-
Battle of Duck Lake
The Battle of Duck Lake (26th March 1885) was an infantry skirmish 2.5 km outside of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, between Canadian government RCMP forces and the newly established Provisional Government of Saskatchewan Métis militia. The skirmish lasted approximately thirty minutes, after which Superintendent Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier of the RCMP, his forces having endured fierce fire with twelve killed and eleven wounded, called for a general retreat. Winning this battle raised many hopes -
Frog Lake Massacre.
Wandering Spirit, War Chief of Big Bear's band, and his cree warriors attacked the village of Frog Lake, North-West Territories (now in Alberta) on 2 April 1885, where they killed nine settlers.Thomas Quinn the Indian agent . Quinn, two Catholic priests, five other whites, and a Metis are murdered. This event become known as the Frog Lake Massacre. -
Battle of Fort Pitt
On April 15, 200 Cree warriors descended on Fort Pitt. They intercepted a police scouting party, killing a constable, wounding another, and captured a third. Surrounded and outnumbered, garrison commander Francis Dickens (son of famed novelist Charles Dickens) capitulated and agreed to negotiate with the attackers. Big Bear released the remaining police officers but kept the townspeople as hostages and destroyed the fort. Six days later, Inspector Dickens and his men reached safety at Battleford -
Battle of Fish Creek
150 Metis ambush General Middleton's column at Fish Creek. The Metis break off the fight when their ammunition runs out. Middleton has 10 killed and 43 wounded - almost 10% of his East Bank force and is almost a casualty himself. General Middleton's west bank column finds a small boat and attempts to cross the river to the east bank but before the first load of soldiers can get across the battle is over. Middleton declares Fish Creek a victory. Middleton then waits at Fish Creek for re-enforceme -
Battle of Cut Knife
Colonel Otter's column attacks Poundmaker's camp at Cut Knife Hill. After seven hours of fighting, Col. Otter's force is badly mauled at Cut Knife Hill by Poundmaker's Crees and is forced to withdraw back to Battleford. At this point Poundmaker steps in and stops the Indians from attacking the retreating troops, saying that to defend themselves and their wives and children was good, but he did not approve of taking the offensive. -
Battle of Batoche
The Battle of Batoche was the decisive battle of the North-West Rebellion. Fought from 9 May to 12 May 1885 at the ad hoc Provisional Government of Saskatchewan capital of Batoche, the greater numbers and superior firepower of Middleton's force could not be successfully countered by the Métis and the town was eventually captured. The defeat of the Métis led to the surrender of Louis Riel on 15 May and the collapse of the Provisional Government. A huge turn in events! -
Battle of Frenchman's Butte
Big Bear's band and Major-General Strange clash at Frenchman Butte (also called Red Deer Creek). Major-General Strange forces Big Bear and his men to retreat north. -
Battle of Loon Lake
The Battle of Loon Lake (also called The Battle of Steele Narrows) concluded the North-West Rebellion as it was the last battle fought on Canadian soil. Led by Major Sam Steele, a force of North-West Mounted Police, Alberta Mounted Rifles and Steele's Scouts (a body of mounted militia raised by Steele himself) caught up with and dispersed a band of Plains Cree warriors and their white and Métis hostages. -
Louis Riel trial
John A Macdonald had Louis Riel charged and tried on charges of treason. The trial took place on Regina with a jury comprised completely of English/Scottish Protestants. The trial was supposed to happen in Winnipeg, but the jury was too sympathetic for the Metis cause and Macdonald feared he wouldn't get the conviction he wanted. In the end, the jury found Riel guilty of treason but asked the court for mercy in its sentencing. The judge ignored the plea for mercy and sentenced Riel -
Louis Riel Execution
Louis Riel is executed by hanging at the Mounted Police Barracks in Regina after being found guilty of high treason and sentences to death. His death was a loss to all the people he fought for, it marked the end of his cause.