"The skirmish that set a nation alight:"

THE FIGHT AT DUCK LAKE

 

William Daniel Blatchly for the Canadian Pictorial & Illustrated War News

 

This is a scarce contemporary, hand coloured image, of the skirmish that set alight a nation.

Located some 45 miles south-west of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Duck Lake was in reality a small trading post known officially as Stobert, consisting on March 26,1885, of eight or nine white washed log buildings. The area had been settled by Métis since the disappearance of the buffalo, but now real hardship and land injustice was inflicted upon the Métis, exacerbated the particularly harsh winter of 1885.

During the civil unrest which came to be known as the North-West or Riel Rebellion, Gabriel Dumont ambushed 53 Police officers and 41 Prince Albert volunteers, whilst Louis Riel inspired the Métis, crucifix in hand, with religious fervor in an attempt to establish a Provincial Government.

Depicted are the police sleighs barricading the road and the tricky situation in which Lt. (later Major) L. N. F. Crozier, the superintendent of the NWMP. at Battleford, found himself in. Despite appearances, for here it looks as if Crozier's men have the upper hand, a contemporary report stated that a fight occurred forcing Crozier to retreat with twelve of his men killed.

Although only about 1000 rebels actually took up arms, the potential threat was of some 20,000 on the warpath. The federal government mobilized 7982 troops, 500 NWMP., 9 field cannon and 2 Gattling guns; and in a remarkable feat of logistics transported the force within 4-9 days across the breadth of the country, along the fledgling Canadian Pacific railway, in a successful, if controversial, effort to suppress the uprising.

Handcoloured, framed Published by Grip P. P. Co. Toronto, 4 July 1885.
Stone Lithograph. Click for more information on the printing technique.

9 X 12" excluding letters (22.7 X 30.5 cm.)

(Ref. LRA814 /DLL/loo DLN)
PRICE CODE A   SOLD
Click Here for Pricing Details

Apr 25, 1885:

"I have had an affair with the rebels at this spot"
-F. Middleton, Maj. Gen. commanding the North-West Field Force.

Battle of Fish Creek

From sketches by P.W. Curzon with Gen. Middleton's expedition

A colour stone lithograph giving an overview of the battle and the strongly defensible position in the coulée or ravine of Fish Creek during Riel's North West Rebellion.

Dumont and his 130 man force were able to effectively check Middleton's advance.

Métis marksmen picked off the troops silhouetted on the hilltop, however Middleton's response by heavy artillery fire encouraged Métis desertions.

This is a sought after contemporary depiction of the battle on 24 April 1885 from sketches by P. W. Curzon.

A numbered key below the image shows positions of the opposing forces, including the Royal Grenadiers, topographical features & gun emplacements.

Copy 1. There is slight damage to the top, borders trimmed.Colour lithograph (Ca. 1885) Period frame.

Click for more information on the printing technique.

Published by Grip P.P. Co. Toronto, 1885.

Approx. 19 1/8 X 24 6/16" including letters (48.2 X 62 cm.)

Copy 1. (Ref. DS 0045A/DLN/dov RLN)   SOLD     See Copy 2 below.   
Price Code B: Click Here for Pricing Details

Three iconic prints of the Riel Rebellion

BATTLE OF FISH CREEK

Colour Lithograph. Published by Grip Printing Publishing Company. Toronto. Printed by Toronto Lithographic Co. 1885
18 5/8 x24 3/8" (47.3 x 61.9cm.) including letters glazed, handsome gilt wood frame 23 x30"
Ref 138 RG1/ANN/ e.andg> LLN   SOLD     PRICE CODE C

ANOTHER COPY #3 Frame size: 23 1/2  x 30 1/2" Ref. GC1/DLN/ dn.anar> ELN       PRICE CODE B

Below title [The image was] 'Founded on the Dominion lands map of Township 41, Page 2 of the Third Meridian, Sketches by Mr F.W. Curzon, special artist of the Illustrated War News with General Middleton's expedition and personal information furnished by members of the cops who participated in the engagement.
With Numbered Key. This colour lithograph is in good condition.

