The times., 1897-05-13
MAJ. GEN. ]. ". FORSYTH
The President Promotes Gallant
Officer.
Details of an Army Record Extend
ing Over Forty Eventfui Years.
To Retire in 1898.

Brig Gen James w Forsyth was yester-
day distinguishedby the President by being
nominated by him for the vacant position
Of major general 1t is said the Senate will
at once act favorably ON the nomination.
Gen. Forsyth was born In Ohio, August
&c, 1884. and was appointed by Con-
eressrnan In that State cadet Ut the Mill
tary Academy at West Point. He was an
apt pupil and stood well In the graduating
class On July 1, 1856, he was appointed
second lieutenant OF the Ninth infantry,
and March 1 8, 1851, was promoted To first
Lieutenant, and two months later ne was
transferred to the Eighteenth Infantry
In the following October the young lieuten-
ant became captain, and went to the
front. doing his duty in manner that
was commended by his superiors, and
caused him to be brevetted ma jor on Sep
ternber 20, 1853, for gallant and merito-
rious servicein the battle Of Ciickamauga,
Georgia.
The young officer continued to win the
good will of his superiors. and on April Z,
1864, was promoted to major and assist
ant adjutant general Of volunteers. Seven
colonel and assistant inspector general, and
became brevet lieutenant colonel October
10, 1864, for gallant and uneritorioHs ser
vice at the battle of Cedar Creek, where
he distinguished himself on the field. The
same day he was specially brevetted briga-
der general OF volunteers for bis gallant
and ncritorious services at the battles Of
Opeauoil Fisher 5 Hill and Middietown. For
signal bravery aud excellent gener alship at
the battle ef Five Oaks he was breveted
colonel, and on April 8, 1865, for gallant
and naeritorious services on the battlefield
during the war he was brevetted hrigadier
general.
lie was relieved from duty as lieute nant
colonel assistant Inspector general May
10, 1855, and was promoted to brigadier
general of volunteers the same day, for
gallant and meritorious service Gen
Forsyth was mustered out OF the volunteer
service january 10, 1866, and appointed
major in the e,Ith Cavalry, regular Army,
July 2S, 1866. After doing duty In the
reconstruction, he was promoted to lieu
tenant colonel and aide-Ie-camp March 13,
1869, and filled that position until March
IT, 1873, when he becaRle lieutenant
colonel and military secretary, and acted
as sach until April 4. 1878, when he be-
came lieutenant colonel OF cavalry, and was
assignedto duty In the West He " as after
ward appointed colonel OF the Seventh
Cavalry He was made hrigadier general
November 9, 1894, and was placed in
charge OF the Department OF California,
where he had remained until now
Gen. Forsyth was a fighting soldier, and
during his exciting career In the war he
was one OF Gen McClelian's staff Officers
in the Peninsula and Maryland campaigns,
and later became Gen. Sheridsn's S chief OF
staff, during the Richmond campaign He
was wich Sheridan on his celebrated ride
from Winchester, ,and1ater was in command
OF calvary brigade in the Division Of the
Gulf, and was In the campaign from
Alexandria TO Hampstead, Tex While Gen.
SEcridan was at the headquarters OF the
Department. OF the Missouri at Chicago, Gen
Forsyth was his aide-de-camp, and he went
with Gen. Sheridan to Europe as his
aide-de-camp during the war betw cen
Prussia and France.
Upon his return TO this country he was
assigned TO the West, and did some gal
liant fighting against the Sioux IN the
Bannock campaign, and in the Sioux cam
paign in South Dakota in S91, and was
In all OF the engagements.