The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-07
FORSY7HE'S DISGRACE.
The Charge that Women and
Children were Shot Down,
THE OFFICIAL TELEGRAMS
Between Gems. Miles and schOfleld,
Tho Wounded Knee Battle Re-
suits in First Glass Scandal.
indian warerowipg Serious.

WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. 6.-The fol.
lowing correspondence in regard to Col.
Forsythe's case was made public to-day.
Under date of December 80, General
schoReld telegraphed General Miles ex-
pressing the belief that he would soon
be master of the situation and asking
that his thanks be given to the ''braye
Seventh Calvary for their splendid con-
duct"
Gen. Miles tolegraphed Gen. scofeld
as folloWsI
"Your telegram OF copgratalation TO
the Seventh Calvary is received, but as
the action Of the Colonel commanding
will be matter Of serious consideration,
and will undoubtedly be the subject Of
Investigation, l thought proper to advise
you.
I'm view OF the above facts do you wish
your telegram transmitted as it was
sent? 1t is stated that the disposition
Of 400 soldiers and four pieces Of artillery
was fatally defective, as a large number
OF soldiers were killed aud wounded by
fire from their own ranks, aud a very
large number OF women and children
were killed. in addition to the Indian
men,"
Gen. schoaeld telegraphed in reply:
"Tne Secretary OF War directs me To
say: "The President has heard with
great regret Of the failure OF your efforts
to secure the settlement Of the Sioux
difficulties without bloUdshed. He sug.
geBts that possibly watchful observa.
ton Of the hostile bands that would pre- |
vent their breaking into the settlement,
and give the Indians time to recover
from their present excitement would be-
well. But he leaves all this to your bet. /
ter Information and discretion, and
would not lave you omit anything that
is necessary to protect the settlements.
He hopes that the report OF tho killing
of women and children in the affair at
Wounded Knee is uniounded and di.
reCta that you cause an immediate in
quiry to be made and report the result
10 the Department. If there is any un.
soldierly conduct you will relieve the
responsible officer, and use the troops
engaged there 30 as to avoid its repeti.
ticn."
General Miles replied JanusryS:
"The directions Of the President and
yonrseliis just the action / had antici-
paEed and taken. consider it vary i'm.
portant that the FIVE officers that re.
commend be placed in charge OF the
five agencies. Please inform me II this
is approved or disapprovsd l have
very great amount OF Information con.
cernipg conspiracy. 1t involved al! the
tribes IN the Northwest, apd the wild
tribes in the ludign territory. Gitting
Ball would have been the bead and the
move wa8 TO be made in the spring, SO
they expected to strike west 10 wnere
tho ghost delusion originated in Ne
vRda."
General schoGeld received a Telegram
from General Miles, January 8, es
iuilows,
"ln accordance with your telegram
and the Presidents order l have detail.
ed board OF ofIiCers consisting Of Colo.
mel Carr, Sixth cavalry; Major Kent,
Fourth infantry, and Captain Baldwin,
Fifth infantry, to investigate that affair
at Wounded Hnee. ls this in CONFORM
ity with the Presidents directions, and
does he direct that it constitute court
Of inquiry with power to take testimony
under oath? Colonel FOrsythe's com.
mand consisted of twenty.six officers
and 453 men. Eighty.two Indians and
sixty women and children were buried
near the ground. ! haYe relieyed Colo.
mel Forsythe from command"
Gen. SchoGeld replied
~ am directed by the Secretary OF
War to inform you that 1t was not the
intention OF the President TO appoint a
court Of inquiry, nor to order at this
time, in the midst Of the campaign, any
further inquiry. than you could yourself
mske without the necessity OF court,
The purpose being simply 10 determine
whether any officer had been so far dire
leet in duty as TO ma 30 il necessary to
relieve hin from command. You were
expelled yourself tirat to inquire into
the facts, and in the event OF its being
disclosed that there had been unsoidier-
ly conduct, to relieve the responsible
oEytnnr u