Headqurters Military Division of the Missouri
Chicago Illinois
May 25, 1874
Colonel Dr. D Whipple,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdq. of the Army
Washington D.C.
Colonel,
It appears from a communication from Lieut. Col. Custer,7th Cavaly that I misunderstood him in reference to the probable cost of the employee's of the expedition to the Black Hills, and that while it would be economy to extent of some $13,000 to send out the expedition, still it would cost about five or six thousand dollars for the hire of necessary teamsters, wagonmasters and scouts, giving sixty days as the highest limit of absence.. I have reduced this amount to the figures of about $5,000, say,, for sixty days out, and we will want about $2,500 more than that sent. The fund will not be needed until after the commencement of the fiscal year.
The expedition will examine country heretofore unknown, and for the ultimate object of establishing a military fort in the Black Hills, on or about the western line of the Sioux Reservation, which seemed to meet the approval of the Secretary of the Interior at a consultation last fall in Washington, when the President, Gen Sherman and the Secretar of War were present.
Yours truly,
Col. P. H. Sheridan
Lieut. General