Battle of Fish Creek

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=Contemporary lithograph of the " Battle of Fish Creek. "
conflict=Battle of Fish Creek
partof=the North-West Rebellion
date=April 24, 1885
place=coord|52|36|7|N|105|56|50|W|display=title,inline|type:landmark
Fish Creek, Saskatchewan
result=Métis victory
combatant1=Provisional Government of Saskatchewan (Métis)
combatant2=Dominion of Canada
commander1=Gabriel Dumont
commander2=Frederick Middleton
strength1=200
strength2=900
casualties1=4 dead
casualties2=10 dead 45 woundedThe Battle of Fish Creek, fought April 24, 1885 at Fish Creek, Saskatchewan, was a major Métis victory over the Dominion forces attempting to quell Louis Riel's North-West Rebellion. The reversal, though not decisive enough to ultimately alter the outcome of the war, halted Major General Frederick Middleton's advance on Batoche, where the Métis would later make their final stand.

Battle

Middleton, having led his considerable Field Force out from Fort Qu'Appelle on April 10, was advancing upstream from Clarke's Crossing along the South Saskatchewan River when he fell into a hastily-organized ambush by Gabriel Dumont's Métis. The Métis pounded Middleton's men with one devastating fusillade before withdrawing into cover and restricting themselves to sniper fire in order to conserve ammunition.

With half of his force on the opposite bank of the river, Middleton was unable to bring his full numerical superiority to bear. His two artillery batteries opened fire on the Métis to little effect, although well-fired cannonades did succeed in driving away Dumont's Cree allies before their weight could be added to the battle.

Despite the heavy casualties inflicted upon the enemy, Métis morale deteriorated as the battle wore on. Famished, dehydrated, and low on ammunition (conditions that had plagued them throughout the rebellion), Dumont's rebels, though relatively impervious to enemy fire from within their gullies and ravines, knew that their positions would not hold an enemy assault.

Luckily, Middleton, distressed by the casualties he was taking, erred on the side of caution and opted for retreat. Weeks later, after news reached him of the Cree victory over Colonel Otter – to whom had been issued the dreaded gatling gun – at Cut Knife, Middleton embarked once more on decisive action against Batoche.

References

External links

* [http://www.westerntour.com/1885Reb/R-FishCr.htm Fish Creek battle site]