The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-30
THE BIG HORN.
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~ "tAtNE
The region which Is familiATiy desis-
mated The Big Horn country" Il re-
plete with interest 10 the thousands Of
perssas who are contemplating settle
ment in the far west. The term do
scribes the geographical boundaries Of
q section which Is probably richer in
material resources than any district Of
like dimensions IN the whole chain Of
mountains. 1t has always been sup
posed that the Big Horn mountains
abounded in the precious metals. That
the climate In the lower attitudes is
delightful and the scenery enchanting
is equally indisputable. Gen Sheridan
has done much 10 direct attention 10
the mineral, agricultural and pastoral
resources Of that region. His expi-
dillon through the country some years
ago convinced him Of the SURPRISING
value Of the section, and, for the pur-
pose OF supplying specific Information
respecting the country, Gen. Sheridan
ordered Lieut.. W. r. Clark, Of the ID
calyalry, an experienced and Intelligent
frontiersman. TO thoroughly explore the
section, Of which 30 little was known,
and 10 incorporate his data into n for
NAL report. This duty Lieut.. Clark
has performed In AZ admirable way.
His report is as follows:
/ have the honor 10 submit the fol-
lowing report OF a reconnaissance OF
the Big Horn mountains, made by q
scouting and exploring party under my
command, In compliance with orders
from the commanding officer OF the
post, issued under authority OF the de-
partment and division commanders.
l left Fort Keogh. Montana territory,
June 81, 1880. accompanied by Lieut..
ii. Leggett, 9th infantry, acting engi-
neer officer and quartermaster; Col. ii.
W. Farrar, Of Chicago. and twenty en-
listed men, five enlisted Cheyenne
scouts, and six Cheyenne Indians, who
volunteered 10 accompany the expc-
dition. We had pack-mule transpor-
tation.
The data upon which | must build my
report was written often In moments
Of fatigue and hurry, among the incon-
veniences Of camp life on tho march.
and | can only, therefore, shadow forth
tho agricultural worth and prospects
for mineral wealth OF the country passed
over. rs well rs touch slightly the for
bidding aspects Of some Of the bad
land regions, and hint ut the grandeur
and beauty Of some OF the scenery Wis
tied. An itinerary Of cur trail was kept;
and its direction; MS well rs that of
various streams crossed and seen, was
noted by Lieut.. Leggett. A prismatic
compass vas used by him for this pur-
pose, the Indians with us aiding him
greatly in determining tho general d.
rection Of the streams In the.mountains,
and discovering TO us the trails and
passes which are marked on the map.
II was hoped that tho attitudes
Of some OF the higher peaks OF
the Big Horn mountains, as
well as some Of tlis passes, could be
approximately estimated by means Of
an aged aneroid barometer, and Lieut..
Mcclure, chief engineer officer of tho
department, kindly furnished me with
one, and the officers Of the Union Pa
ciic railroad with another, but both
failed to give any satisfactory results.
Tbs unsettled and war like attitude
Of the Ute Indians nj the time led TO the
belief that some OF the Mex Pcrces and
Bannocks might make an effort TO pass
In tho vicinity OF the Wind river and
Big Horn ranges OF mountains, and
Join the Sioux In tho north, and, to
guard against this possible contingency
was ordered TO establish communica-
tion with the Arapahoes ut the Sho-
shone reservation, and furnish prompt
Information to the troops and settlers
should the Utes attempt anything Of
the kind, rs well rs TO use the force
under my command to capture and de-
stroy any small party.
Two Of the packers being practical
miners Of n rather large experience, 1
supplied them with the necessary Inn
plements for prosecuting q search for
gold and silver, both for placer and
quartz mining, and, having mercury, I
was prepared in n rude way, to assay
any quartz which might seem 10 indi-
cate the presence Of the precious metal.
Some years since. l had been told In
stsct confidence, by Indians who had
roamed about the Big Horn mountains
from early childhood, that they knew
where there was n large quantity Of
gold, and this story having been con-
iirmed in various ways, l had not only
hope but confidence that l should find
mineral deposits Of value.
Taking the Custer road, we left Fort
Keogh Mt l y. m, passed through the
rough and barren bad lands which
environ the rich alluvial bottom on the
south Of where the posi- Ia located, and
assembled to the rolling table land b.
yond. The Cheyenne and Sioux Indi-
ans who had been captured, or who had