The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-04-01

In this remote locality, Astounding in
game and all that 20 10 make Indian life
comfortable, and, with this purely mill
tary object IN view, an order was given
/ for the Gustav reconnaissance.
The party found gold by washing
near Harvey peak, on the eastern slope
ofthe Black hills of the Cheyenne, which
brought TO the surface Father DeSnets
story tor the third time.
The Black hills of Cheyenne. describ-
ed BIZ Gen. Gustav, arc situated between
! the north and south forks of that rlver,
one of which is known IS Belle Fourche
and the other Seuth Bank, and, al
though | have the utmost confidence IN
the statement of Gen. Custar and Gen.
Forsythe, of my staff, that gold was
found near Harney's peak, may safely
say there has not been any fair test yet
made TO determine lis existence in large
quantities.
+ There is not 4 territory in the West
where gold does not exist, but IN many
of them the quantity is limited 10 the
color, which is as much as has yet been
obtained near Harneys peak
Geological specimens brought back by
the Custar expedition, are not favora
I bic indications of the. existence OF gold
I in great quantity. Still it may be there;
but as the treaty of 1869, duly ratified,
virtually deeds this portion ofthe Black
hills to the Sioux Indians, there is no
alternative but to keep out trespassers
/, But to go back 10 Father DeSmet's
information: There is not much doubt
of the correctness of bis statement that
gold exists in largo quantities in the
Black bills, but much further west than
the Black bills of Cheyenne. | have
seen nuggets from Big Hon and Tongue
rivers, and many specimens from near
TT. STAN baugh III the Upper Wind river
country, where mining has failed Tor the
want OF water for alluvial washing, and
from the hostiiities of the Indians and
have good reason to believe - in fact, il
is quite certain that gold exists in the
Owl Creek mountains, on the Lower
! Wind river, and on the head waters Of
! Powder river and the Rosebud. All
the localities being under the general
meaning, in Black hills, and outside the
Sherman, Augur, and Terry treaty Of
1869, except go far as the privilege Of
! hunting game.
1t has been my intention TO communi-
cate much information 10 you this sum
mcr on the above described country.
and rs Indians have no absolute right to
/ the soil, there may be bat little difficult
/ ~ III distinguishing their hunting priv
iIeges.
! propose. if You DO not object. 10
open up the Yellowstone river By send
/ ingGen. G. A, Forsylhe and Col Grant OF
ny staff, up the lclostouc to the month
Of the Big Horn, as soon rs the ice
breaks, which will give tho lowest tide
water, having already secured ,t-am-
boat to make this exploration.
If Gen. Forsythe is successful, will
send Gen. Custer with command from
Fort Lincoln across 10 the mouth OF
Powder river, thence up on the south
bank OF the Yellowstone, crossing Pow
der river, Tongue river, Rosebud, and
on 10 the mouth of Big Horn.
This country il as yet entirely unex-
p,ored, and the expedition may develop
many valuable auriferous section and
make the Father DeSmet story, to some
extent true, but 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 Greek
mountain, from Fort STAN baugh, ria
Fort Brown, to the mouth OF the Big
Horn, and will bring it back through
the parks about the head waters of Pow
der river, visited by Capt. Mills and his
command last summer.
These arc for beauty equal to those
described so graphically by Gen. Gustav
as existing IN The Black hills Of Chet. |
ennc. NAV also say, from my own
knowledge, that the valleys of Big and
Little Popoaigie, Little Wind river and
Nam Wind river can scarcely lie OK
celcd in beauty and fertility, while tho /
student OF nature will find there most
extraordinary uphcaval Of earth crust
probably TO be found IN this cabinet. |
am OF opinion that this country is gold
bearing, but of its abundance there can
only be conjecture at present.
feel quiet confident of our ability Ia !
prevent the intended trcspasses on the /
rights OF the Indians, and cavalry and
infantry in the department OF Dakota
are being moved at the present tImo to
the most available points 10 carry out
my directions We're il not for these |
precautions on the part of the govern
mcnt there might be repetition OF the
California, Gold beach, Gold lake hum
bugs, with still greater spfferIngs, as
many Of the persons now crazy 10 20 10
the Black hills never think Of how they
are to exist after they get there, or how
they could return IN case OF failure.
Ii they viii wait for further irf,rma-
ton from the government, which now
seems TO be DESTROYS, making concession
to meet these new interests, there will
be no one moro willing than my self TO
aid in ascertaining their value, so far
as the troops are concerned. Should .
points from which miners start be 20
remote As to make it impossible for our
scanty force TO watch them, We can oc-
cupy the two or thee gaps in the Black
hills, and cifectually exclude trespassers.
Very respectfully,
Il. III. SHERIDAN,
Lieatcnaut-G cnerai Commanding.
Nes Grass.
AIler Gen. Sherman made his march
10 the sea, all IN the wide track Of wa-te