The Black Hills

BT. Paul, Mixn., Aug. 22.- The report of Gen. Custer to the department coinmander, dated Bear Butte, Black Hills, Dakota Terntory. August löth, was reOeived this forenoon ut Gen. Terry'sheadquaitnrs. After detailing his operations, and th tinding in ooe direotion of an impMMble bsrner, wbich ws tinally oircumvented, tlie General says : 1 propone to return by a different, although perhapH not shorter, route thau adopted in turning to the Black Hills. t ain induced to inake this change in ord?r to embrace a larger unexplored country within the limit of our explorations, and partioularlr to taiable us to looste as much as posxible ot that portion of the Little Missouri, oi which nothing is now kjiown. I expect the expedition to reach Kort Lincoln on the 31st of August The health of the couitnand has been and is most excellent. This expedition entered the Black Hills frotn the west side, penetrated through the eastern and most southern ranges, explored the major portions of the interior, and passed out of the most eastern ranges which form the boundary of the Black Hillg. Froin the fact that in all our principal marches through the Black Hills, we have taken without serious obstacle, a heavy laden train of over oue hundred wagons, it may be inferred that the Black Hills do not constitute the impenetrable región heretofore represonted. Entering the Black Hills from any direotion the most gerious, if not only, obstacles were encountered, only near the outer base that probably aocounts for the mystery which has 80 long existed regarding the character of the interior. The exploring expeditions have conten ted themselves with marching around their base, and from the forbidding aspect of the hills, ag viewed at a distance, inferred that an advance toward the interior would only encounter increased obstacles. In regard to the character of the country inclosnd by the Black Hills I can only repeat what I have gtated in previous dispatches. No portion of the United States can boast of a richer or better pasturage, and purer water, the natural temperature of which in summer, as it fiows from the eartb, is but twelve degrees above the freezing point and of greater advantage generally to a farmer or stock raiser than ig to be found. In the Black Hills building stone of the best quality is to be found in inexhaustible quantities, wood for fuel and iumber sufficient for all time to como. Bains are frequent, with no evidenoe in the country of either drouth or freshets. The seasons, perhaps, are too short and the nights too cool for corn, but I believe all other grain could be prodüced here in wonderful abundance. Wheat would particularly yield largely. There is no doubt as to the existence of the various niinerala throughout the hills, as thig subject has received the especial attention of the experts who accompanied the expedition and will be reported upon in detail. I will only mention the fact that iron and plumbago have been found, and beds ot' gypsum of apparently inexhaustible quantity. I referred in a former dispatch to the discovery of gold. Subsequent examinations at numerous points confirm and strengthen the fuct of the existence of gold in the Black Hills and sonie of the water courses. Almost every panful of earth produced gold in suiall, yet paying quantities. Our brief halts in rapid marching prevents anything but a verv hasty examination of the country in this respect, hut in one place, and the only one within my knowledge where so great a depth was reached, a hole was dug eigbt feet deep. The minors report they found gold among the root of the grass, and from that point to the lowest point gold was found in paying quantitieg. It has not needed an expert to find gold in the Black Hills, as men without former experience in mining have discovered it. at an expense of but httle time or labor. As an evidence of the rich pasturing to be found in this región I can state that my beef herd, after marching upwards of six hundred miles, is in better oondition than when I started, being as fat as is consistent with their marching conditicn. The same may be said of the mulos of the wagon train. The horses of the command are in good working condition. I have nevor seen as many deer as in the Black Hills. Elk and bear have also been killed. We have had no collision with the hostile Indiana. (Signed) G. A. ÜUSTER. Brevet Major-General, United States Army, commanding expedition.