Battle of Duck Lake

The Battle of Duck Lake is the name given to the skirmish between Métis warriors of Saskatchewan and Canadian government forces that signaled the beginning of the North-West Rebellion on March 26, 1885.

North-West Mounted Police superintendent Leif Crozier had marched a mixed force of policemen and militia and a seven-pounder cannon from Fort Carlton on March 25, intending to secure the route between his outpost and Prince Albert. In response, Gabriel Dumont, commander-in-chief of the military of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel's provisional government, shifted a portion of warriors from the Regina front to meet this threat.

The forces met the following day. Driven back by Métis scouts, Crozier's column huddled into a forest under cover of their sleighs while Dumont's men set camp in a nearby house. Both leaders sent representatives to negotiate the standoff, but when a brawl erupted between these, and the Métis envoys, among them Dumont's brother, were killed at gunshot, Crozier's men were ordered to attack.

Despite their superior firepower, the Canadian militia elected to charge the enemy house, wading into the deep snow. Under heavy fire from Métis snipers, the attack foundered and Crozier sounded a retreat.