Battle of Batoche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Batoche
Part of the North-West Rebellion
A drawing from the time of the Battle of Batoche
Date May 9–12, 1885 Location Batoche, Saskatchewan Result Canadian victory Collapse of the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan
Belligerents
Provisional Government of Saskatchewan (Métis)	Canada
Commanders and leaders
Gabriel Dumont Louis Riel	Frederick Middleton Bowen van Straubenzee
Strength
250 (Métis)	916 regulars and militia
Casualties and losses
Per Middleton 51 dead 173 wounded Per Vegreville 16 dead 20–30 wounded	8 dead 46 wounded 1 steamboat damaged

The Battle of Batoche was a very important battle during the North-West Resistance in Canada. It took place from May 9 to 12, 1885, in a place called Batoche. In this battle, Canadian soldiers fought against Métis and First Nations people.

General Frederick Middleton led the Canadian forces. His army had more soldiers and better weapons. They eventually defeated the Métis fighters.

After Batoche was captured, Louis Riel surrendered on May 15. This meant the end of the Provisional Government that he had established. Other groups, like those led by Poundmaker and Big Bear, also ended their resistance later that summer.

Understanding the Battle: Batoche's Role

Before the battle, Batoche was the main town for Louis Riel's Provisional Government. This government was set up by the Métis people. To defend the town, fighters dug deep ditches called trenches and hidden spots for rifles. These defenses were all around Batoche.

The Steamboat Northcote: A Tricky Plan

The damaged steamboat Northcote after the battle. It was damaged on its way to Batoche, which slowed down the Canadian troops.

General Middleton knew that his soldiers had faced tough fights before. So, he moved carefully towards Batoche. His plan was to surround the town.

Part of his plan involved a steamboat called the Northcote. This boat carried some soldiers. Middleton wanted the Northcote to sail past the Métis defenses. Then, it would drop off 50 soldiers behind the town. This would trap the Métis fighters.

But things did not go as planned. Middleton's soldiers on land were moving slowly. So, when the Northcote arrived at Batoche on May 9, the Métis saw it first. They had not yet started fighting the ground troops.

The Métis fired at the boat, but it had makeshift armor. Then, they lowered a strong ferry cable across the river. The Northcote sailed right into it! The cable broke off the boat's masts and smokestacks. The damaged ship then floated away down the South Saskatchewan River. This meant Middleton's plan to trap the Métis failed.

First Day of Battle: Mission Ridge (May 9)

A house in Batoche in flames during the start of the battle.

General Middleton did not know about the Northcote disaster. On the morning of May 9, he moved his troops towards the church at Mission Ridge. Some Métis fighters in nearby houses started shooting. Canadian artillery fired back, and one house caught fire.

As the soldiers got closer to the church, they saw people. A soldier named Arthur L. Howard fired his Gatling gun at the rectory. Then, a white flag appeared. Howard stopped firing, and priests, nuns, women, and children came out. Middleton realized only civilians were there. He then used his artillery to shell the town of Batoche.

The Canadian soldiers moved forward but soon faced heavy gunfire. The Métis were hidden in their rifle pits, making them hard to see. One soldier described shooting at nothing, with bullets flying all around.

A dangerous moment happened when Métis fighters tried to capture the Canadian artillery. Howard's Gatling gun fired many shots, stopping the attack. This was one of the few times soldiers clearly saw their Métis opponents.

After this, the Canadian artillery and soldiers moved back a bit. The Métis tried to surround the Canadian forces, but their plan did not work. By the end of the day, both sides held their ground. General Middleton was surprised by the strong resistance. He ordered his soldiers to build a temporary fort, called a zareba, about a mile away. They slept there behind their barricades.

At the end of the first day, General Middleton ordered Canadian soldiers to retreat into temporary forts.

Testing Defenses: May 10 and 11

On May 10, General Middleton set up strong positions for his cannons. He then shelled Batoche for the entire day. But when his soldiers tried to advance, Métis gunfire pushed them back. No new ground was gained.

