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NARRATIVE

TRANSACTIONS

IN THB

RED RIVER COUNTRY;

FnOM TOE

COMMENCEMENT OF THE OPERATIONS
OP

THE EARL OF SELKIRK,

TILL THB SUMMER OF THB YEAR 1816,

ALEXANDER M*DONELL, ESQ.

WITH A MAP,

EXHiniTINO

PART OF THE ROCTE OF THE CANADIAN FUR TRADERS IN THE
INTERIOR OF NORTH AMERICA,

And comprising^ the Scene of Contest between Lord Selliirk and the North- West Company.

Vf5

I A^

LONDON:

PRINTED BV B. M'MILLAN, BOW-STREEr, COVBNT-GARDHN,

Prill' ei to HH Royai Higlineu the IMnce Regent.

SOLD BY KGBRTON, WHITEHALL; SHERWOOD, NBELY, AND

JONES, PATERNOSTER-ROW ; AND J, RICHARDSON,

ROYAL EXCHANGE.

1819.

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PREFACE. ,^ ;,:wi{',w

'}^

In the year 1817, the Agents of the North-
West Company considered it a duty imposed
upon them, in consequence of certain ex parte
statements of the Earl of Selkirk and his adhe-
rents, to publish a NarratiTe of Occurrences in
the Indian Countries of North America, from the
period of the connection of his Lordship with
the Hudson's Bay Company, and his attempt to
establish a Colony on the Red River. Since that
publication, the serious and alarming charges
preferred by the Earl of Selkirk against some
of the Partners and Servants of the North-
West Company, have undergone, before the
competent Tribunals of Criminal Jurisprudence
in Canada, the fullest judicial investigation ;
and a verdict of Acquittal, has been the
recorded refutation given to the imfiutations
of Murder and Robbery, which constituted
such prominent features in the distorted state-
ments of Lord Selkirk. These Trials have

;,ai«i ■ mum

Suxu

fRRFACR.

been published in this Country, from the short-
hand notes of a sworn Law Reporter, and they
will furnish to every unprejudiced mind, a clear
and satisfactory contradietion to that tissue of
calumny, misrepresentation, and fabrication,
with which the ex parte publications alluded to
abound. t«^ «■

. And though the Press has teemed with pro-
ductious of a similar character, proceeding either
from his Lordship, or his partizans, the Re-
presentatives of the North-West Company had
determined to abstain from any pamphlet hos-
lility, partly from a respectful deference to the
decision of the House of Commons, which,
shortly before the termination of the last Ses-
sion of Parliament, had been pleased to order
that certain Official Documents, materially con-
nected with this question, should be printed,
and consequently distributed to its Members;
and partly from an unceasing conviction, that
the more frequently these occurrences are inves-
tigated, the ' more satisfactorily will be estab-
lished the authentic and faithful character c^
the Narrative published in 1817; a character

II m ^"•-■■' '*■-

PRKPACK. ▼

to which it lint already proved its title by the
result of the Trials in Canada, in October last.
Such wus the determination of the Agents of the
North-West Company, when a Narrative of the
Tmiigactions in the Red River Country, since the
commencement of Lord Selkirk's Establishment,
written by Alexander M'Donell, the Partner of
that proprietory more immediately concerned in
them, reached their hands. As Mr. M'DoneU
is the person against whom the calumnious libels
on this subject have been more directly levelled^
they consider it a duty they owe to him, to make
his statement an exception to their previous deter*
mination, by puolishing in his absence, the De-
fence he has to offer to the Charges brought
against him ; and which Charges are best an-
swered, in his clear explanation of the conduct
he was compelled to adopt for the protection of
the concerns entrusted to his care, under cir-
cumstances of peculiar difficulty, and in emer-
gencies where the necessity of instant decision,
imposed upon him by the aggressions of his
Accuser, almost precluded deliberation. '^

' That prejudices had been excited in the minds

PREFACE.

of honorable and enlightened mto in this coun-
try, against the North- West Company, by these
solemn denunciations of Lord Selkirk, was with
their representatives more a subject of deep
regret, than of surprise. It was impossible
that charges of atrocity so unblushingly made,
and so sedulously circulated, against absent per-
sons, individually unknown in this country, (par-
ticularly when it was notorious that British lives
had in these disputes been lost), should not have
produced a considerable impression. When the
honor and the reputation of a British Nobleman
were, in addition, staked to the truth and accu-
racy of these denunciations, the most deliberate
and impartial mind, may be excused in allowing
itself, under such an influence, to be prepossessed
by ex parte statements ! But happily in this
kingdom, the reign of imposture and delusion
is necessarily short-lived ; and it is with unal-
loyed satis&ction, that the author of the Narra-
tive, published in 1817, can now appeal to the
solemn decisions of the Courts of Justice in Ca-
nada, while he can also call on those honorable
men at home, whose object in these investiga-
tions, could only be the attainment of truth, to lay

MWwaiM*

mmm

PREFACE.

▼II

aside any early prejudices, and calmly reflect on
the striking coincidence of the charges of the
Judges to the different Juries, with his detail of
the acts of aggression and violence, which so
progressively, though deplorably, led to that
catastrophe, in which the unfortunate Mr. Sem-
ple and his people lost their lives. '^*^

The Agents of the North- West Company have
never attempted to conceal, that the aggressions
of Lord Selkirk, produced acts of reciprocal vio-
lence and retaliation, which it was neither
sought nor attempted abstractedly to justify.
But were not such results the natural consequence
of predetermined and persevering aggression?
Could Lord Selkirk, when he hurried into such
scenes, with his nominal, at least disputed title,
have contemplated any difierent developement?
Unbiassed men will ask themselves this plain
question. Could Lord Selkirk be so uninstructed in
the character of man ; could he be so unread in
those events, which have too frequently taken
place in the remote parts of distant Colonies, on
the very threshold of Indian tribes; where the de-
scription of persons engaged in rival pursuits must
be, as well physically as morally, of a diversified

VIU

PREFACE.

character ; where the protecting and awe-inspir-
ing influence of the Law must, frorn the remote-
ness of authority, be considerably relaxed ; and
where the want of that influence could only be ,
supplied by the incessant activity and mutual co-
operation, which the expectation of profit, com-
bined with the difliculty of procuring food in
these inhospitable regions, were calculated to
excite, — in such circumstances, unbiassed men
will ask, how it was possible the real or avowed
scheme of his Lordship could get into operation,
without producing, as necessarily as eifect is
connected with cause, the lamentable outrages,
of which, since his Lordship's appearance, the
Indian Territories of North America have been
the theatre ?

A man, sincere in his professions, really ac-
tuated with a desire to respect property, and up-
hold the dominion 6f the Law, as well as from
a solicitude to secure the interests and comforts
of the unhappy persons, who had committed their
destiny to his guidance, would have never
thought Oi moving a single step, in his claim of
territorial sovereignty, until he had, first, as a
mh6 qud'mon, established his title beyond the

umsm

PREFACE,

been

reach of objection or cavil : Uiiil he had silenced
the claims of pre-occupying and conflicting in-
terests, by the recognition of the competent au**
thority ; in a word, he would have met his oppo'<»
nents on the Red River, with some more satis-^
factory document, than a notice of ejectment
from Mr. Miles M^Donetl, or a ficU from a self-
elected leader of disbanded soldiers.

But though such a line of proceeding would
have best corresponded with singleness of views
and legality of purpose, it did not suit Lord
Selkirk's object. The monopoly of the Canadian
Fur Trade must have been obtained by other
instruments — it must be first wrested from that
body, whose predecessors and themselves had
for nearly three quarters of a century, devoted
their capital and their industry to the furthe-
rance of its prosperity. An ambiguous title, a
specious pretext, to be upheld promptly and effi-
ciently by a physical force ^ were the mep.ns best
suited to this fraudulent aggression. Of these,
his Lordship endeavoured to avail himself; and
whether considered in reference to what he did,
or what he did not do, they furnish an internal
evidence, which no bol»tered-up statements, nor

It PRSPACB.

influenced affidavits can rebut, of his real,
though concealed, purpose to transfer to himself,
on the premeditated ruin of the North-West
Company, the monopoly of their trade. This
charge Lord Selkirk and his connections may
continue to deny in their pamphlets ; it stands
however unalterably confessed in the facts. ¥
As the Trials in Canada are now before ^e
Public, it is unnecessary to enter into any ana-
lysis of the Narratives of Messrs. Pritchard, Pam-
brun, and Heurter, who were all examined and
cross-examiD<Hl on behalf of the prosecution.
The intention of these publications, subsequently
to the judicial investigation, can be no other,
than the hope to impose some time longer on
the credulity of certain well-intentioned persons
in this country, disinclined to believe the extent
of these aggressions of Lord Selkirk — to break,
as it were, his fall in the public judgment, by
the endeavour to excite suspicions of the purity
of the Judicial Administration in Canada, and
of the impartiality and justice of the responsible
Servants of the Executive at home. This in-
discriminate invective, fulminated by the Earl
of Selkirk against His Majesty's Ministers,

■Ski

^ iTir i yw i iii i f i i

mm*mUi

PREFACE.

Judges, Local Magistrates, Commissioners, nay,
the Statute Law itself, " as furnishing means to
" sanction injustice and legalize oppression," is
the most decisiveproof of the conscious despera-
tion of his Lordship's case, and must carry home
a similar conviction to every reasonable en-
quirer into the character of those events. They
will feel, in the language of an eloquent mora-
list, " that the hideous and distorted picture,
" which his imagination draws of others, whom he
"does not know, can only bj taken from a model
" in his own breast, which he does know; so that
*' the result of his general accusation of all, is
" merely the conviction of one, namely, himself;
*' — against whom, and against whom only, his
" evidence is both competent and credible !" So
strongly were the Representatives of the North-
West Company impressed with this truth, as to
be induced to provide for a more extended circu-
lation of the Earl of Selkirk's Letter to the Earl
of Liverpool, and the Correspondence of his Bro-
(her-in-Law, Mr. Halkett, one of the Directors
of the Hudson's Bay Company, with the Colo-
nial Department, by a re-publication, with the
assurance, that in productions, abounding with

' II

1 1

XII

PREFACE.

representations so irreconcileable, slander ao
indiscriminate, and contradictions so palpable,
he that runs can detect them, and discover in
every page, the poison and the antidote. ^^^
i Another object in publishing this Narrative,
is to prefix to it, a Map of the Country in which
these unfortunate disputes have occurred, in
order that those, who desire to [examine with
impartiality, the claims and merits of the two
parties concerned in them, shall be able more
distinctly to understand the Report (when
printed) of the Commissioners appointed to en-
quire into them ; together with the various Nar-
ratives and Statements already published,
i, What opinion the Commissioners have re-
corded on this subject, the North- West Com-
pany have no means of ascertaining. But of
this, they have a conscientious assurance, that
whatever degree of blame may be imputed in
the Report, to some of their connexions, for un-
justifiable conduct, subsequently to the original
aggressions of Lord Selkirk, it is impossible,
that any considerable difference can appear, in
relation to the facts, as stated by the Special
Commissioners, and in the Narrative of Oc-

i*T-TfrTiri<ftii \mt

PREFACE.

XIU

currences in the Indian Country, published in
1817. In estimating the character of those
proceedings, it should never be overlooked, that
such reprisa:l8 were executed by persons wan-
tonly irritated and deeply injured, by a system
of insult and rapacity, almost unparalleled in
the predatory annals of the Buccaneers. In the
prosecution of that system, the end and the in-
struments most harmoniously accorded. Ser-
jeant Heurter is an admirable witness in such a
cause. He had authenticated his title to such
patronage, and to his character for veracity and
confidence, by a desertion from his engagements
to one party, to enter as an hired affidavit-swearer,
into the interests of the other ! ! It is on the tes-
timony of this military and civil renegade, that
an attempt is made to weaken the statements of
two such men as Messrs. Brumby and Misani —
the unsupported declaration of this Serjeant and
double deserter, is the forlorn hope by which
Lord Selkirk thinks he can asperse the character
of his officers, and gain a colourable ground for
the assertion, that the expedition which these
^o gentlemen accompanied from Fort William,
was intended to destroy the Colony. This con-

XIV

PREPACK.

I \

fession of weakness, in his Lordship's resources,
was not expected to be so openly avowed ; though
every arrival brought to the Agents of the
North-West Company, a knowledge of facts,
which went to demonstrate, that he disregarded
as *' a fastidious delicacy," any hesitation in re-
ceiving, or making up testimony of whatever
description. The Narrative of 1817, has put
upon record, tlie infamous and disgraceful man-
ner in which Lord Selkirk, taking advantage of
Mr. M'Kenzie's infirmity, tampered with him at
Fort William ;: — in continuation of the same spi-
rit, it is now to be recorded, that he bribed
one of the Clerks of the North- West Company
at Montreal to violate his trust, by copying
papers and accounts for his Lordships purposes
from the books of his employers, and even to
steal Documents, said to be now in his Lordship's
possession.

Indeed the North- West Company can hail
no opportunity, more congenial with their
wishes, or their interests, than the arrival of that
day, when, relieved from the obstructions and
delays interposed through legal subtleties an4
difficulties in the pleadings, (and hereafter the

PRKb'ACE.

nature of these interruptions, and whence pro-
ceeding, will be explained to the Public), it shall
at length be allowed them, to establish before a
British Jury, that the whole of Lord Selkirk's
connection with, and speculations in, the Indian
Countries of North America, have had but one
consistent, predetermined, though unavowed ob-
ject, viz. the destruction of theii trade, and the
ruin of themselves. And that if his Lordship has
to complain of excesses in the acts of retaliation,
which he provoked, and by which he has been
opposed, such violations of the Law were the de-
plorable result of that predatory example, which
a British Nobleman of ample fortune, had ex-
hibited in an American Wilderness, to a descrip-
tion of persons, who ought to have been consi-
dered so far below him in the scale either of
mental, or worldly pretension, — whose lives had
been entirely devoted, until his interruption, to
the laborious toil and enterprising habits of the
humble occupation of an Indian Tmder.

It is reported amongst his Lordship's friends,
tha:t he is in possession of an intercepted Letter,
from some person connected with the North-
West Company, advising his seizure and assas-

XVI

PREPACK.

sination. The last part of the story is incredi-
ble: it would be the most gratuitous act of
wickedness and folly that human infatuation
could devise. But in the harlequinade whieh
bifl Lordship played on the banlcs of the Red
River, in his storming, sapping, blockading,
and starving operations of war, it is not very
surprising, that those who suffered by the robbe-
ries of his armed force, and who could not fore-
see the extent of his aggressions, and prepara-
tions for further depredation, should have de-
termined to stop his destructive progress by the
seizure of hi» person. This Letter, if such a one
there is, (and if it be not a forgery, which is for
fiom being improbable), must have been written
after the capture of Fort William, " to satisfy the
" ENDS OF Justice." It is omitted in all the pre-
▼iotts publications, in order probably to produce
effect hereafter, and to corroborate the suepi-
eious evidience of Serjeant Hemrter, that plans
were laid to intercept any party sent into the
interior, and, if necessary, to cut them off.
Those who reeoUeet that his Lorddhip moved
in warlike array — that he encamped under the
pvoteetioi^of hi» park of artillery — that he was

PREFACB.

