The New York herald., 1877-10-13
New Military Posts-Thsir Locality
and Surroundings.
A VISIT TO THE NATIONAL PARK
Summer Meanderings by the Mountains
aud Trout Streams.
MINERAL AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.
Soldiers Needed to Accompany
the March Of Empire.

LIlS MdI-Ckl Ol ELL
WASHINGTON. Oct IL, 1877.
The letters or General Sherman the Secretary Of
War during his visit to the Yellowstone region in July
and August last just furnished for pubcaion
The nrst 10 dated "Cantonment the Tongue River,
Montana, July IT. 1871" and is descriptive Of his
journey from st. Louis 70 that point whore he found
General Miles In command and where ho 1rst learned
that sitting Bull mad taken refuge in Canada. Con-
cernng post and other matters OF interest he
says fc fla .f aaats
When tho new post 10 fnishod, which will be before
wnor the troops will be comfortably quartered and
eae Indians cannot return Already class oil IRON
uersmen making ranches and settlements here
ab0uts, and In q lew years make tho route 10
Montana by way OF the Yellowstone W safe as The
Platte and Arkansas, thus forcing the hostile Indians
to break up INTO small and harmless parties. For
some years hence will have TO keep pretty
strong garrison here because besides defending th,s
Sresonsd points ana 10 follow any small parties en-.
gagged in deprsdaons In other words the forts along
This limo viii only have 10 defend themselves, but
be able " send out strong detach ments.
There is great deal OF valuable country along the
Duluth 70 Bismarck, although financial failure, has
been and Will continue to be OF advantage 10 the coun-
try at lsrga As far ss Bismarck it done and well
d0as Tue next link from Bismarck 70 the mouth OF
Powder River is very important !! will DO distance
OF $50 miles but will cut on 800 mites OF the Missouri
River and l50 Of the Yellowstone, having the Yellow
stone from Powder River 20 the mouth of the Big
Horn for navigation.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The valleys Of the Upper Yellowstone afford lands
capable OF cultivation wheat, corn. OATS barley and
a garden xn f. onmsa range s Jf o.. as
terprise which the United States has
than the extension Of the Northern Pacific Railroad
from present terminus at Bismarck TO the mouth OF
the Powder River on the Yellowstone. Alter that IS
done we can smelly leave TO te the extension of the
the head oil navigation Of tho Columbia RIVER
Alter couple OF months can speak win more conf
uence on tnat point.
now regard the sioux Indian problem, as . war
question: solved by tho operations OF General Miles
posts this summer. Boass can come ana 80 now
where Q year ago none would venture except with
srong guards WO0a ysrds are oU,ns 10
Indians have been forced the agencies tor food
and protection. or havo lied across ihe border into
have driven all about shs post; looked into tho
barracks, which are as yet nsw-huls Of cottonwood
posts, with dirt floors ana dirt roofs, but will soon DO
replaced by good framc barracks aud quarters. The
stores OF all kinds hand abundant good,
that no apprehension II let account OF lhe enemy
the severity Of winter. SIX small companies o
fanlry are here, TWO more are roue and four arc
mounted captursd ponies and are out = scout
The seventh cavalry Is also near here scouting to tho
north, but discover no marks OF an enemy.
AS winter spProaenss part o. the cavalry wll doubt
maintenance. To-morrew night we resume our Trip
up the Yellowstone and Big Horn to the other now
post building at the forks oil tho Big and Little Horn
There expect 10 meet General sheridan.
beg you not TO oonstrue this official, rs have
W. =. SHERMAN, General
on THE sTEAMKR ROSEBUD
BIG HORN RIVER July rs, 1871
DnAR siR-Wc lsit the cantonment a. the mouth Of
the Tongue River on the evening OF July Is. ana
reached the mouth OF the Big Horn In three days
then entering the Big Horn We steamed hard tor three
days against powerful current, and reached the
post tho forks Of tho Little and Big Horn yesterday
morning early. Many boats hsa preceded US, all or
nearly all discbsrging parts OF their freight tho
west bank from winch hauling the post is compare
lively easy. Our boat which WAS built specially Tor
the navigation OF this and similar streams, had land
four miles below post about OF cargo.
The diicay was NOT tho want Of water but Ny
Of tho strong current, which In tho bends must DO
We found ut the post tho United States steamer
General sherman, which has good hull. good
gine but too much and too hne caoin TOR this work.
water lasts. and viii be employed in carrying
bank by the contract boats. The post already has
good supply OF oil essential stores and there is
for is VIII be hand stored. The day before
We reached the post we met General Sheridan aud
wh0 nva Ssa e Ig rom to1
this post is well located and that t sup
plisd with reasonable economy In the future.
THE NEW POST.
The now post will be gsrrisonsd by six companies
OF ths Eleventh iuiantry TOUR companies OF tho
Second cavalry under command Lieutenant Colonel
Buell., OF tho Eleventh infantry, ofnccr of great
energy and by profession an engineer. He served
regiment ana afierwsrd ss q brigade commandcr. lie
has been on The ground less than MONTH but nus
steam sawmlll q WORK and large mass OF cotton-
logs being RAPIDLY sawod up into lumber tho
new barracks. He has about two hundred civil
mechanics at work and six buildings In progress, be-
sides temporary shelters Tor hs stores and
he enerains fear but that nc Will finish his post
substantially before winter.
The location Of this post Is In the very heart OF the
Sioux country. With ths ono and thai at the mouth
ol Tongue River occupied by strong enterprising gar
rsoDs thcse Sioux Indians can never this
Try, aud they will be forced 10 rcnain AZ thor
Agencies or take refuge IN the British possessions
AT present there are no Indians here or hercsbous.
have netnor seen heard of any; General Sheri-
mono nor any traces OF any, SO that the
principal snd aimed NJ by the construction OF these
poss Is already reached, aud II Is only to make this
end permanent tina, should pcrscvers their
pletion. Tne at Tongue River eau be supplied by
steamboats,. This one, at The mouth oi tns Little
Big Horn, cannot depend This river, tho current
being too strong TO be navgaied by ordinary boats
ter, General Card, this moment recommending
10 select somo point the mouth OF the big horn
whereat TO establish q supply depot, at which al
neight destined tor this post can be landed aud
hauled up here. We have board q COMPANY OF
Infantry 20 guard this depot and are nearly agreed
proper three miles above the mouth OF the Big Horn
where tho hauling will be about thirty miles by OK
rans These can be hired here and will do the work
more surely ana better than the steamboats,, Tor they
oave been sometiInes two weeks IN working up thc
morn % anu nsse I've 'e' .ner loads strung along us
vinced that this s the wiscst course, thus
maintain strong military pos. IN tho very heart Of
tho hostile Sioux country, with only haul oil twenty
miles, which insignificant as compared with most OF
posts south OF tnta
Ihe country west oi this 10 good country and will
rapidly MI up with emigrants, who WILL within the
next lew years, build up community as strong and
ns capable oi selfdefence s Colorado.
have Company l. or the Second cavalry, Captain
Norwood. which belongs At Fort Ellis, Montana, now
campcd ON the west bauk OF the Yeowstone opposite
the mouth OF theBig Horn escort mo up TO Ellis AS
We havo decided on tho the point men,
toned as supply depc. for this post will land and
start Tor Es leaving General Tory with this boat
return TO Bismarck for load. | Will instruct
General Terry 70 report in lu OF a these matters 10
ftxn tint IN nj sl.l.
liminary.
The weather has been intensely ho--as hot as
ToxM--but last night had thunder sausll. since
which the air has become perfect. General good
health prevails here, and | am Impressed with the
value Of this country.
Truly yours,