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Updated: August 20, 2024
As we have seen in the last chapter, it was in this same month that Alexander Macdonell, at Portage la Prairie, was organizing his half-breeds for a raid on Fort Douglas. His brigade, as finally made up, consisted of about seventy Bois Brûlés, Canadians, and Indians, all well armed and mounted.
He had stolen away without the leave of his bishop, and it appears that he and Macdonell, although of the same faith, were not the best of friends. After a stormy voyage of nearly two months the ships entered the long, barren straits leading into Hudson Bay.
A smouldering fire of discontent that had been detected on board the ship on crossing the ocean now broke out into a flame. The Irish and the Orkneymen could not agree. In February the vigilant leader Macdonell writes: "The Irish displayed their native propensity and prowess on the first night of the year, by unmercifully beating some Orkneymen. Too much strong drink was the chief incitement."
Later in the day Major Glegg, Brock's faithful aide the brave Macdonell, in extreme agony, lay dying of his wounds hastened to the spot, and finding the body of his lamented friend undisturbed, conveyed it to Niagara, "where it was bedewed by weeping friends whose hearts were agonized with bitterest sorrow."
Their prisoner Lieutenant Pambrun was taken with them and the captured pemmican was carried along as supplies for the journey. On the way an episode of some moment occurred. On the river bank a band of Cree Indians was encamped. Commander Macdonell addressed the redmen through an interpreter to incite them to action.
But the medicine was not pleasant to take, and some of the party at first foolishly refused to submit to the treatment. The settlers, almost unwittingly, banded together into distinct groups, each individual tending to associate with the others from his own home district. As time went on these groups, with their separate grievances, gave Macdonell much trouble.
He announced to those about him that Governor Semple and five of his officers had been killed; and becoming more enthusiastic shouted with an oath in French that twenty-two of the English were slain. His company shouted with joy at his announcement. Macdonell then went to Fort Douglas and took command of it. But what had become of the Eastern Company from Fort William?
The finishing of Cameron's work on the Red River, was handed over to Alexander Macdonell. The plan was nothing less than that the settlers remaining should be driven by force from the banks of Red River. The party led by Macdonell was made up of Bois-Brulés, under dashing young Cuthbert Grant.
This was our only trip by open water. As soon as the river became ice-bound, we were again in motion. To enter into minute details of our various movements would but prove tedious; I shall therefore present a general sketch of our mode of life at this period, and such occurrences as I may consider worthy of note. Macdonell had chosen his situation with great judgment.
That court-martial was not held. On the day before, Major Evans and Colonel Macdonell had waited upon Van Rensselaer, with a letter from Brock proposing "an exchange of prisoners of war, to be returned immediately, on parole." The fact of no reply having been received to this, Brock regarded as ominous.
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