New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-15
CANADA'S WAR EXPEDITION.


GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
OTTAWA, July 12.-From the diary of a re-
turned friend from the camp Thunder Bay, from notes
taken during long and interesting conversations with
him and letters received from correspondents serving as
volunteers with the expedition, able to give you
faithful account Of the doings Of the expedition TO Red
River since its departure from Toronto
The raising Of military force for the subiugaon of
the Rebels considered matter OF difficulty,
although, TO this moment, the Quebec battalion has
been ConpeteG, while large proportion~of the
mon composing that battalion volunteers from the
non-disbandcd Royal Canadian Rifles. Originally. Capt
Cameron expected to get together detachment OF
900 mounted police half police, half soldiers but tuoIe
cutlery. Capt. Cameron Of the "blarsted renee
regulations Capt Cameron, the swell; the aristocfa tne
disdanf, the Dundreary Of the service ndeeu' ROOM
they would none Of Capt. Cameron" Meanwhile capt
Cameron name appeared in the Government organs,
the editors Of which given to understand &c,
and authorized 20 state &c, Sc; and Capt Cameron
reported going here and flying there ana ralroau
ing anywhere, In pursuance Of his new and arduous
duties But at length there came little newspaper para
rrapl breathing softly, like official whisper that the
writer was gwen TO understand" that the idea of
mounted police force had been abandoned, and since then
We have heard nothing of Capt Camerons mounted
blue coats.
Tue ACTIVE MILITIA AND THEIR TRmULATIONs.
The regular force of "Activc Militia for the Red River
service" Organized-in General orders ! have
the pride ami privilege OF possessing copy OF this now
rare aud valuable manuscript. IL points out how many
men each battalion in the country might contribute,
where they were to rendezvous, what pay they would
receive and fact gave the heroes Of Canada chance
10 earn glory in gray serge and moecasns on terms pc
Culiarly advantageous 10 the paterna Government "a
some OF these warlke gentlemen are beginning to ma
ont To their cost After delays and very little OF the
prompt volunteering expected, the Ontario contingent
began 10 approach completion and Quebec,
strong in the aid Of the royal Canadian dis
banded warriors, made fair show But
some DAYS volunteers out Of 100 found physically
ircepacatCd Tor active service and had TO be sent back
totleir homes gaIlant. but unsomd The great ma
j,rty who presented themselves were instantly rejected
Oh pur medical grounds Those who selected may
bc medically sound, but many quite unfit 10 carry
lnapsack and undergo the tolls Of a campaign. They
have been toleraby wen drilled. They are drilled in
squad. at their barracks Toronto, soon as accepted
and drafted into companies. Some Of them had
70 sleep ON the floors, some had no kind Of
stores served to them and had TO forage for food
and very few able TO boast clearly toilet amid the
NTH " their baIraek Ks and the neglect Of the authorities
Those Quebec naturally found themselves at logger
heads with those from Ontario. Now and then phyllis
tc combat would come off, with sergeant for both bot
tohoder and captain for referee and truth cOmpe
to say Quebec of second best most occasions
The officers slowly selected After the officers the
clothing in little parcels arrived and solitary individuals
arraycd themselves dressed in many cOlors prom
cnaded the dusty yard. soapsuds dripping from the
floor OF Company Seven above into the eyes and mouths
OF snoring Company Five below, may specimen
Of camp life private JONES' anxously aided by corporal
Smith, investigating certain unwelcome adj
ditions TO the happy family, made up
quite domestic, If not delightful picture. On
The wayside were warriors polishing their boots with
tuft Of grass emitting with knives their brisng boards
fingers or striving exc repose the bare boards
which fathcrly department had yet forgotten TO fur
nish with bedding With without uniforms, in every
variety Of costume these braves went through Their
daily pcuance Of drill and short allowances. The art
crafty bscSwoodsmen and hunter of the plans-the art
these men fgt itmust he individual skill in crafty Skin
mishng and sharpshootng that Will carry them to vic
tory.
GREAT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES T. g STEAMER ARCTIC AND
HER $4,000.
The preparations for the expedition of extra
ordinarily liberal kind Many of boats were built
at distances from the of operations ingeniousy
contrived that the of their transport must become
one Of the heaviest items Of the bill Horses were bought
at fabulous prices by Commissioners aided by brokers,
agents and servants whose salaries. commissions and al
luwauces viii double the original cost and these horses
sent without further ado TO seken and dieno
veterinary surgeon being appointed till the evil had been
Nyronght and then the official described in
competent. Carriers and Transfers were engaged, az
a stable, and Indians sent forward 10 make
roads, who were capital hands at singing, ana
whose work has fallen upon the warriors themselves,
Scouts aud guides IN profession proved aDundanty their
perfect acquaintance with every track 10 Fort Garry
except mat t. be followed. The celebrated Dawson
road mas been described triumph Of art and ingenu
ity and cost many hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
But the very first step taken was TO discover newer
and shorter routes aud construct more supstaal ana
equally expensive roads Upon this work the force has
2 .t tr gg 1 tine f this month With much triumph
and gee il was last week announced that the first stretch
of corduroy and earth had been successfully laid and
IN" troops would go forward as upon NlcOl-
P2yeme9t L. ne the coS storms stnc beat bon ae
lcfsy, and the portages, over which everything
was 10 be carried dryshOd became rushing rapids many
fet deep All that could done was wait patiently
AND begin al over again. Por! and biscuit powder and
camp utensils have been arriving In so great profsOn
they have lain for days unprotected and unclassi
led. Plenty Of steamboats, have been chartered, so
many indeed that found necessary to engage the
American steamer Arctic for 40 days at the sum Of $4,000
10 carry freight &C. service she has never been called
upon to perform any appreciate extent thus afford
ing $50 day. When my friend left the tents were
erected and stores were coming on-sowly but surely
The Red River actiye-seryce militia should be known
40 i yr6 Two ont Of every free Volunteers stole
begged bought enticod away dog apiece. Some OF
+bat sausascs and minced meat pies fell fabulous in
price during the stay there of the gallant "expedOn
<rs." 1t Is sad fact 10 state but the dogs dogs, so
sine linen but the bottles have found watery |
grave. and much Of the fine linen has gone TO |
were corkscrews baskets, Dishes tins lamps, button
hOers nut-cracks, gimlets screws and screwdrlvers
box. There marvellous things in shavingtackle;
little box warranted to outlast the hardest service
fitted complete Win razor tht "Ou9 ht shaNe, soap
that wouldn't lather and glass that wouldn't reflect In
research They are some Of them, wonderful and aw
fully made; blankets which lost color and shrunk All
these things have disappearedOr disappearing as the
himself however said but the other day that "a soldier
On camp cannot be as Clearly as soldier III barracks
tue Heads Of Departments permitting
ACTUAL WORK
When the men were discmbarked the tents were
pitched at place called Prince Arhur's Landing, where
two small wharyes stages had been erected in very
shoal water On the shore are a dozen so Of small
stores shantes and tents in which goods kept and
where quite little Of rOydgems and other civilians
accompanying the eXpeht0naIe gaclOusly peimteutO