Reunion of the Boulton Scouts of 1885 in Russell, July 22nd, 1924
Top; - E.C. DeBalinhard, on horse. Top row L. to R. Wm McFarlane, Harry Ginbson, Cliff shepherd, Alex Denmark, Jas Davidson, Dan Smith. Btm row R.H. McCallum, --, Fred Vinnell, Mrs. C.A. Boulton, Alex Stewart, J. Matheson, --(identified by his grand daughter as) Henry Clee.
THE RETURN OF BOULTON'S SCOUTS
From an address by Mrs. Augusta Boulton
Russell's most historic event was the raising of the Boulton Scouts, who served in the Rebellion of 1885.
Major Boulton got his authority from Ottawa to raise his mounted infantry. The men of Russell and neighboring districts answered the call, left their newly-made homes to defend their families and rode away sixty strong, adding to their number as they went
Everyone felt proud of their men folk who jumped to horse and rifle, but some word of praise must be said for the bravery of the women who were left behind to carry on as best they could. Many a night, in fear and trembling, they walked around haystack and wood pile to see that no rebel was in hiding. In recalling these reminiscences of the past, I can see a line of our weary mounted men as they returned along the prairie trail, where now runs the Canadian Pacific Railway and I seem to hear again the cheers of the people as we gathered to welcome them home. A banquet of the best to be made awaited them in the primitive Town Hall where children stood ready with bunches of wild flowers to throw to them as they marched to their places.
Later on by the sale of Indian ponies which were captured in the fight, a dignified stone monument was erected to the memory of our Russell men who fell in that rebellion of 1885, and now when Decoration Day comes around, the service is opened at this monument and the Boulton Scouts are remembered in address, prayers and wreaths before marching on to the Great War Memorial of today, where the names of sons and grandsons of those early pioneers cover the sides of one of the most impressive War Memorials to be seen in Manitoba .
1885 - The North-West Rebellion During the campaign the County was represented by a company of volunteers raised under the authority of the Canadian Government by Major Boulton, then living with his family at Russell. This company, known as Boulton's Mounted Infantry, or more familiarly as Boulton's Scouts, consisted of two companies with sixty-six in the Russell Troop and fifty-seven in the Birtle Troop. The Scouts saw action at Fish Creek, Duck Lake and Batoche. At Fish Creek, three of the company were wounded, Captain Gardner, Jim Langford and Capt. D'Arcy Baker, also from Russell was killed. On the Monument erected in Russell, there are two names: D'Arcy Baker, Edward Brown. Amongst the Scouts who lived in and around Russell were: E. A. deBalinhard, R. H. McCallum, J. Matheson, J. Davidson, W. J. Doig, Alex ( Sandy ) Stewart, W. Dunkin, Harry Albright, Dan Smith, Alex ( Dr. ) Denmark, Glen Campbell (afterwards O.C. 100th Bn. C.E.F.), Walter Gordon, W. J. Henderson, D. Hartley, J. Langford, J. Hyde, E. Dalton, J. Williamson, G. McDonald, Fred Vinnell. |
MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO FELL IN THE NORTHWEST REBELLION |
This site made possible by the Town of Russell
Family History Main Page | Town of Russell | Town History Pages
NEW - History being collected. If you live or have ever lived in the Russell area please click here.
The site created and maintained by The Grain Web.
