The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-05-01
THE WAR IN THE NORTHWEST.

4 -. .
General Middleton's Oficial Report OF
the Battle at Fish's Creek-The Cana
dian's Lose Seven Men, the Rebels
Twenty-Five-Orders Issued for Gem
eral Attack.
/ OTTAWA, Can, April 27.-Following is
the official statement of the engagement at
Fish Creek Friday made by General Mid
dleton to the Minister of Militia.
FISH CREEK, TWENTY-FIVE MILES NORTH
an affair with the rebels at this point on the
east bank of the river. Ny advanced
scouts were. fired upon from bluff, but
We, we managed ndg 10 ho1d our own until the
repel the attack, which was over at about
2:3O O clock p. m. We have captured a num-
Der of the rebels ponies and have three or
four, apparently Indians and half-breeds, in
corner of the bluff. They have done great
deal of mischief, and are evidently Riel's best
shots AS am unwilling to lose more men in
expended their ammunition before try
ing to capture them. Lord Melgund
joined me as soon as he could from the
other side of the river with the Tenth ROYALS
and the Winnipeg half battery, but the en-
gagement was over before they arrived. As
most of this part of the left column is thus
already across the river, and as is a work of
difficulty to cross, have ordered the rest to
follow, and shall march tomorrow with my
united force on Batoche.
1.-The troops behaved very well in this their
first affair. The killed and wounded are, re-
gret to say, too numerous The killed number
four, and the wounded thirty-three.
II do not know what the loss of the enemy
was, but doubt not it was severe Still,
judging from the great advantage of their
position and of their mode of fighting, it may
have been less than ours.
Tomorrow, after burying the dead and
sending the wounded back, shall proceed to
Clark Crossing. By moving on this side of
the river lose the telegraph line, but shall,
by way of Clarks Crossing l regret very
much the wounding of my two Aides-de-
Camp. Captain Wise's horse was shot pre-
vious to his being w1 %Rrn a,nn, nnou
"Major-GeneraI Commanding the New Field
Force"
General Middleton further states that the
rebel fire was most effective, those killed on
his side having been shot through the
head, while nearly all the wounded were
shot through the chest or arms, clearly in
dicating the accuracy of their elevation in
taking aim. He classified sixty per cent. of
the wounded as very serious.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba April GA dis
patch received here last night from Clark's
Crossing says: The latest reports from
General Middletons camp state that
DdICy DdhGT, DIG OIL bOlGOn s LrOODS
wounded i'll Fridays fight died in great
agony Saturday night and was buried yes
terday morning. Another death, sup
posed to be that of Lieutenant Swim
ford, has occurred. The transport teams
arriving from the east Friday night
reached camp from the direction of the
rebels quarters, and not hearing the chal-
lenge of the SentrieS were fired upon. Eight
volleys were fired, and the entire camp
were springing to arms at the sound of the
bugle, thinking the rebels had surprised
them. The camp on the opposite side of the
river was also aroused and stood to arms.
No one was injured. No fighting has taken
place since Friday. Couriers all agree in
estimating that the rebel loss is as great as
that sustained by our men. Other courierS
are hourly expected. The Halifax bat
TALON now here has orders to proceed to the
front to-day. The battalion will go to
Swift Current and proceed up the river to
join Middleton, Middleton has sent orders
for the cavalry to hasten forward from
Qu'Appelle to join him. The excitement
here is intense, and the newspaper offices
are besieged by anxious inquiries for news
from She front.
Another Clark's Crossing dispatch SAYS:
Sergeant Dalton, of Bottoms troop, a cour-
Ter from General Middleton, has just ar
rived here. He states that Arthur Watson,
OF the school oil infantry of Toronto, died
Saturday night making total of seven who
have died up to date. The wounded are do
ing well and will be removed to this place
as soon as possible. 1t has been ascertained
that the fight on Friday was very much
more disastrous to the rebels than at first
supposed. Twenty-Five are known to have
hpln kjIlQ1 that of hndi.,c
counted, among whom was Gabriel
Dumont RiePs lieutenant. Every prepara-
ton has been made for a general
assault upon RiePs position. Guns
have been placed so as to command the
rayine ON each side, and are fanked by a
line of infantry From these preparations
and from the mems strong desire for re-
newal OF hostiities, it is expected that the
next few hours will prove to be the most
decisive of the campaign. From all ap-
pearan(es Fish Creek ravine, the scene Of
Fridays battle, will be the stronghold of
the rebels.
1t is said that few days previous to
the eclipse Rel addressed his people stat
ing that if he did not darken the sun
on the 18th he would not ask them
to believe in him. There is no doubt
that he processes to be vested with
supernatural powers and the half
breeds have an abiding faith in him. A
few days ago he prophesied fight, saying
that one of his men would be injured in the
hand and the others escape injury The
few whites who have come in contact with
him recently express themselves as satisfied
that he is insane. Unless this insanity
takes a murderouS turn no fear is enter
tanned for the lives of the prisoners now in
his hands.