Morris tribune., 1885-04-29
II. w. RANDALL.
FIRST BLOOD DRAWN.
= LIVELY FIGHT WITH THE HAl
BREEDS AND INDIANS.
rne Canadian Forces Successful 81,
Far as Heard From.
England and Russia Still Keeping Awake
Nishts-The French and Egypt-Uncle
Sam Adds to the Interest by
Movement in Panama.

WINNIPEG, April 27-The opening battle
IT the campaign against Rel has been
fought and Won. Gen. Middleton, with an
advance detachment on the right bank OF
The Saskatchewan, encountered the rebels
Friday fifteen miles south of Batoche's
Crossing. Two hundred Indians and
French half-breeds lay i'll am
bush in ravine, and opened a heavy fire
On the troops. Gen, Middleton at once de-
ployed the troops in skirmishing ler.
Battery A could not at first feel the enemy
with their guns, so good was their sholt9r.
Eventually, however, the battery got into
3 better position and rained o raking
lire among them. Two houses in watch
the rebel reserves were secluded were
demolished. The rebels next made a dash
and fought the Nineteenth battalion at
close quarters, but the severe fire from the
left wing forced the rebels to again retire.
The fight was carried ON in an Indian style
by the rebels, who were always either con-
cealed behind trees or in the bush. Their fire
was hot and very effective.
Capt Clark, with the sharpshooterS, FIRST
advanced in skirmishng order after the
scouts signaled danger, AMI closely follow
ing were the Toronto school of infantry, the
latter taking the right flank. The conflict
now became general and very severe. The
Indians were exceedingly combative, and
the war-whoop could be heard distinctly
some distance. They yrallied time and again,
keeping up an incessant fire for fully an
hour. Subsequently the fire s.ackened
on the part of the enemy, but was
again resumed shortly after noon. The
prairie was set on fire as a result Of the bat
tie, but a heavy rain set in soon after.
The rebels were finally driven from their
ambush by the hard firing Of the volun-
teerS.
Gen. Middleton had close call, having
been shot through the hat. Gen. MiIdleton's
loss was three killed and fifty wounded.
The half-breed loss is not known, but it is
certainly heavy. The rebels will now be
rapidly pushed, and fought whenever they
make stand.
A dispatch from the battle fell says: "It
was evident that if the rebels had been all
armed, or, had artillery, the day would
have gone hard with us.
At the point where the fight took place
there are two low bluffs, from which the
rebels fired their first shots. Between these
bluffs, which are about 500 yards apart, is a
piece of level and open prairie that extends
back about 1000 yards, across which runs a
deep ravine, with timber in the bottom run
ming back in places apparently for mile.
On the west side, about in the center, stand
two log houses and stra w-staCks.
The loss of the Canadian forces is ten or
twelve killed and forty or fifty wounded.
As far as could be seen, the enemy left NO
dead on the field, though twenty-five of
them were shot and about dozen captured.
The rebels seem to be composed of about an
equal number of half-breed5 and Indians, in
all not more than 200, and are supposed to
be under the command of Gabriel Dumont.