Battle of Duck Lake
| Battle of Duck Lake | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the North-West Rebellion | |||||||
 This contemporary illustration of the Battle of Duck Lake offers a romanticized depiction of the skirmish. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Provisional Government of Saskatchewan (Métis) | Canada | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gabriel Dumont | Leif Crozier | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 250-300 | 95 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 5 dead | 12 dead 11 wounded |
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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.[1] 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.[2] The battle is considered to be the initial engagement of the North-West Rebellion. Although Louis Riel proved to be victorious at Duck Lake, the general agreement among historians is that the battle was a strategic defeat.
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[edit] Prelude
On March 19th, 1885, Louis Riel self affirmed the existence of the new Provisional Government of Saskatchewan.[3] Following Riel's declaration, the Canadian government sought to reassert their control over the turbulent province. Fearing the growing instability created by Riel and the ever growing possibility of a First Nations uprising, newly appointed RCMP superintendent and commander of North-Western Saskatchewan's forces, Leif Crozier, requested immediate reinforcement to Fort Carlton.[4] Louis Riel dispatched emissaries to deliver an ultimatum calling for the surrender of Fort Carlton without bloodshed. In response, Crozier's representatives rejected the demand and vowed to bring the Métis criminals to justice.[5]
On March 25th, in need of supplies for his men and horses, Crozier ordered Sergeant Alfred Stewart, Thomas McKay, and seventeen constables to Hillyard Mitchell's general goods store at Duck Lake.[6] Unbeknownst to Crozier, commander Gabriel Dumont (Riel's right hand man) and his Métis force had already entrenched themselves on the road to Duck Lake. On the morning of the 26th, Stewart's party encountered the band of Métis near Duck Lake. After ample harassment, Stewart decided not to risk a physical engagement, and chose to return to Fort Carlton; no shooting occurred.[7] Crozier rallied together a larger force, which included 53 North-West Mounted police non-commissioned officers and men, 41 Prince Albert Volunteers, and a 7-pound cannon, and set out to secure the much needed supplies and to reassert the authority of the Canada on Northern Saskatchewan.[8]
[edit] The Battle
The forces met about 2.5 kilometers outside of Duck Lake on a snowy plateau covered by trees, shrubs, and a few log cabins.[9] Having detected Crozier' force, Gabriel Dumont ordered his men to set up defensive positions around the log cabin and lie in wait. Similarly, Crozier's scouts informed the superintendent of the Metis movements; subsequently, Crozier' ordered his men to halt and deploy their sleighs parallel to the road which was just before them. Both sides ingrained themselves in defensive positions.[10] Gabriel Dumont dispatched his brother, Isidore, and another, Asee-wee-yin, with a white flag in hopes of distracting Crozier's forces. The superintendent, believing that Dumont's was interested in a parlay, walked forward with an interpreter.[11] During the half hearted discussion, Crozier realized that the Métis force was maneuvering to flank his own men, and gave the order to fire. A brawl ensued between Crozier's interpreter and the Métis, which resulted in the death of Dumont's brother and the additional native.[12] Despite the superior firepower and training of Crozier's militia, the Metis' force was more numerous and their position within the log cabins and the tree line proved to be a overwhelming competitive advantage.[13] In an attempt to relieve the pressure on the Prince Albert volunteers, Crozier's ordered the 7-pound cannon to target the log cabins. Unfortunately, after numerous discharges, a shell was placed in before the power charge was inserted, which disabled the cannon for the remainder of the battle.[14] Within half an hour, Crozier recognized the unavoidable, and sounded a general retreat back to Fort Carlton. The Métis were eager to chase down Crozier and his retreating force, but Riel intervened and declared the battle over.[15]
[edit] Aftermath
The battle toll was high for the Government forces. Twelve men were killed, and eleven men seriously injured.[16] For the separatists, five Métis warriors were killed in the skirmish, including Dumont's brother. Furthermore, Gabriel Dumont himself was injured in the head by a passing bullet.[17] Losing to Riel and the Métis force came as a great shock to Crozier's superiors. Colonel Acheson Irvine, Crozier's supervisor, suggested that Crozier's officerial prowess and judgement was overruled by impulsiveness.[18] Fort Carlton, a trading post with few defensive installations, was now in serious risk of attack. Immediately, Colonel Irvine summoned a council to discuss the future of Fort Carlton. The resounding unanimous decision was in favor of the evacuation and destruction of the Fort.[19] By 4 A.M on the 28th of March, the last sleigh had left the smoldering fort.[20] In the span of three days and with the loss of only five men, Riel's forces defeated Crozier's militia, forced the destruction and scavenged the remains of Fort Carlton, and spread fear of a Métis uprising throughout Saskatchewan terrorizing the countryside. Nonetheless, Riel's plans were not completely successful. Riel had hopes to force the hand of the Canadian Government by capturing Crozier and his men as hostages. Thus, while tactically successful, the battle of Duck Lake proved to be a strategic disappointment for Riel.[21]
[edit] Legacy
"Duck Lake Battlefield—Here, on 26th March, 1885, occurred the first combat between the Canadian Government Forces, under Major L.N.F. Crozier, and th Metis and Indians, under Gabriel Dumont. Ici, le 26 mars, 1885, eut lieu la première rencontre entre les troupes du gouvernement du Canada, commandées par le Major Crozier, et les Métis et Indiens commandés par Gabriel Dumont."
