IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // ^/ ^.^. :K*m.,^ ,,,. -„e>^ {X^o— CHAPTER I. FMOM QUEBEC TO WINNIPEG. , Seldom, if ever, in the annals of "A" Pn**« u ken so great as it was on the 26th of March 1887' J.^ ^^^'^'"«"* from the M itia Deoartinenf „/ n^f ' . ' ^'**'" * *elegram It « needless to say, were flying Xut and ..f'^ '^ """^ '"'"""«' scanned. Next day ^27thi tJ^L^l^i . ^® ,P'"®^ °«'^s eagerly Urns in marching order for 1^ P*.™^^ '" *'>«''• ^^^^rack «as to have the ilLofto lead us to tlfetZt' ^ S'^Jf'" ^«*«'^' -'^- as to the packing of valises and thl u" ' ^^' "^^^ * *«^ ^^t^ils ll.e latter to each four men Thev h^, ^^'''Sf squad bags, one of csed the coming campS^ iCt InT'^'^ the libmry and dis- fmm Ottawa which orcE thf 5!f ? ^ ." " ^'"^^^ telegram came ■ ov.r 100 of all rank^ wl :« tp'r m"l R '" -g-entto,. I drivers. All was now hurrv3 k li " ■ ' ^"ns, horses and Jeverything bein^ done wS,^ oo f ^"'"F ^'^^"g^ *° "gJ'i«; tepLhedtothStrthShJrstatiofr '"^ '*"'"^« ^^'^8 1 12 midnight, in marchinir Sr t ' T uP^'-ade waa ordered foJ |«.d wivef, sVeetEs "aidtmrad^Thfs7^'V"r^ Jdulged in, and some of us alwTnJr^/f '*^^^ 'f ''"^d. ^as in- JFve. Exactly at n.?dn?«ht tl rrld„ f^n'- ''' "i" *^'' '^'^' °^ ^'^^ died, it was Lnd that we t'^^f p^^^^^^^^^^ Imandant-Col. Cotton-made a frrfiwll|Po!iT .^"'" »*"*"* <=on»- Iwuld keep up the credit^??!,! 5 ! ^t^\^ *° "«• t'-usting we Is to unde^staVd IhaTt were notTn^ "^^"^ "' >^°"^«^' ^^^'"8 Ithe credit of the regimint wS kent^m^'.- °" * P'"-"^"- "°^^ ^"^^ ^.«I can -ch V?rC'r Tri^Clfa-pL^^ri:^ - 8 PROM THE ST. LAWnKKCK means. As the most of our band accompanied us to tlic X,)rt West, and were in the ranks, only a small portion was left (o. us down to the North Shore station, whereaspeci;! train \viiii.,| us. At lost the band struck up, " fours rij?ht " was given. :m marched through the portals of the " Canadian Gibraltar ' lo i btrains of "The Girl I Left Behind Me," and we left nuinv 14iiJ with sad hearts and gloomy forelHxlings for the future. |ir On reaching the depot, the men were told off to their cars with noise or confusion. A great many of our civilian friends, lute an liour was, gathered at the station, and hand-shaking with goml wis]J met us on every side. I must here mention that, to her ortilit. MH Cotton, our commandant's lady, came on the cars to wish iis ;jx) bye, and this kindly act on that estimable liuly's part was the sul J of favourable comment among the rank and tile time an I Several of the gallant 8th Royals were also at the depot, in luufon to see us off. At last, about 1.30 on the morning of tlic March, we steamed out into the darkness of a winter moniin;;, good wishes, " Rule Britannia" and *' Auld Lang Syne" bl.iulf one wild confusion, to tight for our country, and bound for "great lone land." About daybreak we found oui-selveb ut Tim Rivers. Shortly after that we attempted breakfast, and Imd i first introfiuction to "haijd tack." Stopping at a roadside statio. Captain Peters tried to negotiate for a supply of tea, but tiic se^ land pirate whom we tried to bargain with, askei(l(liiig| return. Many of the ( to citizens life, here visit hilo on this subjeot 1 1 I were continually tun along the line of uiurcH [f tlie settlers of tlieSa *olice, in Boulton'' mn river boats. Otfi to TttE SOJiTll SAaKATOIlEWAX. Ki;:;.^.3t^;J!^ -'-!-; ^P'-^d sniper in at. place, and Carleton Ju.Su"^:^ 1 yV^f "„, "r*"'^ '"' fth "B" Battery who W rni f i^-""' *'*" '"'^''^ '' ^•"''•»'«t*"» U-West, Nvepuirthedifferrt "' ^"•^"'*"V ^« ''^"'" ^•"- ^'''• fiti-ne,. NextC-Ihg^^^TreakfrtedirvT;' '"''^ 't "''' »«nile." Running on all Iv J ''"*.' ^"'J^ " ''^'^°" ^''" '"^^ - ' we had a run of 160 nK f ^ ^"^ ''"""' ^'•'""'fe' ^'"^ uition lim that ?! Ih f ^ T^^ "P°" ^■''•''t '-^ ^"^ll^I a eon- ?»i the hard show th"s sSe ^f * . *'^ ""''"^ '""P^^^' ^^''^ '•"«•" .veiling, and, Tl'nnose S h / 1 ' '""'"'"' "^''^^^'tated slow Ut^ the en.p,o?J Cs' of ^ a T VaVSh ^TVH' ■e,tlof thrrails at DorLZ '"T r"' "^ ?■■«"-'«' *« fperior. I willnow endefvrJ^l ' ""*'" »^''.«,^«'-tJ' Shore of Lake fVhe regiment a^dlowtrs div?de7up"^' '^^'^' ""' '''' ^^^-^^'^ j: Batter;r-2 Capg. 2 Subalterns, 107 xX. C. O's and ,nen. and men! '''"■' ^^*'-' ^ ^"'^'•' ^^^ ''^'- < C. O's Ht. Cf'C'^^'V'Hinfr. Lieut. Col M„„,ta„,b«.l. I The batteries were divided as follows • il ^' 10 PROM THE 8T. LAWHETNCIT Hjwn the grading from the right side, expecting to have a {;o«l i In this expection we were however disappointed, as the tnu k hiv in Hohlier's phrase "skew-whiff," and we had to make frequBJ detours to pass bridge work, which was in an unfinishefl loiiditid About 1 o'clock on tlie morning of the Slst March, we halted at i construction shanties of the C, P. R^ a, distance of 28 !iiili>s fn Dog Lake, to feed the horses ; at the same time sending back i fatigue party to assist the teams with the guns and other storj which were found to be in a very ba^i plight, due to the liad r<» and severe jolting. It had been so far a fine nighty the nifon 1 near the full, and lighting our way through the trees. Here fori first time in my life I saw the inside of a lumberman's shanty, ana gloomy enough place it looked to me. The occupants, who were mostly asleep, were in bunks, one aim the other, like a huge cupboard, while a few late spirits were playl "poker" with a pack of very dirty looking cards. It must be a hi life, the poor fellows are away in the woods for months at a tiiii(| away from newspapers and all other things which make life m living for, and yet I suppose some of them would not cliaiige statiJ with us. But off again we jogged and jolted, sometimes walkil sometimes riding, (sleeping being out of the question), until we pj ed up lit a canvas dining tent about six &'clock in the morning, accommodation not being enough to admit all of i» at once, we to take our breakfast in turns, and in waiting for their turn of our fellows lay down among the snow, and wrapping a llaii| around them fell asleep, so tired and fagged out were they. In dining tent we were attended to by some young men, among wlj was an excitable young Celt from the " Emerald Isle," and the i he abused the poor "sodgers " was a caution. He threatened sevJ times to turn us out " neck and crop "—these were his exact vrof As there was not enough of him to accomplish that feat, I supj he must have thought better of it, as he did not resort to extreme measure. After getting three blankets apiece, we took! brognns and sailed off to Magpie River, where we arrived safef sound, a few tumbles in the snow excepted, at 9 a. m. on thef March. On getting out of my sleigh, I wa« accosted by name, I looking round among a wilderness of " toques," I saw a face faraj to me in days gone by, and the owner of the face said " would T like something to eat?" Saying that "Barkis was willin'," l| directed to a dining car, and had a good breakfast. My friend tj ed out to be an officer attached to St, John's Infantry SchoolJ went through the trouble, getting an ugly wound at "Cut Hill ;" he is all right again, and " may his shadow ne'er be the 1 We had now covered one of the "gaps," and were 54 miles | Dog Lake. We had again struck the railroad, ard were toj to our cars, (modified Pullman's we called them). The consf tion was simple, being boarded up the side* anni ends with an op L .Xh'V TO THE NORTn BAOKATCIIIEWAN. 11 the latter part of the car for the train men to paas through, and M roof we had the wdo world. I was fortunate'enonRh ,o I,p1ou„ i!i7iSJJ' """. ""•" "•"St-ioJO'-, and he1,ein« an a.l.pt tha kind of thnig, set us to work to cover in ours nit I. an oi.I -.urn which was lymg arr,und, and hy using some old h.n.l.er w. /n ^^!'n^^ tolerable. Getting a big fire kindlo.l by the of the track. Cap am Peters showing himself nearly as g,oat ,tn rp with an axe as the "grand .d man," we warmed ou.ilves at ! to, and took It m turns V load up the train with sto.rs. A-c ich the sleighs were bringing up, and, getting the battny horse; biid the tram were despatched to Port Munroe, Lak». Sup,.rior ,ard8 10 o clock some of us tried to forget our misery in sleep, 111 most coses this was a failure, owing to the cold. At last our 'nZt 7 ") r^l r""' °* *''** *^"* °^ April (not much of all-fools day for us), and from 2 a.nu, until 4 a.m.. it was "heave J haul," two of "A" Battery officers. Captain Peters and Mr 'mnk7;5'l o-- J-o" can sleep in it at night, using l?sa head-dresa. By the way, the toque was the T -ad-dress of tlie B1^^K '^\^'"''^' •""'^ '^^y '«>^«'» "«" ■■ ■ •■ Inviting at Vriville three hours we proceeded on to Port Munroe, where the »ncl gap commenced. On our arrival we were marched and depo- 2h wi i • ^f^T''• *^" "^ ^ ^'^^'^ fro™ Kingston, ttZ .'S, uZ '" f^^^"" Depositingour valises and accoutre^ Bitein the hdd, a fatigue party was marched off to the train *a jstm unloading our guns and stores. Having completed this Itmn ^l °tl P't^^^l^ ^^^"^ *''^^" "P '^y '**« 'arrivals, and straps all oyer the ship. To add to our joy, the order was riven »«.uud revetlk at 4 a. m., breakfast at 5. and how on earth w" ■^to hnd our thmgs at that hour was more than we could telL 12 fBOM THE ST. LAWRKNCK VVraiipiii^ inysj'lf up in my liliiiikctH ami picking out tlic M.ftwf] piirt of tli(! kcelHoii of the Hc-hooiicr, 1 hooii, aloiij; with tho rt'iiiiiiii(|,.rl of the boys, (Mitt'U'd tho " land of noniiiig, bo rolling up our hhuiketa aud liiiiitii,r.