The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-02-21
Col. Forsythe Sustained.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The secretary of
wal this afternoon made public the result
of the investigation of the battle at
Wounded Knee and Colonel Forsythe's
conduct on that occasion. In endorsing
the record OF the court of inquiry, General
Miles scores charlottesville in a merciIess
manner. He accuses Col. Forsythe of
neglect OF duty, disobedience Of orders,
general incompetence, Il lack of judgment
and discretion. General Schofield in en-
| dorsing The report says the interests of
the service DO not demand continuance of
| Colynel Forsytle's suspension and states
| care was taken by officers and enlisted
men Of the Seventh cavalry and that in
his Judgment the conduct of the regiment
was we'll worthy OF the commentator be-
slowed upon it by me in my first telegram
after the engagement. The secretry OF
length and in conclusion sustains fully
Colonel Forsythe's management of his
men. The president SustainS Secretary
Proctor in his decision.
In the course of the letter the secretary
says: "NOthing illustrates the madness OF
the outbreak more forciblythan the fact that
the Indians first fire was so directed that
every shot that did not hit a soldier must
have gone through their own village.
7 There is little doubt the first killing of the
women and children was by this first fire
of the Indians themselves. They then
made a rush to break through and round
| the flanks of troop X, commanded by gal
tepees, where many OF them had left their
arms with squaws, and they continued fir
ing among their own women and children,
and when they started from their camp
heir women and children were
mingled with them. The women and
the immediate company of the men after
| the latter broke from the circle. Many of
them, the men and the women. got on their
| ponies, and it was impossible 10 distinguish
II buck from a squaw at a little distance,
! wien mounted. The men fired from
among the women and children in their re-
treat. Cautions were repeatedly given by
both officers and nOn-cOmnissiOned officers
not to shoot squaws or children, and the
men were cautioned individually that such
and such Indians were squaWs. The fir
ing by the troops was entirely directed on
the men in the circle and in a direction op-
posite from the tepees, until the Indians,
and children, thus exposing them to the
fire OF the troops, and as a consequence,
some were unavoidably killed and wounded
q fact which v as univelS lily II grt tied by
the officers and men of the Seventh cavalry.
This unfortunate phase of the affair glew
out of circumstances for which the 1ndi-
ans themselves We're entirely responsible.
Major Whiteside emph ,tically 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
xyifhhnIH thar fra far u fiton in Nrior thof
they might not endanger the lives OF
their comrades, but both Major Kent and
Captain Baldwin concur that the evidence
fails to establish that a single mar of Col.
| FOrsythe's command was killed or wound
ed by his fellows. This fact, and, indeed,
men through the whole, affair
isfactory state of discipline in
the Seventh calalry. Their behavior was
characterized by skill, GOODNESS, discretion
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
a very unusual and very difficult one-far
more difficult than that involved in all
ordinary battle, where the only question is
of gaining a victory, without any effort to
ave the lives of the enemy. 1t is easy to
make plans when we look backward, but
in the light of the actual conditions as they
appeared to the commanding officer, there
does not seem anything in the arrange.
ment of the troops requiring adverse criti-
cism on the part Of the department. !
the m~ajor-general commanding. that the
interests of the military service do not de.
mand any further proceedings in this case
By direction of the president, Colonel For
sythe will resume command of his regi-
ment.
Rioting at Kearney.
NEWARK. N. I. Feb. ia r;nt and