Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1885 — THE WAR IN THE NORTHWEST. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WAR IN THE NORTHWEST.

A Detachment of the Canadian Force; Have a Hot Fight with Big Bear’s Forces. Gen. Middleton Announce His Purpose to Fursue tho Red Chieftain Until He Catches Him. Winnipeg dispatches give particulars of an engagement between the Indian Chief Big Bear and Capt. Steele's mounted force of Canadians: Capt. Steele and his force, seventy in number, were scouting south of Fort Pitt, as it was reported that Big Bear had taken the trail for Sounding Lake. Middleton has given Capt. Steele instructions to watch closely and cut off the retreat of the Indians south if they attempted to go that way, while he and Strange with their forces would watch the north. Steele’s force suddenly came upon Big Bear’s Indians at Two Lakes, fifty miles south of Fort Pitt. The Indians were striking camp when Steele discovered them. Their force seemed to number between 250 and 300. So suddenly had the scouts come upon the redskins, and so near were they to the latter before seeing them, that there was no chance of retreat, so Steele at once ordered a charge. His men were well mounted and aimed, and as they galloped forward they were met by a shower of bullets, which checked them. Still they rode on, however, seemingly determined not to be driven back,- but when another volley was fired at them, and when Steele perceived that the Indians outnumbered his forces, he ordered the men to fall back. It was well he did so, for at that moment the Indians were joined by re-enforcements who poured out of the bluffs in the rear. They were well armed, and when they 6aw the scouts riding off fired a heavy volley. Steele was. however, determined not to be beaten so easily, so he hastily laid plans for another attack upon the Indians. His force was quickly divided. One-half started north to mako a detour so as to close in on the Indians. The other half went a short distance east, and at a given signal the two forces closed in upon the Indians from the rear, taking them completely by surprise. So quickly was the movement planned, and so quickly was it executed, that before the redskins were aware of it the scouts were within fifty yards of their rear and pouring their bullets into the camp, doing considerable havoc. The Indians were so much alarmed that they ran pell-mell down the ravine and across a creek four feet deep. Many of them left their firearms behind, and most of the camp outfit was also abandoned. The Indians took refuge in a bush on the other side of the creek, from which they kept up a desultory fire upon the scouts, who for some time debated the feasibility of following them over the creek. As the Indians did not appear to have any prisoners with them, and as there was little hope of accomplishing anything by pursuit and attack, Capt. Steele decided to retreat. Before going away he thought it well to inquire after the condition of the prisoners, so he sent an interpreter named McKee to the bank of the creek with a flag of truce.

As McKee stepped forward, several bullets whizzed past hiru, but he went on, and when he reached the bank firing ceased. He then called out in Indian: v “Is Big Bear there?” The answer came from Big Bear himself: “Yes.” McKee said: “If you will deliver our people, we will cease firing on you.” Big Bear in a loud voice replied: “We intend to clear yon out yet; so beware. ” Another bullet which whizzed dangerously near McKee’s head after the last announcement apprised him that further parley would be useless, so he beat a hasty retreat: Capt. Steele’s loss was as follows: Sergt. Maj, Fury, shot in the breast, fatal. William West, scout, shot through the leg. J. Fisk, shot in the arm. The Indian loss was considerable, several bodies being found this side of the ravine. Middleton has announced that he will pursue Big Bear until he catches him. Portrait of Gen. Middleton. •

We present herewith a portrait of Gen. Francis Middleton, the commander-in-chief of the forces operating against the Indians and half-breeds in the British Northwest Territory.