Unsu
The only time I have ever made it to Batoche was several years ago, when a theater group I was in were invited to the Métis annual national "gathering" (forget the exact word they used) when it was held there, to perform our "acclaimed' presentation of
"The Trial of Louis Riel" several times. (I played Judge Richardson - felt like Simon Legree in front of such audiences, and wondered if I'd get out alive!)
Got to the National Historic Site "interpretive center" display while there, though it was a very hurried and thus unsatisfying visit. Is that the museum you are referring to?
Really must make a concerted effort to get back to that area, to properly "do the works" (Duck Lake, Batoche, Prince Albert, Fort Carleton, etc.) My Cowboy Action Shooting alias
persona is a real life character from that era, and my website covers some aspects of the 1885 Rebellion ......
According to my references, it was 'C' Company of the Infantry School Corps who were armed with Martini-Henry rifles, specially issued for that campaign. The Company went west with 4 Commissioned Officers and 85 "Other Ranks". The logistics report for the Rebellion records only 3,000 rounds of Martini-Henry ammunition being issued to the Supply Officer. Assuming 85 rifles were issued, that equates to only 35 rounds per rifle!
The Infantry School Corps was the infantry branch of Canada's very small "Permanent Militia" - limited to a maximum of 750 personnel, all ranks, and spread between infantry, cavalry and artillery. One author has apparently suggested that a Company of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles were also issued Martini-Henry rifles, but he provides no references for the assertion, which the ammunition records certainly don't support.
Its heavy brass I cant wait to load some up now and go shooting
