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 ■*Mm: 
 
 REPORT 
 
 h^ 
 
 \ 
 
 r 
 
 fji^'] 
 
 OP 
 
 /I/' 
 
 V 
 
 MAJOE GEJl^EKAL LAIJEIE, 
 
 Commanding ."Baiso and "JLines of 
 
 Communication, upon matters in connection with 
 
 the suj-)pression of the- Rebel Uoti 
 
 IX TITR 
 
 NOKTH-\VEST TERRITORIES 
 
 IN 
 
 1885. 
 
 OTTAWA: 
 rUINTED BY MACLEAN, ROGER & CO.,:WELLINGTON STREET. 
 
 1887. 
 
Con 
 
 SlR,- 
 
 Salt Flail 
 could oiil; 
 Tray a bo 
 each dof 
 ostimatoc 
 of the nu 
 ried, and 
 
 Atl 
 Officer ; 
 particula 
 Eoddick, 
 Curront. 
 
 At J 
 DoparUu 
 j)ei-rnis3i( 
 
 On i 
 oompani* 
 l»ut as or 
 Qu'Appe 
 rolievad 
 ohanged 
 Starf-Adj 
 losigned 
 reannie e 
 (:o concoi 
 Hiidson'e 
 with tw( 
 tran^ipon 
 not in W( 
 were con 
 loaded te 
 expedite 
 but this : 
 9c 
 
REPORT 
 
 OF 
 
 MAJOR GENEHAL LAURIH] 
 
 Commanding BaLse and Lines of Communication upon 
 ni,:itters in connection with the suppression of the Rebellion 
 
 IN THE 
 
 NORTH WEST TERRITORIES. 
 
 Oakvieli;, N.S., 26th August, 1885. 
 
 SiK, — In accordanco with your appointment and instructions, I proceeded by 
 li^'bt wagijon, on morning of 13th April, from Wise Station, only getting across the 
 Salt PlainH that day as the trail was very mir}' ; and, travelling from daylight till dark^ 
 could only roach Fort Qu'Appelle at sundown, on the 15th, but pushing on reached 
 Troy about midnight. I took notes of the actual quautity of forage and supplies at 
 oach depot on the trail, and compared them with the etatomonts of quantities 
 oali mated to be on hand, which I obtained before leaving your headquarters; also 
 of the number of teams moving upon the trail, with particulars of the loads car- 
 ried, and reported lo you at each telegraph station the results of my enquiries. 
 
 At Troy 1 at once discussed mutters with Captain Swinford, the Princijial Supply 
 OlHcer; but as Major Bell, the Transport Officer, was absent, I could not obtain any 
 particulars as to transport ; and as the Hospital Corps, under Deputy Surgeon General 
 iiuddick, reached Troy at 3 a.m., I proceeded immediately with them to Swift 
 Current. 
 
 At Moosejaw, T ascertained that some survey oauts and ponies belonging to th© 
 Di^;)[irtment ot the Interior wore unemployed, and at once telegraphed^ to Ottawa for 
 jjorraission to employ them in our transport service, 
 
 '')n arrival at Swift Current, I found that under Colonel Otter's instructions, two 
 companies of 35th had left for Saskatchewan Landing to protect stores and ferry; 
 !)Ut as orders were almost immediately received to concentrate 35th and 12th at Fort 
 Qu'Appelle, Colonel Tyrwhitt's det'iohmont 35th was ordered to return on 18th, baing 
 relieved by two companies of Midland Battalion, under Major Smith, who ox- 
 changed tents, (fee, and so saved transport. With your approval, I appointed as 
 Stall-Adjutant, Lieutenant Leonard, graduate Royal Military College, who had 
 resigned a lucrative appointment on construction of Canadian Pacific liiilway, to 
 resume military duty, I proceeded on morning of 17th to, Saskatchewan Lauding, 
 to concert arrangements with Colonel Otter, as to forwarding his supplies. The 
 Fladson's Bay Steamer "Northoote," had reached the Landing from Medicine Hat, 
 with two large barges, and was engaged in ferrying Colonel Otter's column and 
 transport train of 230 loaded teams to the north side of the river. As the ferry was 
 not in working order, it was then arranged that as the loads of fora^ and provisions 
 were consumed, the unloaded teams should stand fast, resting their horses until fresh. 
 loaded teams from the rear reached them, when they would become relays, so as to 
 expedite the forwarding of supplies, and so more promptly overtake the oolanin; 
 but this arrangement was not carried out, as the waggons were entitled to carry tho 
 
Infantry, nnd HoonaMolho colnmn to proceed more rapidly. As a firnl icf^oive of field 
 gun ummur.ilion lot' Kotli columns was at tlio Lar.dirf^ awailin;,' irnn.sj'oit I y the 
 " Norllu-ole," I handed over one-third to Colonel Otter'n cokiran lor the u^q ot " B " 
 l^attcry, Ijut unfortunately the boxes were incorroetly hilnillod, and although t^)e 
 Holcction was made by an oxjierienced Artiiiery olliccr, Major Short, the division waa 
 hubHr<iuonlly found to bo uneven, the fujco nctl being in proportion to the projcctilea. 
 Colonel Otter and Colonel Ilerchraer urged that J hhould engage ^on-ie moio scouta ; 
 and Homo ex M(n:nted i'olii.'tmcn c tiering almont immediately, who, 'ioin their train- 
 ing ard knowledge of the Indian language and wayp, \<icro Hpocially qunliiicd, I 
 Hcnl them furvard to report to Colonel Utter ; but as I could obtain no information sui 
 to tcrmH, 1 ongHged thcno men on t-amo rate of pay as allowed by you to s^eout.s in 
 your column, and to porvc under and bo t ubjcct to diHchargo by Colonel Herchmer. 
 
 Captain Sheets, of the " Northcoto," was very sanguine as to the practieabiiity 
 of using the river for transport, and guaranteed its navigation till nearly the end of 
 AugUHi; but the want of land transport delayed completion of loading the steamer, 
 and meantime the rivor became too bhalhiw to float her over the rapids; but ho at 
 this time insisted that Commissioner Wiigicy ■wished him to leave for Princo Alburt 
 to l)ring out the steamer " Northwest," and ho oven drove to Swilt Current vf ith that 
 intention, and I had considerable difUculty in persuading him to return ; but, as ho 
 was the only ca]»tain who had oxporicnci' in navigating tho river, T toleuvaphed and 
 obtained authority fiori Mr. Wrigley that lie hhould go down Iho river with tho 
 " Northcoto," and drove him back with mo to the Landing, 
 
 Ascertaining that only 20,000 rounds Gatling ammtiiiition had boen received, 
 I at once telegrajihcd for ;')0,00(> additional, l>ut could only get an order if-snod Ibi- 
 this quantity after considerable correspondence, and tho supply did not arrive till & 
 month later. 
 
 l-'inding that the available land transpoi-t would not admit of my loading tho 
 ** Northcoto " jtromptly and despatching her as you desired, f submitted a pi oposi- 
 tion to hcM back Colonel (,Hter's column tor, possibly, live days (it would actually 
 have been only throe days) and to transfer part of his supplies to steamer, and to 
 send her oil' to you with Colonel Williams' half battalion, oetablishing with remainder 
 of supplies a depot north of tho river, and using all oi Colonel Otter's transport train 
 for one trip to Swift Cuiroiit, which would thus have given 2ciQ tuns of stores (addi- 
 tional) at river, and facilitated tho forwarding further supplies both to your column 
 and Colonel Otter's ; but, as you considered tho delay might have resulted in danger 
 to Battlcford, and desired that Colonel Otter should not bo delayed, he moved fur- 
 ward on ISth A;iril, and a traiis])Ort train of about 30 teams was left to load the 
 •' Northcoto," as well as provision detachment at Landing, and forward necessary 
 8up})lics to tho Battlcford Column and garrir-on. 
 
 Mr. White, the Ar^sistant Transport Officer, whohad, I bolitve, been selected by 
 Major Bell, was a lawyer from Eegina, and had no previous exporionco of such work 
 or executive training, and, of course, no knowledge of details, but was untiring in 
 his efforts to get tho work done, and, fortunately, had some very practical and ener- 
 getic subordinates, but the whole service was utterly inadequate for its duties, so 1 lit 
 <mce sent out notices in every direction that all suitable teams would bo taken ot. 
 and notified tho Transport Officer that 100 teams would bo required to provide load 
 for tho "Northcote" every ten days, and LtO for the Battlcford route; and in this 
 estimate 1 calculated on obtaining, in addition, tho use of tho 230 teams which accom- 
 panied Colonel Otter ; but, as tho farm waggons, which wore the only class obtainable, 
 wore uiitittcd with racks or nets for conveyance of forage, in addition to regular load, 
 it became necessary to appropriate some waggons, at the rate of one in ton, for a 
 throe days' stage, to carry forage and eupplics for the convoy, and this again materi- 
 ally reduceti tho general transport. 
 
 By your instructions, 1 recalled one Galling from Colonel Otter, and this was 
 brought back with .acmo men of the W^innipeg Field Bat' ry and Caj)tain Howard, of 
 the Connecticut National Guard, as Instructor, and placed on " Northcote " in readi- 
 ness to join your colnmni 
 
iicr, and to 
 
 'tho Battloford Column, whilst delayoJ at Siskatchcwan Landing through 
 urculiiigo of forry, had consumed so much ibra^^o aaJ supplier, tliat Culoiiol Otter 
 v^ny judiciouwly lillt'd up his \vai,'^)ns from supplic-t at Lindin^';, and in no doing 
 iinlod orT all the Htoros provided for tiio " Norticoto ;" and i()i-a;^o for hor.sOH as well 
 a-^ rations ('t»r Dotachmout 35th wero wanting, and had to bo hurried from SwifL 
 Current. 
 
 As ulioady reported, the forry was usoIchs, r.nd tho owner could not repair it, as 
 ho was doliciciil of appliunoos, and tlio " N'trthcotc," aftur ferryir.i^ Colonel Oltor'.s 
 Column acrct^H, had blown out bailors for an overhaul, propuraLory to her trip down 
 the nvor, so that comniunioatioa will) Cobuel Oucr's Co'.u.nndid not cxKL; 1 thoro- 
 loro induced Captains Slieots and So^gur to omploy their tnoii in mriking the forry 
 yiastablo, which wu- temporarily aetjomplishod, bit tho teani.stors now i-ofu'^od to 
 leuvo for Llio north unless oithor *>.- joit or arms wore lurnirihod ; and as I had loarnt 
 iVom Colonel Ilerchmor th:it 250 Snidor carbines wore in htoro at Iloi;ina Police 
 Barracks, 1 toh'graphed tho L'outonant-Govornor, Mr. Djwdnoy, ru:[Uosting they 
 ;aight bo r'orit to Swift Current, ihA I might arm tho Leatnsters ; but he replied that 
 there wero none ihore, and when l replied quoting Colonol Ilorchmor us ray author- 
 ity, ho roplied that Colons] Ucriluaer w;is in error, there wero only 100 in store, and 
 • jjttt ho would send me 50, whi'jh, after some d.jlay, arrivoJ. I at once telegraphed 
 Captain Swinford to obtain 200 rifles for toamslors, and inoantimo, to satisfy the men 
 goinu; north, and until luo arms were received i dotailol a corporal and throe men 
 of the AI;dlan I Battalion as au escort, to aovj.iupany the teams till Colouol Otter's 
 first empty toaras wero overtaken. 
 
 Ak Lhcri) was oiily one ]^as?<en^or train weekly at Swift Current, I arranged with 
 Fo.-il Office I:.i<pcotor McLeo 1, of Winnipeg, and with aathoclf.ios of Cana lian Pacific 
 Kuilway, that dailv mails should bo firwaided from Winnipeg, and that all freight 
 teams, Canadian I'acitic iiail-.vay, mUouM tarry bags lo and from Swift Current; and I 
 '.it once established a Military fuse Office, where letters for all {portions of tho Field 
 FoiCo were received and 8or:.cd, and ni;iils made up and forwarded by every oppor- 
 tunity, and a line of couriers, with rolavt* of ponies, was ostabli^hoi on tho Buttleford 
 Trait, as Colonel Oiler aivanoed, and letters and despiitohjs wore eent by these 
 mou:ited couriers, whiif^t the heavy mails H'lth tho newspapers and parcels were sent 
 by team waggons; and I was glad, as a small return for tho courtesy the Militia 
 r6<'.civc-d frcm tho Post Office aathoritios, to carry tho Civil Mail to B^ttlof ord with 
 our Mililniy Mail. 
 
 I also notified tho Supply Oltioer that, in connection with tho transport servic 
 it Wis dosirabk- a Ve orinary Surgeon should be obtained for Swift Current as sooq 
 as possible, and the necessity for this was soon mmifb-^tel, as symptoms of glanaor.4 
 appeared among tho rraaspoi t horses, and under advice ono was shot. 
 
 As there was no resident Magistrate at Swift Current, and it w^is .possible that 
 cafees might arise aflecting thj large number of civilians brought together as tr.*;n8- 
 
 J)ort employes and camp followers, I received a commission as Justice of the Peace 
 or tho NorthWest Territory. 
 
 When it was underst )od that the South Siskatchowan would bo utilizjl for 
 tras ;port, General Suporiniendent Egan, of C.ioadian Pacific li.iilway, constructed & 
 tele ^niiph lino to the Landing, which was finished OQ tho 18th April, and at onco 
 conimeu".od working ; but, islhe oporator had no moans of oblaiuiu.,' sub'jistonce, I. 
 auth.,rizad his drawing r? '.ons from" iho Government Stores, subject to ro-paymentas 
 might be after ''-"U-ds «"•■ ringed. In the construction of this telegraph line, and in 
 every way 'n which it was possible to render assisiancj, Mr. E^an offorel ovQcy aid 
 in his power, and the. service owes much to his courteay and readiness t) ftcitititoal' 
 movements, as well as to the spirit which his example infused in all ranks of tho 
 employes of the Canadian Pacific Railway. 
 
 As early as the 20th Apr.l, I ::"T.tisfijd myself and roproseatod thai itwouUba 
 much cheaper to deliver goods to Saskatchewan Landing by contract at a rate per 
 100 lbs., but was mot with the objection that it was essential that full control of 
 teams must be retained by tho Cjmaianding Oifi3ar, so that* ho coali ud3 thorn for 
 
6 
 
 movement of troops in ary dirootion, and (hiH could only \io carried oiil with teams 
 hired by tl\o day. Flowovcr, 1 entered into a nmall contrnct with a local HtoroUoeper 
 who controlled Homo half breed teamp, to deliver 2,500 IbR. daily, on north Hide Saa- 
 katchowcn River, ut $25 por ton, whereas by day work the cost to the QovoriimoQt 
 was, in delivering or Hooth Hide, oonttiderably over 8.'?2 per ton. 
 
 The ferry at Landing had been faultily constrnctod and instilHciently equip])ed, 
 and broke down almost daily, ^ivini^ constant trouble and anxiety, and the men ol' 
 the Midhind Detachment were constantly orajdoyed to row or polo Iho ferry t-aow 
 across, and Dorootiraes not more than one team daily was !,'0t btobs ; but provisioDB and 
 forage woio unloadcil from waggons and taken over by the meJi, wh) worked almost 
 continuously, and were also engaged in cutting wood for the hieamcrB as well as i'oc 
 fuel for cooking. 
 
 The Intolligence Corps, composed of Surveyors and their Ashi^tants, arrived and 
 reported on LlOlh. They wore Joported to jou bj* Colonel S'ruubonzio, who 1 
 left in command whilst absent at Landing but. as no reply came, although other tolo- 
 grams were coming in from you, I ordered buH, undor Lientennnt B(^:>tty, to prcciccd 
 ■ immediiitcly to Elbow, and ])atrol the banks of river, and rof)ort tlio ])rogrcsH of 
 " Northcote," and render any assistance either by ]trotection or otherwise ; aid Licii- 
 tecant Beatty was alf'o to report the most acceeNJb'o lino for a read from the main 
 line of the Canadian Pacific Kailway to thi: liver, and on arrival of the " Northcoto " 
 at Clark's Crossing, confer with Captain Slieeis and prepare a joint report 
 on the river navigation, whilrtt Captain Denri-^, with main body, vvas instructed 
 to i)roceed on ilie ]5atlleford trnil, ■■(•outing to both flanks for a considerable di.stanoe, 
 and it necessary leaving detachment to protect any throatered point, I's Oapiairi 
 Howard, who I'lvi occui)ied his leisure, while waiting on the "Northcoto," in scout- 
 ing, joported that he met traces of Indinn? on all .-^idcs, and that considerable num- 
 bers had been in the immediate vicinity of the <'amp ai d of the I'a'tleford trail, and 
 the mail coui-icra reported to same eifect ; but on the 22nd the telegraph lino 
 which had been broken w:is repaired, anvl your instructions wer*; received and imme- 
 diately commuiiicaicd to Cuptnin Dennis, to ]>rcoeed to ard patrol between Old Wives 
 Lake and Cypres^s Hills to watch for fugitive.). t!aptain Dennis at once moved acro'h 
 country from the Battleford trailtothe I'^lbow, joining Lieutenant Bentty and ostallish- 
 ing a chain of posts on the indicated line, which daily communicated by pa'rols ; and 
 I connected them wiih ray headquarters by sending a courier daily to his ncai est 
 post, and thus brought in daily intelligence of al! th:it passed on this line ; and Captain 
 Dennis was further icstrucied to give nio immudiuto advice of any bodies of men 
 moving f^outb, by sending despatch to the nearest telegraph station, indicating 
 probable points where they would ci-oss the Canadian Pacific Kailwiiy. and keeping 
 touch of them with remainder of fono for further information, whilst 1. 
 would move with the force held in hand at Swift Current and intercept thorn on the 
 line of railway, for which purpose I arranged wsth tho Canadian Paeilic Railway 
 officials to keep locomotive with her tires ^banked and ready to move at shortest 
 notice. 
 
 On consultation with Dr. Roddick, Deputy Sari'-eoii General, it was decided to 
 send Deputy Surgeon General Douglas, lato ]:;.>yal 'Artillerv, with a tiold hospital 
 staff, and equipments, to Calgary, to join General Strartge's column, whilst Surgeon 
 Major Bell WJ18 detailed with a suiljd)!e stall' and necessjiry medical outfit for tho 
 headquarter column ; and as tho Ked Cross Ambulance Corps, fitted out by citizens 
 of Toronto, was daily expected, and Dr. Roddick knew it would bo tho wish of the 
 subscribers that this ambulance should accompany the Toronto tro'jps, for which 
 purpose it was considered to be well suited, notification vas sent to Biigade 
 Surgeon Strange (with the Battleford Column) of this intentioj.. 
 
 Immediately on tho arrival of Dr. Nattrass, with the Ambulance Corps, arrange- 
 ments were made todespatch them ; and, as transport was so scan e, D;-. N.«tttra-s was 
 reqnestod to store, with the Supply Officer, all articles that could bo temporarily 
 dispensed with, and to take only the most pressing requisite-, which amounted in all 
 10 about 3,500 lbs., and wore sent forward with him, and tho party started with 
 
with tcara« 
 toickeoiMu 
 h Hido Saa- 
 ovoriimout 
 
 oquipped, 
 ho moil o(' 
 ciry hcow 
 c'i«ioD8aii(J 
 vod almoMt 
 >' ol) an liir 
 
 riived nnJ 
 '.!•>, \vhi» 1 
 other tolo- 
 to prc(!cc(i 
 j"(igrosH of 
 ar J Licii- 
 tho main 
 or-thcoto " 
 int report 
 instructed 
 .1 distance, 
 's Oapiairi 
 " in Hcout- 
 ^b!o cura- 
 trail, and 
 raph lino 
 inii immo- 
 .)ld Wives 
 ced acro?8 
 OHdl.lish- 
 'rolrt ; an(.! 
 is noiiiost 
 i Captain 
 ^s of men 
 ndicating 
 I kcopiu^^ 
 whil.-i J. 
 !nf\ on the 
 ' Ivailwaj 
 Hhortest 
 
 ccided to 
 
 hospital 
 
 Surgeon 
 
 t for the 
 
 ' citizens 
 
 Hh of the 
 
 or which 
 
 Bi igade 
 
 arrange- 
 va-H was 
 iporarily 
 ed in all 
 ed with 
 
 Optair Dennis' diviHion of tho Sarvoyors' Corps ; but, on that oorpH being ordorecl 
 t(/ tho Elbow, there was Homo little delay in their jtro<^ooding, uk well aw fcub«©- 
 <|uently at Saukutchowan Landing, and another dotaohnient of the Medical Stafl 
 wjiH Hont forward by light team, and the Toronto xVinbnlaiice Corps foUowod very 
 .ihortly afterwards. 
 
