In 1874, General George Custer led a US Army expedition consisting of ten companies of the Seventh Calvary, two infantry divisions, sixty-one Indian scouts and interpreters (over 1000 men and one female cook), 1000 horses and mules, 110 wagons and 500 head of cattle. Also along, were scientist, newspapermen, two professional gold miners and a photographer. The expedition covered over 880 miles (1400 km) in 60 days. Their mission was to find a suitable site for a new fort, but after the economic crash of 1873, President U S Grant believed a gold rush would be good for the economy. - AsNotedIn
| Y/M/D | Description | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1874/07/02 | Black Hills Expedition leaves Fort Abraham Lincoln to explore the Black Hills. | Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, ND, North Dakota |
| 1874/07/31 | Custer, William Ludlow and scientist climb Harney Peak | Harney Peak, South Dakota |
| 1874/08/01 | Custer's professional gold miner, Horatio Nelson Ross, finds gold in French Creek (about 5 to 7 cents worth per pan, by washing the sand) | General Custer's French Creek Campsite, Custer |
| 1874/08/01 | George Custer carves his initials | Custer Initials Site (39CU861), Custer |
| 1874/08/06 | Expedition camps 5 nights, it is the expedition's longest stay and is known as Permanent Camp, August 1 to 6 | General Custer's French Creek Campsite, Custer |
| 1874/08/13 | Expedition camps 1 night, Private James King dies of chronic diarrhea | Custer Expedition Camp site and Grave of Troop King, Rapid City |
| 1874/08/15 | Custer sends a messenger from Golden Valley to Ft Laramie, confirming gold in the Black Hills | General Custer's French Creek Campsite, Custer |
| 1874/08/15 | Custer sends a messenger from Golden Valley to Ft Laramie, confirming gold in the Black Hills | Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Fort Laramie |
| 1874/08/27 | Chicago newspaper, Inter-Ocean, headline - Glittering Treasure: Precious dust found in grass under horse's feet | |
| 1874/12/23 | Gordon Party enters the Black Hills illegally, looking for gold. | Gordon Stockade, Custer State Park |
| 1875/04/00 | US Army removes Gordon Party from the Black Hills, but the Rush for Gold was already started. |
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