Battle of Frenchman's Butte

On this day in 1885 Alberta Field Force under General Thomas B. Strange attacked Cree forces led by Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering Spirit) near Frenchman's Butte Saskatchewan. Cree forces were outnumbered 400-200. Colonial forces led by Stange included North West Mounted Police, three infantry units from the east, as well as volunteer settlers and a cannon. Cree fighters led by Kapapamahchakwew dug in to the hillside and fought off the better armed and twice as strong colonial forces. After hours of fighting with no headway, General Strange ordered forces to the north to try to outflank the Cree fighters. This manoevre was seen and Kapapamahchakwew and others moved along the crests of hills parallel to Steele and occasionally fired on them. This caused Steele to believe the Cree's lines were longer than they were, so he ordered his NWMP force to turn back. Around the same time, some Cree warriors outflanked the Alberta Mounted Rifles and almost captured the column's supply train. Afraid of being attacked from behind, General Strange ordered his force to retreat. This win was one of the last victories for Native peoples in the North West rebellion, with Riel's Métis forces being defeated in Batoche three weeks earlier. Although later defeated, its a beautiful story of Cree resistance and today we celebrate Kapapamahchakwew's brilliant fighting strategy and all those (Native people) involved in the battle's bravery.