| up our hric-a-)uiic we omorgMl from our den. After a hasty Ijimk [ fast we Htarted for McKeihir's Harl)or, across tho lake, a di-.tiiii..i,f| -■') miles, our next louneftin;^ link of mil. Here we again l iliill up our stores and guns, and started oti' for Jack Fisli Bay. It. on our arrival, we met our eonirades of the Field Division, v.hu 1 gone from Port Munro«! the previous night, and had had a fiiitiill experience on tho ice, the guide having Wwt his way, and l>ut tm t||J almost sup«!rhuman exertions of Captain Drury, the otticer in (ijiiil numd. some of them nuist have lost tncir lives. Again, after ;,'i'tti:i7| something to eat, we started off over tho lake in sleighs, and iiftcrf a 1. ■.■,,'li ai\d crtid journey arrived at McKay's ViUago at 1 ii 'i ., oiJ the thirfl of April. It was a dreadful ride. Only fancy si\ iiii>q| cramped up in a "l>ol>" sleigh, with valises, arms, accouticn.intJ and blankets, the night bitter cold, and the worst of it was, tlu.t ilJ snow on the side of the track was so bad that our men could notl walk upon it, as it was beginning to got slushy. However, we i.ijt along without accident, and kfter a warm supper we were tfdd otl' tol some wrx)den buifdings, and throwing our blankets down on tlittloorl were s(jon far iM-yond the reach of care. At six o'clock next iininijii" r> fi'ilh' sounded, but njany of us did not care, although we Inst n^ bn'akfast by not getting up. What was lost in footl was nmd.' iiJ in sleep. Alwut 8 a. m., we got on the cars again and startnl oil for our last gap, a distance of 53 miles. Over this SS miles nt' nJ the scenery was gnind, high rocks overhanging the track, wliiolJ seemed as if they would feiU and crush us, wliile far down licluvij us was the great inland sea, Lake Superior. Here I saw the Kr cuttings, or tunnels, through the rock, which in some places wire i groat length. I noticed that no attempt had been made to 1 a brick arch under the tunnel, as I have seen in some of my travelsJ howevi'r, the road being in an unfinished condition, miglit lucdunl for it. On arriving at our next halting piece, Mazood-Keriiili Bayl we again went through our old routine of unloading, and leaving' oul valises to be carrietl by the teams, we started across the last jfip iJ light Hiarclung order. From, here to Re{ out tlic sciffMt iloiif} with the rfinuiiKlfr (I wuH ttwaketifi! I,y thf idy (IrcHtted goiii:; to \»i\\ tur IdiiiiketB luid lim 'ii.J 1. After a hasty liMifc. SH tho lake, a di.^tituoM.fl Hero we uj;aiii I ddl • Jack Fisli Bay. II.,,, Field Division, ttlm , and had had a I'lMrtiill his way, and Jiut t'nnbl I'ury, the ofUctT in nnu- fs. A/^aiii, aftf-r :,"tiiiigj iikn in sleighs, and at'trr (•'s ViUa^i! at 1 ii m ^ B. Only fancy si\ incui les, arms, accouticii.intsj worst of it was, tli;,t the that our men could not ushy. Howerer, we aii ipper we were told nfl' to ankets down on tlictlnor six o'clock next iiininir.j re, ulthoagh we hist mui >st in fooil was nmili'up rs again and started oil *fer this 53 miles ot' mad inging the track, whiol s, while far down lidm r. Here I saw the tit ih in some places were lad heen made to liuil n in some of my tnivelsj condition, miglit aeiounj ice, Mazood-Keriidi I iloading, and leaving' ou^ ed across the last jpip ij Rock was said to lie «e been 20), and so long corkscrew, with , huge crow in the sikh that prevented me iwi mmissariat in his haveij huge promontory cnl iometimes pausing for tp. the air-holes alouK tli TO TUB NORTH 8A8KAT(IIKWAN. 13 U.. the track, h.cky it we co„ld get that. When within two hi^nuu the oars we left the iH.aten track, an.l spreadin-, ours dvea lover tie snosv, got along the U-st way we could' It w^s a hard fe.'; K. ^"7 "■'"«-" "•»' ^'"^I'.V we nuule little hea.lwav. IH.».;vc, l,y ,|,at, of pers, veran.e, wo got on the railway cars. whiJh bth... stance were the regular emigrant ones, the railway Leing -n tor passenger traUic from Ked Itock to a long distanco-heyonj After g,.t,i,.g H slight refreshment in the shape of hard tack and ■J >, n port teams were connng up with o„r hlankets, and, getting IW.I ot them, we were soon soun.l a,slee,,. At this place ocvurre.l |c«rtnst .tnd only de ici-ncy of transport since we had cnne it.to .,.u„un.cat,o.. w.th the C. P. R. The j.oor fc||„ws whom we Id t Ht cur place o d,sen;»mrk«tion in th,- n.orning not returning u " ioiv.M,>„. ,-s t.'.. tvr-.„;i,. !mii in a fearful ..t.ite f^^rou,. exposure : snow Id.nd, with faces puffed up an.l swollen out 1\ ' ?''*' "f *'""^ ;^<-»' J-anlly recogni/.al.le, probably the «orst ^h fSu •V'rV"-^''';^''" «t-ter>vards ,lied of wounds receiyed I the iMsh Hrook hgl.t. As soon as the guns and the stores came p, .t wa.s decule.l to send them oH; accompanied with the n.ount ed l.»Ls,.m, to Port Arthur, the garrison men renu.ining until the re »..n.ler of the stores were brought oyer the lake and put on the m. In the meantime we hunted up a Hudson Bay store and .«le purchase.sof p.pes, tobacco, writing paper, .tc. During our «y here the Mayor of Port Arthur. Rithllrd Vigors, teleg^ ^l3 »Lt..Col Montezambert askn.g him to allow the officers and n.en Jto. and partake of the citizens hospitality, but this kind .tiW «k, and the Col. w.is anxious to push on and join Gen Middleton Jho w.th the 90th Battalion, th.> Winnipeg"' Field Batte J ami i . p"l ' ^"f-"' *'•" ^''■•""'y °^ P^"-' Q"'Appelle. Eyen- nallv the Col gave his consent to the good people of Port Arthur emng us with coffee and eatables on id the Ls duHng the ew utesor so that we would be delayed in changing engiLs. At W 7'i rT '"'''?« ?' ^'^"'' "^^ '«^^ ^^^ Rook about 4 p. m hre we had 60 rounds of ammunition per man served out to L in ^ ot accidents. Some of our musical friends of both batteries »ve a concert on the cars between Port Arthur and Retl Rock rh.cl, It IS needless to say, was attended by a select and fashionable r l," ^Tu"'^ ''''"•'''•■* ''«"^« ^'^••e »«t admitted. The mgors Mr. Wallifi and Mr. Slater, of "A" Battery band par! Cf ^ "'st^'gu'shiiig themsehes l>oth vocally and instrumentally Zl,ri l*^""*r V'" "^"'8 '^••*'«*' «""'^^'-. who gave a ndul solo on the tin whistle. Mr. Kennedy also appeared in his Sr » Tb " r"'- " T''? 2"l^ Clrey Mare and I," and Wng encored ^ sang The Gunner's Ljfe as not a happy one," iu splendid style 14 ntOM THE ST. LAWRENCE Part I. of the concert being finished it was decided to give us a few minutes interval, but before we could resume the second pai t'we steamed into Port Arthur. Such a crowd a» was gathered wt> had not seen on all our journey, and the people shouted and hurralicdas if they would pull down the building. In a few seconds tlic cars were boarded by gentlemen carrying large cans of coffee and soup, legs of mutton, and all kinds of good things, and there was enou^'h and to spare for every one of U(?. The good people were exceediuglv kind, and their hospitality was appreciated by all ranks. But " tiin'e and tide" — inexorable tyrants — waits for none, and so, about 9 p.m., we again emerged into darkness, bound for Winnipeg, a distance of 400 odd miles. The Port Arthur people having been kind enough to supply us with reading material, we read wai news, talked war news, until one by one we dropped off to sleep, and on awaking next morning found ourselves on the open prairies of Manitoba. The scene was changed for the better, the snow haWng disappeaml or nearly so. About 8 a. m., April 5th, we reached Rat Portage, where a large crowd of people came to the station to see the "regulars." Off again tovards the west, and arrived in Winnipes; at 2 p.m. Hete the scene beggars description; as we steamed along- side the platform cheer after cheer went up from thousands of throats. Disembarking from the cars we deposited our arms and accoutrements in the large waiting room of the C. P. R., and iiad a look round. The citizens brought us refreshments in the sha[ie of coffee, sandwiches, lager beer, and so on. Some of the press repre- sentatives intervieweid us for news, and in return we were supplied with newspapers. Tobacco was also supplied to us from one of the Winnipeg firmr, and in fact one and all vied with each other who should show us the greatest kindness. Some of our fellows found out former comrades who had served in the different batteries, some I of us wrote and posted letters for home, and otherwise amusetl our- selves. We had now travelled a distance of over 1800 miles from Quebec, and this being our ninth day out, showed an average of 200 miles per day. During our journey we had met with many obstacles, | but had overcome them all, our men were in good healtli and, although showing marks of our journey on our accoutrements and clothing, were nothing the worse for it. All classes of people with I whom we came in contact had shown us the utmost kindness and courtesy in all their dealings with us. The oificials and employes of the C. P. R. had done everything that lay in their power to keep | things working smoothly, and but for the inclemency of the weather, the past nine days would have been looked upon as only something I to talk about. Luckily soldiers, as a rule, soon forget hardships,! and so, by the time we had our dinner in the dining rooms of the I C. P. R., we had forgotten all or most of our late difficulties on ourj journey from Quebee to Winnipeg. TO THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN. 15 CHAPTER II. >' \m I i ] FROM WINNIPEG TO FISH CREEK. oncfLt £' Ou'Wn"'«-T°^ ^""•^^y- ^'^ AP">. -« started off te,Le of 320 m?i« J^'^ l*"" ^^"7 ^ ^* '« sometimes called; a dis- tance ot d JO miles from here. Leaving the "Keystone Citv»w„ Steamed slowly out of the depot amidst the cheersTnd 'd Jishes all-we soon found ourselves on the prairies again A^This sta^e IZiCrL'thT p""""°"^ r^' *^^- - - s aS ^ot rr4S.-3er:. rieitr^irpeH rtS: i^^f<^^" ;?V'"f!?*.