Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-05
RELIEF OF COZ. FoRsYrHE.
What Il Said About II ut the War Depart
meuf.

LrEvED TO HAVE BEEN MADE FROM THIS CIT
AND PERHAPS BIT THE PREsrpESr-soxE CRIT
IcAL coNNExrs-THK KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The relief Of Col Forsythe Of his command
Of the seventh cavalry by Gen. Miles, which
has been telegraphed east from unofficial
sources. forms the prevailing topic Of CONVEX
sation around the War Department today. 1t
is being talked about with a vigor and an open
ness Of criticism that reminds old timers Of the
war times, when such troubles were frequent
One officer said to q STAR reporter: AT this
rate the Sioux troubles will grow to be Just a.
bad as the events Of the first three years of the
war, when every officer with an independent
command had not only an enemy in front of
him but a court-martial behind him."
Officers say that it was grave error TO order
the relief of Col Forsythe at this stage of the pro-
ceedings, and thus hold up a warning finger to
every colonel in the little army around Pine
Ridge, to tell them that the death of each Sioux
must be explained. 1t viii have, it is openly
asserted, a very demosalizing effect upon the
enterprisirg bravery Of the commanding OH
GERS in the field, and there are predictions that
with the example that is being made of Col.
Forsythe in full view there will hardly be
man in the army with any responsibility who
will dare to do anything but take part in q
negative campaign.
TIE TRUE INwARDNEss NOT KNOWN.
The true inwardness of Gen. Miles action in
relieving Col. Forsythe has not yet come to
light, but it is generally believed that this
course was inspired by the officials here.
Neither Secretary Proctor nor Gen. Schotield
are wiling to say very much on the subject,
although both practically admit that Gen.
Miles did not act entirely upon his own respon-
slbllity Secretary Proctor said to a STAR re-
porter Gen. Miles did it. 1t ID very much
mixed up matter and may explain it later"
WHAT GEN. scHoFIELD SAYS.
Gen. Schofield was rather more comm1nica-
tive. He said: There is not much that can
say about it just now, but 1 am willing 70 ex-
plain as far as can. 1t had been suggested by
person whom l cannot mention that it would
be well to look into the matter of the fight on
Wounded Knee creek the other day, inasmuch as
the reports state hatseveral Indian women and
children we're killed. Accordingly Gen. Miles,
at suggestion from here, relieved Col. For
sythe OF his command pending an investigate
of the circumstanc of that SIGHT. which is
probably now being conducted by Gen. Miles,.
have AZ yet received no official information
from Gen. Miles about the matter and all
know about what he has done is what have
seen in the newspapers. Iexpect report from
him today. Yes, the general management of
the fight is also to be looked into, but the par
ticular point in question is the death of the
women anu children.
DID TIRE PRESIDENT SUGGEST IT?
1t is surmised that the person who ''sug-
gested' the investigation is the President,
whose suggestions as to the army have all the
weight of orders, and other than whom there
- probably ne one whose mere suggestion
Il be given such obedience. OF course. it
.,ossible that the suggestion may have come
from Gen. Miles but he would hardly act with
ont orders from Washington in such an event.
The main force of the criticism that
- heard seems to be directed against
the policy Of relieving an officer dnring
the middle of q campaign. instead OF waiting
until after the troubles are settled to begin an
investigation. As to the charge that Col.
Forsythe allowed his men to kill women and
children il is asserted that it would be impossi-
bic, III the hurry and confusion of an unex-
pected fight and the subsequent stampede and
pursuit, TO detect the sex Of the Sioux.
ONE OFFICERS OPINION.
One officer remarked: 1T is preposterous to
say that it is necessary, in an Indian skirmish.
to stop firing long enough to find out just
what sort OF an Indian you are shooting at
Inc women and the men look very much
alike in their blanket costume and the
former are quite fierce fighters as the
men. A Sioux squaw is as bad an enemy as
q big buck at times. The little boys.
too, can shoot quite well as their
soldier, on seeing a ten-year-old pointing a
loaded gun at him. with as true an aim as the
best marksman in the army. to stop his adj
vance and Cry: My son, you must drop that
gun, for You are minor and an not allowed
to hurt YOU"
1t is likely that whatever NAV be the re-
suit OF the present war; there will be quite
row over this matter before the end is reached.
LISTS OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Gen. Schofield has received a couple of tele-
grams from Gen. Miles, both dated at Pine
Ridge Saturday. The first is as follows:
"COl. Forsythe reports under date of I'd in
slant the following casualties in ski,mish on
White creek. Sd. near this agency on Decem-
Der 30: Killed-Private Darwin N. Trauccscheth.
troop G. seventh cavalry. Woundcd-First
Lieut.. Jas. ID. Mann. seventh cavalry; Priyates
NJ. &. hillock and Vim. S. Fitzpatrick. troop b,
seventh cavalry; Private Peter Clansen. troop
Z; Private VIM. Kern. troop d; Farrier Rich
ard J. Nolan, troop 1, and FRS. Sergt Theo.
Rayncr. troop K, seventh cavalry"
are the killed and wounded at Crossings Of
Wounded Knee creek Decembe- 20, 1890:
kllled-Capt. George ID. Wallace, seventh
cavalry; Hospital Steward Oscar Pollock. Sergt.
Maj. Il. w. COrwin. seventh cavalry; Sergt. A.
G. Dyer. Privates Henry Frey, George John
son. Michael Regain and James Logan troop A:
Corporal Harry Il. Forrest, Privafes John Cos
tellO. Ralph L. Cook and William
s. Mego. troop u: Private James Devreed.
troop G.; Private Frank L. Reincky troop ID:
Sergt. Robt. L. Nettles and Private Aug Kelner.
troop 4; Blacksmith Gustav Korn, Privates
Daniel Twoling. Jas. Z. Kelly and Jos.
Cummings, troop |; Sergt. VIM. Hodges.
Privatos James McCue, Jos. Murphy,
Wrl. d. McClintock and Philip Schinen-
kup. troop X, eth cavalry. wounded-lst
John G. Gresham. seventh cavalry; Seret. A.
II. Hazelwood, Privates Adam Neder. H. L.
Duncan, Daniel McMahon and Herman Gram
berg, troop A; Sergts. W. Ii. Twowig and Jas.
Ward, Corp. Chas. H. Navel, Privates Frank
Lewis, Harry Stone and John Mckenzie. troop
b; Privates r. Schrever and VIM ii.
Green, troop C; Wagner Geo. York.
troop d; Sergt. John F. PriIle.
troop e; Sergeants Geo. Lloyd and Henry How.
ard, Corporal Albert s. Bone, Priyates Bern
hard Zehender, Gottlieb Hipp and Harvey II.
Thomas, troop l; Corporal Harold Clifton,
Trumpeter Jas. Ch-istianson, Privates VIM.
Adams. Ed Sullivan. C. p. Martin. VIM. Davis
liott and Hugh McGuiness, troop X. seventh
cavalry. OF the wounded Corporals Chas.
Newell, troop B, and Albert s. Bone,
troor I, and Private bernhard Re,
hender, troop l, seventh cavalry.
died the same night before reaching the
agency. and Private Herman Granberg, troop
X. seventh cavalry. has died since. Second Lieut..
Harry L. Hawthorne, second artillery, serving
with light battery z, first artillery. was
wounded, Is was First Lieut.. Jno. Kinzic, adju-
tant second infantry, who was by permission
with Major Whiteside. In addition to above,
one Indian scout. High Backbone" was killed,
and Father Kraft was badly wounded with .
knife.