Leif Crozier's description of the Duck Lake skirmish


Leif Crozier's description of the Duck Lake skirmish
Colonel Irvine, Commissioner of the N.W.M.P. received this report from Superintendent Crozier regarding the battle at Duck Lake. Prince Albert April 22, 1885 Sir: In reply to your memorandum of this date. l have the honor to inform you that on the morning of the 26th of March I sent a party to Duck Lake to procure a quantity of provisions and ammunitions that were in the store of a trader named Mitchell. They left Carlton shortly after daylight - about ten o'clock it was reported to me that Sergeant Stewart had been prevented by Half Breeds from taking the stores, after which he had gone away and that he was "in trouble". I immediately got ready a party one hundred strong to proceed to the relief of Stewart - as I was running off, Stewart's party came down the hill at the Fort. I was informed that there were about one hundred marauding Half Breeds at Duck Lake. The rebel Headquarters and office according to my latest information received through scouts being at Batoche's Crossing, south side of the river. - Verified and concluded to go to Duck Lake and get the provisions and ammunition. When within a mile and a half of Mitchell's store, I was attacked by a Force of Half Breeds estimated at the time at over two hundred in number but I have since been informed through rebel sources that there were at least three hundred and fifty of them. I threw a line of skirmishes to the right of the road under cover of a wood to prevent the rebels surrounding us which they were attempting to do - the remainder of my force excepting the men in charge of horses formed under cover of the sleighs extended to the left at right angles to the road. On my escort halting, a man advanced from the enemy bearing a flag of truce. I ran forward to meet him and called back for the Interpreter Joseph McKay. The enemy, not withstanding the flag of truce, continued to get rapidly into position. The movement that threatened to be most serious to us was that of a large body moving towards our right flank, l said several times to the man with the flag "Call back those people" referring to those moving to the right - to what I said, he paid not the slightest attention - It was considered that the sending out of the flag of truce was but a piece of treachery used to gain time in order to out flank us on the right and get into position. Had they accomplished their purpose we must have been annihilated - I considered that the line extended to our right prevented the rebels surrounding us, these men sustained the heaviest loss, because concealed from view to the right of the trail on which we approached were two houses in which were posted a large number of rebels and from whence they poured upon us a fierce fire - from this point they tried to gain and were working upon our right rear, the deep crusted snow however impeded their movements thereby preventing them accomplishing their purpose before the termination of the engagement. The deep crusted snow caused any movement to be most difficult if off the beaten track, my men in extending found it slow and hard work. The engagement lasted about thirty minutes and though the rebels were upon their own ground, entrenched in ambush with the advantage of a commanding position, ready and waiting for us, we drove back their right and had we been opposed by them on our right on anything like an equality we could have done the same to their left - but there we had to contend against the enemy in houses and in ambush. The right of my line did prevent the rebels gaining our rear - they did it at the cost of their lives - we could do no more. Both the Police and Volunteers who composed my little escort behaved superbly - their bravery and coolness under a murderous fire was simply astonishing. The enemy were in ambush or behind splendid cover - we were exposed, yet not a man shirked or even faltered until the order was given to retire and then they moved off quietly. I have the honor to be Sir: Your obedient servant L. N. F. Crozier

Colonel Irvine, Commissioner of the N.W.M.P. received this report from Superintendent Crozier regarding the battle at Duck Lake.
Prince Albert
April 22, 1885
Sir:
In reply to your memorandum of this date. l have the honor to inform you that on the morning of the 26th of March I sent a party to Duck Lake to procure a quantity of provisions and ammunitions that were in the store of a trader named Mitchell. They left Carlton shortly after daylight - about ten o'clock it was reported to me that Sergeant Stewart had been prevented by Half Breeds from taking the stores, after which he had gone away and that he was "in trouble".
I immediately got ready a party one hundred strong to proceed to the relief of Stewart - as I was running off, Stewart's party came down the hill at the Fort. I was informed that there were about one hundred marauding Half Breeds at Duck Lake. The rebel Headquarters and office according to my latest information received through scouts being at Batoche's Crossing, south side of the river. - Verified and concluded to go to Duck Lake and get the provisions and ammunition.
When within a mile and a half of Mitchell's store, I was attacked by a Force of Half Breeds estimated at the time at over two hundred in number but I have since been informed through rebel sources that there were at least three hundred and fifty of them.
I threw a line of skirmishes to the right of the road under cover of a wood to prevent the rebels surrounding us which they were attempting to do - the remainder of my force excepting the men in charge of horses formed under cover of the sleighs extended to the left at right angles to the road.
On my escort halting, a man advanced from the enemy bearing a flag of truce. I ran forward to meet him and called back for the Interpreter Joseph McKay.
The enemy, not withstanding the flag of truce, continued to get rapidly into position. The movement that threatened to be most serious to us was that of a large body moving towards our right flank,
l said several times to the man with the flag "Call back those people" referring to those moving to the right - to what I said, he paid not the slightest attention - It was considered that the sending out of the flag of truce was but a piece of treachery used to gain time in order to out flank us on the right and get into position.
Had they accomplished their purpose we must have been annihilated - I considered that the line extended to our right prevented the rebels surrounding us, these men sustained the heaviest loss, because concealed from view to the right of the trail on which we approached were two houses in which were posted a large number of rebels and from whence they poured upon us a fierce fire - from this point they tried to gain and were working upon our right rear, the deep crusted snow however impeded their movements thereby preventing them accomplishing their purpose before the termination of the engagement.
The deep crusted snow caused any movement to be most difficult if off the beaten track, my men in extending found it slow and hard work.
The engagement lasted about thirty minutes and though the rebels were upon their own ground, entrenched in ambush with the advantage of a commanding position, ready and waiting for us, we drove back their right and had we been opposed by them on our right on anything like an equality we could have done the same to their left - but there we had to contend against the enemy in houses and in ambush. The right of my line did prevent the rebels gaining our rear - they did it at the cost of their lives - we could do no more.
Both the Police and Volunteers who composed my little escort behaved superbly - their bravery and coolness under a murderous fire was simply astonishing.
The enemy were in ambush or behind splendid cover - we were exposed, yet not a man shirked or even faltered until the order was given to retire and then they moved off quietly.
I have the honor to be
Sir:
Your obedient servant
L. N. F. Crozier