St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-13

pany of the men after the latter broke
from the circle. Many of them, men
and women, got or their ponies, and 1t
is impossible to distinguish buck from
squaw at little distance when mounted.
The men fired from among the women
and children in their retreat. Cautions
were repeatedly given by both officers
and nOn-eOmmiSsiOned officers not to
shoot squaWs or children, and men were
cautioned individually that such and
such Indians were SquawS. The firing
by the troops was entirely directed on
the men in the circle and in a direction
opposite from the tepees until the In
dams, after their break, mingled with
their Ome and children, thus expos
ing them to the
Fire of the Troops,
and as a consequence some were I'M
avoidably killed and wounded, a fact
which was universally regretted by the
officers and men OF the Seventh cavalry.
This unfortunate phase of the affair
grew out of circumstances for which
the indians themselves were entirely
responsible. Mai. Whiteside emphatic
ally declares that at least fifty shots
were fired by the Indians before the
troops returned the fire. Several special
instances of humanity in the saving of
women and children were noted. No
doubt the position of the troops made
it necessary for some of them to with
hold their fire for a time in order that
they might not endanger the lives of
their comrades, but both Mai. Kent and
Capt. Baldwin concur in finding that
the evidence fails to establish that a
single man of Col. FOrSyth'S command
was killed or wounded by his fellows.
This fact, and, indeed. the conduct of
both officers and men through the
whole affair, demonstrates an exceed
inly
Satisfactory State of Discipline
in the Seventh cavalry. Their behavior
was characterized by skill, GOODNESS, dis
erection and forbearance, and reflects
the highest possible credit upon the
regiment, which sustained a loss of one
officer and twenty-five enlisted men
killed, and three officers and thirty-two
enlisted men wounded. The situation
at Wounded Knee creek was Il very UNI
usual and a very difficult one, far more
difficult than that involved in an ordi-
nary battle, where the only question is
of gaining a victory without an effort to
save the lives of the enemy. 1t is easy
to make plans when we look backward,
but in the light of actual conditions as
they appeared to the commanding Off
Ger, there does not seem to be anything
i'll the arrangement OF the troops requir-
ing adverse criticism on the part of the
department. Therefore approve of the
Endorsement of the major general com
manding, that the interests of the Mill
tary service do not demand any further
proceedings in this case. By direction
of the president, Col. Forsyth will re-
sumo the command of his regiment.
REDFIELD PROCTOR,
Secretary of War.
CHICAGO, Feb. 12.-Gen. Miles, when
asked to-day whether he had anything
to say in regard to Col. FOrsyth's rem
statement. said:
Il know nothing about the action
taken at Washington. | do not care to
make any statement in regard to it, nor
do ! care to review the case. l made a
careful study of the matter and did
what [ thought the eXigencies of the
case demanded. What l did L would
do again under the same circumstances.
| expect to receive no official notice OF
the action taken, from the fact that Col.
Forsyth is not under my command, but
is in Gen. Merrltt's department."