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AN EXPEDITION OF RESCUE
LORD SELKIRK knew
well that trouble and likely bloodshed were to be expected on Red
River. His anxiety for the success of the colony and the happiness
of his settlers led to his determination to visit Canada, and, if
possible, the colony. Accordingly, late in the year 1815, taking
with him his family, consisting of the countess, his son and two
daughters, Lord Selkirk hastened to Montreal. On arriving in New
York he learned of the first dispersion of the colonists, their
flight to Norway House, and the further threatenings of the excited
bois-brules. On the founder's arrival in Montreal iii October, he
found it too late to proceed on his journey up the lakes to the
interior.
In Montreal be spent
the winter in the face of his powerful enemies. The Nor'-Wresters
watched him with wolf-like ferocity. Full of the highest moral
courage he brought the affairs of his beleaguered colony before the
government of Lower Canada, but little did he know how bitter was
the opposition engendered among the fur traders to himself and his
scheme.
In February, 1815,
Lord Selkirk represented his fears to Lord Bathurst, the British
secretary of state, and suggested the despatch of an armed force to
preserve the peace. After the overt acts of violence committed
during the summer of 1815 the case demanded immediate attention, and
Lord Selkirk brought the urgency of the matter under the notice of
Sir Gordon Drummond, governor of Lower Canada, supplying His
Excellency with an account of the cruel expulsion of the people from
their homes in the Red River.
It was plain that no
influence could be brought upon the authorities to interfere in the
platter. The greater part of the power in Lover Canada was in the
hands of the Nor'-W Testers and their friends, for the fur traders
were the leading merchants of Montreal, and many of them were in the
legislature and in potions of trust. It is true, as we have seen,
that during the winter of 1815-16 there was little turmoil, but it
was only the calm. before the storm, and Lord Selkirk strongly
suspected this.
Accordingly he began
to plan a private expedition. This he would lead in person to the
Red River, and restore his colony to peace. He had confidence in the
strength of Fort Douglas to resist a considerable attack, and now
that his new governor, Robert Semple, was there—an experienced and
brave officer —lie believed the case hopeful.
His Lordship was not,
however, a man to do things by halves. He had been sworn in as a
justice of the peace in Upper Canada and for the Indian territories,
and had received the promise of a sergeant and six men of the
regular army to accompany and protect him. Not able to obtain the
privilege of leading an armed party, that being a prerogative of the
Crown, he originated a project of engaging a number of discharged
soldiers and making them settlers, placing them upon his land, that,
in time of need, he might call upon them for assistance.
The close of the
Napoleonic wars had led to a reduction in the size of the British
army. Among the brave Swiss regiments likely to be reduced were two
which were sent to Canada to assist in the war against the United
States. This war being now over the regiment often called, after the
colonel of the more celebrated corps, the De Afeurons, was
disbanded. With some one hundred of these mercenaries Lord Selkirk
concluded a bargain to go to the North-West as military settlers
under his pay, and to render assistance as required.
Great outcry was made
against Lord Selkirk for employing these soldiers; the De Meurons
are declared to have been desperadoes, worthless and despicable. It
is well to remember that four of the same regiment were engaged by
Mr. A. N. McLeod on his expedition to crush out the colony.
Early in June, 1816,
a number of officers and about one hundred men went westward to York
(Toronto), their strength being increased by as many sturdy canoemen.
It was His Lordship's intention to proceed westward to where the
city of Duluth stands to-day, then known as Fond du Lac. Leaving the
expedition before its arrival at Sault Ste. Marie, he had a
conference with the garrison stationed on Drummond's Isle. Here the
colonizer had a long and interesting interview with Kawtawahetay, an
Ojibway chief, in which the Indian asserted that inducements had
been held out to himself and his warriors to unite in driving the
colonists entirely from Red River.
The party had little
more than found Sault Ste. Marie when it was met with news of the
most serious kind: nothing else than the murder, as it was called,
of Governor Semple, the destruction of his band of attendants, and
the banishment of the unfortunate settlers to their place of refuge
on Jack River. This was a crushing blow.
The plan of voyage
was at first to go by way of Fond du I,ae and through what is now
Minnesota to Red River, and thus reach Fort Douglas, which was to be
their capital and residence. Now it was absolutely necessary to go
to Fort William, and meet the enemies of his people, as they sought
to return to Canada. Feeling as a magistrate that the bois bules and
their leaders had done grievous wrong, he determined to bring the
murderers to justice.
The resolve to go to
Fort William involved facing many dangers and risking a serious
conflict. But Lord Selkirk had the courage of his ancestors. He
directed his expedition up the Kaministiquia River from Lake
Superior and 'Thunder Bay, and encamped directly opposite Fort
William, the citadel of his enemies. The first step was to demand
the release of the Red River prisoners who were being carried away
by the Nor'-Westers, and were at this point on the way to Canada. On
this demand being made the leaders sent the prisoners to His
Lordship's camp, and denied that they had ever arrested them.
