St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-28
BREEDS FIRED FIRST.
Bloody Battle in Which Twelve
Mounted Police and Volunteers Are
Killed and Eleven Wounded.
Major Crozier and His Command Re-
treat to Fort Carlton and Are
Joined by Irvine.
The News Received in Cypher at Ottawa
and Parliament Greatly Excited
Over it.
Five Hundred of the Queens oWn hlhes
Guards Leave Ontario and quebec
this Morning.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
WINNIPEG. March 27.-The excitement
over the Riel rebellion was heightened still
more to-day by news OF the first shedding OF
blood A dispatch from Carlton says MAJ
Crozier with one hundred men, comprising
mounted police and volunteers from frince
Albert, left Fort Carlton Wednesday for the
purpose of proceeding to Duck Lake. solne
ten miles distant, to regain r0ssession Oh
some supplies which had been stored there'
and which the rebels had seized at the
first of the outbreak. They were crossing
the reserve of Cree chief named Beardy
when they found half the breeds had taken
up strong position to bar their way. The
rebels were said to number over two hum
dred. When Crozier's force advanced the
rebels attempted to surround them, probably
with the intention to take them prisoners
Not succeeding in this they fired Vouey,
which was replied to by
CRozIER's MEN.
The firing lasted some little time, when
Crozicr, finding his men far out
numbered, retreated in good order to
Fl Carlton. The loss on his
side was twelve killed and eleven wounded.
The killed were Constables Gibson and
Arnold; of police and civilians, Capt. John
Morton, W. Napier, James Blakely, A. Set
tiot, Robert Middleton, D. Mackenzie, D.
McPhail. Charles Hewitt Joseph Anderson,
Alexander Fisher. Wounded, Police In
specter Howe, Corp. Gilchrist, Constable
Garrett, Constable S. T. Gordon, Constable
Smith, Constable J. J. Wood, Constable
Miller; civilians, Alexander Stewart, A
McNabb, w. Markly, Capt. Moore. The lat
ter was the leader of the volunteers
and had a leg broken by rifle
ball The rebel loss is not
known. The half breeds showed consider
able skill with the rifle, as may be seen by the
proportion of killed to the wounded. 1t is
further stated that Irvine's force reached
Carlton shortly after Crozier's defeat, and the
two forces are now occupying the fort, which
is mcnaced by the rebels. 1t is believed that
none OF the Indians joined in the fight. The
news Of the skirmish caused the preparations
To be hurried for the advance of the remain
der OF the troops and they finally left at g
O'Clock this evening. There are rumors Of
further fighting, but nothing definite is
known. An immense quantity OF stores
have been sent forward, and 24O teams will
be used in transporting them from the rail-
way 10 the scene Of action. half breed
named Louis Ganville was arrested last
evening at Oak Lake and brought into
The city to-day. He was sup
posed to be an emissAry of Riel, sent
% stir up Indians and half-brceds in Mani
.oba, was said to have messages from the
rebel chief TO the Indians of this province,
but no documents were found on him when
searched. He had been telling that Riel had
six American cannons and his followers
numbered 1,500, but these were evidently
exaegerations. Gauville is also accused Of
trying TO wreck the train which took out
detachment of militia on Wednesday even
ing. lie is detained in police station here.