Griggs County courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1885, 1885-05-15
.RIEL RETREATS

l. ~ IL
Before a Bayones Charge bv Middleton's
Grenadiers-Rejoicing at
Winnipeg.
Winnipeg, May l3.-The following is
just received from Batoche: Batoche
has fallen. The rebels have fled, driv-
EN- from their rifle pits and ambush at
the point of the bayonet. The charge
was CALAMITY made by the grenadiers.
Reil sent a message to Middleton early
in the day, saying: "If you persist in
firing upon the houses containing our
women and children, we shall massacre
the prisoners in our hands," The gen.
eral in reply told him to gather the wo-
men and children into one house and it
would not be fired upon. Later, Reil
sent an answer, thanking Middleton
for his humane promise to save the
women and childlen, but afterwards, as
the general attack was just being made
he sent another message, saying he did
not like war, but unless the troops re-
tired the original intention of massacre
ing the prisoners would be adhered to.
but it came too late. The charge had
already commenced, and in few min
utes the rebels were scattered and the
prisoners rescued.
WINNIPEG, May 13.-The following
private dispatch gives the first definite
tidings from the steamer Northcote, un-
der date of May IL:
ION hoard the Northcote. We ran
the gauntlet. The rebels kept up hot
fire on us for six miles. Only three
were wounded. I got q ball through
the coat, but was not hurt. Hugh John
Mcdonald, the premier's son, is with
me and is all right. The troops were
still fighting. We ran out Of wood and
had to 60 down. We will 20 back to
assist the troops after wooding. The
rebels are about 500 strong.
/ s. L. BEDsON.
Winnipeg, May 13,-The news of the
capture of Battouch was something Of
surprise. and also a cause Of rejoicing
here. As indicated in previous dis.
patches no details of the successful at.
tack on Battoche have been received,
and the enemies loss is still q matter OF
conjecture. 1t is believed here that the
rebels have been so badly beaten they
will make no further stand in a body,
but will likely disperse through the
western country in small bands, where
they cannot be hunted down without
, great difficulty. Riel Is expected to get
away to Montana. as there are few OBJ
stacles in the way; in fact there is little
to prevent him from Disgusting himself
making his way to Qu'Apelle. and
thence by rail to Winnipeg. He has
plenty of sympathising friends not far
from the city, who would gladly give
him refuge.
| The Pioneer Press says: Captain
James W. Kennedy, of st. Paul. who
assisted in getting the the three Gatling
guns through to Riel, expires SOS surprise
:, and astonishment that they were not
used in the recent engagement. Ken.
nedy did rot go through to Riel's camp
with the party having the guns IN
charge, but he accompanied them the
greater part of the distance, and is con-
fdent that Ricl now has them. That
, the three Gatlings will be heard from
he is positive. Middleton will be sure
, to run against them, and, it is needless
to say, will be greatly surprised. Ken
nedy makes no concealment of the fact
that he and others in st. Paul aud Min
neapolis are doing everything in their
power to aid Riel. He also says that
800 pounds of ammunition has recent
ly reached Riel's camp, and that the
government teams transported the car
60 the greater part of the distance. The
ammunition was sent from the railroad
with train of supplies for Middleton,
one section of which was under the
control of man named Osborn. Just
before Gen. Middleton's camp was
reached between midnight and daylight
the ammunition for the rebels was
quietly carried off to Riel's camp. He
also adds that within fortnight Riel's
forces will largely be reinforced and
outnumber Middleton's. Ten thousand
insurgents will be under arms in a few
weeks. just where these reinforce
ments are to come from he declines to
say, but acknowledges that their is Sc