North West Rebellion Timeline

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1884	Timeline
6 May	The South Branch Métis and English half-breeds meet and pass resolutions specifying grievances. In a petition drawn up at the meeting and sent to Sir John A. Macdonald, Gabriel Dumont and the Metis of St. Antoine de Padoue claimed exemption from the township survey system of mile square lots that threatened to disrupt their long narrow river lots. It was also decided that Louis Riel should be asked to return.
10 May	The Prince Albert Times newspaper taunts the Dominion Government, labeling it, "a greedy, grasping, overbearing bully", and concludes on this note, "Where they get the information which induces them to believe the people are likely to submit much longer, we do not know; but we can answer them that they need not look for their friends among the Canadians, half breeds, or Indians, as they are likely soon to be made aware of in a manner at once startling and unpleasant." The editorial is translated into French and circulated among the Metis in that area.
18 May	Métis delegation leaves Batoche for Montana to ask Riel for help.
5 June	4 men ride to St. Peter's mission, Montana to persuade Louis Riel to once again bargain with the Canadian Government to protect the rights of both Metis and white settlers. After two days Riel decides to go with them to Batoche.
17 June	A Thirst Dance, organized by Big Bear, is held on the Poundmaker reserve to discuss the worsening situation of the Indians. By the middle of the month over 2,000 people from many bands have gathered to discuss their situation. Treaty 6 promised food in time of famine. Crops have failed and since the buffalo have disappeared, many natives have died from starvation. They want the government to give them the food and support promised by the treaty. The Thirst Dance celebration is disrupted by the North-West Mounted Police pursuing an Indian accused of assaulting Farm Instructor Craig, the farm instructor on an adjacent reserve. An ugly confrontation between the police and angry natives ensues. Poundmaker and Big Bear intervene to prevent bloodshed between the Indian bands and the 90-man police force. To further defuse the situation, the farm instructor, Robert Jefferson and several others distribute food to the hungry natives as the man is being taken away.
5 July	Riel arrives at Tourond's Coulee (Fish Creek), North-West Territories.
19 July	Louis Riel speaks to a well attended meeting in Prince Albert. Here he repeats the constitutional nature and aims of the agitation for responsible government in the Northwest. White settlers, including spokesmen of the newly formed Settlers Union, endorse the proposals. At the end of the meeting, after a question period, the gathering seems convinced that he is opposed to violence.
28 July	William H. Jackson issues a manifesto of the grievances and objectives of the Settlers' Union
16 December	Louis Riel sends a petition to the Secretary of State outlining Métis grievances and demands.
1885
28 January	John A. Macdonald's cabinet authorizes the creation of a three-person commission to review and settle Métis and Half-breed claims in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories.
4 February	Lieutenant Governor Dewdney of the NWT receives word about the Metis land claims commission.
5 March	Louis Riel and a group of prominent Metis hold a secret meeting. They sign an oath, the Revolutionary Bill of Rights, to "save our country from a wicked government by taking up arms if necessary."
10 March	White settlers who originally had been with the Metis cause pull out stating in writing to Riel, "We will have nothing whatsoever to do with any appeal to arms."
13 March	N.W.M.P. Superintendent Leif Crozier telegraphs from Fort Carlton to Ottawa regarding the worsening situation at Batoche. "Half-breed rebellion liable to break out at any moment. If half-breeds rise, Indians will join them."
15 March	Louis Riel speaks to an assembly of Indian Chiefs and scores a decisive coup when he uses a partial eclipse of the sun as a sign of "Big Medicine."
18 March	Commissioner Acheson Gosford Irvine leaves Regina for Prince Albert with 90 N.W.M.P., 66 horses, and a long train of sleighs leaving behind a skeleton staff of only 32 men and no horses to cover the rest of the territory. Lawrence Clarke, on his way back from Winnipeg, stops in at Batoche. He is reported to have told the Metis that many soldiers are on their way to arrest Riel and Dumont. Isbister reports that Clarke says “They are sending five hundred men behind me, who will answer your petition with lead.” Clarke denies saying this.
