The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-05-01
RIEL's Rebellion.
The Long Expected Encounter Be
tween the Troops and RiePs
Forces Takes Place.
For Hours the Fight RACES, the Rebels
Being Intrenched IN R~avtnes and
. -. Bushes, b. ..#a


FIFTEEN MILES SoUTHo BAToCHE, N. W. t..
Special Telegram, April 24-The right
column on the east bank of the river found
the rebels this morning at 9:15, and the
action is still going on as / write. The rebels
advanced from the ravine and fired on Boul-
toms scouts. The fire was at once returned
and the rebels, mounting their horses, re-
turned to the ravine, in which they lie con-
cealcd, only rising to fire at the troops. who
Immediately advanced in skirmishing order.
The enemy was attacked from both tanks.
but so well chosen was their battle ground
that apparently they were out of any oossi-
BILE danger Of the volunteers rifles. A bat
terry could not at first reach them, but get
ting a favorable location shelled their posi-
ton, previously! having demolished two
houses in the distance at which reinforce
ments for the rebels were waiting; but by
this time the rebels had retired to a small
post in the woods from which they were
dislodged. They moved toward our regi-
ment, our LETT having in the meantime made
the enemy retire. Then came fighting at
close quarters, the combatants being only
thirty or forty yards apart The fight
throughout was a bush one, the half breeds
and Indians 4, u..-a..
LYING ~oNCEALE IN H BLUFFs
or hidden behind trees, keeping up a hot fire
with deadly effect. Commencing at 9:15 a
m, the hum OF the bullets could be heard.
and the ball of the shot gun whistled through
the air. The first under fire were members
of BCultUn's cavalry; but No. Six Company
Of the Ninetieth soon advanced to their aid.
and G Company, School of Infantry, took the
right flank, A hot combat eusued, nearly all
firing while iu a PROSTATE position. While
the gallant volunteers were falling, pierced
by rebel balls the war whoop OF the Indians
would be heard as they rallied to the fight A
desperate fire was kept up for over an hour,
when only occauional bullets came from Riel's
ranks. After n short cessation the enemy re-
commenced firing. At 1 O'Clock the prairie was
on fire. This was. soon extinguished, however.
The Indian style of fighting was INDUCED in,
and the large number of casualties showed
that the Indians we're no foe to be despised.
The engagement lasted from 9 till 2. The
rebels were driven of, leaving q few IN the
corner of the rayine, which is now surrounded
by Middleton's force. They proved themselves
good shots and would kill a good many men
if an attempt were made TO close in on them.
When firing commenced Lord Melgund started
to cross from the west side of the river with a
part Of the Toronto grenadiers and Winni-
peg battery but they were too late for the
engagement The remainder viii probably
cross to- morrow and the rebels be followed
by the whole force.
One party of the rebels has just been dis
lodged, and the artillery are still Smelling the
rebels Of the ravine. Several Indian ponies
were captured. Therebel lossis notyet known
The Indians set the prairie on fire, buta heavy
hail storm ~extinguished it. Following is a
correct list of the killed and wounded:
Corporal Mackln, killed
Private Ferguson, Third company, killed.
Jarvis, Third company, slightly wounded
Matthews, First company, shot in left arm.
j. Commit, Third company, slightly IN neck.
Capt. Clarke, Sixth company, arm; the ball
was extracted.
Private Hester, Sixth company, left arT.
c. Kemp, Sixth company, groin.
Capt John Code, Sixth company, both legs,
Private Gloveil, Second company, shoulder.
Corporal Bowder, Fourth company, head
slightly.
Corporal Leithbridge, Third company,
through the breast, probably fatally.
G School of Infantry
r. Mcdonald, arm
Z. Carrls, arm.
r. Jones, arm.
- Dunn, Jaw.
Arthur Watson, fatally through the body.
Sergt N. A. Cummings, shoulder.
Sergt Maj Mawhinney, arm and Shout
der.
A. Taylor, slightly.
- Arselin, shoulder.
Ainsworth, abdomen.
Boulton's Calvery-Capt Gardiner, abdomen.
James Laughford, shoulder.
Bruce, right arm
]. Thompson, collar bone.
II. Purvis, left arm.
king, slightly.
Several others are wounded, but have not
been brought in yet