The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-14
COLD STEEL FOR REL.
MIDDLETON GIVES THE REBEL HALF
BREEDS A TASTE OF IT,
And the Eject Is All That He Could
Have Desired -Riei Routed While
He Was Threatening Horrible
Things-The Casualties.

WINNIPEG, May IA News has just been
received of the capture Of Batouche. The
place was carried Monday, the rebels having
been driven from their pits and entrench-
ments at the point of the bayonet A gal
liant charge was made by the Royal Grena
diers, who behaved admirably AMI did their
work without fiinching.
Riel sent messenger to Gen. Middleton
early in the day saying IF you persist in
firing upon houses containing our
women and children we shall massa.
ere the prisoners in our hands. .
Gen. Middleton sent reply telling
him to gather his women and children into
one house and it would not be fred upon.
Later Riel sent answer thanking Middleton
for his humane promise to save the women
and children But just as general attack
was commenced he sent another messenger
to say he did not like wars, and unless the
troops retired the original intention of mas
sacreing the prisoners would he adhered to.
1t came too late The charge had already
commenced, and in few minutes the rebels
were scattered and the prisoners rescued.
Father Moulin was found in his house al
Batouche wounded, it is believed, by the
rebels but not seriously.
Following are the names of the prisoners
rescued from the rebels: Lush, Peter and
William Tompkins, McKenn, Ashley, Ross,
and Mcconnell.
A dispatch from Edmonton announces
that Gen. Strange has gone down the North
Saskatchewan to Fort Pitt in boats to at
tack Big Bear and the attack has doubtless
been made ere this.
Staff Sergt T. NJ. Mitchell, of the grena-
diers, is, according to another dispatch,
among the wounded at Batouche, having
been slightly wounded in the left eye.
The latest dispatch gives the following
list of casualties, and the nature of the in
juries: Ninetisth battalion--Private Alex
ander Young, slight flesh wound in thigh
Sergt Jakes, in hand, slight; Corporal J.
G. GiIlies, in calf, slight; Sergt. Maj. Wat
son, in hand slight Grenadiers-Lieut
Laidlaw, wounded slightly; Maj. Dawson,
in ankle, slight Surveyors w. N. Ripper,
of Perth, Ont, shot through head anC
killed instantly, the ball entering the
mouth Midland battalion-Private Barton
shot in thigh and groin; Corporal Helliwell
face and arm, slight; Lieut.. Helliwell
brother of the latter, in shoulder. Grena
diers- Private r. Cooke, in arm; Bugler NJ
Vaughan, in the finger, slight; Private g
Barbour, slight scratch ON head; Private &
W. Quiglsy, flesh wound in arm; Private
W. Marshall, in calf; Private H. Wilson
slight wound across back; Capt Fitch, sho
through heart, died instantly. Capt French
of scouts, shot while calamity leading hi
men, died instantly; Private Fraser, Nine
tieth, was killed; Capt. Brown, of Boulton
scouts, was shot through heart
IL is learned by letter that Gen. Middle
ton, before the Batouche fight, sent
proclamation in French to the rebel camp
saying that half breeds and Indians VIII
had been forced to Join the rebels, or thos
who wished to surrender might come in an
go home under guarantee of protection, an
that the war was against Riel and hi
chief councillors only. The scout who too
the message never returned, and was prob
ably slain by Riel
A dispatch from Frog lake says that Mrs
| Delaney and Mrs. Gowanlock, wives of In
| dian farm instructors, who were capture
| during the massacre, are in a dying condi
ton, having been constantly subjected t
the worst indgnities by their India
captors.
Batouche fell at 4 p M, with loss on th
third day of five killed and ten woundet
The steamer Northcote and another steame
are coming up the river with Company
School Of infantry, and some police, and wi
cut off the retreat of the rebels. The rebe
loss is believed to be very severe, but as ye
unknown. A wounded half breed wa
brought in. He is Ambrose Jodin, men
| Der of Riers council