The record-union., 1891-02-13
Special to the REcoRD-UxroS.

, op1iilohs
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The Secretary
of War to-day made public the report of
the investigation OF the battle at Wounded
Knee, particularly with reference to
Colonel Forsythe's conduct on that occa-
sion. The record of the Court of Inquiry
is indorsed by Major Miles, un-
der date of Chicago, January 31st
He says, in part: Colonel Forsythe
had received repeated warnings as to the
desperate and deceitful character of Big
Foot's band of Indians, and repeated or
ders as TO the exercise of constant vigi-
lance, to guard against surprise or disas-
ter under all circumstances. These or
oers were unheeded and disregarded by
Colonel Forsythe. lie had been warned
that this particular band contained many
of the most desperate and deceitful char
acters of the Sioux Nation, and the re-
igious excitement made them peculiarly
dangerous. Un.ter these circumstances.
the apparent Indifference and security of
the officer in command of the troops at
Wounded Knee is incomprehensible and
4iitlANtlSttJlt- ->Ob al Sltlglt tI)dliN WAS
so disposed as to deliver its fire upon the
warriors without endangering the lives
OF some Of their own comrades. 1t is
difficult to conceive how worse dispo-
sition of the troops could be made.
The testimony goes to show that the
most OF the troops were forced to with
hold their fire, leaving the bulk of the
affair to fall upon two companies. until
such warriors as had not been killed
broke through or overpowered the small
force directly about them, and reached
the camp occupied by the women and
children
'"rhe battery of four Hotchkiss guns
had until then been useless, the friction
primers having been removed from the
guns by order of the Captain command
ing the battery, lest the gunners might in
their excitement discharge the pieces and
destroy their own comrades. These guns
We're now opened upon the Indian camp,
even at that time placing in peril Troops
G and d of the Seventh Cavalry, which
which were obliged to retreat for some
distance, owing to the fire from these
guns, and from the small arms of other
portions of the command.
THE fact that large number of the LOG
warriors Were without firearms when the
outbreak occurred is shown by the evil
dence that forty-eight guns had been
e,1Ken from the tepees, and a personal
search OF twenty or more warriors resulted
in finding them unarmed. This fact taken
in connection with the extremely in
judiciouS disposition of the troops and
the large number of casualties among
them, constrains the belief that some
casualties were suffered at the hands of
our own men. The fatal disposition of the
troops was such as at the outset to
counteract in great measure the i'm
mense disparity of strength, and would
be ineXcusable in the face of an armed
4 i 10 e.. L.
warnings and orders been received from
higher authority.
Il can only partially account for the
singular apathy and neglect of Coloriel
ForSythe upon the theory of his inditfer-
ence to and his contempt for the repeated
and urgent warnings and orders received
by him from the Division Commander.
or by his incompetence and entire iifex-
perience in the responsibility of Nercis-
ing command where judgment and dis
cretion are required.
II also forward herewith the report
of Captain Baldwin, Fifth Infantry. con
cerning the finding of the bodies of
women and children three miles away
from the scene of the engagement on
Wounded Knee Creek. This report indi-
Gates the nature Of some of the results of
the unfortunate affair; results which are
viewed with the strongest disapproval by
the undersigned. NELSON A. MILES.
hdJoI-pGHeIdI commanding"
General Schofield submitted the case to
the Secretary of War, with the indorse-
ment that the interests of the service did
not demand longer continuance of Col
onel Forsythe's suspension. In his judg-
ment the conduct of the regiment was
well worthy of the commendation be-
slowed upon it by him in his first tele-
gram of the engagement.
In returning the papers to the Major
General commanding, the Secretary re-
views the testimony as TO the surrender,
and comments on the desperate and
Sullen character of the band. He says it
was manifestly imperative necessity to
prevent the escape of these desperadoes
during the process of disarming. The
troops appeared to have been well dis
posed to prevent an outbreak, which was
not and could hardly have been antici-
pated, even in dealing with Indians.
The Secretary says: Nothing illustrates
the madness of the outbreak more forci-
bly, than the fact that their first fire was
so directed that every shot thatdid not hit
the soldiers must have gone through their
own village. There is little doubt that
the first killing of women and children
was by this first fire of the Indians them
selves. They then made a rush to break
through and:sround the flags of Troop X,
commanded by gallant Captain Wallace,
and reached the tepees, where many of
them had left their arms with the squaws
and continued firing from among their
own women and children, and when they
started from their camp, their women and
children were mingled with them. The
women and children were never away
from the immediate company of the men
after the latter broke from the circle.
Many of them, men and women, got on
their ponies, and il is impossible 10 dis
tingulsh buck from q squaw ut little
distance when mounted. The men fired
= from tho obi in,
their retreat.
cautions were repeatedly given by
both officers and on-commisSioned not
to shoot the Squaws or children, and the
men were cautioned Individually tha: such
and such Indians were squaws. The firing
by the troops was entirely directed ON the
men in the circle. and in a direction op-
posite from the tepees, until the Indians,
after their break, mingled with their
women and children, thus exposing them
TO the fire of the troops, and as a conse-
ouence some We're unavoidably Killed
and wounded. This act is universally re-
GREETED by the officers and men of the
Seventh Cavalry.
''This unfortunate phase of the affair
grew out of circumstances for which the
indians themselves were entirely respon-
sible Major Whiteside emphaticaliy
declares that at least fifty shots were
fired by the Indians before the troops re
turned the fire. Several special instances
of humanity in the saving of women and
children We're noted.
"No doubt the position of the troops
Of rf.