Siege of Battleford

Did You Know?

• Casualties over the siege included 3 militiamen, 7 Cree, and 2–6 civilians killed.
• Damage during the siege was reported to be upwards of $300,000 CAD.

Beginning of the siege

On March 28, 1885, word reached Battleford that Indian bands under Poundmaker were approaching. Five hundred civilians moved into Fort Battleford, commanded by Colonel William Morris and defended by 25 police. During the night of March 29, Cree raiders rounded up horses and cattle from nearby homesteads. On March 30, Poundmaker requested a meeting with Indian agent J. M. Rae, who refused. The Cree then raided food and supplies from abandoned buildings. The next day, they camped near Battleford with looted provisions. The New Town was protected by the fort's cannon, but the Old Town was plundered and burned. On April 21, Francis Dickens and his men reached Battleford after the Battle of Fort Pitt.

Lifting the siege

General Frederick Middleton initially planned to march north from Qu'Appelle to Batoche, expecting that capturing Louis Riel's capital would end the rebellion. The killings at Frog Lake and the siege of Battleford forced a change: Middleton sent Lieutenant-Colonel William Dillon Otter north from Swift Current to relieve Battleford. On May 1, Otter moved west from Battleford with 300 men. Early on May 2, his force encountered Cree and Assiniboine fighters west of Cut Knife Creek, 40 km from Battleford, leading to the Battle of Cut Knife. The Indigenous force, well deployed by war chief Fine Day in wooded ravines, nearly surrounded Otter's troops on a triangular plain. After six hours, Otter retreated; Chief Poundmaker prevented pursuit. Otter suffered 8 dead and 14 wounded; Poundmaker's force lost 5–6 killed and 3 wounded. The siege lifted only after Middleton captured Batoche on May 15 and Riel was taken. Poundmaker surrendered at Fort Battleford on May 26.

Debate

Historians disagree over the nature of the siege. Douglas Hill described the Cree as a war party that killed six whites, acting in revenge for winter suffering. George Stanley characterized the Cree as haphazard and bumbling, not intent on attacking the town but content to prowl the neighbourhood. In October 2010, Parks Canada stated that its materials no longer use the word 'siege' to describe the events.