Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-05-20
Wednesday. Nay 20, 1885.
Canadian War-Battle of Batoche.

knew from Inelr SCOUTS THAT the TcOSlo
were strongly entrenched at Batoche,
and great caution was exercised in
the advance. Half mile this side
of Batoche the troops heard the con-
tinuous whistling Of the steamer
Northcote, which had been sent for
ward the previous evening to attack
Batoche from the river. AS the
troops drew nearer the sound of heavy
firing was heard from the direction of
the river. Bottoms scouts, with a
Calling gun operated by Capt. How
ard, of the United States army, were
sent forward in advance of the main
body. AS they neared the river a
horde of rebels who had been firing
upon the steamer rushed up from the
ravine and took shelter in the bush
near by, from which they opened fire
upon our troops. The Calling gun
was at once brought to bear on them,
and they took refuge behind two
houses near the river bank. From
this stand the rebels were soon forced,
and on their retreat half score of
them were killed by the bullets of the
gun. The rebels then took refuge in
piece of bush near by, from which
point they kept up steady fire on
the troops for an hour. Their range
was so long, however, that but little
damage was done by the firing.
Middleton's tactics were to keep the
troops back as much as possible and
let the batteries do the firing, thereby
keeping the men fresh for an advance.
AT about 8 o'clock the firing became
hottest, and the rebels, being entrench-
ed in every possible vantage point,
continued to pour volley after volley
into the troops. The strongest posi-
ton taken by the rebels was in ra-
vine sloping to the river, and from
the rife-pits in this ravine the insur-
gents continued to pour their bullets
into the ranks of the government
forces. AT this stage of the fight
Middleton gave orders to charge into
the ravine, and accordingly Capt.
French's dismounted scouts, accom-
panied by A battery, dashed forward
against the rebels. For half an hour
they struggled to drive them out, but
after many gallant but vain efforts
they were forced to retire, bringing
their wounded back with them. The
grenadiers now advanced into action
and deployed into line, continuing to
advance in skirmishing order until a
church was reached. From this q
priest came out, waving a white flag
as a sign of truce. Gen. Middleton
and his staff advanced and shook
hands with him, when three other
priests and five sisters Of charity came
out. They professed loyalty, and Gen.
Middleton promised them his protec.
ton. The priests stated that the
steamer had arrived at n point little
above Batoche at $50 that morning,
and the rebels Immediately began to
fire on her from both banks of the
river. Shortly afterward the steam
er struck OH the mud-bank, but
swung clear again, and just before
the arrival of the troops succeeded in
passing the crossing. Meanwhile the
royal grenadiers advanced through
the bush on the right of the trail,
pushing the Calling gun before them,
and soon Batoche became visible in
the valley below. Here a battery
was unlimbered and from the top of
the ridge overlooking the valley
shells were thrown at the rebels.
While the artillerymen were thus
engaged, number of rebels had crept
quietly up through the bush, until
within twenty yards of them, not be-
ing discovered until with yells and
war-whoops they rushed forward to
seize the guns. Capt. Howard at
once perceived the danger, and with
cool daring ran his gun forward a
couple of yards in front of the battery,
and opened fire which literally
moved down the adventurous rebels.
Those that survived the deadly fire
of the gun turned and ran for the
shelter of the bush, from which they
resumed their firing. They were eff.
fectually repulsed with great loss. At
$50 body of rebels opened fire from
the bluff near the ravine on the left
front Of the troops, but shot too high
to effect any serious damage. The
Winnipeg field battery now began
again to shell the houses in the dis
lance, where large number of rebels
were gathered. A shell crashed
through the first house and the rebels
rushed out. Another shell blew off
the roof of house beyond.
The fight was kept up during Sun
day, the 10th, and ON Monday the
rebels were routed. A dispatch from
Batochc, gives the following account
of the conclusion of the battle: