The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-29
GLOBE MONDAY MORNING. MARCH 20 1875

Ject i'll view, an order was given for Gen.
Clusters reconnaissance. The discovery of
particles of gold by alluvial washing near
Harney's Peak on the eastern slope of the
Black Hills of Cheyenne followed and
brought to the surface. Father Desmet's
story for the third time.
The Black Hills Of Cheyenne, described
by Gen Custer, are situated between the
north and south forks of that river, one Of
which Is known as Belle Fourchc, the other
as the South Fork and, although have
the utmost confidence in the statements of
Gen. Custer and Gen. Forsytbe, of my
staff, that gold was found near Harney's
Peak, may safely say there has not been
any fair test yet made 10 determine its ex-
istence In large quantities. There Is not
territory in the West where gold does not
exist. but In many places the quantity is
limited to the color, which is as much as
has yet been obtained near Harvey Peak.
The geological specimens brought back by
the Custer expedition are not tavort BILE ia
dications of the existence Of gold in great
quantities. Still, it may be there But as
the treaty OF 1869, duly ratified. virtually
deeds this portion of the Black hills OF
the Sioux Indians, there is no alternative
but to keep out trespassers.
| But to 90 back to Father Desmet's infCr-
| nation. There is not much doubt of the
| correctness Of his statement that gold ex-
lists in the Black hills, but much further
west than the Black hills of the Cheyenne
| have seen nuggets from the Big Horn and
Tongue rivers, and many specimens from
near Fort Stambough, in the upper Wind
river country, where the mining has failed
for want of water for aluvial washing, and
from the hostility of the Indians and !
have good reasons 10 believe, in tact it is
quite certain, that gold exists in the Owl
Creek Mountains, on hesdwaters of the
Powder river and the Rosebud all the To-
calties being, under the general meaning,
in the Black hills, and outside of the Sher-
man, Augur, and Terry treaty of 1869, cx-
cept SO far as the privilege to hunt game.
1t has been my intention To communicate
much information this coming summer to
the government on the above described
country, and as the Indians have no ALSO
lutte right to the soil, there may be little
difficulty in cytinguishing their hunting
privileges.
/ purpose if you ito not object, to oper
up the Yellowstone river, by sending Gen
George A Forsythe and Col. Grant of my
staff, up the Yellowstone TO the mouth Of
the Big Horn as soon as the ice breaks
which will give the lowest iidewater. hav.
ing already secured steamboat to make
this exploration. IT Gen. Forsy Tie is sue
cessful | will send Gen. Custer with t
command from Fort Lincoln across Tho
mouth of Powder river, thence UP on Iii,
south bank of the Yellowstone, crossing
Powder river, Tongue river, the Ro.ch'd
and on to the mouth of Big Horn. z :.
country is as yet entirely uGcxploiel an,
the expedition may develop very valudhI,
auriferous section, aud make the Father
Desmet story To some extent true hut
am of the belief that a moutt,in # n:ic,
has not changed to gold.
will also send an expedition down ia,
Wind river, through the Owl Creek noun
tains from Fort St. Ambaugh via For
Brown to the mouth of the Big Horn, ant
will bring it back through the headwatcr
OF the Powder river, visited by Capt. Mill
and his command last summer These
Parks are, for beauty. fully equal to thost
existing IN the Black hills of Cheyenne
| may also say, from my own knowledge
that the valleys of tho Big aud Little Pop
ooge, Little Wind river and Main Wine
river can scarcely be cXcelled in beauty
and fertility, while the student of natur,
will find there most extraordinary up
heavals of the earths crust probably to b'
found on this continent. am of opinion
that this country is gold bear
ing, but Of its abundance ther,
can only be conjecture. At present
feel quite confident of our ability to pre-
vent the intended trespass on the rights o
Indians, and the cavalry and infantry il
the department of Dakota are being moved
at the present time to the most availabl,
points to carry out my directions Of Sept
3 of last year.
Were it not for these precautions on tn,
part of the government there might be
repetition of CALIFORNIA; gold beach ant
gold lake humbugs, with still greater suffer
ing, as many of the persons now crazy t.
go to the Black hills never think of how
they are to exist after they get there, O.
how they could return in case of failure
If they will wait for further information
from the government, which now seems t
be DESTROYS of making concessions to NEE
these new interests, there will be no on,
more willing than myself to aid in ascer
tanning their value.
SO far as troops are concerned, | viii
promise activity in the present emergency
and the conscientious performance of duty
Should the points from which the miner
start be so remote as to make it impossible
for our scanty force to watch them, w,
can occupy the two or three gaps in tn
Black hills and cffectually exclude tres
passers. Very respectfully,
(Sgned,) p. II. SHERIDAN,
Lieut.. Gen Commanding