ZVU

supplied with all the apparatus ftur a campaign,
even to the furnace for red-bot shot — will be
somewhat sceptical as to this order of assassi-
iMktion ; unless they presume the Noble Leader
to be as unacquainted with the precautions of a
General, as he had proved himself careless of the
duties of a Subject, and the powers of a Ma-
gistrate.

Mr. M'Donell's description of the sufferings
of the first Colonists, of the severity o( the cli-
mate, the want of any establishment which
could conduce to the comfort or good govern-
ment of such a Settlement, and of the disputes
in which it has been involved with the Indians
and Traders, may possibly have the further
good effect of deterring many persons now suf-
fering under the pressure of the times in this
Country, and to whom the Press has lately
teemed with delusive addresses, on the subject
of the Red River Country, from completing the
measure of human misery, by embarking in this
wretched and hopeless speculation of Lord Sel-
kirk's. It may prevent the success which indivi-
dual schemers and land-jobbers too often obtain
over the minds of their unsuspecting dupes, and

XVIII

PItEKACE.

teach these poor creatures to receive with sus-
picion, invitatioM, even from those who have
themselvei been deceived. " Such invitations,"
says Dr. Johnson, " proceed from the natural
" malignity of hopeless misery. They are weary of
" themselves and of each other, and expect to
" find relief in new companions. They envy the
" liberty which their folly has forfeited, and
" would gladly see all mankind imprisoned like
" themselves !" Indeed, after what has passed,
it is scarcely possible to believe, that His Ma-
jesty's Government will permit any further
settlement until that main difficulty be re-
moved, namely, the right and title of Lord
Selkirk to the soil, and jurisdiction which he
has assumed, and which, by the decision of the
Judges of Lower Canada, on the trial of Oe
Reinhard, is now declared to be supposititious
and invalid. Until that, decision shall be re-
versed, by some proceeding before a superior
tribunal, the establishment of any Colony for
agricultural purposes, in this part of the Indian
Country, as in all others, is contrary to the
King;*s Proclamation of 1763: a Proclamation

PREFACE. XIZ

iMued undei ^ full conviction of the eviU which
muit always attend any attempt to reconcile the
interests of the Agriculturist with the feelings
and jealousies of the Indian Hunters. — ^These
latter must retire from the country, which t^ i$
neceuary should be occupied by the former ; and
it will ^e y. iL v%:i. time to entertain the ques«
tion of .•olky — How far it may be desirable to
force Agricultural Establishments in the Indian
Country, west of Lake Superior, when the
wild, but productive lands of Upper Canada, are
cultivated and settled 1

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NARRATIVE.

In the month of September, 1809, I first
came to Red River. Harmony, peace, and
a perfect good understanding then subsisted
between the Hudson's Bay Company and the
Canadian Traders, as well as among all classes
of people, white and brown : all followed their
usual occupations in peace and quietness; the
only disturbers of tranquillity near the depart-
ment, were the Scioux tribe of Indians ; their
incursions, however, were not frequent, and
no whites had as yet received the slightest
injury from them ; but in no part of the Indian
country was a more friendly intercourse carried
on between the Hudson's Bay Company and *he
Canadians, and which continued until Lord SeU
kirk"s connection with the former.

I passed upwards of two years in Red River,
previous to the arrival of any of his Lordship's
Colonists, and it was in the autumn of 1811,
that the first intelligence reached Red River,

I f

of the arrival of Emigrants in Hudson's Bay,
said to have landed at York Factory.

Although only a Clerk of the North- West
Company, I formed an eai^ly T;Bsolutipn of giving
my countrymen, the expected Colonists, every
assistance ; and though my actions were subject
to be canvassed by my employers, I was too well
convinced of their disposition towards these poor
people, to dread reproach for such aid as I had
it in my power to render them.

lu&ll 1812, Miles Macdonell and the first
Settlers made their appearance in Red River, in
company with the Traders from Hudson's Bay.
There were few or no married men among them,
and they consisted principally of Colony-servants,
a class of men hitherto little noticed in the
accounts of the newly-founded establishment
on Jled River. Their appearance represented
misery itself. Their sufferings the winter be-
fore in Hudson's Bay are well known, and had
occasioned various disturbances between them
and the officers appointed by Lord Selkirk to lead
and command them.^ — I pitied them much, and,
as they vvere suffering severely for want of provi-
sions, I made application to the late Mr. John
Wills, for permission to afford them such im-
mediate assistance as our means would allow.
This was not withheld; — Miles Macdonell was
directed to send his people to our Establishment,
where they received an ample supply of such pro-

visions as we had ; indeed our own servfints suf-
fered some privations in consequence i particu-
larly those who had a long and tedious passage
to perform up. the A^siniboine River, f^nd ,who
l^ad solely tp depend upon the provisions issued
to thena at the Forks of the Red River.

The Hudson's Bay Traders, soon after their
arrival, took, their different stations for the
winter, and Miles Macdonell appeared at a loss
what measures to adopt for the pre8erva.tion of
his Colons-servants, and an ^additional number
of Settlers who were expected. He bitterly
complained, and I believe with some cause,
of the little assistance afforded him by thp Gen-
tleimen of the Hudson's Bay Company, who, to
make use of his own words, " foiled him in all
" his measures since he had arrived in the
" country."

On expressing a desire to see the country in
the vicinity of the Forks, in order, as he said, to
form an establishment at some distance from ours,
that he might not interfere with our business, so
t^der did he appear to be of our interest at that
time^ I ordered my own si^dle-horses for him,
and sent a Canadian free-man to shew him the
country, and attend him. The following day he
returned, apparently not much satisfied with his
excursion, and expressing his disappointment ge«>
jierally, of the country, and particularly that he
could find no eligible situation for a town, which

b2 - --^ ■■-■'■ •■■■-

■ -v«»«>.>kii^ ■■- :-

■I

I ■

he had directions to establish. — It was, however,
arranged, that he should make Pembina River
his head"quarters, with most of his people, for
the winter, as it was hoped provisions might be
had there in greater abundance ; and only a few
were left at the Forks, to begin improvements.
These were destitute of all means of subsistence,
and were dependent upon the humanity of the
North-West Company's Clerk, Mr. B. J. Fro-
bisher, who wintered at the point adjoining to
the intended new Settlement. This gentleman
kept the unfortunate wretches, who had been
thus left to their fate, from starvation ; and was,
in consequence, reduced with his people to short
allowance during the greatest part of the winter.
I got part of Miles' baggage conveyed by
land to Pembina River, which post had been
allotted as my trading station, and it was
agreed between us, to proceed there together.
The Gentlemen of the Hudson's Bay Company
had forgot to procure a horse for the new Go-
vernor, in consequence of which I lent him my
own favourite poney. The day after our arrival,
was spent in looking out for a spot proper to
build upon, and the situation was fixed on, where
now Fort Daer stands.

Miles was c^en at a loss how to procure the
means of subsistence. He was not on good terms
with Mr. Hugh Heney, the Hudson's Bay Tradep,
from whom he said he was to receive various

1 I

supplies ; and indeed Mr. Heucy, from the number
of men under his own management, had it not
in his power to afford him much assistance.
According to my first determination, of relieving
the wants of the unfortunate Emigrants, I took
an active part in procuring hunters, &c. and
giving every aid and advice, as to the means of
obtaining subsistence for the people arrived, and
those daily expected ; and from the moment Miles
and his party arrived at Pembina, seldom or ever
twenty-four hours passed without a call on my
store for provisions ; and it remains for them to
say, whether I was then, or ever afterwards, deaf
to their demands.

The buildings of the Colony were going on
but slowly, and I advised Miles to engage as
many of the Canadian free-men as he possibly
could, to assist in erecting them.

The autumn being fine, and the weather con-
tinuing warm. Miles took a jaimt down to the
Forks, being anxious, as he said, about the non-
arrival of the expected Settlers. He returned in
a canoe sent up by Mr. Frobisher, and manned
by the North-West Company's servants, ex-
pressly for his accommodation. — ^l^hese people
afterwards related several stories, and spoke of
language held out '^ par le Oouvemeur,** tending
to make them swerve from their duty to their
masters ; but such reports, however verified by
alter events, were then treated with disregard,

and as idle stories invented by the Toyagenrs, to
enhance the value of their services and fidelity.

At IcBngth, the long-looked for Emigrants from
Europe arrived, under the command of the late
unfortunate Mr. Owen Keveny, having been
favoured with a mild and uncommonly fine
season.

Some of the natives were drinking at the
Hudson's Bay iradirig-post at the time of their
arrival; they came running up with frantic
looks, on perceiving which, I called to the
Interpreter, and met them, enquiring the cause
of their conduct. An old Chief stepped for-
ward, and addressed me as follows : " My Son,"
giving me his hand,' '' did you not see, did
" you not see ?"— " What?" replied I—" What !
those women with the white caps, and those
white children— to-day I am truly alatmed,
to-day only I am alarmed."^ — " Surely,'* re-
plied I, " women with white caps can never
" frighten an old Warrior like you, my Father"-—
wishing to appease the old man ; but he went on
— " Be silent, my Son," said he, *' you white
people think us Indians to be fools ; we were
told by the Hudson's Bay Traders, that by the
time ^he leaves would fall, we should see a
great number of Whites arrive, who were to
make gardens on our lands, and drive all the
Canadian Traders away; that these rivers and
lands belonged to a great Chief on the other

((

lurs, to
elity.
tsfroin
he late
been
ly fine
»?•' -
at the
of their
frantic
to the
le cause
led for-
y Son,"
iee, did
'What!
ad those
ilarmed,
ely," re-
n never
ather"— •
went on
m white
we were
Bit by the
Id see a
were to
e ail the
ivers and
he other

** side of the water. We did not then brieve
such reports, but we now see they are ttue.
Is it our Great Father, who thus' intends to rob
" his red children of their own lands, and render
'' them pitiful? He acted not thus towards them
" at Michilemackinac : when he got his chil-
^' dren*s lands there, he asked them 6rst if they
" would sell him part of them, which, when they
*' consented to, he paid them plenty of goods for,
** 'and does the a&me every year. It is only the
Bigknives who rob lands from the Indians,
and render them pitiful. You will see, my
Son, tliese lands will be spoiled by the Whites :
these Indians are fools," (pointing to the young
Tads about him), " they do not understand mat-
ters ; I am an old man, and have taken great
Chiefs by the hand at Mackinac. I recollect
their advice : they told me never to hurt our
** fathers' children, the Whites, and that our
'^ fathers' children would never pillage or hurt
Indians : tell me then, who is this great Chief,
as they call himj who thus robs us ?"-^— With
the assistance of his son, a fine, sensible, p«eace-
able Indian, the old Chief became more calm ;
but, turning round to the young Indians, " Chil-
dren," said he, " listen to the Traders, they
endure misery and hardship to bring us our
wants; they have supported our fore&thers,
and brought nh up; they never say these
lands belong to them, they are our relations

((

■■%■

'* and friends."— This Chief and his family
traded his peltries with the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany, but such were his sentiments towards the
Colony. He is dead of late, and was known
by the name of Kee-neese. The interpreter,
J. B. Roy, is still living in Red River.

The season soon set in with severity, and
the families began to suffer extremely from in-
tense cold. Many had no other shelter than huts
of brushwood thrown carelessly up; and the
augmentation of their numbers occasioived a
greater scarcity of provisions. Their miserioi
were of various descriptions. The buffalo were
at a great distance, and the Colony-hunters were
in general unsuccessful ; indeed they were but
badly attended to by their employers. The
Hudson's Bay Traders could give little or no
assistance, as they were themselves very indiffe-
rently supplied. I had but few men with me,
but they were (fortunately for the poor Colo-
nists) most active and industrious, and were
enabled by their activity and exertions, to sup-
port themselves, and naaterially to assist their
distressed neighbours. At this period also, the
Hudson's Bay ComjMiny had recourse to my
stores.

" About the beginning of January, the greater
part of their people were got housed promiscu-
ously in log-huts, without floorings, the win-
dows cut out, bi|t together with the doors.

were in general closed by bundles of hby, and
the poor people were often near being suffocated
by the smoke. — ^To add to their distresses, Miles
and his officers were at variance. Discontent,
disappointment, and disaffection, reigned amongst
all classes within the walls of Fort Daer. The
Colonists were entirely dejected, and resigned
to almost any fate. Horses, so essential in that
country, had not ( with the exception of a few
poor animals) been procured. Dogs were even
wanting. Demands upon demands were made
upon me almost daily for assistance, and as-
sistance was afforded then, and at all times,
when I could render it without endangering the
lives of my people.

' Miles even considered it proper to forbid the
Settlers to visit the North- West post, as he said,
for fear of their being too troublesome. His
orders, however, were not strictly followed, for
they still found their way, and experienced the
usual hospitality.

In consequence of the want of horses or dogs,
resort was had to coupling and yoking the men
to sledges made for horses, and it was customary
for each sledge to have its driver, called over-
seers, who had no scruple of making free use of
his stick on the backs of those he drove. They
were obliged to perform this duty destitute of all
necessaries, such as snow-shoes, caps, mittens,
leather or blanket coats, socks, kettles, lire-steel.

: f"

or flint ; and it is a fact which cannot be denied,
that some of these wretches, for want of the
means of making a fire, have buried themselves
ilk banks of snow, to prevent their being frozen to
death, and have often been forced to eat th6 raw
meat off their sledges.

' The few buffalo killed by the Colony-hiinters,
were staged* at a great distance, and it Was
found impossible by Miles to. support all his
people in any manner longer together ; he cftme
therefore to the determination of sending off a
number of the Settlers and families to live iri the
Plains. His orders to this effect were given out in
cold stormy weather, which still did not prevent
those who were to depart, from getting ready
the best way they could ; but the day appointed
for their ledving Fort Dae'r being remarkably
boisterous and severe, (so much so, as to pvrvent
smart and hardy Canadians, my men, from un-
dertaking A trip to the Plains to fetch meat), the
women and children shewed some relUctalnce to
leaving the fort. However, the Governor's or-
ders must be obeyed, &nd they were packed off
ttt all risks. As might be foreseen, these miser-
able p66ple had not proceeded far, before the
Women and ohildren were overcome by the eold,

"^tob*-**-

* The Buflfalo-bunters, when they kill an animal, strip oiF
the muscular part of the flesh, and hang it up to dry on frames
of wood, cMtA stages: hence the term, dried meat.

