MIDDLETON, Major-General Frederick Dobson - commanded government forces, 1885
Visited the Bell Farm in late July 1885, en route east after conclusion of hostilities between the federal Government military forces and some of the untrained Métis and indigenous people.
Fred Middleton (1825-1898) was a career soldier, and married his first wife Mary Emily Hassall some time before February 1870, by which time she had died and he married Euegenie Doucet, of Montreal. The Middletons lived in various places, including England, Ontario and Quebec.
According to the Indian Head local history: "After the war [of 1885] was over General Middleton and his staff were entertained at the Bell Farm on their way back east. The party included 'Gatling-Gun Howard', who with his new gun played a major role in the Rebellion."
Likewise, historian Grant MacEwan wrote this about Middleton's visit to the Bell Farm: "When the war was over and the troops were returning east, General Middleton and his staff were entertained at the Bell Farm where they saw stylish saddle and carriage horses which were the pride of Major and Mrs. Bell, 250 cattle, 900 pigs and more farm equipment than they had seen before - seven steam threshers, 45 binders, 40 seeders, 80 sets of harrows and numerous wagons and things."
Although General Middleton apparently visited the Bell Farm after the North-West Rebellion was over, he did not sign the Visitors Register.
The exact date of his visit has not yet been determined, however, it was likely on July 31, 1885. On July 24th he and his second wife (Eugénie Doucet) were in Cluny, Alberta meeting with Chief Crowfoot and Lieut. Gov. Dewdney. Then they proceeded to Calgary in the General's private rail car, where they stayed until at least July 29th, before returning to Regina. General and Mrs. Middleton left Regina for Winnipeg on July 31st, and probably stopped off at the Bell Farm an hour or two later. They then went on to Winnipeg, which they left on August 4th for Ottawa.
General Middleton was Knighted by Queen Victoria for his service in the Canadian North-West, and later appointed as Keeper of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, where he died in 1898.
The armed conflict in the Canadian North-West Territories was immediately called the "North-West Rebellion" by the Canadian government. Starting in the late 20th century, this conflict has also been referred to as the "North-West Resistance of 1885". Both terms favour one view or the other. A more neutral term might be the "North-West Conflict of 1885" or simply the "War of 1885".
SOURCES:
Biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Dobson_Middleton
Photo: Sask. Archives Board R-B2119) - 1884
"Calgary Weekly Herald", 29 July, 1885, p. 2
"Calgary Weekly Herald", 5 August 1885, p. 1
"Regina Leader", 30 July, 1885, p. 4
"Regina Leader", 13 Aug. 1885, p. 4
"Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Sir Frederick Dobson Middleton" - http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/middleton_frederick_dobson_12E.html
Virtual Museum: http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/expositions-exhibitions/batoche/docs/proof_en_sir_middleton.pdf
"Loyal Till Death: Indians and the North-West Rebellion", by Blair Stonechild and Bill Waiser, 1997
"The History of the North-West Rebellion of 1885", by Charles Pelham Mulvaney, 1885
"The Life of Louis Reiel in Pictures", by Dr. Peter Charlebois, 1978
"Indian Head: History of Indian Head and District"; 1984, p. 6 - reference to Middleton and Howard at the Bell Farm.
"Fifty Mighty Men", Chapter XIV: 'Major Billy" of Bell Farm" W.R. Bell' by Grant MacEwan, 1958, p. 96-102.
"The Battle for Batoche: British Small Warefare and the Entrenched Metis", y Walter Hildebrandt, Parks Canada, 1985, p. 99-106
RESEARCH BY:
Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask.