Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-24
Boston, Dec. 10

Boston, Dec TO-
We commenced some time ago a brief ac-
count of the disputes that have tax en- place
between the Earl of Selkirk's Colony and the
North West Company. The article then pub
iished, ended with the account given by friend
OF the North est Company, of the destruc-
zen OF party OF Seikirks men with Cow.
Semple at their head.-An advocate of the
Earl Of Selkirk, gives very different ac-
count OF this transaction. He relates, that in
the winter, Il large force was collected, hv re-
quisitons upon the various posts of the
North-W est, from Cumberland House to the
Uppcr-Saskatchewan, uuder the command
of Alexander Mcdonnell at the North w est
Port, on the river OH AppeHe; that about the
l2th OF May, fifty men of this party attack
ed party OF twenty-five men of the Hudson
Bay Company, who were proceeding down
the river i'll i've boats and % packs of fnrs and
GOO bags OF pimecan, made them prisoners.
ana seized their property. Mcdonnell after
wards marched for the Red River. ard In
his way, detached party of 25 men, who
took possession OF the Hudson -Ray Compa-
nys port ar Brandon House, and seized their
goods, provisions, and furs. The narrative then
proceeds as follows
About the 10th of June the expedition ach
Ell place called Portage lie Frairies, at the
distance OF about sixty miles from the Col
ony Al Red River, the intended scene of hos
tile operations. They halted at Portage des
iralries. nearly two days, during which time
the bags of Pimccan were brought ashore and
so arranged as to form rampant, which was
guarded by two brass sw!vcls, part OF the
arms taken from the settlement the year be-
fore.
On the 18th Of June, the Commander in
Chief detached body of abont 10 horseman.
under the orders of Grant, Iaserpe. Fraser.
Hoolc, and Thomas Mckay, with directions
10 attack aud DESTROY TIE Colony, and remain
eel himself, with the rest ofhis force and all
the property under his care at Portage de.
PraIries. Cuthbert Grant now assumed the
chief command Of this detachment which
was accompanied by two carts of oSisions
aud proceeded on horseback through the
plains and meadows Of this delightful region,
heretofore Represented by the North West
Company rs incapable of affordinr subsis-
tence,) until about . o'clock in the afternoon
OF the 10Th of June, when they reached the
Colony at Red River, henceforth deserving
the name of the River of Blood.
immediately on arriving at the first habi-
tations, they commenced their operations by
taking the settlers prisoners when n man,
stationed as watchman on an elevated part
OF the Fort or Government House, called
fort Douglass, gave an intimation TO the
Governor Of the arrival of this hostile force
The Governor then endeavored to recon-
noitre them with spv-glass, and distinctly
pgrcelVing 2 number OF men on horse. bark
and hoping by his appearance witha guard
as well rs by his authority to prevent any in
jury to the coionists, if the strangers were
hostilelymciined, called out in presence OF
some WHO are vet living TO attest the trufI,
of the facts related " We must 90 and meet
those people, let twenty men follow me -
Between twenty and thirty of the persons
who we're in the GOvernment-House,i instant
~ took their arms and accompanied him.
He was much beloved, and his people always
Showed such perfect Willingness to execute
his wishes, tllathe rather found il necessary 10
rcpress, than TO excite their ardour in his ser
vice. They had only proceeded some hundred
yards, when they were met b. several of the
CoiOnistS, running towards them in dismay
aud crying {. the Northwest Company" " The
half brcedsl
On advancing fHvihcr along the settlement.
to the distance Of about half mile from
Fort Douglass, some persons on horseback
were seen inst behind point of woods, and
on very little nearer approach. the party
OF cavalry appeared much more numerous
than had bccu at first imagined. The gov
ernor, IN Consequence, ordered his party to
halt and directed one Of bis men Ia ro turn
to tic Governmcnt-HOuse for a small niece
Of ordnance which was there. Almost i'm
mediately after the departure of the person,
thr body Of cavalry peTceivng the Cover
nor and his party, and OF course fOrcSeeing
q very speedy and successful termination to
their expedition, rode up 30 them at Il raj
Top, aud 10 prevent their escape, formed a.
round them IN seiui-cfclc, to the number
Of betwccn siNty and seventy. As the horse
men bad advanced, the Governor had at
tempted to retreat. but tor so few TO escape
from nearly treble their numbers cf cavalry,
was imyracticabic. IS soon as the horse
mon had taken their position round nc gov
crEDrs party, one Of their number, = Cana
dal IN the N0Ftl-Wcst COmpauy's service,
Ofthc name o. B0uchc) rode UP to the gov.
crnOr from tle eneinys iiuc, waving his
hand, and calling out, what do you want /"
10 which Tue governor replied " what do
gcH waui" isouche, hay ng now come W to
the governor said, we want our Fort"
upon which tie governor answered, " 20
fl