^"'' *°^'^ °f Manitoba and the Nort^West and as the "Scott Act " is pretty solid in the latter province thirstv and convivial souls had to bid farewell to double headerird he flLb« a^ En.Hsh T"^ '^. Tf ^'''' '' '•'^«' ""''^ a tine black sS whkh ! a^ ^""rTr."'" P""""^ *^^ g'-^^* "B«» ^ann," whichT worked bv gte^r;s-:^.i^tz^^rdHli £; E? Collr-t" r/"' '^"'^PP^"^ " join General Oueen?o:nSr;ith^.C'S^^^ "* J^^^^ ""*" *•»« ^ put Pol nff«l ^ ^^ ^ Infantry under command of . .ut.-Col. Otter came up from Toronto, when they would proceS 16 PBOM THE ST. LAWRENCE by rail to Swift Current, thence by trail to relieve Battleford, wliit'h had for some time been suiToundod, and part of the town soutli nf the Battle River burned and looted by the Indians under the ( Vee Chief, Poundmaker. At 5 o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th A|iii!. "i^" Battery started across the prairie for Fort Qu'Appelle, n dis- tance of 20 miles. It was a bitter cold night, and as we had t'our men with accoutrements in a small cart it was truly miserable. Tlip teams wont on, sometimes walking, sometimes trotting, our Iol'r i;nt cramped with cold, and sitting in a doubled up position, with cdk] showers of sleet blowing in our faces, our position was not exiv tly comfortable. On our arrival at the Fort we were lodged in a soliool room and after some tea, and some of the much abused " hard-tiuk,' we dropped off to sleep. After breakfast ne.xt morning Ca})taiii Peters paid ud, and we made purchases of such articles as we wanted. Here for the first time we found out that the five cent piece was the lowest legal money tender in the North West. Getting our t aps on the waggons we commenced our journey again, passing tiie mounted police barracks, and going up a pretty steep ascent, we found ourselves on the top of the Qu'Appelle valley, and at a depot of a large quantity of stores and provisions. Our battery luirses which up to this time had been ridden by the mounted men, were put to the guns and we started acrosh the prairie. Stopping almut mifl- day we cooked some tea, reaching Houghton 24 miles from Qu'Apjjelie about 8 o'clock. Here a scramble iu the dark ensued, pitching touts, (fee. After an extra blanket being served out wo were told oH" to our tents, twelve men to each, and we tried to sleep, but in most cases it was a failure. Starting off again about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 8th we reached General Middleton's company aliout 10 a. m., where we found the following troops encamped : OOtli Battalion, Winnipeg Field Battery, and part of French's Scouts- some of the latter accompanied us from Qu'Appelle. We now num- bered about four hundred of all ranks. Pitching our camp we remained here until next morning. Exactly at 4.30 on the morning of the 9th reveille sounded, we turned out, rolled up blankets, struck tents, and after breakfast, till of us with the exception of the cooks, old and new guard, pre{);ire(l for our first day's tramp, as up to this time we had been carried in the waggons. We started off, the guns following up the advanced guard, which was furnished by the 90th, then came the escort of dismounted garrison artillery, next the remainder of the 90th, and behind them our waggons, French's Scouts riding ahead, and on eiich flank of the column, so as to prevent us being taken by surprise by the enemy. Halting at mid-day we had dinner and then after another three hours pitched our camp on the Touch Wood Hills in the same order as on the previous night. After this 21 miles tramp, some of us felt tired and the most of us had wet feet, and no means of getting them dried. At 4.30 next morning, after the usufil 1 TO TFTE NORTn SASKATCnEWA.V, Jf to read and admire FenimorP fW T^^ ''''\^ '''''^ "^ '^"^^ I "«ed Indian. Now I think rreal 3 ^'i''"'",'' '^'^ ""'''' "'>• •''^'^J looks as if he was tSy urauS«; I H ".1 '"^' " '^".™^"- ^^'^''^ and seen, to glory u'h^ST^r^'^J: ^T^:' %?' speakins, the poor peop7e "i ?n f ' '^^'^^I'T^f '«» «f ^'>t- Seriously doubt if th^y Ce worth tL.v^ .F'*'!^'' ^"* *^" *''« °*''^'- '^"^"^ T people extend to tl7em Th 'e? ^^ *''"* T ".'""^ ^^^" »'^'""ng Ld%hichtrckledrhosI?dthar"h°'?.^^^^^^ *'^'' ^'^' •^^'•'f for the Queeu (WMteMoiLTVt^X^^^^^ soklic.. t. light then! (P 4, ,*tl'1.*^^ Indians than to .end road.) TVni^ht we en;ai^t' th^ S^^?!; Alkafi RaLV " ', .i;!^ across^the P^inr^hieh^Ltbor^^^^^^ «« formed wl.en nTdL^ .^SIeis.5 TC P'l^ ,"\*>' *"^"«^^«' ^^-'•« i* tempest tossed sea The e t>s,,t' "trti/"^";^ *' "" ^^^ ''^' ^ the trail at various olaces nnri „! , "^ "'*° "^''"■«' ''"» '^'-'''oss had sinmly towade them wl w"^' ™* ^^''^ '''^""^ ^^o"* ^e them on^our firsTdayl raWri^^^^^^ ''*'''''^ ^T^^'^ '^'^'^ *''''-t^ of the water was over our knS " £" """ ""'''' ^^''^'^^ *'^'^™ ^^^^^'^ the thing, it was twentv .Wv^;« f '^ "''^'' ^'^ *''^''" ^^« "«* the wateT was unfit frrl^aTut'T- ^° "^^'f to our discomfort - by eating snow.td SaT^ noratccera\tlf& T *'''^* her that we were at f hi« h-tt,^ i, • *,' 'i'^ »" times. Remem- arm amunitilnanl that confluSf "^ ''"'"*^ ''""'^^'^ '^^ ^"^'I our side in addition to ouTltldoZr"; "/"''t^y?^* ^<^ fi.-st time we had a whisoer of R?.lt k t *"^.*'^- ^ere for the addition that he mrant to llf^l « ^''^•"^'^^°»*« !^itJ> ^^e comforting ins of the 12th 'CS" were "% w' reception. On the morn* «s^for the way we had J TJ^ f -'"'' ^'"''"^ *^""'^^"^ Albert was rLrted 1 T ff . , •' u "1 *''"'*«'^ *^^* •^« P"ncS only toap^al t7usts Br^ii^S^^' "'? ^'^^ ^'*^*^'«^ *hat he had on for their reHef T]^H.f ^^'^ ^"^ 'P^*"^ "*^ ^^^''t^ ^^ pushing road, and the ^ounJ ii^/ruT £7 ".^^'^'^ ^°""^ *«^ ^^1 aloiur first-rate <^H.;t; Ii? ™i , "^'' *'''^» yesterday we got 1,'oinl on lSv%niKVlet'::1St^ the bush about 2 p.^m., afS us forever, I hope the So^^p,!;^*H/°'''''^'^'g*'*' ^^^ left behind self included, tlTeblef br^t, ib 'i; u*!f"/ "^ "^ ^""^ '°'' f^^*' '"7- proving a fai ure h7re th^v S. ^"^. been good upon the snow f S a xaiiure here, they became Sfttur^ted with water, and it 18 FROM THE ST. LATFRSNCE 1^. poured through them like a sieve, and we could obtain no footing nn the dry parts of the prairie with them, moreover, being thin in tlie soles, walking over a rough surface hurt the feet, and I must say that they were not at all comfortable. I had a pair of regimeuttil boots in my valise, but as my feet had become swollen, the boots soon became too small for me. Some absurd order was in effect whidi prohibited us from wearing ankle boots, to which I must plead guilty in disobeying, for I had to take mine into wear. I may state as an excuse for my disobedience, 1 had tried to put my " beefs " on tluit morning by hammering them with a tent mallet, and failing in that attempt, had to get them on by thawing them out at Jack Cossey's fire. This camping place (Wise) was alwut 21 miles from Humboldt,- here Matt Coyne met one of his old friends, and while speaking of Matt, I think he was the best known man in the North West. Lots of his old Red River friends turning up all along the line of inarch. About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 8th April we starteci off again for Humboldt, and reached it that evening about 5 o'clock, camping for the night, and made a raid upon the only store in tlie place, capturing the stores of preserves and biscuits, which cost us. I suppose, exactly cent per cent more than their original value. I have never been in New York bulj I think it must be a larger town than Humboldt — Humboldt coatains a store and a police station, that is the town. We saw in camp to-night two mounted messengers who had ridden from Battleford with despatches, they report tlie place as being closely invested with Indians, the white women and children in the police barracks for safety, and all on short rations. Next day, 14th April, we enjoyed a day's rest straightening up our things, washing socks and shirts, with Kit Inspection for the com- manding officers. In the afternoon all the men of the battery par- aded in "fighting order," viz., rifle, side-arms, and three pouchu.s ; had company drill and manual exercise, and as a lot of spectators from other corps were looking on we put en our best style. Tlie mail coming in this afternoon brought us lots of newspapers and the war news was read with interest One of my tent chums Bombadier Miller went out rabbit shooting to-day and talked us all to sleep with his exploits. Striking off across the prairie in the morning we reduced the length of our convoy by travelling two teams abreast. We were now striking for C'ark's Crossing on the South Saskatelie- wan 91 miles from Humboldt and 198 miles from Troy, going tliis route we intended to reach Prince Albert about the 25th of the present month, when we did get there time will show. Reaching! our next camping place, Vermillion Lake, the Winnipeg Field Bat- tery and " A" Battery both mounted picquet On the picquet being paraded Col. Montezambert addressed us, saying, in effect, that as we were near the enemy, extra precautions were to be used, so as to prevent a surprise, and for that reason double sentries were '^*-*«iWi««P«»" TO THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN. jg in the rain con,mS?aniSrti°LTf. ^^^^^/t^^ darkness set and all, vivid lightninK deamed aT f, . ' *';^'^"S,'^ ^ drenching one more intense, and Jto^Se^^Jt '"*^'^''^' T^'^'S t^e darkness of the question. SiK wTofd?Tthe^T'';r^ '''' r* ^' ^^ ""^ Bky line could the outLos of th'e wtnnn f '^''"""'^ *''" «^« "^"^ the the rain ceased and a sharoLst sit S wHm''"'' ' ,*°^'^''''^ "«^»i»« our boots froze on our Zt and r.,.1 '} completed our miserv. Next to the misery of cri^i^. Tlk.S. ^'- * "^'l *° «^««*« «* ^^^ the outlaying picq^uots Tvefmfc ffi?' °" 5^ ^"^^ '^"^ ^ ^^^"^ the cami^ign. filtrly on the mo Sg ^ theie'th th T'* "l^*-* '^^ Captain Drury, and a field gun t e "C" t-hl *''«, ^^^n^'-a'. with connnand of Maior SmifK „^„ ? ®°"°°^ °^ Infantry under tending to LwTaXt ^hl^^n'n v"i/ h?at "^^5^ ^rosJ-g. t the north side of thfsaskatchewar Th. . """^*'^ *° *"■««« ^'^"^ marching off at 7 a m the d„v v Tl '^«5"a»»der of the column our midfday mil we'Cere S„I7k'°S '^"^ ^'"^y- Stopping fo^ fa^try, or the (S .)