The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-14
MARCHING ON THE INDIANS
WroMTNG, DAKOTA, And MONTdN.I
TO BE the BiTTLE FIELDS.
The Bia Horn Expedition Pushing Through
the Wilderness The Black Hills Bubble
About TO hurst Bud for Gold nnnIers.


The Bie Horn Expedition Pushing Through
the Wilderness The Black Hills Bubble
About to Burst Bad for Gold Hunters.
DENVER, Col, March THE Big Horn
expedition, which is intended to free the whole
Of Wyoming and large portions OF Montana and
Dakota from the presence OF the dcpredatng
red men who now infest the big Horn, Powder
river, and other vast mineral and agricultural
regions In that section Of country, IS now thor
ouRhly organized and pushing its way into the
wildernesses OF the Northwest. These Indian
tribes, together with tho Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail agencies are to be located In the vicinity q
Forts sully, ~. Pierre, and Rice, on the Missouri,
much nearer to supply points than they are at
present, with THE advantages Of almost direct
rail and water communications, thus reducing
the expense of maintaining military posts and
agencies az least one.third.
The present expedition ia under the command
OF COL J. J. Reynolds, and Is accom- panied by
Gen. Crook. II consists Of Ave battalions Of
cavalry, OF two companies each, and one bat
TALON Of infantry, also composed Of two com.
panles. Besides these an excellent corps OF
twenty I've or thirty scouts, all Of whom are
thoroughly familiar with Indian cam p7igns and
capable of acting as guides. II under command
Of Col. 4. II. stanton. over 1900 head Of stock
are required In the various departments, OF which
$50 are cavalry horses, 40 mules for the wagon
train, aud 900 pack mules. The expedition left
Port Fetterman, wyoming, last Tuesday. and Is
at present travetsinR region wonderful not
only tn It's natural scenery, but in tho wealth OF
the country in mineral and AGRICULTURAL area.
The Indians known to be scattered over its vast
extent are said to number from 1900 to 10000,
of whom at least 1900 may be considered war
riors.
telligence OF the military movement to the north
tribes, 30 that Gen. Crook cannot surprise the
Indians, as he had expected to, and In yerinca-
ton OF this suspicion, Information reaches us
that the MinneconiOux and other tribes are al
ready overrunning the northern frontier, and
that numerous depfedatlons have recently been
committed by them. The entire command IL
proceeding In one body In a nOrthweaterlY
course, taking in old Forts Reno and Phil Kear-
ney en- route. Ofthe direction from this point
nothing Is definitely known. save that where In
dams are scented out ey the scouts, there the
companies will be. Every man In the expedition
has been thoroughly armed and IL expected to
| do active field duty az any time SIX weeks't ~
thought will bring the expedition to an end. but
| IL II possible operations may he protracted be-
| yond this time.
| The Black Hills bubble must inevitably burst
| IN very short time. The thing has utterly
| 1zzled out. and numbers OF disgusted gold
| hunters are returning from the mythical FL
| Dorado. Recent arrivals report the whole affair
| gigantic fraud. The country IL fiat che gulcnes
having but very slight falD, aud a depth Of from
fifteen to tbirty feet being required In the dig.
gines. while water Is Inaccessible during nine Of
| the twelve months OF the year. And yet, IN the
face of this overwhelming evidence, over forty
persons leave Cheyenne daily for the Hills, many
Of them striking out without blankets or food,
and begging their way along tne road. such
state Of things IL to be deprecated II there are
| any mines In the Black Hills which will warrant
| such stampede thty remain To be found, and
| the very general adviccof parties who have been
| there, aud who know whereof they speak Is that
| " man can make mia board and clothes where
| he Is he had better stay there, and wait until
| some more definite and tangible results have
| been obtained Of the mineral wealth Of the
| country.
| our Constitutional Convention has virtually
completed its iaLors, aud will adjourn in a ew
| days. IL IL thought the Constitution VIII pass
| the people without serious opposition.
The San Juan country is attracting more than
| passing attention just now, and some Of the
| mines will be worked on an extensive scale 10y
! Eastern capitalists, many Of whom have their
| agents here even now. waiting for the setting In
| OF the spring season 70 visit and inspect the
property, and, II possible, select suitable site
| for smelling and reduction WORKS. Placer mines,
| which paw SlO per day to the man, have been
discovered recently In the UncOm pahgre district