 Finding it was abftf'itely necoHsarj' to place 'in offloer on the Battleford lino of 
 comnrnnications, to keep mo informed as to the net ual transit of Hupj)lie8. and to 
 rioe that the doparttnonts worked in harmony, and that the troopw gave nocensary 
 ■iiHJstanco in loading stoamerH and furnishing fuel, as well as ferrying Hupplies acrortw 
 'lie rivor, and to report on the state of the depots, I appointed Lioutonant Leonard, 
 ponding your approval, as Staff Officer on tho lines of communication, with head- 
 juarten* at Landing, and Lioutonant Weller, of Midlan<i Battalion, who waw 
 recommended by Lieutenant Colonel Williams, and was also a graduate Koyal 
 Military College, to bo StafT Adjutanc at tho base. 
 
 As ii waa your wish that tho "Norlhcote" should complete her load before 
 leaving for Clarke's Crossing, and as you gave me f.o understand forage was your 
 1)1 incipal want, 1 instructed the Transport and Supply Officers to push on oats and 
 h.'iy lor tho steamer. Captain Sheets at tirst estimated ho could take about 330 
 Ions in steamer and barges, but on the 21st changed his mind and proposed to go with 
 a light loatl on steanier, ?■() as to test the river, and mako a quick trip ; and, knowinjf 
 your desire that tho Midland half Battalion should join you, and tho buitiing desire of 
 tho troops to be in time for the fighting, after consultation wiih tho late Lt.-Col. A. 
 Williams, I called up the captains and enquired as to tho mon's capacity to mar 'h tha 
 .12 milos in ono day, and they volunteered to accomplirih it, so the right half battalion, 
 under the lalo Lt.-Col. Williams, M.P., started on tho 'J2nd, and accomplished tho mareli 
 of .■■(■i miles in 12 hours. I also sent Dr. Boll's dotachmont of iho Medical Staff Corps, 
 with full appliances fur a field hospital. And to complete the <"nrgo olfurcd an addition 
 to the wages of all tho teamsters who, starting from Swift Current that morning, 
 would deliver their loads the same 'vening at the steamer ; but, through some mis- 
 uuderBtandsng, 38 teams did not arrive till the morning of 23rd, when their loads wero 
 .•klonco taken on board, and rbo " Northc-oto " started, taking in all about 200 men of 
 Midland Battalion and the Medical Statl", also a numboi- of Scaft' Officers, all with 
 injunctions to report to you, on arrival at Clarke's Crossing, fur further orders, as well 
 as (japtaln Uoward, with ono Gatlirgand 10,000 rounds ammunition; also three tons 
 of artillery and rifle ammunition, and about 200 tons food and foiugo in steamer and 
 barges. Captain Sheets expected to roach Clarke's Crossing in four days, but, unfor- 
 Kinatciy, the water had fallen f-o much whilst " Northcote " wa" waiting for her 
 load, that ho only arrived after 11 days' hard work, transfoiring cargo from steamer 
 to barges, or the reverse, as it became Docos.sary to lighten each' in turn in passing 
 the shallows. As this was expected beforehand, and it would thus mix up tho cargo, 
 iijd as with tho limited staff available it ■".^'ould have caused serious dehiy to bavo 
 *letaincd steamer whilst regular bills of lading wei-e mado out, I considered it was 
 advisable simply to check all freight passing from waggons *.o steamer and a8(iortain 
 Uittl none had been removed while on tho trail, (or, otherwise than by falling ovor- 
 fH>ard, none could bo lost from steamer whilst in transit; so simple accounts of the 
 f.ctal quanity shipped were kept for rcf«ironco. 
 
 As it was desirable to obtain fresh meat for the troops, I discussed tho question 
 of change of rations with the Principal Supply Officer, but Ci ncliided that with tho 
 limited amount of transport available forage could not bo carried for beef cattle, so it 
 would fee well not to send cattle after tho ti-oops on tho Battleford trail until tho grass 
 bad grown suflSciently to furnish subsistence ; but early in May urged tboy should bo 
 pii;-'hed forward, and meantime I pressed for the supply of fcoNtx meat for troops in 
 stationary camps. Also, as tho Medical Officers reported cases of dys])epsia arising, 
 in their opinion, from indigestible food, I urged the issue of sofl bread and potatoes 
 and onions, and the police Medical Officer supported my recommendation ; but through 
 .!omo blunder the beef contractor delivered his cattle at Moosojavv instead of Swift 
 Cjurrent, so that the troops in that district did not receive any fre^h meat till about 
 
8 
 
 IBth May, when, in panning Moohojaw, I found iho outtlo \^a^ boon plucod thoro, und 
 at once ^avc iriHtrnctionH lo dolivcr the moat at Swift (/urront. 
 
 A vory llmit-ui (luantlty of potutooK wus avuilablo und coin|troHHO(i voj^otablon huJ 
 not arrived; fronh broad uould not bo (»btuino<l ivnm contractors, and adillli-ulty aroHo 
 ill obUnniiig siilViciont Hupply of fuol, whicJi wu-4 brought by Canadian I'acifiu Kiilway 
 from th« Ko< ky Mountaiiin. So I proshod on tho Rojjiniontul OflficorH to oxoroiso Ihoir 
 ftkill in conhfriK iinj^ |)rop<>r lloI<l Mooklii^i; pliu-CH for thoir (.'ompuniOH. 
 
 (Captain Uarrihon.oftbo Midland Battalion, (irHt undertook an improvod kitohon, 
 and C'a)>tain Tiacy and Lioutonant Hohkoth, of tbo 7th KiisiliorH, af'torwardn coni*truo- 
 tod one whit h oconomiHod four tifihrt of tho fuel, and whi( h w;i« ii^ijain improvciJ on 
 liy Captain MrCiow and lii( iitoimnt Finko of tho JIalifax Battalion ; and as I wan in- 
 formed in reply to tologram that no field ovens oould bo goi oiihor at Wiimipo^ or 
 Ottawa, 1 cu I IimI on tho namo ofn<!errt to build ovonn Huitablo for bakin/5 broad for 
 ♦hoir corpH , and tho 7Lh KuHiliorn orooted ii vory muocohsIuI oven with capacity for 
 bakinp for the wholo Battalion, and which wuh later on (lomplotod by tho Halifax 
 fiegimont. am! wirked well , but it waH found later that in Homo plaooH it waw 
 pOSHiblo tocontrnct loc.'dl}' for Bupplion of frohli provisions, and 1 authorised thin 
 urrangonicnt, and beliovo that in each case thoro was no incroasod thargo to tho 
 public, whilrtt tho troopH bonefittcd materially. 
 
 Later on, after consultation with tho Principal Medical OfTicor, it wus considered 
 adTlt*ablo to I'urniyh oatmoal and mohwfiOH to tho troops that wore stationary, in lieu 
 of flome o'her portion of tho rutionH, and I iiistructcd the Supply OHlcor to furnish 
 those articles to tho several corps so situated, and noliliod tho Couimandinpf Offi'ior.M, 
 that instru(!tionH had booti given to this ettoct. Howovor, only a small quantity was 
 iiont; and as the breaking up of tho force was evidently immiuont 1 did not press lor 
 further Hupply. 
 
 (.)n t)io _'7th April tho " Minnow " anived at tho Landing, and as tho " North- 
 cote" was reported aground in tho rivor. ai;d asdrawing thirty throe i.iches, and the 
 "Minnow" ordy eleven inches, and the water still falling, I ordered hor to proceed 
 at on(ui, lo lake from the " Northcoto " tho Gatling /,'uii, tho 9-pr. ammunition, and 
 tho Hospital Corps and Staff OfHcors, and proceed to j un you without delay. But the 
 Captain was most anxious to obtain tho assistance of a half-breed named Gun, wf.o 
 was going down the river with ;i scow, and I allowed him to tow tho Bcow, and 
 placed ton tons of oats in it, as you advised me you were badly in want of them. 
 
 I havo fully reported on the services rondorod by tho Gait steamers, in the 
 memorandum marked A which accompanies, so will only further report here, that 
 "BaronoHs" with bargo in tow, arrived late on 5th May, and " Alberta " with barge, 
 at noon on Gth at I^anding ; and on 7th, tho two companies of tho Midland Battalion 
 andor Major Smith had completed loading about 350 tons in steamers and bargeu, 
 and had cmbarkoti for passage, and loft on morning of the 8th; tho "Baroness" 
 casting off her tow bargo and arriving on 14ih. and tho " Alberta " with hor barge, 
 reaching tho Croatjag on 17lh, Cajitain JJavis of tho "Baroness" foil on her 
 icy deck on morning of tho 6Lh May, and broke his collarbone, which explained 
 the delay, a;; it undoubtedly interfered with his activity and energy, and ho had been 
 sanguine of making a moie rapid passage down stream. 
 
 Although Captain Davis claimed an escort, 1 did not consider there was any 
 real need of tho Troops going on tho steamers for protection, but it was nocesfcary to 
 cut wood for fuel for the steamers, and as tirao was of extreme importance I con- 
 sidered it desirable to Bond men who would as^-ist tho crow, and thus shorten the 
 delays. 
 
 I reported at tho time, that when tho crows of tho two barges cast off by 
 " Minnow " "struck," Lieutenant Welter, graduate of R. M. Collogo, my Staff Adjutant 
 at once zealously volunteered to take tho loaded barges to Clarke's Crossing, and, with 
 ten experienced rnftsmen, volunteers from Midland Battalion, drove during tho 
 night to the Landing, and started down tho rivor on arrival on tho Ist May, leaving 
 the Landing before tho striking crews, who were holding out for higher wages, know 
 that any stops had been taken to fill their places. Unfortunately one barge was 
 
vioclvod in iho rapid*, at tlio moiilh of Swift dirrotit Rivor, l)iit ho tivm-fo'Toii tho 
 
 iiifijurod carifo to llio othor bartro, ami urrivoil iit (.'larkwH CroHMirj; on lIio I'iib 
 
 Iiiy. I had iriMtructtid Lieut. Wollor io furnish a rojiurl nu tho pO'sibilitios of 
 
 :;'ili;6ii)i,' tho rivor for our ro|,'ulur traimt^orL ncrviif, and in his ropori, wliiih I 
 
 , iiiiodialoly forwarded to you, ho w«HHtror:;;Iy of niilnion that wiili pi-opoiuppliaiu^tNH 
 
 . ;,d traiuod tnon, p'» HorioiH difticulty need Lo ox|iorierieod. 
 
 Shortly after • ', fuidinj; hoino of the KUpplio.i utisitisruotary, and having re 
 
 ,.ird to th(! onorm«)UM 'otil of tramporl t-o tho (lont, vvhli-h uiily jn^titiod our forward 
 
 lt roaliy j^ood artichv^, I oi'iiorod a Buard of Smvcy to un.-ombto to report on koiuo 
 
 ly that had boon rci-eivod wliich I conHidertvl of ir torior qialily; orui one cai'l'tal 
 
 -.H condcmnod, and I tiuliliod the Principal .Suj)ply OITi -.cr no ihat ho mi^'jht deal with 
 
 .0 connij^oor. 
 
 On rocoiving nownof tho ac^lion at i"'ihh Crook, and of non unival of " Nortlicoto" 
 
 ' ith Ho.-ipilal O'irpM, tho Piiucipai Medic il Otiicor, l)i'. Uoldiclc, after c.oti-iulta'Jon 
 
 . ilh mo, decided t(j procood at onro U.> Miporvi.HO tho ho.-ipitai iirrangcincntH, and 
 
 •I 'cordiiigly wtarled with ton Medic/al Slaif, Surgeons and A^Hislant-', piocoodinij by 
 
 '•!')0'<e ,Ju\v, thoticohy trail, to Clurko'd Croisin;^", whii\h he ropoi'Lo I a-^ tho most can- 
 
 'nionl route accompliBhing tho dibtaiK.o in lighl wagj^ouK without change of horhos 
 
 u\ «ixty hours. 
 
 When jiassinpf through Winnipeg on niy vvay I » itio front, T had disnusncd with 
 •Ir. Wri^Ioy, CornmiwHiouor of lludnon'r* Biy Co-nfciriy. tho p )siibiliiy of f)rwardin^ 
 -..pplioH down tho river on rafi-^, if it slioull bo funnd too shallow to navigato with 
 - ouinorM, and on 30th April I roceivod a telogiain from Mr. Wrigloy stating that 
 . 'H had approved his proposal to ooimtruct ton llai-bottomod boatu, dra^'ini^ abjut 
 1^5 inches of water, and each to carry about twenty tons and twenty mon, and that 
 uain would leave Winnipeg thtii evening with luinli-jr and worUmon, and asking me 
 '.' airaiigolor immodiato traiiHpoit to JSiiHkatchewiiti Landing fur oi^^lily Ions ; and that 
 Moi^-irH. iJoyd & Crowo, tho contructoiti had undei taken to have boatK ready to tran.-<. 
 ,) Tt ono hundred tons to Clarkc'!s Cros^iing iii twenty-four hours after nmtoiial w»m 
 ;:i;Mlod !it river, and ttioy ooutidontlv expected to land freight in fro-n lour to six day.i. 
 1 accordingly met Mr, Boyd on iiis airival, on n\orning 2nd day of May, with IK) teams, 
 ud by giving a t-nnall extra allowance to thi> teamsters, tho whole of tho maloriaiaiaj 
 !!:•) workmen woro dolivorcd at Landing on morning 3rd May, 
 
 Mr. Jk)yd had omitted bringing caulkitig iron or cauUctrs with him, buL Taa au 
 lustration of tho handinoss and usefulness of our Militia 1 mention this) Lieut. 
 wniorson of Halifax iiatlalion, an experienced nuchinihl, at onco volunteered and 
 ludo what caulking irons wire rtviuired, and Major Smith lumiahod some cnslkorrt 
 iioin tho Portsmouth Company of tho Alidland Jiattalioii. Tho barges would have 
 boon completed very nearly within Lho contract time, but as the Gait steamors ar~ 
 i!Vvd just then, and could move raoro rapiilly on tho rivoi, I oi-dered thon* to bo first 
 ii'aded, and Mr. Boyd's workmon assisted in erecting shoots toexpodito this loading. 
 On tho completion of tho ton barges, Mr. Boyd had some surplus raatorij.l; aud 
 "js there had been some delay in completing tho cargo, I sanctioned tho construoiioa 
 if iwo additional barges, and by tho night of iho 10th of May tho twelve woro 
 '■•li' led and ready to start down tho river. Tho delay referred to was owing to 
 r. iljility to deliver supplies more rapidly at tho Jianding, although tho land transport 
 ...s wotkoil to its utmost capacity, and during tho week then ending, IOC .^wi of 
 nplios had been ferried actoss tho river, li5 tons had boon loaded on and gono 
 'ith on waggons, 354 tons had boon. loaded on Gait scoamers, aud 2-t9 tons of sap- 
 piios on Boyd's barges, in .addition to tho baggage, camp equipago and ammunition, 
 01 over 400 mon. In all about 800 tons, hjul'loft tho depot, in aidition to tho forage 
 * I'Dsumcd by tho transport teams at both sides of tho river. 
 
 Tho contractor now claimed that ho had stipulated thai twenty soldiers should 
 
 ^'0 in each barge, to assist in working thorn and for protection. So I tolographod Mr. 
 
 Vv'rigley, who replied that his contract was to build tho boats and find tho crows to 
 
 tike thom to Clark's Crossing, and tho soldiers woro only to bo sent as a guard, if 
 
 -usidered advisable. Sj 1 ordered an issue cfriflos to tho crowd for their pro'.cction; 
 
10 
 
 ^1^ 
 
 
 but tho contractor maintained that hif? was the correct view, and that his men had 
 only hircil on tho undorstanding that the troops would go, and thoy would refuse t( 
 1^ unless soldiers were sent with ihoni. 
 
 Just thou your telegram arrived, conveying instructions to sond tho Midland 
 deiachraent and ihe 7th, rid Moose Jaw, and 1 cornniunicatod with Major Bell, wh' 
 advifed that he could not fiuriieh transport ind Moope Jaw.ard no fbrngo was ohtaii' 
 able there, and rcooramended sending the troops back to (Ju'Appelle, iind thence b} 
 trail ; but m meantime tho river had rifcn teveral feet, and Cajitain Davin expre^soi 
 confidence in making the lun to Clarke's Crossing in three to four days, and Mr 
 Bojd still expected to take the barges down in four to six days, T coiii>'iderod tlut 
 nerious litigation and troul'lo would be i^avod, nr.d your supplies would not bo retardcu 
 and the t> ops, whose early arrival wuk desirable, aud who wore bnrning to got t 
 the fiont, would, from all these asBurjinco'', reach you more raiiidly than by an , 
 other means. So I yont forward tho 7th Funiliers to tho Landing, arranging that thi 
 headquarters and three companies and tho detachment of tho Midland Battalio' 
 should accompany the barges, and that two companies should remain at. tho Landin; 
 to load and ticcompary steamers on tho next trip. This would have allowed about 2 
 men to each barge ; but as 1 knew it was your wi«h that the whole batialiou bhouh; 
 join you as early aspoesible, I ascertained from Mr. Boyd that he claimed no remi; 
 neration for carryirg men, but expected 200 men for aid and jivotection, and coul^ 
 iiirrylflO men. So 1 ai^sembltd tho Cuptains of tho 7th >\\ the Landing. On thei; 
 •arrival and after they had 8('cn tho bargos, asked whether their men would pu 
 up with the crowding so as to avoid being broken up into detschtnents, and if so 1 
 would send tho whole legimeut. They were unanimous and most urgent in theii 
 ■desire to go, ofFcring to put up with any inconvenience and do all tho work of th* 
 barges if permitted to go together. Under these circumstances ilr. Boyd olfured t' 
 make more room by discharging his civilian band.s, keeping only one for each l-arg'. 
 as navigator, and this was finally !-o arranged; ard propoced to givu $100 to th. 
 regiracni if this were permitted, but I did not think this latter desiniblo. 
 
 I directed the senior oflScer, Colonel i)eacon, to assume command of tho troop- 
 dpsiiing that they should keep together for mutual assistance, and to this end piacd' 
 the raiimis on one barge ; the troops accordingly embarked early on morning of llti 
 May, companies being kept intact as much as possible, and tho flotilla started undt 
 Mr. Boyd's orders, in close succession, about 8 a.m. on that day. 
 
 Colonel De.'i con was instiucted to forward me a report on arrival at Clarke 
 Ci-osMiig; but 1 linst heard fium Major Ivirwan, on 18th inst, that thiee baiges h:. 
 ariivcd, and had thrown portions of load overboard. Sol at once notilied Major fvir 
 wan to keep an account of all shcjrtage on delive.y of cargo, as their contract was .. 
 iised rale per ton on what they delivered, and the contractors W'>ro renponsiblo fr 
 what thoy leceivcd ; also to cbtain a!! particulars in his power, and after enquiry h' 
 roportodhe had ascertained all particulars about the supplies left in river, atjd 1 urge 
 him to try nnd recovei' thorn , but ho found ho could not approach them with teanv 
 and at that time could not reach them with barges. I also telegrai^bed to Colonc' 
 Deacon to call upon cfKcers commanding the troop« embarked in the several barge- 
 sialirg that rcpoits to this effect had reached mo, and roiiueatirg an explanation b- 
 whose oidcis this bad taken place. 1 /onvarded to yor. a ojiy of his report whoi 
 received, and now attach a copy marked B. 
 
 Colonel Deacon aj.pcarn to have been under a misapprehension that he hadcontro 
 of Ihe barges and tho navigation, whereas his orders were simply to command th- 
 troops for military purposes, the control of the movements of the barges romainin: 
 with Mr. Boyd, who wtis ref-pors-ibio for the safe delivery of tho cargo. Mr. Boyd 
 in his telegraphic report of arrival, mtdo noracntion of cargo thrown overboard ; bu 
 when I met him iit Moo?eJaw, on his return journey to Winnipeg, ho informed mo b<- 
 bad rei)Orttd his arrival to you, and that you had expressed yourself well satisfic' 
 ard greatly pleased with his work, and had given him a receipt on which voucher h. 
 was to draw his pay, ineludirg extra allowance for tho troops taken down tho river 
 and as ho did not apply to me for any vouchors beyond those for tho quantity loauc 
 
,n tho barges at the LandinsT, I concluded his p.latoment was correct and took no 
 further action, as i felt sure he should not obtain payraeut without receipts from you 
 or me. 
 