19 March	Reacting to the news that police are on the way to seize Riel, the Métis seize control of St. Anthony's Church: they cut the telegraph wires at Batoche, ransack Government stores and seize employees as hostages. Riel proclaims a provisional government with himself as president and Gabriel Dumont as adjutant general.
21 March	Riel sends a message to Superintendent Leif Crosier and demands the surrender of the N.W.M.P. detachment at Fort Carlton threatening, "To commence without a delay a war of extermination upon those who have shown themselves hostile to our rights."
22 March	English Half-Breeds of St.Catherine's and the Ridge vote to remain neutral in the event of armed conflict. The Winnipeg Militia is ordered to a state of readiness and 60-Year-old Major-General Frederick Dobson Middleton, British Commander of the Canadian Militia, is given command of the troops.
23 March	Prime Minister Sir John A. McDonald, prompted by an urgent telegram from Northwest Territories Lieutenant-Governor Edgar Dewdney, orders mobilization of troops in every province of Canada. General Middleton is given orders to march west with all due speed.
26 March	At 2:30 a.m. Commissioner A. G. Irvine sets out from Prince Albert for Fort Carlton with 83 police and 25 civilian volunteers to bolster the defenses. Before the Relief column from Prince Albert arrives, Lawrence Clarke is reported to have incited Superintendent Crozier to attack the Metis at Duck Lake before Irvine’s column arrives, saying “What! Are we to be turned back by a parcel of half-breeds? Now is the time, Crozier, to show if you have any sand in you.” Superintendent Leif Crozier leads 55 N.W.M.P. and 43 Prince Albert volunteers from Fort Carlton and engages the Metis under the command of Gabriel Dumont one-mile west of Duck Lake. “Gentleman” Jim McKay, a N.W.M.P. scout from the Duck Lake district, purportedly fires the first shot. 9 P.A. Volunteers and 1 N.W.M.P. are killed and 12 are wounded. 4 Metis and 1 Indian are killed and 3 are wounded. Crozier is wounded, receiving a flesh wound to the right cheek. Gabriel Dumont has a bullet graze his scalp. Louis Riel, observing the battle, orders Gabriel Dumont not to allow the victorious Metis and Indians to pursue the retreating Police and Militia. One hour after Crozier limps back to Fort Carlton, Commissioner Irvine's column arrives from Prince Albert.
27 March	General Middleton arrives in Winnipeg and leaves that night with 260 officers and men of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles Commissioner Irvine decides to abandon Fort Carlton and retreat to P.A. the next day due to the Fort's poor defensibility and location. Major General Thomas Bland Strange, a retired British officer ranching in southern Alberta, receives a telegram from A. P. Caron, Minister of Militia, requesting that he recruit a field force of local military and volunteers to help quell the unrest in the North West, especially near Calgary and Edmonton, where rumors of Indian uprising are everywhere.
28 March	Fort Carlton is abandoned. A fire breaks out in the hospital during the pullout, which spreads to engulf the entire fort burning it to the ground. The survivors march unmolested back to Prince Albert. News of Duck Lake hits eastern Canada. The Federal Government raises a Canadian Militia Force. Half of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles company, commanded by Major General Frederick Middleton arrive at Fort Qu’Appelle.
29 March	When news of the Metis success at Duck Lake reaches Poundmaker, he decides to utilize the unrest and fears of government agents to negotiate necessary supplies. Joined by the Stonies, the Cree go to Battleford. Itka, a Stony Indian, kills farm instructor Payne on the Mosquito reserve south of Battleford.
30 March	Man without Blood, another Stony, kills rancher Barney Tremont. Poundmaker arrives at Fort Battleford to find the town deserted with all the settlers barricaded in the NWMP barracks. Indian Agent Rae refuses to meet with him. Hungry and frustrated, some of Cree and Stonies began looting the empty homes in the Battleford area, despite Poundmaker's attempts to stop them. The Canadian Government appoints a parliamentary committee to investigate Metis claims and petitions. Chief Crowfoot promises Father Lacombe to remain loyal to the crown during the Metis rebellion.
