The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-02-14
FORSYTHE INDICATED.
His Conduct at Wounded Knee L. En-
dorsed and H- IL Restored to HIS Cosn-

His Conduct st Wounded Knee L. En-
dorsed and Tie IL Restored to his Cosn-
msnd.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l3.-The secretary
OF war to-day made public the report OF
the investigation OF the battle Of
Wounded Knee, particularly with refer
ences TO Col. Forsythe's conduct on that
occasion. The record Of the court Of In
under date OF Chicago, Jan. 81. He says,
In part:
Col, Forsythe had received repeated
warnings as to- the desperate and docoitful
character of RIa Eooi's band of Indians.
and repeated orders as 70 the exercise of
constant vigilance TO guard against sur
prise or disaster under all circumstances.
These warnings and orders were UNDECIDED
and disregarded by Col. Forsythe.
IL IL dfficult u conceive how a worse dis.
position Of troops could have been made.
The testimony goes TO show that most OF the
troops were forced to withhold their FIRE
leaving the brunt OF the affair 10 fall uIon
two COR panies, until such warriors as had
not been killed broke through or overpow-
cred the small force directly about them
and reached the camp occupied by women
and children. The battery OF four Hotch-
kiss 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
were now opened upon the Indian camp
oven at that time placing in peril the
troops OF companies T. and ID, Seventh cav
airy, which were Obliged 10 retreat some
distance owing To the fire from
these guns and from the small arms OF
other portions OF the command
Ths, IN fal diansEftln lnu nf
at the outset 10 counteract, Ia a great
measure, the immense disparity of strength,
and would have been inexcusable In the
face OF the armed and desperate foe even
had mo- especial warnings and ..nsztars been
recelS ed from higher authority, -
Gen. Schoheld submitted the case 10
the secretary OF war, with the ndorse-
ment that the interests OF the service do
not demand a longer continuance OF Col.
Forsythe's suspension. In his judgment
the conduct OF the regiment was well
worthy OF the commendatlon bestowed
upon 1t by him in his first telegram after
the engagement. In returning the pa.
pors 10 the maJor-general commanding,
Secretary OF War Proctor reviews
the testimony as TO the surrender, and
comments on the desperate and sullen
character OF the band. lie says:
Ii was msnifestly an imperative necessity
10 prevent the escape OF these desperadoes
during the process of disarming. The troops
| appeared To have been we'll disposed TO pre-
vent an outbreak. which was not and could
| barely have been anticipated, even In deal
| Ing with Indians, Nothing illustrates the
| madness OF the outbreak more forcib.y than
/ the fact that their first fire was 50 directed
| that every shot that did not hit the soldiers
| must have gone through their own village
! e. llgfls hut hat ha fqat
| ing OF women and children was by this first
| hre OF the Indians. They then made a rush
4 "a break through and around the nanks Of
/ troop n. commanded by the gal-
liant Capt Wallace and reached
| the tepees where many OF
| them had left their arms with the squaws,
and cont nued firing from among their own
| women and children. and when they started
I from their camp their women and children
/ we're mingled with them. The women and
| children were never away from the imme-
diate campany of the men after the latter
/ broke from the circle. Many OF them. men
| and women, got on their ponies, and it IL
| Impossible to distinguish back from a
| squaw at little distance when mounted.
The firing by the troops was entirely dl-
rocted the men "a the ciR,le and
in direction opposite from the tepees
until the Indians, after their break.
mingled with their women aud children,
thus exposing them Ia the fire of the troops,
and as a consequence some were unavoid-
ably killed aud wounded. This fact n uni
versally regretted by the officers aud men
Of the soventh cavalry. This unfortunate
phase OF the affair grew out OF clrcum-
stances for which the Indians themselves
were entirely responsible. Mai. whitesids
ofnphatirally declares that fully afty shot.
were hred by the Indians before the troop,
returned the are. The conduct OF both ths
officers and men throughout the whole af.
fair, demonstrated very satifactory stats
on discipline I'm Aha seventh cavalry. Theil
behavior MAS characterized by Skill cool
ues,s. discretion and forbearance. aud re
fleets the highest possible credit upon the
regiment, which sustained the loss OF ons
officer and twenty Ave enlisted men killed
aud three officers and thirty-two en-
listed men wounded The situation ii
! Wounded Knee creek was .ery unusua q