A fascinating account of an almost forgotten colonial campaign that helped secure canadas western frontier against incursions from the united states. Buy red river expedition dominion of canada 1870 at. In the spring of 1870 an anglocanadian military force embarked on a 1,200 mile journey, half of which would be through the wilderness, bound for the red river settlement, the sight of present day winnipeg. And it is to this red river valley of the north that the origins of red river valley lead. A rising officer by the name of colonel garnet wolseley was appointed to lead the expedition and tasked, first and foremost, with getting the british component there and back in a single season. The year 1870 was memorable in europe for the great war between france and germany, followed by the loss of the popes temporal power, and the establishment of secular government in rome. In 1800, alexander henry was sent by the north west company to set up trading posts along the red river. Red river rebellion 18691870 military history books helion. Western river expeditions uses a patented raft called the jrig.
This name, our sister rifle regiment the victoria rifles, carries as a battle honour. Red river expedition dominion of canada 1870 captain g. The red river expedition, also known as the freemancustis expedition, freeman red river expedition, sparks expedition, or officially as the exploring expedition of red river in. Journey through the wilderness from musket to maxim 1815. Narrative of the canadian red river exploring expedition of 1857 and of the assinniboine and saskatchewan exploring expedition of 1858. Its goal, as laid out by president jefferson, was to explore the red river. The names are in alphabetical order by first letter of last name only, reflecting the manner in which they were recorded by the militia department in the 1870s.
Red river expedition dominion of canada 1870 naval. Red river expedition dominion of canada 1870 by rifle. A souvenir of the 50th anniversary of the red river expedition and the formation of the province of manitoba, part 1, chapter 9. My book, the red river valley in arkansas, explains. Wolseley led an expedition from toronto, ontario, to the red river settlement to oversee the transfer of power from. The red river campaign or red river expedition comprised a series of battles fought along the red river in louisiana during the american civil war from march 10 to may 22, 1864. The expedition to the red river having completed the service on which it has been employed, his royal high ness the fieldmarshal commandingin chlef desires to express to lleutenant general the hon. The expedition was also intended to counter american expansionist sentiments in northern border states. The expedition required more than a thousand boats and several hundred voyageurs to transport the 1,200 troops and their supplies over the unfinished dawson road to red river. Garnet wolseleys canadian red river expedition of 1870 from musket to maxim 18151914 paul mcnicholls on. The policing of the frontier by the army, 18601870. Red river expedition, colonel wolseleys camp, prince arthurs landing, lake superior 1870, by william armstrong. It created the province of manitoba and continued to enforce an act for the temporary government of ruperts land and the northwestern territories when united with canada upon the absorption of the british. Red river expedition 1804, by the united states to.
The government tried to give the impression it was not a punitive expedition against louis riel s provisional government, but the militiamen wanted to avenge the execution of. When he and his party got to the area of presentday park river, north dakota, they built a fort and began trading from this point. But the impressions that custis and freeman brought back with them of the flora and fauna, and. Library and archives canada, rg9, ii b4, volume 16. Red river rebellion 1870 the queens own rifles of canada. Wolseley won plaudits for his organization of the red river expedition. The red river rebellion and resulting expedition which followed in 1870 involved two battalions of over seven hundred volunteers from the militia of canada. The british government, however, recommended caution and agreed to support the expedition. He later led the nile rescue expedition in egypt courtesy library and archives canadac20658. Leaving toronto in may 1870, the expedition arrived at fort.
At the time the settlement was part of the vast hudsons bay company controlled territories which canada was in the process of purchasing. Red river rebellion, uprising in 186970 in the red river colony against the canadian government that was sparked by the transfer of the vast territory of ruperts land from the hudsons bay company to the new country of canada. Along with troops from great britain, they travelled west to quell the attempt by louis riel to address the grievances resulting from the purchase of ruperts land by the canadian government. The path between the seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400yearold dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the atlantic and pacific oceans. Ojibways and crees two images 569, prince alfred in ceylon two images 6, prize horses 625, charles dickens. I would run away from just the bugs much less all the other crap they dealt with. As of the start of 1870, the gregorian calendar was 12 days ahead of the. He accompanied colonel garnet wolseley during the red river expedition as its chief engineer. The red river expeditionary force 18701877 were soldiers collected from the militia units of quebec and ontario in early 1870 for service in the northwest. Spanish troops ended their expedition at spanish bluff before the river could be fully explored. The great red river raft or, the big mess in the 1870s, after the first raft was cleared. A souvenir of the 50th anniversary of the red river expedition and the formation of the province of. The medal roll of the red river campaign of 1870 in canada by neale, graham h irwin, ross w.
