The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-20
THE BASE OF THE BLACK HILLS.
BLACK HILLS. DAKOTA, Of EAST BRANCH
OF BEAVER GREEK, June a 1873. |

BLACK Hills DAKOTA. oS EAST BRANCH
OF BEAVER CREEK, June A, 1878.
Leaving Camp No. 10, on the Mode Braneh OF
the Beaver az halfpast five yesterday morning,
we encamped at eleven ~ The southwestern base
OF the Black Hills. Captain Spaulding and myself
rode Ia advance Of he column O long dis ance
and found here the point where the East Branch
issues from the mountain into the plain, about
miles from he Middle Branch. The
hills here form natural gateway, just
without when 10 delightful little
PARK. The stream runs through tne middle,
aud Is shaded ~ COX elder trees which groS in
cense groups near the water. The turf ol ne
bottom Is IKE velvet in softness and luxuTiance.
No pgettler spot could be selected ioc perma.
nent camp, ana sucn II shall be. We shall sojourn
here flr three OF Tour weeks. a stockade is 10
course or construction, for tue storing OF supplies.
and The wagoI IRAN Will be despatched to-mor-
row morning Tor Fort Laramie 70 bring Iresh
ratons IL i expectei 70 90 ana return
In twenty days. and will % escorted
BY the iniantry Two conpaniesj ana q small sa-
vance guard OF cavalry. On TWO sices OF the
camp are loot nils whlcn afford excenent posts
for the pickets. By order or Colonel Dodge the
WORK OF throwing ~ lntrenchmsnts GA these was
begun TINS afternoon. the artllery placed there
Will command the whole PARK and the canyons
above IL Ia the hIlls nom which Iadian attack
would probably De made, II coniem plated at all.
The scenery mere Is more pleasing ana picturesque
than ans We nave encountered heretofore. Nearly
eighty miles away, wnen We first caught sight OF
TIE BlacE His, they seemed lana Of enchant-
ment tnat w0ua grow no nearer to u as we Gd-
vanced, but dreamlly fade away ike mirage.
Bot mere we are al the entrance or the indian
Edcn-a land OF Movers, iruit, money, gold and
precious stCnes-and toe FIRST impression gained
rom view Ol the steep valleys when extend Iuto
Z - e4rL Il III il
talon nnding fne iovelest aspects Of na'ufe ia
tue inner parks and glens which lie be-
Orcezes blow IRON ont the hiGQen recesses ~ day,
bat, ais tneY last night sweiled 10 great WIND,
formed rom two blasts blowing cut 81 different
CAM ohs throdgn the mountains, AM they threat
ened TO demOllsn every tent ia the camp. Tue
- rom these two canyons tnat tne waters Of the
east Crancn Of the Beaver n0@ the northern one
pouring lnto The pain rapid, hmpid torrent
Gear ohle and sparkling as crystal. Tne stream
On the MP as running sOEthw ara be-
tween two RANGES 81 Nils; in reality Il
Ouy turns seutnw2rd af.cr. LEAVING lis
rocky bed ~ plough through the sois sand Or the
plain. IS there taat u gathers Ia q short dis
lance a bitter alkaline taste But mere the water
is COO. and Get, although naraeaed bT coIlac
WIN ypsum. Red ana waite sanas one seem 10
form the sond portion VI the mountain We nave
seen no granite formation or quartz as yet. ttu-
metiatey east VI tie camp hlgh butte rises
ABOVE tue surrounding emlncaces. many
so 20 That i can 6s distnsalshed
from is DrotLer hils, &. 4 distance or several
masses, near ns summit. Is relieved ueoS oy tue
DARK IOnage " pines anu ceoars mantiln- lts
sues. Near the larger canyon, on low foot Hill,
are a dozen Irregular, O0eisE.like rocks OF rcd
sandstone stancing 10 rank, lo0Alng. rs Que
approaches them. lac peulGed gIanfs
o.. anotaer eFoen. lurOugn tie opening
OF the canyon they are yery cOfstieuous
l. after exploring parties nave become Thoroughly
cOgnzant u the SOai ntrn poruOA of TIE Back
Hills Wnlie We are coca nped AeFs. passage can
dltion viii nave besn very fortunate. raere j. q
IRA fl4lfl 3