Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-05-01
THE FIRST FIGHT.
Half 4 Hundred Canadians KILL
And Wounded Without Gain
ing ANY Advantage.
Riels Loss Not Known But Be-
lieved To Be Small

lieved To Be Small
CLARKs CROSSING, N. w. T., April
25.-Gen. Middleton, with his staff,
was riding well to the front, with
Boulton's Horse, who were acting as
scouts yesterday. and when about five
miles from Mcintosh, where they
camped the night before, and on ap
preaching two small bluffs covered
with timber, about % Or 80 of the en-
emy's scouts opened fire, killing sew
eral of the scouts horses, and wound
ing several men. Between these
bluffs, which are about 500 yards
apart,is piecs of level and open prai
rie which extends back 1000 yards, and
across which runs deep ravine, with
timber in the bottom running back in
places apparently for miles On the
west side, shout in the centre, stood
two log houses and straw stacks
AFTER FIRING A voLLEY
from the bluffs the scouts got under
cover when the general ordered up the
advance guard OF the Goth under
Capt. Clark. Two guns of A battery
then came up at gallop, under com
mand of Capt. Peters, the guns being
supported by garrison division under
Capt, Peters. Lieutenant Rivers, after
firing a couple of sharpnels at the
half breeds, the latter retired into the
ravine. The remainder of the Goth
was then sent up to Major Buchan
commanding the right battalion and
Major Barwell the left half of @ COM
pany of infantry, the School Toronto
being on the extreme right. After
two or three hot scrimmages for the
possession of knoll about 500 yards
in front of the ravine an order to re-
tire was given and the knoll was
taken possession of by the rebels but
the
INFANTRY DROVE THEM OUT.
While this was going on at the
right, on the left battery Of the gar
rison division, who were supporting
their guns and a company of the Goth
under Capt. Forrest made a dash
across the opening and gained tie top
OF the ravine. The remainder of the
forces gradually worked up aud kept
closing on the raviae. In the mean
time the artillery was being moved
from point to point SO as to obtain the
most advantageous position for attack
ing tae rebels in the ravino. They
drove the rebels out of a number of
houses and set straw stack on fire
The rebels were seen to leave them
and seek cover in the ravine. When
No. company, 10th grenadiers, ar
rived from across the river, they
were sent over on the right fanks and
thrown out in skirmishing order so
as TO enfilaSe the ravine and some of
the troops who had been in action.
ABOUT SIXTY REBELS
were seen to retreat on her badly.
The remaidder in the ravine being
unable to do SO owing to their horses
bei.g either captured or shot. Things
remained unchanged until o'clock,
when there could not have been more
than ten men in the rife pits in the
ravine, as which time the general had
the troops drawn up preparatory TO
making a charge and capture the men
in the pits, which it was expected
would be close engagement.
They had ordered the teams to get
ready to move about half mile near
er the river in order to camp for the
night. During the course of the
afternoon the balance of the 10th
crossed over and also one gun of the
Winnipeg battery. 1t is expected that
the remainder of the troops will cross
to the east side to morrow, when the
general will press on to Batacdo.
The killed, in addition to those given
before, were: Gumnar Cook, CA
battery, private; Wheeler, No 2, Co.
90; Capt. Clark and LIE Swinford, TO
the Goth, will die of wounds.
As far as could be seen tkis even
ing they 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 au equal number of half-breeds
and Indians, in all not more than 200,
and are supposed to be under the com
mand of Gabriel Dumont.
WASHINGTON April 25 United
States Counsil James w. Taylor, al
Manitoba, sent the following to day
to Secretary Bayard: THE battle
with Riel's force at Fish creek contin.
ued all day Friday. The Canadian
loss was twelve killed forty seven
wounded. Middleton retired about
a mile to an open space about nile
near the east bank of the Saskatche-
wan. He was reinforced by column
from the other side of the river, but
the number Of troops still does not
exceed 600. The rebel forces, includ-
the scouts engaged, numbered prob
ably 800, but there are rumors of hos.
tile Indians in the rear of Middleton.
The situation is very grave. There
was a storm of rain and high wind
last right. There is hope of the ar
rival of the steamar Northcote from
Swift Current with a Gatling gun,
but there is danger of her being in
terrupted or getting aground on the
sandbars of the South Saskatchewan.
The rebel loss is unknown on account
of there advantageous position on
Fish creek in a wooded ravine. The
insurgents were led by Gabriel Du-
mont; their fire was most deadly, as
nearly all who were killed were shot
through the head or heart. There is
hospital for the wounded at Clark's
Crossing. The occupation of Battle
ford BIZ Otter's troops relieved the
garrison, and the settlers may check
further hostilities by the North Sas-
katchwan Indians There is teleg.
raphic communication with Battle
ford, but the battlefield is twenty-five
miles from the nearest station. News
comes only by the courier to ClaRk's
Crossing. Gen. Middleton announ'
ces his purpose to the Ottawa author
tiles to advance immediately on Rieli
headquarters and Batouche Crossing
His rear is now east or south Of ths
South Saskatchewan
Alternately Shaken and Seorched
By the paroxysms Of chiIls and fever, the wretch
ed sufferer for whom quinine has been prescribed
essays in vain to externinate the dreadf1i dlseas'