New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-16
General Clusters Second Expedition ;u,.
the Hills,

| sneA
| the Hills.
The New York World of the fifth insta,.
says General George A. Custer, the leads.
of the Black Hills expedition of last yesr
is in that city attending to private natter
before returning to the plains to Orpani,.
his men for the trip of exploration which
| will set out under his command during m.
summer of 1875. This second expedite,
will penetrate further, and complete III.
work entered upon last year. General Custe,
| will proceed to Fort Lincoln, and about N.
first or fifteenth OF June the expedition will
| start out from the Missouri river The armsI
| force will number about 1000 men, MANY n
! WHOM have been over tne route before AZ
members Oflast year expedition. Since their
return in the fall, they have been spending
| the time in Louisiana. carrying out fedora
instructions there. Seventy five Indiana
we'll acquainted with the district to be yons
| over, will also be included in the expedi
| ton. The utmost caution will be exercised
| N the selection of the men, as none are de-
| sired who can not ON occasion ''shift 70,
themselves A journey Of nearly l5l
| miles is laid out through the Black Hills 10
| the country lying west of it, into a region
which yet has never been explored b.
| white men. There is an impression, founded
on circumstantial evidence, that this regio,
IA far richer in precious metal than tn,
IN his last letter gives it as his opinion tina;
such is the fact.
This district is, however. filed with nOs
tile indians. In tract 100 miles snuars |
probably not less than 5000 Indians are to
he found IN the summer season. These in 1
Guide men, children and sauaws; fully .,OOs
are fighting men, and they have heratotor.&
resisted sli attempts to invade the land. 4
short time ago party of 100 miners,
armed and determined to make the entry
started odt from Montana to effect a pas
sage from the western borders. They were
driven back by superior numbers Of
Indians, with considerable loss, making
retreat Of several hundred milos, exposed to
a continual ha EASEMENT from lurking sayapes |
These hostile Indians occupying the western |
portion of the Black Hills and the country
Immediately adjacent, do not make it /
permanent residence; nor are they of one
tribe. During the winter they subsist a.
the agencies along the Missouri and other
rivers. and in the spring. as soon as the !,
grass is OF sufficient length to afford their /
ponies nibble. they leave the posts and /
make tor the hunting grounds. They are
sections of different tribes, mainly, however, |
composed OF Sioux Indians of bad type /
They are well armed, and will leave the /
station in a fe " weeks, while the expedit;o, /
can not leave until the month Of June sets
in. since the plains near the base Of the
Ills are still covered with water, and unfit
Nor wagon travel This moisture will dry |
p towards the latter part of May, but the :,
Indians, having no wagons. are able to taxi.
Ian earlier start, and be on their summery
grounds ready to receive their
white friends from the agencies.
Inc time required to make their Obserya
lions Will be three months or more. Scien
tine observers will accompany the party.
the whole to be under the command Of
General Custer, who will receive the reports
from the biologists and others and moor.
porate them as part of his general report
There are several objects to be attained in
the sending out OF the expedition. Besides
The small group of miner which have already
been taken from the Black Hills country BY
The l nited States troops. there are large and
we'll organized companies about starting
rom Cheyenne, Omaha and the vicinity OF
ankton: determined to work a passage
MO the hills country. They will be driven
Out, ana every precaution taken to prevent
my invasion OF the reservation 80 long "a
he present treaty holds. The main object
u the trip 10 TO gain inform alton and trust
worthy knowledge on which Congress NAV
lct al It's session next winter on the matter
u continuing or disseminating the treaty
y winch the lands are reserved. General
ulster Will prepare his report at once upon
rs return. and have it ready before the |
Meeting of Congress. General Custer ia
My to determine the nearest point on y
aliway or river, from which road could
70 most expeditiOusly opened to the Blacks
ILLS in case they were thrown open 70
ettiement by the whites.
Another point to be determined during
ne present season is the navigability Of
he 1eilo wstone, exactly how far it NAV
70 successfully navigated by boats Of
arlons draught, and what kind of OBJ.
tructIons are to be met with. A steamboat
! now fitting up at Fort Lincoln to 20 up
ypedition. '"'
The interest throughout the West and
long the whole frontier is very great in
sgard to the expedition. Had no step Of
1a KIND been taken by the government the
'hnx of miners could not have been pre.
ented. Many of the eager frontiersmen
re now content to wait the return of thu
sI ah and it's report, feeling confident
Dened. ~ " ''7"--S