Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-15

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Ar Interesting Recital-The Custer
observation-disclosures on the Yellow.
stone.
Chicago Times, Friday.
Col. Fred Grant comes back from the far
west with a complexion several shades dark
er than it was when he left Chicago two
months ago. He travelled between three
and four thousand miles.
The nature of his mission he is not at
liberty to divulge. 1t is known, however,
that he carried out certain instructions Civ
en- by Gen. Sheridan, and it may be presum-
ed that it appertained to military affairs,
but it is unfair to speculate until the facts
are officially published. He spent some
time at the Bannock agency in Idaho, and
thence journeyed to Fort Ellis, on the head
waters Of the Yellowstone. About the time
he reachedthere two companies ofthe Second
cavalry left that post for the Marias river
by Capt. Whelan. Col. Grant, after visiting
encampment on Marias river, where the
companies named with detachments Of the
Third cavalry and Seventh infantry were
temporarily located. Subsequently this ex.
petition started out to explore the Milk
river valley for a suitable site for the propo-
sed military post. During his stay in the
region he heard many rnmors regarding Sit
ting Bulls intentions but none Of the stories
were regarded as trustworthy.
Col. Grant descended the Missouri river
on the steamer Key West. The waters were
high enough to make navigation quite easy
and safe. The boat made the run to the
mouth of the Yellowstone inthree days. The
distance depends somewhat on who makes
computation. The boatmen who navigate
those upper waters cay that it is nearly
eleven hundred miles from Fort Benton to
the mouth of the Yellowstone. The pay
master general of the army calls the distance
557 miles in his accounts for transportation.
The q~uartermaster's department calls it six
hundred miles. From Fort Buford Col.
Grant ascended the Yellowstone to Fort
Keogh, at the mouth of the Tongue river,
and from there visited the Custer battlefield.
He says the stories set afloat that the bones
of Clusters braves are bleaching in the sun,
and that they have not received decent
inte, ment, are in the main false and sensa-
tional. The ground is covered with the
bones of animals, but, with the exception
of a few skeletonic reminders of the mas.
sacre in the shape Of human bones which
had recently been washed, out of the sand,
the field presented no such ghastly spectacle
as has been pictured. He learned that relic
hunters had dug up some Of the bones and
carried them away.
Near Fort Keogh, on the Yellowstone, 9
town of one thousand or twelve hundred in
habitants, called Miles City, has sprung vi
since the post was established there. Like
all frontier towns, gambling constitutes on,
of the principle industries of the place, al
though the legitimate pursuits are not neg
lected there. The valley If Tongue rive
in the vicinity of the post is being rapid,
settled up. The land ia very rich, and tn
vegetation luxuriant. The Grow Indian
who ordinarily have their encampmen
near the post are o out hunting, one-hal
north and the other south Of the Yellowstone
Col. Grant says the boat met with n
accidents going up or coming down tn
YELLOWSTONE The steamer is named tn
Bachelor. It is a new boat, built expressl
for that trade, and draws only two feet 81
inches Of water. 1t assembled the Yellowston
which is full Of rapids, with two hundre
tons Of freight. The trip down the Missoul
to Bismarck, and from there home, vas d
void Of anything more than ordinary in
terest.