The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-05-22
A DECISIVE VICTORY.

tsnerai Middleton Finally Succeeds i'd
Capturing Riel's Stronghold at Batoche
The Rebels Cover Their Retreat, and
Their Whereabouts Unknown-The Ca.
nadians Lose Five Killed and Fifteen
Wounded-The Half-Breedps Loss Heavy.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 14-General
| Middleton captured Batoche on Tuesday aft
ernoon, after a gallant charge, led by the
Grenadiers, in which the rebels were driven
out OF their rihe-pits at the point of the bay
onet. Riel and the other rebel leaders have
fed and their whereabouts are not known.
While General Middleton was reconnoit-
erlng early in the day a prisoner bearing a
flag of truce galloped up with message
from Riel, which read: IF you massacre
our families will massacre the prisoners
in my hands" The General in reply
told him to gather his women and chill
dren into one house and they would
not be fired upon. Middleton then re-
turned to camp and pushed on his advance,
who received heavy fire from the rebels.
A general advance was then ordered, and
the whole line moved forward, the grena-
diers being in the center, with the Ninetieth
Battalion on their left and the Midland
Battalion forming the right and rear. Two
seyen-pounder guns of the Winnipeg
Battery and a nine-pounder of
Battery A assisted the troops
The column advanced until near Batoche
with no casualties of any consequence,
Captain Towards Calling gun meanwhile
doing deadly execution against the rebels
on the bluffs. When near the rifle-pits the
order to charge was given and the men adj
yanced with a rush calamity led by their
officers and Colonel Straubenzie driving the
rebels out Of the rifle-p while the bullets
fell like hail around them. They
forced their way across the plain, the
enemy flying before them. The mon
seemed wild with enthusiasm, and cheered
as they pushed on. Many of the rebels in
their flight attempted to cross the river and
were shot while swimming. All of Riers
prisoners were released from the cellars in
which they had been confined, and were
found to be weak and furnishing. Middle
ton is now master of the place and his
The following is list of the killed:
Captain John French, Scouts; Lieutenant
Fitch, Royal Grenadiers; Captain Brown,
Bottoms troops; w. Fl. Kippen, Surveyors
Corps; Private Frazer, Ninetieth Battalion:
Private Hardisty, Ninetieth Battalion. The
found in his house at Batoche, wounded, it il
believed, by the rebels, but not seriously.
The rebel loss was heavy, and nine half
breeds were noticed by correspondent lying
dead on the field. a5 -s
The following private dispatch gives the
first definite tidings Of the steamer North
cote: 81 f..,..... .-..... ,..-.. a-....
"ON Board NoRTHcoTE, via Humbo. DIT,
May 12.-As we ran up the river the rebes
kept up a hot fire on rs for six miles. Only
three were wounded Hugh John Macdonald,
the Premier son, is with me, and is all right.
wood and had to go down. Will go back to
assist troops after wooding;, REBELS about
five hundred strong. s. BEDSON.''
The news of the capture of Batoche by
bayOnet charge was something of a sur
prise General Middleton was expected to
pursue other tactics. No details of the sue.
cessful attack on Batoche have been re-
ceived, and the enemy's loss is still mat
ter of conjecture. 1t is believed here, now
ever, that the rebels have been beaten so
badly that they will make no frifA
ther stand in body, but will
very likely dispense through the west
ern country in small bands, where
they can not be hunted down without great
difficulty. Rel is expected to get away to
Montana, as there arc few obstacles in his
way. In fact, there is little to prevent him
from Disgusting himself, making his way to
GU Appelle, and thence by railway to Win
nipeg. He has plenty of sympathizing
| INIT QrU' fal. bn nv rIo
would gladly give him refuge. No
prominent officers were killed at Batoche.
Captain French leader of the scouts, was
formerly an officer in. the mounted police
and has lately. been farming near Fort Qu'
Appellee. Lieutenant Fitch, of the Toronto
Grenadiers, was the son of a prominent
merchant. He was only twenty-five, and
was leading his company at the time he fell.
OFFICIAL ADvIcEs.
OTTAWA, May 14.-In the House yester-
day afternoon Hon. Mr. Caron read the fol-
lowing official dispatch from General Mid
dletOn: 5 uitI. at f
"BAToGHE's HOUSE, May IL, VIA CLARKE's
CROSSING, May 12--HOR. a. p. CGr0fl, OttIaDd.
Have just made general attack and carried
the whole settlement. The men behaved
s.plendidly, and the rebels are in full flight.
Am sorry to say have not got Riel. WhilegI
was accommodating this morning william
Ashley, one of the prisoners galloped
up with flag OF truce, and handed me
letter from Riel saying: IF you massacre our
families shall massacre my prisoners sent
answer that if he would put his women and
children in one place and let me know where
It was, not shot should be fired on them.
advance parties, which were heavily fired
on. l so pressed on until [ saw my
chance, and ordered a general advance
The mon responded nobly, spIendidly led
by their officers and Colonel Strauben-
ze, and drove the enemy out of their rife
pits. After the rife-pits were taken they
forced their way across the plain and seized
the houses, and we are now masters of the
place, and most of my force will bivouao
there Right in the heat of the action, Mr..
ashley came back with another missive from
Riel, as follows: General Your prompt an,
sWer to my note shows that | was right in
mentioning to you the cause of humanity. We
will gather our families in one place, and as
soon as it is done we will let you know On
the envelope he had writte2 as follows: 4 do
not like war, and if you 40 not retreat, and
refuse an interview the question remains the
same concerning the prisoners
Our loss, ] am afraid, is heavy, but not SO
heavy as might be expected. AS yet find it
fs five killed and ten wounded" ~
MONTREAL, Canada, May IA tele-
gram from the Hudson Bay Company's
agent near Batoche to the company's
office here says Saturdays fight was much
more serious than has been reported. eff
it had hot been for Captain Howard, of
the United States Army" he writes
defeat would have been certain. The
capture of the guns was inevitable, but for
his GOODNESS. The rebels fought like devils,
and our men were unable to do anything
with them. We have not an officer who
understands the mode of warfare Mid
dleton dare not advance. The agent
further says the battle was defeat for the
Government forces. ~
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 14.-It is
learned By letter that General Middleton,
before the Batoche fight, sent a proclama-
ton in French to the rebel camp saying
that half-breeds and Indians who had been
forced to JOIN the rebels, or those who wished
to surrender, might come in and go home
under guaranty of protection, and that
the war was against Riel and his
chief connselors only. The scout who took
the message never returned. and was prob
ably slain by RieI. A dispatch from Frog
Lake says that Mrs. Delaney and Mrs. Co
wanlock, wives of Indian farm Instructors,
who were captured during the massacre, are
in dying condition, having been constant
~ subjected to the worst indignities by their
Indian captorS.