The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-13

| women was By the frst firing OF the Indians
| themselves. They then made a rush TO break
/ through and around the tanks Of the troops com
manded by the gallant Capt Wallace and reach
/ ed their tepees where many of them had left their
arms with squaws. and they continued nring
/ from among their own women and children,
/ and when they started from their camp their
women and children were mingled with them
ALL IN BUNcH.
/ The women and children were never away
from the immediate company Of the men after
the latter broke away from the circle. Many or
/ them, men and women, got on their ponies. and
/ it is impossible to distinguish a buck from
/ squaw at little distance when mounted Tie
| men fired from among the women
| and chidren In their retreat. ca tons
/ were reneatedly given both b. the officers ana
/ non commissioned Officers not ID shoot the
! squaws or children. aud the men were cautioned
| individually that such and such Indians were
/ squaws. The firing by the troops was entirely
directed on the men ia ne circle and in a direc-
tion opposite from the teepes until the Indians
after their break mingled with their women and
children, thus exposing them t. the fire OF
were unavoidably killed and wounded;
a fact which was universally regretted by the
unfortunate phase of the affair grew out OF
circumstances for which the Indians them
selves were entirely responsible. MaJ.
Whitesides emphatically declares that
BY the Indians before the troops
returned the fire. Several special instances OF
humanity 10 the saving of women and children
were noted. That It resulted IN the loss OF the
lives Of many good soldiers and the wounding
OF many others, as well as almost the total de-
struction' of the warriors, was one OF the in
evitable consequences of such acts of insane
desperation.
NOT KILLED BY THE TROOPS.
The bodies of an Indian woman and three
children who had been shot down three miles
from Wounded Knee had been found some
days after the battle and buried BY Capt. Bald
infantry ar
not appear that this killing had any cOnnec-
ton with the light at Wounded
Knee, nor that Col. Forsyth is in any
viii be given to insure n thorough investiga-
ton OF the transaction and prompt punishment
OF the criminals No doubt the position OF the
withhold their fire for time in
order that they might not endanger the
lives OF their comrades, but both Maj. Kemp
and Capt. Baldwin concur in finding that the
evidence Fails to establish that single man
of Col. Forsyth's command was killed
wounded by bis fellows" This fact and indeed
the conduct of both officers and men through
tho whole affair, demonstrate an exceedingly
satisfactory discipline in the Seventh cavalry.
HIGH PRAISE.
Their behavior characterized by skill,
discretion. GOODNESS and forbearance and re-
fleets the highest possible credit upon the regi
officer and twenty-five men killed and
three officers and thirty-two men
wounded. The situation at Wounded
Knee creek was very unusual and very
difficult one, far more difficult than that
involved in an ordinary 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 the actual conditions as they ap-
peared to the commanding officer there does
not seem to be anything in the
arrangement of the troops requiring adverse
criticism on the part of the department. l
therefore approve of the Endorsement of the
major general commanding that the interests
OF the military service do not demand any fur
Their proceedings in this case. BY direction of
the President Col Forsyth will resume COM
mand Of his regiment.
REDFIELD PRocToR,
Secretary of War.