James W. Forsyth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James William Forsyth (August 8, 1835 – October 24, 1906) was a career officer in the United States Army, serving as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was the commander of the 7th U.S. Cavalry at the Wounded Knee Massacre of Lakota Indians on December 29, 1890.

Forsyth was born in Maumee, Ohio, where he attended the local schools. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1856. Assigned as a second lieutenant, he served in various frontier outposts.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Forsyth was a first lieutenant with the 18th U.S. Infantry. He was appointed colonel of the 64th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in November 1861. He later served on the staff of Brig. Gen. James Steedman and then with Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan during the Battle of Chickamauga. He commanded troops at the Battle of Cedar Creek, but the majority of his service was in staff positions, including Sheridan's chief of staff in the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He was brevetted to brigadier general in 1864 for his service at Third Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Middletown, Virginia. He received a promotion to brigadier general of volunteers on May 19, 1865.

Forsyth married the daughter of Ohio Governor William Dennison.

He died in Columbus, Ohio, and is buried there in Greenlawn Cemetery.

[edit] References

• Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.