Headquarters Military Division of the Missouri,
Chicago, Illinois, May 1st, 1874

General W. T. Sherman
Commanding U.S. Army,
Washington D.C.,

General,
I returned from Fort Abraham Lincoln on Monday. It is the most complete army post I have ever seen, and was a model of economy in its construction.
I would like to start Colonel Custer with a column of cavalry out, about the 15th of June, to examine the Black Hills country and the north fork of the Sheyenne, known on the map as the Belle Fourche.
This country is extremely unknown, and a knowledge of it might be of great value in case of Indian trouble.
It will take Col. Custer about six weeks to make the examination and will be of no expense but the hire of a few teamster, the amount of which could not exceed $2500. The saving of forage by the reduced issue of the ration to the horses and the saving from the reduced issue of the soldier's rations while out will be very great.
Your General,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
P. H. Sheridan
Lieut. General