McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-05-21
ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
&he Half Breeds Net by Gen. Middleton
The Troops Encounter Desperate Rests


me Half breeds Net by Gen. Middleton
1he Troops Encounter Desperate Rests
tence.
correspondent who is accompanying Gen.
Middieton's army in the campaign against the
haii-breeds telegraphs the following account
OF battle In which the forces OF Middleton
and Rel engaged:
We left camp at O'Clock this morning,
leaving all supplies and tents behind. We
marched seven miles without seeing or hearing
anything OF the enemy. The morning was
bright and warm. Suddenly there came the
sound OF steamers whistle blowing con-
tinuously. AS We drew near we heard the
SOUND OF heavy firing on our front in the direc-
uon Oh The river. The gun steamer, scouts,
and gatllng gun then pushed rapidly ahead
anu soon came upon two horses near the bank
0a the river which here Is very PERCEPTIONS.
line advance party of the rebels were met.
they fired and retired behind a house toward
the hollow. The gatling gun was brought to
pear on them, when they ran in house near
the Church of st. Laurent, which was also fired
on by the gatling gun, when they ran out into
bush Battery A by this time came up with
rush and got into position, sending several
shels Ter the rebels. The grenadiers now
advanced, marching steadily into action and
deployod into line, continuing to advance in
sklrlnishing order till the church was r. ached,
when the priest came out Of the house waving
white flag. Gen. Middleton and his staff adj
Vanced and shook hands, when three other
priests and five sisters of charity came out.
A number of half-breed children were also
inside in charge Of the sisters.
rather MOnlin said that our steamer arrived
at point little above Batouche at 500 a.
m The rebels Immediately commenced the
tire on it from both banks. 1t shortly after
no hints
and just before our arrival passed the crossing.
he also said the rebels had six killed and
twelve wounded at Fish Creek.
The grenadiers advanced. diminishing
through The brush on the right of the trail,
the gatling gun being pushed forward down
decliviiy towards Batouches, now plainly Wis
Idle in the valley below Here battery I'M
limbered on top OF the ridge senling shells
into them, and whilst doing so was almost
surprised by number of rebels who crept up
through the bush, not being discovered until
twenty yards distant They made rush for
the guns, firing and yelling as they ran. Capt
Howard, who operates the gatling gun, saw
the danger, ran the gun a couple of yards in
front OF the battery, and opening fire, literally
moved the rebels down. Those remaining
turned and ran from it. reaching the shelter OF
the bush where they opened fire again, but Capt
Capt. Howard CALAMITY maintained his posi-
ton and the rebels, unable to stand the ter
rible fire, returned to the pits constructed in a
TaVlne running from the river.
At IL a IN. Capt French, with his scouts
and a part of the dismounted men of ''A''
battery, went down into the ravine and opened
continuous fire on the left and the center,
but a scattered one on the right. After gallant
but vain efforts to drive the rebels from the
rifle pits, French's scouts and the batterymen
retired.
At noon the list of killed and wounded on
our side is as follows:
A battery-Gunner Phillips, shot through
the stomach while in the ravine; died while
being brought in.
Thomas j. Stout run over by carriage not
fatal.
- Chappatier, shot through both legs, one
fractured.
Gunners Fairbanks and Toohey also shot in
the legs
Grenadiers-Capt. Mason, No. Company,
slight wound in the thigh.
French scouts-R. Cook, slightly wounded
in the leg.
Curley Allen, shot in shoulder.
AT o'clock the rebels were gradually
ceasing their fire, but our troops We're
gradually keeping up a scattered fire all
4 O'Clock, when only few dropping shots
were heard. No more of our troops were
hurt.
William Bruce, lately prisoner of Riel, but
who escaped on Tuesday, was brought in to-
day by the scouts. He says that Riel's force
10 d O'Cl 1Oo, hhli VI hllbiil fcIS Ou
other side of the river when he left He also |
says that when the ammunition was served |
only one key of powder remained. Bullets |
were also scarce. The women and children |
had been sent to the other side of the river. |
The prisoners are safe so far as he knows. |
Bcardy is not with Riel, but has been sent for. |
Rel, Dumout, Garneau and other leaders are |
in Riels camp on the other side of the river. |
body of rebels at o'clock opened fire |
from the bluffs near the ravine on our Skin |
i'll III II.
too high to reach u.s. The Winnepeg battery |
resumed its Smelling of the houses in the dis |
lance where a large number of rebels gathered. |
The second shell crashed through the first |
house and the rebels rushed out. Another |
shell blew the roof off the house beyond. As |
these dispatches leave a scattered firing is |
going on.