The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-11
F0RSYTHE Is BLAMELESS.
THE COURT-MARTIAL SURE TO
EXONERATE HIM.


No Soldier Killed by the Fire of An
other-No Women or Children Killed
Intentionally by the Troops-Gen.
Howard Criticises the Policy of the
EGovernment.
CHICAGO. Jan. 10-A special from Pine
Upon that point there is but little doubt
The Investigation committee has completed
its work, and, while its members have
as yet made no report it is
thoroughly understood that the colonel
will be exonerated. The testimony Of
the officers and soldiers Of the Seventh
cavalry leaves no other course open. The
inquiry shows conclusively that no soldier
was killed by the fire of another. The testi-
mony Of Capt Nolan, and Lieut..
Nicholson went TO show that
he men, when firing, continually
called to one another; saying, Don't shoot
In that direction, there are women" The
commissioned officers swore to the same
thing, and it was shown fairly and con-
clusively that when the sex of the enemies
was known accurately the fire Of the troops
was directed accordingly"
RUMoRs THAT THEY WILL COME IN.
PINE RIDGE AGENCY, s. D., Jan. TO-
New reports that the hostiles had at length
made up their minds TO return TO the
agency attracted general attention to-day.
1t was quite generally believed that
according, to the alleged programme
the hostiles would camp tonight at
Mission, near the scene of the engagement
between Col. Forsythe and the Indians on the
Goth ult. They would there be met it was
said, by q detachment from the agency and
escorted to this place. 1t was still an open
question where or when the Indians were to
be disarmed. No doubt was expressed that
when the disarming was attempted trouble
might be expected. Is was thought that
the hostiles would not be able to determine
whether they would be deprived Of their
arms and ammunition while the alleged
frtendlies could traverse the agency, as they
do now, armed almost to the teeth The
selection of the spot in which to disarm
them has been serious question. The
work could not be done in the
middle Of the agency, neither could
it be done where the ground
is broken. The latter place would be the
traditional fighting ground Of the Indians,
and, in case of treachery, great damage
might be done. Meanwhile the Gordon of
troops in the several commands of Brooke,
Carr, Wheaton, ulsley, Sanford and Penny
have been drawing closer around the hos
tiles.
-
Gen. Miles to-day issued orders for an
advance on all sides from three to six miles.
This move was ordered to be made with
care. The principal idea was to keep the
Indians toward the reservation, and at the
same time allow them to halt on no spot
on which they might have an advantage
| over the troops. Gen. Miles has ordered
the displacement of the Indian police, who
have been on duty both at the stations and
post around the agency. He will supply
| their places with soldiers. This move has
| been variously interpreted, but it
seems patent, however, that the general |
| reason was that he wanted only white men
| on duty. No reports were received to-day
as to whose houses were destroyed Friday
along Wounded Knee creek. At this dis
tance 1t was considered the work of hostiles,
| aud was not viewed as favorable evidence
| of good will. Young -Man-Afraid-o Of His
Horses, however, did not think his home
had been destroyed.
GEN. HOWARD AS A CRITIC.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 10.-The
| Times Union will tomorrow publish an
| interview with Maj Gen. o. o. Howard, U.
s. A, commanding the military division of
| the Atlantic, in which he criticises the gov
ernment's general policy toward the In
disnsand takes issue with Gen. Sherman as
to the wisdom of transferring
the Indian bureau from the interior to the
war department.. He is opposed to detail
| ing any officers to act as Indian agents.
| he thinks the root of the evil in our
Indian policy was in treating the
Indisns as foreign nations and making
| treaties with them as such, which could not
be kept. He is strongly in favor of the
Glands in severalty" System applied gradu-
ally, and Is opposed to confning the Indians
| on the reser vations, because the indians are
Americans, and no such restriction Is ap-
| piled to any other class of people in America.