504 Pages
ISBN 978-1-917120-43-2
Colour Images
 
The spring of 1885 saw hundreds of dissatisfied persons living on the vast plains of the British Empire's westernmost reach: The North-West Territories of Canada. Years of resentment led such dissidents to rise in arms against Canada's Dominion Government, a government that met in Parliament 3,000 km from the affected communities. Unable to touch the Prime Minister and his government, anger was directed to the most recognisable and accessible representatives of the Crown in the region; the North-West Mounted Police.

Within weeks, a Mounted Police column was ambushed with disastrous results, forts were besieged, and settlers were massacred. Some 5,500 Canadian Militiamen, seeking adventure, duty, justice and vengeance surged into the North-West to put an end to the troubles, thinking their mere presence would disperse any inkling of rebellion. The clouds of war, however, had settled and the months that followed would prove to be no picnic.

Through years of research and the analysis of over 550 primary sources, swaths of new information is uncovered in this book, calling widely accepted views of the North-West Campaign into question, and presenting information in a way that has never been done before. For the first time, a comprehensive look is had at the actions of the Canadian Militia of 1885, how they lived, dressed and fought. A voice is given to share the story of these brave men through photographs, illustrations, and a compelling commentary achieved through thorough cross examination of their own words.