Indian Wars
Forsyth remained in the Regular Army after the end of the Civil War. He commanded a brigade of cavalry for two years and was a strong supporter of African Americans and buffalo soldiers. He then joined Sheridan again in 1867, and moved with him when he became commander of the Department of the Missouri in 1866. Forsyth served first as the department's secretary and then as inspector, with an appointment in the cavalry. He took part in military campaigns against the Comanche, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kiowa Indians in 1868-69. Forsyth went to Europe in 1870 as an official observer of the Franco-Prussian War.
In 1878 Forsyth commanded the 1st U.S. Cavalry in the Bannock War, having considerable success in this role. In 1885 Forsyth was in command of Fort Maginnis, Montana where the army was monitoring the Crow, Cree, and the Gros Ventres (Atsina) Indians.
On July 11, 1886, alfer a leave of absence of two months, Forsyth was promoted to Colonel of the 7th U.S. Cavalry, assumed command of the regiment July 26, 1886, at Fort Meade, South Dakota and marched to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he arrived September 8, 1887, where he remained in command until Nov. 10th, 1890, during which time he organized and developed the system of instruction for light artillery and cavalry for the School of Application for Infantry and Cavalry. Forsyth was in command of the 7th Cavalry at the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890.
See also: Wounded Knee MassacreOn November 9, 1894, Brigadier General Alexander McDowell McCook was promoted to major general to hold the position vacated by the retirement of Major General Oliver O. Howard. Colonel Forsyth was promoted to the rank of brigadier general to succeed McCook, and was appointed commander of the Department of California.
On May 11, 1897 Forsyth was promoted to major general to succeed Major General Frank Wheaton who had retired on May 8. Forsyth retired from the Army three days later.
Forsyth married the daughter of Ohio Governor William Dennison. The couple had four children. He died on October 24, 1906 in Columbus, Ohio, and is buried in Green Lawn Cemetery.
Read more about this topic: James W. Forsyth
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