The Battle of Batoche was the decisive Canadian defeat of Métis attempt to maintain Aboriginal independence in the disputed "Canadian" North West Territories. The defeat led to the surrender of Louis Riel on May 15, 1885 and the collapse of his Provisional Government of Saskatchewan's resistance in the North-West Rebellion (the Cree, however, would continue to successfully engage Canadian authorities in the weeks that followed – see Battle of Fre...
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The Battle of Batoche was the decisive Canadian defeat of Métis attempt to maintain Aboriginal independence in the disputed "Canadian" North West Territories. The defeat led to the surrender of Louis Riel on May 15, 1885 and the collapse of his Provisional Government of Saskatchewan's resistance in the North-West Rebellion (the Cree, however, would continue to successfully engage Canadian authorities in the weeks that followed – see Battle of Frenchman's Butte). Fought over the week of May 5 to May 12 at the ad hoc Métis capital of Batoche, the siege was noted as the first true demonstration of tactical excellence and professional conduct by the Canadian army in 1885.
Conscious of the numerous reverses that had been suffered by government forces in previous clashes with the rebels (see the battles of Duck Lake, Fish Creek, and Cut Knife), Middleton approached Batoche with caution, reaching Gabriel's Crossing on May 7 and advancing within eight miles (13 km) of the town the following...
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