The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-04-01
THE BLACK HILLS.

THE BLACk HlLLS.
An Open Letter from Gen. Sheridan to
Gen. Sherman--The Formers Opin-
ion as TO the Gold Prospects, Etc.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE !
MISSOURI. CHICAGO, March p . I
Gen. W 7. SHERMAN, Headquarters Of the Army,
st. Louis. Mo:
Ge1erdl-In reply to your question: What
do you know Of the Black Hills!" / respect
fully submit the following remarks
My first knowledge of the Black Hills was
derived from interviews with the late Father
de Smet, noted Catholic missionary, whom
| met many years ago on the Columbia River,
in Oregon, from whom | heard the Indian
romance of mountain of gold in the Black
Hills, and his explanation of that eXtraordi-
nary and delusiyc story.
To Indians frontiersmen and explorers the
Black Hills country is much more extensive
than that particular locality brought to the
notice Of the public by the recent explOra-
tions of Gen. Custer, and gets its name from
the black, scTubby character of the timber
which grows on the sides and tops Of the
mountains and hills. 1t comprises the whole
Of the country bounded on the east by lon
gitude l02 on the south by the Sweetwater
and Laramie Rivers, on the west by the
Big Horn and Wind Rivers, and on the north
by the Yellowstone River This is really the
country of the Black Hills; but embraced in
it are several localities called "Black Hills
For instance, the Black Hills of the Lara
mie," the Black Hills Of Powder River" and
the Black Hills of the Shyenne River,n the lat
ter being the locality in which Gen. Custer made
his reconnaissance last summer and about
which there is so much speculation at the
present time, and within the bounds of which,
it is supposed by large number of people, is
TO be found the Father dc Smet mountain OF
gold.
a -.+S,. hat, L,
ing with the Sioux Indians he was shown by
them nuggets of gold, which they informed
him had been obtained at different points in
the Black Hills, supposed to be from the beds
of the Big Horn, Rosebud and Powder Riv-
ers and from branches of the Tongue River;
and on his representing that such yellow metal
was of the greatest value they told him they
knew where there was a mountain OF it. Sub
sequent Investigation, however, proved that
the Indian mountain of gold was nothing
more than formation OF yellow mica, such
may be found in a number of places in the
above-described country.
e Pad ads scaTeSeY S Y,,t given The stqSy iRqRGhl
happened to be in New York, and 1t was there
brought to my recollection by prominent
gentleman, who asked me where Father de
Smet was to be found, and insisted that some
one should be sent at once TO get from him the
secret of the gold mountain which Wouldpay
the national debt, etc.
After | had informed him that it was an old
and exploded story his ardor cooled, and The
excitement about the mountain OF gold
again Subsided.
1t so happened however, that the Black
! Hills country was embraced in my military
! command and two years ago it became ap
parent to me that military post IN the BlacE
| Hills of the Shyenne would soon become
necessary for the proper protection oil tht
| settlements in Nebraska from the raids OF The
al lpra hpFnrp they rom
menced depredating on the frontier secured
a safe place for their families and villages IL
the locality mentioned. Believing that thes'
| Indians would never make war on cur setue
ments so long as we could threaten thei
families and villages in this remote locality
abounding in game and all that goes to max
Indian life comfortable, and with this purel
military object in view, the order was give
for the Custer reconnaissance.
The discovery of particles of gold by allu
| vial washing near Harneys Peak, on III
eastern slope of the Black Hills of the Shy
enne, followed and brought to the surface tn
| Father de Smet story for the third time.
The Black Hills of the Shyenne, describe
by Gen. Custer, are situated between tn
north and south forks of that river, one {
| which is known as the Belle Fourche, til
other the South Fork; and, although i hav
the utmost confidence in the statement G
Gen. Custer and Gen. Forsyth of my stat
|
may safely say there has not been any fai
test vet made to determine its existence
large quantities.
There is not Territory in the West wher
gold does not exist, but in many of them tn
quantity is limited to the COLOR which is 9
much as has yet been obtained near Harncy
| Peak. The geological specimens brougi
back by the Custer expedition are not favor;
BILE indications of the existence of gold in an
great quantity. Still it may be there, but &
as the treaty of 1869, duly ratified, virtual
deeds this portion Of the Black Hills to III
Sioux Indians, there is no alternative but
keep out trespassers.
| But to 90 back to the Father de Smet info
nation, there is not much doubt of the co
rectness of his statement that gold exists
r large quantities in the Black Hills; but muC
further west than the Black Hills of Il
! Shyenne ! have seen nuggets from the B
Horn and Tongue Rivers, and many specimen
: from near Fort Stambaugh, in the Upp
Wind River country, where mining has falIt
from want Of water for alluyial washing, al
J from hostilties of the Indians; and | ha
good reason to believe, in fact il is quite certai
that gold exists in the Owl Creek Mountains,
the Lower Wind River, and in the hca
, waters of Powder River and the Rosebud; {
. | these localities being under the general mea
/, ing IN the Black Hills, and outside of t
, Sherman, Augur and Terry treaty of 1869, c
: ceptso far as the privilege to hunt game.
= | has been my intention to communica
much information this coming summer TO {
| Government on the aboVe-described countr
c | and, rs the Indians have no absolute right
s the soil there may be but little difficulty IN {
o tinguishing their hunting privilege.
A purpose, if you do not object, to open
o the Yellowstone River, by sending G'
II George A Forsyth and Col. Grant, of my sta
II UP the Yellowstone TO the mouth Of the
l. Horn as soon as the ice breaks, which "
give the lowest tide of water, having alrea
! secured steamboat to make this explorati'
II Gen FORSYTH is successful | will send g,
Custer with a command from Fort Linco
across the mouth of Powder River, thence
on the south bank OF the Yellowstone, Gro
Is ing Powder River, Tongue River, Rosebl
% and on to the mouth Of the Big Horn.
This country is as yet entirelysunexplor
N and the expedition may develop a very va
able aurifcrous section, and make the Fati
- de Smet story to some extent true; but /
Ie of the belief that tbs mountain Of mica has
- changed to gold.
l viii also send an expedition down Wi
C. River, through the Owl Creek Mountai
from Fort Stambaugh, Cia Fort Brown,
o. the mouth of the Big Horn, and will brin:
O back through the parks about the head
of Powder River visited by Capt. Mills a
his command last summer. These pa
are for beauty fully equal to those descrii
= so graphically by Gen. Custer as existing
:, the Black Hills of the Shyenne. | may a
: saw from my own knowledge, that the val
% of the Big and Little Po-po-agie, Little vi
~ River and Main Wind River can scarcely
excelled in beauty and fertility, while
- student of nature VIII find them the most
v. traordinary upheayals of the earth's or
- probably to be found on this continent.
%. am Of the opinion that this country is &c
"A. bearing, but of its abundance there can O.
= be conjecture at present
y. ! feel quite confident CT our ability
y | prevent the intended trespsss on the rig
. Of the Indians, and the cavalry and infan
IL the Department of Dakota are be
"a moved at the present time to the most av
able points, 70 carry out my directions
nd Sept. :; of last year. Were it not for III
70 precautions on the part Of the GovernmC
es, there might be repetition of the Califor
Gold Beach and Gold Lake humbugs, wit
still GREATER sIltFarirsr as many of the pers