HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARTILLERY,

FORT HAMILTON, N. Y. H.,

March 10, 1891.

ORDERS )

No. 20. }

The Colonel Commanding the Regiment takes pleasure in publishing
for the information of his command the following testimony as to the
good conduct under trying circumstances, of the officers and men
serving with Light Battery "E" First U. S. Artillery, during the recent
disturbances at the Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota.

HEADQUARTERS 7th CAVALRY,

FORT RILEY, KANSAS.

February 17, 1891

ADJUTANT GENERAL U. S. ARMY.

Washington, D. C.

(Through Headquarters Department of the Missouri.)

Sir:

Referring to the recent Indian Troubles in South Dakota, I have the honor
to make the following recommendations.

That Captain Allyn Capron 1st Artillery, be given a brevet of Major for his conspicuous bravery and coolness in the two engagements of Wounded Knee Creek, and Drexel Mission, South Dakota, and for the especially admirable manner in which he handled his command during the two days.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

JAMES W. FORSYTH,

Colonel 7th Cavalry,

Commanding.

(Extract from report of Captain Capron to Regimental Commander.)

On the day of the fight at Wounded Knee Creek, the semi-friendly Indians

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at the Agency became stampeded and commenced firing on the troops. Lieut. Todd promptly placed his guns in position and was prepared to resist the attack that was expected.

HEADQUARTERS BATTALION 9th CAVALRY,

WHITE CLAY CREEK, SOUTH DAKOTA,

January 21st, 1891.

ORDERS.

Second Lieutenant J. L. Hayden 1st Artillery, with two Hotchkiss guns, joined this battalion Christmas Eve—participating in its 50 miles march—again in its march of 102 miles in 30 hours—again in the relief of the battalion wagon train—again in the relief of the 7th Cavalry at the fight at the Mission. In this engagement the rapid and effective fire of his guns aided materially in frustrating the plans of the enemy.

Lieutenant Hayden and his detachment are entitled to much praise for their soldierly and zealous performance of duty.

BY ORDER OF MAJOR HENRY:

ALEX. W. PERRY.

2nd Lieutenant 9th Cavalry, Battalion Adjutant.

2nd Lieutenant Harry L. Hawthorne. 2nd Artillery deserves special mention. This Officer while on duty at Fort Riley, the same post at which Light Battery "E" was stationed, learning that the battery on being ordered to Dakota was short of officers, volunteered to accompany it. He was badly wounded while commanding a platoon of the battery. The Captain Commanding the battery makes the following report of Lieutenant Hawthorne's services and good conduct:-

CAMP PINE RIDGE AGENCY, SOUTH DAKOTA,

January, 1st, 1891.

Colonel J. W. Forsyth,

7th, U. S. Cavalry.

Sir:

I have the honor to invite your attention to the bravery displayed by 2nd Lieutenant Harry L. Hawthorne 2nd Artillery in the engagement December 29th, 1890, with hostile Indians on Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, during the engagement Lieut. Hawthorne commanded a Platoon of my Battery, Light Battery "E" 1st Artillery, consisting of two Hotchkiss Mountain Howitzers which he served with great coolness and effect. A party of Indians had taken possession of a ravine from which cover they had wounded and killed a number of our men; when Lieut. Hawthorne gallantly moved one of his pieces forward by hand to within three hundred yards of the place where the hostiles were concealed and while coolly and gallantly commanding his piece was shot and severely wounded. I cannot speak too highly of the good judgment, coolness and bravery displayed by this officer, again on the same day when the Indians first strove and the troops were mixed up promiscuously with the Indians, although the guns of the battery were trained upon the in-

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dian encampment, with the lanyards in the gunners hands ready to fire, Lieut. Hawthorne stood by his guns and by his coolness at the most critical moment restrained his men from firing until the troops had separated themselves from the hostiles. If the gunners in the excitement of the moment had fired their pieces when the Indians first broke, the fire would have been most deadly to our men. In consideration of the above facts which can be confirmed by other witnesses than myself I most respectfully recommend him for the brevets of 1st Lieutenant and Captain.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

ALLYN CAPRON,
Captain 1st Artillery, Commanding Light Battery "E".

That the enlisted men of the battery appear to have emulated their officers in coolness and bravery, appears from the following report of Captain Capron:-

CAMP PINE RIDGE, AGENCY, SOUTH DAKOTA,

January 2nd, 1891.

Colonel J. W. Forsyth, 7th U. S. Cavalry

Sir:

I have the honor to respectfully invite the attention of the proper authorities to the good conduct and bravery displayed by the following named enlisted men of my battery at the fight with hostile Indians December 29th, 1890. on Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota. Corporal Paul H. Weinert was acting as chief of section and gunner of a Mountain Howitzer which by direction of his immediate commanding officer, 2nd Lieutenant Harry L. Hawthorne 2nd Artillery, was moved forward by hand to within three hundred yards of a position in a ravine occupied by several hostile Indians, from which they had killed and wounded several of our men. After Lieutenant Hawthorne fell severely wounded, Corporal Weinert continued to gallantly serve his gun, and after each fire, moved it forward by hand to obtain a new position from which he could better shell the Indians out, he continued his work coolly and gallantly until I directed him to withdraw his piece. Private Hartzog of Corporal Weinert's gun detachment when Lieut. Hawthorne fell severely wounded, picked him up, carried him out of range of the hostile guns, and then returned to his duties. Privates George Green and John Flood who served with the gun detachment also did their duty well under the most trying circumstances. I respectfully recommend these men to the consideration of the higher authorities; it is well known, by all who were present and observed the conduct of Corporal Weinert and his gun detachment that their conduct is worthy of the highest consideration.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

(Extract from Captain Capron's report to Regimental Commander.)

Sergeants O'Riley and Cannon and Corporal Donahugh with their men acted with the greatest coolness and bravery, held the fire of their pieces until