The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1875-01-21
CONCENTRATIONS
RED CLOUD AGENCY,
January nth, 1878.

ANEb NLaNAD LAAEaNAh
January 18th, 1875.
To The Cheyenne Daily Leader:
Since my last from here peace has
disturbed our minds" while the late
cold snap has put the oldest inhabi-
assk To- comparing dates and they
have at last arrived at the conclusion
that since the winter of 1850 they
have never known it to get up and
howl rs it has done in the past ten
days.
During this time many people have
arrived at the Agency eagerly asking
for the physician, and presenting
rather a frosty appearance, some with
nose, ears and hands most fearfully
frozen. We fear we may yet hear Of
great loss OF lite.
Onothe 9th inst news came to the
Agency that the troops under COM
maBd of Col Henry, 3rd Cavalry,
were some twelve or fifteen miles
below here, and hat nearly all were
more or less frozen. 1t must be re-
nembered that this detachment left
tAAlD IODlllcOn EoAAO Nh1hAg hAN :
ago to remove the miners who were
said to be In the Black Hills, but find
ing none, were on their way back
when they were overtaken by the
storm. Many of the men were frozen
so badly that they were unable 10 sit
in their saddles for several days, and
were drawn in the forage wagons.
Col Henry appears to be the greatest
sufferer, so much so that IL Is said he
will not be able for duty in a long
time.
As soon as Major Jordan, command
ing Camp Robinson, learned of these
facts, he sent three ambulanees and
two wagons to meet she unfortunate
expedition, and 1t is said that when
assistance reached their camp the
scene was pitifuI.
Now here is an expedition that mas
cost the government thousands Of
dollars, and possibly some very yalu-
able lives, and the question will sug-
gest itself to anyone, what good has
it, or could it, have done? No blame
can be attached to Gen. Bradley, 5faJ.
Jordan or Col. Henry for they are
Obliged 10 obey orders. 1 say shame
on the government that will take such
risks, and that too to drive from n
country a handful of brave pioneers
who are ~peaceably trying to make an
honest dollar. Let it be known
that but forty-six out of sixty of
these bFsve fellows are in hospital,
while the remainder are doing well.
To-day 1 had an interview with old
Uncle John Reichard, whose hair has
been whiteued by forty-one winters
in this country. Likely no man west
Of the Missouri River knows this
country better, or whose life has been
more checquered. A more venerable
booking old patriarch does not exist
than Uncle John, and his memory is
~ fresh as it was forty years ago. You
sell this old man there is no gold in
the Black Hills and he will laugh at
you. Twenty-four years ago he
bought gold from the Indians, who
told him they gotit in the Black Hills.
They called it yellow iron," and
would trade it Il him for tobacco or
other trinkets OF little value. he tells
me that his son John, who was killed
on the Platte n few years age, was in
company with a man who picked the
solid gold from a creyice in the rocks
near Bed Buttes, and that when the
Indians found there were white men
in their country they were Obliged to
leave. This gold vas brought to Fort
Laramie in the spring of IS, and was
seen by many of the old settlers Of
that vicinity.
As a guide Uncle John in his day
had no equal, and from him | have
been able to learn the most practicable
route TO the Black Hills. He says
people coming from the east should
leave the railroad at Cheyenne, and
then proceed north to the White Clay
River, striking that stream halfway
between here and Fort Laramie. and
then across the country by the foot of
the hills to the head waters of the
North Fork of the Cheyenne River.
Abundance of timber, grass and water
will be found on this route, and no
place but what wagons a pass with
out difficulty. By this route the bad
landsn will be left to the right, while.
if you leave the Railroad further east,
you would have to cross them or make
long wagon voyage. The old man
has an eye to that country, and my
word for it, when the rush does come,
Uncle John will be found "leading the
van"
The cry here is:
How long. dear Congress, oh how long
Snnli NJ hrirht hnrrs dir