 It was constantly necessary for me or some other ofiicer to proceed to the Land- 
 ing at a moment s notice, or to send across on some special duty ; and the hired teams 
 were uusuited for this purpose, and teamsters objoclod to their liorscs being used, and 
 no teams were locally obtainable. So I instructed the Supply Officer to purchase two 
 pairs of active ponies and two light wagons, which couUl bo kept severally at Swift 
 (,'ijrrent and the Landing for any emergent communication ; and as the expected 
 ambulances did not arrive, also iov moving sick and wounded, who it was intended 
 should bo l)r(^ught up the river in the steamer. And although there was considerable 
 delay in obtaining those, still they paM for thenisolvcH several times over whilst 
 ihey were maintained, as thoy werealmoi-tcontinuously oni])loyod between Saskatooa 
 and Moosojaw hospitals, and when not employed on courier or ambaIan(^o duty, tliey 
 did all the camp transport work, and saved taking transport teams olF the trail, and 
 eventually iho horses sold for fair prices when the base was finally broken up. 
 
 Lieut. Boatty had strongly recommended Ohaplin Station as the best point at 
 which to Icavo the railway, with a good trail of 45 milon to the KIbow, and Kash 
 Lake was also recommended as being only 15 miles from the Saskatchewan below it» 
 ccnfluenco with the Swift Cnvent stream, whore arosituatod the worst rapids on tho 
 river, and where our navigjitors had experienced the mo«t trouble. 1 was, however, 
 as;4ijred that tho railway facilities were not hufficiont at (ither point, and that tho 
 Canadian Pacific Railway management would not increase the aecommodation ; an 
 jiBSiirance which I have since bad reason to boliovo was erroneous —but it was difficult 
 to obtain precise information, and I had no nvaihible officer to send out to examine 
 the country, nor could I obtain tho reason.-' which bad influenced the selection of 
 SwiJt Current as the railway base ; and as I nu\v had a strong traneijiort train at work 
 between Sfl'ift Current and the river, and had, 1 knew, from ttie (juantity recently 
 •hijtpod to your column and Colonel Otter's, satislied all immediate requirements, i con- 
 nideicd it was now pro})or [ should ascertain tho noxtsteps to be taken, what steamers 
 ! might rely upon to move the stiu'fcs I was ufcunmlating, and whotlier it was likoly the 
 name route would be maintained throughout tl.o summer for tho suppl}' of tho Iload- 
 iuarter and tho Batileford column, as 1 felt that by a system of contract tuch as I 
 had proposed on the 20th April, tho cost of traiispori might bo materially rodiw^ed. 
 Therefore, as yon had referred the matter to Mr. Wrigley, I consulted him by wiro^ 
 and il was mutually decided that an interview would enable us to settle all these 
 questions more saLisiac.Un-ily. So alter spcndii.g some hours vviih Capt. Swinford and 
 Major Bell at Qu'Appelk', discussinir supply and transport questions, I proceeded to 
 Vytfiiiipog, and found Mr. Wrigley most iiuxious to give all advice and asHistance, and 
 ascertained that 1 could cily rely on the Gait steamers, as the Hudson's B.iy Company 
 would require all their own boats on tho north branch for their own and our servico. 
 So saw the necesnity of tshortoning tlio river route, and after consultation by wire with 
 Colonol Otter, recommended that Moose Jaw, which had considerable railway faoili- 
 tjes, should bo the new base, with steamer from tho Klbow t«j Clarke's Crossing 
 ■arrying supplies for both columns; the Battleford supplies g(unj^' across tho ne>;k 
 from Clarke's Crossing to Telegraph Coulee, which Colonel lleichmor advised as tho 
 most practicable route, and thence by North River to Battleford ; this would reduce 
 the number of bases and of intermediate depots, as well as of land transport, concen- 
 truting the stores for both columns and rendc ring tho line so much easier to guard, 
 H-hich could be done by one military post at Clarke's Crossing controlling the land 
 Jri'il to' tho North Branch, and thus avoiding the ri^k of capture of teams on tho 
 >wift Current and Battlcford trail, where tho line was partly through dangerous 
 "ountry in tho immediate neighborhood of Indian reserves, and without military pro- 
 tection for 170 miles. 
 
 O 1 8th May, Colonel Otter telegraphed that he required artillery and rillo ammu- 
 nition, and some more scouts, and that unless escorts were furnished the communica- 
 tion might bo stopped at any moment. 1 advised him that I had sent oflF a largci 
 
12 
 
 quantity of gupplios an soon as the forry was j)ut in ordor, and coul I send ofT ammu- 
 nition next day, but had positive instructions not to sond any oscortw, and, in any 
 ca^o, had none availab'o, and on quired if he uouid not sond out to moot convoy aou 
 accompany it through doubtful country. Ho replied ho was sending to edge ol 
 woods to mooi 30 inc^>minrr wai;:^ons, and would sond escort to meet aranr.anition. 
 
 I at once reported Colonol Ottor's wants, and that largo parties of mountwJ 
 Indians were reported on trail by couriers and teamsters ; but, under your instrac- 
 tions, I conld not send cfc;(:oit ; and, !i.s your information was that tho roai' was quit*. 
 safe, and you instracted that some ammunition should bo sent, 1 arrang I for th« 
 despatch of a moderate supply and availed myself of tho opportunity of tho doparlur. 
 oi the eontraot outfit carrying tho contributions from |>ooploof Toroi lo to the t^uoon', 
 Own Hlfles, wl.ich was going forward under charge of Lieutenant Blake of that corpse, 
 as I preferred that in any emergency an officer should bo in charge who would aci 
 with discretion, [ requested tho Principal Medical Officei' to examine all oonvalen- 
 cents and rojjort such as were fit for duty ; and as Colonol Otter had asked mo to son'.' 
 him some more scouts, I accv'ptcd several men who offered, agreeing to ])rovide thet' 
 with rations and transport to Battleford, where they were to ropor' to Colonel Hot 
 cheraer for service, and faniisliing them with armj on the understanding that the; 
 would act under Lieutenant Blake's orders for the defence of the convoy whilst o 
 tho road ; and thus, without withdrawing any of the troops from tho stations you ha«' 
 selected, 1 wa onabled to famish an escort of an officer and about 13 men for th 
 ammunition, and relied upon Cjlonel Oltor's assurance to send out a force to moot i^ 
 at the edge ot the woods. 
 
 If this convoy had left when first arranged and announced by telegram, it wouU 
 have been near the h^cali'y where Pcandmakor captured the 31 teams on Iho 14t} 
 Maj" -, and later investigation may show that he had in some way received the infoi 
 mation wi the valuable convoy in transit, and liad gone out to meet it, expecting i* 
 would be uu)>rotectcd. Fortunat. ly, the causes ubjvo named had delayed Lioutenatt' 
 Blake's riepailuro, and ho had only proceeded a few miles north of tho river whence 
 he was at once recalled hy courier and the ammuuition brought to south sido ami 
 placed under the )>rotection of the detachment stationed there. Immediately or 
 receipt of Colonol Ottor's report of tho capture of 31 supply teams uoar Battleford, on 
 the l4th May, 11 of which were reported i.o be loaded with provisions and 2<' 
 with forage, and his request to f^top all transport by tho Swift Current route, I asked 
 •him to clear tho northern end of trail, a;id prejjared 150 teams to inopo in oao body 
 coii.^^iderinjr that the 150 toamstorR would bo sufficient protection thr)ugh tho opoi 
 country; but tho officer commanding troops at Landing reported that tearastol^ 
 openly stated they were not engaged to fight, and if attacked would cut lo)se 
 their horses and gallop off; and the Transport Officer informed me they also objootoJ 
 to being placed tinder orders of the Assistant Transport Offi.:er,who had accompanied 
 them on a former occasion. i3ut it became necosa.u y to take some decided steps to got 
 supplies forward, as Colonel Otter telegraphed that his supplies were getting short, 
 and when matters were explained a number of the teamsters volunteered to go to 
 the front, accepting my proposition that some mounted scoots should bo sent with 
 them to examine the country in advance, and give them time to form corral if 
 threatened with attack. So I instructed the Transport Officer to retain in service those 
 Wf^ll-dispoHod men and dismiss the remaining teams, and to engage a number ol 
 acouts and, if possible, purchase the horses of the captured waggons, as reasonably as 
 po.«>iible, to mount the scouts. But all trouble wJis removed when Colonol Otter tele- 
 graphed that P'^undmakor was asking for terms and had sent in the captured team 
 filters, who reported that they had been well treated. H3wever, 1 still coiaiderod 
 precaution necessary and arranged with Colonel Otter to meet thocouvoy at tho eds; ; 
 of the wo )ds, and on the 25th May sent forward 158 teams, accompanied by Mr. 
 Tims' contract outfit, under charge of Lieatonant Blake, and an escort of 27 ooaval- 
 oscents and scouts. 
 
 As early as 28th April, tho Saitf Offi^.or at the Landing, reported that team* 
 returning from the north req^uired shoeing, and were geaerally short ot taats^ cooking 
 
13 
 
 ofT ammu 
 and, in ativ 
 ionvoy an.' 
 
 to odgo oi 
 
 unition. 
 )f moanto*] 
 jur indtru' 
 
 was quit' 
 ;■ I for tht 
 
 d opart un 
 th(? Quoon' 
 
 that cor p.^ 
 
 woiiid U'-- 
 II convale- 
 
 mo t0 8ci> 
 ovide thcr 
 olonol Ho' 
 ; that tho- 
 
 whilst o 
 >n3youha. 
 icti for til 
 
 1 to moot : 
 
 m, it woul' 
 n Lho 14ti 
 I the info, 
 spocting I' 
 Lioutonai>: 
 v^er whence 
 h side an. 
 odiaiely or 
 ttlofordjOr 
 »n8 and iJ' 
 ito, 1 tiskoil 
 I oao ^>odJ 
 I tho opoi 
 t teamstoif. 
 i cat lojst: 
 soobjeotoJ 
 companioc 
 jtops Lo goi 
 Ling short, 
 3(1 to go U> 
 ) sent with 
 I corral it 
 rvicothosD 
 number of 
 sonably ai 
 Otter telo 
 urod ioam- 
 conaidorod 
 it tho edo ; 
 iod by Mr. 
 27 ooaval- 
 
 :..pj.aratup, &c. On enquiry I as^certained that a blacksmith hud boon sent with the 
 
 ..iDHport train accompanying Colon..! Otter; but tho tearaslorB Htated positively tliut 
 
 • r hnd not put a shoo on a tranbj>ort horso, being occuijiod when at work with ihc 
 
 ,nV:(.:c and scout horses. I at onci) applied to the Supply Officer for blacksmiths and 
 
 irgos, bat ho replied that he hud notified tho Transport Officer, in whose (Ijpaitraont 
 
 !u> matter would bo. 1 then notified tho Transpoit Officer repeatedly that black- 
 
 fiiiibs must be sent, but gror.t deluy ensued, and I regret to say that at one lime 
 
 L was reported to me that 68 teams woro idio (although, 1 fear, drawing pay) on tho 
 
 . ..ith eido of the river; 'and the mail couriers reported teams laid up all along tho 
 
 .;',d wi'-h horses so crippled that some actually died on the prairiu T aaccriained 
 
 liSit somo shoeing smiths wore in tho ranks of the Halifax Battalion, and upj^ lod for 
 
 :!'H? portable forges, and would have put these mon to work, but iu.-)t then some 
 
 . :arksmithB arrived but without forges; so were unable to do any work until theso 
 
 litivcd. 
 
 The first few teams going out were fairly supplied, and tho newly arriving 
 
 cnmstors recognising the emorgciKy, were willing to put up with discomfort on tho 
 
 i-uranco that their wantH would Foon be supplied ; but tho Transpoit Department 
 
 jkI not appear to bhow foresight, or to make adequate proviaion for tho require- 
 
 riionts of this important eervico. Tents, cooking kit, waggon covers, axes, \o., were 
 
 wanting, and wt:;o only supplied when ropoatoclly asked for, and then in insufficient 
 
 iii.anlity. . Axle gieas^c was so deticiont that all available tallow and coal oil from 
 
 i '.'inadian Pacific Railway workshop was requisitioned and utilized, and when thi» 
 
 j;h exhausted it was more than once feared tho teamo would bo unable to move. 
 
 Whilst in consultation with Captain Swinford at Qu'Appelle I was invited to 
 
 a^Hist at tlio magisterial investigation of a chaigo made against a lirm of SLorokecpore 
 
 ■i "Indian Head, of selling ammunition to Half-breeds and Indians ; and I was surprised 
 
 '; ioain that, although a law had been enacted forbidding such f^ale, it required to 
 
 '^c ]"'Ut in force by proclamation, and no evidence was obtainable that this had been 
 
 , ucd ; consequently action unt'er the Statute was not taken ; but to chock such 
 
 'l I'gerous ];ractices the magistrate decided to adjourn the case, holding tho accused 
 
 '•■ -^omo up for further hearing when called upon, and meantime they undertook not 
 
 ■,• fcoU to doubtful por*^ous and to keep a record of all to whom they sol;', ammunition. 
 
 On 25th Mjiy I forwarded to you copy of a contract made by me with Mr. John 
 
 owart, ior conveyance of supplies from Mooso Jaw to Elbow or Clarke's Cro!-sing„ 
 
 '■ !,'clhor with momoranduni explaining the conditions under which tho contract waw 
 
 ' t, and my reasons for thus acting, and showing a saving to Govornmont of at 
 
 '!:..bt 50 per cent, on all goods delivered at Clarke's Crossing, I attach copy of this 
 
 . orreepondcnco, marked C. I at once authorized Mr. Stewart to commence work, 
 
 • ♦ regret that considerable difficulties were interposed to the carrying out this con- 
 .'•^*:i and the final settlement with the contractor, Mr. Stewart requc^ied permissioa 
 '0 insert au offer for moving supplies to Clarke's Crossing via Qu'Appelle, as an 
 lA-ternative route if the Moose Jaw- trail should be found impracticable, as tiio advo- 
 
 • at'S of tho Qu'Appelle route asserted ; but 1 had not originally asked for such an 
 
 • iiler, and I explained that there was no objection to his embodying his proposal, but 
 j,ou wished the Qu'Appelle route should not bo interfered with, and 1 told him I 
 .should take no action in that direction. 
 
 I received ymr approval of my recommendation to transfer base to Moose Jaw 
 
 ;. 22nd May, and at once gave orders to discharge all hired transport, and on 23rd 
 
 .oved the Headquarters with the Troops and tho Vioid Hospital to Mooso Jaw, 
 
 "innging that one montli's supplies should bo left with the detachment Halifax 
 
 Hegiment at Saskatchewan Laiidirg, although I hoped that tho returning steamers 
 
 'vonld clear off the supplies at that point, and that the detachment could be with- 
 
 d.Hwn in a few days. 
 
 When first you established tho base at Swift Current, plans were drawn, and 
 I'veliminary negotiations entered into for tfie erection of a woodon building as a 
 Hospital ; but the unsatisfactory progress of the " Northcoto " and tho good state of 
 the Mooeo Jaw trail, led to tho removal of the base ; and on his way to Saskatoon, 
 
14 
 
 •Dr, Rcxldiok, Principal Medical Officer, had cscertainod that a vacant hotel could be 
 obtiiincd at Moose Jaw ; and on my return from consultation with Mr. Wrigloy, I 
 examined all the available buildings, and rented the hotel he Bclectod, and obtuinod 
 the refusal of several other large buildings, if increased accommodation or isolated 
 treatment should be necessary ; also cottage for the lady nurses oxpf cted, and atonco 
 had the principal buildings put in order and the necessary alterations made; whiob 
 waj« done at very small expense, chiefly in increasing ventilation, and throwing rooms 
 togetlier, and providing proper storage and provision conveniences, rough tables, 
 tiholvir.g. v^c, for the reception of the tirst party of wounded, who were oxpocted on 
 2-4th, but arrived on 2(jth, when 29 came in from the Elbow, to which point 
 the " Northcote " had bi ought them. And some were so far recovered that 1 at ouoo 
 ordered a Medital Board, and on 28th forwarded ten invalids to their homes, accom 
 par.ie«.i by some of the surplus Medical StafV, I'cquiring, however, in each case, an 
 aj?*uranoe that the man to be invalided had a comfortable home, in which <he would 
 be properly cared for, so that ho would not be a charge to the community to whicb 
 he belonged. Whilst for the men of the permanent corps and for those who were 
 reported a> tit for active duty, 1 established a convalescent depot, placing them under 
 charge of Lieutenant F. J. Dison, a graduate of Eoyal Military College, who had 
 throN^n u]i his civil employment, and come to Winnipeg at his own expense, to otfor 
 his services; and who, in addition to this duty with the convalescents and invalids 
 and at my Aide-de-Camp, was otherwise fully occupied in the Brigade Office. 
 
 On the let June, seven lady nurses arrived, under the charge of the Moihei 
 Superior ct ;he Society of St. John the Divine of Toronto, and I placed them in the 
 comfortable cottage already engaged, which aflForded them the necessary privacy, 
 and yet was couveuiently situated for their work. 
 
 The r-ervices rendered by these ladies were of great value, and the hospital 
 detail.-! were properly attended to, and th patients made thoroughly comfortable, in 
 a manner that an impi'ovised male hospital staff, however willing and well dis osed 
 they mighi have been, could not have accomplinheJ. The ladies, one and ull, evidently 
 came with the determination to devote their whole time and energies to their soldier 
 countrymen ; and their single regret appeared to be that the wounded recovered too 
 rapidly, aiid that liie health of the remainder oi the force was so exceptionally good i 
 and the lay sisters kindly gave their aesistance in any amusements got up to vary 
 the monotony of camp life. 
 
 Ou 13th Jane, 15 more invalids arrived from Saskatoon ly- trail, and Medical 
 Boards were from time to time held, after consultation with Principal Medical Officer, 
 ar.d convalescent!* sent direct to their homos. But it was considered expedient to 
 depart in some measure from the Militia Regulations, and to hold a merely interim 
 t-:ard, obiaiLiug professional opinion that the invalid was not at present fit for active 
 reprice, but leaving open until final recovery, the question whether any permanent 
 ill ejects had resulted fr^m the injury. The documents wore in each case forwarded 
 to the Adjutant-General of Militia. 
 
 Or: recoving your instructions that there were plenty of supplies at front, and 
 iLut no more -huuld be forwarded, and that you wished the transport and other stall 
 -!&ciiarge<J, -nd that you would bend the remainder of wounded by river and lake to 
 Wiiinipeg ; utd as the acting Principal Medical Officer received instructions from the 
 Sareeon-Genoral at Ottawa, to close the hospital and send homo the staff, I arranged 
 •v'tn him "0 remove ull patients and furnished transportation for them and the nurses 
 and the staff, and gave up the building to the owners. And the nurses, staff and 
 patients leit on the 26th June for their homes. 
 
 The .rot] rded men taken up on the field where they fell, hai only the clothes 
 ihey were wearing at the time, and these were usually blood-stained, or cut up in 
 
 kirjdiy sent ty the Tarious Ladies' AidSoc'ctios for distribution. And whoro the supply 
 rtr. stort I urhesitatingly took the responsibility and purchased on the spot whut 
 
II 
 
 15 
 
 over was urgently noedod, for the heulth and rot-pcctablo appearance of the raea 
 returning to thoir homos, or rejoining their regiments. Difficullies were made a» to 
 Hiirae .supplies, an of boots, becaaso the regulation quantity had boon insued ; but theeo 
 i ion had been compulsorily parted from their kits, and [ considered ihey must bo 
 frippliod, even if not in strict accordance with regulations, as they could not be per- 
 mitted to go through the country barefoot, or barebacked. 
 