31 March	The Council of the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan moves the Metis force to Batoche. They construct a defensive system of trenches and rifle pits around Batoche. The bands go back to the Poundmaker reserve and camp east at Cutknife Hill. Poundmaker is appointed the political leader and chief spokesperson for the combined bands. A soldiers' lodge is erected at the Cutknife camp. According to Plains Cree tradition, once erected the soldier's lodge, not the chief, is in control of the camp.
2 April	Wandering Spirit, War Chief of Big Bear's band, shoots Thomas Quinn the Indian agent and calls on the rest of his band to kill the other whites. Quinn, two Catholic priests, five other whites, and a Metis are murdered. This event will become known as the Frog Lake Massacre. General Middleton arrives at Fort Qu’Appelle with the 90th Winnipeg Rifles. They will spend the next four days in rifle practice, as many of them had never fired a weapon before. Soldiers from Eastern Canada have been making their way to the west on the train. The area around Lake Superior has stretches where the tracks are not complete. The soldiers first must march through deep snow then continue on in open sleighs. Tired from the long march, many men fall asleep in the sleighs and tumble out into 6-7 feet of snow. When they reach Camp Desolation they are placed on open flatbed cars with slats around the sides, 65 to a car. No one sleeps because of the bitter cold (-31 C).
3 April	Cree of the Little Hunter and Blue Quill bands raid government storehouse at Saddle Lake (130 km northeast of Edmonton)
6 April	General Middleton's column heads north for Batoche with 800 men. The nights are so cold that in the mornings the tent pegs have to be chopped out of the ground by axes. The days so cold that those lucky enough to be mounted will find their boots freeze to the stirrups.
11 April	A relief column of Militia heads north from Swift Current to Ft. Battleford led by Lt.Col. William Otter. A detachment of N.W.M.P. under Superintendent William Herchmer acts as scouts.
13 April	Big Bear and 250 mounted Indians surround Fort Pitt and demand the surrender of the Fort and the inhabitants. They also ask for tea, tobacco, and blankets. Civilians decide to go to the Indian camp as hostages. Later that night the N.W.M.P. abandon Fort Pitt and cross the N. Saskatchewan River. Inspector Dickens and his men start their journey down the river to Fort Battleford in a leaky boat.
16 April	Two messengers from General Middleton arrive in Prince Albert and inform N.W.M.P. Commissioner Irvine of General Middleton's plans for attacking Batoche on 18 April.
17 April	General Middleton's column reaches Clarke's Crossing and General Middleton unwisely splits his force in two columns in order to cover both the east and west banks of the South Saskatchewan River.
19 April	Commissioner Irvine with 200 mounted men march towards Batoche but turn back when scouts report that General Middleton had not yet attacked Batoche.
20 April	General Thomas Bland Strange ("Gunner Jingo") leads his column north from Calgary 200 miles to Edmonton.
22 April	Dickens' NWMP reach Fort Battleford to find the Indians from Poundmaker's reserve have become bored with the siege and returned to the reserve. Inspector Dickens refuses to assume command of the Fort even though he outranks Inspector Morris the Fort's commander.
23 April	The Steamer Northcote leaves Saskatchewan Landing north of Swift Current carrying food, hay, oats, part of a field hospital, a Gatling Gun, and some troops heading down river for Clarke's Crossing.
24 April	A force of 150 Metis under Gabriel Dumont ambushes General Middleton's east bank column in Tourond’s Coulee at Fish Creek. The Metis break off the fight when their ammunition runs out suffering four wounded. This keeps Middleton from being defeated. Middleton loses 10 killed and 43 wounded - almost ten percent of his East Bank force and is almost a casualty himself when his fur cap is shot off his head and a bullet grazes his horse. General Middleton's west bank column finds a scow (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. General Middleton declares Fish Creek a victory. Middleton then decides to wait at Fish Creek for re-enforcements to catch up before advancing on Batoche. Fort Battleford is relieved by the column from Swift Current when Lt.Col. Otter marches into Fort Battleford unopposed. 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-enforcements to catch up before advancing on Batoche. Lieutenant-Colonel William Otter relieves the 'siege' of the Fort Battleford without a battle because the Battleford Indian bands have left the area and established a camp at Cutknife Hill.
26 April	Indians raid HBC post at Lac La Biche, Alberta.
1 May	Lt-Colonel Otter leads an expedition from Battleford to Poundmaker's Reserve. General Strange's column reaches Edmonton.
2 May	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. Following the battle, Poundmaker attempts to move the camp to the hilly country around Devil's Lake. The warriors leading the camp, however, prevent this retreat and begin leading the combined tribes east to join Riel at Batoche.
7 May	Almost two weeks after the Battle of Fish Creek, General Middleton leaves Fish Creek and marches on Batoche with 850 men, four nine pounder cannon, the Gatling gun, and fifty wagons.
9 May	Battle of Batoche Troops sail to Batoche on the steamer Northcote. Metis lower the ferry cable at Batoche's Crossing, shearing the funnels and the masts off the steamer and causing a loss of steering. The Northcote drifts downstream until later that night when the damage is repaired. In the afternoon Middleton orders a "Zareba" built which is a rectangular defensible position dug into the ground and surrounded by meal bags and wagons. Gunner William Phillips from "A" Battery, Artillery School, R.C.A. is killed in the afternoon. Since he is an orphan and has no one to claim his body, he will be buried on the riverbank next to the battlefield and becomes the only soldier buried at Batoche.
11 May	Middleton leads a group to the Jolie Prairie to see the spot and is pleased at its location as a jumping off place for an attack on Batoche. When the Metis learn of his presence there they suspect an attack from that direction and hurry to reinforce the rifle pits on the north and east of the village. Middleton then orders all remaining troops in the Northwest to Batoche. The Northcote finally lands at Hudson's Bay Landing south of Prince Albert for repairs and fuel before heading back upriver to Batoche.
12 May	Last day of the battle - In the morning General Middleton leads a feint on the Metis left flank that is partially successful. In the afternoon Lt. Col. Williams, irked by the slow progress and by rumors that British regulars were to be called in, organizes a charge of the Metis positions that routs the Metis and ends the battle. The soldiers start looting the town and in the confusion Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont flee. The Northcote with her load of soldiers finally gets to Batoche a half-hour after the fighting is over
14 May	While passing through the Eagle Hills, Poundmaker's bands capture a wagon train carrying supplies for Colonel Otter's column. Once again Poundmaker successfully intervenes to prevent bloodshed and the twenty-one teamsters captured along with the wagons are taken prisoner.
15 May	Metis Leader Louis Riel surrenders and is brought back to camp where General Middleton formally arrests him. Metis General Gabriel Dumont escapes to Montana.
18 May	Louis Riel is transported to Regina for trial under escort from the 90th Winnipeg Rifles (nicknamed "The Little Black Devils").
19 May	Poundmaker's bands learn of the Metis' defeat at Batoche. Regaining control of the combined bands, Poundmaker sends Father Louis Cochin to Major-General Frederick Middleton asking for his peace terms.
25 May	Chief Poundmaker surrenders his arms and his followers at Fort Battleford to Middleton. He is immediately imprisoned.
26 May	Major-General Thomas Bland Strange and his men of the Alberta Field Force arrive at Fort Pitt to discover the body of eighteen year old Constable David Cowan, a Police Scout who had been killed while trying to ride through Big Bear's camp after the Frog Lake massacre.
27 May	Major-General Thomas Bland Strange and his men leave Fort Pitt for Frenchman Butte and prepare to fight Big Bear and his warriors.
28 May	Battle of Frenchman Butte (Red Deer Creek). Big Bear's band and Major-General Strange clash at Frenchman Butte. Major-General Strange forces Big Bear and his men to retreat north.
3 June	The Battle of Steele Narrows (Loon Lake), the last battle on Canadian soil is fought. A detachment of N.W.M.P. under Major Sam Steele fights with Crees under Big Bear but the Cree chief escapes. Otter, Strange and Irvine spend the month of June chasing Big Bear.
1 July	For the first time the entire North-West Field Force consisting of General Middleton's column, Colonel Otter's column, General Strange's column, and almost the entire N.W.M.P. force are in attendance for a mustering out parade at Fort Pitt. For this one day the swelled ranks of soldiers on parade make Fort Pitt the largest settlement west of Winnipeg.
