Year: 1874

orally open and extremely fertile. The


main portion of that passed over since


entering the uuexplored portion of


the Black Hills consists of beautiful


parks or valleys, near or through
l which flows stream of clear, cold
i water perfectly free from alkali, while
bounding these peaks or valleys is in
/ variably found unlimited supplies of
! timber, much of it capable of being


made into good lumber. Tn no por-


tion of the United States, not except
! ing the famous blue grass region of
Kentucky, have ever seen grazing


superior to that found growing wild
in this hitherto unknown region. [
know of 10 portion of our country


where nature has done so much to pre-
pare homes for husbandmen and left
so little for the latter to do as here.
The open and timbered spaces are
SO divided that partly prepared farm
of almost any dimensions, from an
acre upwards, can be found here. Not
only is the land cleared, and timber,
both for fuel and building. convenient
ly located, with stream of hne Wa
fer flowing through its length and
breadth, but nature ofttimes seems to
have gone further and placed beauti-





most desirable location for building
sites. While on Harney's Peak /
could contrast the bright, green ver-
sunburned and dried yellow heritage
to be seen on the outer plains. Every
thing indicates an abundance of
moisture within the space inclosed by
the Black Hills. The soil is that of a
rich garden, and composed of a dark
mold of exceedingly fine grain. We
have found the country in many places
covered with wild raspberries. both
the black and red varieties. Yester-
day and to-day have feasted on the
latter. IL is no unusual sight to see
hundreds of soldiers gathering wild
berries. Nowhere in the States have
tasted cultivated raspberries of equal
flavor to those found growing wild
here, nor have l ever seen them larger
or in as great profusion as have seen
hundreds of acres of them here. Wild
straw berries, wild currants, gooseber-
ries, two varieties of pine berries and
wild cherries are also found in great
profusion, and of exceeding fine quail
itY. Cattle could winter in these vaI-
leys without other food or shelter
than that to be obtained from running
at large.


AS there are scientific parties accom-
the expedition who are ex-
amining into the mineral resources of
this region, the result of whose re-
searches will accompany my detailed
report, / omit all present reference to
that portion Of our explorations until
the return of the expedition, except to
state, what will appear in any event
in thepublic prints. that gold has been
found at several places, and it is the
belief of those who are giving their
attention to this subject that it will be
found In paying quantities. | have
upon my table forty or fifty small par
ticles of pure gold, in size averaging
that of small pin-head, and most of
it obtained to-day from one painful of
earth. As we have never remained
longer at one camp than one day, it
will be readily understood that there
is no opportunity 10 make a satisfac-
tory examinationinrega to deposits
of valuable minerals. Veins of lead
and strong indications of the existence
Of silver have been found. Until fur
her examination is made regarding
The richness of the deposits of gold no
opinion should be formed. Veins of
what the geologists term gold bearing
quartz crop out on almost every hill
side. All existing geological and geo.
graphical maps of this region have
been found incorrect. This will not
'eem surprising when it is remember
I'd that both have been compiled by
gHess-work and without entering the
country attempted to be represented.


The health of the command cOntin-
les excellent. l will begin my north
ward march in four days from this
late. l do not expect to arrive at
Fort Lincoln until the 3Ist of August.


g. a. CUSTER,


Brevet Major-Genl, comd'g expedi-
ion