River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-05-21
BATTLE AT sArocHE.
Riel and His Followers Put to Flight ana

SoftA u MS EG1SOAeIS hcSCue0s
OTTAWA, Ont, May 13.-In the house this
afternoon Hon. NJ. Caron read the following
official dispatch from Gen. Middleton:
Batoche House, May II, via Clark's Crossing,
May 12-To Hon. A P. Caron, Ottawa: Have
just made general attack and carried the
whole settlement Themen behayeds splendid
ly. The rebels are in full fight Sorry
to say have not got Rel While. |
was accommodating this morning, Will
liam Ashley one of the prisoners, gal
Hoped up with flag of truce and handed me a
letter from Riel, saying: IF you massacre
our families | shall massacre the prisoners.
/ sent message that if he would put his wonl-
en- and children in one place and let me know
where it was no shots should be fired on them
/ then returned to camp and pushed on my adj
vance parties, who were heavily fired on. /
pressed on until | saw my chance aud ordered
a general advance. The men responded
nobly. Splendidly led by their officers
and Col. Straubenzie, they drove the
enemy out OF the rife pits, forced their
way across the plain and seized the
houses, and we are now masters of the place,
and most Of my force will bivouac there.
Right IN the heat of action MI. Ashley came
back with another message from Riel, as fol-
lows:
Generals Your prompt answer to my note
shows that was right in mentioning the cause
of humanity. We will gather our families in
one place. and as soon as it is done, we will
let you know. lSgnedl LOUIS DAVID BEL.
On the envelope he had written as follows:
81 do not like war, and if you do not retreat
and refuse an interview the question remains
the same concerning the prisoners Our loss
/ am afraid is heavy, but not so heavy as might
be expected As yet l find it IS five killed and
twenty wounded [Then follows the list Of the
casualties The prisoners have nearly all
been released and are safe in my camp Among
them is Jackson White, the man who was
Riels secretary, but who is now mad and rath-
er dangerous
ISignedl FRED MIDDLETON,
Major General
also beg to read another telegram l re-
ceived shortly after, giving some information
with reference to the steamer Northcote:
The steamer Northcote and another steamer
are coming up the river with Company G Of
the Scotch infantry and the police, and will
cut off the retreat of the rebels. The rebel
loss is believed to be very severe, but is as yet
unknown. The mounted half breed brought
in is Ambrose Jodn of Riels council
Our loss, SO far as known, has been five
killed, as follows:
Capt French, commanding the scouts, shot
through head.
Lieut.. Fitch, Tenth Grenadiers, shot through
head.
Capt Brown, Boulton's scouts.
A. w Kippen, surveyors scents.
Private Wheeler, Ninetieth battalion.
The wounded are
Lieut. Gordon, surveyors scouts.
Mai Dawson, Tenth Grenadiers, all slightly.
Sergt Maj. Watson, Ninetieth battalion,
slightly in ankle.
Sergt jacques, Ninetieth battalion, in hand
Private Young, Ninetleth battalion, flesh
wound in thigh.
Corporal ]. g. GILES, Nineteth battalion,
Private W. Cook. Tenth Grenadlers, shot
in arm.
Bugler NJ Vaughan, Tenth Grenadiers,
shot in finger.
Private O. Barber slight wound in head
Private j. W. Quinley, flesh wound in arm.
Private J. Marshall, Tenth Grenadiers, flesh
wound in calf of leg.
Private W. Urlson, Tenth Grenadiers. slight
wound across back.
Private Barton, Midland, seriously injured
in thigh and groln'
Bugler NJ. Brown Corporel Hilliwell, Mid
land, slightly wounded IN face and arm.
Lieut. Hilliwel, Midland, hurt in shoulder.
WHERE is REL?
Winnipeg Special: Nothing is definitely
known about the movements of the rebel lead
ers since the fall of Batoche, but private ad-
vices indicate that Riel, Dumont and others
crossed the river and started west The white
prisoners rescued were seven In number,
w A. Mcdonald Thomas Brothers, Ii. Ross,
Ashley Mackey, the Jackson brothers and
Albert Monkman.
Ottawa, Ont, Special Telegram, May H. The
battalions now ordered out will increase the
force in the northwest to nearly eight thousand
men. The new Brunswick provincial battalion
of eight companies, with the st John school
infantry, will number 462, and the Bruce bat
talon about $40 Already there are are, in
Guiding mounted police, some $500 men in the
northwest, and some 800 recruits are being for
warded for the police. 1t IS intended to REIN
force Gen. Middleton at Batoche and Gen
Strange at Edmunton with troops about to be
sent forward