THE BED RIVER EXPEDITION. 291 



to be relied upon, as it came chiefly from disloyal 

 sources, and had always percolated through rebel 

 sympathising channels before it reached us. Under 

 any circumstances it is difficult for a civilian to 

 collect or to convey useful military information. 

 General Lindsay had therefore sent a sharp, intel- 

 ligent officer, who knew the north-west country and 

 its people, round through the United States to Pem- 

 bina, with instructions to act upon his own judgment 

 as to his farther progress from thence, but under any 

 circumstances to adopt measures for communicating 

 with Colonel "Wolseley at Fort Francis. He was 

 most successful, having managed to get to the Lower 

 Fort, where he remained some days amongst the 

 loyal inhabitants. Leaving on the 24th July, by 

 travelling incessantly he reached Fort Francis on 

 the same day as the leading detachment of the force. 

 He described the people as panic-stricken the Eng- 

 lish- and French-speaking populations being mutually 

 afraid of one another, and both being in the direst 

 dread of the Indians. The messages sent to us verb- 

 ally as well as by letter were all in the same strain 

 " Come on as quickly as you can, for the aspect of 

 affairs is serious and threatening." Riel and his gang 

 had been for some time past busy in removing their 

 plunder from Fort Garry, distributing it amongst his 

 friends, and in places of safety within the United 

 States territory. This looked as if he was preparing 

 to bolt, although he still ruled every one most despot- 



