The New York herald., 1870-01-29
rne following cut gives = good
made hereafter.
idea OF the dag


is merely nominal there being only about fifty men
under arms, and these are employed ON guard duty
about the Tort Some time ago there We're about @ sSo
men organized into military command. out they
were never drilled or uniformed and are scattered
throughout the settlement, each pursuing his own
avocaton. trader named Poreland IS colonel
commanding this organization, and a captain Is
provided for every ten men. In case OF coercion
PROBABLY 500 men could be armed In the settlement
and II the Indians were TO make q descent upon the
settlement there might possibly be raised with the
aid OF the English and Scotch about 1000 men. The
Bess musket with flint locks. There are not dozen
breech-loadng rifles IN the settlements, as the hun
ters ind 1t dificut to keep themselves supplied with
and prefer the simplest gun that can be had.
They buy their powder and lead BY the
are plenty OF these old muskets with bayonets aud
ammunition in the settlements, and as all the
French half-breeds are splendid marksmen 500 OF
with their old Fashioned pieces. The dress OF the
settlers consists OF corduroy breaches with leggins
than hannel, long coat, with hood and belt, a
1ur cap and moccaSins. No stockings are worn, but
the iect and ankles ana the end tucked inside tue
moccasin. From one shoulder broad strap,
decorated with beadwork, hangs across the
chest and attached to the powder
horn, and from the other shoulder similar
strap Is suspended, to winch hangs the snot
and bullet pouch. Many OF the haf-breeds 90 with
their necEs and breasts exposed all winter, and do
not seem TO suier coid with the thermometer forty
degrees below zero There are SIX Ied pieces tsiX-
pounders) the tort, but the eammunition 1or them
is unit for use, and new cartridges must be made II
tney are ever brought into action The walls OF the
fort are diapidatea condition, and like the
board fence, would oler but little resistance to a
determined storning party. Outside Of the fort
there are no indications OF any change III afars, ex
cept tnat sentry Is sometimes seen about the en-
trance TO me garrison anu squad vi men OCCASION
ally sauner along WIN arms on some expedition 10
arrest Canadian sympasnilers.
THE RESOURCES
OF the new nation are extremely limited. The SOL
dIers aong guaIa duly are pald III clothing and pro-
ny. which were seized some tilne ago; but Inc pro-
visions consist caiehv of pemmIcan ldricd baIalo
financial affairs OF The government are probably sat
lsiactory for the present. About 81, 600 were OBJ
tanned IN the forced loan from the Hudson Bay
Company's SAFE ana with the control which the
Jesuit priests nave over The peace oI the settlements
soon. lne French hali-breeds are SIMPLE III their
habits, and viii be glad TO play solder for
food ana clothing until spring; but when that
opens 1t viii take something more DO
tent to restrain tnem slipping away
to the hunting grounds. fne wants or me
chase viii iorce hln away; ana those who are best
acquainted with ked River atars are Of the opinion
that nothing but the actual presence OF an enemy
near Fort Garry Will detain MIN III the settlements
after the hunting season has opened In Case oi an
attempt by the Canauan government to coerce the
settlements INTO submission t1eir headquarters
would probably be at
LOWER FORT GARRY,
eighteen miles below Rles headquarters. This fort
OF stone walls two lcet lnck and eight leet
hlgn, enclosing about SIX acres of ground. Iue
buildings inside all OF stone and are very soldy
constructed The tort is still Ia the hands OF tie
Hudson bay Company, and has, III addition to a
field piece, o large amount OF arms, ammunition
ana supplies stored within 1t. From this station
the boats were fitted out by the Hudson
Bay Company for the trading expeditions up Lake
Winnipeg and out along the various watercourses
tributary to It, Tue Red River settlers would
scarcely establish garrison SO far from their cen-
ire, and upper Fort Garry will undoubtedly be their
stronghold in case OF war.