, f

)e denied,
nt of the
lemservefl
frozen to
It the raw

-hunters,
d it was
t all his

he came
ding off a
ive ill the
iren out in
»t prevent
ng ready
ippointed
markably
o pvrvent
Prom un-
leat), the
stance to
nidr's or-
acked off
le miser-
efore the
the <;old,

i, strip off
^ on frames
If. n

and with diflicalty reached a bluff of wood, not
far distant, where, having been furnished with
the means of making a fire by the Canadians,
they encamped for the remaining part of the day,
and following night. Next morning thdy c(hi-
tinued their journey, sinking tip to their knees in
snow, and, as I was informed, cursing Lord
Selkirk at every step. They, however, made
out to reach Pembina River Mountain, half
famished and nipped by the frost, where they
remained till the latter end of the winter^ and
suffered many privations.

Miles had employed one Fran9oifi Delorme, to
act for him at the Forks, and had given, con-
trary to his own repeated and voluntary profes-
sions of not interfering with the Fur Trade, an
assortment of goods to him, for the purpose
of trading peltries with the natives, all of whom
had, as customary at the beginning of winter^
received their necessaries on credit to a large
amount, from Mr. Frobisher. He also made
application to Mr. Hilliek, for an active clerk to
manage the post at the Forks, and proposed Mr.
Hillier's giving a supply of goods for the post,
where, he said, his agent Delorme, would act
as Indian Trader, and Mr: Sloane (the Hud-
son's Bay clerk, who was sent according to his
request), as master of the men.

I mention this circumstance, not because we
had any right to object to Lord Selkirk's agents

carrying on the Fur Trade, although they might
have abstained from opposing us at the particu-
lar place and moment when we were straining
every nerve to feed, protect, and support the
wretched Emigrants, who had been deluded, by
the falshoods published in Great Britain, to leave
their homes, on this desperate undertaking, but
because I have heard it stated with confidence,
that his Lordship's views were completely and
entirely uncrnaected with objects of trade;
whereas they have always appeared to us in the
country, from the measures adopted since his
Lordship's connection with the Hudson's Bay
Company, as the principal inducement which
led to that connection. This commencement
of interference, however, and upposition to our
trade, certainly produced some jealousy at the
time ; I considered it afterwards my duty, and
recommended to my people, to adopt the same
line of conduct, to be more guarded in any
information relative to trade, or to the country ;
but the former good understanding and general
assistance with respect to provisions, was still
continued.

The Hudson's Bay clerk, Mr. Sloane, at the
Forks, and Miles' trader, Delorme, could not
agree together; and Mr. Sloane, in disgust with
his colleague, left the Forks, and came up to
Pembina to Mr. Hillier. Delorme soon fol-
lowed, and at the Governor s earnest entreaty.

*J-.biit*ii;Sr^, . ^*-»v-^

-XT-

Mr. Frobisher took the entire management of
the Settlers, and affairs at the Forks, after which
I believe they were better off than when under
the care of Sloane and Delorme, and additional
exertions were made by IVIr. Frobisher to procure
fresh meat, in which he was not unsuccessful.

In February 1818, Mr. J. D. Cameron, win-
tering Partner in river Winnipic, paid me a
visit, and we received frequent invitations to
Miles' house, where we were as well entertained
as his circumstances would permit. Mr. Cameron,
desirous of evincing his good wishes to the Co-
lonists as his country people, furnished Miles and
Mr. McLean with seed for the Settlement, wheat,
potatoes, and barley.

On my return from the Forks to the Pembina
River, early in the Spring, I received a note
from Miles, accusing me of holding language to
the Settlers and Colony-servants, tending to se-
duce them from the Colony service, and request-
ing me to forbear from further visits. In his ac-
cusation regarding his people, he was perfectly
wrong : he grounded his assertion on my telling
one Hector M'Donell, that honest industrious
men might receive lands from the Crown in
Upper Cauda, and enjoy the blessings of peace,
society, and Christianity ; but I neither advised
him, nor any of them, to go to Canada, or leave
the^iervice. >*

But the cause of such conduct was obvious.

■ty:

■1

1^1^

The yvinter was . at . an end. Miles thought
l^iniself independent of our assistance, and he
kn^ew also of the contest with the Americans,
and bow it would naturally affect the Traders
from Candida. The approaching ruin of the
North- West Company was whispered to our
servants all wiqter, though not with so much
audapity as the. following reason. Secure, how-
ever, a^ Miles thought himself as to provisions,
he was unfortunately wrong : the greater part of
his people were collected at Fort Daer, who
coni^umed the trifling stock of fresh meat pro-
cured there. About this. period a poor, young
ladi^ Magnus Isbester, lost his life, and becume
a prey to the wolves, in the following manner:
he pame in a weak and pitiable condition from
the Salt l^prings, Red River, to Fort )>aer,
wHierQ he stajted the period of time he had
fasted, 9BiA reqqestcd food : he was instantly or-
dered oif to the camp of Michael Macdoqell,
dii^t^t, about thirty miles. When he arrived
therej having fasted three days, some food was
giyep to him, with orders to depart the follow-
ing morning to a Canadian hunter's tent, at or
neiur the Hare-hills. Next morning he requested
something to eat before he set out, but which
Al'Donell refused to give him. , A Scotch girl,
pj^rceiving this treatmi^nt of the popr boy, went
to an Indian tent near at hand, and, with her
own clothes, bartered some meat, of .which she

•< i ini-rinn » > i-

cooked, and gave him a. piece. On perceiving
this, Mi<;hael M'Donell came into the tent in a
fit of rage, whilst the poor lad endeavoured to
conceal his piece of meat under his coat; ; but
Michael shook him, and the piece of meat fell
to the ground. Michael took it up, and threat-
ened the ^rl; but she told him she was not
ashamed of what she had done; that she had
purchased the meat with her own property, and
might give it to whom she thought fit; re-
proaching M'Donell for his want of humanity,
in ordering a poor weak boy to cross a wide
plain of thirty miles without shelter in such a
boisterous and stormy day. His orders were
however repeated for Isbester to depart imme?
diately ; and the unfortunate boy set off festing
and alone, and, as might naturally be ex-
pected in his feeble condition, perished, firom
the effects of hunger and of the weather, about
the middle of the Plain. He became a prey to
the wolves, and part of his hair, his clothes, and
bones, were found by two of the Colony-servants
some time afterwards, in coming to Fort Daer
from the Hare-hills.

In the month of May, Miles, with part of his
people, came down to the Forks, to commence
their agricultural operations. The Traders of
both Companies had also arrived from their dif-
hnnai winter stations. Mr. Wills and Miles
had several interviews together, and were on

Il' '.

the most friendly terms, and Mr. Wills sold the
Company's horned-cattle, swine,.and poultry, to
the Settlement, for the trifling price of one hun-
dred pounds.

An Irishman of the name of Welch, though he
had a wife and child at the Settlement, had, on
account of the oppression of overseers and other
petty officers, made frequent application for a
passage in the North- West Company's canoes,
to rescue himself, as he said, from bondage, but
had been as often refused. He however mad§
out to procure a small canoe, and with the ut-
most danger and difficulty got to the river Win-
nipic, where he embarked in some of the Com-
pany's canoes without their sanction ; of whom
more by and bye.

Having accompanied the different brigades of
canoes from the north, in the summer, to Fort
William, I found Miles had written a letter to
the Agents of the North-West Company there,
complaining of my conduct and that of Mr. J. D.
Cameron, for havini^ excited discontent* among
the Colonists, by misrepresentation; and in a
peremptory manner requiring, that neither of us
should reassume our stations in the Winnipic, or
Red River.

The day after my arrival, I was questioned by
Mr. William M'Gillivray, as to the number of
Settlers, and their sufferings during the past
season ; he also made me acquainted with Miles'

-J. : — .■t"'*i-.''::s^

sold the
»ultry, to
)ne hun-

lOugh he
had, on
nd other
)n for a
canoes,
ige, but
er mad§
i the ut-
Br Win-
le Com-
)f whom

^esof
to Fort
etter to
^ there,
r. J. D.
among
id in a
er of us
lipic, or

>ned by

nber of

le past

Miles'

({

accUsalloiis, and enquired by wnose order/*
Welch, the Colonist, had been brought out. I
could only tell him the truth, that from the mo-
ment the Settlers arrived in Red River, I had
given them all the support in my power ; that Mr.
Cameron had shewn every disposition to assist
them also ; and that Welch had made his way
out contrary to our desire. It would be injustice
to Mr. M'GilUvray to conceal, that he sympa-
thized with the Settlers for the many privations
they had suffered, and strongly recommended a
continuance of assistance towards them; con-,
eluding by saying, " You must absolutely take
Welch back to his employers ; such conduct
would be void of good principles, and a bad
'' example to servants in general." As far as I
can recollect, these were the very words Mr.
M'Gillivray made use of Welch, the Colonist,
who was almost naked, then got a suit of clothes,
and was ordered to prepare to return to his former
employers. As neither Miles M'Donell, or any
other Hudson's Bay Factor or Agent had any
right to dictate to the North-West Company the
line of conduct they were to pursue, as to the
prosecution of thsir usual trade, there was but
one opinion about my retui'nin|^ to my old de-
partment with Mr. Wills. . , , • : it - ,. . n r. •/ r vf
The day of our departure for ^he interior, whilst
talking with Mr. M'Gillivray on our plans fpr
the future season, he recommended to us to afford

•

■'I

every practicable reliefto the Settlers; and under-
standing that the Emigrants complained of the
want of retail shops^ he directed enquiries to be
made, whether the Agents of the Colony would
wish the North- West Company to send goods
suitable for that purpose to Red River, which
would be disposed of at as low a price as possible.

In September following I arrived at the Colony,
and in conformity with my instructions from the
Agents at Fort William, delivered Welch, the
Colonist, to the late unfortunate Mr. Alexander
M'Lean, Miles being absent then at York Factory.
The Settlers at the Forks had suffered consider-
ably this summer from sickness ; some lost their
lives, and others were still in a low condition.
We learnt that Miles had remained some time in
the country, after the departure of the Traders of
both parties to Fort William and Hudson's Bay,
and had prohibii^d the free-men and others from
felling timber ; anu the language he had con-
tinued to hold during the summer, indicated
serious hostility against us, when he should have
sufficient means.

Late in the fall, he returned from York Factory,
where he had been detained, in expectation of
Emigrants from Europe, but in whose arrival
he was disappointed, those who came out, being
obliged to winter at Churchill. Aflcr a short
stay av the Forks, he proceeded with part of his
peopit; to Pembina River, where one of his Over-

.^.■^'

■r:-St!:t

under-
of the
m to be
would
goods
which
ossible.
Dolony,
rom the
,ch, the
exander
factory,
onsider-
)st their
ndition.
i time in
aders of
n's Bay,
era from
ad con-
idicated
lid have

actory,
atioD of

arrival

t, being

a short

trtofhis

is Over-

seers and the Settlers he had left, had passed
the summer, not without some danger from the
Scioux, who had killed four Canadian free-hunters
in the vicinity of their post.

Mr. Alexander M'Lean, the chief settler, had
taJcen up his residence at (he Forks ; and was
enabled, chiefly by means which I afforded, to
get a small dwelling-house erected, and tempo-
rarily arranged for the winter season.

Intelligence of Uie capture of the British sq|ua-
dron in the month of September 1813, on Lake
Erie, and the conquest of Detroit by the Anseri-
caBS, reached us about the beginning of the
winter by express ; and we were alarmed by de-
clarations and threats, that the difficulty in which
our trade was piaced, by the events of the war,
was to be taken advantage of, for the commence-
ment of irttempts for its destruction. Our com-
munication with the Canadas was apparently
cut off, and Miles determined to strike a de-
cisive blow at once, by the seizure of our provi-
skms, being convinced, that if the Michigan ter-
ritory was lost, the intelligence of whidi was
also daily expected, the means of subsistence
for oar numeioas servants were to be alone pro-
oared in the Red River country.

To delude the ignorant, and obtain their as-
sistance to his aggressions, under pretence of legal
authority, on the 8th of January, 1814, he isr

jV;i

;{■

sued his famous Proclamation for the seizure of
provisions and blockade jf the country ; and his
colleagues were busily employed in endeavours
to shake the fidelity of the North- West Com-
pany's servants to their employers, by represen-
tations of their approaching and unavoidable
ruin ; " that they were intruders on these lands ;
had on all occasions treated their servants
with tyranny ; that engagements entered into
with them in Canada, were not binding, or
legal, according to the laws and regulations
enacted by Lord Selkirk ana he Hudson's
Bay Company, for their Establishments ; that
their engages might legally desert their service,
" and enter into that of Lord Selkirk as voyageurs
or settlers, if they thou^t fit ; describing to
them the advantages to be derived from en-
tering into his Lordship's employment; stat-
ing to them also, that any individual protect-
ing property against the terms of the Procla-
mation, was acting against law, and in open
rebellion ; and that although the Governor
" would not himself take the trouble of trying
'' them, although the power as vested in him,
" he would send in irons to Hudson's Bay, any
" daring enough to act in any way contrary to
" his edicts."

1 So much dissatisfaction at their situation, and
discontent, notwithstanding, existed among his

((

'igi-jW^-'

own people, that the best argument the Governor
could urge with them to obey his orders, was
the-risk of famine, unless they seized the North-
West Company's provisions ; and this had only
weight in the first instance with the Irish Set-
tlers, the Scotch being decidedly averse to
acting in any way against their countrymen,
from whom they had received so much sup-
port and assistance. Miles was, however, to
use his own assertion, '' determined to clear
" the Red River of the North-Westers ;" and
having induced, by various means, most of the
Colony-servants, chiefly single men, to consider
themselves bound to enforce the Proclamation,
they were immediately and regularly trained for
that purpose to the use of small fire-arms and
artillery.

%^He likewise considered it a prudent prepara-
tory measure, to seduce some of the North-West
Company's clerks from their duty, and for this
object paid a visit to Aulay M'Aulay, at Turtle
River, who was in charge of a small trading post
at that place, and succeeded, unfortunately, in
prevailing upon him to believe in the legality of
his aggressions. Mr. M'Aulay represented to
the men under his command, that they were
unauthorized to defend their masters' property,
as the Governor, being employed by a great
Lord, whu was legal owner of t|ie coun-.

[■sit

n fe'

" try, had a right to take the provisions from
" the Traders." For this conduct M'Aulay was
dismissed the service ; but some excuse may be
found for his conduct, as his father was a de-
pendant of Miles Macdonell, and of course his
influence was naturally increased by gratitude
due for acts of kindness rendered to his family
by the Governor. '

Another, and the principal post in the de-
partment, was under the charge of Mr. John
Pritchard, at Qu' Appelle. Here our store pro-
visions were chiefly traded and procured ; and
the Hudson's Bay Company had also a trading
post for the same object. Miles could not at
first conveniently obtain an interview with
Pritchard, but, as he openly boasted, he had his
spies in our forts, and ascertained that Pritchard
was staggered at the powers assumed in his Pro-
clamation, and rightly concluded that little
persuasion was required to prevent his taking
proper measures for the defence of the provisions '■
entrusted to him.