 In my report of 24th May, of change of basa, 1 mentioned my hope that the 
 ' Northcote " could, in two trips, remove to Clarke's CroHsing the 500 tons supplies 
 ;-iorod at Landing, by using the large Gait barge latelv sent there; and conld bring 
 mvalidflto the PCibowon each t)ip. And on 25th and20lh May, in reporting departure 
 ;f convoy, stated that mail couriers and depot clerks, had loft the route where Pound- 
 maker raided the teanin. So 1 had now clofiod depots on tbo Eattleford route, and 
 repeated my proposal to clear up the depot by steamer, which could at the same 
 time pick up the goods loft along the river ; but on iho 27Lh your message tha-. you 
 had given over the " Northcote " to the Hudson's Bay Company, nccefisitatod fresh 
 'irrangemor.ts; and as Major Boll had come to Moose Jaw in connection with Mr. 
 Siov.art's contract, he agreed with me m submitting to you a proposal to obtain 
 lenders to move the supplies diioct by trail from the Landing to Battloford, an 
 iithcugh the co-t would bo somewhat higher than water ciirriago, wo should save it 
 111 the value of tho gwods, a^ it was reported they were deteriorating froii exposure 
 ; » weather; and on obtaining your approval, L communicated with Major Bell, who 
 >ent Mr. J. Stewart to mo, who tendered to move all 8up{>lios by trail lo Eattleford 
 ■•thin two weeks ; and although I received an offer at a lower rate, iiie latter tender did 
 ; >t ramo a time limit ; and as I was most anxious to withdraw the detachment Halilax 
 L.attaiion stationed at tlie Landing, I recommended tho acoi>ptanco of Mr. Stewart'ri 
 Mider. But for some reason there was considerable delay in dealing with this oflFer, 
 >' i.ich was to be accejited if Mr. Stewart would hims^elf ^o to Qu'Appollo to make 
 (10 arrangements, ani^ this Mr. Stewart refused to do a« ho stated ho wished to be on 
 :i;ind 10 secure the requisite teams. And meantime the teams ho depended on were 
 ' ■iing shipped to their homos. I then telegraphed to Colonel Whitehead, who re- 
 .*!id that he had instructed Major Boll to arrange with me and Mr. Ste-vart as 
 ■1 om mended ; f nally Major Boll, after keeping tho matter opened for three days 
 i.tod that ho had a much lower offer than Mr. Stewart's, and repeated tho request 
 .:,ai Stewart \*ould go to Qu'Appollo, but eventually wired mo, that ho had made 
 ir:ungemont8 to move tho supplies, and that teams would ieavo Qu'Appollo that 
 ;; y. although there had boon plenty available on tho spot. 1 was unable to obtain 
 ♦ho name of the contractor or tho terms, but the clerk from Major Boll's Transport 
 * iflice arrived at tho Landingi and announced himsolf as the Contractor, and the 
 a :uo of tho firm of Bell and Lewis was again mentioned in connection with this 
 ontract. Bat I finally ascertained from Mr. White that tho contract was being 
 iilod by a Mr. Uoward, and that time was not a condition of contract, whilst your 
 loloirrams informed mo that he was receiving the same rate for one hundred miles at 
 iiich Mr. Stewart had ofTored to move tho goods tho whole distanoo of 170 milos, 
 I'. S')".75 per hundred pounds. Mj'. Stewart also guaranteeing to tako all stores off 
 >.'i hands at once, and release the troops, and to movo all within a fornight from 
 i;ito of acceptance. But, under Mr. Howard's contract tho troops wore not relieved 
 11 the 2Gth June — nearly a monih after the original V)roportal. 
 
 Shortly after arrival at Moose Jaw the Mounted Police Sergeant stationed there, 
 
 ji/.od some alcoholic liquor for uso of hospital, marked Ilo.spital stores, and consigned 
 
 ^ the Purveyor-General ; and, I was informed, stated that ho had positive orders to 
 
 "! alf liquors in Purveyor's stores. T at once telographod tho Lioutouant-Govornor, 
 
 ■,uosting that orders might be given to stop this interference with Govornment 
 
 iniperty. But ho declined to interfere and stated that the parties who imported must 
 
 ';iko tho consequences. 1 then furnished him with list of quantities acf'W.//i/!ns^ort', and 
 
 ^ [Hosted permit, so as to comply with provisions of law, which, however, ho refused, 
 
 -^ ')0 Ktated tho quantity was too largo and also wrote me to i^amo effect, but finally 
 
 ' .■:tructod Police to accept my certificate as to quantity in store. 
 
 i 1 
 
16 
 
 
 1 propnpcd that all liquor Hoiz.od by Police from private parlios hHovUI bo handocf 
 over lo iho Purvoycu-fJonbrul for hospital use, instoud of boinj^j doatroyod, but Mr 
 I)owdiicy wouli not consont to thin as it w:i8 not in accordanco with tho law. 
 
 Tho bulk and weight of fiupplicB for men, and of ammunition and storop, would 
 havo been comjiarativcly triilin^f ; but horses oonHumod over 40 lb8. each por day, am! 
 allowing for waste and di'magc pi-obably 100 lbs. por day for each team ; and to reduce. 
 Jis much as possible, this heavy tax on tho trunHport sorvieo, I ur^jod tho teamBter>- 
 to ji^riizo ibeir bor^es whoiievor poHsible, and in Homo oawcs when desired I provided 
 lierdern. And after 10th May gave orders not to send any hay on thrnnifh teams fo) 
 Battlefovd, but only to uirDinh hay to way depotH on trail. Hut when Major Bell wan 
 at Mooho ,Jaw about oti J of May, ho specially urj.?od that buy should bo 8ont on to 
 Clarke's Cidssint^, as ho insisted that tho teamsters' horses required it. And in a^icord- 
 ance with hi.s urgent roquitiiition I recommended sending it, until I received a tele 
 gram fiora Captain Hudson, Supply Officer at Clarke's Crossing, not to send any men. 
 hay, as teamsters would not use it. 
 
 My Un\o and attention wore so fully occupied at Moose Jaw, that 1 was nnablo t'- 
 rirtit Swilt Current and .Sastkatchewan Landing, as I intended and wished ; but it aj> 
 peared to me tha* there was very serious delay in shipping off from Swift Current 
 Iho teams which 1 instructed the Transport Otlicer, on 21st May, were no longer re 
 quired and should be dirsmisiied. 1 endeavoured to obtain some explanation of tho;; 
 employment, but could not obtain any ; nor could I learn whether thoy drew pay 
 TvhilHt waiting there and at Sa.H-catchewan Landing, although I know that they re 
 ceived forage and rations. 
 
 On Isi Juno, some scouts who I had sont forward, as already reported^ 
 about tho .niddlo of April, to join Colonel Otter's column, and servo under Colono! 
 Jlcrehmor, reported themselves at Mooso Jaw for discharge, but without any docu 
 ments whatever. I ascertained they had come from Battlcford under Captain Nealf^ 
 of ilio Mounted Police, from whom I received a letter some days later, and telegraphed 
 him and Colonel Otter lor explanation, also to tho Paymaster to pay them off ur 
 Ci>lonol Ottnr advined mo their pay was $5 Y>Gr day. T'olonol Forrest referred V 
 Colouel Jackson, who stated tho Mounted Police must })ay them. I then wired Captain 
 Neale who cclerred the matter to t'je Comv>troller of Police at Ottawa, who advised. 
 that tboMiliiia Department had decided thai Colonel Jackson would pay them ; bu' 
 as the Paymaster still received no authority, T personally pressed Colonel Jackson io 
 deal with tno matter, and finally on his j'oquest wired the Department at Ottawa, 
 whereo I was inlormed that tho matter had been referred for your consideration. .So 
 1 waed Colouel Olter to explain tho caso to you ; but I understood afterwards you 
 wero away fiom tho telegraph lino after Big Bear, and tho case was evidently not 
 explained to you, a'^ in reply to further telegram you replied that tho pay of scouts 
 was to bo left fur tho Department to settle. ' 
 
 I was mo.st dorirous to sto]) fuilber expense, and as tho men could not leave for 
 their homos without funds, i took the icsponsiibility of discharging them, aud adopted 
 the method of accounts used by tho Mounted Police, and issued certified accounts 
 •wbicii pas^ at the llnds-ori'rtBay Com -'any 's stores ascash. But the Militia Paymaster 
 refused to accept these. .";o tho men ..unained at Mooso Jaw, and having no funds, I 
 isBUcd rations to there ; but on the distinct understanding that this should constitute 
 no claim to pay. And 1 periodically called the attention of the Paymaster to this mat- 
 ter uiitil on 6ih Ju!y, ho wired me he had received authority to pay tho men. 
 
 There was some difTiculty and delay, also, in tho settlement oi tho accounts for 
 the Hcouta hired, and for the horses and saddles purchased to form tho escort for tho 
 provision and aramuui'.ion convoy sent to Colonel Otter on 25th May ; but the pay 
 for these men was also authori:.ea on the above-mentioned date. 
 
 1 had received reports that sottlois had taken out teams to remove 
 and a])j.roprialo tho supplio", re])ort< :d to have been landed from Boyd's barges, and 
 left i.iy tho steamers along the river. So 1 twice sont out intelligent officers to search 
 the river banks for waggon tracks and to follow them up ; but i.hey reported thoy 
 could not find any wheel marks in that direction, and, as Mr. Kerr, late foreman to 
 
17 
 
 15'>ycl & Ciowo, informol mo lio wuh goint; to build f-'->mo moro barj^eH and take 
 roiglit from Swift Current or Rush L:iko to i'rince Albert. IflL'fOod with him to rjuve 
 my ot the ("UpplioH ho could find and deiivor thorn to the (jdvornmcnt officors at 
 Prince Albeit, for which be was to receive at tho rate of $1 p-jt hundred lbs. 
 
 Your telegram of 19th Juno, from Fort Pitt, which was delayed in transiL 
 jnHiruotirm' rno to dismirts all statT, was immediately acted upon, and on 24lh 1 
 reported all civiliann but one had boon di8ohar<^ed, and that 1 was temporarily 
 ■hiiying oji all tho duties vvith asniatanco obtained from thetroa;).-* ; and, -n roforenco 
 (() our iuHtructionw to have all Govurnmont horHes and other g ; jJs taken to VVmni- 
 pot,' and handed over to tho Storekeeper, I consulted with the G.i.ornmoni auctioneer 
 &8 Lo tho locality where tho Oovornmont horses and other prop'jry which could not 
 ■10 htoro<l, c juld bo most advantagoounly dinpoBcd of; and ho urge ' *hat, in considera- 
 liou of tho expontse of freight to, and maintenance of horses in, Winnipeg, a larger 
 return would bo rea!i/.jd by local Miles. So 1 rocoaimomled to y^ i that those articles 
 -.uu lid bo auctioned at -^amo time as the hospital stores, which were to be aold under 
 >aier» from tho Sui'^'cwn-Gonoral, and thiis was acc')rdiny;!y cai-i ied out. 
 
 On 18th Juno CiiptuinSwinlord was reported hick aLl^.u'Appclle, siiid wired aaking 
 that 1 would allow Mnj )r Rickards to proceed to (^u'Appolic for a few daya to aasiat 
 i:im. So 1 gave Major Jxickards leave to go and undertook to supervise tho duties of 
 (lis oUice during his «b-et,ce, but appointed Lieutenant .Dixon to take fharge as 
 Supply and Transport Officer in addition to his other duties. Major Rickards, how- 
 over, i.over returned lor duty, but paid one or two visits and informed mo he had so 
 ;irran):;od matters with Colonel Whitehead. Hence I did not interfere, aa Major Rick- 
 ards iiud been a most euorgetic and "useful officer, untiring in his efforts to forward 
 tho public service, working at any hour of tho night, if 1 required his service, and 
 netting an example to his assistants and to tho fatigue parties sent to handle sup- 
 jdios by putting his own hands to tho work to expedite it. But his absence just at a 
 .ii.ciaro when work was being closed up and information was constantly req^uired, 
 A' its singularly inconvenient. 
 
 Tho Saskatoon Hospital was established to meet a sudden emergency, at a time 
 
 vhcn the river was too low to admit of its use to transport the wounded, and appli- 
 
 •inves and supplies for a standing hospital of every kind wei'o deficient. So the Moiical 
 
 Siall took from the settlers whatever was wanted for the use of the sick, and received 
 
 .;;:iny other services from tbom in the shape of baking bread and cooking, use of 
 
 r.uscs and furniture, milk, ergs, ifcc. , and during trte whole period of our occupancy 
 
 i Sabkatoon issued provisions of all kinds to tho settlers, conscq^uontly cross accounts 
 
 . . d become very complicated. Deputy SurgeonGoneral Eoddiok brought ihis to ray 
 
 i'Hice, and further informed me that ho hadi explained it to you, and that it was your 
 
 .vish i should send an officer lo examine and put in order these acjounts. 1 there- 
 
 I'jio instructed Lieutenant Leonard, who had shown himself clear headed and accu- 
 
 y.iio. to proceed to Saskatoon to undertake this duty, meeting Dr. Roddick there and 
 
 !<./:oiving explanations from him; and as tho settlors at Saakatoon were stated to 
 
 .;.ve placed all ihoir property at the disposal of the Medical Officors, to treat them 
 
 'crally in i losing tho account. Lieucen;iut Leonard had not returned when 1 left 
 
 ^;loose Javv, and I did not receive any detailed accounts from him, which, however, it 
 
 > possible lie Jurnishnd to Dr. lioddick. I received iVom him the simple statement 
 
 ;!ikt he had bchoduled and balaacod tho accounts, showing, after all credit to the 
 
 ■ overnment for provisions supplied, a cash balance of $1,000 duo to the settlers. His 
 
 jiort, mai ked D, is attached. 
 
 Accoui'f.sof all kinds were now presented, and claims for services rendered 
 . vared in , and as all pay matters had to bo referred to Winnipeg for settloment, and 
 -ouchers stii'Mly in accordance with Militia Kcgulations woro required, which it was 
 ■ cxt to inipusfcible to induce the Claimants to furnish, there was considerable dolay 
 •lud di-isatifjfuction in the settlement of outstanding claims, which, however, 1 en- 
 ..uuvored to closo up as far as possible, as, being on the spot, I could more readily 
 >btiiin and furnish explanations ; but, learning from you it was your wish to unite 
 <h*i wl'ole force under your immediate command, and that Lieut.-Col. Drcmner could 
 
 I) 
 
18 
 
 wind uj) any unfiuinbed basinoa.x ut Moose J iw, I handed over Iho command to him, 
 with all the concBpondonco of tlio Hri^ado OHico, hook-, lotter.-", tolo;»rams, sent, and 
 rcooivod, for which J look hi>< loceipt. and tin.j.lly left for Winnipeg' on tlio 7lh July, 
 hoping to moot you ihorc, and ntVurd ytMi any inforination you miL,'hi dcsiro, especially 
 in rcforen(!o lo trar).sport matters. Hut when I arrived tiieto 1 lunnd you wore not 
 expected for a week, and as I had no dulio^.to r'orforni in Winnipetr, 1 Ici't for horao 
 next day, reporting' my.-elf to the Minititor of Mlitia at Oitawa, in cano ho wiihod to 
 be informed on any matters whiidi mii;ht have heon referred to him, or hrotight to 
 his notice. 
 
 The reguhUions doiining the dvtlios of tho position to which 1 wari appointed — 
 Commandant of Haso lud Liiifs of Coinmuiiication - wore not well known hero, and 
 a copy waft unobtainable. Ilcncu it w;i^ at timo:^ dittl( iilt to make clear to tho Huporior 
 officers of the several departnioiits their ro8);on8ibilitieH, and the method by which 
 harmonious action cnuld alone be ensnrod. 'J'ho inatructioii.s 1. received from you vvhon 
 leavinjj; the Ucad'piaitcr Column iieja- il umboldt were very brief: '' To go back to the 
 line of railway and octforyou." in doing thiH it was necessary to act uj)on one's own 
 judgment, aftci' as full as praclicalle a coni-idei'atic n of tho circum-tance^, and above 
 all, to act promptly. Our mcano ot communicating were limited to tho one tclographi( 
 wire, Vid t^u'Appello, which was constantly occufiied, and often not in working order; 
 and from what carac to my notice, an to tho inaking public oi Tue^Hages, it was not 
 desirable to conimunicato too fjooly, sind impoijisiblo to cummunicato fully; hcnco, no 
 doubt, action taken by mo may have, in corao cascp, appeared inexplicable to jou. 
 
 As a Tulo, my first consideration W!\h to furnish the Columns at the front with 
 what was urg'cnt, as economically as possible; but no effort was spared, and in emor- 
 gencios, economy gave w!iy to uigency ; and the immcdiato rcquiromcutu being met, 
 my attention was given to pytemaiizing the work of supplying tho front and reducing 
 expenses. 
 
 Tho next consideration, almost equally important, was to accumulate, and hold 
 in hand, a rttorve of ammunition of all kirids, a moderate supply of arms, tools, pro- 
 visions, and H(imo cloLhirg, which cuuld be sent out on a sudden demand, on the 
 existing lines or in any new direction in which a force might be required to operate ; 
 and for tb'.-se I had considerable dithculty in getting my requisitions filled. 
 
 When practicable, J strove to cairy out the regulations of tho sei vice. But when 
 such a course would have been jjrejudiuial 1 unhesitatii gly assumed tho responsibil- 
 ity of doviativjg from regulations, knowing that it was the wish of tho (lovernmont 
 and peojdc of Canada, that no reasonable exjionso should bo spared to ensure and 
 increase the comfort of her soldiers in tho field. 
 
 I leol it my duty to mention tho very valuable advice and assistance received 
 from Mr Wrigley, Commissioner of the Hudson's P>ay ('ompany ; both personally and 
 by wire Mr. Wrigicy was always ready to afford counsel and obtain local information 
 from his efficient fetaff. His clHco was usually kept open till after midnight, and the 
 clerical stati of tho Hudson's Uay Company emulated their Chief in their desire to 
 attend to our wants. 
 
 Captain Swinford was tho veiy type of a Supply Ofiicor, sparing no trouble in 
 his efforts to meet requirements, and ignoring red tape if it stood in tho way of tht 
 Service 
 
 I have already rrientioncd Mr. White, Transport Officer at Swift Current, who, 
 as already reported, was assisted by an exceptionally cfficioni subordinate staff; anci 
 Major Exkard's, Supply Officer at Swift Current and at Moose Jaw, whose service;- 
 were of great vuiuo, and who also had a most hardworking assistant. 
 
 The Deputy Surgeon-General, Dr. Eoddick, was frequently absent from Head 
 quarters, as he was much occupied at Saskatoon with the arrangements for housing 
 and moving the wounded ; but his heart was in his work, ami he hesitated at no per- 
 bonal fatigue in order to give j^.ersonal attention to the more serious cases. 
 
 In Dr. Roddick's absence tho Purveyor-Gorcral, Honorable Dr. Sullivan, first at 
 my rcquost,^ and later by tho Sui'gcon-Gcncral's a}»pointnient, acted as Principa' 
 Medical Ofiicor, which imposed on him an enormous amount of work, as tho ; upplie,- 
 
19 
 
 f mfwUcjtl HtoroH woro very liberal and tlio flonianiJK from differont portioriK nf tho 
 :../>t' io«iiiiro(l to bo promptly tillod, iind ihc vai loiis relict (r(<mmittoon ihrou^rli )ul 
 ilid lK»ii>iini>ri coriMi^iiod all ihoir coniributioris lo hi.s fiiro, thus materially iJicreuminir 
 hiH work UTid ienponBibilitioK. 
 
 Art 1 tbiiiul it nocossary to obtain asaiHtanco, 1 availed nyflelf of tho HorvinoH of 
 |{(-^)il Military Colloj^o graduates, vrho loyally c-arao forward at thin crisirf, roaigning 
 iiKiativo oni)'loymont8 in civil life. 
 
 Ijietitenant Leonard, Hrnt as Stall' Afljiitant at Swift Ourront, and later on as Staff' 
 (itliicr ori lino of coninumication at SuKltutchowun l.nridir>g, wuh moHt prociHc and 
 iirni in his dischargo of a duty re'iuiring great taf t at.d di-crtjiion. 
 
 Li( iitcnant Wellor, ais Staff Adjut'mt, and Lie ite- :iMt F. J Dixon, uttauhod to Con- 
 ,:»!i'srotit. Depot, who ansiHted in tho Brigade Olfi -c, a-i prev iourtly stutod, were with mo 
 ..I work long alier midnight evory night. I found iliem active, intelligont and iudofa- 
 uj;iii>lo, ai;d of tho greatest aHPihtanco in dealing with tho pior-s (i1 work. 
 
 Lieutenant VVelltM', as already reported, Khowcd groui nudincsH of re;>ourco in 
 tukiiif,' down the Gait barges when tiie oiews htinck, and during hi-* absence ^^'untain 
 Lliuls-m, late of Tih Fusiliers, acied as Stutf Adjutant and wa t most untiring in ugHirtt- 
 Idj; me both by day and night. 
 
 The Regiments being nnmorioally weak, I abstained from taking men from their 
 ranks, for work in the Brigade Uffli-o and Supply l)e,)artm«rit, but utilized tho services 
 oJ'onvaleBCoutH dincharged from hospitu; and waiting op})ortuni'y to lojoin their 
 
 (•()rp^'. 
 
 Ah tho t-overal Battalions were lnspec»ed ly you, .[ do not give any detailed 
 ,;i.ount of inspections held or htato of etficioncy of C"rps, but sin. ply forward a record 
 id their luovcmontH. 
 
