=Source.=--_The Story of a Soldier's Life_, by Field-Marshal
Viscount Wolseley. Constable, 1903.
We had looked forward to at least a pretty little field day when
our line of skirmishers should enclose Fort Garry and its rebel
garrison as in a net. But by early dawn next morning the whole
country far and near was a sea of deep and clinging mud. There was
then nothing approaching a road in the whole territory, so I had to
forgo all pomp and circumstance of war in my final advance and had
once more to take to our boats and the dreary oar. We were all wet
through, very cold and extremely cross and hungry. A cup of hot tea
and a biscuit swallowed quickly for breakfast, and all were again
at the oar by 6 a.m., August 24, 1870. The rain poured "in buckets"
upon us, and at places the country was under water....
I landed at Point Douglas, only two miles from Fort Garry by road,
but six by the river, which there makes a wide bend. A few carts
were seized, into which tools and ammunition were transferred,
and to two of which the trails of our two small field-pieces were
fastened and thus dragged along. The messengers I had sent the
previous night into the village round Fort Garry met me here with
the assurance that Riel and his gang were still there awaiting
anxiously the arrival of Bishop Taché, who was hourly expected.
It was confidently asserted that he meant to fight. He had just
distributed ammunition--stolen from the Hudson Bay Company's
stores--amongst his followers, had had the fort guns loaded, and
had closed the gates. I subsequently learned that he and his
henchman, a common fellow named Donoghue, had started from Fort
Garry during the night to find out where I was and what I was
about. But the very heavy rain they encountered was too much for
them, and, being afraid of capture by our outposts in the dark,
they had gone back to the fort as wise as they had left it.
Our march, though short, was very trying from the heavy rain and
the deep mud we had to plough through. But, as all the people
we met assured the men we should have a fight, these small and
disagreeable drawbacks were ignored.
Fort Garry stands upon the left bank of the Red River, where the
Assiniboine falls into it. The fort itself is a high stone-walled
square enclosure, with a large circular tower at each of its four
corners. The village of Winnipeg--mostly of wooden houses--was
nearly half a mile to the north of the fort, and south of it, at
about a couple of hundred yards distance, was a boat bridge over
the Assiniboine. My object, therefore, was by circling round west
of the Fort to obtain possession of that bridge, or at least to
command it with my fire. I should then have Riel and company in the
right angle inclosed between the two rivers. Our skirmishers in
their advance captured a few of Riel's so-called councillors, who
were bolting in buggies and other means of conveyance.
As I watched the muzzles of the fort guns, I confess that I hoped
each moment to see a flash and to hear a round shot rush by me. I
knew they had no shells, and that they did not know how to use them
if they had had any. But in the rain, and in the thick atmosphere
when the rain ceased for a little, it was difficult to see, even
through our glasses, if there were men at the guns or not. I sent
a few officers who had obtained ponies round the fort to see what
was going on in rear of it. They soon returned with the news that
Riel had bolted, and that the fort gates were open. It was a sad
disappointment to all ranks.... But, though we did not catch the
fellow, we had successfully carried out the task that was given
us....
We dragged out some of the guns in Fort Garry, upon which Riel had
relied so much, and with them fired a Royal Salute when the Union
Jack was run up the flagstaff. From it had hung for months before
the rebel flag that had been worked by the nuns of the convent
attached to Bishop Taché's cathedral, and presented by them to Riel.