The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-01

This Season-Private Expeditions
Must Wait the Action Of the Gov"
eminent.
HEADQUARTERS }
MILITARY DIVISION OF TIE MISSOURI,
CHICAGO, March Is, 1874.
General W. T. Sherman, Headquarters of the
Army. St. Louis:
GENERAL: In reply to your question,
"What do you know of the Black Hills,
I respectfullv submit the following re-
marks. My first knowledge of the
Black Hills was derived from interviews
with the late Father Desmet, noted
J Catholic missionary whom I met many
wears ago on the Columbia river, in Ore
gon. from whom l heard the Indian ro-
nance of mountain Of gold in the Black
Hills, and his explanation Of that extra
ordinary and delusive story to the In
dams, 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 General Custer,
and gets it's name frem the black, scrubby
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 longitude
1O7 degrees; on the south by the Sweet
water and Laramie rivers ; on the west by
Big Horn and Wind rivers; on the north
bv the Yellowstone river. This is really
the country of the Black Hills, but en-
braced in it are several localities called
! r. ool- nf
Laramie Black Hills of Powder river,
and Black Hills of Cheyenne river, the
after being the locality in which Gen.
Custer made his reconnaissance last sum-
med, and about which there is so much
speculation at the present time, and with.
in the bounds of which it is supposed by a
large number of people is to be found
Father Desmet's mountain Of gold.
Father Desmet's story was that while
living 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. sup
posed to be from the beds of the Big
Horn, Rose Bud and Powder rivers, and
from the branches Of Tongue river, and
, or his representing that such yellow metal
was of the greatest value, they told hin
they knew where there was mountain
of it. Subsequent investigation, however
+ proved that the Indian mountain OF gole
wos nothing more than a formation O
yellow mica, such as may be found in ;
mum Der of places in the above described
country. had scarcely given the story
/, thought after this until about thre'
,ears ago. when happened to be in New
York. and it was there brought to IN,
recollection by prominent gentleman
i, who asked me where Father Desmet wa
!, to be found, and insisted some one shoul'
. be sent at once to get from him the sccre
of the gold mountain, which would pa,
the national debt. etc. After l had IN
= formed him it was an old and explode
] | story his ardor cooled, and the excitemen
: about the mountain of gold again sub
o sided.
1t so happened, however. that tn
# Black Hills country was embraced IN m
e military command. and five years ago
Il became apparent to me that q militar
o post in the Black Hills Of the Cheyenn
n would soon become necessary for tn
II proper protection Of the settlements !
e Nebraska from the raids of Sioux wal
20 riors who always, before they commence
4 depredating on the frontier. secured Sal
!. places for their families and villages
&c the locality mentioned. Believing ths
IT these Indians would never make war Q
e. our settlements as long as we coul
Q. threaten their families and villages
this remote locality. abounding in gan
h and all that goes to make Indian life cor
IN Portable. and with this purely milltar
=. object in view, an order was given 4
in Custer to make a reconnaissance OF di
n. covery. Particles of gold by alluvi
IN washing near Harney's Peak, on Il
ID western slope Of the Black Hills of Il
in Cheyenne followed, and brought to q
er surface Father Desmetss story for t
third time.
be The Black Hills Of the Sheyenne,
n. scribed by General Custer, are situat
" between the north and south forks ofth
go river one Of which is known IS the b
he Fourche; the other the south fork .
en- although have the utmost confidence
II. the statements Of General Custer .
ka General Forsyth, Of my staff, that g
re was found near Harney's Peak, N
safely say there has not been any {
test vet made to determine its exlstez
Il. in large quantities. There IS not tel
i've tory in the west where gold does not
no list, but in many Of them the quantity
As limited to color, which is IS much IS
ex- vet been obtained near Harney's Pc
IDS Geological specimens brought back BY
led Gustav expedition are not favorable N
nm, cations Of the existence Of gold IN
The great quantity. Still il may be the
her Eut Is the treaty Of 1859, Gully ratih
ere virtually deeds this pcrtion Of the b
,is- Hills to the Sioux indians. there Is no
ing tentative bat to keep out tresspassefs