The late Mr. John Wills was stationed for the
winter at River la Souris, in chief chai^ of the-
Red River district ; and then lingering under a
nervous disease, his conduct can only be ac-
counted for by debility of mind and body. He
appeared equally to be infected with apprehen-
sion of Miles's authority, and with a belief in

the legality of the pretensions on which it wag
aisumed.

' Thus the leader of the Red River depart-
ment for the North- West Company, and two of
his clerks, with the men under their command,
stood affected, at a time when a steady and
resolute resistance of oppression was called for,
instead of subserviency and acquiescence to these
unwarrantable measures. The few servants
not corrupted or intimidated, were nine or ten
honest Canadians at the Forks, with a couple of
unexperienced clerks at their head, destitute in a
great degree of the means of self-defence.

In May 1814, Miles being apprehensive that
the North-West Company's provisions might,
by exertion, reach the Forks of Red River, and
be lodged there till the arrival of the people from
the northward, and elsewhere, who would not
tamely submit to famine, hastened down from
Pembina River with the Coltmy-servants, who
had been regularly disciplined, armed with mus-
quets and bayonets, and with a field-piece or
two mounted on carriages.

Mr. WilU at River la Souris, had given orders
to Mr. Pritchaid at River Qu' Appelle, to join
him with the provisions collected at his post,
sooner than customary. The provisions reached
River la Souris in May, and two Canadi^ms,
Andre Poitras and Pierre Squci, being on their

way to tlie Forks, Mr. WiIIh emplo^red iheni to
take down one of the battcaux heavily laden
with pemican, as he was short of hands, and
followed theai himself in a light canoe, to seek
medical assistance and advice from Mr. Holds-
worth, surgeon of the Colony.

A few days afterwards, information was re-
ceived that a party of men, well armed and ac-
coutred, with a field-piece mounted, had pro-
ceeded up the banks of the Assiniboine River,
with orders from Miles to take the batteau, or
sink her in case of resistance. Mr. Wills had
become much worse soon after his arrival, and
this intelligence appeared so greatly to depress
his spirits, as to render him incapable of direct-
ing any steps to be taken for the preservation of
the provisions. — It therefore became my duty, if
possible, to protect my employers' property till
the arrival of some Partner from the north, who
would then act as he might judge expedient ;
and upon representing, with Mr. Seraphim
Lamar, our situation to Mr. Wills, he told me
to act for the best, as his state of health would
not permit him to make any exertion on the
occasion.

I agreed with Mr. Lamar to proceed early
next morning to ascertain where the boat was,
if it had not been intercepted by Miles's party ;
and as they were reported to be eight in num-

her, we •Ictermined to take only an equal
strength, to shew our peaceable intentions, and
at the same time to convince them, that we in-
tended to defend the property. We therefore
summoned six men to accompany us with their
fusils, and explained to them the business upon
which we were going, asking them if they
would defend their masters' property if attempts
were made to seize it illegally: they answered,
"Yes, to the last, we must not be starved to
" death."

After proceeding a mile or two up the banks
of the Assiniboine River, we found the late
John Warren, the leader of the band sent
out by M'Donell, who had taken an advan-
tageous position for accomplishing his predatory
orders. His field-piece was mounted and pointed
towards the river. On perceiving us, he turned
out his party under arms. I told my people to
keep the high road, and that I would go myself
to the bank of the river, to ascertain if the boat
had arrived there. I did so, and Mr. Lamar and
some of the men followed, fearing, from the
well-known violent disposition of Warren, that
some accident might happen. We found the
boat had not arrived, and determined to order
it to stop wherever it might be met, and the
provisions to be secreted for the present. After
dispatching a courier to Poilras with these

vj r

11/

orders, we returned with our people, fortunately
witliout meeting Miles M'Donell, who with his
whole force, an additional iield-piece, and hit
surgeon Holdsworth, had taken the field. His
number might have amounted to sixty efiective
men, well armed and accoutred.

Soon after our return, Mr. Wills received a
note from Miles, complaining of our having
appeared in arms, which he considered as being
in open rebellion ; and Mr. Wills was required
to cause his clerks to discontinue wearing side-
arms. He further declared, that he had a body
of armed men stationed on the banks of the
Assiniboine River, to support a constable he had
appointed to enforce all his decrees.

The common high road was also obstructed,
and the free Canadian hunters and Half-breeds
in their usual and peaceable occupations were
chased, and taken prisoners by men with fixed
bayonets, for no other cause than being suspect-
ed by Miles of being favourably inclined towards
the North- West Company. So rigoroiis was the
blockade, as to prevent the very Indians fimn
passing and repassing. To my certain kaow-
ledge, an Indian on his way down from Portage
des Prairies, was taken prisoner with his wife
by the blockading party, and kept at their camp,
till the pleasure of the Commander-in'Ch^f was
known.

There were several Indians and free-men at
the Forks at this period, who all spontaneously
offered their services to Mr. Wills, to resist the
pretensions and violences of Miles. The free Ca-
nadian hunters proposed, as'the communication by
water was not practicable, on account of the can-
non, and the strong body of armed men employed
in the blockade, that in conjunction with the Com-
pany's servants, they should procure horses and
carts sufficient to unload the batteau, and convey
its cargo by land, and as the Indians present pro-
mised to assist them in case of being attacked,
they had hopes of being successful, from the
shelter the carts would afford them ; besides, it
was their opinion that Miles would not be daring
enough to commence shedding their blood in
such a cause. The natives were unanimously
inclined to this opinion, nnd said, '* The gardeners

want to frighten you out of your provisions ;

but they dare not besmear these lands with
" the blood of our relations." Mr. Wills listened
attentively to all these propos&Js, and returned
his thanks for the aid which was offered him,
but declined the services both of the Canadian
free-hunters and natives. The spirits of the
few people at the Forks became depressed by the
language and the general comluct of this un-
fortunate man, which occasioned also some alter-
cation between us.— Want of provisions was

((

! I

also severely felt, from the difficulty of bringing
them down, and the people began to be dissatis-
fied and alarmed.

The blockading party, disappointed in the
non-arrival of the boat, began to suspect that the
provisions had been secreted. Finding that
Andre Poitras and Pierre Souci, the two men
who had orders to conceal them, could not be
prevailed upon, either by bribes or promises, to
divulge where the pemican had been placed, a
party of armed men were dispatched to bring
them down as prisoners. Accordingly they were
taken, and brought down without warrants, or
the pretence of legal form. They were told by
the Governor they had been guilty of a heinous
crime ; and that they had subjected themselves to
the risk of being sent immediately, bound hand
and foot, in irons, to Hudson's Bay, and thence to
England, to stand their trials as criminals, which
would still be their fate, if they persisted in
their non-compliance with his demand. He told
them further, that Mr. Wills had informed him,
they had both secreted the pemican, and that
they were the only people who could find it.
The idea of being torn from their families, and
transported beyond seas as felons, added to
some doubts they entertained, whether Mr. Wills
himself was not indifferent as to their fate, as
well as that of the property, induced them to con-

fess where it was deposited. On the following
morning a party was dispatched in quest of
it, and in the course of a day or two re-
turned with the long looked for plunder, con-
sisting of about a hundred bags of pemican, of
ninety pounds each. Great satisfaction was ex-
pressed on the arrival of the prize at head-
quarters, and much praise was bestowed on
the officers and men who had performed this
service, in which they had evinced such activity
and zeal.

Miles was condescending enough to offer some
of our people, that when they were entirely des-
titute of food, they might make application to
him for their rations ; but his offer met with the
contempt it deserved, though we all suffered
considerably.

As the management of the Company's affairs,
from the state of Mr. Wills's health, naturally
devolved upon me, till the arrival of some
Partner, I judged it necessary to request Mr.
Pritchard to put the provisions then at River
la Souris, under his care, immediately in store
at that place, and by no means to put them
afloat, or risk them down the river, till he re-
ceived further orders from his superiors. Prit-
chard complied with my request, and appeared
mortified at the depredations committed by Miles's
people below. . .iti

.'i i:

:F 9

Miles' proceedings were moreover mariced with
much inconsistency ; for the man who was one
day exercising his power as a Hudson's Bay Go-
vernor, from which body he pretended to derive
the whole of his power and authority, on the
next, suddenly summoned us all to appear before
him in his magisterial capacity, as Justice of the
Peace for the Indian Territories ; and in one of
his capricious humours, he bound to keep the
peace, the late John Wills, in 100^ for a twelve-
month, solely with an intention of degrading a
member of the North- West Company in the eyes
of their servants, and to alarm them by the extent
of his power. We were stigmatised as rebels,
men in open rebiellion, a set of petty adventurers,
intruders on the lands, with many other appella-
tions not worth repeating. Our servants were
taken out of our fort at any hour thought con-
venient, to answer to alleged charges, but in &ct,
with a view of obtaining information from them
as to the situation of our prc^rty, and the means
of plundering it. l

Mr. John Doagald Cameron arriveu at the
Forks on the 1st of June, and being a Partner of
the concern, of course took the charge off my
hands. He came immediately to the resolution
of allowing none of our servants to go near
Lord Selkirk's post, and of preventing any future
molestation to ourselves and our people^i within

our own house. Mr. Cameron had a crew of
eight active Canadians, who, with the men of
the place, might make about twenty, a number
thought sufficient to keep the others at bay.

After the evidence that has been published,
of these robberies, and likewise of that com-
mitted by Spencer in June, of the remainder of
the North- West Company's property at River
la Souris, under the immediate charge of Mr.
John Pritchard, as well as of the aversion shewn
by the North- West Company to using extreme
measures in defence of their persons and property,
even at a time when they had ample force for
that purpose, it is unnecessary for me to enter
into further dei • these proceedings.

In spring 18i>i, Miles M'Donell hadaj^inted
several peace officers, perfectly unqualified for such
situations, and one of them, Hugh Swords, ap-
pointed a constable, hesitating to take the oath
which the honest man imagined was necessary.
Miles very composedly told him that he would
dispense with that formality, as it was solely by
way of experiment or trial that he had nominated
a sheriff and constables.

In the summer of 1814, when the Partners of
the North- West Company were assembled from
their different wintering stations at Fort Wil-
liam, these outrageous proceedings, and the ne-
cessity of counteracting them by some efficient

! {r

and legal measures, were fully discussed. On
information being taken on oath by some of the
parties present, who were appointed Magistrates
for the Indi'^'sn Territories by the Governor of
Lower Can .da, warrants were granted for the
apprehension of both M'Donell and Spencer; and
Joseph Brisbois, Augustin La Vigne, Joseph
Lambert, and one or two more, were sworn in
to act as constables for tb^ space of twelve
calendar months ; and this seems to be the whole
ground upon which Lord Selkirk's accusation of
all the Pertuers of the North-West Company,
for having at that period entered into a con-
spiracy against his Colony at Red River, is
founded.

Spencer was arrested under this warrant, and
brought to the North- West Company's establish-
ment at the Forks, where he remained a night,
and, notwithstanding his repeated outrageous
conduct, his reception and treatment was that
of a gentleman. On the following day, the con-
stable whose prisoner Spencer was, perceiving
an intention on the part of the most unruly of the
Settlers to rescue him from his custody, ordered
a small escort of the Company's engages to sup-
port him in the execution of his duty, and ac-
company him till his prisoner was conducted past
the Settlement, or huts of the Settlers below.

Whilst proceeding down Red River in the

-Vi^

liliiiiijiVi.ili"iiii»> , " v'_ •'^

peaceable execution of his duty, in two canoes,
with six or seven Canadians in each, they
were wantonly fired upon, and brought c:i shore,
where a body of armed Colonists, with two
field-pieces loaded, and matches lighted, were
stationed to rescue the prisoner. The minds
of these disorderly people were inflamed by
intoxication, and they were frequently on the
point of blowing the canoes and crews to atoms;
and that no such catastrophe occurred, may
be ascribed to the steady and cool determina-
tion manifested by the Canadians in their pe-
rilous situation, to the interference of the late
imfortunate Mr. Alexander M'Lean, and to some
renionstrances on the part of Spencer himself,
from the situation in which he was placed.

After the prisoner had been conveyed past
all danger of rescue bv this rabble, Mr. Ca-
meron, and one or two more, returning peace-
ably, were waylaid on the common highway,
by one Michael Heyden, and being utterly un-
prepared for such an attack, would probably have
fallen victims to the hands of an assassin, had
it not been for the immediate interference, in a
cool moment of refection on the fatal conse-
quences which might ensue, of a clerk then at
the Colony.

' It has been falsely asserted , that the Bois-brulea
were paraded and exercised in arms under the
immediate inspection of Duncan Cameron. Mr.

■-■m

1 1

..^■ai itt in WM l iii-l|ij|><[lil '

Cameron had only two Bois-briiles, Bostonnois
Pangman and a boy, wintering with him : but
there was a Camp of Bois>briilea and Canadian
hunters at Per/.^'<na River, winter 1815, assem-
bled as usual . that season for the collectioi
of provisions, against whom Miles M'DooeU
marched with a body of armed mea, intending
to possess himself of the produce of their hual ;
but on his near approach, they called ia their
stragglers, and put themselves in a posture t«»
receive the Governor, which astonished the party,
and caused him 1,0 retreat to his government*
house at Fort Daer ; and to this attempt, m^y
principally be attributed the part which the Bois*
brules in general afterwards took against him
and the Colonists.

