The New York herald., 1870-05-16
TIE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
The Canadian Steamer ChicOra Stopped
at the st. Marie Canal.
The Canal Closed to Men and
Supplies.
Unexpected and Prolonged Delay
Of the Expedition.
SAULT ST.. MARIE CANAL, |

HERALD's readers viii have been informed by tele-
graph OF the closing OF the American canal at this
place to the Canadian Red River expedition and the
stopping OF the steamer Chicora with supplies for
Fort william. This unexpected event viii delay the
expedition long lime and, In conjunction with the
sowness everywhere observable in fitting out the
command, will undoubtedly postpone Its departure
until wen into summer. AS indicated in my previous
correspondence would be the case, the expedition
proves to be a greater undertaking than Canada
realized, and In showing how slowly Its organization
IL draggug along 1t Will be found interesting to go
quickly the work thus far accomplished, and
now so suddenly checked month ago the call
was made for Red River volunteers, programme
for the expedition was announced, and it was pre-
dicted that the command would be ready TO leave
COngwood by the 2d OF May. Toronto was desg-
mated place OF rendezvous for the troops a
camp OF instruction was to be established at Coling
wood aud people suggested that by the 1st of June
the entire expedition would leave Fort William, on
the western extremity OF Lake Superior nearly
700 miles from Toronto, on It's way to Fort Garry.
COMMENCEMENT OF TIE EXPEDITION.
While the Dominion Parliament was hotIy discuss
Ing the Red River question and hesitatng about the
programme for the. campaign the HERALD CORE.
spondent busted himself about military headquar-
ters In quest Of details OF the expedition but with
the exception Of General Lindsay and Colonel Wolse-
ley, no seemed to have the slightest idea Of
what to be DONE The people throughout
Canada supposed that wonders were being accom-
plished at Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec and Toronto,
when really each OF those cities was as devoid Of
military news as If there was no expedition contem-
plated. The newspapers from day 70 day gave lists
Of volunteers, ana accounts OF intended movements
that Indicated the immediate departure Of the ex.
pelition, and on the 1st OF May the public had an
IDEA that the command was nearly ready to leave
Indeed cn the seth Of Aprll the belief prevailed In
Montreal tn portion o. the command had already
started, and this understanding was so general in
official quarters that the HERALD correspondent pre-
parsd, with no small degree OF haste, 80 Join the
advance for the seat Of war.
AT an interview with Colonel WOlseley, the COM
mander Of the expedition, was informed that the
command would consist OF about 1000 men, one
third of whom were regulars; that six months
supplies, weighing 800 tons, would be taken;
That he should visit Toronto and Collngwood
on the 4h TO ship road builders and material for
fort William; that 200 regulars would leave for
Fort William by steamer the 7th; that the remain
der Of the expedition would speedily follow and
tnat tney expected 10 be On the march beyond Lake
Superior py the last of the month The Colonel also
said that no newspaper correspondents would be
permitted TO accompany the expedition beyOnd Fort
William; but that they would be gladly met and wei
coined on the arrival OF the command at Fort Garry
All THIS looked exceedingly like business. squad
OF Montreal volunteers were going out on Monday,
late to get OF with the first troops Colngwood
the HERALD correspondent seized his carpet bag and
took the first tram Tor Toronto the military rendez
vOus. expecting 10 find that city alive with troops
and the notes Of war sounding on every hand.
Toronto was found apparently as utterly devoid of
ahytning IKE inihtary prepara IONS as any city IN
The States About fifty rough-looking men got or
the tram and commenced mquring for the barracks.