 On my arrival as already reported 1 foun'^, at Swift Cuirent and Saskatchewan 
 Jjnnditig, tho half Jiattalion .'iSth, which j'ejoined the half-Buttalion liJth at l"ort (^u'- 
 Aj'tK'He on the iSth April. 
 
 Surveyors' Corps arrived on 20th April, and proceodod on 22nd to Elbow and 
 liat'icford ti-ail, changing destination on ^;-!rd to chani of j'osts bolwoon Old Wives' 
 fyjiki> and Cypress Hills, and thenco en 5lh May proceeded to join Headquarter 
 i'oliimn. 
 
 Thy Midland Battalion was also at Swift Current, and four companies, undev 
 ihu late Lieut.Coionol Williams, MP., ombuikod at Saskutchowan Landing on 2Ard 
 A[>.'il in steamer " Northcoto " for Clarke's Crossinir, 
 
 Two Companies Midland Battalion, under M'lj ir Smith, proroeded to Sas- 
 i;it(.'liewan Landing on 18th April, remaining there on laJiJUo duty till 8th May, 
 when thuy embaiked in " Alberta" and '■ Baroness" lor Clark's Crossing. 
 
 Two companies Midland Battalion, under Licul -Colonel Deacon, proceeded to 
 Vliip!c Greek on 2nd May, nndoi- requisition frnm tho Licutonant-Oovernor, in aid of the 
 M'uinted Police, and roturLodofi 7th May, proceeding at onco to. Landing, and thenco 
 >\'. 1 liii May, by Boyd's barges, to Clarko's Creasing. 
 
 Tho 7Lh Fusiliers arrived on 2-ith April, and on Olh May 'procooded to Landing, 
 ' ..J- trkiiig on 11th for Clarke's Croi-sing, in Boyd's barges. 
 
 Tho 0th Voltigours arrived on 24lh April, and on 2«ih proceodod to Calgary. 
 
 Tho Halifax Battalion arrived on 30ih April, and on 6ih May Liout. Colonel 
 til eniner, with three viompanies, proceeded to Me licmo Hat, whoro thoy retnained until 
 ■Ui'v Ij^t, when the Battalion was concentrated at Mooso .law. 
 
 Two companies, under Major Walsh, })ioceoded on llth May to Linding, taking 
 . I'OofYth on emb.irkation, and remaining until Juno 27th, discharging constant 
 :.'uJ heavy fatigue duties, when they rejoined the Battalion at Mooho Jaw. 
 
 Throe companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel M icdonald, remained at Swift Car- 
 ieijf until 23rd May, when thoy accompanied tho iMstrict lloadquarLors on change of 
 hnso to Moose Jaw, and wore continuously employed in heavy fatigue work in addition 
 to guai-d duty. 
 
 The Winnipeg Light Infantrj', under Lieutonant-Colouel Osborno Smith; pa-sod 
 Through on Itith April, but did not disembark from train. 
 
 9rf-2i 
 
20 
 
 4 
 
 Tho 9l8t Battiilion, undtM- Lioutonant (yolonol Scoli, roportodarrivtil at Qu'Ap 
 pollc on 18th, itnd I instniclod tho Comrnuudiug Oifloor to roijaoHt in>*trii(^U()nH frorr- 
 you an til lii^ fo'ihor niovotaoritH, and utidci- your ordorn inovod to Kort <iu'y\ ppello 
 
 Until tho t'iilij^uo duties becumo ho aiduouM, and ivon durin/.^ their (iontinuauci; 
 whoncv«r nn opportunity olVorod, tho Coinmunding Offlcers wore iiiHLructtxl to prac 
 tico their men in iitfiK-U f >rint4tioti, outpont duty, and moviiij^ in oxtondod ordor ovo 
 broken j);r(>und, and thruiigh undeibrur«h when williin easy aciosei, I alno dirooUv. 
 ■every aticution to bo giv( n to ritlo practice, not merely to dovcdop Huporior Hhootin; 
 amongst men who were already good hhotw, but to giso most attention to tho pooroh 
 HhotH, taking them up <'loser to tho target, and giving thtni iu(*tructio.> in aiming; 
 and })0Hition, until they acquired the ))ropor uwo of tho rifle. 
 
 At tirst tho supplies woro liKided directly on I ho transport teamw from tlio rai! 
 •way car, but as they )ioured in lastor, it btcamo neeossary to unload tho earn an-' 
 jiilo 11]) tho rttore-J, and loriunatoly this ^viM tho dry HeaHou,HO there was wmall risk oi 
 damage from the weather, althmigh no tarpaulins bad yet boon furnished. But thr 
 handling of stores necoHsitutod tho detailing of strong I'atiguo partion from the troop- 
 at the bMse, aud tho strain eamo more heavily on the small detachment at Saskatche 
 wan Landing, where tho constant breakage of tho ferry made it neccbHary to tako 
 tho lorry boat aorocH the rivor by hand, with tho supplies, as woll as the horHos an ' 
 waggons for the north ; and tho varying height of tho rivor neoossitatod the removing,, 
 raoro than once, of hundreds ol tons ol stores, piled in I'oadiness to load tho steamorH 
 and barges. 
 
 The tirst detachment on whom this dutj' devolved found it very anluous, and 
 BOrao dissuiisfttction wa« shown, and Mnjor Henry Smith commanding tho detach 
 raent showed considerable tact in dealing with it; he at once telegraphed requestin. 
 mo to come over, and asked mo to send him some handcuffs, which latter, with leg 
 irons, 1 obtained on loan from the Mounted Police, One man who had been rathei 
 unwiholy permitted to ji>in tho battalion near Lake Superior, to fill up a vacant place, 
 was the instigator ut this trouble ; ho was from the Old (Jountry, and from his know 
 ledge of tho ways of the service had evidently served in tho army, although he 
 denied having been a soldier ; and as he continued insubordinate Major Smith vorj 
 properly tried hini by court-martial and he was sentenced to 42 days' imprif^uuraen 
 with liard Ial)Or, at Kegina, and to bo disinissod tho service with ignominy ; tht 
 latter pait of the sontenco L cordially approved, as a man of that stamp was (juit 
 untlt to associate with the honorablo men who tilled tho ranks of our regiments, 
 had the detachment paraded, and explained that tho duties they woro dischargini: 
 were as honorable aud as important as if they woro actually in tho tighMng lino, tha 
 ■we could not choose the work wo liked, but must as soldiers do wliaiovor tell to oir 
 lot and obey our orders; and the detachment more than responded and showed Lh 
 good s])irit that was in them by loading 3o0 tons supplies on Gait steamors on th.i 
 }>nd tho following day, the Gth and 7th May, as woll as cutting wood for use as fuc 
 on tho steamers. 1 felt that this work was so exceptional that I recommended ; 
 small allowance of working pay should bo issued for this place, but you decided tha 
 no distinctions should bo made between the different portions of tho ibr'>.o. 
 
 Very heavy work subsequently fell to tho detachment, Halifax iiogiment, a; 
 same place. The ferry utterly broke down, and this small party worked for several 
 weeks from daylight till dark, non-commissioned offtijors, as well as men, ferrying 
 diricharged teams from tho northern side, and contractors transport from the southern 
 bank, as well as putting across over 400 tons supplies, which had to bo carried fo) 
 considerable distance over the duy bed of the river on both sides of the actual stream. 
 Bad tho contract 1 recommended boon accepted, this would have devolved on the 
 contractor, but I could not obtain from the Transport Officer tho terms of the con 
 tract actually awarded. 
 
 Tho mou were sadly disappointed that the continuous discharge of this dat\ 
 should have fallen to their lot instead of bei.ig brought face to face with tho enemy, 
 biu like good soldiers faced their work zealously. H 
 
 At Swift Current and ai Moose J:iw the detachment, Hidifax Regiment, about 
 100 strong, were albo continuouply employed, on fatigue, and the cheerfulnedt* witli 
 
21 
 
 iHoaraon' 
 
 wljich thf y worked all day, and one day following another, at really heavy mtinuul 
 lHhf)r, rcflodod tho f.^roatcHt credit on iho men tlicmiselves utkI tho othci'is who 
 infpiicd HUihagoocI npiril; and during ihih limo Lieut. Colonel MiicJonuld, not wi^hin^ 
 hln men nhould loiso Holdiorly unartnocH, hud un all |tioHoni piirado and drill f'ro'ii fi.HO 
 Vo 1 'M) a.m. daily, and the fatiguo dutioH comtrwincod at 8.30 a.m. 
 
 Tho hpirit Hhown by all rankw of the 7th I'usiliurH wan moHt commondahlo. Tho 
 OlflcoiM, spoakin,'^ lor their men, naid they rumo to do whatever vvaH oidcred, and 
 allhoi);.'h ih^y would Ikivo ]»rofeired (ii^'hting, J never heard a grumhlo from any maa 
 ii) tho (U'gimtnt, although tho Colonel, hhortly before tho hreiik-ng up ot the 
 ,Stntl(^rl at Clarke'H Cro(-Hing, wiote me anking it ho could get t-ome relief liom W'jrk 
 HH Iiih men ha<l been eo contirtuonsl}- employed they li;i'i hud no drill for three weeks, 
 jinii they wanted to keep in praetieo to appear crcdiialj'y on ihoir return homo. 
 
 1 foiwaid tabidar HtateraoniH, maikcd K and F, ol Uio hUpplioH nent forward by 
 irii? Tiaiihport Service, roepcctiv(dy from Sw'ft Current and Irom Mo«ho Jaw, until 
 lli(>Me linoH ot BuppUes wore cloned, but I regret they aio i.ol uniform. 
 
 Tho rttatcmorit given lor the 8wili Current route being arcnidirig to a return T 
 orij,'inally drew up and required to be lurniHhed daily, and in tho only one I have 
 recoived, although, I furnif<hed blank forms liUo that on winch the Mooho .faw Htato- 
 111 nt irt given, ve(j[U0Hting they might ho lUlcd up; but tbo'^o have not been roturnci 
 to mo. 
 
 The transjiort syhtom waw not Hattufacfory ; tho head tr amMtor.s of each sub- 
 ilivinion recoived tho Hamo pay us tho oth(>r drivers, and did not care to ej:orcine an 7 
 nathitrity or carry out ordors if not palatable to bin tollows ; anil a'though nominally 
 r; .sponsible fcr tho nafo delivery of tho whole load (jarriel on iho ten waggons of hi-^ 
 ^nhdivinion, ihoro really wan no method of oniorcing tho rosponHi*)ility. And as tha 
 <!rn'era wore largely hired by tho waggon owners at, fixed wagon, the dihclurgo c E 
 ■l.f team was no penalty to thom, ami there really was no moans of enforcing disc- 
 j.iiio; but taken as a body, thoy were n very well-behaved, willing not of men, anxious 
 to 'dvebatisfaction, and ^-limo was MmoHt unknown, and when outfit was nhori, thoy 
 (UM up uncomplamiiigly with deficion'ies. 
 
 As already reported, I found tliut one waggon of each f-uhdivision wao employoi 
 ti' -any tiie t«'am8tors' outfit and the lbn\<^'o, and this load har<ily l!i>ted much ovrr 
 uvi> (luyH. I endeavored to make each tt;am start from Iho dopot carrying thr^o 
 'h.vn' forsgc j but, the toarastein inade many dilfi'-ultios and as^:llrod me this would i:>- 
 vi vo the unlimding of each wiiggun daily, as bulky forage must bo bound ^vith ther 
 ha(], and would not ride on top ; and ts no Transport Officer appeared to have given 
 '■•nsideiation to those dotail^, and I was too much otupied tu take in hand tho 
 
 ■ ,;orior efonomy of any one dopaitmont, I b'ld roluot.Uit!y to pci'mit thi-i arrange^ 
 nont to be continued. Moveable forage racks or nets could easily have boea su;)- 
 j> iod fri'm Winnipeg or tho Kastorn Pi'ovinccs und attached to the waggon-i, whif h 
 ■■ ould then have carried thn c days' forage without intcrforenco with tlie loa J, and 
 'JiOB ouo-tonth more work could have been done with tho same transport train. 
 
 A-i already mentioned, 1 obtained from the De; aitmcnt of thu Interior tho use 
 0' fome eur\<y carts und ponies, and tho Surveyors' Corps compo.sed of men 
 iborcnghly acquainted with the countjy, applied for this class of tranpport in pro- 
 'trorco to two horse waggons. 1 urged thai our Transport Service bhould use tho 
 !■•' 'ailed prairie carlM and native ponies more largely on tho lines of comraunica- 
 t'OD, us, although poscibly not suitable to move with the field colnrap, they would 
 ive been rtiuch moie economical, as they would have requited Jio hay, a.iihcy feed 
 
 ■ 1 tho prairie grass, acd use comparatively small quantity of o.^ts, a matter of ex- 
 i^i'nio importance when It is borne in mind that each man of tho force only required 
 •■i Ibf. of buppliep. But, as already mentioned, each pair of bcrscs lequiud at least 
 ^<' lbs. iorago daily, and as forage is easily di.n.agcd and wasted, aiid it is hard to 
 'f^cck t})0 issue, probably 100 lbs. a day wouhl be the amount used, for cacli pair of 
 horses; thus, our transport was mainly employed in canying its own forage, 
 
 In the small contract let by mo to Mr. Tims, at Swift '/nrront, for huuling, at a 
 fixed rate per 100 Ibp, 1 permitted him to employ French lialf- breeds, and evoa 
 
 I 
 
22 
 
 IndiaiiN, with ihoir pony ouitiin, nnd iho work waH oc >nom{(Milly and oxpuditiouhiy 
 doiio, Jiiid the iliirotM vvoro tuoro ndvurifnifooiiHly ompi )y»«d carryinjj ntoros for our 
 uuo, inHioad ot po.sHihly rtwollin^ iho numhorH urruytKl u/LCuinst iih. 
 
 It would httve Itcon inoro Hutinfactory if tho Trun^pirt und Supply, nnd indool 
 all OtficoPH in rortporiHiblo po^itiDnH, could luvo b^ou tirawa from tho Militia Sorvir*.. 
 atid required to provide and appear in unifi)rm; it would have ^iven Ihoui groui >r 
 authority both with tho TraiiHjjorL Survice, an well hh with ihoTrfxips, who won!! 
 then have undtu'htood their poHition. Military training and habith of diHoiplino woi.i'i 
 have facilitulod tho workititr out of a natiNtactory orKiinization, atid thun huvo r ■ 
 dored thct«o irapoitaut branclioH more olUcioiit; and it tho Military Oolloj^e /^raduu:. 
 had been employed in thin Department, thoy woul 1 hav© rendered ^ood nervico, ui ' 
 repaid tho country for their education by ert'o<!tin/if lar>(o Having". * 
 
 Tho ab-ionco of unilorm wa»» folt amoii^ tho 8irt(eon«< and Staff in tho Fin;. 
 HoHpitalH, in whith it was diftiouli to enforce anything like military order or re;fii 
 lariiy where the ni^nH ot rank and authority were wotilinfj. 
 
 I have alluded to ihoHO pointa, beoauue I cannot but fool there wore many nh<>, 
 comingH and much left to be desired, and that they furDish Homo explanation of i • » 
 enoriiiouH oxpeiidituie on tho»e Horvices , but the woaknoHH of our organi/.m 
 would have been much more noticeable and dot'-imental in itn otfrcis, bit (or i 
 goodwill, and 1 would almmt nay, self sacritice that was diHplaycd bj;, tlie offi > 
 and oraployees, who nhowed themHelven anlmat';dby the Hamo hpuit licit proviii' 
 amon.i^bt the troopH, and never spared themselvoa when hard work would proiu 
 the interoHtH oi the Mcrvice; and it is a great pleanure and Houroo of pride to me, 
 have been asHociated with a body of men who ho earnestly devoto<l all their oii' 
 giOM to the pcrforr-iunco of their duty. 
 
 Ever since my return homo, I have been under treatment f jr inflammation 
 the oyef, and wan positively , forbidden to road or writo, and alt')oai;lj I have i; 
 rigidly attended to tho prohibition, 1 was unable to work oontinii >uHly, and ti 
 huH cautiod tho delay in forwarding the report, part of whi( h [ loini li, aooo-isary 
 diutute. 
 
 With much regret for this unavoidable delay, 
 
 1 h'lvo the honor U/ be, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient horva'it, 
 
 J. \V I MBIT 35^ TiACIUE, 
 Major-General Comma \din<j Bute and L nea of C)inmin'>ca'io\. 
 
 Tho Major-GoMoral romiuanding 
 
 The North-AV-jsi J-'ield Force. 
 
 A. 
 
 Memciandum. jjoose Jaw, 20th Juno, 1885. 
 
 1 ? u ^'^?'' ^^'^ ^^equested me to furnish you wiih a report on tho eervicos n> 
 Uoi^a by the " Gait Coal and Xavigatiou Company'H " stearaore and bargoa. Ti 
 "ilimiow arrived P. M. on 27lh Aoril, under Captnin Ma'oney, having loft h^ 
 Oarges in river ; reported she could not carry freight, or tow barges up ntroam, an,! 
 ai.tiough could tow them down ntream, they could git along quicker withouc her. i 
 lopoite.l her arrival, but not receiving any epecial orders for her, oa 3()th I seat he 
 r.T'^ <r^^'r*^'' '^'^^ imtructions to board '• Northcoto," supposed to ba aground, an \ 
 wKe oil tjatjing, and Surgeons, and 9-pr. ammunition ; bat she did not reach Clarke'- 
 t^iobbing until night of luth, when Captain Maloney repDrte<l arrival and a^^ked orders 
 and was ordered on by me to join General Middleton. Eut he did not move, bui 
 

 rom ilned uiicmployoJ at llic CroHsinj,' until tho I5th ^vhon (.'aptuin I)iviH onK-rod 
 him to lay up M Sunkutoim aitd tiunnJiM- crow to " Alliorta." 
 
 Thirf (iU'iirnof piacticttlly rotuiorod no horvi^'o wliaiovor, l)Ul('im".oil i;n'nt tioublo,. 
 an I (ally roliud on hor to ^ot tho Medical .Staff, util tli- rtntliri'^uiid amtiuinitinn from 
 ll)o " Noi thi'oto," A rttTviro which nho wa-^ w«ll (]ualitii!<l to ; otnlor, uh hImj only druW4 
 11 ii.oluM wator, and " Norlhcolo " druwH :',:\ <ru his, Hutsho delayed tiil tho '' North- 
 •■iuto ' rcui'hod tho CroMnin^, and tlio Captain was, in my opinion, quiic ui.lit for his 
 powition ; and I aHcribo hor UNolcKsnoss niaitily to Im'h irKrapacity. 
 
 Thn " Miiinow " wan thiii actually 'iridor orlor-t o( (ho Militia uuihoritios frora 
 tho J7th April to I'lth May, hut did no Ktsrvico hcynrid to vinya harj^o containing ten 
 l.iHB (jaic and cari^-in:,' a'f'ow parcol/- addrcHHcd iiorronal'y, and Homo mailM f'lotn Laal- 
 ■',!i; l() Clarko'b Ci"Os>» rit(. 
 
 x'ho " J>aroni'HH " arrived lato on 6th May from Modlcino Hat, and faiitfuo party 
 ai oiMO commenced to loud hor, mon ha'u\^ |)romiso<! they phould go to tho front m 
 l;u<>ii »8 htoatuorn woro loaded. May 6th, Htoanior " Albortu" with bargo, arrived r.t 
 fi. OP. an*i at onco commoncod Uiading. 
 
 'day 7th, two companios Midland Ib'talion .'inbarked on atoamerH f()r paHKago 
 to C^iiirUt's CiOMbin^, and to assist in wo'nJ-cultii l; and 'oad'ng. 
 
 May H(li, •* BatouoHrt " and bar^'o lotl -it •! am., with car^o of -t'l tonn supplioH, 
 
 '* AUierui " and bar^o loft at 10.;iO a.m , with ir>0 tonn HU))plioH, tho latter hoini^ 
 
 itjLaiood to enable a jiarty of Artillery usuler t'aptain CiiiTan to ofion ;*<»me Artillery 
 
 ^lorctt ni route for Battleford, and toward i.lion» in rcsporjso to a^piossing roij^uliiitioa 
 
 (lom Gontral Middieton, received lato on evonin < 7ih, at SitiitCiiirent. 
 
 " IJ.iione8H'' airived on Itth M.iy, at CiarkV Cr<'-isin|[f. Captain Davis roporred 
 left bargo frixty miles below Swift Current as steamer would nc/L handle, but that 
 iiurgo was riccurcly covoreJ. 
 
