Evening journal., 1891-01-07
SOLDIER SHOT SOLDIER.
A New Version of the Wounded
Knee Fight.
COL FORsYTHEs FATAL MISTAKE

col. FORSYTHES FATAL MISTAKE
Gen. Miles Says the Troops Were So Care
Iessly Stationed That when They Fired
Upon the Hostile Indians They Killed
Many Of Their Own Number.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.--Among the teIe-
grams bearing upon the Wounded Knee
Indian fight which have been made public
at the war department is one from Gen.
Miles 10 Mai. Gen. Schoneld, which says:
1T is stated that the disposition of 400 sol
diers and four pieces OF artillery was fatally
defective, and that large number Of sol
diers were killed and wounded by fire from
their own ranks and very large number OF
women and children were killed in addi-
tion to Indian men, The telegram was
in answer to one extending Gen. Schofeld's
congratulations to the "brave Seventh cav
airy for their splendid conduct, sent Doe.
80. Gen. Miles adds that the action Of the
colonel commanding will be a matter os
serious consideration, and will undoubt-
edly be the subject OF investigation.
The Presidents Regret.
The remainder Of the correspondence fol-
lows:
wAsHnoroN Jan. ,
To Maj. Gen, Miles. Pine Ridge, S. D.,
In view Of the aspect Of the case presented ia
your telegram OF yesterday, IL will be better not
70 deliver my message to the Seventh cavalry
until have seen your report after the investga-
tion which you propose. Therefore, you will
please hold II until further advised by me- Your
dispatch 70 me OF yesterday, aud that TO the
adjutant general have been shown to the pr.si-
dent and IN reply the secretary Of war direcfs
me 70 say that "the president has heard with re-
gret Of the failure OF your efforts 70 secure the
settlement Of the Sioux difficulties without blooi-
shed" He suggests that possibly a watehsui
observation Of the hostile bands that would pre-
vent their breaking into the settlement and give
the Indians time To recover from their nresent
excitement would be well But he leaves All
this to your better information and discretion.
and would not have you omit anything thar is
necessary 70 protect the settlement He hopesg
that the report of the killing OF women and chi.
dren IN the affair Of Wounded Knee is uufoundtd
and directs that you cause an Immediate inquiry
70 be made and report the result to the depar,-
ment. II there was any unsoderly conduct j ou
Will relieve the responsible troops engaged there
so as 10 avoid It's repetition.
Peace Not War Wanted
wish 70 add 10 the presidents suggestion the
hope which still entertain, IN spite Of the un-
fortunate accidents which have occurred. thai
| you may be able by convincing the Indians thaa
the purposes q the army not hostile TO them,
but on the contrary friendly and desire to secufr
70 them future peace and prosperity, and 70 OIL
tain their surrender without further conflict.
= NJ scnoFIlr.n, Major General Commanding.
Indians Wen Surrounded.
PINE RIDGE S. b., Jan 3.
Gen J. NJ schohed, Commanding The Army,
| Washington.
The directinnp ~ tbe r,rasii.r,t o,a ,,,,,.,lr Il
| just the action / had anticipated and taken
Nearly all OF Sixth and Ninth cavalry aud Second
and Seventeenth infantry, with iOJ Indian scouts
are practically on three sides Of thein-alon.-
Beaver, White and POrcupine-wth Gen Brook,
m command. This may hold them ia check 1
am IN close communication with them, and have
informed them that the only safe road Is toward
i the agency, and about half are anxious 10 com.
in. The others are making desperate efforts 10
| keep all at war. ] consider Il very important
that the five officers that recommended be placed
Ia charge Of the fl,e agencies Please inform me
il this is approved or disapproved
II Was Great Conspiracy.
Ihave very great amount Of information con
cernng tile conspiracy. IL involved ali the tribe,
IN the northwest and the wild tribes In the Indian
territory. Sitting Bull would have been Tie head
and the move was 10 be made Ia the spring; they
expected TO strike west, TO where the ghost de-
lusion originated, Nevada
MILES. Major General Commanding.
To Investigate Forsythe.
,.4 81. s...o.,,. PINE RIDGE, Jan. 5.
In accordance with your telegram aud presi-
dents order have detailed board OF officers
consisting OF Col Carr, Sixth cavalry; Mai. KENT
Fourth infantry, aud Capt Baldwin, Fifth in
fantry. to investigate affairs at Wounded Knee
Is this IN conformity with presidents directions
and does he direct that il constitute a court ~
inquiry, win power 70 take testimony under
oathg Col Forsythe's command consisted OF
twenty-six officers and 453 men, Eiehty-t,yo In
dians and sixty women and children we're buried
on or near the agency. have relieved Col For
sythe from command.
NELSON A. MmEs, Commanding.
Settlers Destitute.
WASHINGTON Jan. g.
Moi. Gen Miles, Pine Ridge y b.:
In reply to your Telegram OF yesterday / am
directed by the secretary Of war to inform yo,
that il was not the intention OF the president N
appoint a court Of inquiry nor 10 order at this
time, IN the midst Of the campaign any further
inquiry than you could yourself make without
the necessity Of a court, the purpose being sim.
ply % determine whether any officer had been SO
Tar derelict ia duty 70 make il necessary 10 re-
lieve him from command. j. NJ scHoFlFrp
Major General Commanding.
Under date Of Jan. 3 Gen. Miles informed
the department that eleven families, num-
bering sixty one persons, had abandoned
their homes in Bad River valley from fear
Of Indians, and were now in destitute
condition. He suggests that the govern
ment afford them relief.
Five Bands Have Surrendered.
OMAHA, Jan. 7.-Gen. Miles telegrapbs
that five of the principal bands have con,S
in, and he hopes all will surrender theis,-
selves. He assures settlers on the line of
the railway that they can stay on their
farms.
Riot at Religious Meeting.
ENGLISH, Ind, Jan. 7.--Dunng a religious
meeting at West Fork, in this county. "A
riot started among the members Of thres
large families-the Loves, Wisemans and
Baggerty. Pistols, knives, stones, cudgels
and fists were used with vengeance. Five
men are lying at the point of death as a
result Of the conflict and others are less
seriously injured The worst injured arc
William Lowe, William Wiseman, John
Wlseman, Robert Baggerty and Ed Jones.
Says Claasen Was Wronged.