Nobody knew ANYTHING about tncm. The tram lett,
passengers, hackmen, bootblacks and the railway
station hangers on generally dispersed, and alter
considerable search indiVduai In citizens dress
appeared AID, announcing himself as an officer,
d. ected the man in charge OF the squad 10 rake his
men out to the bindings IN the fair grounds. A
ConnOissancc, made very tdly IN OF the
expected immediate departure OF troops for ColliDg
WOOD, discovered that there was not an organized
company in the place. ana that the only
symptoms Of war consisted OF hall dozen drill
sergeants putting about forty raw recruits through
course Of sprouts III front OF the Lunarc Asylum,
from whose windows Il motley crowd looked down
upon the comicai scene No provisions whatever
tears, who were grumDling at beng compelled 10
sleep the floor Of the balll-like lair buildings;
and the only thing about the Red River expedition
rendezvous OF Whch 80 much had been said, lndl-
eating military character consisted OF two OF three
relocated volunteers without arms on guard duty
AT the entrance TO the grounds. The ew oficers
about Toronto. upon being interrogaed respecting
the details OF their respective departments, expressed
themselves entreiy ignorant OF the part tney were
to take In the expedition They SAID they knew
nothing about the methods to be adopted for the
LranspO tation OF the supplies and nothing about the
programme OF the quartermaser, commissary or
hospital departments; tnat tney did not know when
they were to leave and that no troops were ready,
but that Colonel Somebody up at Colingwood had
charge of ali those matters, ana that Collingwood
was the great head centre OF the expeditionary pre-
paratiOns. Down at The wharf the scnooners Orion
and Pandora were taking on board -four, pork, um-
ber, lew boats and otner expedlt0nary material m
very Deisurely manner al the rate OF fifty dollars
charter money per day each, and u tug lay clcse by
waiting 10 tow the schouneIs through the Wella4d
Canal whenever they might get ready.
The first detachment OF the expedition must GER
talny have gone secretly on 10 COiinGWoO1, thought
the HERALD correspondent, and, once more grasping
his baggage, on he rushed to overtaKe the column
Tie train, after nearly six hours travel from the
green and fertile fields that surround toronto
through marshes and wide, drearY wilderness OF
dead pines, sc0rched and DlacGened by ma1y de.
stroylng 1res reached Colagnood late at nignt.
"Haye any, troops gone icrWardt' was the irst
aNo,' was the reply
"How many troops are at the camp Of ilstruc.
s'What camp Of Instructions
"Why, here at CoiiiIgwood;
"Aint any campn
.Where tile troopsr;
"Aint any,"
"Where can find the officer in charge o. the eX-
pedItions affairs ~,
"Aint any officer here2''
"Well. Isn't there anything being done here9
Haven't any supplies gone 1Orwardl Isn't The Chi
cora TO leave with troops for Fort William to-mor-
row?'
'Iook here, stranger, if you'll Jest go to bed and
git up in the morning you can see for yourself that
there amt nothing here, except steanDoat takln'
ON freight, without asking SO many d--l FOOLISH
CoLLINGwooD
was found next morning to consist OF about seventy
marshy with the waters Of Georgian Bay, that
stretch to the northward beyond the hor-
ZOn. All around the bay and back OF
the settlement is q circle Of heavy timber killed by
fire, whose black trunks and gray, leaess branches
stand ike the forest skeletons Of Dore's fancy In the
midst Of desolatlon Two small frame hotels, three
four stores, steam sawmlll and blacksmith
shop monopolze tile local business Of the place,
whose slumDer is barely disturbed twice day by
the whistle OF the tram 1t dashes through
the long narrow groove cut straight for many miles
through the wilderness. Investigation disclosed that
the steamer Algoma had lett on the sd for Fort VIII
Liam, with about $50 road builders and q cargo OF
Hour and pork, and that the ChcDre would leave
that day (tne 7th) with similar cargo. Relying
upon the statement made by Colonel Woiseley lew
days previous rnat 20J regulars were 10 go for
Ward by the Chlcora the arrival OF the noon
train was awaited with no little interest. About one
O'Clock 1t came In, bringing only party OF about
eighty men, consisting OF English, Scotch, French
ana indian laDorers. These were speedily trans
jerred TO the steamer, where they all employed
fn putting on board an immense cargo, including
wagons, nlteen large boats several hundred barre
Oi hour and pork, bales OF nay, lumber, &c. There
were no signs whatever OF "a military expedition.
al hrf fo,.