Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-27
THE BLACK HILLS.
What Gen. Sheridan Knows
About Them.
Father DesmeFs Mountain of
Gold.
rrespassers to be Kept Out.
Proposed Exploration of the
Yellowstone and Tongue
Rivers.

CHICAGO, March 26.-Lieut.-Gen. Sher-
idan has written the following highly in
teieSting letter in regard TO the Black Hills
country. He sets forth what has been done,
and what the government proposes to do in
the matter, and Immediately concerns all
who contemplate going into that country
for gold:
Headquarters Military DiUisiOR q the
No., Chicago, March 25, 1S75-GeD. w.
4. Sherman, Headqua ters Of tue army; st.
Louis, MO.-General: In reply 10 your
question, what do you know of the Black
Hills? | respectfully submit the following
remarks:
Ny first knowledge of the Black Hills
was derived from an interview
with late father Desmet, a noted
Catholic missionary whom met many
years ago on Columbia river, in Oregon,
from whom heard an Indian romance Of
mountains Of gold in the Black Hills, and
his explanation Of that extraordinary and
delusiVe story to the 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 explorations Of Gen. Custar,
and gets its name from the black, scrubby
character Of the timber which grows on the
sides and tops Of the mountains and hills.
It comprises the whole Of the country
bounced on the east by longitude 102 degs.,
on the south by SWeetWGter and Laramie
rivers, on the west by Big Horn and Wind
rivers, and on the south by the Yellowstone
River. This is really a country OF Black
Hills, but embraced in it are several lOcali-
ties called Black Hills, for instance, Black
Hills of Laramie, Black Hills Of Powder
River, and Black Hills OF Cheyenne River,
the latter being the lOcali' y in which Gen.
Gustav made his reconnaissance last sum-
mer, and about which there is so much
speculation at the present time, and within
the bounds Of which it is supposed by a
large number Of people, IS TO be found
Father Desmet's mountain OF gold. The
story was, while living with Sioux Indians,
he was shown by them nuggets Of gold,
which, they said, had been obtained at diff
ferent points in the Black Hills, supposed
to be from beds Of the Big Horn,
Rosebud and Powder Rivers, and from
branches Of the Tongue river, and on his
representing that such yellow metal was Of
great value, they told him they knew
where there was a mountain Of it. Subse-
-duent Investigation however proved that
the Indian Mountain Of gold was nothing
more than a formation Of yellow mica,
such as may he found in a number Of
places in the above described country
The Black Hills Of Cheyenne, described
by Gen. Custar, are situated between the
north and south forks of that river, one Of
which is known as Belle FOurche, the other
South FOrk, and although l have the ut
most confidence in the statement Of Gen.
Custar and tYen. FOrsythe, Of my staff, that
gold was found near Haynes Peak,
may safely say there has been no fair test
made to determine its existence in large
quantities. There is not a Territory in
the West where gold does not exist, but In
many Of them the quantity is limited to
the color, which is az much as has
been found in the vicinity OF
Harney's peak. The geological specimens
brought back by Custar's expedition are
not favorable indications Of the existence Of
gold in great quantity; still it may be there.
But as the treaty Of 1869, duly ratified,
virtually deeds this portion Of The Black
Hills to the Sioux Indians, there is no
alternative but to keep out trespasSerS.
There is not much doubt Of the correct
ness of his statement that gold exists in
large quantities in the Black Hills, but
much further West than the Black Hills Of
Cheyenne. 1 have seen nuggets from
Big Horn and Tongue Rivers, and
many specimens from near the foot
Of Stambaugh, in the Upper
Wind River country, where mining
has failed for want Of water for alluvial
washing, and from hOstilitfes Of Indians,
and have good reason to believe, in fact
it is quite certain, that gold exists in the
Owl Creek mountains, in the Lower
Wind river, and in the head-Waters of
Powder river, and the Rosebud, all the
localities being under the general meaning
in the Black Hills, and outside the Sher-
man, Augur and Ferry treaty of 1869, eX-
cept so far as the privilege to hunt game.
purpose, if you do not object, TO open
up the Yellowstone river by sending Gen.
Geo. a Fosythe and Col. Grant, Of my
staff. up the Yellow Stone to the mouth Of
Big-hOrn as soon as the ice breaks, which
will give the lowest tide water, having al
ready secured a steamboat TO make
this exploration. If Gen. FOrsythe is
successful, will send Gen. Custar. with a
tULLlAAGAlu AlblL " NAH AALAAL04A e4AAI1o lAAE
mouth of Powder river, thence up on the
south bank Of the Yellowstone, crossing
Powder river, Tongue river, Rosebud, and
on to the mouth Of Big Horn. This cOUn-
| Try is as yet entirely unexplored, and the
expedition may develop a very valuable
auriferOus section, and make the Father
! Desmet story to some extent true.
Many Of the persons now crazy to 60 to
| the Black Hills never think Of how they
are to exist after they get there and how
they could return in case Of failure. II
they will wait for further information from
the government, which now seems to be
| DESTROYS OF making concessions to meet
| these new interests, there will be no one
more willing than myself to aid in ascer.
tanning their value.
Very respectfully,
p. II. SHERIDAN,
Lt.-Gen. Commanding