Shyehne. | haye seUn nuggets from
Big lIorn and Tongue rivers and many
specimens from near Fort Strambaugh
III the Upper Wind river country where
mining has failed for tho want Of water
: for alluyial washing and from the hos.
. tilities Of the Indians, and | have good
reason to believe in the facts. II isquitC
certain that gold exists In the Owl Greek
mountains, In the Lower Wind river
. aud In The headwatefs Of Powder tlyeI
aud The Rosebud, all the localities
being Under tho general meaning in The
Black Hills outside the Sherman Angul
and Terry treaty Of 80, except 80 far Al
. the privilege tohunt game. II has beer
my Intention to communicate much In
formation this coming summer to the gov
ctnmenL OH the above described country
and as the Indians have no absolute right
to the soil, there may lie but little dlili
Guilty In extinguishing their hunting
privileges. propose, u yoti do not ob'
. iect, to open up the Yellowstone river BY
sending Gen. George A, Forsyth aud Col
Grant, Of my stafl, up the Yellowstone ID
, the mouth of the Zig Horn IA soon as the
Ice breaks, which will give the lowest tide