Post by Beth on Jul 23, 2015 21:59:41 GMT
In 1874, Custer lead an expedition consisting of the 7th Cal as well a number of civilian scientists, miners, a photographer and correspondents on a mission to explore the Black Hills to find a location for a new fort and to investigation the area’s natural resources.
The Expedition’s confirmation of gold drew thousands of miners and settlers into the area, fueling the tensions between Native Americans and the government. The resulting pressure led directly to the Centennial Campaign. This is a basic timeline of the expedition.
June 8 Custer received his orders from General Terry. He spend the next few weeks preparing for the Expedition, which will consist of 1000 soldiers from the 7th, 110 wagons, 70 Indian scouts plus a number of civilians.
July 2 Custer sets out from Fort Abraham Lincoln traveling southwest towards the Heart River. Libby Custer had to accompany the expedition but Custer insisted she remain at FAL because of the potential of encountering hostile Indians.
July 15 Custer crosses into Montana and turns south towards the Black Hills.
July 17 Custer crosses the border into Wyoming Territory.
July 18 Custer reaches the Belle Fourche River. After their first sight of the Black Hills, Custer writes to Libbie, “We have discovered a rich and beautiful country.”
July 22 Custer and the 7th arrive in the Black Hills after a journey of three weeks and 330 miles. They camp for two nights in the vicinity of Inyan Kara near Sundance WY. The inscription, Custer 74 plus the names of others on the expedition can be found near the peak of the mountain. Custer hunts and spends his spare time writing newspaper reports and magazine columns under his penname “Nomad.” Two members of the expedition are buried nearby.
July 26, the expedition passes back into the Dakota Territory.
July 31 Custer reaches Harney Peak the highest point in the Black Hills and scared grounds to the Lakota.
August 1 Custer set up his permanent camp, Agnes Park, 8 miles from Harney Peak and near present day Custer SD. Significant gold finds are made in the French Creek area. Custer and the embedded reports send out reports of the gold discovery. The news quickly spreads across the country about the Black Hills riches both in gold and prime farmland.
August 7 Custer kills a grizzly bear which he considers his greatest hunting achievement.
August 10 The New York Tribune headlines the discovery of the “New Gold Country." By the fall of 1875 over 15,000 miners and settlers have moved into the Dakota territory, many sneaking into the Black Hills.
August 13 The expedition has left the Black Hills and begins the return trip to Fort Lincoln, heading north.
August 22 The New York Times publishes Custer’s report in which he boasts about the wealth in the Black Hills. He describes gold "distributed throughout an extensive area within the Black Hills" as well as "rich pasturage" for livestock.
August 23 Now in the Northern Dakota Territory, the expedition turns east towards Bismark.
August 30 The expedition arrives back in Fort Lincoln.
Fall 1874 Lured by the promise of gold, miners across the country prepare for a journey to the Black Hills.
1875 The U.S. government offers to buy the Black Hills for $6 million, but Sioux leader Sitting Bull rejects the offer.
November 3 President Ulysses S. Grant convenes with his cabinet and decides the Army will do nothing more to stop white settlers from entering the Black Hills.
In December the U.S. Commissioner on Indian Affairs orders all remaining Sioux living outside the reservation to move there by January 31, 1876. Despite the fact that this would be a near-impossible feat in the dead of winter, all who refuse will be considered hostile.
Black Hills Visitor
Map made by surveyors during Custer Expedition
The Expedition’s confirmation of gold drew thousands of miners and settlers into the area, fueling the tensions between Native Americans and the government. The resulting pressure led directly to the Centennial Campaign. This is a basic timeline of the expedition.
June 8 Custer received his orders from General Terry. He spend the next few weeks preparing for the Expedition, which will consist of 1000 soldiers from the 7th, 110 wagons, 70 Indian scouts plus a number of civilians.
July 2 Custer sets out from Fort Abraham Lincoln traveling southwest towards the Heart River. Libby Custer had to accompany the expedition but Custer insisted she remain at FAL because of the potential of encountering hostile Indians.
July 15 Custer crosses into Montana and turns south towards the Black Hills.
July 17 Custer crosses the border into Wyoming Territory.
July 18 Custer reaches the Belle Fourche River. After their first sight of the Black Hills, Custer writes to Libbie, “We have discovered a rich and beautiful country.”
July 22 Custer and the 7th arrive in the Black Hills after a journey of three weeks and 330 miles. They camp for two nights in the vicinity of Inyan Kara near Sundance WY. The inscription, Custer 74 plus the names of others on the expedition can be found near the peak of the mountain. Custer hunts and spends his spare time writing newspaper reports and magazine columns under his penname “Nomad.” Two members of the expedition are buried nearby.
July 26, the expedition passes back into the Dakota Territory.
July 31 Custer reaches Harney Peak the highest point in the Black Hills and scared grounds to the Lakota.
August 1 Custer set up his permanent camp, Agnes Park, 8 miles from Harney Peak and near present day Custer SD. Significant gold finds are made in the French Creek area. Custer and the embedded reports send out reports of the gold discovery. The news quickly spreads across the country about the Black Hills riches both in gold and prime farmland.
August 7 Custer kills a grizzly bear which he considers his greatest hunting achievement.
August 10 The New York Tribune headlines the discovery of the “New Gold Country." By the fall of 1875 over 15,000 miners and settlers have moved into the Dakota territory, many sneaking into the Black Hills.
August 13 The expedition has left the Black Hills and begins the return trip to Fort Lincoln, heading north.
August 22 The New York Times publishes Custer’s report in which he boasts about the wealth in the Black Hills. He describes gold "distributed throughout an extensive area within the Black Hills" as well as "rich pasturage" for livestock.
August 23 Now in the Northern Dakota Territory, the expedition turns east towards Bismark.
August 30 The expedition arrives back in Fort Lincoln.
Fall 1874 Lured by the promise of gold, miners across the country prepare for a journey to the Black Hills.
1875 The U.S. government offers to buy the Black Hills for $6 million, but Sioux leader Sitting Bull rejects the offer.
November 3 President Ulysses S. Grant convenes with his cabinet and decides the Army will do nothing more to stop white settlers from entering the Black Hills.
In December the U.S. Commissioner on Indian Affairs orders all remaining Sioux living outside the reservation to move there by January 31, 1876. Despite the fact that this would be a near-impossible feat in the dead of winter, all who refuse will be considered hostile.
Black Hills Visitor
Map made by surveyors during Custer Expedition