 '• Al')orta ' Avith bargo. arrived at Clai kV, Oo^-i'mj on I7lh, but Iv)st hor bargo 
 below tli.it point, and unload'jd with help ■)!' one of L outenunt Wollei's liai-gos. 
 
 Two barges cast ofl' by " Slinnow " und Hub^o(luontly brou/^ht by crewa to 
 Landit'g, where crows " utruck " and rof'ised lirther work, were loaded with IS tons 
 ■ woros, nnd slarted on \bi May with u c ow ot ten cKpcuiencetl r;iflsmon, under Liou- 
 lonant Wellor, Mullund liattulion. One of tlicso wa^ carried by tho ed ly on to rock 
 at mouth of Swift Current, whoro sho was partially unloaded and left, ponJinp; 
 opportunity for repairs; tho other was delivorod by Lieutenant Wellor at Clark's 
 CroHsing. 
 
 A bargo arrived at SuHkatohewan Landing on oth Juno, and I reoomniondod tihe 
 hIiouI 1 bo cmidoycd \i\ can-ying stc^res down river, laUing sulflciont number of mon 
 to repair wrof ko 1 barge at mouth of Swift Cm i-ont, }iick up bai-g" loft by " Baroness," 
 and l"»ad tho two latter with stores landed along rivor from B »yd it Crowe's barges, 
 
 U|) to dale tlie recommendation has not bjon ac\'t>[)tel, and I. much fear that 
 jnany of the^o stores havo buon injured by oxpoiur© to weather or rising of water la 
 river. 
 
 I consider that thoStoimors" Burouess " and "Alberta" wcro capable of rendor- 
 ini; valuable service both in (rarrymg, an<l towing barges ; and, alihou„'h not as well 
 fiLted up for passenger tratlio as tho " Northcoto," con Id londor o.jual .service. But 
 local knowledge and i iver expei'ionce are ro(juired by the OfUcors placed in charge; 
 the barges also weru very usolul and mujh increased tho > argo cdpaoily of stoaiuors, 
 besidob ailniitting of lightening by tran.sfer of cargo when aground. 
 
 I believe if tho " Minnow " had been propoily comma idod ^ho would also have 
 been very sorvicjablo as a tow and do.-patch boat, moving sick, i*cc ; bat with a 
 ihurougii'y incajmblo Captain eho rendered no service whatever. 
 
'J-l 
 
 (^Exliact from Br'vjaoe Orders.) 
 
 Ueadquartbus, Moose Jaw, 9th May, 1885. 
 
 Biigado Mor^ itig Order: By MajorGeneral Laario, Commanding Lines of Com- 
 manicati(.p. 
 
 4. Refci;;rg to No. '^, Brigrdo Onlu.s of yesterday 'h dnte, the 7th Fusiliers, or. 
 arrival at SiU'-l;atchc-wan Lacding. tho llcadquartorf, ard thoeo compariicf", will erabat!'; 
 in Mr, Eojc s barges lor convtjiinio to ChlII^e^s Crop^irg. Two compariicH, anc 
 Major Smith, will remain on duly at tho Lcrdini,' nntil further orders. The dotach 
 mont, Midh;i d Battalion, under Lieutonait-Colontl Deacon, will aUo embark or. 
 board the barge s for Claiko's Crcpf-ir;:, 1 bo Senior Oificcr aHsumirg charge of thi 
 'whole force onibarked, ard the men will bo distributed under prrangemor.ts with 
 Captain B(«yd, but will proceed with tho utmost expedition to their de>lin;itiori, and 
 on arrival b.n will report to tho Major-Gentn-al Comraanding. 
 
 By order, 
 
 (Signed) WM. HUDSON, Captain,' 
 
 Staff Adjutant. 
 
 (^Extract frovx Brigade Order Bool:, hy J.ieutenant-CoJorel Deacon, Commandivg SasJcat 
 chivan Brigade, en route Soskafchewan River, Alay mtJi,, 18>5.) 
 
 1. Officers commar.ding barprs are requcgted to serd in, for tho information of 
 the Officer ccinmandirg, immediately on ariival at Chuk's Ciot-siTg, a detailed 
 report fcho-sviii;' their daily progress as far as can be ascertained, and particularly as 
 to tho amOi.ni <d Government Stores unloaded or abaruoncd by them, and giving 
 their reasons lor bueh unloading or abandonment. Thvy ■will, alf-c, endei^vor to 
 report as aci.uiately as poesible tho circumstance^ attending, together w th the 
 number of tin .'s that their men were' obliged to take to tho water to facilitate the 
 progret=s and irhure the safety of their barges. 
 
 I 2. The Oiiicer in chuge; of the l)arge in which the rations of the 7th Fusiliere 
 ■were ombaiked, will send a Hcjaiate statement, iii writing, explaining tho teasonH 
 why ho left ti,;it Battalion for the gre.aicr part ol tho time upon hlnal ratic hk. As 
 these btatcnMi.ts will be sent to the Geneiai Coramardirg the Ke'rth-\V«\st Field 
 Forces, it i- requefcted that the s?me bo prepared with the grea! est accuiacy anei 
 prom])titudo. 
 
 '6. "Bcvei'lo" will sound at 4 o'clock to-morrow, Sunday ; breakfast at 4.30 a. na., 
 and tho advance at 5 a.m. 
 
 By order. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 ED^AED HAKRIPON', Cap;ain, 
 
 Brigade Orderly Ojfwer. 
 
 Camp, Clarke's Crofsino, 10th May, 1855. 
 
 Sir, — I have the bonor to report, with rcfcrenco to tho trip of the doubo barge, 
 tho "Major Smith " ard "Ca]->t. J]vans," as fol'ows : Wn loft Susknichowan Lar,ding on 
 Monday morning, 11th inst., at j'bout S o\ lock, ai.«t arrived hoe -m Sunday follow- 
 ing, at about 6 o'elock. p.m. On tho second dny atter teavirg wo stranded, :ind after 
 wozking va'nly for about four horrs, 1 I'uiered tho oat;* to bo carried on .-i.ore. Ac- 
 
2ft 
 
 I'ordiiigly, about 250 sacks were left on tho north t-hore, I sbonld think about 60 or 
 •jl) rnilos from place of embarkatjoii. About 50 mi lop, as near as 1 can judge, from 
 ) ere, having become very badly btrat ded again, and being too far fr'^in shore to land 
 the otiiri, T ordered sacks lo bo inrovvi' overboard, sind about 51 wore damped into tho 
 river. Wo stranded, on tho average, two or throe times a day. Tho oars on tho 
 baige." were very weakly constiucti d, and after tho socond day out had to be con- 
 Rtaiilly repaired, ar.d as we had not tho proper af)plianco8, grout diffiiulty was expori- 
 i;ric('il in doing so. V\ o had strong head winds for aboul three days, and the con- 
 Mart battling with wind and wave wui^ uU tho more unfortunate or account of the 
 driociivo oars. I corsider it would have been almost impossible lo have taken the 
 ,aiges thrcugh with the heavy cargo on board, and ti.o oat*- were not removed till 
 every ofl'ort had been made to move the barges without doing so. 
 
 I have tho honor to bo. Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) S. FRANK PETERS, 
 
 Captain No. 5 Co. 1th Fu&iVers. 
 
 r ihe Commanding Officer, 
 Camp Clarke's Crossing. 
 
 \%v iBT of run down tho Saskatchewan Ri^er from Saskatchewan Landing to Clark's 
 Crossing, by Capt. T. Ti-acy, commanding part ot "C " Company, on board *' Sir 
 John McB." 
 
 Sib, — Loft the J anding on Monday, the llth May, four boats being in company, 
 
 ontairing'A" and "C" Companies. During the afternoon all struck :i sand b:v, and tho 
 
 njits had to be separated before getting off, the men and otht'crs baving to Jam]) into 
 
 ho water and work very hard to do so. Tho trip from that out was a sue. ossicm of 
 
 ;ood runs and badsticks on sunken sand bars, and our boats being very heavily loaded, 
 
 ;. Hometimes took us hours to work into deep water again, some of the men sutVoring 
 
 ytlior severely from being forced to work so long in tho watoi-. Wo managed to 
 
 'vC«^p all our load on till about the south end of tho "White Cap" Indian Reserve, 
 
 ivhoii We stuck very badly, and if Cajjt. Dillon's boat had not happencil to bo 
 
 a'-'^ in the same place, so that we could unite our forces in getting the botits eti sep- 
 
 . iy, we could not poesiblj'- have got away. Wo labored tor over six and one-half 
 
 ; oru"'? in tho water attempting to move the boat, and at last were forced to le.Hvo 
 
 ;'urt ot our cargo piled on tho beach, and place some more in Capt. Dillon'.s boi^t 
 
 "Iter we got his free. I was sorry to have to do this, but as we wore gotiing short 
 
 i' i'tuvisions it could not be avoided. All tho men worked veiy hard ihronghout, 
 
 aiit! deserve great praiso, as our day\^ worklasttd tiom 4 a.m. to b ', ..i ^lut owmg to 
 
 • ho nhitting nature of the channel and tho groat number of sand hw-*, wo ..">re urablo 
 
 reach Clark's Crossing till Wednesday, tho 20th inst., being in u,i ncu'v ten days 
 
 ■r.) the way. 
 
 I have the honor to bo, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed.) TIIOS. H. TRACY, 
 
 Cai^tain C Gomiiany. 1th Fuvllers. 
 ' 1/outenant-Colonel DE.\roN, 
 
 Commanding at C larke's Crossing. 
 
 i 
 
26 
 
 , Clarke'^ Crossino, N.W.T., 20th May, 18S5. 
 
 Sir,— I have the honor to report that on tho 10th inst., I foft tho SaHlcsUchpiwm 
 Landin/T in charge of bargo '' Captain LeonanJ," huvinf^'on board thirty (iJO) offlcoiH, 
 non-corarnisHioned officers and men, as follows : 5 officors, 4 non-cotnmiHsioned oflic ■••- 
 21 men, boing ()art of Conipunies 2 and 4, 7th Finilior^ ; also thoir nocosHarioR an ; .. 
 large cargo of onU. At D u.m., we i^ot stranded, our mon having to uvko to tho watc • 
 and after two hours' hard work succeodcd in floatin'^ hor. At 3 p.m., we a^air) i^roanilo J 
 and laboui'cd until G.oO p.m., in tho water, without txny etfect; wj then roHtod for luu 
 ttijrbi and iriod it aj^ain early tho lollowinjjj murninj^, without any hope of »w,w ^ 
 Ab'^ut ]>.m., a lin'.ail boat arrived from Major Smith, 7th Fuvilierti,a8kini^ tho troiil^' 
 I informed him by letter, Htating th-.it unless he -ont help to take mo otf [ would h:... 
 to unload on tho loUowing niorning. 1 icc«iv«d a mossairo to huvo tho cart^' 
 pfji^8ib!e, but if I could not, to unload. After workinj* until 10 a.m., I dccido<i 
 onload, and in on'cr to save the oat.i a.s much a.s possible 1 made a base of hay b:i: ■ 
 and piled the oat bi)<T8 on top, leaving them hiu;h and dry, about 20 milo8 from ih- 
 Landing, on iho tight side. Wo continued getting stranded from four to six times f . 
 da}', our men having in most cases to strip and roratiin from half to two hours o. u 
 time, until Satunlay. On that day, about 10 am., I noticed the "C;ipt. J. A. .'u' 
 Dor. aid " stuck fast wiih all mon in the water, alihough far in advance. I though' 
 proper to snub up and wait, on account of her being tho last boat, Sho got i' 
 about 2 p.m., and wo sailed in company utjLil about;) p.m., when both got stranii 
 The men of both boats got out and worked on my boat but could not tree hor i^ 
 we unload'.' 1, whitdi wo did and cleaned bo.- out. When cleaning her out wo i'oiir 
 quantity of oats and water (8 inches) in tho hold. It took us uotil Sunday, 9 u,: ■. 
 to get her in ided and floating again. Daring tho entire time thai wo wero separa;",) 
 from the tUoiila, the reveilio was sounded at 3.80 a.m., and ran till dark, mak 
 every ctiort to counteract our difficulty. 
 
 .Hefuro closing this report, I b'>g leave to draw your attention to tho help 
 C'/itidition ri.y boat waib left in. Our rations wo»o so limited that I had to limi, ■ 
 men to three, and afterwards two hard tacks per day, %vhile i understand so-ii 
 the flotilla had plenty and to spare. And I as.suroyou if it bad not bovMi for tho tic 
 aid given us by your boai cur men migni' have sulforcd {\ora hunger. 
 
 1 beg leave al-o to sta'o the ab enco of any medical u^.slst.■^ncc ; a number ( 
 from the water attacked with cramps. &.; , and "wo wore pcrfectiy helpk-ss. Wo , 
 wt'.ii Kcveral accidents to tho boat, and fo^iud no tools for repairs on boaid, which . 
 cao-ed delay. 
 
 I have tho honor to remain. Sir, 
 
 Youj' obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) R DILLON, 
 
 Capfain 
 LioatcnantColonol Deacon, 
 
 Commanding tho " r iolilla." 
 
 Clarkk'^ Crcssivo, 2i/th May, 1885. 
 
 Pi^*.- -1 have the honor to report that I was in command of tho bu-go " Gen 
 Middle-or. ;" loft the Landing at iJ a.m., on Monday, May ilth ; :;rrivod here ;t 
 a.m., Wtd.nesday, Muy 20th. 
 
 The third day out, on account of high winds and swift current, wo ran ir' 
 long Ci'cok about 4 milos in Icugth, coming into shallow water, where wo foun.; 
 totally imposhible to get out, and afcer trying every moans in our power, diggin 
 the vs'ater with spades, &c., men being in'tho waior from 3 p.m., to '.» p.m., and i 
 daylight to 9 a.m., wo were under the noco.sjity of du.nping out sixty bi^'s of 0:it; 
 
The sixth day we took over from Colonel Deacon's barge twonty-five bii^s. 
 Our mori wore in the water repeatedly every day and acted splendidly, their 
 conduct being worthy of the highest praise, arriving withoat furihor lot^a ot cargo. 
 
 I have the honor to be, Sir, 
 
 Your oijedienit servant, 
 
 (Signed) EDWARD McKENZIB, 
 
 i/eutcnant-Colonol Deacon, 
 Commanding the ''Flotilla." 
 
 C'irdain 1th Fusiliers^ 
 
 i/.eutenant-Colonel Deacon : 
 
 Sir, — After leaving Saskatchewan Ferry on the morning of Monday, May llth„ 
 ,ho biuge '' Cupt. Kelly," of which I was in command, ran along for some hours at>- 
 tiichod to your own barge, but the two running aground we separated from you for 
 '.i>'') lime, and wont ou our way by ourselves. During the day m,-- men had to get 
 iti'.o ilie water four times to lift the bargo -tft'the sand bare on which «he had struck, 
 •;!;d Utoy were frequently in the water for fittoon minutes or more. Towards evening 
 wo Hfi.uu lay alongside your barge, and were together during the night, having tied 
 up for the night on the left bank of river. 
 
 Tuesday, May V2th. — Reveille went at 4 a.m., and before 6 a m.we were moved 
 avvfiv ttom our halting-place. Capt. Harrison was on this ba'"go all day, and was un- 
 v.ring in his ofTorts to push the bariro along. B;it our luck today was very bad, and 
 •vc wore compelled to take to the water oitjhi times during the day. Capt. Harrison 
 lind myself also went in when it was nooesfary. Finally we drew up on the right 
 i>ui.k of the river for the night, as it was unable to get our barge on i he side you 
 I'vk'ctod for your stopping place. Having <rot possession of a small boat fi)r the time, 
 I paddled across to your headquarters, gitiinfif your orders for the night, and re- 
 iurning, conveyed them to the senior otfioor of the 7ih B ittalion, Capt. Peters, who 
 ivas on my side of the river. We put out a ijuard of three tnon. and a corporal, 
 *ho 7th doing the same. I tirst (examined the ground for -trae distance round the 
 ".unyp, and placed mj sentries in the most advantageous positions I coiil.j select, 
 
 Wednesday, May l;uh. — Capt. Harrison loft, mo this moininy;, taking with him 
 
 'wo men, consequently raj' crow consists of myseU and twenty four non commissioned. 
 
 ottii'.ors and men. I am the only oliioor loft on the b irgc, but have received invalu- 
 
 ;i.uio assisiauce from Oolor-Sorgt. Nyles, wh'> has boon excee<lingly astiduous in the 
 
 i:scharge of the duties devolving upon him in the bai-ge. According to orders, I 
 
 A-aited till the " Advance " was atmnded before pushimr forwaid from my cumping- 
 
 I'iace ; and during the forenoon ran along quitt'i .smoothly, but about 3 p.m., wo raa 
 
 los-.n into a bay, ami had to di aw the barge b.ick up stream ai^ainst a strong current 
 
 \ -fore we could again get into clear water. It will be noticed that since leaving the 
 
 f rry I have had no small boat, though the other barges ail possess them I believe ; and 
 
 nisoquently we only find the sand bars and shoals by running asrround on them, 
 
 .i!i I thus my men are working at a much greater disadvantage than the crews of the 
 
 I'ser barj^cos. As darkness approschod it became very ditficult to find our way. 
 
 ill, as 1 bad received orders to overtake the leading barge before halting, i endoav- 
 
 led to do HO, and conhcquently had to go into the water after dark with my mea 
 
 'o get my barge off a bad shoal. We succeeded in doing so, but a few minutes later 
 
 we again ran aground, and in spite of every effort persisted in till after 10 o'clock 
 
 p.m, were compelled to remain all night in the middle of river. 1 had a watch 
 
 Hct, and ordered the rest of the men to turn in for the night, which they did, going 
 
 Hupporless to bed, as I had no tea, sugar, &C5., on my barge at the time. 1 muit 
 
 J 
 
28 
 
 mention particularly Privalo M. Seevy for tho maDner in which ho performod hi. 
 work, not only to-day, but throughout iho whole tri]) thus far. On him has resto 
 "principully Iho navigation of tho bargo, jii d ho has lone h\» work ho well as toguii 
 special mention, and I nhould like to recommend him for special working pay for tht. 
 iime. 
 
 Thursday, May 14. — As soon as day broke, I wont into tho water with somo r 
 my men, and wo succeeded in getting off tho bar, and ran down a coiiplo of niilo« t 
 ■whoro your bargo wa« tied up. Hero my men got aomo breakfast, and 1 got a hui 
 ply of tea, &c., and gave you fi*ora my curgo 10 boxes of blHciiit uud 15 boxes : 
 canned meat, and to JAr. Y'eomann T guvo 4 boxes of biscuit and it boxes of moat, 
 also got a bide of bacon for ray bargo. After starting out wo ran along quite smool] 
 ly for t^onio timo, and though my men wore in tho water three times during tho da} 
 still they did not sutler as tht-y did on loiracr occjisions, as the weather was rjot h- 
 inclement. I pafcsed tho Elbow about '3 p m., and stopjved shortly after 6 p.m. t- 
 allow tho barges to catch up, bat tbcy did not, and .so we remained ahyno. I postoi 
 rny BcntricH as usual, after carefully examining tho ground in Iho vicinity, and mr 
 XQon early retired to rest. 
 
 Friday, 15th. — I awaited ihe airiv.-il (<f tho other barges before pushing off fro t 
 my faroping place, and as Col. William?*, of tho 7th, was short of pruvibionw, [ gu'. 
 him from my cargo one bo^ biscuits and two boxes meat. We made but little pn; 
 grcHs during the day, owin^ lo the hotvy head winds which ))rcvtiilcd, and fina!' 
 drew up for the night on tli'j left bank of tho river. Throo timeei during tho day n 
 laon were in the wat(>r. aiid owing to the cold winds iheso forced baths wore anythifi 
 but idcat-ant. Capt. McKenr.io, of tho 7th, 1 /near mo during tho night, aud g>' 
 from me two hoxes of taeatfor his men. 
 
 Saturday, UUh.— vioi off vory early in tho morning, and eoon overtook an 
 pas'^od 0)0 other barges, but thoy signalled to stop; did ho, and on yonr bargo comin' 
 up ] gave you six boxes of meat. Had a nice day'a run, and halted near tho olh-j 
 barges lor the night. Gave Major Smith a box of biscuit io-night from my ciugi 
 
 8unday, May 17th. — (lOt off with the other barges and ran i oar them all da; 
 only once during the dr.y had wo to tukc to tho water, and wo drew beside yoi 
 according to orders receivod, and roniaintd for the night. 
 