^ hrmr^sed f/'Jr;-^"'*"^ ^ouMln- around Butte and Shefl ^vvr J^ 1 «^" ''™- ^^^y ^^^^ raised fellows, armed with Winchester rir^^ '*'^^^^^^ or Montana horses ^tmZ^t'''^l^^^^ from 45 to 50 years of Lnid hi 1 ?. '^l''. ^°°^'"8- "^". ''^ont prisoner under Biel in thfR^ Rh' T' ^ ^T'^' '^^^^"g ^«*'" » with his men, who wild hav^dS I anvthfn' ^A ^"^ ''''y P^P"'*-" him. AH his troops were frvoriJes S S k".^. ^°"' '^"^^^^''^ ^"'^ turned out, were to be theTconLdl * ^"^'^ "'^"^ ^^o, as it And now as Bolton^ Hor^!^. r u ' ^'T "^^^ » day to come, me to say that it wi, be 7o J ereihe Z^ T'' "•'^* ^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ comrades are forgotten by tTeVuler^of 1" TTff ' """Vt"' ''"'''^ of theirthwastithoutanviSSpnf, ! ^^^^T The march they were worth. oHL iStT^^^^^^ ?"«'""§ "'^ ^r all went on again aiming at the pJ^c^ the 18th we struck camp and katchewanf at H f ^ clmnTnT^ ""V^^ '°l^^ ''^^ °* *he Sa«- hundred yards from the river '^Thl" *?' '""V'' *"^^ ^^out five to this tfme, had'been corparaUvdy "btj Zlll^F^''' T^' "P Touchwood Hills and the Sni^ p • ^ • x *" the exception of ■ Bcrubby brush near the bant n?fu"'i interspersed with a kind of thickl/ strewn' wfth a^e Sull'So^^^^^^^^^ *^« ^°""d was been either the river bTor the bed 0?^/ ^'^1^^ Wared to have The Saskatchewan at tL place is about fn f '1! *^' T^ ^°"« P-^*' with sloping banks on the south sWehS' **""?"/ yards wide, trees; the banks on the nortT side tw^ wooded with poplar timber. After launching a scow ft.r^^ ''?^ ''^'^^^^' ^^*h no back to camp and had :U,ZlX 'S^ZTJS^'.Z LTn! " '""'^t «« Nothing further of a";* i^'rtlc' t^l> 7"" ?^"^''' ^'°"»*''3'-" t^nng we were looking forward o was H.^n? "f^^^' 1""' *''« ""'^ Prince Albert as we were I.,«r ! T .. '*" °'"^'"' *° ""^I^" '^ >"ove to Halfbreeds, of ^l^se skU" - >- '"^* "^ ^''^ ''"'""''^ '^"^ accounts. NLrSaT TuesJ' SeT'" ".' ^'^ ^'""^'^ ^"^'' «'«-i»g river were sent oveT^nrit^LrS W-*'" "«>■£ bank'of the strengthened from "a" wSroloffl IS"^.'?*^ ^•"''' ^'^"ery, the 10th Royals, and part of F^l K^ '^' ^- ^' ^'«'''*"-« '"^^I "'«" were flying around anmlLf' '''°"*'- ^^ «0'-t« "* reports out to see it 'JtoZ^^TZZTt^'^^''^''''' '"^ °" «"'»« poles. After a long spell of wait.W 1 M n " "''? ""'^ °* ^^^^ welcome order was givSi and on S A ^ * ^r'"!"^'' ''"^«^'^'-' t^e moved oft; and on the • 'g^t of th^a^J^^^^ *r ^"^'^^''^ command of General Middle?-^ found Jh F"' *'**' ""'"'"" ""^«^ Kinto3h's farn,, eighteen miTerfromcLk'T''''' """TP"' '^^ ^'■ miles fron. Fish Creek. Abt t ni e^'l I ?rT'"« *"^' '^'^""* ^^'^^ we had battery orders retd ouf IL *'''' ^u*'"'"'^ ^'^^'^ P'^'-'^ded, ordered to have'^someWscu' t in our bavrrsSs^^'H' -^'^^ T ^^^'"^ extraordinary looks of thin.^ all of .? ''"•*"'*' ^'""^ "'« would find something to do fSnnI q ^e^-e convinced that we twenty-four hoursn)ne by one '17* T^ '' ^'^°'' *''^ "«-^* and smoke, and soon were i^umlaTllf '"*o«"r tents after a chat breakfast we started off Xi i ?" ''^ 24th of April after making short halts. At la!t ab„„f ?^ ''T^^ "P *^« "^^'^ ««le. heard ahead of us our sJ.^« M , 1"*''*^'* P^«* »•«« «"»« was tight was begun ' ''"™^ *^^ *^''' "^"^ *he Fish Creek C^=i^^e)- '=:;i;^^ 22 rROM THE ST. LAWRENCK CHAPTER III. FROM FISH CREEK TO PRINCE ALBERT. Farewell Fish Creek, thy memories gory Shall aye live in Canadian story 1 Our country's wives and babes are weeping For loved ones in thy prairies sleeping. In the last chapter I mentioned that the rebels opened flic from a bluff upon our advanced men who were instantly ordered to dis- mount and loose their horses, which being done they returned the fire with interest and held them gallantly in check. Orders were then seni. to hurry up the advanced guard and the main body which on arrival extended and took cover in the bluffs, the enemy coming out of tlie ravine and firing until forced back by our fire into tiie creek. Meanwhile "A" Battery guns under command of Captain Drury got the order to come into "action ft'ont" and they com- menced shelling the ravine where the rebels had their stronghold, owing to the intervening bush we could not see the full effect of our shell fire, but were afterwards told that our gunners had calculated the range correctly, and the shells fell among the enemy as if they had been fired from a mortar. Here at this point, might I not offer a sug- gestion as to the use of hand grenades in this kind of warfare ; both at " Fish Creek" and " Batoche," the enemy had taken up positions below us in places where the judicious use of hand grenades would have had great effect — as there are lots of that ammunition lying rusting around the diflferent shot yards and stores in the Dotninion, the cost would be nearly nil,— and as the hand grenade fulfils nearly all the conditions of common shell it could be used with great effect. To resume, afler firing a few rounds fix>m this position our guns were limbered up and emerging from behind a clump of bushes we came out upon an open prairie ground, where away in our front could be seen the log houses of a Half-breed settlement. Being at this stage of the proceedings sent to the i-ear to assist in filling shell, I did not have a chance of appearing on the scene for some time I again. Shell filling under fire was a new thing for me, and as there was no funnel for the powder or any key or screw-driver to extract the plugs from the barrels of Hamilton powder, a paper ftiniiel had to be extemporised and our sword bayonet used for unscrewing the plugs ; filling shell is not a desirable occupation at any lime, but 5- « td TBE WORTH 8A9KATCHEWAV. is ^/VtA^yfiVlVKlu I s^r;t;^ s;sni^"r fi '-^r -^- ** ™- •• tins way ' A' Battery" haf wH LlZ r'k "'" ^ f *T. ^'""'^ °"* twtMity men of the batierv down ini; /hi" r "'''' ^'l"''"^ ''^^^ "''«"» a party of the aoth tried fods^JdTf h5 ''"'' ""'' «"PPorte.l by this ru8h Mjiuuxci' o ,r W vT ®"^'^^' '^"^ °^ ^heir pits, in being struckKlSrS^^^^^ V'^'^y wounded, bunib shattered by he 8eco„S Sf S '* "''."V. ""'' ^"""g »^i« "ght »it..in eight or ten vardrnf ,' ^ T«' •*'"«•»' ^eing at the time bis hand to his he«rrexclafnSt'"Sr ''i^rP?'' '■•-'"°'^' ''<^ P"' the next Instant. xLlor rSd 1% ?" ^ "' f '°'" <"""'"§ ^'e«<« ll^en for his canteen Sh rSve^ ?he «r,t7n"r'' ""'' ''"^' '^ "^^^ it no„Id probably have gone Imrrf^-H •'^"" '^'■'='' ^^ ^^'^ ^^""et %Hion got severely wounded r! n'*'' ''""• Armsworth and r Peters, cooly insisted „po„ iu tlilvL /"" 'u '^'' '''' ^3' ^^I'tain hevenge before he went aJ thr ,i -^ "* '''"^ "^ ^^^ «"e»'v for jfound with a piece of rlit-n^ "^u?*™"^^*''"^ ^ligLtiy wounded a bMe? 'rlL^ri )V^r'""^' ^'«"°'- ^^^ struck on tlie shoulder and K."„^ -^ forearm; Ouiilet got Itherefore be seen hat'it w„« H ?^ '" *^« «*™« P'«ce. It wiU the whole of tS fo ego ng'TaSL^-^^^^ *'h ^'^^'"^"«'•^• ""^» >*"" lbs taken me to write tls rTt T-'"^'' '" '*''« ^""p "'«« it U wo,,ld have enSied a heaves "fTf. 1"^™^' /'•-" ^"eir [of men were not considered suffloln? „ ! ^' ^°'^ ^^ *''« ""'n''^'" fens run op to the brink of the^aliS^ l^""" T °''^«'^^' «"^' ^'>« pie i,,en while retiring heiedHtprT' ''^P'"f,f' ^ and fired to cover Ke former slightrtWatte;!^^^ '^"^ ^"««" '^ere woun.led, lakingamputLornec it; ^*?hf™bi:'d "''■'' "'^'^ " '^""^^ fj-our fellows was of course not wmS?„ ^P'^" '"to the ravine liot knowing theground sor^P nf ^r f°?^ 'aughable incidents; U soon found tliemseVes fe^f ,? ™^^^^^^^^ '''' '^' ^°«ded crest Itlie ravine, among the Ser was fhe 3 hf •*,",' %V' '*•" ^<*t^'» ^f JfLingcd into the brook S^runsthrih^h'''? ^^^" ^«>^-"«' ^^o in Ins scramble to get uSis fee. loTf t' ^°"°'" '^^ ''^« P^^^^' [nd upon seeing whchTome of 2?. ' "l''"^ ^'1"=''* '"« " ^^^''e" fsiiade. Matt on teUinrthe s°orv oamft!. .'J!*''''"? °'^'^"'^'' « |«s well his head was not in he ^'. touue - ^^r'i.T p'?''"" '^'' '* |n(i.ng the side of the ravine finding that hi« - ' ' "*" '''• m to the bushes mnU- nh. . i ? , • "'* ^^°'"d was anchorino- ftoasting fork" amonrtLS^^^^ /L" T'^* ^«'* ''"^ left tEe h I caA teU, if nat^i Sm Se U t.fh'' ''' °°' *' ^'^'"^ «^'''" <>' W relio h«nte;s, as hav nTbeen L the u'^..f P*r ^ ^•>- ««™« of e».