THE PRISONERS
held by The new government NUMBER ABOUT nifty,
and consist OF active sympathlzers with the Cana
dian government All the reports respecting the
harsh treatment OF Dr. schultz and Others are
cdnardS. The prisoners are all treated alike anu
are confined together IN log building inside the
fort They are plenrifuiy supplied with lOod and
spend most OF their time playing cards. They d0ze
about the stoves Ia company with their guards and
concerned, than they would be II lree Those
who take the oath allegiance TO the
new government are Immediately released, and
DR.. Schultz and a few others OF the same class
held simply because they would be consplrng
against the authorities II at liberty. Father Thl-
Dault the Jesuit Wear General Of Canada VINO went
TO the settlement lew weeks ago TO influence The
priests and people In favor Of Canadian rule, Is re-
srlcted to the limits OF the ort and to that extent
il prisoner 1t being the purpose Of the Red River
authorities not TO give HIM an opportunity 10 do
mischief. Colonel Desalabury, who went with
Father Thibault an agent OF the Canadian govern
ment 10 buy out some or the Red River leaders,
cured pledge or personal freedom before he ap.
In the settlements but his actions are so closely
observed that he Will scarcely be aDle TO accomplish
anything.
GRAB GAME
There Is O new feature Of the Red River troubles
just coming to light which may bring about some
curious complications IN the final settlement OF the
question IL seems that the Hudson Bay Company
the Northwest Territory and the company's stock
holders in England are practically two different
Germs and that the former have long been expecting
the period to arrive when the stockholders would
sell out the charter OF the company ana suddenly
terminate the business which gave employment to
so many men. The managers, agents. &c, In charge
OF the posts and depots In the fur country pre-
pared TO secure their own interests whenever sale
OF franchise did take place. and, it Is alleged, li-
tended to the most they could ont OF the COM
pany's property. However unsubSGantlated may be
the charges that they designed seizng the companys
property there IS certainly goodsreas0n to suspect
from the fact that the ked River people had diffi
Guilty In taxing oil the goods belonging to the COM
pany which they wanted, that resistance was
offered 10 their seizing the safe, and that Governor
Mactaylsh, The chief OF the company, Is living in
Fort Garry Oh most amicaDle terms with Rie and
the Council Riel Is boarding IN the family OF a
chief trader OF the company and all the relations
between the Hudson Bay Company's Chiefs agents,
traders, &c., ana che Red River authorities OF
the most peaceful character. IL be easily under
stood how the Fur CUmpany's employees In the
Northwest Territory may be opposed to II transfer,
and at the same tne In favor OF war; the trans
fer would terminate their business relations AMI a
war would enable them to make good thing out
OF the pretended seizure OF goods. 1t IS believed by
many OF the best informed Red River matters,
Including intelligent Canadians, that the Hudson
Bay Company's agents in ihe Northwest 1errs0ry are
playing double game ana thai their principal Oh
ecs Is to appropriate to their own benefit the com-
pany's property at the depOts.
THE FENIANS
are also connected with the Red River government,
and are evidently preparing Tor vigorous cam
paign. O'D0notue, the secretary OF the Council Of
Ten, IS a prominent Fenian, and the snamrocks on
the flag Indicate that Fenan sympathy and aid will
be gladly accepted. An agent OF The head centre OF
the Fenian Brotherhood has already been up
in Red River in communication with the
Jesuit priests and has returned quite satisfied with
the result Of his mission. OF course no Fenians
could reach Fort Garry IN any number at this sea-
son, and even IN spring their movements would be
seriously lnterered with by the United States gov
ernment but II Indian outbreak occurs nostillties
Will extend 70 Dacotah aud Minnesota and OF the
thousands who would be locking this way ostensoly
to ngnt Indians ON American soil great majority
would very soon get across the border. An Indian
war would afford the opportunity for great many
Fenlans to reach Fort Garry, and the announcement
made some time since that The Feniaus will take the
Held next spring may not be without Importance IN
this connection.
The above is brief synopsis Of afAirs at Fort
Garry down TO ABOUT week ago. aud the latest aG-
vices from there indicated tnat everything would
remain quiet unl spring unless the Indians attacked
the settlers Particulars OF tue movements OF the
sioux were gwen In letter by the last mall from
this place, and there is serious apprehension that
the m huAfiItIes