The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-05-15
RIEL'S REBELS ROUTED.
General MiddletOn's Men Driving
Them from their Position.
A Stubborn Battle that Continued
Until NightfalL

Details Of battle between General Mid
sfeton's Canadian troops and Riel's half breed
rebels, near Batouche are as follows:
The forces left the camp at o'clock on
Saturday morning, leaving all supplies and
tents behind. After marching several miles
without seeing or hearing anything of the
enemy, suddenly the whistle of the steamer
Northcote which had been converted into
gunboat, was heard blowing continu-
Uusly. As the troops drew nearer, they
heard the sound of heavy firing in
the direction of the river. A signal was fired,
and the guns on the steamer replied. Scouts
and Calling gun were then pushed rapidly
ahead, and came upon two houses near the
bank Of the river, which here is very precipi
tous. They met an advanced party of rebels
who fired, and then retreated behind the
house. The Calling gun was brought
to bear on them, when they ran
into house near the church Of st. Laurent
This was also fired on by the Calling when
the rebels ran out into the bushes. A bat
terry by this time came up with n rush and
got into position, sending several shells after
the rebels. The Royal Grenadiers then
depoyed, continuing to advance in
skirmishlng order until they reached
the church, when priest came
out of the house waving white flag. Gen
eral Middleton and staff advanced and shook
hands with the priest. Then three other
priests and five Sisters of Charity came out.
A number of half breed children We're inside
the building in charge of the Sisters.
The steamer Northcote arrived at a point
q little above Batouche at $50 A. NJ. The
rebels Immediately began firing at it from
both banks of the river The steamer soon
afterward stuck in the mud, but swung clear
again, and just before their arrival at the
crossing the troops got glimpse of her 60
ing down the river. She must have received
e hard fire, for her smolestack was down.
The grenadiers still advanced, skirmishing
through the bush on the right of the trail, the
Calling being pushed forward down the de-
clivity toward Batouche, now plainly visible
in the valley below. Here A Battery unlim-
bered on the top of the ridge, sending shells
into the rebels, and while doing SO were al
most surprised by a number of the enemy.
When they were discovered they made wild
Narge for the guns, firing and yelling as they
on this point Captain Howard of the Sec
vbegiment, Connecticut national guards,
GotIwith the Canadians in charge of the
nrom, battery, saw the danger, and
t'onadi took measures which saved the
utter r, troops great loss of life, If not
a CATH. With cool daring he ran
and oneni, gun in front of the battery
shower of " lttlllu, sAliiiui hio no oelO u
many of tbsts into the rebels which laid
others scurrvpn the ground, and sent the
bush. Here back under shelter of the
at their inner safe cover, chagrined
taliated by octed repulse, they re-
The young ofllceing fire on Howard
almost miraculous escape from injury was
ground and finallyt he CALAMITY stood his
found it impossible rove the rebels, who
terrible fire, to pit c}old out against the
of safety in deep ratructed for purposes
the river. Howard's b. running IN up IRON
commended. cry ~ especially
The engagement continu, .,, a., 49,.
had completely routed thelhul Ihe IroolIs
possession Of Batouche, whepels anu tooN
Gunner Phillips, of A batteryey no" are.
one killed, and six only were tas .he Oily nlty
enemy's loss is very large. 'reu' Inc
The following forces particip, i, +,o
the Royal Grenadiers, A battery, pg 8un'
teenth battalion, the Winnipeg Field N t.aH'-
and the Midland battalion, over 1000 sVeiS
The number of the enemy is unknown. hs'
William Bruce, lately n prisoner of i =,
but who escaped on Tuesday, was btought'
10y scouts. He says that Riel's force is lit
over 400, half of whom were on the other sid
Of the river when he left. He also says tina
when ammunition was served to the rebe
only one key of powder remained. Bullet
were also scarce The women and chidre
had been sent to thu other side of the rive
and the prisoners are safe as far as i
knows. Beardy is not with Rel, but Ina
been sent for Riel, Dumont, Garneau, an
other leaders are in the camp.