^hutwas P^utb^r t=te^;r rteTe^^^^^^^^^^^^^ H u MtOM THE BT. LAWRENCC henvy fire while doing so. Our force In the meftntlnie hiwT (liawn graclimlly around tl>e crest of the ravine, and were watcliinir eagerly for a chance at the enemy In their pits, who on the other hand were layiig low for us, aod who on seeing the least movcmont of a head saluted It with a shower of lead. Here poor d.Maiidlly was killed, being shot through the head dying Instantly without a word or struggle. Down In the rav'ne was a lot of Indian iK)nio» tied np to the trees and our chaps not being able to see then- owners were eager to revenge thenwelves on the ijoor animals by shootinij them instead. As 80on*as the order came to shoot tlie pwr brutes, ye gods ! what a Asllade comn»enced, I think some of our fellows must have enjoyed the ftin of making a noise more than any- thing else, as they did not appear to Are at anything In porticnlar but kept at it until their ammunition was expended. There were about fifty ponies killed, and lead enoMgli fired to have killed fifty hundred. About 2. p. m., a loll took place In the enemy's firo, and Captain Drnry made some practkje from his 9-prs ; obsei-ving a house being made a shelter for the rebels, be pitched a shell into it, and soon the dusky crowd was seen to crawl off on their hands and knees up the furrows of a ptoughed fteld, and make off in the direction of the bush, Itaving their comrades in the ravine to do the fighting by themselves. At this stage of the days fighting it was determined to make an6tlier effort to drive the enemy from their pits and with that end in view, the ten 9-pr guns with about tv.enty dismounted gunnere, headed by the energetic Peters made a dash over the small creek on the outside of the ravine, and galloping up the opposite bank, and after unllmberiug and running the guns up by hand on to the brow of the bill, loaded up with case shot and reversed aharpnell, and fired round after round point blanii against the rebels, but with little perceptible effect, for as soon as the iron shower passed over their heads they kept up a heavy fire on us fortunately without doing a great amount of damage, our only casualty being the wounding of Driver Harrison in the neck after the guns where limbered up. Here I might say a few words about what I think of the abilities of the Half-breeds and Indians as marksmen. When coming west to take part in the campaign ouil ears were assailed by their wonderflil skill, such as shooting at fi»ej cent pieces when thrown up in che air, hitting the mark every lime I and a great many wonderfVil and highly colored improbabilities. I No wonder that the " Bold Militiaman" was a little scared to taciclel this army of crack shots, but what did it amount to ? Nothing sol great after all, for instance, had our men had the advantages pos-J sessed by the enemy in the matter of rifle pita knowing the 'May'ofl the country and so on, I think It would be safe to assert thati more of them would have come to grief. Luckily for us at FisM Creek, at anyrate, they did not shoot any of our gun horses asaT wounded horae is pot a dewrable companion in the shafts of a lim-j •MMM TO TRI NORTH «ABKATCI!EWA». 85 f " X'!,ife t;^:-™ *- -lit r^'""," '^ °«»'"«' the seen* and were a 4l(x> ne sS^ T"/*"* '■'^«'" appoarod on invested the ravine and «Cd Lh o^.!^' '^''"' ' ^^^^ immodiatel^ d..nng the day to Wl back S get someJ.^^'''^ ^«" «"B"««5 row escapes had been made "phn r «!..'"« ^ **^- Some ifar- his A.r cap while ridin^und the oZtT'"*'^.* ^""•"^ *'"-'>"i be comfortable, he is .Iported to havTsaid wh?"?""' ^" "'^"^ *<> Juekingat the sonnd of the biXts'W ..!'''" *"! T ^'"^ ■"«» I been stooping that bullet woddhavTi^fr *•'!"*" ™*'»' ''"^ but I can hardly understand how that po^i,??* ^u""*** ™3- brain." .fhc had stooped I think theXnSr^ou Id t'" ""^""f ^' ^'^'"'^ gather, however, he showed a sn onH J ''?^*^ '^^^ him nlto- 8lH)..t as cool and collected as iftt^ ®'"""P'« *<* «" "^ "«. "cli«K had the lace on hisfor^e Ipdin^ra^ Captain' Pete ! 8 horse shot under him and solne S n.^ ""^^ ^"P*"*" VVisehad had bullet, passing thmnghltwee" X" 1^ *''''.' "^ *'*' ^'•°» muzzle, and the spokes of the min .k i ^°*' working at the which had been flr^l with de„dTinS ''""' """"'^''^ '''^'> ""»«»' Jhe^followlng are the casualties of :. A" battery for the davs ro«„rferf:-Sta/sgt. Mawhi^ev Somi'Tr'"' ^' Wilson. Assellnl W(Sma?' Imr?« M*""' *''"°''' ^uns. Harrison; Turner ' ^""'*'' ^«n«e" i D™. £l/? -^'^'^^^^^^^^^^^ lVl:S b'^ ^''r^^'*' - Lord Melguad and amid a fearful th,„,il,f '^ ^^^^ ^'''^^en by I for the night, placing a strong outhW^"'" ^'^^'^ °"'' '^'""P Grenadiers, and an inside gSL"/,- '"*'*^"^' °*' ^''^ ^"^"^ on, as Lord Melgund's (^STad !ft T- '' «""^ ""^ '*'"«»"'i- , the north side of the river, we had 1 !f ^^" *"""P eq"ipage on «)om in our tents: the WirnE fSm T.^"*'''^^' sleeping guests of " A" and the 00*1^.^*^ u*'*' Battery Battery beini The night Of the 24tb uS ouYtld't^ '*'k *^^ '"'"^ ««'""« and as we were all on the iSk out ^l n u.* ''°'*^^ '"»" of snow to saj, that very few of us had a ^JLd nffi* '"''*''' " " «^«^'««« 5th, the men who had fallen Uheflth /Si'***' .^"^ S-^t^rday buried, the General reading the bmf^ of .the previous day were "naking an address to the Assembled hvT'"'''?^ '*''"«•'''■' afterwards to.avenge the death of thX cSmr^es Th'" ""''"'' *"« "^^'^ '^^ tills time a little settled d >wn a^d^tS *'""«' ''«™ getting by Nehave another fiUt ? As we ter! -f' '^"I"^' '''«' ^^'^ ^oZ co.:mence,nent of the work Tu7niSr inX S*' '!*'? ""^ «"'^ »»«« f ourselves for a sleep but in th?s w^il^ I- """ "'S^' ''^ ^i^Posed I I. a« rnOM tIfF tT. LAWRENOR to lii(! on a convoy of teams cuiniiig into camp, who on licin!,' challongi'u v the outlying aentricH mudu no answer and an n cuiiKt:. qucnco Imd a Hhowcr of bulletM about their cors, Instantly the ramp wus in an uproar, the clmps in the teuts making gratis for rilliiM, pouclies, boots ana on. Soon however, wo were all nwk glad l)y the ''all's well" whicit ran rapidly along the line and we tinnd in again to sleep. During the turn out, Dorcy Ilakcr of lioulton's Moimted Infantry who had l>eeii mortally wounded on the 24tii, unl villi) was delirious in the hospital tout, hearing the tiring start nl up ealliug for his horse, dying soon afterwards. About 7 o'clock next morning (Sunday) poor Charlie Armsworth, whom I liave mcntioiu'l as being seriously wounded, died. We wen; paraded forChuich m 10 a. m., in flghting order and had the Churcii of England Service read by the General. After dinnei' the 90th Hattalion, the dis- iiiounted gunners of the Winnipeg Field Battery, lionlton's Miiiuiict) Infantry, French's Scouts and " A" Battery par.ided for the \m-- jwse of searching the ravine, and to get the bodies of Cook of •> A' Battery and Wheeler of the 90th, who were killed on the 2ltli, and we were also prepared to have a brush with the enemy, who uiiglit have been holding on to the position. On our arrival in the riivine we found everything quiet and after getting our two dead comrades who were lying exactly where tl'.ey fell, and with the exception of Wheeler, who had been stripped of his tunic, no indignity had been offered to their dead bodies. Wc then proceeded to have a looii around the place ; the enemy had shown great skill in the construc- tion of their rifle-pits, selecting the thick wooded parts, their mode of operation had been sometliing like the following: digging a round hole behind a tree and cutting the tree nearly through at aliouta height of three or four feet from the ground, had dragged it over with the branches pointing towards the direction in which the attacking force would be likely to come, this forming a kind of abatis with the branches. From the evidences of croikery, lamps, pipes and cooking utensils &c., it was plain that the place had been occupied for some days previous to the flght and looked as if it had been intended to make a stand, some of the of lice rs ami mounted men rode through the place and picked up memos of the fight, among which were, a chiefs head-dress with feathers, shot guns, moccasins, badger gauntlets, lamps, and crockery. One of Boulton's men picked up a plug hat, and rode into camp with it on his head, thereby causing great amusement. Th - dflv was a red letter one for many of us ns the mail arrived in inmn innging letters and bundles of newspapers, the latter 'o •"'ne.' y our esteemed friend at head-quarters Mr. Gunner 2d'jh.^r wuo never failed during the campaign to keep us well supplied with the press news. Next morning the 27th some of us had a walk down to the river and in doing so had a look at the graves of our late comrades, they baa been made to look as nice as they could be s furtning a Iviiu) of TO TIIR NORTH HAHKATTnEWytV. 27 Armswort 1 wore limiPfl In n,„ n ^"""^'"''^—^ook, W i.ct'lcr and torv for .ho a tc^an^l a tin n^^^^^^ " '^'" "'^"'^'"^ '" " ^''«- on tl,o r-o it had the mo it ';",'''?''"g S"'"- '^'i^ munuCaoturcd F. Smith. Kot a « idUea e ^ and Vo"""'"^ ^"'' '^^ •!'• ■"«^- o.r Mvo battorv cook' made I Sd ij ttZ.S'iri?! '""' "''"V ' UJ13 diange afler our " hani t JL " ii • 'i ' ''"''' ""*" " ^^<^'- come news that'^ Se - No Zl'- T ""^' ^ "u^ ^^ ^"^ '^^l" "•iiiiiBSRs^ 28 FBdM THE ST. LAWRENCE While waiting here Col. Cotton 8ent a telegram of congratuliition to "A" as follows: " Well done, ' A' Battery. My sympathy with the wounded. Send details." Captain Howard got his .'au ling gun detachment together and practiced drilling and firing at a target, the remainder of the troops not on duty were exercised in skirmishing and marching. It being decided that the stpuiner ♦' Northcote" was to run the gauntlet past tiie village of Batoclie, thenue to proceed to Prince Albert, she was barricaded up with boxes of canned beef, boxes of biscuits, and bags of oats. "C Company I. S., under the command of Major Smith, was put on board to defend her. Lieut.-Col. Williams having disembari were ordered to advanor,?ixtfZ ^''^*^" ^'^^^^^ "'^"^'ho Lieut..Col. Williams begged hard to h.°«n ' ^ f *. ^''""''P' •^"*- but was told to send Ws sSor l^.^ • "•"'''^f *° ^^"^ '"« '"^n. stretcher bearers wo"p ?ofd offL' •" '° ^''^''ge- After our ravine, the brave M dlandt^ L •°"'" ■'^'^^■"»^«'l towards the iirc and, after getting over ?he oflTu^ '^l^ ^''^'''S «P a rapid : 'Ugh, Coyne^nd^Beaudn oT I^r' ,\''"^ ^«"» Phillips and 'carried him oiif h.?f oi , ''*^^''^' ^"''' *^o'<^ of poor r.8 stilled forever t bel d cSd tiST ''"r',i"'« '''"^^^ ''^^'^ to the scene of the davs fishfin.^ Si. - « '''°"'^ ^"««™P ^'o^e despatched off to o«?last^St's ""^^ ' *^°""^"^ ^''^^'^^'•y ''^^^ camp equipment and sSL^^CharronTlP'"^ *^^^'=°'-* '" °" men, was shot in the leff rlxW ^^ > n"^ ""^ *""'" gating gun- bospital afterwards Dull- thJ^n'r"' ^^"^'^'J" the Saskatoon fimself up to us and -a" S ewX'he" otrra?^ ^^^^ ticulars corroboratino- in ™o./ .. S ® General, he gave par- who™ I have nrta"„s"gK^inr£r ?'-^ pur camp equipment arriving, the^-V'Ifnf? "^ °'^''* Previous, bury Phillips, all his old oc^^Jri .V" ,?""ery men proceeded to MrrOordo^n ;eading t' e burTal servW ""."