When the Northcote finally arrived at Fish Creek on 5 May, 1885, Middleton had it fortified with what was available, timber, feed sacks, and a billiard table taken from Dumont's house, and men of the permanent force infantry embarked. The steamer was to arrive at Batoche at the same time as the overland troops so that the MΘtis village could be attacked from two sides at once. It reached Batoche almost an hour ahead of Middleton's troops, however, and amidst a hail of bullets from the Indians and MΘtis on the banks of the river and the soldiers on board, it came up against the ferry cable Dumont's men had stretched across the river. The cable was just a little too high to capsize the vessel. The Northcote kept on going and little damage was done on either side by the volley of bullets. What was largely a comedy of errors at the time, was later glorified as the only naval battle on the Prairies.
Courtesy: Provincial Archives of Manitoba (MWR 78)
