The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-22
nv THE FIELD OF Battle.


me Half Breeds Not by Gen. Middleton
The Troops Encounter Desperate Rests
terice.
correspondent who is accompanying Gen
Middleton's army in the campaign against til,
balf-breeds telegraphs the following account
of battle in which the forces of Middleton
and Rel engaged;
We left camp at O'Clock this morning
II Having all supplies and tents behind. We
msrchel seven miles without seeing or hearing
i ANYTHING of the enemy The morning wa:
4 bright and warm. Suddenly there came the
y sound of a steamers whistle blowing con-
s tipuouslv. As we drew near we heard the
sound OF heavy firing on oar front in the drec
ton of the river. The gun steamer, scouts
and gatling gun then pushed rapidly ahead
and soon came upon two horses near the bank
of the river which here is very PERCEPTIONS.
The advance party of the rebels were met.
They fired and retired behind house toward
the hollow. The gatling gun was brought to
beanon them, when they ran in a house near
the church of st. Laurent, which was also fired
on by the gatlng gun, when they ran out into
bush Battery A by this time came up with a
rush and got into pos ton, sending several
shells ter the rebels. The grenadiers now
advanced marching steadily into action and
skirmishing order till the church was r. ached,
when the priest came out of the house waving
white flag. Gen. Middleton and his staff adj
vanced and shook hands, when three other
priests and five sisters of charity came out.
A number of half-brecd children were also
inside In charge Of the sisters.
Father Monlin said that our steamer arrived
at loBoint little above Batouche at 20 a.
m Nfhe rebels immediately commenced the
fire on il from both banks. 1t shortly after
ctr on mn hank
and just before our arrival passed the crossing.
He also said the rebels had six killed aud
twelve wounded at Fish Creek
The grenadiers advanced. diminishing
through the brush on the right of the trail
the gatling gun being pushed forward down
declfviiy towards Batouches, now plainly Wis
ible in the valley below Here a battery I'M
limbered on top OF the ridge sen ling shells
into them, and whilst doing so was almost
surprised by number OF rebes who crept up
through the bush, not being discovered until
twenty yards distant. They made rush for
the guns, firing and yelling as they ran. Capt
Howard, who operates the gatling gan, saw
the danger, ran the gun couple of yards in
front OF the battery, and opening fire, literally
moved the rebels down. Those remaining
turned and ran from it, reaching the shelter OF
the bush, where they opened fire again, but Capt.
Capt. Howard CALAMITY maintained his posi-
ton and the rebels, unable to stand the ter
rible fire, returned to the pits constructed in
ravne running from the river.
At IL a. IN. Capt. French, with his scouts
and part of the dsmounted men OF "A"
bsSterSwent down into the rayne and opened |
a Continuous fire on the left and the center |
but scattered one on the right. Alter gallant |
but vain efforts to drive the rebels from the |
rifle pits, Frenchs scouts and the batterymen |
retired.
At noon the list of killed and wounded ON |
our side is as follows:
A battery-Gunner Phillips shot through
the stomach while in the ravine; died while |
being brought in.
Thomas j. Stout, run over by a carriage not
fatal.
= Chappatier, shot through both legs, one
Gunners Fairbanks and Toohey also shot in
the legs.
Grenaders-C Capt Mason, No. Company
slight wound in the thigh.
French scouts-R. Cook, slightly wounded
In the leg.
Cupey Allen, shot in shoulder.
AtT2 o'clock the rebels were gradually
Iceasing their fire, but our troops were
gradually keeping up a scattered fire all
along the line. 1t gradually slackened until
O'Clock, when only few dropping shots
were heard. No more of our troops were
hurt.
y william Bruce lately prisoner of Riel, but
Tho escaped on Tuesday, was brought in to-
dayypy the scouts. He says that Riel's force
IS a little over 400, half of whom were on the
other side of the river when he left. He also
says that when the ammunition was served
only one key of powder remained. Bullets
we're also scarce. The women and children
rad been sent to the other side of the river
The prisoners are safe so far as he knows
3eardy is not with Riel, but has been sent Tor. {
del, Dumont, Garneau and other leaders are
n ReSf camp on the other side of the river.
body of rebels at Z O'Clock opened fire
rom the bluffs near the ravine on our Skin. 1
nishers. They fired three voleys but shot 6
90 high to reach us. The Winnepeg battery
its Smelling of the houses in the dis
ance where large number of rebels gathered.
he second shell crashed through the first Il
ouse. and the rebels rushed out Another b
hell Dew the roof Off the house beyond As II
hese dispatches leave a scattered firing is
DING on. 81