Also known as the Battle of Tourond's Coulée, The Battle of Fish Creek, [after the painting by W. D. Blatchly] depicts the first real engagement of the Middleton's Expeditionary force against against the Métis, there had previously been a skirmish at Duck Lake. On the 24 April 130 Métis, under the guerrilla tactician Dumont succeeded in checking the advance of the inept Middleton. From a strongly defensible position in the coulée or ravine of Fish Creek (a tributary of the South Saskatchewan river). Gabriel Dumont was co-insurrectionist with Riel and had established a successful form of self-government at St.Laurent, renamed Grandin, in 1873 which led to the North-West Rebellion of 1885 as a stand against the expansion of white settlement into the region. At Fish Creek from their defensive rifle pits Métis marksmen picked off the troops silhouetted on the hill top. Middleton's heavy artillery fire however encouraged Métis desertions. Casualty figures of the rebels were 4 dead 2 wounded and Middleton's N.W. Field Force:10 dead 40 wounded. Middleton's command had forgotten to send a medical service to the field. As surgeons rushed to catch up with the column, makeshift ambulance services had to be created in the field.

BATTLE OF CUT KNIFE CREEK

Colour Lithograph. Published by Grip Printing Publishing Company. Toronto. Printed by Toronto Lithographic Co. 1885
18 5/8 x24 3/8" (47.3 x 61.9cm.) including letters glazed, handsome gilt wood frame 23 x30"
Ref 138 RG2/ANN/ e.andg> LLN   SOLD    PRICE CODE C

After W. D. Blatchly. Below title 'From Topographical sketches by Capt. Rutherford, of 'B' battery, and Lieut. R. Lyndhurst Wadmore,'C' company, Infantry school corps: supplemented by personal information furnished by Sergt.Major Spackman and members of the Queen's Own who participated in the engagement.
With Numbered Key. This colour lithograph is in good condition aside from small water staining upper centre.

Fearing a general native uprising under Cree Chief Poundmaker, and more looting of the town, Gen. Middleton dispatched a column under Col. William Otter to relieve Battleford, Saskatchewan. Otter's column consisted of some 763 men from the 2nd Battalion, ‘Queens own Rifles’, 'B' Battery, Regiment of Canadian Artillery, 'C' Company of the Infantry School Corps, a party of sharpshooters from the Ist. Battalion Govenor General’s Foot Guards, a small party of North-West Mounted Police under the command of Percy Neale, and assorted teamsters.

The was town successfully garrisoned, but then under pressure by the townspeople Otter disobeyed orders and decided to take a flying column of 392 men drawn from the above, plus two 7-pounder field guns and Richard Gatling’s machine gun (then under going experimental Canadian Field tests), to punish Poundmaker, the Cree and Assiniboine warriors. The latter were encamped on their reserve west of Battleford at Cut Knife Creek behind the camp was Cut Knife Hill surrounded by coulées /ravines filled, with good cover bushes and trees. Otter arrived on the plateau ( to the right) May 2 1885 and in unfamiliar territory. Anticipating a quick rout, He deployed skirmish order and opened fire with his artillery and Gatling gun. The warriors directed from the Hill (left) moved through the ravine cover and counter attacked in small guerrilla groups on both sides of the plateau, trapping Otter's troops. After six hours of fighting, Otter decided to withdraw. As the soldiers were crossing the marsh, some warriors started mounting their horses to attack. Poundmaker asked them to let Otter's men leave. They respected Poundmaker and allowed Otter to return to Battleford. Some historians believe that only this prevented an outright massacre of Otter's troops. Thus the Battle of Cut Knife was the natives' most successful battle during the North-West Rebellion. Fourteen of Otter's soldiers were wounded, and eight killed, including one abandoned to be mutilated by native women; three natives were wounded and five killed, Unlike the American Battle of Little Big Horn, Otter survived with a new respect for native warriors.

