Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-06
0BN. AlLES TkLEGBkAMS.
The Message Resulting In the Forsythe In.
vestignt1on.

The Message Resulting In the Forsythe In.
vestigat1on.
GEN. scHoYrzLp's INSTRUCTIONS 10 THE CON-
TO oaDx. An uounr-THE PRESIDENTS Last
nsrRUcrIoxs.
Immediately aftor the cabinet meeting to-
day Secretary Proctor furnished q STAB re-
porter with the following telegraphic CORE
sponde-ce in the case Of Col. Forsythe:
The first dispatch is dated December So
from Gen. Schofeld to Gen Miles. He says in
conclusion: "Give my thanks to the brave
seventh cavalry for its splendid conduct"
The next is from Gen. Miles to Gen. Scho-
field, dated January l: ''Your telegram Of con-
graduation to the seventh cavalry II received,
but as the action of the colonel commanding
will be q matter Of serious consideration, and
viii undoubtedly be the subject Of investiga-
ton thought ii proper to advise you in view
Of the above facts. Do you wish your telegram
transmitted Is it was sent? Il Il stated that
the disposition of 400 soldiers and four pieces
Of artillery was fatally defective and q large
number OF soldiers were killed and wounded
by the fire from their own ranks and q very
large number Of women and children were
killed in addition to the Indian men,
Gen. Schofield replied thus, dated January q:
"1n view Of the aspect Of the case presen:ed
better not to deliver my message
to the seventh cavalry until have seen your
report after the investigation, which you pro-
pose; Therefore you will please withhold it
until further advised by me-"
The next dispatch is from Gen. Schofield also,
dated January 2. He says: ''Your dispatch to
me of yesterday and that to the adjutant gen.
eral have been shown to the President, and in
reply the Secretary of War directs me to
say that The President has heard with
secure the settlement of the Sioux difficult
ties without bloodshed. He suggests
that possibly a watchful observation
Of the hostile bands that would prevent
their breaking into the settlement and
give the Indians time to recover from
their present excitement would be well.
But he leaves all this to your better
information and discretion and would
is necessary to protect the settiements
He hopes that the report of the killing Of
women and children in the affair at Wounded
Knee is unfounded, and directs that you
cause an immediate inquiry to be made
and report the result to the department. II
there was any unsoldierly conduct
you viii relieve the responsible Off
Ger and so use the troops engaged there
az to avoid its repetition wish to add to the
presidents suggestion the hope, which still
entertain in spite OF the unfortunate accidents
which have occurred, that you may be able, by
convincing the Indians that the purposes Of the
army are not hostile to them, but on the con-
trary are friendly and dictated by desire to
secure to them future peace and prosperity, to
obtain their surrender without further con-
fict."
The following was received from Gen. Miles
dated January3. THE directions Of the Pres
ident and yourself il Just the action had
anticipated and taken nearly all of sixth
and ninth cavalry and second and seventeenth
infantry. with one hundred Indian scouts, are
practically on three sides of them along Beaver
White River and Porcupine, with Gen,
Brooke In command, this may hold them in
check. am In close communication with them
and have informed them the only safe road is
toward the agency, and about half are anxious to
come in. The others are making desperate
efforts to keep all ut war. I consider it very
important that the five officers that 1 recon-
mended be placed in charge of the five anencies
Please inform me if this is approved OF disap-
proved. have a very great amount OF inform
alton concerning the conspiracy. 1t involved
all the tribes in the northwest and
the wild tribes in the Indian territory. Sitting
Bull would have been the head. and the move
was to be made in the spring. They expected
to strike west to where the ghost delusion
originated, Nevada
Gen. Miles reply is dated January 5. He
says: "In accordance with your telegram and
Of officers consisting Of Col. Carr, sixth
cavalry; Maj. Kent, fourth infantry;
and Capt. Baldwin, fifth infantry, to investigate
that affair at Wounded Knee. Is this in con-
formity with Presidents directions and does he
direct that 1t constitute court Of inquiry with
power to take testimony under oath3 Col
Forsythe's command consisted of twenty-six
officers and AGO men. Eighty-two Indians and
sixty women and children were buried on or
near the ground. l have relieved Col. For
sythe from command"
reply to this WAS sent today: "In reply to
your telegram of yesterday am directed by
the Secretary Of War to inform you that it
was not the intention of the President
to appoint a court Of inquiry, nor to
order at this time, in the midst of
the campaign, any further inquiry than you
could yourself make without the necessity Of q
count; the purpose being simply to de-
termine whether any officer had been
so far direlict in duty as to make
it necessary to relieve him from
command; such result to follow upon the in
quiry which you were expected to cause to be
made. You were expected first to in
quire into the facts and in the
event Of its being disclosed that
there had been unsoldierly conduct to relieve
the responsible officer. The directions of the
President were suggested by your telegram Of
the LIST instant to me-