 Monday, May ISth. — Got off at ;j a.m., but soon after starting we ran agroun" 
 and it was only after an hour's hard labor that my men succeeded in getting tl> 
 barge off the bar. Daring iho morning wo rioj on twice, and had to take to tlj 
 water twice again, and abcut 12 noon, tor tho fourth time, wo wore in tho wat li 
 Th^s time we had to draw the bargo up stream, against tho cnrroitand a heavy win 
 for neaily 400 yards, before we could get it clear; but r.ftor a dei;)y of throe hours w 
 Sfgain proceeded on cur Vv-ay, and about 7.30 p.m., stopped on the left bank oft! 
 river for the night. I managed -.o select a good cimping place, and posted my sentric 
 very advantageously. 
 
 Tuesday. May 11 th.— Got off early this morning, and reached Saskatoon at 12..'^0 
 ■where 1 drew up for a timo bosido the other barges, wbore 1 remained til) an advan( , 
 •was made. Proceed* J then down the rii'cr until 6 p.m., whoro i was unable io pr 
 coed owing to the w nd, and cx)nsequenlly lay up for the night on tho left bun, 
 beside two of the 7th bar^os. 
 
 Wednesday, Ma}- 20th.— Loft ray camping before 5 a.m.. i ■ the face of a stror; 
 bead wind, which eoi tinned blowing fur tho rest of our journey, and a couple 
 hours after starting r .n on a rock near iho right bank of the river. My men had ! 
 take to the water agsn and get the barge off, which we did after much lab r. Pr^ 
 cecding wo reached C lark's Crossing aL '0 a.m. During tho whole time we weroo' 
 the water niv men w-rked well ; but I must specially mention (jolor-Surgeant Myle 
 and Privaie M Seovy, ofmy (G) company. At n(»timo during our Lri]; win )iiy burg 
 supplied with a small boat, as were the other barges, and conso(iuonily wo had no 
 this means of dincovoring a suitable channel, and only found tho shoals by runnin 
 upon them. Nearly thirty times had wo to take to tho water, and it was froquonti 
 iitccssaiy to tm])ioy every man, myself included, to draw the barge off the uhoai 
 
?9 
 
 Fvory one of us hnd to take to Iho water at, timoH, and remain in longer than an 
 ;. iir in some chsoh, and taken altogether we hud a very fatiguing trip. 
 
 During my trip I gave the following suppIioH to officers reijuiring thera : — 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Deacon, ten baxeis biscuit, twenty -one boxen moat; Lieutenant 
 VcornariH, four boxes biscuit, eleven boxes loai; Lieutenant Colonel Williams, one 
 br,x biscuit, two boxes moat; Major Smith, one box biscuit; C'aptain MeKouxio, two 
 i'oxos meat. I threw none of my cai-go overboard. On landing I gave to Mr. 
 Jiinwoll, Transport Ollicer, the following: — One barrel, twenty-two largo boxes and 
 J. ■)!• sinull boxes biscuit, one bundled and lorty-soven boxes meat. 
 
 I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) FRED. BREMNER, Lieutenant, 
 
 Officer Commanding Barge " Captain Kelly.'* 
 
 EiVER Bar(JE "Lx. Nellbs, " May 20th, 1885. 
 
 oiR, — T have the honor, as senior officer on this bout, (having on «• ard Major 
 ;^uLdhoro, Surgeon Fraser, Acting Assistant-Surgeon Campbell, myself and 28 non- 
 •inimiHsioneJ officers and men of No. 4 Company, 7ih Fusiliers) to report, that 
 ■vhen we started from Saskatchewan Larding, on the morning of the lUh inst., tho 
 oargo '• Captain Leonard " (having on board Captain Dillon, with the remainder of 
 No. i Ci>rapany, and Captain Butler with a, section of No. 2 Company) was tied to 
 his barge. Wo stranded on a sand bar wiihin sight of the Landing and woro 
 )b!iged to separate. The " Captain Leonard " got otf first, but this barge did not got 
 u: until 12.;J0 p.m., after groat exertions, shifting cargo from one side to the other. 
 Men out in the water using levers, itc. This was now the last boat, all tho othois 
 ii.t. ing boon along time out of sight ; it is tho sraallost barge and was the raost heavi- 
 y loaded in proportion. We woro stranded three other times during tho day. About 
 i.i'-k wo sighted the " Captain Leonard," stranded in an exceedingly bad place. W^o 
 pa; into shore as soon as possible — about throe miles further down to see if they 
 (Mild get out — but did not succeed in communioating with them. Not thinking it 
 AiHO to leave the last boat behind, especially as I knew that they were short of pro- 
 ~ -ions (as we were ourselves, nor had we any tools, lumber or nails for repairs) wo 
 waited lor them next morning untill 11.30, when they came up, having fjund it 
 • Mossary to discharge part of their load. We again tied together, bat wore obliged 
 .' 'Oparato the first time we struck a sand bar, the "Captain Leonard "' getting away 
 '"'fi't, ours was again the last boat. We got off this eand bar with groat difficulty, 
 t'' stranded again several other times the pame day. 1 now estimated that we were 
 t aay's run behind the main body. Oa approaching what appeared to be a very bad 
 I'Oi, I pulled into shore and sent the small boat forward to examine it, and found it 
 '•»■ aid bo impossible to take the barge inrough with its load. So after consulting the 
 ::i CIS on board, decided to put some ol the cargo on shore in preference t) throwing 
 t 'vorboard when stuck in the sand. We therefore, piled 138 bags of oats on the left 
 i'.k, say 35 miles from the Landing. After starting again we got badij- stu k in 
 ■ ' sand and got off with the greatett difficulty, even with the lightened barge, nearly 
 (lands having to get into tho water. We had the sameox{)erience every day since, 
 '•• men having to get out several times a day, but we got on faster and my anxiety 
 ' ^ relieved by having come up with the main body ; we had no one on board who 
 ■v^ any experience in river navigation. Major Gaitahore proved to be tho 
 
 i 
 
30 
 
 navif/ator, and ho was invalaablo, assisted by Sorgoant Jacobs, whoso servicos are 
 worthy of special monlion. 
 
 I have the honor to bo, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient norvant, 
 
 (Signed) A. M. SMITH, 
 
 Major Tth Fusiliers. 
 To Lieutenant-Colonel Deacon, 
 
 Commanding al Clarke's Crossing. 
 
 Clarkb'h Crossino, llHh Hay, 1885. 
 
 Sir, — J bog to report that on the mornir<? of the .-jocond day out I took comraan. 
 of barge " Boyd & Crowe." Thai on iho thiid, lute in iho afternoon uftor having all 
 the men in the water fur from tivo to six hours, i was coinpolleii t> throw from 40 t( 
 50 baps of oats in the river, in order to float the brirge. That Iheroalter wo foun^ 
 ' the barge floated all right, altliough it wa.^ repeatedly ncccHsary for the men to gel 
 out and work the boat oil' hand bars. AiJivod at Clarke's Crossing about 4 p.n. 
 Sundaj', without further loss of cargo. 
 
 1 have the honor to bo, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) GEORGE M. BEID, 
 
 Lieutenant and Adjutant, *lth Fusiliers. 
 To Lieutenant-Colonel Deaco.v, Clarke's Cro.'^sing. 
 
 Camp, Clarke's Crossino, 20th May, 1885. 
 
 Sir, — T have the honor to report that I was in charge of the bargo " Got 
 Laurie," which left Sankatohewan Landing at about 8 a.m., on tho 11th instant, ai." 
 aiTived here at 1 p.ni., on tho 18th, having on board sections 1, 3 and 4 of No. - 
 Company, 7Lh Fusiiiein, making a total, including myself, of '62 souls. Wo espci 
 enced conpiderablo difficulty in navii^atirg tbo river, and each day iroquently i.. 
 aground on shoals, the nr.on at tjuch times having to urdre.-s and jump into tho riv* ' 
 ir order to push the bargo into the proper chaurioi, which the men invariably di 
 willingly and with groat energy. We Bucceeded in bringing in our full cargo, witN 
 tho exception of two biigs of oats which burst in several places, owing to the infori- 
 quality of the canvas. From tho same cause u small quantity of oats were spilK. 
 and are now lying in a loo.^e state amongst the bags. Our <^ars wore broken sovei 
 times; and, liaving uo tools on board with whicli to repair them, wo were put i 
 great inconvenience and delay, and were finally obliged to put ashore and constru 
 new ones es best wo could, la»hing ihe several timbers together with ropos.] j, Had^ 
 not been lor these mifhaps wo should have arrived much carlior. 
 
 To the Commanding Officer, 
 
 Caraj) Claike's Crossing 
 
 L have tho honor to bo. Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed) N. R. GKBIG, 
 
 Lieutenant Ko. 2 Company, *Jth Fusilit 
 
 SlR,- 
 
 Mor.day, 
 oflicers i 
 fiirfiing of 
 diHerout ■ 
 barge otl'. 
 p.m. N( 
 about '.i ] 
 hours in t 
 romcvc 01 
 Jill of whi 
 p.m., and 
 ftrandod 1 
 innt., we t 
 per orderf 
 as (he .dn 
 we wci'i.) 
 halted, a\^ 
 clean run, 
 rfiri ligrou; 
 tho time. 
 fj.-') p.m. 
 orders to I 
 started at 
 ■.vii'ur aboi 
 ;■■ 'illow th 
 Mi.; after I 
 KHh inst. 
 wnitjcl foi 
 tii'ucd at 
 p.m., havi 
 >f tiio rao! 
 wator woi 
 most labo] 
 '•vo Were fj 
 'ine<; san( 
 'ould be 
 ■aigo. 
 •Oiryardsl 
 •" tako Ihl 
 'I'" given [ 
 ^■^P'j.ssi 
 ' iiin thi 
 i'l«' iho 
 ■^ vf.u cri 
 
 Lieut J 
 
81 
 
 ff 
 
 Clarke'.s Crohuino, 20th May, 1S85. 
 
 Sm,— In accordance with orders, we left Saskatchowun Ciossing at 8 a.Tn., 
 Moi;d!\y, the lUh instant, on the bargo " Hard Tack," the crow being mudo up of two 
 ..thccrti and 29 non-commiHPioncd oiRcorB and men, ami the cargo con- 
 Kiting of oats and regimental baggage. During lh(^ day the barge waa 8^10!^ four 
 (liiloront times, and three timr the men had to go into the water and push the 
 liin/ootr. The halt having boon Hounded, we tied up for the night — about 7.30 
 p, in. Kext morning a f^tart was made at G a.m., and wo were very fortunate up to 
 .ibout .3 p.m., when the barge ran aground, and after the men had spent throe 
 liMurfi in the water trying every posHible way to move the barge, 1 ordered tlicm to 
 ii'ni( vo enough of the cargo to float the boat. There wore about 75 b.ngH taken off, 
 .ill of which were piled on the shore. We caught the remainder of the boats at 9 
 (, ni., and I at once reported, and as you ordered, took on 100 bags from the 
 htrnrKJod bargo to replace portion of raigo left behind. The morning of the 13th 
 inM., we ^^tarted at 10 a m., and had a clean run for the day, tieing up at 5p. m., as 
 per orders. On the I6th inst. wo ntarted at 8 a.m., and at 6 p.m. ran aground ; but 
 tiri the .strong wind, then blowing, made it impos'^iblo to get off, we remuined whore 
 vvt> uoro for the night. Friday morning wo 'Started at 4 a.m., jind at 10 .n.-m. 
 Iialw'd, awaiting tho arrival of other bai-ges. Left again at 1 p.m., and had an.'«her 
 i'!i;;in run, tieing up at 5 p.m. Saturday' morning we started at f> a.m., and at 10 
 .uii ; ground, causing a delay of almost two liours, tho men being in the water all 
 Uio time. After this we had a good run for the remainder of tho day, and tied at 
 ;..:•) p.m. Sunday wo started at 5 a.m., and halted at 12.15, as wo had received 
 iii(i(!ix to that effect. The ti ip was not continued that day. Monday morning wo 
 started at 5 a.m., but nt 7 a.m., again at 8 a.m., wo struck, and tho men were in the 
 .;t'ur about three hours. Wo got a long lead on the other boats by 12 o'clock. So 
 . iilowtho others to come up we lied up for throe hourti, starting again about 3 p.m., 
 ;ui.i after two hours' run tied up six miles from Sai^katoon for the night. On tho 
 ].'Ui inst. wo started at 5 a.m., and on arriving at Saskatoon we tied up, and there 
 ■>v;iitj(l tor the arrival of barges, and these having come in, the journey was con- 
 '.iiuod at 2 p.m.; and after a t^even hours' run wo arrived at Clarke's Crossing at 9 
 |.i.:n,, having been 9 days making the distance. Too much cannot be said in prai.se 
 ot t-;c men who, during tho whole trip, were ready for anything. Some days tho 
 waUM' would be voiy cold, but there was not a complaint from one. The trip was 
 rno'i laborious, the bargo sticking many times on sand and clay ridgoa. The day 
 wo were forced to romo^o a part of our cargo we had run in a pocket formed by 
 tiiit'i sand bars on tho three sides of a square, and on these bars not a foot of watox' 
 ' ui.l he found. Other barges in the same place had to unload almost all their 
 ':a'g>'. After lighting up tho barge somewhat wo had to tow it up tho river about 
 •'00 yards; and as we'wero about 8 yai-ds from '.he shore then, it was not possible 
 to lake the bags on again. Tho bargo was not itself properly ciuippod, as we wore 
 It given any nails and no tools, and had anything gone wrong it would have been 
 •mj),,^sihle to have repaired it; in fact we broke a swoop one day, and us a result had 
 to run the bargo on a sand bank, and take nails out of boxes to fix it so as to over- 
 !:■!<(' the other boats. Cold tea was supplied to tho men in quantity, by tho (sooks, 
 : -^ yf'U ordcicd, to as to ])revcnt tho use, as far as possible, of the water. 
 
 I have the honor to bo. Sir, 
 
 Your obedient .servant, 
 
 (Signed) HOKACE A. YEOMANS, L'out. 
 
 ' Lieutenant-Colonel De.\con, in command, Clarke'.^ Cros-^ing. 
 
 ni 
 
32 
 
 Camp, Ci.akke's Chossino, May 20th, 1885. 
 
 Sia, — I havothobonor t()ro});)rt that 1 wu8on board tho baixo "Uaijtain Korr" whii h 
 loft Lho Landini^ about 'J. 16 a.m., llih May, boing attached to three othcr.s ; aftoi , 
 fow hours, hownvor, wo wore disconnociod to releano um IVoin ii sand bank, uuJ ■ ,, 
 tinuod tlio trij) ulono. On tho HCcoiid day out Captain Kyri- arid Mr. Doyd camo )i 
 board, tho c-lork and cook being alicady thoro ; thin made a toial ol 35 bouLsou bcjuid. 
 Wo had considorablo trouble in navii^ating the rivor, inon liavin*;; to stiip and Jurni 
 into tho watoi many times in ordor to got ba('k into tho ptopor channoi, in man, 
 coses which looked hopolet . After working hard lor hoard we invariably hu. 
 coedcd, tho men working choorfully and with onoriry; wo had trouble alao from '.: 
 oars breaking oiton at critionl timorf. Wo succeeded in bringing in our cargo on.' 
 with the exception of ono bale of hay which slipped overboard as Captain Jvorr v/n 
 endeavoring to move it to another part of tho boat. Wo should havo arrived soo'oi 
 at our destination if wo had not waited for btragglors. 
 
 1 have the honor to be, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) HARRY BAPTY, 
 
 Lieutenant 1th Fuailiers. 
 To Lieutenant-Colonel Deacon, 
 
 Commanding Saskulchewau River Brigade. 
 
 c 
 
 Mof^sE Jaw, N.W.T., 25th May, 1885. 
 
 • u^^^'~'^ ^"^^® ^^° honor herewith to forward copy of contract (marked A) moc' 
 with Mr. Jchn Stowart, which was concluded after considorablo notice given boL 
 locally and otherwise. 
 
 c ,«,! ''".'-'^'',® ^"Py of the moraorandara of conditions, which I connidored should u.-. 
 inltilied in tho contract, marked " B." I enclose also a memorandum, marked "f' ' 
 showing adyantagoH which 1 believe are obtained by this contract over the svstrri 
 lorraeriy followed. "^ 
 
 ^ I havo every reason to boliove that this contract will insure a considerable savin 
 in the cost of transport, but it was ncf.essary to act promptly, as you instructed w. • 
 that the base was to bo changed to Moose Jaw; but ihe proviso that the contra 
 may be closed any time, on ton days' nutico being given, enables you to adopt iwy 
 othersystemthat, after full considoratio!., you may prefer. i* J 
 
 1 have tho honor to be, Sir, 
 
 Youi" obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) J. WIMBURN LAURIE, 
 
 Major-Gaical Conmanding Base and Lines of Communicatir 
 Xhe Major-GoLcral, 
 
 Commanding North-Wesi Field Force. 
 
te 
 
 I, John Stowart, ugroo lo u contrive t on the tormw und ooncitionH horoinaflor 
 .I'lilicnod : 
 
 (I) T./ convoy any (.'lass of HUpplics from Mooho Jaw to tho EUiow ol'lho Sas- 
 kHtilu'wan, lor iho hUm ot forty-tivo doliurw (815,00) per ton ; 
 
 (:i) Or lioni Moowe Juw to Clai'k'* Crortrting, tor tho Hum of ono hnndrcd and teu 
 allath (8110.00) por ton ; 
 
 (^3) Or from (^u'Appollo to ClarkV C'rosHing, for tho ^um ol ooo hundred and 
 iiUy iollarb (8150.00) per ton ; 
 
 (i) Any toanoM roquirod to l»o furuiHhod for olhur than (ontract work (o bo at 
 I lii^' rule of iivo dollar« (85.00) per day, forago and rationp lu bo found by Oovorn- 
 
 (,j) Govornraent to hand ovor to tho Oontruct«)r, on hits giving sufficiont notice if 
 ni'lichblc, a surticiont quantity of wupplioM for tcaniH and nion ut cont; 
 
 ((j) Goverumont to inako good any ioHbos siisuiiiiod by Uontructor through acta 
 i oiioiuy, provided proper procautione wore taken by tlio Contractor; 
 
 (7) Govoinruout to furnish camp equipage as hiuoi<jforo; 
 
 \6) The Government of Canada agrees to pay ,lohn Stewart, the Contractor, 
 i.Mr.'y duo under thiH contract as carried oul through tho Hudson's Bay Company at 
 
 ,ilor*iW)t; 
 
 (il) Contractor agrees to carry, free of i-omI, either to Government or other par- 
 e , on return trips, sksk or wounded men, wood sufficient for cooking purposes lor 
 ;i: -|)ort men, luggage or light articles; the teams not thereby to be unnocesaarily 
 iri;i)od for that purpose; 
 
 (10) Contractor to use all duo diligence in forwarding supplies, and to mako not 
 1)-; than twenty miles per day on tho average ; 
 
 (II) Contractor lurther binds himself to furnish good and sufficient bonds for the ' 
 i.r ulfilment of this contract; 
 
 (12) In the event of tho Contractor failing to provide teams sufficient to ( onvey 
 
 ;n' '|iiantity desired by the Trans])ort C>fii'^ ^r, ihv Govornnienl ishall have tho power 
 
 U!ii authority under this Contract lo engago any number ot learns nocoHsary for con- 
 
 viyiug tlio supplies in excess of the Contractor's teams, but due notice shall bo given 
 
 'lo ( Contractor of such intention ; 
 
 (13) This (contract shall hold good until terminated by tho (jovernmont, giving 
 t'U 10) days' notice; 
 
 (11) Should any teams bo Joluyod from work by lack ot sui>j)lies tho Govorn- 
 ' ' ■ to compensate the Contractor at tho rate of four dollars ($1.00) for each day's 
 
 i.iouLion, per team. 
 
 (Signed) JOHN STEWART, 
 
 Mooae Jaw route contract accepted, 
 
 (Signed) J. WIMBUEN LAUBIE, 
 Major- Gentral Commanding Base nn<l Lines of Com. 
 '■ ineSB: _ , ..,< 
 
 (Signed) F. Joseph DixoN. 
 
 Lieut. C. M. 
 ■«! 'SE Jaw, May 19,' 1880. 
 