Red river expedition, the military force sent to manitoba after the transfer of the hudsons bay co territory to canada in 1870. Wolseley led an expedition from toronto, ontario, to the red river settlement to oversee the transfer of power from the local provisional government to the dominion. Here in canada the excitement of the day was the red river rebellion, to quell which a military expedition was despatched under the. Complete account of sr garnet wolseley s bloodless 1870 expedition against french, irish fenian and indians to secure manitoba for canada. Picture, 1911, english camp of ontario rifles at sault ste. Leaving toronto in may 1870, the expedition arrived at fort garry on august 24, 1870. The red river expedition sometimes also called the freemancustis expedition took place in the newlyacquired louisiana territory in the late spring and summer of 1806. The force included detachments of the royal artillery, engineers 373 men, officers of the 60th rifles, and two battalions of militia from ontario 382 men and quebec 389 men. Garnet wolseleys canadian red river expedition of 1870. The red river expedition sir sam steele collection university of. Women at red river and the resistance, 18691870 red. Speculation on the impetus of the song focuses on the wolseley expedition to the. The result justified the wisdom of the commander, for the expedition soon broke up and its members either went to the montana mines or returned to the sweetwater river mines. Red river rebellion list of 1, 704 men of the rref red river expeditionary force red river expeditionary force 18701877.
They were intended to show the flag in ruperts land which had just joined canada as the province of manitoba and the northwest ter ritories. Armstrong was an artist, civil engineer, photographer, and draughtsman. After a journey of three months in arduous conditions, the expedition. Macdonald to confront louis riel and the metis in 1870, during the red river rebellion, at the red river colony in what is now the canadian province of manitoba. Department of militia and defence, postconfederation records, adjutant. When the hudsons bay company completed the sale red river 1 of ruperts land to the dominion government in 1870, william mcdougall 18221905 was. Dawson, report on the red river expedition of 1870 ottawa. Overshadowed by the 1870 francoprussian war that was taking place simultaneously, the expedition was mounted by the british army at the request of the canadian government, who shared its costs. The last fenian raid occurred at eccles hill in 1870.
It would be the last britishled military expedition in north america and also the first independent command for wolseley, a man who in 1895. The wolseley expedition was a military force authorized by sir john a. Youll find plenty of space to stretch out and relax in the calm sections of the river and one of the most exciting rides in the whitewater stretches. The canadian government accepted these conditions, and, on 24 march 1870, sir james lindsay departed for canada to take charge of the red river expedition. It is a story of astonishing engineering feats, tremendous medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures.
Parks canada the red river expedition of 1870 national historic event military expedition from toronto to winnipeg in 1870, overseeing the handover of power from the metis provisional government to the dominion. Book searching for canadian militia records following. After william dunbar declined to lead what would have been his second expedition into the louisiana territory, jefferson chose surveyor thomas freeman. Canada general service medal 1866 1870 north east medals. Two remained at the fort at prince arthurs landing on thunder bay and two went with the expedition. The campaign was a union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 union troops under the command of major general nathaniel p. Red river expedition dominion of canada 1870 walmart.
Red river expedition can refer to different historical events. Parks canada the red river expedition of 1870 national. Painting of the red river expedition at kakabeka falls. The red river expedition of 1870 inside the british armys last. This raft offers one of the most comfortable rides on a grand canyon whitewater rafting trip. Gardens 500, the central jewish synagogue, great portland street 512, scene on the upper yangtze, china 552, the red river expedition in north america. The red river expedition at kakabeka falls, ontario 1877, by frances anne hopkins. The famed canadian folklorist, edith fowke, gave mostly anecdotal evidence that the song was known in at least five canadian provinces prior to 1896 and speculated that the song was composed at the time of the wolseley expedition of 1870 in manitoba. Red river valley is a traditional western folk song, and probably originated in canada sometime around 1879. Grand canyon rafting tour western river expeditions.
A fabulous historical painting from the man who was there to see it and record it in all its accurate detail. In may of 1870 an anglocanadian military force embarked on a 1,200 mile journey bound for the red river settlement, today the site of the canadian city of winnipeg. Red river expedition, colonel wolseleys camp, prince. I have been working on a book on the red river expedition, the manuscript went to the publisher about 10 days ago. Canada general service medal 1866 1870 instituted 7th january 1899 and granted to all all officers, noncommissioned officers, and men of the regular and colonial forces who were employed in repelling the fenian raids on the canadian frontier in 1866 and 1870 or who were engaged in the red river expedition of 1870. The expedition to red river was a considerable feat for canadas young militia.
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