Previous to the arrival of the Nofth-West
Company's people from Qu' Appelle River, in
May, 1815, Miles Macdonell had been also ap-
prehended, but the constable who served the war*
rant had not sufficient force to support him in the
execution of his duty, and narrowly escaped be-
ing himself imprisoned in the attempt. Afler>«
wards, understanding that Miles was getting a
boat in readiness to setoff for Hudson's Bay,
the constable, in the dread of losing his prisoner,
made application to Mr. Cameron for a party
to apprehend him a second time as he past FrOg
Plain. The application could certainly not be
made to the HudBoa''s Bay Company, for they

??niiiitmi liHrtWi

■l tu.ts^Uiv^*^^ • *

were in arms to screen the prisoner from justice,
and facilitate his escape. Mr. Cameron and
myself thought it our duty to assist the o6Scer
entrusted with the warrant; and as it would
have been folly, to have sent a force inade-
quate to command the peace and to support the
constable, a considerable party proceeded with
him to ii'og Plain, but not before haviiiig given
notice to Mr. James Sutherland, the Agent for
the Hudson's Bay Company, of the purpose for
which they were sent, which was to search for
the prisoner in any craft proceeding down Red
River, or in any party passing by land down-
ward ; and requiring him and his people to c
sist from endeavouring to protect Miles M'Do-
nell from the operation of the law.
' Whilst stationed at Frog Plain, watching
with the constable, the men frequently went
backwards and forwards to Mr. Canoeron's Fort^
higher up than the Settlement, without giving
the least molestation to any person, although on
the other side Miles's sentries repeatedly gave
them provocation, as they passed along the road.
On the e*«'ening of the 10th of June, a party
of Half-breeds, returning Imck to their encamp-
ment at Frog Plain with a small supply «f pro-
visions, in the dusk of the evening, were assailed,
and wantonly iired upon by the Cokmista and
Hudson's Bay servants, posted for the purpose
b^ind a ditdi dicing the hi^ road. The Half-
' / ■; ^ •'' d2 ' "" .' ■

3r.

breeds, though without shelter, and only seven
or eight in number, returned the lire, which
drew Miles and the rest of his force to a gene-
ral action. A lad was dispatched with in-
telligence of this attack to our establishmeK.t
at the Forks, and a horse being then ready
saddled,! speedily mounted, and proceeded with
another gentleman to the place where the parties
were eng-aged. The Half-breeds had retreated a
few paces, and taken a secure position covered by
a bank. After a little expostulation, I succeeded
in stopping the firing on their part, and the
others also soon after followed their example, and
retired to their garrison. I exerted my utmost
endeavours the more to prevent the continu-
ance of such hostilities, from a dread of the
consequences which might naturally be expected
from the character and disposition uf the class
of people who had been attacked. The Half-
breeds, now exasperated beyond controul, clap-
ped spurs to their horses, flew to their brethren
at Frog Plain, and gave a rapid report of the un-
provoked attack upon them ; calling upon all the
Brules on the ground immediately to retaliate,
and stating, that though they had before been
restrained by Mr. Cameron and myself from
revenging themselves for past offences, yet they
considered further forbearance, after this fresh
and most unjustifiable outrage, as cowardly, and
pregnant with great danger, tp their liveci #q^

liberty. The dame was uuw kindled, and in
less than half an hour every Half-breed on the
ground, many of whom were boys, were mounted
on horseback. In conjunction with the other
gentlemen present, I remonstrated with them,
and represented the imminent danger they would
be exposed to, from the fortified buildings and
artillery of the other party, as well as from their
own weakness in numbers, &c. But all expostu-
lations, and all attempts at command, were in
vain. " They had," they said, " been grossly in-
sulted and injured, and would no longer submit
to such treatment ; they did not want the assist-
ance of the Canadians, but would now act
separately and for themselves." Our Cana-
dians, who were present, shewed an inclina-
tion to follow the Half-breeds, but were soon
reduced to order, and not a single individual
coming under the appellation of a white man,
was allowed to stir from the camp. Yet some of
Lord Selkirk's creatures have attested upon oath,
and caused a warrant to be issued for my appre-
hension, on the allegation that I was the leader
of the Brules, in the skirmish that took place
between them and the Colonists on the IJth
June, on which subject I beg to refer to the
affidavits of Mr. Alan M'Donell, and Mr. John

((

Siveright.

I do not pretend to say, that
people in Mr. Cameron's Fort

none of the
came out on

■9

hearing the firing between the Bniles and the
Colonists on that day, but I can, with confidence,
affirm, that if they did so, it was from an appre-
hension that the Colonists had again attacked
some of our people on their way from or to the
fort.

Miles was then busy in his plans to escape
from arrest by the constable, and was the more
anxious to get off, as the time of the year was
approaching, when it was customary for the ca-
noes of the North- West Company to pass with
the returns of the season to Lake Superior, but
with the intention of returning when we had
left the country, to continue his hostile and op-
pressive conduct against us in our absence. In
order, however, to draw a closer line to prevent
his escape, a ditch was dug as near the Settle-
ment as we could, of some length, and deep
enough to screen people from any fire from his
fortifications at the government-house, &c. and
Miles, finding that the party supporting the
constable, were too watchful to afford him any
prospect of escape, at length surrendered himself.
Had he done this when first legally arrested,
and submitted his defence for all the seizures
and aggressions of which he had been the author,
to a competent tribunal, the question of his right,
or that of his employer, would have been quietly
decided. He was determined, however, to per-
severe in his attempts to maintain it by force,

and the resistance occasioned by his interference
with the rights and properties of the Half-breeds
and Natives, occasioned in this instance the first
dispersion of the Colony.

Afler the quarrels and encounters which had
taken place, and having been disappointed in
their prospects, and disgusted with the conduct of
the Governor, it was no matter of surprise, that
most of the Colonists should desire to leave the
country ; and certainly, afler what had taken
place, there was no indisposition on our part to
aiford them the means of transport to Upper
Canada.

The burning of some buildings afterwards,
and the dispersion of the few Settlers who re-
mained, was entirely the act of the injured and
irritated Half-breeds, who now considered the
Colony as hostile to their tranquillity.

The Canadians were very far from interfering
to aid the dispersion of these Settlers, after the
arrest and departure of Miles M'Donell. On the
contrary, when the horned cattle were driven up
towards our establishment by the Half-breeds
to be slaughtered, with some difficulty I got
them sent back immediately without injury, and
the Colonists conveyed them away in safety, a
few days after.

After Miles's departure, Mr. James Sutherland
of the Hudson's Bay Company, and Mr. White,
late Surgeon of the Colony, requested a confer-

ence with the IIulf-biuudN, and, as representa^fc
tives of the Hudson's Bay Company and of Lord
Selkirk, proposed terms to a considerable body
of them, who met in council in the Plains with
some Indians.

The purport of those proposals was, as related
to me afterwards, to the foUowing eiiect :

" Tiiat the Settlers then present should re-
main in quiet and peaceable possession of some
points of strong woods below the Forks, should
cultivate the same, but make no settlement
" in any part of Red River without obtaining
" leave from the Indians and Half-breeds, and
''paying annual rents to them jointly; that
" neither Half-breeds nor Indians should in
" future be prohibited by proclumation or other-
" wise from following their usual mode of huut-
" ing, nor be looked on as under the jurisdic-
" tion, or subject to the laws of the Colony,
" unless at their own request ; and that the past
'* slate of warfare should be buried in oblivion."

Had this line of conduct been pursued at the
commencement of the Settlement, no such nego-
tiation would have been necessary, but now the
lirules would come to no terms, except the imme-
diate departure of the Colonists, which they en-
gaged should be allowed with perfect safety, and
without the slightest injury from them. They
wurc moreover so tenacious of their rights, tha^
hey piuhibilcd the Hudson's Bay Traders from

entering the Red River the euHuing autumn, with
more than a certain number of boats, for the
purposes of trade alone ; and this was fully un-
derstood by them to have been promised by Mr.
Sutherland. The Indians present concurred with
the Half-breeds, and wislied that the Hudson's
Bay Traders alone should return, and no Colo-
nists, it is very probable that, with their usual
duplicity, some of them might afterwards ex-
press themselves favourably towards the Settlers,
with an expectation of obtaining presents of spi-
rituous liquors, tobacpo, and ammunition, from
the agents of the Colony, on their way to Jack
River. But had they, as u body, been friendly
to, or regretted the departure of the Settlers, they
Avould not have withdrawn, when a strong body
of them were encamped at Miles M'DonelTs
house, who could easily, if they had been so
disposed, have checked the Half-breeds in any
attempt to disperse them ; nor would they have
joined in the council with the Brules, or in-
sisted upon the immediate departure of the Colo-
nists, or have given out in their harangues, " that
'' the garden -makers spoiled and besmeared their
" lands."

At the succeeding general meeting at Fort
William, Mr. Canaeron was, unfortunately for
himself, reinstated in his joint charge of the Red
River district ; but he had positive injunctions
from his Partners to be guarded, cautious, and

pnident, and to avoid all collision with hii
Lordship's Agents and Settlers; and it was
found expedient that I should conduct the pro*
vision posts of Upper Red River as usual. :d

We left Fort William together, and on our
arrival in Red River, in September 1815, found
Mr. Colin Robertson there, who had brought
back the remaining Settlers who had retired to
Jack River. We had not time to change our
linen, before a messenger from this gentleman
made his appearance at our fort, with some
papers sent by him to our clerk, Mr. John Sive-
right: these papers purported to be the ab-
stract of a Letter from the Earl of Selkirk,
with the opinions of some of the most eminent
Lawyers in England, respecting the validity
of the Hudson's Bay Charter, und their powers
of jurisdiction, &c. The documents, as intended
by Mr. Robertson, were banded both to Mr.
Cameron and to me for our perusal, after which
they were instantly returned to him.

We soon learnt, from undoubted authority,
that Mr. Robertson was determined to follow the
example set by his predecessor ; and his conver*
sation and conduct satisfied us of his hostile dis-
position towards the North- West Company, and
particularly towards Mr. Cameron. The lower
clawses of the people, and the natives, were told,
that it would be useless to offer any resistance to
the additional force which wcu> sent by Lord Sel-

kirk firom Hudson's Bay and Canada to assert
his rights, as established by the legal opinions
Mr. Robertson had published on his arrival in
the country ; and although Mr. Cameron was of
opinion, 1 'oni his former acquaintance with Mr.
Robertson, that his threats and bombastic lan-
guage only resulted from a warm imagination,
and his desire of being thought a man of import-
ance in the employ of the Earl of Selkirk, I
dreaded the result, from my experience of former
violences.

The common routine of our business made it
necessary for me to proceed to the Upper Red
River provision posts, and as much dispatch as
possible was used in sending off the canoes and
goods for those places. The day of my departure
for Qu' Appelle, a message was delivered to me,
with Mr. Robertson's compliments, that he de-
sired an interview with me on the. common hig^
road. Both the manner and the place appointed
for our interview, I must confess, astonished me,
but I went unattended, and met him at the
rendezvous, attended by an armed servant on
horseback. The conversation that took place
was partly on subjects of a private nature : in
that relating to the state of parties, although Mr.
Robertson made use of much abusive language
towards my colleague, Mr. Cameron, which was
painful to my feelings, he was not so violent as
I expected on other points, and he will have the

^
i

candour to allow, that I strongly recommended
to him conciliatory manners towards his neigh-
bours, and towards all classes of people, as an
object much wished for by us, requisite for the
restoration of order and tranquillity throughout
the Red River, and by far the surest way of
securing success to his present undertaking. '^
^ It may not be amiss here to observe, that Mr.
Robertson and I entered the North-West Com-
pany's service together as apprentice clerks in
1803, and were then in habits of intimacy. '^wH
^^ Mr. Duncan Cameron remained in charge of
the post at the Forks of Red River, called Fort
Gibraltar, with some people to carry on the
trade, and established a couple of small out-posts,
one at Pembina River, in charge of Bostonnois
Pangman, the other at White River, Manatoo-
waupang Lake, under the management of Mr.
John Siveright, with a few men. The Qu' Ap-
pelle post, where all the provisions for the out-
going Company's servants, and part of those
for incoming servants, are collected, and a small
post at River la Souris, were under my direction ;
yet, from the nature of our business, the posts of
both Upper and Lower Red River, can not go
on without dependauce upon each other, and
frequent communications between them : and it
was peculiarly unfortunate that I had left, owing
to the low state of the water in the communica-
tion to Qu' Appclle, a quantity of goods intended

for the provision trade, at Mr. Cameron's post at
the Forks.

In the month of October I received intelligence
from the Forks, of violences committed by Mr.
Robertson and his followers, on the persons of
Messrs. Cameron, Lamar, and Charles Hess«
While Mr. Cameron and Mr. Seraphim Lamar
were peaceably riding on a Sunday along the
road on their way home, they were waylaid
by Mr. Alexander M'Lean, one Bourke, and one
Heyden, who presented loaded pistols to them,
and threatened them with instant death, if they
did not immediately surrender themselves pri-
soners, and follow them to Mr. Robertson's post,
DOW called Fort Douglas : these threats were
followed by expressions and actions, on the part
of Bourke and Heyden, unworthy of being re-
corded, and only becoming such characters. The
gentlemen, without means of resistance, -were
obliged to comply, and were conducted to Fort
Douglas, where they were confined close prison->
era, under an armed guard. They repeatedly^
desired to see the authority under which thev
were deprived of their liberty, and their lives were
endangered. As neither warrant, nor any shadow^
of legal right could be produced, a bare-faced
falsehood was invented by Robertson and his
associates, who asserted that the Half-breeds at ^
River Qu' Appelle had cut off the Huds-^n's Bay
post there, and killed one man and wounded

■ti

r if

; T:

another. In retaliation fcr this, Mr. Cameroa
and Mr. Lamar were to be sent off immediately,
ag prisoners, to Hudson's Bay ; and the fort or
establishment, under the ; barge of the former,
was to be taken immeditte inossession of. To
accomplish the latter pu pose, it was requisite
to have recourse to stratagem, and a body of
armed Colonists were sent upmi this expedition,
with Mr. Lamar, whom they severely threat-
ened, if, on approaching the fort, he gave any
alarm to the few servants within. They en-
tered the fort with fixed bayonets, and the
honest Canadians, who, it being Sunday even-
ing, were smoking their pipes in their houaes,
were surprised and made prisoners. Mr. Alex-
ander McLean and Bourke were the leaders on
this occasion, and much exultation was expressed,
that the fort was taken without any loss of lives
on their part. ^

The warehouse and stores were opened anJ
rummaged, and a waste of property, of course^
ensued, and spirituous liquors were issued by Mr.
M'Lean and Bourke to their followers. Bourke
acted as Ensign under Captain McLean on this
occasion. Peremptory orders were g^ven to ail
the North- West Company's servants in the fort,
to get their canoes in readiness, and quit it with-
out loss of time. Tliey were at a loss how to
aoC ; but although prisonero, they came to a re^*
sohitioB of remaining till forcibly tivned oat.

i m

Mr. Canieron's store of spirits and shrub were
too tempting, for the Captain and Ensign of this
party to refrain from making a free use of, and
•cenes ensued which are too shameful to be re-^
lated. ' ^

Mr. Cameron was afterwards conducted back
to his fort under a guard, to be sent off the fol-
lowing day, together with Messrs. Lamar, and
Charles Hess, to Hudson's Bay, and they had
bayonets at their breasts every step they moved.
In fact, the next morning they were embarked
in a boat for this destination, but, on their
arrival at Fort Douglas, were landed, and in
result, liberated by Mr. Robertson.

Private, as well as the Company's property,
guflfered on this occasion, and two small iron
cannon were taken away by Robertson and his
party. Throughout these outrageous proceedi ng«i
no warrant, either for the apprehension of per-
sons, or for the search after property, was, or
could, be fN^uced.

