The National tribune., 1890-07-03
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON o. THURSDAY JULY g. 1890

actlons a6 lunStall station, DaTbyt0Wn road
! and Lees Mills.
| Gen Sheridan was then transferred to COM
mand the armies in the Shenandoah Valley,
and Gen. Forsyth was announced as Chief of
Staff and took part i'm the battles OF Winchester,
Fishers HiIl Toms Brook and Cedar Crock,
and the several other engagements in the Val
ley campaign. He was brevetted Brgader
General of Volunteers for gallant and meri-
tori0us services at Fishers Hill and Cedar
Creek; was with Sheridan on his raid from
Winchester to Petersburg, during which the
cavalry plodded through the Virginia mud
and cut and destroyed railroads and canals for
81 days
In the final campaign of 1865, in which the
Cavalry Corps took such conspicuous part, he
was present and participated in the battles of
Dinwiddic, Five Forks, Amelia Courthouse,
Sailors Creek and Appomattox Station.
After Gen. Longstreet went with tho flag
of truce to Gen. Sheridan with the message
that Leo wished to surrender the Army of
Northern Virginia to Gen. Grant, Sheridan
| sent Forsyth and Longstreet sent Fairfax
to make thor way through both armies to
Grant. Upon reaching the lines, he found the
Second Corps ready to advance, and it was
through Forsyth's earnest protest that Meade
was dissuadcd from attacking the rebel army,
pending the announcement of the negotiations
for the surrender.
Gen. Forsyth was appointed Brigadier Gen.
eral Of Volunteers for gallant and meritorious
services in tho field" and annoanced as Chief
of Staff when Sheridan was assigned to COM
mand the Military Division of the Gulf. In
July, 1865, he was assigned to command bri-
gade Of cavalry, consisting of the 7th Ind. and
9th and 18th Ill. Cav, in Gen. Clusters Division
and stationed in Texas.
He was subsequently appointed Inspector
General OF the Military Division of the Gulf
and Fifth Military District, and was Inspector
md ARaNan rtrafn a
State of Louisiana during the troublous period
of reconstruction.
lie was with Sheridan during the Winter
campaign of 1868 against tho Comanche.
Cheyenne, Arapahoe and KiOwa Indians, pre-
vious to which he helped organize. equip and
muster into the United States service the last
regiment of volunteers, the 10Th Kan. Cav.
Aftor Sheridan was appointed Lieutenant
General, Gen. Forsyth served with him as Aid
de-Camp and Military Secretary. lie accom-
panied Sheridan on his trip TO witness the
Franco Prussian war; was present Mt the bat
ties of Gravolotte, Beaumont and Sedan, and
witnessed the minor operations during the in-
vestment of Paris.
In 1873, with a detachment of 100 men he
determined the navigability of the Yellow
stone River for steamboats,, which exercised
great influence with the settlement of the In
dian question, and in 1874 took part in the
Sioux expedition organized Mt Fort Laramie
The following commendatory order explains
itself:
HEADQUARTERS
MILITARY DIVISION or THE MISSOURI
CHICAGO, June H. 1873
At his own request Lieut.. Col Jas w FORSYTH
lst u. =, Cav, Ia relieved from duty on the staff
Of the Lieutenant General. and In consequences of
his promotion will proceed TO join his regiment In
tho Division of the Pacific
Since the early Spring of 1864, Lieut. Col For.
Eyth has performed the various duties Of Chief OF
staff, Inspector General, Abide Camp aud Mill
iary Secretary In the most satisfactory manner,
rendering the most essential aid to hs command
ing General during the war of the rebellion and in
the several positions he has held since and IL IS
with the deepest regret the Lieutenant General
consents that his recent promotion shall deprive
him OF Col. Forsyth's valuable services, endeared
to him M he Is by an association official and
ctnt OF so many years.
In tho field of duty to which he il called Col
Forsyth bears with him the best wishes of all who
have been connected with him by duty and COM
paniouship for the last ii years.
BY command OF Lieutenant General Sheridan.
w. ID. WHIPPLE
Assistant Adiutant- General.
Lieut.. Col. Forsyth joined his regiment at
Waila Walla, Wash, and on the same day left in
command of eight troops of his regiment and
took part in the campaign against the Bannock
Indians
In 1881 Cen Sheridan again showed his es-
TEEN of Gen. Forsyth by appointing him In
spector of Cavalry. He subsequently, Joined
his regiment Mt Fort Maginnis and did efficient
service in arrcsting Indian horse-thieves in
Montana.
June IL, 1886, he was promoted Colonel 7th
Cav, and has since that time commanded the
regiment made famous by Custer in his Indian
campaigns.
OF all tho Colonels, he Is without doubt the
best disciplinarian aud administrator in the
Army; his regiment shows it. To his mind
regulations were made for u purpose; as Colo
mel he enforces them in such way as to carry
out that purpose, not 10 defeat it, a wise dis
elimination that is not always deserved.
He is probably the only Colonel who perse-
veres in keeping up the battalion organization
in his regiment. Each Major is given four
troops for his command. and the advantages OF
this organization are very manifest
Gen. Forsyth is man of fine personal APP
pearance; bis soldiorly bearing and snowy white
hair make him a marked figure in any gather
cring. His genialty, his inexhaustible fund of
"reminiscences and anecdotes make him de-
lightful companion. His broad views which
come from full information. make him safe
counselor. His long and distinguished serv-
ices commend him as a safe commander.
Because of his excellent military record, his
fine social qualifications and the high order of
his abilities, his many friends think that Presi.
dent Harrison cannot appoint n more deserving
subject, or do the Army u greater service, his
Administration more credit, or honor to the
loyal State of Ohio. than TO appoint James w.
Forsyth rigadier-General, u. 5. Army. an ofii-
Ger who participated in more than so battles
and engagements in the war for the Union.