Making use of his
magistrate's commission, Lord Selkirk obtained depositions from men
actually engaged in the fur trade to the effect that the partners
and officers of the North-Wrest Company were guilty of inciting
opposition to the colony, and of approving the attacks made on his
people. He then issued warrants against McGillivray, McKenzie, Simon
Fraser, and others but allowed them to remain in Fort William. At
first much liberty was given these prisoners, but on suspicion of a
conspiracy arising among; them, they were confined in one building.
A fuller examination
having been made the guilt of the prisoners seemed clear, and three
canoe loads of them were despatched eastward under guards. One of
the canoes was unfortunately capsized in a storm, and one of the
best known Nor'-Westers (McKenzie) was drowned.
Lord Selkirk was
severely criticized inn this matter. The best that can be said is
that it seemed to be the fashion for each side to take advantage of
its temporary strength or opportunity to gain an advantage. Miles
Macdonell was first arrested and taken to Canada by the Nor'-Westers;
then, in reprisal, Duncan Cameron was carried off to Hudson Bay; and
now the McGillivrays and Fraser—high officers—were taken captive and
deported down the lake. It seems to an impartial observer like the
old Scottish border feuds reduced to a science, and conducted
according to the forms of law, or like the practical carrying out of
Robin Hood's maxim
"The good old way, the
simple plan
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can."
Certainly Lord
Selkirk had much provocation, and we can hardly wonder at his using
his force of the De Meurons to vindicate himself and his interests.
Lord Selkirk remained
at Fort William, and for the time was free of all danger from his
foes. It was August, and he began to think of preparing for winter,
as he could hardly expect to follow the long canoe route to Red
River, and be certain of reaching his destination before winter set
in, as he must take the risk of armed opposition into account. He
moved his camp up the Kaministiquia River, some nine miles above
Fort William, and the wintering place on the cliff overlooking the
river is still known as Point De Meuron.
The usual uneventful
winter on the shore of Lake Superior----where the outside world
becomes a blank—was passed by His Lordship and his followers.
In March, 1817, the
De Neurons started on their journey to Red River. After leaving Lake
of the Woods, they followed a route across country, in order that
they might take the Nor'-Westers in Fort Douglas by surprise. This
expedition was successful, and the trained soldiers without much
opposition took the stronghold of the bois-brules who knew little of
the real art of war.
In May Lord Selkirk
started on his inland journey, and in the last week of June reached
Red River and looked upon the land that had been his dream for
fifteen years, ever since he had read Sir Alexander Mackenzie's book
of voyages. His arrival gave instant hope for the settlement of the
troubles in the North-West. The government of Canada had issued a
proclamation to the effect that all property taken during the
troubles should be returned to the original owners. To a certain
extent the restitution took place. The settlers were brought back
again from their place of refuge on Lake Winnipeg to their deserted
homesteads.
On the return of the
colonists they were gathered together in a sort of general council
to meet their noble friend and protector. The gathering was at the
spot where the burying-ground and church of St. John's are now to be
seen in the northern part of the city of Winnipeg. Church and
burying-ground and school were then provided for, and on the people
requesting a minister of religion to be sent them His Lordship
acknowledged the obligation saying, "Se!kirk never forfeited his
word."
The twenty-four lots
which had been occupied by the woe-begone and discouraged colonists
were promised to them free of all dues. At the request of the
colonists the founder gave a name to their settlement, calling their
parish Kildonan from their old home in the valley of the Helmsdale
in Sutherlandshire, Scotland. His Lordship ordered also a complete
survey of the land to be made, and steps to be taken to lay out
roads, to build bridges, and to erect mills. Report goes that old
Peter Fidler, the surveyor of the company, laid out the boundaries
which remain in many instances to this day.
Lord Selkirk, whom
the Indians called "Silver Chief," as we have said, met them with
their chiefs, and gained their complete confidence. His affability
and fairness impressed the trustful red-men. The object of the
treaty made with the different bands was to extinguish the Indian
title. The meeting with the Indians was a memorable one. Peguis, the
Saulteaux chief, made a sensible speech; the Assiniboine chief
claimed his Lordship as a true friend; Robe Noire, the Ojibwvay,
said, "We have reason to be happy to-day." From that day to this the
Indian of the Red River has looked upon the white man as a brother.
Such was Lord
Selkirk's noble work of pacification on the Red River. A writer of
the time, speaking of His Lordship, says, "Having thus restored
order, infused confidence in the people, and given a certain aid to
their activity, Lord Selkirk took his final leave of the colony."
Passing down the
Mississippi River to St. Louis he journeyed eastward to Washington,
came northward to Albany, and hastened to Upper Canada, without
diverging to Montreal to visit his family, though he had not seen
his wife and children for more than a year. The threatening cloud of
disaster seemed dark in that direction, but he did not flinch, and
pushed forward to meet it. |