 ^d~8 
 
d4 
 
 B 
 
 The Alajor-GoDonil Coinmtinditij;: " ibc Haso aiul Linos of Coramuni<',ulion," m 
 prcpHiod to receive tondoiB for the followiiig doivioo, vi/-. ; The conveyance of ajiy 
 cluHH of suppiicH from Mooho Jaw to the Kibow, and from Mooso Jaw t<j ClarkoH 
 U'roscjing, and from t/u'Appelly l<> Clark's ('rossin^', on the following conditionH .— 
 
 (1) l*ri(o per ton to bo Htatod lor hauling any class of HiipplioH from Mooho Juw 
 to Die Elbow ; 
 
 (2) Or at option of military uuthnritios, from Mooro Jaw to Clark's Crossing; 
 (..!) From (iu'Appolio to Clark's Crostting ; 
 
 (4^ In each case to bo delivered along side river for shipment ; 
 (6) lloturning waggons to bring back froo, sick or wounded men, light bagga/^o, 
 W00<1 Hufficiont for cooking for Transport mon, or any light articles; 
 
 (6) Probable quantity when in full blast about 30,000 lbs. per day ; 
 
 (7) Notice will be given from day to day of increase or docroaso, bat in caso i>{' 
 material alteration as long notice as ])ossiblo will be given ; 
 
 (8) Teams liable lo bo called off and be available for genera! transport sorvici' 
 at rate por dtiy, in nmh casos f'ontgo and rations to bo provided by Govornmont, 
 
 (9) Contractor to be reriponsihlo for safe delivery, except in case of capture or 
 destruction by enemy in superior numbers; 
 
 (10) Contract liable to bo terminated on delivery of goods actually loaded ; 
 
 (11) (joods to bo moved not loss than twenty (20) miles por day on an avora|(o 
 
 (12) if desired, forage and rations may bo obtained at actual cost (including 
 charges) on suflSciont notice being given if forage is available. 
 
 Further information may bo obtained on application. 
 Moose Jaw, May 19, '85, 
 
 G 
 
 Meniorandum, 
 
 Finding the transport under tho system of hiring by day too exponsivo, 1 pm- 
 posed to move goods by contract, anddiscussod the matter wi\h sovoral local pcopl(K 
 and when at Swift Currei.L rontructod and moved goods at rate of l}26 por ton, whi' h 
 were by day's work costing 836.41. And when it was proposed to move base to Moohc 
 Jaw, L made enquiries ana ascertained that parties would bo willing to tender foi 
 contract to transport by ton either to Elbow or Glark'n Crossing. So I wired Wi . 
 WrigKy to know if this arrangement wero permissible, and Lo advised wo shoiili 
 moot and discuss the transport question. 1 then considered tho conditions i bud 
 laid down an giving ample latitude for tho work, and I further explained my view- 
 to Major Bell and Captain Swinford at Qn'A})pello, in order to hoar and consido" 
 objociions. 1 also dibcussed the matter at length with Colonel Whiteheml, who had 
 lold me ho had been appointed by the Itlinistor of Militia " Chief Supply and Traii- 
 port Officer," and be fonsiderod tho stop I was taking most desirable, and thai ii 
 was quite what tho Minister do>*irod ; and meeting Major Boll on tho return journey, 
 ho recommended Mr. Stewart to me as a suitable man to lake tho contract. 1 accor ■ 
 ingly remained a day at Moose Jaw and called for tenders, proscribing tho condition-, 
 and finally accepted Mr. Stewart's tender, a copy of the agreement being enclosed. 
 By this arrangement the river can be utilized from tho Elbow when the water i- 
 high, and goods conveyed for -jteamer can be forwarded by land if river falls 
 Taking similar mileage in the Jattlofbrd route, tho contract price is not half tbo 
 amount paid under tho old arrangement. Teams draw a much larger quantity und-T 
 the personal supervision of Contractor than under paid Suporintondents. Forag'^ 
 and supplies for journey are furnished by Contractor, who allows no waste. 
 
 The Staff can be much reduced, as the clerks at the several depot stationB ftlor.;. 
 the road will not be requir«i, 
 
36 
 
 All renpcnrtibility Ih dovolvod on tho Contructor, who delivers his full load and 
 H ruHpo.iniblo for any doficioncy. 
 
 Tho UHO of tho ornpLy loams on tho refiirn joiirnoy is obtulned to move tho Hick 
 M. (voniidod or lij^ht Imgj^a^n o( men couiiii^ from tho front. 
 
 The toamH aro ut uM (iinort availublo and can bo takon otV tho contract to move 
 vth troopH or in any work timt tho CommundinfjOlflocr muy considor of purumount 
 •oportunco. 
 
 Tho contract can b ' at any timo termitmtod by j^'iving tho oontranlor (on (10) 
 iiii}f' notice, whi(!h pnu'iic.'iKy ni'-'aiiH that bo cohisoh to loiul <jjoodrt uh hooii aM notice 
 IN :'iv«Mi, moroly coiiiinuirig uil ho husdolivorod llioso actually on road. 
 
 J. WIMBURX LAUmE, 
 
 Major-General, 
 Commanding Base and Lines of Oommuniration. 
 
 I). 
 
 From Lieut cnnnt R. W. Leonard to ilajor General Laurie : 
 
 WtNNiPKC), 13ih July, 1886. 
 
 .Sir, — I have tho honor to report that, in accordunco with your orderH, I pro- 
 
 t'odod to Saskatoon t.) adjiiHt Iho ( laims of Hottloi'M ui^ainHt tho hospital, and arrived 
 
 lioro on Juno 19Lh. I found it im})OSHibio to make out the cluimH fully until the 
 
 wounded wero all removed and tho hoHpital clonod — honco tho dolay. The claims of 
 
 •ho settlers were >ill fuirly reaHotmbio, and thoro wan no difficulty in making a aatis- 
 
 ■uioryHottlonient. The hospital wjw closed un July .'^rd. In accordanco with orderw 
 
 !i!)rti Deputy Sur^jeon-Cronorul Eod<lick, I disjuwed of all Mtoren remaining an part pay- 
 
 :ii'.m;1 of claimH. Afior diepoBing of the surplus hLoro.s, wo found that the clairaa for 
 
 ijiplioH advanced and work done in service of tho hospital, aggregated about four 
 
 ItnuHiind dollars ($4,000). 
 
 T have the honor to bo, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient Hervant, 
 
 R. W. LEONARD. 
 
E. 
 
 N.V 
 
 TRANSPORT SHRVICK N.-W. K K.-UArTmKOKI) COLUMN. 
 
 SiKiTi.v.) Account, of Siipiilics, \('.., from Swift Curront. 
 
 
 
 Ti'»m». 
 
 Dato. 
 
 5 
 C 
 
 Contr 
 
 m 
 
 S 
 
 * 
 
 1885. 
 
 
 Apri. I'i.. 
 do 13... 
 
 29 
 
 
 
 do 14... 
 
 10 
 
 
 do 16.. 
 
 60 
 
 
 do 16... 
 
 14 
 
 • • t . 
 
 do 17... 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 do 18.. 
 
 8 
 
 
 do 19.. 
 
 28 
 
 
 do 20... 
 
 12 
 
 
 do 31... 
 
 37 
 
 
 do 22.. 
 
 20 
 
 • •■ 
 
 do S3... 
 
 23 
 
 
 do U... 
 
 74 
 
 1 
 
 do J5.., 
 
 1 34 
 
 
 do 26... 
 
 1.3 
 
 
 do 27... 
 
 101 
 
 
 do 28... 
 
 29 
 
 2 
 
 do 29... 
 
 i- 3C 
 
 ••». ••• 
 
 do :ifj... 
 
 83 
 
 
 9« 
 
 610 
 
 OatB. 
 
 2 
 
 109 
 
 78 
 133 
 
 70 
 
 "&4 
 
 m 
 U 
 t 
 80 
 
 113 
 324 
 
 33 
 
 150 
 
 40 
 425 
 
 80 
 80 
 62 
 182 
 13 
 
 Supplies, 
 
 S 
 « 
 
 17 
 
 7 
 
 25 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 28 
 
 13 
 
 
 torn 
 
 17 
 
 7 
 
 26 
 
 24 
 
 'I 
 
 « 
 
 28 
 Vi 
 
 Hundries. 
 
 
 180 
 
 16 
 
 70 
 
 
 G8 
 
 
 "'642 
 293 
 
 138 
 48 
 
 30 
 
 61 
 
 1,783 
 
 8,262 
 
 90 
 
 1 
 
 164 
 
 14 
 
 425 
 
 1 
 
 17? 
 
 6 
 
 36 
 
 I 
 
 663 
 
 20 
 
 135 
 
 8 
 
 18,'. 
 
 19 
 
 100 
 
 9 
 
 188 
 
 2,879 
 
 11 
 
 s 
 
 DoicHption. 
 
 2 OKbie laiidiug 
 
 60 Htoiea for iroopa. 
 20 Viuiuutiilion .,„. 
 
 1 Cordwood 
 
 8 Hii|;k;aKf. Ac 
 
 4|Cordwood 
 
 5 H»gf?aK« 
 
 It 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 20 
 
 26 
 
 19 
 
 218 
 
 2lAniniunition Kiid Riflos. 
 
 IHlMiilland L'attiilion aud 
 
 iiicdicoa 
 
 IH 
 
 Teuti, in'., Ac. 
 (Jordwood 
 
 Rifkb and mail baf^a 
 
 Toini 
 
 iS 
 
 921, 
 
 CuQtractora teams and carta took supplies. 
 
 Abstract oi" aiiotb 
 
 Forage— 1,783 sacks oats, 178,300 Uis. ") 
 
 8,262 bags do 704,270 do >^ 442 tons. 
 
 chop, 2,000 do J 
 2,879 bales hay, 287,900 do — 144 do 
 
 686 do 
 Add 10. p c. teamsters foragp, not in above, 88 do 
 
 674 do or 2,210 lbs. per team. 
 
 f'ornj^e 610 teams. 
 
 WiindritB 118 do 
 
 ^'Jl'Plies 188 do 
 
 do by contractors 4 do 
 
 920 do 
 
 61 cart8. 
 
 D»tc. 
 
 IH8V 
 
 Mh. 
 
 1... 
 
 io 
 
 3... 
 
 .iu 
 
 3... 
 
 do 
 
 4... 
 
 do 
 
 5... 
 
 do 
 
 6... 
 
 do 
 
 7,.. 
 
 do 
 
 8... 
 
 \, 
 
 «... 
 
 ■If, 
 
 10... 
 
 du 
 
 11... 
 
 do 
 
 12... 
 
 Jo 
 
 13... 
 
 Io 
 
 14.. 
 
 ';o 
 
 15.. 
 
 do 
 
 16.. 
 
 do 
 
 17.. 
 
 do 
 
 18,. 
 
 And 
 
— ai— B!3 ii.'...' iiiii I 1 11 
 
 N.W. K. K.— BATTLE FOUD COLUJlN-TK\NvSPOKT SKUVICE, 
 Siiir'PiNo of *<up|)lieM, Ac, from Switt Curroril. 
 
 iTotnl. 
 
 38 
 
 
 37 
 
 
 77 
 
 15 
 
 43 
 
 
 14 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 39 
 
 :!') 
 
 S8 
 
 
 92 
 
 
 
 
 
 921 5i 
 
 DMc, 
 
 CI 
 
 ?t 
 
 
 * 
 
 *« 
 
 - 
 
 1> 
 
 'tt 
 
 
 ^' 
 
 (J 
 
 ! 
 
 ;i 
 
 
 U> 
 
 M 
 
 
 lo 
 
 47 
 
 
 io 
 
 58 
 
 
 lo 
 
 47 
 
 , , 
 
 iu 
 
 34 
 
 ; 
 
 lu 
 
 16 
 
 
 .i' 
 
 5« 
 
 
 II'' 
 
 24 
 
 
 iu 
 
 39 
 
 . • 
 
 
 ihS-i. 
 
 Toami. 
 
 
 (Contractors, 
 
 B 
 
 m 
 
 ■\') 
 
 I... I 
 a... 
 
 3... 
 4... 
 5,.. 
 
 6... 
 
 7... 
 
 8... 
 
 9... 
 10... 
 11... 
 
 12... 
 13... 
 14... 
 15... 
 ItJ... 
 17... 
 18... 
 
 7 
 
 87 
 
 9 
 
 2 3 
 132 
 
 
 43 
 
 140 
 41 
 46 
 48 
 
 104 
 41 
 
 00 
 61 
 •20 
 76 
 9 
 
 937 
 
 5 
 14 
 
 40 
 
 3 
 
 20 
 8 
 
 19 
 
 47 
 
 OaU 
 
 ■a 
 
 96 
 230 
 
 "i'ii) 
 
 1,806 
 
 "»30 
 705 
 
 1,830 
 380 
 460 
 884 
 209 
 
 8,241 
 
 4. 
 
 t 
 
 Siipi 
 
 lius. 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 VX1 
 
 < 
 
 tDtlR 
 
 20 
 
 28 
 
 B 
 
 U 
 
 1,4?9 
 
 254 
 
 8 
 
 24 
 
 22Q 
 
 
 . * . 
 
 4 
 
 420 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 16 
 
 3,l-% 
 
 42 
 
 22 
 
 ""a 
 
 27 
 
 1,087 
 
 1,126 
 
 204 
 
 
 
 
 1,018 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 20i 
 
 26 
 
 ■ii) 
 
 306 
 
 218 
 
 22 
 
 62 
 
 
 42 
 
 42 
 
 •447 
 
 
 
 
 
 926 
 
 
 40 
 
 40 
 
 
 IH 
 
 18 
 
 18 
 
 
 175 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 
 783 
 
 211i 
 
 1 
 
 t 
 
 8 
 262 
 
 1234 
 
 10,232 
 
 1,982 
 
 Hi^Diirlet. 
 
 'V 
 
 2 
 
 87 
 1 
 1 
 
 13 
 
 "20 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 "*2 
 
 2 
 r36 
 
 r)etcn{itioD. 
 
 Otpt Woll«r « Diitfil.., 
 [jiiniber foi 9C0WB, ic 
 
 ilo do 
 Hope, Kreasp, Ac 
 
 ToUl. 
 
 4 
 
 tkmmndtioa. he. 
 Sa(;((aKe 7lh 
 
 Ra!ii'K> Battalion ain) 
 
 Q. (t II. liLxurles 
 
 atov'.;3, Ac, &i; 
 
 Forces, 4c 
 
 Goal . 
 
 20 
 188 
 
 14 
 
 40 
 1B6 
 
 65 
 140 
 
 61 
 
 71} 
 
 82 
 
 9 
 
 147 
 
 41 
 102 
 
 69 
 
 26 
 
 76 
 
 19 
 
 1,324^ 
 
 And II tons chop, f Bnga chop 
 
 AiiHTUA(;T or auovk. 
 
 Furaf(e— 8,2<<1 aaoka oats 412 torn. 
 
 10,232 baKfl do 439 do 
 
 314 do chop 15 do 
 
 1,982 balea haj 1)9 dp 
 
 966 do 
 Add 10 per cunl. tor teamsters' foragPi not In aboTn 126 do 
 
 1 
 
 u 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 9 
 
 47 
 
 1,091 do or 2,370 Ibi. per team. 
 
 Forage 937 teams. 
 
 Sundries ....•• 136 do 
 
 Supplies 211J do 
 
 Contractors 40 do and 47 carU. 
 
 1,324} do 
 
 47 carta. 
 
. 38 
 
 NOJail-VVKST FIELD FORCE— BATTLE KOKD COLUMN. 
 
 Transport Sertice. ■ 
 AiJSTRAOT '^i Siii>plies, Poratjo, &c., forwarded Xorth from Swift Guirenl. 
 
 18C6 -April 12-30... 192 toHins und 51 cartB, 218 tons beef, biscuits, Ac. 
 J!d»*y 1-18... .!4'JJ ilu do 38 do 252 do do 
 
 -.Mi 
 
 89 
 
 470 
 
 
 April 12-30. 
 May 1-18. 
 
 Foray*. 
 
 filO teaniB, 67+ tons, oMa, hav and chop. 
 937 do 1,691 do do 
 
 1,S47 do 1,765 do 
 470 dc 
 
 Total '2,335 do being an allowed average of 2,100 lbs. per loa 
 
 Sundritt. 
 
 April 12-30... 118 teams, lu'nber. bagfrape, ammunition, &c , &o. 
 May 1-18... 136 do do in 
 
 9 (io »nd 9 carts, " Qucpn's Own " iuxurics 
 
 263 do do 
 
 Total teams lett Swift Uurrent— A oril, S20 teanid and 51 ca-ts. 
 
 May l,324j do 47 do 
 
 2,244i do 98 do 
 
 (True copy) 
 
 J. WIMBUKN LAURIR> 
 
 Major General, 
 Cmnmandiny Base and Lines of Communication. 
 
 M'iT 
 
 21 
 
 i-.,n 
 
 16 .... 
 
 Ac 
 
 17 
 
 ■,: 
 
 18 ... 
 
 d.. 
 
 19 
 
 ais 
 
 20 ... 
 
 ■U) 
 
 24 
 
 t''V,- 
 
 24 
 
 r. ;-^ 
 
 25 
 
 ■ hi 
 
 ^6 
 
 ■.■■!■■' 
 
 27 
 
 
 28 .... 
 
 «' ' ' 
 
 29 
 
 vO 
 
 31 .... 
 
 J ;ni 
 
 " 1 .... 
 
 >'i } 
 
 2...,. 
 
 t 
 
 3.... 
 
 
 4 .... 
 
 
 
 ,; 
 
 8 .... 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 11 ... 
 
 ' U 
 
 13 ... 
 
 
 Total . 
 
 i ^v 
 
19 
 
 F. 
 
 NOUTU-WEST FIKLD FORCE. 
 
 Sui'l'MKs talvori North from Mooho Jjiw, by loaras hired by/la}, 
 
 1 .;.' 15 
 o 17 
 .; 18 
 
 .>■, 1» 
 i.> W 
 ■0 24 
 
 Date. 
 
 Total 
 
 Teams 
 
 Started. 
 
 Oats. 
 
 Sundries. 
 
 n rnao 
 Tonnapp. 
 
 >fo. 
 
 3 
 4 
 
 1 
 'i 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 ) 
 
 Lbfl. 
 5,000 
 
 Lbg. 
 
 2,500 
 10,000 
 2,50u 
 7,6C0 
 2,5(0 
 6,000 
 2.500 
 
 7,600 
 10 ftOO 
 
 
 2,600 
 7,600 
 2,600 
 6,000 
 3,500 
 
 •• 
 
 15 
 
 5,000 
 
 32,500 
 
 :n,600 
 
 NORTH- WK8T FIELD FORCE. 
 StiPPLiEd takon North iVom Mooso Jaw by Contract — J. Stowart, Oontractor. 
 
 .Hale. 
 
 Teami 
 Started. 
 
 Pony 
 
 Carta. 
 
 Uay. 
 
 Oatu, 
 
 Pro visions. 
 
 Sundries. 
 
 Grnsi 
 Tonna(j<». 
 
 u 24 
 
 No. 
 
 36 
 47 
 22 
 26 
 28 
 16 
 12 
 13 
 73 
 
 4 
 22 
 40 
 32 
 2S 
 18 
 
 2 
 
 No. 
 20 
 
 Lba. 
 
 12,866 
 
 6,60i.» 
 
 23,600 
 
 8,300 
 
 7,000 
 
 3,400 
 
 33,600 
 
 600 
 
 LbB. 
 
 22,410 
 a6,720 
 46, 375 
 62,250 
 ■19,500 
 36,25) 
 22,625 
 29,400 
 105,840 
 1,800 
 20,160 
 91,290 
 39,360 
 74,970 
 64,840 
 
 Lbs. 
 71,364 
 
 i3;80I 
 
 LbB. 
 
 17,500 
 67,500 
 
 Lbs. 
 ] 11,294 
 
 c 25 
 
 118,021 
 
 >,! ^C 
 
 
 59,241 
 
 ■> '^7 
 
 1 
 
 68,750 
 
 28 
 
 
 
 fi8,000 
 
 29 
 
 
 
 
 43,560 
 
 . 31 
 
 TIC 1 
 
 8 
 
 6,800 
 
 2",600 ' 
 
 2,600 
 
 36,425 
 36,300 
 
 ;i 2 
 
 ,0 3 
 
 
 40,230 
 
 7,600 
 
 39,165 
 
 46,'255" 
 
 6,460 
 
 182,170 
 9,900 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 69,316 
 
 7...„ 
 
 
 13,200 
 1,6»0 
 6,000 
 
 
 104,490 
 
 ,1 8 
 
 
 
 f6,216 
 
 9 
 
 i" 
 
 86,430 
 
 ■' li 
 
 
 64,840 
 
 u 13 , 
 
 
 3,885 
 
 
 3,885 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 419 
 
 30 
 
 121,566 
 
 682,820 
 
 233,410 
 
 90,000 
 
 1,127,826 
 
 
 
 J. WIMBURN LAURIE, 
 
 Major-Otneral, 
 ComiMnding Base and Linei of Oom%