The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-05-08
Middleton to the Government.

Ottawa, Ont, April 26-Following is the
official statement of the engagement at Fish
Creek, Friday, made to the minister of militia:
Fish Creek, Twenty five miles North of
Clarke's Crossing, Northwest Territory, April
Ali have had AN affair with the rebels at this
spot, on the east bank of the river. My advanced
scouts were fired upon from a bluff; but we
managed to hold our own until the main body
arrived, when | took measures to repel the at
tacl,, which was over at about 2:30 o'clock
p. m. We have captured a lot Of their ponies
and have three or four, apparently Indians and
halt-breeds, in a corner of the bluffs, who have
done a great deal of mischief, being evidently
their best shots: and as l am unwilling
70 lose any more mon IN trying to take them, /
have surrounded the bluff, and shall wait until
they have expended their ammunition 10 cap
tnre them. Lord Melgund joined as soon as he
could from the other side of the river, wittltle
Tenth Royals and Winnipeg half battery, but
the affair was over before they arrived. As
most of this part of left column is thus across,
and as 1t ls n work of difficulty to cross. | have
ordered the rest TO follow and shall march to-
morrow with the united force on Batouche.
The troops behaved very well in this, their first
affair.
l do not know what the loss of the enemy
was, but ! doubt not it was pretty severe,
though, Judging from the great advantage of
their position and mode OF fighting. /. might
well be less than ours. I shall proc.el to-
morrow, after burying the dead, and sending
INV "ouhucu oaSh w NIaTh 5 SToSslDg. tF NOV
ing on this side. l lose the telegraph lire, bnt
l shall keep up constant communication BY way
OF Clark's Crossing If possible. regret very
much the wounding of my two aides-de-camp.
Capt Wlses horse was shot previous to his
being wounded. tSigned)
FRED M1DDLEToN, Major General Command
ing the Northwest Field Force.
clark's Crossing, April 25.-Sergeant Dial
ton, OF BoulHon's troop, a courier from Gen.
Middleton, has just arrived here. Arthur
Watson, of the school of infantry of Toronto,
died last night, making Il total of dead, to date.
of seven. The wounded are all doing we'll, and
VIII be removed to this place as soon ar posi-
pie. 1t has been asceraatDod to-day that the
night on Friday was very much more disastrous
to the rebels than at first supposed. TWENTY
five arc known to have been killed, as
that number of bodies were counted.
amongst whom was Gabriel Dumont.
Riels lieutenant. IL is reported also
that Riel was in the ravine during FRIDAYS en-
gaSement, and has returned TO Bato.he for
endorsements. -Four of our men to-day went
to the edge of the %ravine, and captured six
horses and twelve head Of cattle without moIes-
tatlon. The cattle subsequently got away.
Ottawa, Special Telegram, April 26.-The
latest news hero from tho Northwest is thai
seven troops were killed and fifty wounded.
On the rebel side it is said that TWENTY-FIVE
were killed. A dispatch to the government
says that the troops have got possession of the
ravlne and that a decisive engagement would
take place which could only last a few hours.
Gabriel Dumont, Riel's lieutenant, is reported
Killed and that Rel has gone to Batoche for
more forces A dispatch from Middleton to
hrs. Middleton says that. owing to the dis
lance from the telegraph Offices, the doings of
the next twcnty-four hours might not be heard
for q few days.