The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-05-15
A BLOODY BATTLE.

A BLOODY BATTLE.
General Middleton's Forces and RiePs
Rebels Engage in Hot Conflict Near
Batoche-The Insurgents Fight Desper-
ately, but are Finally Overcome by
the Trained Soldiers-The Government
Troops Suffer Loss of Nine Killed and
Twenty-Three Wounded.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 1.-THE
long-expected battle between General Mid
dleton and the rebels took place at Batoche
Saturday, and from careful perusaI Of the
dispatches received here it would appear
that Middleton has secured victory. The
troops began their march north at six
o'clock Saturday morning. They knew
from their scouts that the rebels were
strongly intrenched at Batoche, and
great caution was exercised in the adj
vance. Half mile this side of Batoche the
troops heard the continuous whistling of the
steamer Northcote, which had been sent
forward 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. Boil
TONS scouts, with Calling gun, operated
by Captain Howard of the United
States army, were sent forward in advance
OF the main body. AS they heared the river
q horde of rebels who had been firing uDon
the steamer rushed up from the ravine and
took shelter in the bush near by, from
which they opened fire CD our troops. The
Gatling 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 Oh their retreat half score OF them
Were killed by the bullets of the gun. The
feDels then took refuge in piece of bush
near by, from which point they kept up
steady fire on the troops for all hour. Their
range was so long, however that but little
damage was done by the firing. Mid
dleton's tactics were to keep the troops
back as much as possible and let the
batteries do the fighting, thereby keep
ing the men fresh for an advance. At
about nine o'clock the firing became hot
test, and the rebels, being intrenched in
every possible vantage point, continued to
pour volley after volley into the troops The
strongest position taken by the rebels was
In ravine sloping to the river ana from
the ritie-pitS In this ravine the insurgents
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
Captain French's dismounted scouts, ac-
companied by 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 Grenadiels now advanced into
action and deployed into line, continuing
to advance in skirmish order until
church was reached. From this a priest
came out, waving a white flag as
sign of truce. General Middleton and
his staff advanced and shook hands with
him, when three other priests and five sis
tiers OF charity came out. They professed
loyalty, and General Middleton promised
them his protection. The priests stated
that the steamer had arrived at a point a
little above Batoche ut $50 that morning,
and the rebels Immediately began to fire on
her from both banks of the river
Shortly afterward the steamer struck
on the mud-bank, but swung
clear again, and just before the ar
rival 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 I'M
limbered and from the top of the ridge over
looking the valley shells were thrown at
the rebels.
While the artillerymen were thus en-
gagged, number of rebels had crept quietly
up through the bush until within twenty
yards of them, not being discovered until
with yells and war-whoops they rushed for
ward to seize the guns. Captain Howard
at once perceived the danger, and with cool
daring ran his gun forward couple of yards
in front of the battery, and opened
fire which literally moved down the advent
urous 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 effectually repulsed with
great loss. The bullets flew like hail
about Howard and his escape was marvel
GUS. At $3.50 body of rebels opened fire
from the bluff near the ravine on the left
front of the troops, but shot too high to eff
feet any serious damage. The Winnipeg
Field Battery now began again to shell the
houses in the distance, where large num-
Der of rebels were gathered. A shell
crashed through the first house and the reb-
roof of house beyond.
As dispatches left the field scattered
firing was going on. Middleton expects to
vanQuish the rebels tomorrow and to COM
municate with the boat later. The troops
are constructing earthworks around the
camp, and will remain under arms
all night At seven o'clock
deserter from RiePs camp came in
and stated that the prisoners were all
right. Beardy, he Said was not with Riel,
but has been sent for by the rebel leader
Riel, Dumont Garneau and the other lead
ers are in the rebel camp. The entire num-
Der of the killed is placed at nine and of
the wounded at twenty-three.
ST.. PAUL. Mimi, May lin an inter-
view John McLane, of Bismarck, who has
just returned from Winnipeg, where he
had been delivering horses, teams and sup
plies to the Canadian Government, said
that the Government has advices that
men from Chicago, New York and Bos-
ton are with Riel, and that master
mind, not Riels, is directing the move
mentS of the half-breeds. Old timers re-
gard Middleton'S success at Batoche
as absolutely necessary to prevent an In
dian uprising, which would be most disas-
trous, as all supplies for the troops must
come from this side of the line. North
Dakota is being drained of horses hay,
oats, etc. 1t is believed that about fifteen
hundred half-breeds are in the field, and
that six thousand indians are ready to take
the war-path, while there are but four
thousand troops to oppose them.
LONDON, May 1.-THE Times says that
Canada evidently has long and bloody war
in prospect before the suppression of the
revolt in the Northwest can be accom-
plished