The Battle of Batoche, 1885
While the famous American conflicts against the native populations of the ‘West” were almost over by the time of this battle, Canadian expansion into the Prairies was continuing apace. In the area of Saskatchewan, the indigenous Cree and Metis ( a mixed race and culture of farmers and hunters of French-Canadian and Native inhabitants ) were feeling the pressure on an ever increasing eastern homesteader possession; with Louis Riel the ‘spiritual’ leader of this very autonomous people. History has called this conflict ‘the Northwest Rebellion’.
While a few other major skirmishes had occurred, it was at the village of Batoche in modern-day Saskatchewan, Canada that the decisive battle to end their resistance to this pressure was backed by the military of the Canadian government which rested upon militia units from the eastern provinces. These units made up of civilians were certainly enthusiastic enough but inexperienced. The few Metis were often good shots and very experienced in ‘field craft’ but ill-supplied.
Faced with the Canadian advance upon their ‘capital’ village, the Metis built small, effective and well disguised, three-man rifle-pits blocking the plodding Canadian advance by Frederick Middleton.
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| The Metis rifle pits. The figure within are Brigade Games Boers without any alteration. Period photos show the Metis in similar attire. |
What is interesting about this whole affair is the decisive battle was a prolonged four-day affair with only some 24 dead and 76 wounded total from both sides from the 1,166 engaged (Wikipedia). With my calculator at the ready, this is only just over 8% casualties over a lengthy 4 days. With an eight hour ‘work day’, this would have on average 1 casualty every 20 minutes or so. No Somme, Cannae, Shiloh, or Little Big Horn here. But with that, most rulesets have great clumps of miniatures removed from firing and combat. Obviously this will not do. However my new, go-to rule set of “The Men Who Would Be Kings” (a colonial set by Osprey Publishing) could be modified to accommodate the lack of casualties but still have units pinned, unable to effectively operate and have ‘morale’ issues to prevent much activity. One other aspect of the battle was the ever decreasing ammuntion supply of the Metis. They simply did not have the supplies needed. Their fire had so decreased by the fourth day, along with the withdrawal of many who had given up the fight, that the Canadian soldiers frustrated by their commanders slow activity took it upon themselves to charge the Metis rifle-pits thus ending any further Metis resistance.
The 'TMWWBK' rules are adequate but for two small changes. First, any casualties would be limited to one per successful firing regardless of the actual number of hits. Pinning, not casualties, would be the important issue. Secondly the Metis would set up in the rifle-pits designated as ‘hard cover’ and combined with their good-shooter ability and the Canadian militia poor firing, will have the unequal shooting which occurred. However, the Metis ever decreasing ammunition supply would be handled by giving them a secret die roll (from the Canadian player) how many shots they would be allowed. I gave a 1d6 roll per rifle-pit; but each day would see that amount decreased by one. Thus at best the Metis would have only 50% firing minus any further casualties or abandonments in the final phase of the game. The Canadian player might see less fire power but would be unsure of the amount remaining thus continue with caution which was the trademark of the engagement.
A “day” ( the historic battle lasting four days) would be 8 turns in length. The Canadian player must have overcome all resistance to win. If at the end of each ‘day’ (the 8 turns) and the terms of victory not met, the ‘day’ is over and the action pauses. Immediately in the ‘morning’ the players can reposition their units with their morale afresh (minus previous casualties of course ) in any new attack position along the start line for the Canadians or any available rifle-pit for the Metis.
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| a Canadian Rifle unit in a staged photo. During the game they did not reach this close to the Metis rifle pits! |
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| a red tunic clad Canadian militia unit. Indeed, some of the units sent by the Government, were still to wear their dress uniforms including the Home Service uniforms |
The TMWWBK rules are interesting as activation and morale are key aspects but can be very dice fickle. The resultant lack of action and easily gained pinning effects are perfect for re-creating this battle. The photos are from my second solo play-test.
The Canadian Militia, whose dress was very much influenced/copied that of the British home country, were in either contemporary rifle-green or red tunics. As far as I know, the only source for miniatures are 1980s RAFM miniatures. These are small “true 25mm” very stiff in posture and lacking multiple poses. Thus I needed to create my own and used Perry Union ACW plastics. While not completely accurate, they do look the part and I needed to only to remove the oval badges and green-stuff the glengarry caps or, in some cases, add a Perry ‘Home Service’ helmet head. (indeed some units wore these! )…. oh, and a different paint scheme, of course. Much of the militia had no other uniform for campaign but their full dress version.
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| The Canadian uniform of the era |
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| The very dark green - almost black of the Rifle Regiments. I highlighted a dark green over a black base color on the miniatures. |
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| the model within the Park Site's pavilion |
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| I built my model rifle pits on this example. |
