The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-04-02
Black HIils-Gen. Sheridan Writes
About Them-He Tells about the
Mountain of Gold.

CHICAGO, March %. - Lieutenant
General Sheridan has written the fol-
lowing highly Interesting letter on
corning the Black Hills country. 1t sets
forth what has been done and what the
Government proposes to do in the mat
ter, and Immediately concerns al who
contemplate going into that country for
gold:
Headquarters MILITARY DIVISION
Of II MISSOURI, Chicago, March %.
ten ". i. Sherman, Headquarters of
the Army. -. Louis. Gcneral.-In re-
ply 10 Your question, ''What DO You
know of the Black Hills? ?" | respect
fully submit the following remarks:
Nv first knowledge of the Black
Hills was derived from an interview
with the late Father DeSmet. Il noted
Catholic missionary, whom | me many
wears arn on the Columbia river in Ore
wCn, frum whom | heard the
INDIAN ROMANCE
Of The mountains o! gold in the Black
Hills, and his explanation of that OK
traurdinIry and dclusiyc story to the
Indians, frontierSmen and explorers
That Back Hills country is much more
extensive than the particular locality
brought 10 the notice of the public by
the recent explorations OF Gen. CuStar,
and %cts its name from the black, scrub
by character Of the timber which Grt VS.
on the sides and tops of the mountains
and hills. 1t comprises the whole OF
the country bound on the east by longi-
tudc IU2 degrees, OH the south by
SwcctWater end the Laramie rivers, on
the west by the Big Horn and Wind
rivers, and on the north by the Yellow
stone river. THIS IS really The country
of the Black Hills, but embraced III it
are several localities called the Black
lIilIs-tor instance. the Black Hills Of
Laramie. Black Hills of Powder river,
and Black il;iIS OF Cheyenne river; the
latter being the locality in which Gen.
Cu>.ar made his Reconnaissance last
summer, and about which there is
- NrCH SPECULATION
at the present time, and within the
bounds OF which, ii is supposed by Il
large number of people, Is 10 be round
gold. Father DeSmctS mountain of gold
story was. that while living with the
SiouN indians, he was shown by them
nuggets Of gold, which they informed
him had been obtained ut different points
in the Black Hills, supposed to he from
the beds Of the Biz Horn. Rose Bud and
Powder rivers, and from branches OF
The Tongue river, and Oh his represent
iam that such yellow metal was OF GREAT
value, they told him they knew where
there was Il mountain OF it. SubSe-
Jucnt investigation, however. proved
mat the Indian mountain of gold Wa
nothing more thana formation OF
YELLOW MICA,
such aS may be found in Il number of
places in the above described country.
i h,t scarcely given The story Il thought
al;rr mis- until about three years ago,
when | happened to be in New York.
ANA it WIS there brought t nay recoi-
lection by Il prominent gentlemen, who
asked me where Father DcSElet was to
be iuund. and insisted that some Que
should be sent ut once to get from him
the secret OF the gold mountain, which
would pay the NATIONAL debt. etc. AZ
ter | had informed han that it was an
old an.! exploited story, his arlor cool
cli, and the excitement about a noun
tain OF gold again subsidized. Ii 50 hap
pcncd, however, that the Black Hills
country WAS embraced in my military
command, and two Wears AGO it became
apparent To me that Il military post in
the Black Hills of Cheyenne would sOOI
hrcome necessary Tor the protection Of
ne settlements in Nebraska from the
raids OF the Sioux Indians. VINO always,
before they commenced d~cpredationS on
the frontier, secured Il safe place for
their families and villages in the local
itv mentioned, and believing these In
dIlnS would never make war on Il
settlements rs long as we could threat
en- their families and villages il this re-
mote locality
ABOUNDING IN GAME
ana all that goc> to make Indian life
comfortable, and with this purely mill
tary object i'll view, order way given for
CuStar'S reconnaissance. The party
found gold by washing near IIarmey's
Peak, on the eastern slope of the Black
Hills of Cheyenne. This WAS followed,
and brought 10 the surface Father De-
Smct's story for the third time.
The Black Hills OF Cheyenne, de-
scribed by General Gustav as situated
between the north and Snuth forks of
that river, one of which is known as
l}clle Fourche, the other South Bark,
and although | have the utmost conf
dence in the statement of Gen. Gustav
and Gen. Forsytile, of my staff, that
gold was found near IIarney's Peak, |
may safely say there has not been any
tlir test made to determine its existence
aa-l l.,:ra a..ant:t;a. IL.-. :. ,at ~