^ ''' '"?''''^'' *•»« ^-^^ it seemed to all of us beSe fim Hml -"^ ^ "°..' ^P^e^sive one us had seen a comrade hm-FJ^ /if u "^ '" ""•■ "^^^ ^^at many of battle was still rTgfng.s"a„S^ ^^ ^^"'^'^^W: ««d that while the crack of the WinflSrLd Snider riSS thi'h ^f ?^ ^""' ^''^ drowned the reverend ba«h1^ . .""''®' ^"'ch at times nearly bis lonely gravrneJer Sn to" ' T'"' ^1^"''P^ ^«« »««^ ^^^^ » shall sound ° ^° *''''''® """^ t^^ last great reveiUo I Jj' '''■'' "''"'^"'^ '•'•• " ^" ^"-y were as follows :-^ Merf.—Gunr. Phillips. Smously Wounded.-.Ganr. Charpontier 82 FitOH THE ST. LAWKENCB as retired in splendid order to the zareba followed by the enemy, who evidently thought that we were retiring from them as beaten, ai they followed us up firing ; they were quickly undeceived, however receiving a heavy ftisilade from us. Some of them got into the bush and fired a few stray shots, wounding one man and two horses, retiring as darkness fell. The picquets were posted around the four faces of the zareba, each face in charge of a field officer, and after we got some blankets we lay down in the trenches ami the night passed over quietly. On the morning of the 10th the infantry advanced and commenced firing, it was found that the enem3- '^ere in stronger force than on the previous day, they had also thrown up some fresh rifle pits during the night, and had otherwise strengthened their position. Our two 9-pr8. went out in tlie fore- noon and shelled a house and some blufib on the opposite side of the river where the enemy had been seen, and in the afternoon the tfims of the Winnipeg Field Battery shelled the cemetery which had been taken possession of by the enemy in the night time. Some of the 90th sharpshooters took a position in shelter trenches, which had been thrown up in front of our camp and as the infantry retired at night, followed up by the rebels, the sharpshooters opened a heavy fire which drove the enemy back again. All day long the men who had been in the zareba had been strengthening their position by throwing Jup entrenchments, ^he teamsters cutting deep trenches underneath their wagons The Land Surveyors scouts, about fifty strong, under Captain Dennis, came into camp this afternoon and were received with hearty cheers by all of ns. On the morning of the 11th, after sending out the infantry, the General started" off with Boulton's Mounted Infantry and the gatling to reconnoitre. One of the priests, Father Moulin, was brought into our camp on a stretcher, having been wounded by a Winchester bullet from the rebels. Some of the Midlanders, led by the brave Col. Williams, drove the Indians out of the rifle pits 'l»eyond the cemetery, cap- turing a lot of blankets and a dummy, which had been doubtless used to draw our fire, and one of our guns slwlled the cemetery and rifle pits near the church. In the afternoon the two guns of the Winni- peg Field Battery went out accompanied by an escort of dismounted gunners, and took up a position behind a clump of bushes. In this expedition we were accompanied by the General and the Reverend Mr. Gordon (" The Fighting Chaplain" we called him.) Bringing the guns to bear on Kiel's Council bouse, which was conspicuous by its having a white flag flying on it, we soon got the range and blazed away ; the people around the houses taking to the woods. The common shells fired with the Royal Laboratory Percussion Fuzes burst nearly every time in the building, but failed to set it on fire. During this operation only a few stray bullets were fired among us, and these from the opposite side of the river. TO THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN. 33 o/e good da«h i;thrrr!,its tht^^^^ '' *^ T?' ^«* with one gun of " A " BaSrv and thl '"^^' °^ *^' """"^^^ ™«"' General, left camplnd stS ?ff J 5,^*'"'^' ^^P^^'P^'^ied by the pits with the gatling and the 9 n?' n ?**«"^«d, firing on the rifle- was sent in to the General carrtd K a"/J*^ '^^ ^""8 a flag of truce I^is gentleman haJri^grC'^tf ^^ 1^^^ tttV" ""^"- trnued fir ng on the houBes tili;„„Tk ' . *"** " ^® ^on- Lswer that if the JeSs would nl^' ^^'"P*'^ ««"* ''^^'^ ^"^ Lome building anS stete wK it t tha't Tk^T ""** '^'V^'"^'^ ^"^ fired upon. Astley returiTed with 7^' ^^l P'f ^ "^""'^ "°* ^ he would try to Zilt h^ flir**' *^^ ™^''"^ *° ^^^ ^^^h saying dark cellar wiVhr^n^J^J'^ri'""^'''' '^^'^ ^^''^ «°"fined in a door toTeepTSown fti^r^^^^^^^^ ^ ^°* />^. «*-- - the the Surveyor's Sco^^ wt killed anS tt' f^^ ' %hting Kippen, of IthasbeensaidtWfl!!^ 1. J "^^ *°''*^® returned to camp. .isundersti^d and the orSr wSTo? ZmZI Zt /'''''' ""? onder Col WiTlH*^' ° '^ 5''!.'*'*^"' ^^'^ «o™Panies of the Midland^ lel^ an^ ftra^:^^^^^^^ -ved up to the line to the right the ftmh R„ff r ^"^'- 9'''^«««", prolonged the bm the opposite bJnl^f fl? • ,' ^"'■"*8 **>'" *»"'« *l»e enemy J- ana r rench s Scouts prolongmg the line to the left. Lieut. ' fl 84 VROM THE ST. LAWRENCE Rivers was ordered to bring the gatliiig gun up in the front (,f the 90th regt., which he did in gallant style, firing a few vollfvs, aftpp which a general advance was made. While storming one < f tho houses the gallant Captain French was shot through tlic hfart exclaiming as he fell, "remember, boys, I led you"; and I ,iiiiv' ' I think, echo the sentiments of all my comrades when I suv tlmt amongst the brave fellows who shed their blood for Canada in th,. North-Wcst rebellion, none was more sincerely mournw! f. r tluin gallant "Jack French." Kiel's prisoners, whom I have niinrioiipd as being confined in a cellar, on hearing the cheers of our men. ,nm. menced hammering for the troops to let them out, and soon the trap-door was smashed open and the poor fellows emerged from theif prison more dead than alive, shaking every one by the hand witl: w lioin they came in contiict with. One of them afterwards told us (!i;,t on heaving the noise outside they thought it was the war-whooji ,,f the Sioux Indians, and that their la.st hour had come. Tw(-;i<'\ i.oof the rebels were found dead on the ground around the hous( s and two more on the river bank below the graveyard. Among tin killed were two of Kiel's Council; Kiel and Dumont had escap.d. a company of the 90th, a company of the 10th Royals and the t;at!iiur gun detachment bivouacked for the night around the biiiKlin^rs" The dismounted men of " A " battery having to form part oi' the reserve force on the afternodn, were excluded from taking pait in the closing part of the fight, did the only thing that could hi' done. cheered their brave comrades on their return to camp ; and so after four days' fighting ended the battle of Batoche, and all of us knew that the campaign, as far as the half-breeds were concerned, was finislied. Our foemen were at least worthy of our steel, liglitiiii' I bravely, and doubtless had they been supplied as we wei-o with artillery and gatling guns, they would have held out much longer and many more of us would have come to grief. Next day, I3th May, was taken up by the General interviewing the prisoners who I had either been taken or voluntarily surrendered themsehes to our force, and by some of our fellows who paid a visit to the .scene of the late conflict. With the exception of a few crazy old shot" uns [ not worth a few cents each, I did not see any of the much-tiilked-ofl "loot" that such a howl of indignation was raised over. Perhaps the I guns I have mentioned might have been used at some bygone date, but at the time when I saw them must have been more danj,'erous I for the party firing them than for the party fired at. Taking a walk round the camp I saw Captain French's body with I a bullet mark through his buckskin jacket, through which oozed his hearts blood, near him was poor Kippen and Fitch — all alas 1 gone j forever. — Several wounded Indian prisoners were lying on st. etchers I around the hospital tent, our Medical Officer doing everything for j their comfort. The principal talk amongst all of us now was the] capture of Riel and ])umont, and there was among lots of our fellows j TO tUB UOHTI! SASKATCHEWAJJ. 30 J lurking unexpreasecl hope that Gabriel wonlrl rr„f it was the soldiers feeliug for a brave nmni' f "T."^ ' ^ '"PJ'^^" we hoped to be able to ipture o t^.l .f l. "' "" ^'''^ "^'•*''- '''''"d this bloodshed and niiser^we Isv arol^ ""'' responsible for all ^abie to hand hi„, ore7toTe Lv of our off TT ''''"' ^^" ^^""^'^ uoniing 14th we marched out of "'-" * '^ '"'""*''^* ^''''^ dupoys" Crossing on tt Saskatchowl T'l""f "^^ ^'^^^'^''''^ '^^^^' -kirted the edges'of the thS^ ^oo J' 'r?"e ba''f "^"" T" P'*^'" W (lug rifle pits all n.ade to b« r o„ h?, '^^' '"'''^'''^ ^''^ "*^«J« as that these pits ha.l been builT 1 i ''P'" P^"'^' ^^ ^^emed to fron, llumbolclt on t Xtolltra ^bu uT^'^'^PV";^ ^"^^ ^^ -'»« that direction or it might h^ve been f^^ Tl,''"' ""' '^"""^ i" Marching through a half breed It ? . ™"''^ *''^ ^°'"«« ^o'' "s. Iwa.sumtble to^fii^d the name of T'" -T'^ ^^ Batoche, which kous,., barns. {^■l'iZZeL"''i '''""'' '^""*'""«^' «°'"'' «ood and pitched our tent>fonheT,sH.' V """'^^ *"'' *''« '%'ht the entrenchments with our blanL '" ^T '''/'''' '^'^^'''^ 1'^'" in A heavy rain fell to-night the fir '^ rhld T "' '''^ ''^^^ '^^^^ '''^y«' Creek. Next day the fsth tht nSun^d In ^nd^r S^tr '' ^'^' det^ichiuent went out on the hunt after R.V T ! n Outhng gun Wn^' captured and brought into ca,n about f m'T*'- "'" *""'"»^'' noon by Howie and Armstrong ^ P f^*/"""- o'clock in the after- .hereabouts before huTtt itin t ^'^^^'^ our comrades of the W^Lrpe/Seld p'tf "^ °" *^" "'^^^''^^ ^y Jfavourite being "We In't St ^^^^'K ''""^^S songs, the .ding in ago'od Irut in :hth we'^llToutro"^^"^^' '^'^^ ICaiiiped to-night at "Beaver Ore J" ^\«f «»*«'> ourselves hoarse. K Befo^ ,^,i„, 5™ j>^, r.S'';™ ■* .'Tia^™: 36 »ROM THB ST. LAWRENOB the following telegram from Lord Wolesley, commanding tl... troon, m Egypt, was read out to the different corps on parade :_ ^ "To General Mid.lleton. Batoohe, "^"'''''"' ^^"^ """•• ^^'''■ Best congratulations to you and my old gallant comrades of Canadian Militi. 