The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-04
COLONEL JAMES W. FORSYTH.

Fort Bellingham, WASH, when, in 1859
the boundary troubles between the Unitel
States and England arose. The British
governor occupied San Juan island, tht
key to the northwest archipelago with on,
company of infantry. Captain Pickett anC
Lieutenant Forsyth seized the island, anC
when the English forces attempted a land
! ing repulsed them. Promoted to first lieu
tenant in March, 1861, Forsyth accepted {
| change of regiment to be near the seat o.
war. After the battle of Chickamauga hi
was breveted major. and in 1864 was made
! brevet brigadier general of volunteers fol
/ meritorious services. He had taken par,
| in over fifty battles.
| When Sheridan rose TO the rank of lieu
tenant general Forsyth became his military
secretary, and accompanied him on his tout
through Europe, witnessing the invest
ment of Paris aud the battles of Gravelotte
Beaumont and Sedan. On his return to
the United States in 1871 he was sent to the
northwest to take part in the famous
Sioux expedition. After that he joined
the division of the Pacific. The Bannock
Indians in Montana needed discipline, and
Forsyth was detailed to care for them. In
command of eight companies he took the
field and won complete victory.
The people of Kansas still remember the
service rendered the state by Forsyth ia
1865, when, upon the outbreak of the Chey-
ennes, the western border was threatened
with Indian butchery. Forsyth was then
on staff duty, and with hastily gathered
company of scouts crossed the state from
Fort Wallace and met the redskins on a
branch of the Republican river. Surround
ed by nearly 600 sayages, under Roman
Nose, the little band fought and won one
of the most terrific battles il the history
OF frontier warfare. Indian discipline was
so broken that Forsyth's engagement is
sometimes called the last charge of the
Cheyennes,"
Sheridan next appointed him inspector
OF cavalry, and in June, 1886, be was made
colonel of the famous Seventh cavalry. II
December Of last year the Sioux outbreak
called for immediate action. Colonel For
syth with his regiment, and Colonel Cap
ron's battery f Of the light artillery, left
Fort Riley, Kan, for Pine Ridge. The
story OF the maneuvers IN that vicinity IS
too recent to need reuelling. Colonel For
syth's report OF the affair az Wounded Knee
simply said that he had attempted 20 dis
arm the bucks, that hot fight OF half al
hour ensued. and that his soldiers obeyed
orders. He made no defense whatever,
and the court of inquiry as TO his removal
decided that ne acted wisely, and the SEQ
rotary of war complimeuted him and or
dered him returned 70 his position So the
head of his regiment.
Colonel Forsyth Is q nan Of fine personal
appearance; lis soldieEiy bearing and snow
white hair make him 3 marked figure IL
any gathering. Re IS a genial converse
ZIONIST. With an inexhauStible fund Q.
"reminiscences and anecdote. he Is 81 ex
cellent disciplinarian, and ms regiment
shows IL He commands a. Fort RILEY. and
takes a personal pride IN the magnificent
surroundings. The reservation consists Of
=, coo acres, and Is being beauti9ed by trees
AID lakes, a. well as substantially improved
b. magnificent buildings TEe government
has il the past year spent about $50, 90 On
buildings and improvements, while soc.
ooo more is soon to De laid out
Colonel Forsyth. il is thought probable,
Ill III soon be promoted 10 a b-iEadler gen
aalstip II she regular army. That he .