The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-12

Last of the Fighting MeCoeks and ssths
Butcher OF Woanded Knee"


LAST of the Fighting MeCosks ana sshs
Butcher OF woanded Knee"
Arson Mcdowell McCook. the new
major general. IL the last Of the lighting
McCooks" Who risked their lives for the
Union. He has served In the United
States army since 1s47. In that year he
entered the United states military acsd-
envy at West Point. He Vas grad uated in
1852, and was assigned TO the Third United
States infantry. Az brevss second and
ss . second lieutenant he saw service In
New Mexico scouting after Apachss and
Navajoss. He remained on the frontier
until 1857, when ne was ordered East. and,
receiving his first Iieutenancy the same
year, he was assigned to duty at the
United States military academy az in
structor in tactics, being given command
OF one of the cadet companies of the
corps. He remained on duty at
the academy until the spring OF
1851, when the civil war broke out.
On May II, 1851. be was promoted 10 q
captaincy in the Third infantry. But
previous to that date, or in April. 1851, he
was commissioned colonel Of the First
Ohio infantry, and with his regiment took
part In the til-fated battle of Bull Run.
Shortly afterward he wa. transferred to the
West. He took part in the battle of Perry
vile, was st Shiloh. commanded corps
A. Stone River. or Murfreesboro. and par
ticipated in the battle of Chickamauga,
which proved so disastrous TO the Union
arms. and which would have resulted
in the rout of Rosecrans' command
had it not been for the deter
mined stand made by Thomas.
Gen. McCook became a brigadier general
Of volunteers in September of 1861
ani a major general il July OF lso2
After the disaster at Chickamanga Cen.
McCook was Withdrawn from active SER
vice and command. and was not called to
arms again until IS64. when he was called
TO command the defense of Washington
City. He resigned from the volunteers in
October, 1861, and returned to duty as
regular officer. March 5. 1867. he Was in
turn promoted TO a lieutenancy. and was
assigned TO duty with the Twenty-sixth
United States infantry. While lieuten-
ant colonel he served on Gen. John Pope's
staff inspector general OF the depart
ment of the Missouri. Gen. McCook was
relieved from duty with Gen. Pope and
was placed on Gen. William Z. Sherman's
staff. The transfer carried with IL the rank
and pay OF colonel. While on Sherman's
staff Gen. McCook was promoted to the
coioneicv of the Sixth United States In
fantry in December, 1850, and forthwith
took command of his regiment. AT the
time, in iso0, when appointed brigadier
general, Gen. McCook was in command of
Fort Leavenworth, Kan, and was COM
mandant of the school of cavalry and in
fantry. In 1890 Gen. McCook took COM
mand of the department OF Arizona. with
headquarters IN Los Angeles, Cal. The
department was abolished after the In
dams ceased to give trouble. and he took
command of the department. of the Colo
RADIO. with headquarters a. Denver. He
commanded the troops during the "Deos
rebellion and, before that, moved troops
10 Denver while Gev. Wsite was hghting
the police com missioaers. He is n very
fat man.
James William Forsyth. the new briga-
der general. was born at Maumee, o.
He was graduated from West Point in
1856. One year later he married the
daughter OF William Dennison. Ohio's
war governor. At the breaking out of the
war the young West Pointer had already
seen something of military service. He
was at Fort Bellin CHAM, Wash, when, in
Is59, the boundary troubles between the
United States and England arose. The
British governor occupied San Juan island,
the KEY TO the Northwest archipelago,
with one company of infantry. Capt.
Pickett and Lieut. Forsyth seized the ISL
and, and when the English forces
attempted q landing repulsed them.
Promoted TO first lieutenant In
March, 1861. Forsyth accepted
change of regiment TO be near the seat OF
war. After the battle of Chickamauga he
was breyeted major, and in 1864 was made
brevet brigadieT general of volunteers Tor
meritorious services. he had taken part
in over fifty battles. When Sheridan rose
TO the rank of Lieutenant general Forsyth
became his military secre tary. and accom-
panied him on his tour through Europe,
witnessing The investment OF Paris and
the battles Of Gravelotte, Beaumont and
Sedan. On his return TO the United
States, in ISL, he was sent 20 the North
west 20 take part in the famous Sioux
expedition. After that he joined the
division OF the Pacific The Bannock In
dams in Montana needed discipline, and
Forsyth was detailed 10 take care OF them.
In command Of eight companies be took
the held and Won complete victory.
The people OF Kansas remember tie sery-
ice rendered the state BY Forsyth In iStiS.
when, upon the outbreak Of the Chsy-
ennes, the western border was threatened
with Indian bgfchery. Forsyth was then
on star duty. and. with hastily gathered
company Of scouts. crossed the state from
Fort Wallace and met the redskins on
branch Of the Republican river. sur
rounded By nearly go savages, under Roman
Nose. the little band fought aud won one
of tie most terrific battles n the history
OF frontier warfare. Indian discipline was
81 broken that Forsyth's engagement Is
sometimes called ''the last charge OF the
Cheyenues." sheridan next appointed
him inspector OF cavalry, and IN June,
lss6. be sss made colonel OF the famous
seventh cavalry Coasters regimentE In
December % is90 the Sioux outbreak
called for immediate action. Col. For
syth with his regiment, and Cox Capron's
Battery ? of the hight artillery, ieit Fort
Riley, Kan. for Pine Ridge. lie vas re-
heved Of his command BY Gen. Niles
v bale in the neid after the battle OF
Wounded Knee, December -. lsSS, Tor al
legged cruelty in ordering his soldiers To
FIRE on the women and children. which was
discussed the nation over. The inysstiga-
ten of the war department was followed
by his reinstatement and the hnding that
The evidence Shows that great care was
taken by the officers and men 20 prevent
unnecessary killing Of Indian women and
children, and that Col Forssths conduct
was gea worthy of eommeHdAilon-
lie at once resumed his place
Ia command OF Fort Riley. Nan.
Col. Forsyth's report OF the sE2lrs at
Wounded Knee simply said that he had
attempted - disarrn the bucks. that hot
ag0t OF half an hour ensusd and fAat bis
soldiers ooeYed orders lie male no de-
Tense shateyer and the conFs OF inquiry
IS 70 his removal decided that he acted
wisely. and the secretary OF var eoGp.a-
meated him and ordered hiEn returned 10
his position a. the head OF bis regiment
Cos. Forsyth IS a nan Of nns personal APP
Te&r&nces ao4 lis soldierty manner and
snow white hair maks ntEa . marked
figure.
Killed by His oaeae-