The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-04-03
RIEL'S REBELS.
A Victory for His Forces in Man
itOba.
Twelve Mounted Police Killed and
Eleven Wounded.

Klel have been victorious in their first en-
counter in British America with the Cana
dian mounted police sent against them to
put down the rebellion. The trouble, il
will be remembered, has resulted
from the demand of the half
breeds in British America for moro land,
demand with which the Canadian govern
ment was slow to comply. Louis Riel, the
organizer of the present movement, led
similar insurrection in 1870, but was finally
compelled to flee to the United
States, where he has remained until
recently. He is well educated, and
has been member of the Canadian parlia
mest His followers consist mostly Of French,
Scotch and Indian half-breeds, and they COM
pose the great majority of the population at
the scene of instruction in Manitoba, British
America A dispatch from Winnipeg the
chief city in Manitoba, gives the following
particulars of the opening fight:
Hostilities have been commenced in earn
est and alarming reports have been re.
ceived from Fort Carleton this afternoon The
substance of these reports is as follows:
The rebel army, which numbers about
1900 men, surrounded Fort Carlton nearly a
week ago and besieged it. Major Crozier
and garrison of l25 men held out as long
as possible and when their supplies became
exhausted the major resolved to dash through
the enemy and make for Duck Lake, where a
supply post is located and which was held by
the rebels
With fifty picked men the major suddenly
rode out of the fort and dashed southwark
toward Duck Lake. The enemy was com
pletely surprised, but quickly sprang to arms
and fired on the police. The latter returned
the fire, and for some time, amid the widest
confusion, the engagement was kept up. The
larger portion of the police succeeded in
breaking through the ranks of the enemy and
galloped OIL toward Duck Lake During the
fight, according to the first report, eight
mounted police were killed and fifteen of the
enemy.
A despatch to the Winnipeg Sun from its
correspondent at the front, dated at QUA
pelle says:
James Scott, station master at Duck
Lake. has telegraphed from that point to the
military authorities here that fight had lust
taken place at Duck Lake. Two policemen
killed and ten wounded. The loss of the
rebels is unknown, but must be large
This is the second fight, as the other oc-
Cured the day before yesterday.
The authorities here are dreadfully agi-
lated. General Middleton has left for the
West by special train bearing the balance
Of the troops beside eight carloads of pro-
visions
An Ottawa dispatch gives the following
particulars In the house of commons this
evening" Immediately after resuming bust
ness, Sir John Macdonald read the following
telegram from Lieutenant Colonel Irwin,
dated Fort Carleton:
The party under my command have Just
. arrived. When near Fort Carleton | found
that Major Crozier, with party of one hun
dred, had gone to Duck Lake to secure large
quantity of supplies there stored They were
met by some hundred rebels, who held an
advantageous position at Beardy's Reserve,
and endeavored to surround Major Gro
tiers force of police and civilians.
The rebels fired first. When the firing became
general, Major Crozier, owing to the disad-
vantage at which he was taken, retreat ed in
good Order reaching at the fort at the same
time as my party. Ten civilians of Prince AL
bert and two policemen were killed, and four
/ civilians ond seven Constsbles were wounded.
The number of rebels killed is not known
The police and civilians acted with the great
est bravery under heavy fire"
Sir John said that, as the situation had be-
come so alarming, the government would
abandon the policy of secrecy, and keep the
house fully informed Arrangements are all
complete to carry troops over the gap in the
Canadian Pacific railway north of Lake Su-
perior. Harry Abbott, engineer, lad pro-
Vided seighs and provisions.
The Hon MIR. Caron, minister of militia,
said that transportation and subsistence have
been provided for 500 men.
blttery, Of Quebec, has been ordered to
/ leave tomorrow morning. 1t will be Joined
by b battery, of Kingston. Leutenant-Gov-
| ernor Dowdney telegraphs that the Indians
south are all quiet along the line.
Sir John Macdonald stated in the house
that it Lad been ascertained that Riel's forces
. number between 800 and 1000. They have
six American cannon and large quantity of
I small arms, and We're, it is supposed, being
assisted by American Fenians
General Middleton has started from Win.
nipeg to the scene with militia. The trouble
Z IS entisy confined TO Carelton Duck Lake
and Prince Albert Nothing has been
learned as yet of the movements of the half
breeds They prevent any communication
with Prince Albert and Duck Lake. Advices
from Edmonton say that the French half
breeds show signs Of diSatfection. Settlers at
other points are greatly alarmed, and are
making preparations for defence
The government tonight received rumor
from good source that if Riel is successful at
the start the Indians will join him in large
bodies The government greatly fears that
such will turn ont to he the case and will make
a sudden and strong attempt to sup
press the trouble Lieutenant-Col-
onel Williams, who was the first to
offer to raise a regiment for the Sou
dan, and large number of officers offered
their services to night to the minis er of mill
TIA. Beside A and B batteri s. the Toronto
school of infantry, 800 men from the Queens
Own, and the Tenth Royals of Toronto
have been ordered to start in the morning fou
the Northwest, and the SiXty-tifth regiment
of Montreal has been ordered to get under
arms Immediately.