8gd. Wolesley" "' The following telegrams were also received from His E.vr.-lloncv the Governor-General, Lord . Lansdowne, and from Sir A P (C. Minister of Militia and Defence. """' "Accept ray hearty congratulations on your success, you have had i tu- t exceptional difficulty, please tell your gallant soldiers that as the Que',! 'sL^ seutativo here. I congratulate them on their hehaviour, not only in i^ fit but during the toils and hardships of the advance. Th- list of cL ii 'i fear heavy, we can ill aflbrd to lose such officers as Captain i" nch n , ' . Sgd. Lansdowne." The Major-General has much pleasure in communicatintr to th« troops, the following message from the Minister of Militia to Z force as well as himself. "* "Accept for yourself, your officers and men our congratulations for the brilliant victory you have achieved, I mourn the loss of so many brave men, falL i held of honor in defence of law and order. Do every thinir that ci , i for the wounded and let me kno,, as soon as po7ib fh^w ther« r iS"; With regard to the above message the M^or-General has alreadv- W wpjff .r^ i9"/r™^''*^A°°P'-f ^'' appreciation and thanks for tie,^,,l„ .^. *S ^^i^ i"f ■ ^"* h^ J"".^** *" P"' ''»«"' >n "«ord in general ordo s « dl add that ho feels very little if any thanks are due to him. as he cons In th he owes all the success of that , fay to the, duck and dai^of tiro' .■ rs an men." Extract from Division Order 14th May 1885." "■""'"'" ""'""and So much for telegrams— now for the road, starting off we soon came into a different country from that we had just left. Settlers houses and ploughed fie ds, giving everything a more home like look than we had been used to for some time past. Some of tlie settlors hod ventured out of Prince Albert on to their farms, but in most cases their houijs were empty and the land lying uncultivated. Soon we got covered with the black dust which rose from the trail in a cloud and made us look like a lot af coal heavers; it was nfext to impossible to get a drink of water, and all of us were nearly choked with thirst the battery men being worse off in this respect, as we were walking in the clouds of dust raised by our horses and guns. At last about eleven a. m., we entered into a long irregular street of houses skirt- ing the river, the 90th Battalion band playing music, relieved bvthe drum and fife band of the 10th Royals, passing the Mounted Police and Prmce Albert Rifles, who, under command of Col. Irvine were drawn up to welcome us in, we got the command to "halt," "front" and after an eighteen mile march we were in Prince Albert. ' TO THE NOBTH SASKATCHEWAN. 37 ;im, May 15th., 1885. from Sir A. P. C.iron, CHAPTER IV. rnOM PRINCE ALBERT TO FORT PITT tne nuason Bay Company have a store in the town. The DODuktinn Ui. btack d^ttrom our countenances, th, votatT^Tiated SI? .hf=], the Commnd,„,t atLr SS/a tew w^! L"" P?'"»l i° 3S PnoM THE ST. LAWKfiNCB away Ins " reaty >' medals from him. About 6 p.m., the, Iti-lu Divis.oa of "A." Battery with one tield gun and a giutlin^ C ordered to parade for embarkation on the «toamer "North-W.st • for transport to Battleford, after marchinK a distance of thre.' .i,il,. we embarked, and taking ott' our accoutrenumtB commenced to t.kc in au.l stovf away Kua and small-arm ammunition, which k.'pt u. going uatd eleven o'clock at night, after which we had tea and w,,it to sleep on our oat sacks. Next morning Boultons troop can,,. „ board with their horses, ami the M;dland Battalion, numbering auJt three hundred of all ranks, with their stores; so we were n.vt tightly packed, over four hundred men in thehold, the horses ,,,, tl,;, treight deck playing a tattoo over our heads, making it anyOiin- but pleasant at night, especially when we wanted to sleep I," acldi ion to the before mentioned troops we had with us c/.-nrnd Middleton and his stafl. About 10.30 a. m., we steered awuy the river towards Battleford, which is a distance of about cAn! dred and seventy miles from Prince Albert. The descripcou of boat used on the Saskatchewan is the stern wheel pattevn, v.l.icl, draws a light draught of water, about four feet, with a hold for treight, freight deck saloon or passenger deck, and a hurricane .Ink- on which IS built the wheel-house. The shifting sandy bed of th. river makes the navigation difficult, and it is no uncommon tiii„„ poled off. All of the boats barry with them what for want of „ better word I should call a navigating lieutenant, whose duty it is to make soundings with a pole marked in feet, and shouting out every now and then to the steersman something liL, ^he following,-" five feet, live feet scant, no bottom » and so on ; some of our fellows soon caught up the cry, and soon "six fee^, scant, no bottom,*' was hrim sung all over the steamer. Wood is burned for fuel, and large depots of It are placed at intervals along the river banks. As night travel on account of the sand bars is impracticable the steamer is hitelid up to a tree from dark to daylight ; as the nights are comparatively short in this higher latitude, this makes but a small delay Al' along the river banks is a dense bush which comes right down to the wa ers edge. On Saturdao^ 23rd we had a messenger from Pound- maker, who boarded us under a flag of truce, Poundmaker offerin- to give up his prisoners and plunder, but as the General wants hint to give up his arms no proper understanding was come to. A lieavv ram fell, we fixed the gattling on the saloon deck, and fixed tlma^ upon the freight deck so as to be well under cover in case we got fared upon from the banks. " ^ext day, Sunday, 24th, we had divine service, which was con- duqted by General Middleton, and was concluded by us singin.r the National Anthem in honor of Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queeu ; "il^^Sr"',!*'"'! ^''*^^^y '* ^•^- Aften^ards we were visited by some Halfbreeds who came on board, and at sundown we reached i>out 6 p. m., tlu) Hijriii gun ttiid a gattliii;^ wim stoamtT " Nortli-W. .St ' I distance of three luilcs ents commenced to take nunition, which k<'|]t un cli we had tea and wim Boulton's troop ciiiiic nn itaiion, numbering aliuut res ; so we were picttv 3 hold, the horses oi, din wis, making it anytlijn.- wanted to sleep. In 3 had with us Gcncriil 1., we steered ftwiiy up tance of about cu > lum. t. The deacripfidii of 1 wheel pattevji, v. Iiid, ' feet, with a h'/ld f,ir t, nnd a hurricane deck fting sandy bed of the is no uncommon thinf; md then she has to lie lem what for want of a ant, whose duty it is to md shouting out every 1 *he following, — " five ):ne of our fellows snon no bottom,*' was heing T fuel, and large di-jiots nks. As night travel the steamer is hitched fhts are comparatively ; a small delay. Al! lines right down to the lessenger from Pouiid- "oundmaker offering to General wants him to as come to. A heavy leek, and fixed tliiiiip : cover in cose we irot rvice, which was con- led bj' us singing the cious Majesty, Queen i we were visited by sundown we reached TO TIP NORTH SASKATCHEWAK. M our camping ^o„^,;'Jj;*J;;'-';]||'.w^ e usual Horse, afounted Police Dis,.,n ..V ,""'"'"'' «» ^"llows : - H„iton'H an.! Midland Hattal r Sltut' '""" '^^ ^^- ^^- A., Queen's w, of the loveliest «pots"whicrwf , i'Tt's"' *"• "^ f ''"'^ ^"- " « The set lement is built on a pen "sulf. f . ■ T *''" ^^'-^J'-West. Smjkatchewan an.l Battle riw-r „" ,,1J'""' '•*'*^^^" *''« North Baltleford, which place the rnr;„.' ,"''f « ""•■ """"P was "old" of the troubles ; ^Lis '^^^ " "'^ X, :??' ''' ^'^ -"""encent t House, the seat of the North- wl^ tiement contained Governn.ent ferml to Regina. Poundmtl^r's pS"?"* '"'"''.^ '' ^^ *••-- an.l we expect that to-morrow w/I^-.?' T '^""""g "'*" camp como n.to Battleford. Gm' u "' '''" *'"»* mioubtable tS o,onth would see us honre £"thS":: w/ n'«"'^ Y'^^' ''"^* -«^ - haute m Que|,ec, how far tl is tde "? V '''" ^''•' ^°'""'i«" '''^y afternoon Poundmaker sent i the Ba Tl . I""" ^ '^" '^"°^'- This tanuHl s.nce April. On Tue ay 4Sf ^^r^' T^ ^'''•'''' '"^ l^ad de- fro... Poundnuiker were sen? ff'n"^ ' ^ '°' ''^ H'Ufbreed prisoners L;mtleman, with about twe^Si;^^^^ '^^-^ -«" S "pow wow " ensued. After thin ,^! councilors, came in and a great With two of his chiefs were mo ^-''^'"S ^'ft^f* out Poundnmker terracks for safe keeSnr''Trt P7°»^rs and sent into trj pol.ce kthe Stony Indian^ favem"selfurr' ^''''''' ''^^'" '-^rSor K"i"It; hepleodedinexcuseLZn.^.P .*?."'• acknowledging his oNt anything to eat, he "e^,! Lp ''"* *'?*'»« '-'"W being sick with refused with an intima^ tlLt^^h: Sn'^^^'",' '°^^°°'^' «"«' »^ "8 J would shoot bin., he said tha he shot " . "^'^' °"* ^' (^''y^ |«" self-defence oe, "do with me as you wfh but^I l.?""? .*^'^"*' ^'"^^^^^ "P ^ jus! hot course, do not vouch for' the Wh Vf."^r^'^^ and family." lean vouch for being present at fh '' °^ ^^^ Indian's story but '-■slated to the gZ7T tZSlZ t^' bearing his la^Ju';* htmk of arms were brought in/' f pnsoners, about 250 Fl.ee. As it was well Cwn that t?/ '"^ ^'^"^^'^ ^^^^ *« the Fs^essjon of his braves PounLake/on b """'" "^''^ *™« i« the J hereabouts, replied that about one b.T^.'^"''*'°"'^ •"*« t^^ir Jfou..g men had kept them and\ i ""'''^^ '^"^ twenty of his |.nother rooster whom we expe tl t ^""' °^ *° J°'" "4 Bear '' If **7'ewhere in these notes that ^l-TT^!"'