Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-05-16
MIDDLETOR'S FIGHT.
Graphic Account of His Encounter
With The Rebels.
Calling G uns and Shells Too
Much for Poor LO.
The Rebels Charge a Battery in
Approved Style.

n 81. Faul Globe special from Bat
toche Crossing via Clarks Crossing, May
9, says: We left camp at six this morn.
ing and marched seen miles without
seeing or hearing anything of the ne
my. Suddenly came the sound of a
steamers whistle blowing continuously.
As we drew near we heard the sound of
heavy firing on our front in the direc-
ton of the river. Our line of march
was as follows. First, Boulton's scouts,
accompanied by gatling gun. Grena-
diers formed the advance guard with a
battery of the Ninetieth battalion sup
porting them with Il battalion in re-
serve. The gun steamer, scouts and
gatling gun then pushed rapidly ahead
and came upon two houses near the
bank OF the river, which here is very
precipitous. The advance party of
rebels were met, who fired and retired
behind the house toward the hollow.
The gatling gun was brought to bear on
them when they ran into a house near
the church of St. Laurent, which was
also fred on by the gatling, when they
ran out into the bush. A battery by
this time came up with q rush and got
into position, sending several shells
after the rebels.
The Grenadiers now advanced, march,
ing steadily into action, and deployed
into line, continuing to advance in Skin
mishing order till the church was
reached, when a priest came out of the
house waving a white flag. Gen. Mid
dleton and staff advanced and shook
hands. when three other priests and
five sisters Of charity came out. A
number of half-breed children were
also inside in charge Of the sisters
Father Martin informed us that the
steamer arrived at IL point a little above
Battoche at half past five A. m. The
rebels Immediately commenced firing
on it from both banks. 1t shortly after
struck OF a mud bank but swung clear
again, and just before our arrival pass
ed the Crossing. He also said the
rebels had six killed and twelve wound
ed at Fish creek. We just 60, IL
glimpse of the sieamcr down the river.
She must have got Il hard fire. The
smokestack was gone.
The Grenaliers advanced skirmisll-
ing through the brush on the right Of
the trail, the gatling being pushed for.
ward down the declevity toward Bat.
toche, now plainly visible in the valley
below. Here Il battery unlilnbered on
the top of the ridge, sending shells into
them, and whilst doing this were almos,
surprised by a number of rebels who
crept through the bush, o being dis
covered until twenty yards distant.
They made a rush for our guns, firing
and yelling as they ran. Captain How.
ard, who operates the g%atlinG gun, saw
the danger, and ran the gun a couple
of yards in front of the battery and
opening fire, literally moved the rebels
down.
Those remaining turned and ran,
reaching the shelter OF the bush. They
opened fire again and Towards escape
from injury was something marvellous,
bullets flying all around him. He gal
lantly maintained his position and the
rebels, unable t o stand the terrible fire,
returned to the pits constructed in the
rayine running from the river
Our line was now as follows: Forty
first and Fifteenth companies midland
with Winnipeg battery, supported by Z
and c companies of the Ninctictlr, in the
centre and extending across 10 the right,
where the G~renadiers were SUI. ported on
the left by B company Of the Ninelieth'
On the right centre by D company OF
the Ninetieth, and the extreme right by
F and A companies. The A battery
occupied the left center, afterwards re.
turning to the right rear. At eleven a,
m. as ! now write Captain French with
his scouts and part Of the disn,ounted
men of A battery are down in a ravine
firing now continuously on left and cen.
ter but scattered on the right. After
gallant but vain efforts to drive the reb.
els from the rifle pits, French's scouts
and battery men retired. The wounded
are DOW coming in. At noon the list Of
killed and wounded on our side is as
follows: A battery, Gunner Philips, shot
through the stomach while in the ravine
died while being brought in; Thomas ]
Slant, run over by carriage, not fatal
Chappalier, shot through both legs, one
fractured; Gunners Fairbanks ::nc
Toohy. also shot in the legs; Grenadiert
Capt. Mason, No. 2 company, slight
wound in the thigh; French's scouts
R. Cook, slightly wounded IN leg, Curle,
Allen in shoulder. At two p. m. the
rebels fire gradually ceased, the troops
however, still keep up a scattering fire
along the line, gradually s%lackening un
til four o'clock, when only a few drop
ping shots were heard. No more of oul
troops were hurt.
William Bruce, lately a prisoner o
Riels, but escaped on Tuesday, was
brought in by scouts. He says tina
Riel's force is little over four hundred