Battle of Duck Lake

An infantry battle between the North-west Mounted Police and the Métis militia led by Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont occurred outside Duck Lake, Saskatchewan on this day in 1885. After 30 minutes, Superintendent Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier called for a retreat of the NWMP, who suffered 12 killed and 11 wounded. This battle is considered the opening battle of the North-west Rebellion. Losses on the Métis side were few but included Gabriel Dumont's brother Isidore and Assiwiyin, a chief who were both shot in cold blood under a white flag at the beginning of the battle when they tried to meet with the NWMP forces. The Métis victory against the NWMP forces who had superior firepower including a cannon, and more military training was an important early win in the Northwest Rebellion and also caused the hasty abandonment of Fort Carlton.