^'" ^'*'^- I have f 'a"s, but I make an excentTon • 5 '^ "°* ''^'"'^ ni"ch of the In leaker, being the n.ost noble ll" ^°',°^ '"^^ ^''^ C^ie^. Pound tn on the plains; Sh^tsJ^^":^ ^"^ ^'S^^^^^ ""ed man I ha^ l« councillors seemS ?he^!^ ^^ ™«^« ^m, and he sat amtntj H. Having some curiosity^ to ?r°"-''"''l°^*" *he dusky 3 s oottie years ago, wlien the '-■■•"ttTiSS"™'^ ko PnOM THE HT. LAWRHNCK 1 * liiifTiilo wero plentiful on tJio pliiiim of tlio North-west, tlu'v wore Htiipio iirticlcs of usn ami coiiiincree for tlio IixliuuH, PouiKlninkfi-, thou II young man, had aL'<|uiro(l ^'reat Hkill an a huiit(>r, and as pDw der and sliot wero not to l>e easily had, he contrived a pinij uf n "pound," and, driving tho animals into this placo, Hliot, or otlni wise killwl them ; hence tlic name, " Maker of the Pound, or I'uuiid maker." Heveral peo|)le having ask(!d me tlie origin of tho, to tlum, strange name, I have ventured to give thiH explanation in hoptnthat it may Im new to Kome. Next day we wen^ visited by lots of Indians, and our felldws rlid a great trade with them in tlw^way of buying "curios." Tin DOtli Battalion camo in yesterday from Prince Albert; a ff)ot-bull imudi was played to-day between the 90th IJattalion and the Queen , (iwii Rifles, resulting in a victory for tlie latt«'r corps. On Tlnirsduv, 28th, the remainder of " A" Hattery joined us, having come up from Carleton by boat. Orders were issued to-night culliu;.' l,r volunteers to serve in the North-West for a short term ; — nun from the pennam lit corps not eligible. As our clothing was nearly played out we got fitted up with a kind of canvas suit and blooiiiiii out Into prairie dudes. On Saturday night, 30th May, a mounted iiihs- senger arrived from General Strange asking for re-inforcenicnts, und soon we were all in hurry and bustle again, l>eing ordered to cmlMrk at midnight, but this order was changed to embarkation in tlin morning, and a good thing it tlirned out to be morning, as the niijlit set in wet souie of our fellows who went on fatigue getting ilniichcd to the skin. On Sunday morning, therefore, we embarked on IkwkI the steamers " North- West," and " Marquis," the " Alberta' lieing | loaded up with supplies. Our forces consisted of about the following number of trooj)s. On I board the "North-West," General and Staff, Midland Battalion, 35 men of "A" Battery, 35 men of "B" Battery with two gatlinjiguusl and about two hundred thousand rounds of small arm ball caiuid^'c, and gatling gun ammunition. On board the "Marquis" wore] the 90th Battalion, 10th Royals, Teamsters and their teams,! Boulton's Horse, Surveyor's Corps, Mounted Police, and Freiah'sj Scouts, proceeding to Fort; Pitt by the trail. Fort Pitt is distautj from Battleford about one hundred and thirty miles by liver, audj ninety odd miles by trail, and tho country looks from the riverl firetty mubh as it did in the iourney from Prince Albert to Buttle-I ord. On our Sunday journey, we had a messenger from OencraU Strange, who gave us a pretty good idea how things were lookiug in that quarter. Next morning we got under way, and going on little way picked up a barge containing ammunition, and in which was a p^rty of 65th (Montreal) and some half-breeds. On arriviud pearly opposite General Strange's oosition, the news came on board that " Big Bear" had cleared out, leaving his camp " all standing,] and heire was a nice state of affairs, as instead of having to fight hiq SB- TO TIIK NORTH 8A8KA1CUKWAN. 41 U lit French mail's KnoJI wi. wniii,i »,„. » i .;"..l P^...u,>H ,ott.. altuL:."' etrp"r "oT !''" ^" ^''^ ^^^^ tins uftcriKKJii Uorienil Ht.,., ""''*'"' P'"' of tlio suiiiiii..r. Mvlv akingwith hi,,, the whit,,, and J f T' '^ ^^^^ ut ahout four hu„tlnl yards f ..Tth" ,?or , , "'' ? '■'.""'""« y*-""'"! .in.l awaited further orders S^^s 1 ^ "r" "^ *'"' '■'^■'"' l"'""* k>uin.,ey a,.d Mrs. Qui„„ey wh bof T" \ "7 *''" R"^''' ^I"-- ^iH^ndia,. Chief^sl.; \S^^^^^^ --I- fnuu rner to Hattleford for provU s O " ') "''''^ '''•opiH'.l ,low„ tho '' ^''«'"^1'? of each Battalion, IGatUr/Tun r.V n^f' ^"'''^^' "% 'ne.i an.l Mr. Rivers went o?t„^ oi.^K?'" ff' ^'^P^*^'" "'"^•^'•d f..r the mounted men. Early oC hi "^^ ^''"'^J'^? "' " ''^'^'^^ up -steam on the ''NoSw'' wVT'''"*^. °^ *'"' '^*''' Sottmg M'''"* °"*' '' ^''°'« '«* «' Deianey and Go>vanlock the iSet w 'I' '""/ '""?"« *''^"' ^^^e Mrs. the others campin.^ ODDosite lh« i ' r "^ °'[''°'^'"^' *'"^ "North-West ' oa the third. reZ-iJZt,u\tu::ir'i''''^'''' """ ^^'' --"^ -* been found impracticable A ot of tfr '''T'"""*^^' '"*'"' '''^^'"S wereunloadingLmuaition on board t^^So^^w'^^^" ^^'^^ J>«her pay being at ti.>e time in recSt of ir 0-^''* r "'"'^^°'' Sunday 7th the Midland' R„ff r receipt ot igri.OO per diem. On Creek^>y s^'aS Xfc^V.y °LKt to^ the^i,.r to " Fr^g miles inland, to the scene of the Tf. 1 ^ ^''^' ''" "■• «^'en of the enemy making th s place a base of"'''''.?'' *'"^' '" *''« «^«nt made lively for him^ A Wort rtoh^H °P^7*'«"« things would be Queen's Own Rifles and tKouXl i"' *'"' 'Z*''"''^" *''''*■ *»>« T-.Alberta'> eaL-rS.r£i-^3r--£^ I ■'-■^"'i^gliT^^ ^ FnOM THE ST. tAWRBNCB ne: x^ay for Edmington. noon that our column 1*^ * News came in from the front this aftir- had come across a lot of the enemy's caiiip equipage, waggons, buck-boards, &c., which they had left bcliinrj them in their Hight. Our column left all their tents, &c., bcliiud them, only taking with them a single blanket so as to get over the ground quickly. The river rose about six feet during the ni^tht bringing down everything with it in the shape of lumber. Depots for provisions had now been made all along the line of mar< li ut intervals of about eighteen miles, and our fellows were about eii;lity miles from the Head-Quarter camp of Fort Pitt. Newspaper ami other reading material being scarce at this place some of the fellows fell back upon their natural gifts and invented a few good lies, dipss ing up old ones and serving them up as new. On Thursday 11 th news came into camp that the General finding the forest impnutic- able had retraced his steps, this report was verified by the return of the troops to camp on the following day. On Monday, June l.")tli, a company of the 10th Royals went up the river to Frog Luke oii the steamer " Alberta " returning at night ; a party of the !)Oth Battalion going out to Big Bear's late encampnient, accompanied by teams, brought in three waggon loads of provisions which that j^eii- tleman had left in his hun-y. A report came into camp this after- noon that over two hundred of the Chipawayan Indians had surrendered themselves to General Middleton. I6th Jnne- The steamer " Baroness " with two cdmpanies of the Midland Battalion and a lot of boxes containing articles from the friends of the Volun- teers came up from Battleford, as a lot of the boxes and other tliin;^ had been "gone through " there was no end of a row, but for all tlmt the fellows in camp had a good time at night. 17th. The companies of the Midland battalion who arrived liere yesterday went on to Frog Lake by steamer. 18th. Some of General Strange's men in camp to-day, their headquarters are at " Hen" Lake. More provisions sent away to General Middleton's camp. A fearful thunder storm set in to-night, the rain falling in torrencs and drenching us all to the skin. 19th. The "North-West" went up the river to-day having pro- visions for the troops on hoard, taking in addition twenty thousand rounds of Snider and about five thousand rounds of other ammuni- tion with her. News reached camp this afternoon of the release of Big Bear's prisoners. The General arrived in camp to-night. 20th. Release of Big Bear's prisoners confirmed, the General and a party of mounted men going out to meet them, taking with them boxes of clothing for the use of those who stood in need of these articles. 22nd. Big Bear's prisoners 'arrived in caTip this morning (the McLean family being among the number) and went on board the " Marquis." W's ' «^ wm lion who arrived liere TO THE NORTH SASKATCHEWAN. ^,. different homes, it havhf' £ dZ ^'f !"*''• "^'"^ ^^'"''"S tor their well known Bi« Bear wa- o^nf ^ .^ \^''^ "P *'>« «''ase; as is Police at CarllnTn tie be£n. / r'f ^"^^l^-West Mounted Batteries of Artillery, w th t£ C" S > l^^ V'! "^" "^"^ "»" Pitt for Battleford ok the forenoon o1 7 l/"^"*''^' ^^^^^ ^^^t their destination on the 30th and T. ^^^^ '^""^' ''''"^''^g '^O rades of the mounted divli'^ohLle™' r^'l"^^ *'"'• •^«'"- and compared notes about our kstirSh-';' •""* ^'*'^ ^°^- <^"«'-' us, commenced a long spell of iarrjJn , .' '^""W'" ^'"' "«^. f«r only by an occasional dTy' sLSLLTr ^ ^ 'l f^^^^^^^d, relieved our annual course of rifle nrao nf ''""''f * ™^**^''- We had police barracks, and drills aEwd^""^P-r*''"' ^'^^'^''^^ ^^ *''« called home, but that comfort wald • J'^S ^''P^^^^tio" of being for on Saturday, the lihoS.l^*'^ *''" ™"" °* ^''^ batteries! General, at OttJ;a,:aite?;etderin:^^?^^^^^^^^ *^ ^- ^• government house for the winter, and ''c^ Sclnln/?'-!^ *"• °'""P^ JjJ^^been our comrade for the "wlnte", Itrol^^Jt^^rt ihotx^inSvtto'tVot^t^arv"^^^^^^^^^ -^'^^^ - accurate idea of our trin frnLn V^° f^^^^ ^ read them a fairly many details. tLnkirXuhetSS.^ ^T ^'"^ ^ ^"^^^ °"i««^' interest to be read 1 hone I haTeTAlli^i ^« P««««««ed of sufficient^ of things, believing tKthiSTlh^r ""/"." *^«S'°°"y«ide worse. FormyolLomradesof " V'R .*. x* T^** ^* ™'g'»* be the hail fello^ well met feeliL of ^^^fl^^ \ ?^" '^'^^J'* have remembering the living to the rfl "i'^if ^ *>"?«• ^^^ ^^ile who lost thJr lives in t^alfof =5? feet fhtls't^o'^r ^" "Their good swords i-ust, 1 heir bones are dust, , rJieif Souls are with the Lord we trust." ^ THB END. ,:!)