THE CAPTURE OF BATOCHE

Colour Lithograph. Published by Grip Printing Publishing Company. Toronto. Printed by Toronto Lithographic Co. 1885
18 5/8 x 24 3/8" (47.3 x 61.9cm.) including letters glazed, handsome gilt wood frame 23 x30"
Ref 138 RG3/ANN/ e.andg> LLN   SOLD     PRICE CODE C

Below title 'From sketches by the special artist of the "Canadian Pictorial and Illustrated War News" Sergt. Grundy and others." With Numbered Key. This colour lithograph is in good condition.

Surrounded by entrenched lines of defensive Indian held rifle pits the village of Batoche, Saskatchewan. Louis Riel's Métis capital of the ad hoc Provisional Government is depicted after the painting by W.D. Blatchly, as Middleton's Forces converge to take the town. In the event the inept Middleton dithered for 3 days, 9-12 May 1885. In the face of fierce resistance, despite the shelling of the village by nine pounder Field gun and Gattling gun, he attempted to deploy his 800 man strong force in an encircling manoeuvre, its 330 odd defenders however were well hidden within their rifle pits, as depicted in this illustration. Middleton’s troops were forced to retire to a hastily constructed Zareba approximately a mile away. It fell to the Midland Regiment under Col. A.T.H. Williams, of Port Hope, who took it upon himself to lead the final flanking charge and storm the village. Casualties were 8 Canadians dead and 46 wounded to a loss of 16 Métis killed, 20-30 wounded. Riel surrendered on May 15, and was later hanged, Dumont fled to the United States, Poundmaker also surrendered, to die of ill health a year later. Following a few later skirmishes Big Bear was arrested, tried and served two years of his three year sentence, also dying of ill health within a year. Thus ended the Riel Rebellion.

These three iconic images were commissioned by Grip from William D. Blatchly to fulfill a strong desire by the public for depictions of the heroic actions of the Canadian forces against the rebellious Métis and Indians, who under Louis Riel, had declared a defiant Provisional Government in the then far Canadian North West territories (Today’s Saskatchewan). Blatchley drew upon battlefield sketches by men that had taken part in General Middleton’s Expeditionary force. The resulting panoramic images, with explanatory key identifying the participating forces, became very popular but have now become relatively scarce and highly collectable, to find the complete set of three available, even more so.

 

We also have a number of images printed for the Canadian Illustrated War News 1885 available.

"I was right in mentioning you to the cause of humanity...
...We will gather our families in one place and when it is done we will let you know."
-Louis David Riel to Gen. Middleton before the Battle of Batoche.

THE HERO OF BATOCHE IN ACTION!

THE BAYONET CHARGE AT BATOCHE

W. D. Blatchly for the Canadian Pictorial & Illustrated War News

This scarce contemporary coloured image is reputed to be the only known printing of the "Hero of Batoche" Lieut. Col. A.T.H. Williams of Port Hope, leading the bayonet charge at the Battle of Batoche during Riel's North West Rebellion.

Frustrated by General Middleton's lack of progress during the four day battle in May of 1885, Williams instigated the attack which carried the day.

A correspondent for the Mail quoted;

"But the heaviest charge was made by the Midland Battalion, who rushed forward with a cheer which was taken up and re-echoed by the whole line with such a force and vigour that the enemy became panic-stricken."

Wilmott prints have become collectable in themselves as they claimed to be among an exceptionally few colour printed Canadiana images printed between 1850 & 1899. This is inscribed image #249 within their embossed seal.

Chromolithograph. (Ca 1890)
Click for more information on the printing technique.

14 7/8 X 20 5/16" excluding letters (37.8 X 51.6 cm.)

(Ref. LRA 774/DNN/loo RLN)
Price Code B       SOLD
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