2 July	Big Bear, accompanied by his son, "Horse Child," and a councilor, "All And a Half," surrenders at Fort Carlton to N.W.M.P. Sgt. Smart after evading N.W.M.P. for two hundred miles. The North-West Field Force prepares for the steamer trip back east.
6 July	Riel is formally charged with high treason. If he is found guilty, the sentence is death by hanging.
19 July	Wandering Spirit surrenders at Fort Pitt
20 July	The trial of Louis Riel begins in Regina in a rented room, as the Court House is too small for the number of spectators and press. Justice Hugh Richardson presides.
24 July	William Henry Jackson is found not guilty by reason of insanity. Jackson is sent to a lunatic asylum in Manitoba.
29 July	Louis Riel's lawyers want him to plead insanity but Riel refuses, believing that if he does the Metis cause will not be taken seriously.
1 August	Louis Riel is found guilty of high treason but the all white jury recommends clemency. Justice Hugh Richardson reluctantly sentences Riel to be executed by hanging on September 21.
5 August	Sir John A. McDonald requests that murder charges be laid against the Indians involved at Frog Lake and in the killing of Payne.
14 August	A number of Métis involved in the rebellion plead guilty to treason-felony and receive prison sentences ranging from one to seven years.
17 August	Poundmaker's trial on the charge of treason-felony began in Regina before Judge Richardson. Regarded as second in importance only to Riel's, the trial lasts for two days. After deliberating for half an hour, the jury returns a guilty verdict. Poundmaker is sentenced to three years in the Stony Mountain Penitentiary in Manitoba. At that time, Poundmaker states he would rather hang than be imprisoned.
9 September	The Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench rejects Riel's appeal.
11 September	Big Bear is tried on the charge of treason-felony, found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Stony Mountain Penitentiary in Manitoba.
25 September	Wandering Spirit is tried at Battleford and sentenced to hang for starting the Frog Lake Massacre.
5 October	Itka and Man Without Blood are tried, found guilty and sentenced to hang for killing Payne and Tremont.
10 October	Round the Sky, Bad Arrow, Miserable Man, Iron Body and Little Bear are tried in Battleford for involvement at Frog Lake, are found guilty and sentenced to hang.
9 November	After several appeals, A stay of execution is granted to allow Dr. Augustus Jukes, Dr. F. Valade and Dr. M. Lavell, to re-assess Riel's mental condition. This Medical commission submits its report to the Prime Minister. The Commission is divided on the question of Riel's sanity. Cabinet decides to proceed with the death penalty.
16 November	Louis Riel is executed by hanging at the Mounted Police Barracks in Regina.
17 November	A rumor is started that N.W.M.P. officers had kicked Riel's body in the face before placing him in a coffin. The furor caused by the Catholic Church is so great that the coffin is opened and Dr. Augustus Jukes examines Riel's body. No evidence of abuse is found.
20 November	Louis Riel is laid to rest in the cemetery of the Cathedral of St. Boniface in Winnipeg.
26 November	William Campbell, the lone male survivor of the Frog Lake massacre, goes to visit Wandering Spirit, Big Bear’s war chief. Wandering Spirit tells Campbell his reason for killing the settlers at Frog Lake: “ Four years ago we were camped on the Missouri River in the Long Knives’ land [USA]. Riel was there, trading whiskey to the Indians. He gave us liquor and said he would make war on this country. He asked us to join him in wiping out all Canadians….Last fall Riel sent word to us that when the leaves came out the half-breeds would rise and kill all whites. The Long Knives would come. They would buy the land, pay the Indians plenty money for it, and afterwards trade with them. All the tribes who wished to benefit must rise, too, and help rid the country of Canadians.”
27 November	Wandering Spirit and 7 other Indians are hanged in Fort Battleford for the Frog Lake Massacre and are buried in a common grave outside the Fort gates.
1886
	July 4 1886 Poundmaker, who was released from prison one month earlier, dies at Blackfoot Crossing during a visit to his adopted father Crowfoot.
1887
	The first North West Territories members are elected to the House of Commons.
1888
17 January	Big Bear dies on Poundmaker reserve.
31 October	The first Legislative Assembly of the North West Territories meets at Regina
1905
	Saskatchewan and Alberta become provinces.