James W. Forsyth
| James William Forsyth | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
August 8, 1834 Maumee, Ohio |
| Died | October 24, 1906 (aged 71) Columbus, Ohio |
| Place of burial | Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1856 - 1897 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands held |
7th U.S. Cavalry Department of California |
| Battles/wars |
American Civil War Indian Wars |
James William Forsyth (August 8, 1834 – October 24, 1906) was a U.S. Army officer and general. He was primarily a Union staff officer during the American Civil War and cavalry regimental commander during the Indian Wars. Forsyth is best known for having commanded the 7th Cavalry at the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890 during which more than 150 men, women, and children of the Lakota were killed and 51 were wounded.
Forsyth was born in Maumee, Ohio, where he attended the local schools. He attended West Point from 1851 to 1856 and received a commission as second lieutenant in Co. D, 9th U.S. Infantry. He was instrumental in the completion of the frontier fort at San Juan Island and served as the company's acting commander when Captain George E. Pickett was away on leave. After serving in Washington Territory at Fort Bellingham and Camp Pickett, San Juan Island, Forsyth was promoted to first lieutenant in 1861 and returned to the East to command Union forces in the Civil War.
Forsyth joined the Union Army as colonel of the 64th Ohio Infantry on 9 November 1861. He was temporarily in command of a brigade during Don Carlos Buell's march to the relief of Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant at Shiloh. However, the day before the battle began the brigade's regular commander, James A. Garfield, returned and Forsyth did not participate in the actual battle. Forsyth relinquished command of the 64th Ohio to Colonel John Ferguson on 1 January 1862.
In 1862 he transferred to the Army of the Potomac where he served as the assistant U.S. inspector general during the Peninsular Campaign. During the Maryland Campaign he was assigned as aide-de-camp to Major General Joseph K. F. Mansfield until the latter's untimely death at the Battle of Antietam. Forsyth then became provost marshal to the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
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Wikipedia