The next day, May 11, Middleton tried a new tactic. He sent some soldiers to the north side of the Métis defenses. At the same time, he ordered a general advance from the front. The Métis had to move some of their fighters to the north. This left them with fewer people to defend the main front.

Because of this, the Métis gave up some ground more easily. Canadian soldiers even reached the Batoche cemetery before returning. Middleton felt he had found a weakness in the Métis defenses. He decided to wait until the next morning to launch a full attack.

The Final Attack: Storming Batoche (May 12)

Battlefield map of Batoche.

By May 12, the Métis defenders were in a difficult situation. Many were wounded or spread out from earlier fights. Those still fighting were very tired and had almost no ammunition left. They even tried to find Canadian bullets on the ground to fire back. Some used nails, rocks, forks, and knives in their rifles instead of bullets.

General Middleton planned to repeat his trick from the day before. One group of soldiers would pretend to attack the north, drawing Métis away. Another group, led by Colonel Bowen van Straubenzee, would then attack the town directly.

In the morning, Middleton's plan did not start well. Van Straubenzee's group did not attack because they could not hear the gunfire from the north. Middleton was very angry when he found out.

However, some Canadian officers had already talked about making a direct charge. After noon, the Canadian soldiers, including the Midlanders and Royal Grenadiers, moved towards the Batoche Cemetery. Then, a big charge began! Soldiers cheered and rushed towards the Métis rifle pits. Many Métis fighters were still in the wrong places because of Middleton's earlier trick. They also had very little ammunition.

Despite this, the Métis fought bravely. Sharpshooters from across the river helped them. But the Canadian charge was too strong. Middleton sent more troops to help. The Gatling gun was also brought forward. The Canadian soldiers stormed into the village of Batoche.

The Métis and First Nations fighters who had been drawn away earlier now returned. They fired heavily from hidden spots near the village. A Canadian officer, Captain French, was killed. But the artillery and Gatling gun were used to break this new resistance. Finally, the last defenders of Batoche surrendered. The battle for Batoche was over.

After the Battle: What Happened Next?

Louis Riel as a prisoner at General Middleton's camp. Riel surrendered to Canadian soldiers on May 15, shortly after the Battle of Batoche.

The Métis defeat at Batoche marked the end of the North-West Resistance.

Louis Riel was captured and faced legal consequences. He was found guilty of treason and was executed in Regina on November 16, 1885.

Gabriel Dumont, a Métis leader, escaped to the United States. He later returned to Batoche in 1893 and was buried there after his death.

Other leaders, Poundmaker and Big Bear, were also captured and sentenced to prison terms.

Most of the regular fighters were granted amnesty, meaning they were not punished. However, some individuals faced legal consequences for serious actions that happened outside of the main fighting.

Middleton's soldiers then moved north to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Many of them were soon sent home to Eastern Canada.

Counting the Losses

General Middleton reported that 8 Canadian soldiers died and 46 were wounded. For the Métis side, he reported 51 deaths and 173 wounded.

Later, Father Vegreville reported different numbers for the Métis. He claimed 16 Métis were killed and between 20 and 30 were wounded. Today, historians generally believe about 12 Métis died and 20 were wounded. Nine of the Métis killed were buried in the Batoche cemetery. Eight of them were in a shared grave.

The Bell of Batoche

After the battle, some Canadian soldiers from Millbrook, Ontario, reportedly took a bell from the Batoche church. They took it back to Ontario as a souvenir. The story of this bell became a long-standing debate. Many Métis groups and governments from Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan were involved. The bell from Millbrook is now believed to be the same as the Bell of Frog Lake.

Batoche's Lasting Importance

In the spring of 2008, Christine Tell, a government minister, announced that the 125th anniversary of the 1885 Northwest Resistance in 2010 was a great chance to share the story of the Métis and First Nations people. Their struggle with the Canadian Government helped shape Canada into what it is today.

Batoche, where the Métis Provisional Government was formed, is now a national historic site. You can visit important places there, like Gabriel Dumont's grave, Albert Caron's House, the Batoche school, the Batoche cemetery, and the St. Antoine de Padoue Church. You can also see the Métis rifle pits and the Canadian soldiers' battle camp.