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Red River Expedition, the military force sent to Manitoba after the transfer of the Hudson's Bay Co territory to Canada in 1870.
Red River Expedition, the military force sent to Manitoba after the transfer of the Hudson's Bay Co territory to Canada in 1870.
Red River Expedition, the military force sent to Manitoba after the transfer of the Hudson's Bay Co territory to Canada in 1870. Under Col Garnet Wolseley were 400 British regulars and 800 Ontario and Québec militiamen. The government tried to give the impression it was not a punitive expedition against Louis Riel's provisional government, but the militiamen wanted to avenge the execution of Thomas Scott. The expedition left Toronto May 1870 and reached Fort Garry on Aug 24. They found the fort deserted for Riel had fled at their approach. The British quickly returned to Ontario, leaving the militia to garrison the community. Militia harassment of Métis exacerbated already intense feelings and assaults and at least one death resulted.