The allegation, that the Settlement was then
iA actual danger from the North-West Com-
pany, is a nsere after-thought. The true motive
foe these and the subsequent outrages was, at
that early period, apparent from Mr. Robertson'9
unreserved avowal of bis intention, to mttke use
of his own words, ** of razing to (he ground,

every establishoient and trading post belong-

ir ;; to the North-West Company within the

((

{(

" territories claimed by the Hudson's Bay Com-
" pany." Mr. Cameron^ however, whose fort
was first to meet the fate so early announced, by
some unfortunate infaluatiou, was lulled into a
state of security, and, unhappily for himself, took
no precautions to avert the blow he ailerwards
received. •*

' About this period, the late Mr. Robert Seraple,
appointed Governor-in-chief for the Hudson's
Bav Company, arrived in Red River with sooie
k^ettlers lately i\om Ettrope, find an addition of
men and goods for (!»« Hudsou's Bay Traders. /*

From the favoatv.ble representations made of
this gcntienian's character and abilities, added
to his being invested with authority both over
all the Agents of the Colony and the Traders,
a lively hope was entertained that, under his
influence, peace and tranquillity would be uni-
versally restored between all parties in the
ettnntry. Such hopes were, however, but too
soon destroyed ; the late violences committed by
Robertson^ seemed to meet with his entire ap-
probation and countenance ; and it appeared, his
zeal and abilities would be devoted to support
all the pretensions which were disputed by the
Canadian Traders and their dependants, and
which had, in fact, led to all the collisions which
had previously taken place. ^

The Settlers brought in by Mr. Semple, pro-
ceeded under the command of Mr. Alexander

McDonald to Fort Daar, where it vras supp>
posed they might procure the means of subsist-
ence with more ease than at the Forks. 'wi-f-
A^ soon as the winter set in, Robertson paid
a vh'it to Fort Daer, and did not neglect visit-
ing also the North-West Company's post at
Pembina River, under Bostonnois Pangman,
//hoi; I he endeavoured to seduce from his duty,
by offering him a high salary, and the Canadians
under his command were likewise attempted to
be inveigled from their employers' service.
Finding his offers ineffectual, he had recourse to
serious threats towards Bostonnois, but this
Bois-brulc was one whose integrity was not to
be bent, and Robertson* returned a few days
aferwards to Fort Douglas, without effecting his
object. 8
~ In all Robertson's communications with the
different parties, and particularly with Mr. Ca-
meron, whom he frequently pestered with visits
at Fort Gibraltar, he appeared anxious to ex-
patiate on the power entrusted to him, as suc-
ceeding Miles M'Donell in his Government of
Assiniboine, and the determination of Governor
Semple and himself to establish the right of
jurisdiction of the Hudson's Bay Company in
Red River and throughout the country; their
avowed intention of enforcing with the utmost
rigour all the powers granted them by the Char-

'! '4

ter of Charles II. and he invariably maintained
that the ruin, or rather the annihilation of the
North- West Conipan;y', must be the unavoidable
ultimate result of these proceedings.

As a sign of the hostile feeling that existed
at Fort Douglas against to the North- West
Company, Mr. Seraphim Lamar, and another
person, having, by invitation, paid a visit to
some of the principal people there on New
Year's Day 1816, were, on leaving the door
of Mr. Semple's house, assailed by a set of
ruffians, and escaped with difficulty with their
lives, after receiving several blows with clubs»
seemingly prepared for the purpose.

Mr. Semple having established himself in his
station, now considered it necessary to strike
some decisive blow in Upper Red River, to
intimidate our servants, and gain the confidence
of his own men ; and having selected a body
of Colonists, and an officer of the late Voltigeurs,
he proceeded with them to my hut at Qu' Ap-
pelle, and in my absence endeavoured to obtain
possession of our property there, by seducing
those left in charge of it. A note was written
by him to Mr. Grant, who was entrusted in my
absence with the care of the post, and conveyed
by Messrs. Pambrun and M'Kay, who used in-
effectually all their efforts to persuade Mr. Grant
to ffijlbmit to the demands of the Governor.

th€

Mr. Grant, liowever, was not so easily persuad-
ed, and sent in reply this verbal message to
Mr. Semple: *' Come and take it, you shall
" meet the reception from me which such con-
" duct will deserve." Though weak in nume-^
rical strength, compared with the combined
force of Semple and Mr. James Sutherland,
Grant, by his vigilance and resolute conduct,
kept Scrapie's party at bay till my return about
the 12th February, when, after the interchange
of a letter with me, the attempt was abandoned
by them.

About this period Mr. Duncan Cameron, hav-
ing been for some time desirous of seeing the
Pembina River country, and the Assinibotne
tribe of Indians, and after many solicitations
from me, paid me a visit at Qu' Appelle ; but
notwithstanding the state of affairs, and the
gloomy aspect they wore, particularly in the
Lower Red River, he could not be prevailed
upon to make a long stay at my post. Before
he left me, we addressed a joint letter to the
Partners of the North- West Company, to the
northward, containing an account of the vio-
lences and robberies of Robertson in the fall,
and the apprehension of further acts of aggres-
sion towards spring, advising as a measure of
precaution, the sending a few active engages
from Fort des Prairies, to assist in case of heed iq
the preservation cCthe Company's property.

■i •■

A.J

Mr. Semplc, who was also at Qu' Appelle,
took his departure the very same day with Mr.
Cameron, but stopped at River la Souris, half
way to the Forks, with one Peter F idler, the
Hudson's Bay Trader there, being a centrical
situation, from whence he could direct the exe-
cution of the plans for the destruction of our
trade in the spring, which had been for some
time arranged, and decided upon, by him and
his colleagues.

In March, soon after the departure of Mr.
Cameron, the North-West Company's winter
express (bearing also dispatches from the Pa-
cific Ocean) with private letters to indivi-
duals in Canada, reached me at Qu' Appelle,
by the ordinary route from the Northern Depart-
ments. By this express, I learnt the dreadful
calamities which had befallen the party sent by
Lord Selkirk to the Athabasca country, for want
of proper arrangement and management on the
part of their leaders ; and that the survivors of
this ill-fated expedition, owed their escape from
the fate which had befallen their companions, to
the humanity of our people in that country*.

* These people had been seat from Canada, where they
were engaged by Lord Stlkirk's Agents, for the purpose of
opposing the North-West Company's Trade in the distant
posts, to which the Hudson's Bay Compuiiy had never pene-
trated. — No precautions having been taken to provide provi*
siorjs, about twenty men were either starred to death, or

■*H-v.'

After preparing my own dispatches to the
Agents and Proprietors of the North- West Com-
pany, giving them, as usual, a detail of the suc-
cess of the winter's trade, I dispatched two men
to convey the budget to our clerk, Andrew Poi-
tras> at River la Souris, to be forwarded with
due expedition to Mr. Cameron at the Forks ;
but on the arrival of the express at this post,
on the 19th March, 1816, it was intercepted, and
the letters broken open, read, and detained by
Robertson and his party.

Towards the latter end of March, or the begin-
ning of April, Mr. John Siveright arrived at
Qu* Appelle, with intelligence of the capture of
Fort Gibraltar, our post at the Forks, and gave
me a minute and correct detail of all the out-
rages committed by Robertson and his associates
on the 17th of March, as well as certain informa-
tion of the like measures being intended against
the post at Pembina.

Mr. Cameron was again made prisoner, and,
after a considerable imprisonment at Fort
Gibraltar, was sent down with every mark of in-
dignity to the Bay, from whence he was forwarded

devoured by their companions, who saved themselves by this
dreadful alternative. It would be curious to hear the expla-
nation given by Lord Selkirk's friends, who alledge he never
bad objects of trade in view of this unfortunate expedition. Was
it sent to establish a Colony on the Athabasca, or Slaye Lakes?

in confiiieiuent to England ; but, on hih arrival
there, could neither obtain the satisfaction of a
trial for any imputed offence, or the means of
obtaining reparation for the injury he sustained ;
as the unfortunate Mr. Semple, by whose orders
he was so treated, was the only person against
whom, in the first instance, he could have insti-
tuted proceedings. •'"
The principal actor in these scenes of rapine
wrote me an epistle, wherein he informed me of
his intention to dispute the ground by inches,
&c. &c. Mr. Siveright was also the bearer of a
letter from Mr. Semple, who gave his sanction
to the robberies of his colleague, and informed
me, that Mr. Robertson's letter, which announced
the aggressions he had committed, happily needed
no comment. w
~ It is mure easy to conceive, particularly by
those acquainted with the situation of the coun-
try, than for me to describe, the state of my
feelings on this trying occasion. I saw my
partner and colleague imprisoned, his life en-
dangered, his private property and the pro-
perty of the Company pillaged ; their servants
dispersed, and whatever remained of their effects
throughout Lower Red River, ready to share
jthe same fate. I beheld public and private
letters broken open, unblushingly read, and their
distorted contents converted into a pretext even

tor 8o doing. I iaw, iiu^r my enemies inibrnied
me theroselvet, that the communication was
■topped, and obstructed by fortifications strength-
ened with artillery. I saw myself in a great
degree destitute of even the means of preserving
my own post; neither fusils nor ammunition, and
only a slender force, in comparison with the
combined forces of Lord Selkirk and the Hud-
son s Bay Traders ; and in perspective the lives of
five himdred of the North- West Company's ser-
vants in the interior, together with the valuable
returns of the season, at the mercy of Seropic and
his confederates.

It was my duty, therefore, to take whatever
steps I lawfully could, for the preservation of the
property under my charge. I consequently, with
as little delay as possible, stated briefly, in a
general letter to the Partners to the northward
of Red River, the state of their affairs in that
department; the necessity of sending forward
with all possible expedition some of the most
active men, Half-breeds and others, with a sup-
ply of arms and ammunition, for the defence of
the depot of provisions at Qu' Appelle, Robert-
son having captured the greater part of those
stores in the lower posts ; apprising them also of
the danger they ran of being captured by an
armed vessel equipped to cruise in Lake Win-
nipic, for that purpose, under the command of
one Holte.

By the return of Mr. Siveright to Lower Red
River, I wrote to Colin Robertson and to Mr.
Semple, expressing my astonishment at their
conduct, claiming the immediate restitution of
the forts and property taken and plundered, and
referring at the same time the imprisonment of
Mr. Cameron, and his clerks and men, with
other former acts of aggression, to the decision
of courts of justice. - - " ■-^'^ ->-.«...

Prudence made it necessary to put the fort of
Qu' Appelle in as good a posture of defence ps
circumstances would permit. As little time as
possible was lost in so doing, and a constant
guard was kept, to prevent surprise. --^ ■ "

I wrote also to Mr. John Macdonald of Swan
River, being the nearest department whence
assistance could be expected^ requesting that he
would communicate with all possible dispatch
to Mr. J. D. Campbell, the critical and alarming
state of the North- West Company's affairs in
Red River, and begged Mr. Macdonald to urge
without delay every means Mr. Campbell could
afford for my relief Mr. Macdonald did not
lose a moment's time, after receiving these ac-
counts, in sending off a couple of active men to
Cumberland-house department, and wrote Mr.
Campbell, urging him to send forward all the
assistance he could procure.

The first news after the departure of Mr. Sive-
right, confirmed his statement of the danger in

Mrhich our post at Pembina River stood. That
place, with the clerks, interpreters, furs, mer-
chandize, papers, books of accounts, &c. fell a
sacrifice to the Hudson's Bay freebooters, about
the 20th of March, as detailed in the affidavit
of Jos eph Jourdain and others then present. The
clerks, interpreters, and part of the men taken
at Pembina, were imprisoned at Fort Daer, under
the command of Mr. Alexander Macdonald, and,
after being confined some time, were conducted
by Messrs. Pambrun and M'Leod, with a party
of armed men, down to the Forks, and there
imprisoned with their late employer, Mr. Came-
ron, in his former establishment, Fort Gibraltar.
It is not irrelevant here to observe, that Mr.
Cameron, Alexander Fraser, Seraphim Lamar,
Charles Hess, Peter Pangman, and others, who
were kept prisoners by Robertson and Semple,
would have suffered even a want of the common
necessaries of life, had it not been for the active
exertions of the Canadian cleik acting for the
North- West Company at the River Winnipic,
'rvho from time to time, contrived to send sup-
plies of provisions to his employer and others
suffering with him. "

^ About this time I learnt that some weak and
credulous servants of the North- West Company,
who had been taken prisoners by Robertson at
the Forks, had consented, in order to procure

i t

'^1

' m

their liberation from close confinement, to per-
form the servile offices necessary for the support
of the g^ng who did garrison duty in the fort of
their masters ; and Robertson set a few of the
common men at liberty to shift for themselves
and their families. At length also, In conse-
quence of strong remonstrances from the Indians,
Mr. Seraphim Lamar and Peter Pangman were
released from prison, and made their way to La
Souris River ; and in fact, all those who were
disposed to remain faithful to their employers,
came to Upper Red River as soon as, by any
chance, they got freed from bondage.

In the beginning of May, when the ice breaks
up in Red River, and when, consequently, the
period arrived when the North- West Company's
boats, with provisions from Qu' Appelle, might
be expected to pass the Forks, the Commanders
of Fort Gibraltar and Fort Douglas put every
thing in motion for blockading the water-com-
munication, strongly fortifying the key of the
river, as Mr. Robertson truly called it. Their
Colony-servants had been regularly trained and
disciplined to the use of great guns, as well as
exercised with the musquet and bayonet. Several
brass pi<^ces of cannon were mounted on car-
riages for field duty, and a number of others
planted so as completely to command the river.
Officers were selected and appointed to command

the men in dilterent divisions. The decked
vessel on Lake Winnipic was given in command
to Lieut. Holte, with which, according to his
own words, " he was to give the damned Cana-
dians a rough handling." All being thus pre-
pared, the Commander of the Key of Red River
thought proper to make trial of the zeal, spirit,
and dexterity of the blockading party under his
command, in sinking craft as they passed his for-
tifications. For this puipose, he secretly caused
an old boat to be set adrift in the dusk of the
evening, higher up the river than the garrison, so
as to deceive his troops into a belief that it was
one of the North-West Company's boats from
Qu' Appelle, loaded with provisions ; and as the
boat drifted down he called his troops to arms,
announcing the approach of a North-West Com-
pany's boat. They rushed out without further
orders, and commenced a heavy fire of musquetry
on the boat as she dropt by, and they received
many encomiums from their commanders for their
ardour and activity.

^ Previous to the departure of the Hudson's Bay
Traders from Qu' Appelle, Mr. Pambrun arrived
there with a select body of armed men. Their
hostile intentions tdwards our establishment were
undisguised ; but on the very day, nay, the very
hour, that Pambrun joined his colleague Suther-
land, I received neari^ an equal number of men

■

from Cumberland-house department. They were
eight or nine in number, chiefly Half-breeds, who
had volunteered their services in our defence.
Pambrun and Sutherland nov, with their com-
bined forces, judged it rather dangerous to make
an attack on my post ; but probably also, they
considered, that as Robertson was in possession
of the Key of the River, the depot of provisions
Pv Qu' Appelle, under my care, must unavoidably
fail id last into their hands.

Perceiving the blind and rash system I had
thus to contend with, I nevertheless determined
to make another effort to obtain the restitution
of our forts and property, and, if possible, to re-
concile matters to such a degree, that law should
decide between us.

An interview I had with Mr. James Su:,her-
land for this purpose was ineffectual, and he re-
fused to write his superiors to second my repre-
sentations and adraoiiitions for peace. I pursued,
however, my object, and wrote both to Semple
and Robertson, in terms which I vainly hoped
would prevent further disturbances. A gentle-
man was sent with these dispatches, with in-
structions not only to remonstrate, but to ne-
gotiate for peace ; bat the bearer was treated with
contempt, and my letters were considered as
dictated by fear, and s, consciousness of inability
to parry the blow iutended to be aimed against

•t

the concern. Thus were my pacific overtures
rejected, and I received for answer, a threat
* that a blow would be struck, that would re-
" sound from Athabasca to Montreal."

