The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-04-26
The Northwestern Fight.

CLARK's CRossING, N. W. T., Apil 25.-
The engagement yesterday between
half-breeds and General Middleton's
command was opened by half-breeds by
firing on Boulton's horse who were
scouting in front and with whom Gen
eral Middleton was riding. The enemy
occupied two small bluffs, and opened
fire, killing several of the scouts and
wounding number OF men. Between
the bluffs runs rAvine. The advance
guard of the Ninetieth battalion, under
Captain Clarke, were ordered up and
also Battery A. The battery opened fire
and the half-breeds retired to the ravine.
The remainder of the Ninetieth were
then ordered up and also Company @
of the infantry school of Toronto, which
occupied the extreme right and had two
or three hot skirmishes for possession of
the knoll in front of the rayine. A COM
pany. of the Ninetieth and a battery
made dash across the opening and
gained ground commanding the ravine
The fight continued till toward evening
when company of the Tenth grenadiers
crossed the river and relieved some of
the infantry which had been in action
all day. The killed in addition to those
already reported are Gunner Cook, Bat
terry A.; Private Wheeler, No. 2 Com
panyof the Ninetieth Captain Clarke and
Lieutenant Swinford, of the Ninetieth,
will die of the wounds. The enemy
left no dead on the field. n
WASHINGTON, April 25.-United States
Consul James w. Taylor, at Winnipeg,
Nho ha foII - a
Secretary Bayard: The battle with
Riel's force at Fish Creek continued all
day Friday. The Canadian loss was
twelve killed and forty-seven wounded.
Middleton retired about a mile to an
open space on the northeast bank of
the Saskatchewan. He was reinforced
by column from the other side of the
river, but the number of troops still
does not exceed 900. The rebel forces,
including the scouting party engaged
probably 800, but there are rumors of
hostile Indians in the rear of Middle
ton. The situation is very grave. There
was storm of rain and high wind last
night. There is hope of the arrival of
the steamer NorthcOte, from the swift
current with a Calling gun, but
there is danger of her being inter
rupted or getting aground on the sand
bars of the South Saskatchewan. The
rebel loss is unknown, on account of
their advantageous position ON Fish
Greek, in wooded raYine. The insur-
gents were led by Gabriel Dumont.
Their FIRE was most deadly. Nearly all
who were killed were shot through the
head or heart. There is no hospital for
the wounded at Ciark's Crossing. The
occupation of Battleford by the other
troops relieving the garrison, and the
settlers may check further hostilities by
the North Saskatchewan Indians. There
is Geographic communication with
Battleford, but the battle field is twenty
five miles from the nearest station.
News comes only by courier to Clark's
Crossing. General Middleton announces
his purpose to the Ottowa authorities to
advance Immediately on Riel'S head
quarters and the .Batouche Crossing.
His rear is now east on the south of
the South Saskatchewan.
WINNIPEG, April 25.-The Free Press
correspondent telegraphs from Clark's
Crossing: GA messenger came down
from the camp this morning and re-
ports that when the rebels were out of
the bush behind the ravine, cheering
and jeering the troops, the guns were
ordered up to drive them off, but they
captured one medicine chest and
a few boxes of canned beef. The
correspondent also reported that
the officers would not allow
him to come down to the east side, al
leging that there were rebels in the
woods at Macintosh. This strengthens
the impression that the insurgents have
prevented any messengers coming
through from Middleton tonight Mid
dleton seems to have been unable to
accomplish anything of i'm
portance in the way of adj
vance on the rebels. 1t is I'M
derstood here that he is
hampered by the necessity of caring for
the wounded and having his supplies
and ammunition forwarded. 1t appears
further fighting before Sunday. All re-
ports of Yesterdays fight show that the
rebels had decidedly the best of it.
They were driven from one part
of their position, but held the ravine
and their fire caused terrible
havoc among the troops. Middleton
evidently did not properly appreciate
the fighting qualities of the half-bresds
or he would not have sent raw vol
unteers, unaccustomed to rife shooting,
to dislodge from strong position such
accomplished sharpshooters as the in
surgents. The latter fired with deadly
accuracy from behind their shelter.
Middletons repulse is almost sure to
stir the Indians up to renewed ravages,
MONTREAL, April Is. : The public
meeting called this evening in the in
terest of Riel had to be abandoned, ow-
ing to the hostile demonstrators made
by a large number of English-speaklng
young men.