In the spring of 2008, Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell proclaimed in Duck lake, that "the 125th commemoration, in 2010, of the 1885 Northwest Resistance is an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the prairie Métis and First Nations peoples' struggle with Government forces and how it has shaped Canada today."[23]
Duck Lake is home to the Duck Lake Historical Museum and the Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre, and murals which reflect the history of the rebellion in the area. The Battle of Duck Lake, the Duck Lake Massacre, and a buffalo jump are all located here. The "First Shots Cairn" was erected on Saskatchewan Highway 212 as a landmark commemorating the scene of the first shots in the Battle of Duck Lake. The Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine at St. Laurent north of Duck Lake is a local pilgrimage site.[24][25][26][27]
[edit] See also
- Northwest Rebellion
- Provisional Government of Saskatchewan
- Prince Albert Volunteers
- North-West Mounted Police
[edit] References
- ^ Canadian War Museum (1972). The Last War Drum. Canadian War Museum. pp. 4.
- ^ Canadian War Museum (1972). The Last War Drum. Canadian War Museum. pp. 5.
- ^ Canadian War Museum (1972). The Last War Drum. Canadian War Museum. pp. XXII.
- ^ Wallace, Jim (1998). A Trying time. Winnipeg: Bunker to Bunker Books. pp. 63.
- ^ Wallace, Jim (1998). A Trying Time. Winnipeg: Bunker to Bunker Books. pp. 69.
- ^ Haydon, A.L (1971). The Riders of the Plains: A Record of the Royal North-West Mountain Police of Canada 1873-1910. Edmonton: M.G Hurting Ltd.. pp. 130.
- ^ Stanley, George F. G. (1963). Louis Riel. Toronto: The Ryerson Press. pp. 315.
- ^ Stanley, George F. G. (1960). The Birth of Western Canada: A History of the Riel Rebellions. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp. 326.
- ^ Stanley. The Birth of Western Canada. pp. 326.
- ^ Stanley. The Birth of Western Canada. pp. 32.
- ^ Wallace. A Trying Time. pp. 74.
- ^ Wallace. A Trying Time. pp. 74.
- ^ Stanley. Louis Riel. pp. 317.
- ^ Stanley. The Birth of Western Canada. pp. 328.
- ^ Stanley. The Birth of Western Canada. pp. 328.
- ^ Stanley. The Birth of Western Canada. pp. 328.
- ^ Stanley. Louis Riel. pp. 318.
- ^ Stanley. The Birth of Western Canada. pp. 329.
- ^ Haydon. The Riders of the Plain. pp. 133.
- ^ Stanley. The Birth of Western Canada. pp. 330.
- ^ Stanley. The Birth of Western Canada. pp. 332.
- ^ "Duck Lake Battlefield Plaque The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture". Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research. http://www.metismuseum.ca/resource.php/04282. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "Tourism agencies to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Northwest Resistance/Rebellion". Home/About Government/News Releases/June 2008. Government of Saskatchewan. June 7, 2008. http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=3ceddf25-86ef-4433-86ea-cfe3cc69472d. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "History of Duck Lake and Area". Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre. http://www.dlric.org/history.html. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "Attractions and Tourism: Town of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan". M.R. Internet. Town of Duck Lake. 2007. http://ducklake.ca/visiting/attractions.php. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ McLennan, David (2006). "Duck Lake: The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan". Canadian Plains Research Center University of Regina. http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/duck_lake.html. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "Battleford, Batoche & Beyond Tour along the Yellowhead Highway". Yellowhead It! Travel Magazine. Yellowhead Highway Association. http://www.yellowheadit.com/saskatchewan/tours/battleford_batoche_and_beyond.php. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