On the day that Messrs. Pam'jrun and Suther-
land took their departiv'e with their property from
Qu' Appelle River, to proceed to the Forks (the
blockading station ) the people at my post pro-
posed the detention of their provisions, until the
restitution of Fort Gibraltar; alleging with
truth, that if all the Hudson's Bay provisions got
safe to the Forks, it was evident that the lives of
the numerous servants of the North-West Com-
pany would be endangered, and their property be-
come an easy sacrifice to the plans of our enemy.
I endeavoured to repress the ardour of the men
for adopting this plan, and also told Mr. Su-
therland, that I would use m\ endeavours with
all about me, to prevent any molestation to him
or his effects, provided we received no further
accounts from below, of a perseverance on the
part of Governor Semple, in his avowed deter-
n»ination to cut off our communication with Lake
Winnipic, and the canoes expected from the
interior ; but that in that case, though painful
in the extreme, I could not venture to restrain
the people on our side, from adopting at length
active measures, for their own preservation as
well as that of their countrymen.

Mr. Sutherland, and his colleague Pambrun,

left Qu' Appelle about the 8th of May, in boats,
with a general supply of provisions for the block-
ading party under Semple and Robertson, at
Forts Douglas and Gibraltar. On or about the
evening of the 11th of May a person arrived,
who, having been in charge of a trading-post of
the North- West Company, had been plundered
of the furs and merchandize under his care, his
l^fe seriously endangered, and himself and part
of his people imprisoned, but who had contrived
to escape. The story he related, formed a com-
plete confirmation of the openly avowed inten-
tioiici on the part of Semple and Robertson, to
continue their system of seizure, plunder, and
imprisonment, and that they were very far from
having any intention ov desire of coming to an
amicable understanding with the representatives
of the North- West Company. It appeared, on
the contrary, that their late successes had ele-
vated their spirits, and stimulated them, by means
of the decked vessel under Holte, supported by
other armed craft, to attempt the seizure or de-
struction of the North- West Company's canoes
in Lake Winnipic, with all the valuable returns
of the season ; and Robertson made no secret of
his intention to erect a battery at the entrance
of the River Winnipic, in the Lake of that name,
in order to capture or destroy any canoes or pro-
perty that might escape from Holte. '*'
No relief could possibly be obtained from any

■#^!fj^cS^^^

I "

competent authority to decide between the parties,
and the rapid strides of the Hudson's Baj pi^ople
towards our destruction, admitted of no further
delay. Accordingly the detention of the pro-
visions intended for Semple and Robertson's
blockading garrisons was determined on as a
measure of self-preservation, with the intention
of keeping them carefully to be delivered up again
to the Hudson's Bay Agents, after the North-
West Company had been extricated from their
perilous situation.

,., Sutherland and Pambrun gave up their provi-
sions and arms to a number of our men, not
much, if at all, exceeding theirs^, and not the
slightest injury was done to a single individual
of the party, who were detained at Qu' Appelle.
Mr. Sutherland had not been guilty of any act
of violence which could justify detention or im-
prisonment, and he consequently experienced no
constraint or confinement during the space of
half an hour, or thereabouts, he remained in my
house ; nor did I ever order him to be brought
there. Hci returned with his clerk, with their
arms, to their own establishment at Qu' Appelle ;
and, with the exception of the musquets and
bayonets, the pixiperty was not laken to the
North- West Company's Fort.

Mr. Pambrun had been an active accessary in
the unlawful imprisonment of several individuals

■.fW

Jiui^

in Lower Red River, and had, on all occasions,
shewn himself a ready instrument in the ag-
gressions of Semple. The body of men under
his command had also been guilty of serious
crimes, and it was thought justifiable and legal
to detain him and them until the arrival of com-
petent authority in the River. All, however,
that was required of Mr. Pambrun on this oc-
casion, was his word of honour that he would
not abscond from appearing before a .Justice of
the Peace for the Indian Territory, and he re-
mained with me during the spring, more as a
companion than a prisoner.

The common men who were brought back
from the boats, were certainly put under re-
straint, and though afterwards liberated. I con-
sider myself blameable for so doing. They
were men who had committed, or joined in the
robberies and other violences that had taken
place in Red River, and were then on their
way to join their associates and commanders ;
they however affected to lament the part they
had been led to act in the depredations com-
mitted by the Hudson's Bay Agents, and pro-
posed to bind themselves, by oath, to refrain
from a similar line of conduct in future. I told
them I was by no means qualified or empowered
to administer oaths, but since they appeared to
entertain a due sense of the impropriety of their

conduct, [ would ke6p them under no restraint,
and only take from them a promise in writing, for
their future good and peaceable behaviour. This
was done, and a boat was given them, with other
articles necessary for their voyage, and as they
represented that the Colonists were in want of
provisions, fifteen bags of pemican were sent for
their support. The Hudson's Bay pemican and
effects detained, remained (with the exception
of what was sent to the Colony) at the spot
where they were given up, and Mr. Sutherland
was repeatedly requested to take a correct in-
ventory of them, which he declined, alleging
that he had one in his possession.

As soon as the provisions and othe** i jturns
were got ready, and the boats prepared, I pro-
ceeded with them, and the people collected for
their protection, to endeavour to join, if possible,
my associates from the northward. The pemi-
can detained was embarked in the Hudson's Bay
boats, to be taken with us, that it might, as be-
fore said, be restored, after a terminatioln of the
existing disturbances.

The assertion, that Mr. Pambrun, on leaving
Qu' Appelle, was sent down in a boat as pri-
soner, is false; he rode his horse, and joined in
the sports of the chase on the journey, which
he appeared to relish, nor was he under the least
restraint or controul.

It is customary for the North- West Company

to build boats for the conveyance of their pro-
viftions traded at Qu' Appelle to Bas de la Ri-
viere, and nothing occurred out of th" jrdinary
routine of our business on this occasion, except
collecting an additional number of men from the
surrounding departments, which had become
indispensably necessary, from tlie threatening
aspect of affairs, for the security of oar lives and
property.

Meeting, at the Forks of Qu' Appelle River,
with a number of Indians of the Saulteux and
Cree tribes, who were no strangers to the out-
rages, and furtlier intentions of the Hudson's Bay
Agents, and giving them some supplies,. I
judged it expedient to explain t^ them, as far as
lay in my power, iae cause of the present dis-
turbances betwi '3« the two concerns. I was in-
duced to lake ihifi 5tep^ fiom the certain know-
ledge, that the doctrine and constant language
of our adversaries, had rendered part of these
Indians hostile to us ; and I was not without ap-
prehension, that the result might prove serious
to the people I had left to pass the summer at
my post. I therefore descril^od to them the
origin and progress of the present contest, stat-
ing the unfounded claims of the Hudson's Bay
Company, which they had attempted to enforce,
by the expulsion of all the Canadia t Traders,
from what they falsely called their '<,erritorie8 or
lands ; tlmt in the prosecution <^ their designs,

♦i7

tliey hat.l been engaged in a successful career of
pillage and r;i{iiBe, during the whole winter,
in the course of which, ■ trading posts had been
robbed and plundered, and then razed to the
ground, their old traders made prisoners, with-
out cau'ie, their friends and relations treated with
cruelty and oppression, and the supplies intend'
for their use, intercepted and plundered in tii
most wanton manner. That the Canadians, who
hiid established themselves in the country, and
traded with their fathers, before the English
^VG^^ ever heard of in the Red River, had al-
ways considered the natives as the lawful owners
of the soil; that we were determined never to
admit the claims of the Hudson's Bay Company,
or to subniit to their attempts to entbrce them,
and that if we were again attacked at the Forks*
we would resist, and defend ourselves to the
loiit; and if any of them chose to accompany
us, if a quarrel shou'id take place, they would
have the opportunity of judging who were the
aggressors.

A few youug men, Indians and Half-breeds,
riding by the Hudson's Bay establishment under
the command of Peter Fidler (Brandon-house),
entered the fort, and pilfered some articles of little
or no value, without my knowledge ; and some
tobacco v^as ailerwards found at a distance front
the fort, an article of which, our servants and
Indians had, for some time past, been wholly de-

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23 WIST MAM STRHT

WnSTII,N.V. MStO

(71*) •72-4303

prived, by the robberies committed below, and
this was distributed to those who stood in need
of it.

On the second day after this transaction, I
understood that Fidler, at the time the party
were taking from him these artides, (consisting
principally of a few pounds of raisins, &c. &c., a
list of what was taken having been sent by
Mr. Fidler, there can be no doubt about their
value), offered them some bundles of furs, which
they would not accept ; and as 1 now heard of
the departure of Robertson for Hudson's Bay,
with the valuable furs which had been plun-
dered from us at the lower posts, losing thus all
prospect of recovering our property, I sent a
young gentleman alone to Brandon-house, to
ask Mr. Fidler if he would deliver these furs to
me, on condition that they should be hereafter
valued, and set off against an equal value of ours
which Robertson had conveyed to Hudson's Bay.
The fairness of this proposal struck Fidler very
forcibly, and he sent over to me the furs re-
quested without hesitation, and afterwards sent
a packing account of them in his own hand-
writings

[ have omitted to mention, that the North-
West Company's post, and the Hudson's Bay
establishment (Brandon-house) at River la
Souris, are separated by the Assiniboine River ;
and that the young lads who took away Fidler't

raisins, &c. were riding down, escorting the pro-
visions, on the side of the river where the Hud-
son's Bay establishment was, the road on that
side being then only practicable for horses.

From the moment our boats with the provi-
sions, &c. left Qu' Appelle, daily apprehensions
were entertained of an attack from Lower Red
River, and as the number of people I had, ad-
mitted of their being divided, I formed them into
two parties, and from 25 to 30 men, chiefly
active Brules, rode on horseback in company
with myself and other gentlemen, keeping con-
stantly in sight of the crafl, and always en-
camping together, and in our way down the river
I omitted no precautions to guard against sur-
prise.

Two days previous to our arrival at Portage
des Prairies, we were informed by an Indian from
Fort Douglas, that a strong body of armed men,
with a field-piece, had marched under one of
their officers froni the Forks, to take post at
Portage des Prairies, in order to intercept our
convoy, which induced us to halt for some time.
1 dispatched an express to },he craft (the coun-
try in the neighbourhood not admitting of an
escort accompanying them along the banks of
the river), to warn them of their dagger; and
a small party was also sent next morning, to
asqertaiu the truth of the information given, but
at Portage d^s Pr^iiiiet;, ius>teGtd of enemies, they

fbttiinfttelj met with friends. Mr. John Sive-
ri^i, ftnd a few Canadians who had wintered
iVith him, and some others who had be^h
seized and imprisoned by Semple and Robert-
soil, and had lately riecovered their liberty, had
made theiir way towards the nearest post o( the
Company, and my mind was relieved firom much
anxiety by this meeting with our friends, as I
dreaded extremely any collision with the Hud-
son's Bay people.

About the sixteenth of June I arrived at Por-
tage des Prairies, and my craft the day after.
Mr. Siveright had arrived on the 9th, and was
equally relieved by oUr junction, having been in
cokisiant fear of being attacked and pillaged of
his returns by parties from below.

I was much disappointed here, at receiving no
at^cdunts tof the arrival frota the northward of any
of the Peittners of the North- West Company at
the entrance tif * River Winnipic, where
we have an establi. u^ient, and Where thie pro-
visions collected in Red River are annually
stored, atit^ issued ottt, as they pass, to the diffe-
rent brigades of danoes, for the ^ubsiertienee of
the piBople till they reach Lake ^Superior. The
seasr^n Vv^as far advanced, and th6 period when
they in general pass, and receive the supplies at
Bas de la Riviere for their voyage out, being
expired, my anxiety for their safety became ex-
treme. I came therefore to the deterrainatibn of

dispatching an Indian, who could speak French,
with a letter to my associates, briefly describing
the state of their affairs in Red River, and ear-
nestly urging the presence of one or more of
them, to aid and advise as to the measures to be
adopted for extricating their concern from the
difficulty and embarrassment in which it was
placed. I warned them also of the danger to be
i^prehended in passing up the River, from the
ambushes and batteries laid and placed by Scra-
pie and Robertson, advising them to avoid pass-
ing by the ordinary water communication, but
to make a circuitous tour by land, so as to avoid
any collision with these people. The Indian who
was the bearer of this note was directed to pro-
ceed to Bas de la Riviere, and to remain there
till he could deliver it : he expressed much fear
of being molested by " the bad garden-makers,"
but his attachment to the Canadians occasioned
him to undertake this arduous expedition.

The day after our arrival at Portage des Prai-
ries, it was thou^t expedient to use the custo-
mary precaution of unloading and examining
bodi provisions and furs, and the whole was
found to be in great need of airing, and in fact
of a complete new arrangement in the batteaux
and canoes. It was moreover desirable to make
out accurate inventories, &c. of the various pro-
party under my charge, to produce in case of

( ;:■

its being captured or destroyed, of which there
was such imminent hazard.

I was induced by several motives of a serious
nature, to prolong my stay at Portage des Prai-
ries for some time. The first, and the one that
had most weight with me, was my rooted aver-
sion to encounter the Hudson's Bay people, which
would be the result of sai attempt to pass the
North-West Company's property by the ordinary
and only water communication. I was fully
aware of the feelings which existed amongst my
own people, and their determination firmly to
resist all further acts of aggression ; and I was
also aware of the mad spirit of depredation
which Semple and his subordinate agents had
carefully excited among their followers. Nor
was I so regardless of the lives of those protect-
ing the effects under my charge, as rashly to ex-
pose them to destruction, by the fire of the ar-
tillery placed to intercept our passage ; besides
the value of the property itself, which was to a
large amount, and upon the preservation of the
provision part of which, depended the lives of
hundreds of our people, as well as the transport
of the whole of our trade, I also flattered myself,
notwithstanding the past conduct of Mr. Semple,
that the arrival in Red River of one or more Part-
ners of the North-West Company, and their
remonstrances against the illegality of his pro-

♦«•

ceedings, and eiforts to negotiate a peaoe, might
yet alter his views, and induce him to abstain
from further hostility. I was determined to
avoid a nearer approach to the Forks of Red
River, for fear of the disagreeable consequences
which would undoubtedly arise from any attempt
to seize our persons and property, and wait pa-
tiently as long as possible for the arrival of some
of the Partners. The distance between Portage
des Prairies and the Settlement, is computed to
be about 60 miles, nor would I probably hav^
approached so near the Colony, (before the arrival,
or at least advice from some of my colleagues, if
I had not been apprehensive, that if we had
stopped at a greater distance up the river, we
should not have been able to have got the
loaded boats and canoes out, on account of the
lowness of the water which the advance of the
season would produce, and the many shoals
throughout the Assiniboine River, and particu-
larly from River la Souris to Portage des Prairies.
As soon therefore as the furs and provisions
were dried and assorted, I caused both to be
piled in a square round our encampment, which
formed a kind of breast-work, and a tolerable
shelter against small arms ; and for further se-
curity, two small swivels were placed ^t the
angles ; and these measures of precaution shew
that I was acting on the defensive, and in dread
of being attacked and plundered in my station.

