The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-31
The Location of the Rebels.

Washington Special
The following table of distances will enable
readers to form some conception of the country
in which the rebellion is going on, and give them
an idea of the line of march for the troops:
From Winnipeg to Qu'Appelle Station, on the
main line of the Canadian Pacific railroad 324
miles
Qu'Aappelle to Fort Qu'Appelle, Is miles;
Qu'Appele to Hudson's Bay post at Touchwood
hills, As miles.
Touchwood hills to end of Great Salt plains "A
miles
End of Great Salt plains to Humboldt. 80 miles
Humboldt to Batoche's crossing, 81 miles.
Batoche's crossing to- Carleton IL miles.
QuAppelle to Carleton 208 miles.
Battleford to Carleton, so miles
Batoche's crossing to Duck lake, miles.
Duck lake to Carleton, IL miles
Duck lake to Prince Albert. miles.
Batoche's crossing to Prince Albert, 80 miles.
The country between the north ard south
branches of the Saskatchewan river is slightly
undulating, with groves of wood here and there
The banks of the river are fully two hundred
feet in height, and sloping mile distant on
each side. The country from Qu'Appelle to the
northern end of Touchwood hills is partially
wooded Then comes the Great Salt plain,
thirty-fve miles without wood From Hum
boldt to Batoche's crossing the country is par
TALLY wooded and very much broken, and would
offer great advantages for an ambush. Fully
one half of the French half-breeds are buffalo
hunters, good riders, and well armed with six
teen-shooters. The half breed settlement ex-
tends twenty-five miles from Dumont's crossing
to Prince Albert crossing. mostly on the east
side. and from Batoche's crossing to
Carleton, seventeen miles, passing through
Duck lake Beardie's reserve lies west of and
adjoining Duck lake. Beardie is Cree Indian,
who has always given a good deal of trouble. He
was taken prisoner once for stealing horses and
cattle. There are about eighty mon in this band
St. Laurent is the name applied to the half-breed
settlement referred to, The center of it is at
Batoche's crossing There is a Catholic church
four miles down the river and one at Duck lake
Fourmound is the priest at the first named
place. and Father Andre at Duck lake.
Hughess store is near the Catholic church. Riel
is understood to have made his headquarters at
BatocheS crossing. Dumont is the ferryman at
the crossing which bears his name. Dumont is
thought likely to be the leader as he was q cap
tain in the buffalo hunts for many years. He
is bold aud energetic man. To within two
years he was in the habit of going buffalo hunt
ing across the lire, and had many encounters
with the Santee, Piegan and Blood Indians on
the American side. It is estimated that there
are at least one thousand male adults among the
half-breeds in this section. They raise cattle,
ally in good condition. Foremost among
rem are Gabriel Dumont, Louis Schmid,
the member for st. Vital in the local
Legislature until 1881, Batoche and G..
Nolin. A large number Of good shots II the
troops which have been forwarded have, upon
order of General Middleton, been supplied with
Martini Henri rifles, to enable them to act
as sharpshooters. Nearly all the rebels are
sharpshooters, and it is expected they will
commit deadly havoc with the troops when they
meet. Being familiar with the country, they
can conceal themselves and do great deal of
sharpshootsng. General Middleton, while here,
sanctioned the formation of a new battalion or
ganization, which is now going on. The officers
havc been elected.