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THE RIVER PRESSI to ery me 3 I ive ive up soft*re.thisvasek.ttlerge*m-hisewing;ersun-:hedr.theing.et-an-VI r.tiemi,mdickvter the md md ith mi-on \ a • a •Ri-iedmdar-:en)urngill.W-benamemiedza-rseireit;H.ee,onld-se-itehe*utip-thonntre-thves a he■y,leadhVn-n sTlie Mounted Police in the NorthwestTerritories.The economic policy of the Canadian government is now bearing its fruit. Had a sufficient number of men been enlisted in the mounted police the present difficulties would probably never have occurred. The force of mounted police was organized in 1871 for the purpose of suppressing the whisky traffic with the Indians in the Northwest. After the organization the men were mustered at Emerson, Manitoba, there being only 300 men all told, and this small body of men were expected to keep the Indians in subjection, suppress the whisky traffic, guard an immense territory, free the country of so-called desperadoes, and other duties which would come within their province. They started out, we believe, in May, 1871, for a terrible march over a country absolutely unknown. No traveler had before been over that section. It was intended that the force should be self-supporting, and to further this idea a large number of half-breed carts were put in the service to carry agricultural implements, and in addition to this two nine-pointer Whitworth guns were taken along—these to drive out the desperadoes from Fort Hamilton or Whoop-Up. The force was supplied with arms condemned by the imperial government and sent to Canada for use of the militia and the commissariat was poorly supplied. However, at the start there was enough spice of adventure in the idea of a march across an unknown country to stir up all the enthusiasm of the men, and the march commenced.Vv’e will not enumerate the difficulties of that terrible time. They were obliged to chain their guides to keep them with the commands; the great quantity of plunder which they were taking along wore the animals out; the dragging of the heavy cannon was a severe tax upon the Cavalry horses; the men suffered from hunger. Nearly six months were consumed in reaching Fort Hamilton, on Belly river, where, instead of a gang of desperate men, they met with a courteous and hospitable welcome from the proprietor of the place, John J. Healy. An effort was made to purchase the place, but the terms not being satisfactory the disgusted force moved oil to Old Man’s river and prepared to go into winter quarters. The men set at the labor of building old Fort Mac lend, and that after winter had set in. Troops D and E had early in the march left the command, the former for the poston the Assinaboine known then as Fort Felly, the latter for Edmonton, on the Saskatchewan. Troops A, B, Cand F wintered at Fort Maeleod. The following summer B troop was sent to the Cypress hills and built Fort Walsh, F troop to Bow river to build Calgary. Detachments from these posts were scattered over the length and breadth of the land at the following piaces: Wood mountain, Qu’Appelie, east end of the Cypress mountains, Fort Kipp, Stand-Off, Milk river near the international boundary line, Carlton and Prince Albert, Fort Pitt and Battleford, on the Saskatchewan, and Fort Ellice, on the Assinaboine. The commissioner of the mounted police, Col. Maeleod, recognizing the fact that while the whisky traffic was practically suppressed the disposition of the police over this immense tract of country would be of no service in case of an Indian outbreak, asked for an increase of the force, which, we believe, was granted, after a number of debates, in the Canadian parliament, in 1S77 or 1879. Col. Irvine, on assuming command, made application fora still further increase of the force. American Indians had flocked to the Northwest after the Custer tight, and it was feared that their own Indians might be^ come hostile, and they were really in no position to cope with them, if such was the case. This request for an increase was never granted.Col. Irvine is a far-sighted man. He knew the disposition of the Indian and was well aware that an outbreak was liable to occur at any niomcm. Had his counsels been listened to tfm present troubles would never have occurred. The disasters which have overtaken the mounted police are directly traceable to the niggardly policy of a government that did not know the actual extent of its own country and its absolute needs, while money was squandered on things of less importance. This little handful of men were expected to maintain law and order in a country extending from the Red river to the Rocky mountains and from the boundary line to a point beyond the Saskatchewan. There is no doubt that now the force will be increased and thut each post will be properly garrisoned, until such time as the march of improvement will make it unnecessary. Uves have been lost and lives will yet be sacrificed on the altar of governmental folly.
Newspaper Details
Fort Benton River Press
Fort Benton, Montana, US
Wed, Apr 08, 1885
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 28 Jul 2020
Other Publications Near Fort Benton, Montana
The Benton Weekly Record
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