Having found a band of Indians at Portage des
Prairies, we bartered some peltries with them,
a small present was given to them, and I ex-
plained to them also the cause of the existing
disturbances and broils in Red River.

The Indian sent down with the letter, had
been instructed to desire any of the Canadian
free-hunters, or the North- West Company's
servants who might have escaped or been libe-
rated from confinement, and were living with
the Indians in the neighbourhood, to contrive to
join us at Portage des Prairies, with any intel-
ligence they could obtain respecting the arrival
of the North-West canoes in Lake Winnipic,
and respecting the conduct pursued, and further
preparations made by the blockading garrisons of
Semple and his associates ; but no one arrived
from the Forks as expected, which was a confir-
mation of the river being obstructed by the
armed parties of the Hudson's Bay Company,
so as totally to prevent any communication be-
tween us and our people in Lake Winnipic.

The dreadful state of fear, suspense, and
anxiety, under which indeed I had laboured ever
since the renewed depredations of the Hudson's
Bay Agents in March, was much increased by
want of intelligence at this critical moment; and
after full cmisideration and consultation with
ihe gentlemen with me, respecting our whole
situation, all concurred in opinion, as to the

ileoeasity of endeavouring to send some provisioiii
for the subsistence of our people, who by this
time must be arriving at the entrance of the
River, and who would be prevented from pass-
^^S up, by the complete blockade which was
established.

These considerations induced me, on the
evening of the 17th June, to order Cuthbert
Grant, Antoine Hoole, and Michael Bourrassa,
to select a few smart lads and horses, to escort a
supply of provisions in carts, and in a canoe
down the river ; and which they were to convey
as far as twelve miles or more, below the Co-
lony.

On the morning of the 18th of June the party
got ready, and fifteen bags of pemican, part for
themselves, and the remainder for the people be-
low, were given them in charge. The party at first
consisted of between twenty and thirty men ; but
a number more followed, from the fears that
prevailed for their safety, scMne with leave, and
others without, so that the uarnber escorting
the provisions was about fifty meA and boys.

Cuthbert Grant, Antoine Hoole, Michael Bour-
rassa, and all who were sent on this duty, were
under the following injunctions and commands
from me, which they received oa their departure
on the liiorning of the 18th June, viz.

To proceed with the provisions down Red
River, and that those who were on horseback

.ft

(

should,

as often

as possible,

accompany, and

encamp

with the

canoe in which they were em-

barked ;

that on (

iheir arrival at

Passage, a place

on the Assiniboine River, nine or ten English
miles above the Settlement and Garrisons at the
Forks of Red River, they should land, and unload
the canoe, secrete it in the woods, and put the
pemican into two carts sent for that purpose,
with which they were directed to proceed in
an orderly and peaceable manner, avoiding, if
possible, being discovered or seen by the Hud-
son's Bay people and Settlers; to keep at as
great a distance as possible from Forts Gibraltar
and Douglas; to avoid the Settlement in like
manner, and upon no account to molest any of
the Settlers. They were further directed to leave
a few people ten miles higher up than the Forks,
who were to bring early intelligence to me of
any meditated attack by Seraple upou us at
Portage des Prairies. On reaching B'rog-plain,
five miles below Fort Douglas, they were to
gain all the intelligence they could from the Ca-
nadian free-hunters and others supposed to be
there, regarding the North-West Company's
canoes in Lake Winnipic, and afterwards, if the
carocs had not made their appearance, to en-
camp at a place called the Press, distant at least
fifteen miles below thi'i Settlement, and to re-
main there and wait their arrival, of which they
were to send me immediate notice. They were

fi
w
b
V

1
(

further told, to be particular in ascertaining
whether the navigation of the river was actually
blocked up, as reported, by armed parties of the.
Hudson's Bay people, and to transmit to me
exact information of what was passing.

It would, at this time, be superfluous to give ;
any detail of the unfortunate and much to be
lamented conflict which took place, on the
evening of the 19th of June, and which origi-
nated in the unprovoked, and unlooked-for at-
tack upon Cuthbert Grant and his people, by
Mr. Semple and his followers. His Majesty's
Commissioner, who lately visited the Red River,
has ascertained by his enquiries and examina*
tions, who were the aggressors and assailants on
that deplorable occasion.

Upon the whole, we find that the Bniles,
after the defeat of the party who attacked them,
when the heat of passion, and the conflict was
over, and after the feelings so naturally excited
by the whole conduct of their assailants, and
particularly on this occasion, had subsided; — we
find, I say, that their conduct was marked with
humanity ' and generosity. In no instance did
they hurt a single individual who had not joined
in the attack, and instead, as they have been
unjustly accused, of preventing the burial of the
unfortunate dead, which did not appear to give
much concern to the Hudson's Bay people at
Fort Douglas, they were instrumental in getting

"••nmm^

the bodies ooUected and interred. Of those who
fell in the affray, Mr. Alexander M'Lean, and
Mr. White (whose wife was in Europe ) were
the only married men.

The first intelligence whio^ reached us of the
affair, was brought by a lad of the name of Andre
Trottier, whose brother had been dangerously
wounded in the conflict : lie left the Forks with*
[, out any instructions, and was on his way to in-
form his parents, then at River la Souris, and
bring them down to take care of his brother.
He gave us a distinct account of all that had oc-
curred, stating the wanton and unprovoked
manner in which the party had been attacked,
the result of the affray, the number of killed,
wounded, &c. on both sides, and the prepara-
tions which yv&te then making by the Colonists
to depart. I met him some distance from the
encampment, and walked on with him to the
fort, vfh&ee the men crowded round to learn the
news from below, and I repeated to them all
the information I had received from Trottier,
and probably stated the loss of the Hudson's Bay
people to be twenty-two; Mid it is not unlikely,
that some persons standing near me, might, ,,
from the unexpected tidings they had heard, ex^
claim, " Sacre nom d' a Oieu, vingt deux des
Anglois de tues."

I dispatched a messenger immediately, to
direct Grant to delain the Settlers, not with a

view that all ahoukl hereafter be wantonly butch*
ered, but that I might personally be aoMirei,
whether their departure wai voluntary or not»
and that 1 might have an opportunity of enquir-
ing into the conduct of our people who had been
engaged in these melancholy tranaactions. I
had also a sincere desire to afford every assist-
ance and comfort in my power to the unfortunate
Colonists, who had been reduced to such a mise-
rable situation through the blind infatuation of
their late Commander. The only persons whom
I wished to detain on other accounts, were two
noted felons, J. B. Bourke and M. IToyden,
whom it was essential should be delivered over
to the hands of justice. What occasioned the
departure both of the Settlers and Hudson's
Bay people before my arrival, I cannot aay ; but
all who know Cuthbert Grant, will do him the
justice to acknowledge, that his word> once
pledged to friend or foe, is considered sacred.

Having endeavoured to describe the conduct
of the Agents, Governors, and dependants of the
Hudson's Bay Company and the Earl c^ Selkirk
in Red River, from the arrival of Miles M'Donell
in 1812, till spring 1816, and the part it fell to
my lot to act in these transactions, and having,
I hope, proved by a plain narrative of what ac-
tually occurred, that our opponents were on all
occasions the aggressors and assailants, and re-
sponsible for the consequences of their outrages*

mmmmt^-

Bm^mncs:-- :tisea^.A^.^'^

ami for the blood which was shcr], I shall for-
bear entering into further details on the subject,
and am only anxious to state in addition, some
&cts which arc within my knowledge, relative
to a subsequent tragical event. '■?*

i While on my passage, in August 1816, from
Lake Superior to Bas de la Riviere, I very un-
expectedly met Mr. Owen Keveny, of the Hud-
son's Bay Company, a prisoner under a war-
rant from Mr. Archibald N. M'Leod, then a
Justice of the Peace for the Indian Territories.
I had formerly been well acquainted with the
prisoner, when he first arrived with some Emi-
grants from Europe in fall 1812, and I was
forcibly struck with pity towards him in his
present situation. I therefore enquired of those
conducting him, tlie cause of his being in irons,
and was informed that it originated from his
violent and outrageous conduct, and the fre-
quent attempts he made to upset the canoe.
They represented his conduct, ever since his
arrest, to have been highly unruly, and almost
bordering on madness, and that therefore his
being in irons, was a measure indispensably ne-
cessary for safety. I went to Mr. Keveny, who
was then walking backwards and forwards on a
rock, apparently in a passion, and addressed him
in the language of intimacy and compassion : for
a time, Keveny made none but acrimonious re-
turns to my civility, and reproaches against other

■^i'

individuals not present ; but knowing him of old,
to be of a viqlent temper, and making all allow-
ances for his feelings in his present situation, I
only begged him to be calm, and to permit me to
take off the irons he had <^n his wrists. He then
asked me, in a cool manner, *' Whether I would
" take off the irons as a Partner of the North-
" West Company, or as a friend ?" Upon which
I told him, that I had nothing to do with the
transaction, nor had the North- West Company ;
that the Hudson Bay servants were his ac-
cusers, and that Mr. A. N. M'Leod was only
doing his duty as a Magistrate, in forwarding
him to justice, where he also could claim redress,
if he thought there was any thing illegal in the
proceedings against him. He at length became
pacified, and allowed me to take his handcuffs
off. We then entered into familiar conversation,
and both expressed our regret at the existing
disturbances and contests between the two con-
cerns. Mr. Keveny observed, indeed with jus-
tice, that as parties on both sides would una-
voidably be subject to arrests, and their actions
to investigation in Courts of Justice, a suitable
line of conduct, according to the rank of indivi-
duals, ought to be universally observed, as the
seizures, &c. of the Hudson's Bay Company were
in consequence of a reliance on their supposed
legal rights, and resisted by the North- West

<«««

Company, under a conviction that no such rights
existed to warrant these measures ; so that no-
thing, in reality, criminal or ignominious, could
attach to the conduct of either party. After
breakjfasting together, Mr. Keveny told me he had
a fitvour to beg of me *, and on my saying diat
it should be granted, if within my power, he re-
quested that I would change his conductors, who
were five Half-breeds, and, instead of them, send
two or more of the Canadians who were in my
canoe, to conduct him to Lac la Pluie. To this
I readily agreed, and two young fellows (one of
whom spoke Ekiglish), and an Indian lad to
guide them, were ordered to proceed with Mr.
Keveny to Lac la Pluie, and to be particularly
attentive to him on the voyage.

My regard for Keveny nnde me think of ano-
ther eiqpedient to relieve his mind ; and I wrote
a Letter to the ProfH-ietors of the NorUi-West
Company, earnestly entreating them to receive
and use Mr. Keveny as a Gentleman in every
Inspect; and further, to furnish him with any ar-
ticles of clothing he might require, and pla(»
tiie amount to my account, as well as any other
necessaries which the stores at any of the Com-
pany's depots could afford. This letter was de-
livered to him open, in order that he mig^ make
use of it iU. the different posts on his route ; and
after thus receiving every relief and assistaoca

r-*^«

in my power to afford, he waa supplied with
provisions and other necessaries, and proceeded
(HI his voyage.

I had met Mr. Keveny and his conductors
about eleven o'clock, A. M.; and when we
parted the sun was nearly set. My last com-
mands to the two Canadians who conducted him,
were, to be as expeditious as possible, to be
particularly attentive to Mr. Keveny during the
voyage, and to return to Red River with Mr.
Hugh M'Gillis, then expected with the canoes
and outfit for that department.

I pursued my voyage to the Forks of the Red
River, and a few days after my arrival there,
received letters from Mr. Archibald M'Lellan,
whom I had left at Bas de la Riviere Winnipic,
and Mr. John Stuart, who had arrived from Fort
William, he and Mr. Thomson having, fortu-
nately for themselves, set out from thence before
Lord Selkirk's arrival, and having heard of his
Lordship's proceedings there, from one of the
guides who had made his escape and followed
them in a small canoe. These letters apprized
me of the arrest of the Agents and Partners of
the North-West Company, en mmae, at Fort
William, of the capture and pillage of that
depot, and the seizure of all the property it con-
tained, including the expected supplies for Red
River, and the other departments in the vicinity
of Lake Winnipic. They further stated the pro-

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bability, that this blow was intended to be fol-
lowed up by the seizure, in like manner, of all
the Company's Trading Establishments through-
out the interior, and urged me to assemble all the
force I could muster, to aid in the defence of our
post at Bas de la Riviere. — I accordingly col-
lected a small party of Bois Brules and Indians,
with whom I arrived at Bas de la Riviere in the
evening of the 4th of September ; and on inquir-
ing if they had any tidings of Mr. Keveny, and
the men whom I had given him as conductors, I .
learned that Messrs. Thomson and Stuart, hav-'-
ing met them three or four days after I had parted
with them, had, in consequence of the ev>3nts at
Fort William, stopped them from proceeding to
Lac la Pluie, and directed them to return to Bas
de la Riviere, where they had not yet arrived.
From this delay in their arrival, and the known
disposition of Mr. Keveny, some surmises were
entertained, that he might have seduced the two
Canadians from their duty, and persuaded them
to convey him to Albany Factory, on Hudson's
Bay ; and that, in the event of the young Indian
attempting- to resist such a plan, he might have
been killed, or turned adrift, without a canoe
or other means of escape, so that his father, who
was then at Bas de la Riviere, had almost given
up hopes of ever seeing him alive.

In consequence of the state of painful anxiety
in which we were placed, as to our prospects I'or

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the winter, being, by the stoppage of our expected
supplies, deprived entirely of the means of
carrying on our trade, and nearly, indeed, of
the means of obtaining subsistence, it was de«
termined that Mr. M'Lellan should proceed to-
wards Fort William, to learn, if possible, the
true state of affairs ; to enable us to judge what
further danger we had to apprehend from Lord
Selkirk and his band of desperadoes, and parti-
cularly to ascertain whether their robberies had
yet extended as far as the Company's post at Lac
la Pluie, from which, if still unplundered, we
were in hopes of obtaining some small supplies.
Mr. M%e1Ian accordingly set out in a light
canoe on the dth of September, and of his subse-
quent meeting and transactions with Mr. Keve-
ny, I have no personal knowledge ; but the re-
sult uf his trial, on the charge of being accessary
to the murder of that unfortunate man, and his
acquittal, to the complete and entire satisfaction
of the Court and the Public, afford the best refu-
tation of the accusations so clamorously urged
against him, and the best comment on the at-
tempts made by means of misrepresentation, and
even direct perjury, to criminate Am, and through
him, to fix a stain upon the Partners of the North-
West Company.

THE END.

Lnndoni PrinMd bjr B. M*MilUn, J
Bow Sireeli Covent Oarrien. \