Precarious Nation

By Carol MacDonald

Precarious Nation takes you on a roller coaster of suspense through little known Canadian events of 1869. The story starts with the romance of Emma Tupper, the daughter of Sir Charles Tupper and Captain Donald Cameron who is a soldier stationed in Halifax Nova Scotia. Captain Cameron soon finds himself and his bride travelling West as he is part of the new government sent to Fort Garry (Winnipeg). Precarious Nation explores deadly conflicts, manipulation of public perception and the magnetism and misuse of power by colonial and native leaders. Emma encounters the biases and fears of the people of Red River as she and her new husband are exiled by Louis Riel. Her father comes to her rescue in the dead of a prairie winter and faces perils unspoken of before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carol MacDonald
• Release date: Aug 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9781777911300

Carol MacDonald

Carol MacDonald is related to Sir Charles Tupper, or Doctor Tupper as he is known in this book. She has also served as a Canadian Politician, always searching past biases for the truth.

Book preview

List of Characters

Canadians:

CAPTAIN DONALD Cameron – Son-in-law of Charles Tupper and husband of Emma. Traveled with William McDougall and expected to be the head of the local police force in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Emma (Tupper) Cameron – Wife of Captain Cameron and daughter of Charles and Frances Tupper.

Sir George Étienne Cartier – Minister of militia and the right hand man of the prime minister.

Colonel John Stoughton Dennis – In charge of surveys and friend of McDougall, Schultz and Mair. He became the Conservator of Peace with duties to squash any rebellion to McDougall’s rule, through any means necessary.

Colonel Charles de Salaberry – He and Grand Vicar Jean-Baptist Thibault were sent by Prime Minister Macdonald to the Red River area in the hopes of calming the fears of the Métis.

Richard Hardisty – Chief trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company and Donald Smith’s brother-in-law. He was also the guide for Donald Smith and Charles Tupper as they traveled from Ottawa to Fort Garry on the orders of Sir John A. MacDonald.

Joseph Howe – Member of parliament and secretary of state. He was meant to oversee the merging of Rupert’s land and in a visit prior to the Lieutenant

Governor McDougall taking power, Howe visited Red River but did more harm than good by bad mouthing McDougall.

Norman Kittson – Agent at St. Paul who assisted Donald Smith, Richard Hardisty and Charles Tupper on their journey to Fort Garry.

Charles Mair – Poet and paymaster of Dawson Road project, friend of Schultz, McDougall and husband of Eliza.

Eliza Mair – Wife of Charles Mair and niece of Dr. Schultz.

Sir John A. Macdonald – Prime Minister of Canada.

William McDougall – Lieutenant Governor-elect of Manitoba.

Joseph Provencher – Appointed secretary to William McDougall and traveled with him to Pembina. He attempted to cross the barrier that the Métis had erected.

James Ross – Representative of the provisional government, adversary of Louis Riel and friend of Dr. Schultz.

Dr. John Christian Schultz – Outspoken racist owner of the newspaper Nor’Wester. He also owned a hotel and warehouse in Winnipeg. He was a friend of William McDougall and Charles Mair.

Agnes Schultz – Wife of Dr. Schultz.

Thomas Scott – Friend of Schultz, worked on the Dawson Road project before becoming a waiter at O’Lone’s saloon to spy on Métis for Dr. Schultz. He was executed by Louis Riel’s men and his death played a pivotal role in relations souring between Louis Riel and Sir John A. Macdonald.

Donald Smith – Senior officer of the Hudson’s Bay Company who was sent to Red River by Sir John A. MacDonald to negotiate with Louis Riel and the Métis.

John Snow – Supervisor of Dawson Road project, friend of Mair, Schultz and McDougall.

Grand Vicar Jean-Baptist Thibault – He was sent with Colonel Charles de Salaberry to Red River by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald for the purpose of calming the fears of the Métis.

Dr. Charles Tupper – Member of Parliament for the Dominion of Canada. Sent to Red River by Sir John A. MacDonald to inform on the rebellion and to retrieve his daughter Emma.

People of Red River area:

Andrew Bannatyne – Prominent member of the English Métis, he ran a store/post office in Winnipeg and was elected as a councilor of the Provisional Government.

Annie Bannatyne – Feisty wife of Andrew who was of mixed blood. She grabbed Charles Mair’s nose and whipped him publicly for negative comments he had written in the newspaper of Métis women in Red River.

Major Charles Arkoll Boulton – A military man, who was mild mannered and well-liked. He was a friend of Dr. Schultz and William McDougall and helped McDougall with surveying the west of Red River area. He also reluctantly commanded a force of farmers from Portage La Prairie to Fort Garry with the purpose of releasing prisoners that Louis Riel had locked up.

Judge John Black – Member of the Council of Assiniboia and stepped in as judge when Governor Mactavish was too ill.

Walter Brown – Editor of Dr. Schultz’s newspaper – Nor’Wester.

Dr. William Cowan – Fur trader and physician for Governor William Mactavish. He and his wife resided in Fort Garry. Dr. Cowan was acting governor while Mactavish was ill.

William Dease – Prominent French-speaking Roman Catholic who lived in Pointe Coupée. He was a friend of Dr. Schultz and helped organize men to oppose Riel. He was later captured and held prisoner in Fort Garry.

Antoine Girard – Local guide for Tupper, Hardisty and Smith.

William Hallett – Worked as interpreter and guide for Colonel  Dennis’s surveying parties. He was hired by William McDougall as his guide and later Riel’s men tied him to a wagon wheel in Pembina. Hallett was in favour of bringing Red River into Confederation and clashed with Riel over this. He was jailed by Riel in Fort Garry on December 7th and finally released on February 12th 1870.

William Mactavish – Governor of Rupert’s Land and Assiniboia. He was quite ill with tuberculosis. He was imprisoned by Louis Riel in Fort Garry as he opposed Riel’s takeover of Fort Garry.

James McKay – Muscular jovial man and one of the councilors in the provisional government representing St. James parish. A member of the council of Assiniboia he was called a quasi-king, instrumental in settling Native claims.

Margaret McKay – Wife of James McKay and friend of Emma Cameron.

Chief Henry Prince – Chief of the Saulteaux and was the representative of St. Peter’s Parish that went to Louis Riel’s first meeting on November 16th at Fort Garry. Chief Prince was not impressed with the weaponry on display nor was he impressed with Riel’s behavior towards the Canadian delegation, especially the barrier erected to stop McDougall. Later, Chief Prince worked to oppose Riel by assisting Colonel Dennis to raise an army to overtake Riel’s men.

Enos Stutsman – An American who worked at the customs house and post office in Pembina. Born without legs, his brilliance made him useful in assisting Louis Riel to create the bill of rights.

Reverend George Young – Performed services to prisoners in Fort Garry. He administered to, and was in attendance at, the execution of Thomas Scott.

Métis:

John Bruce – Initial president of the provisional government until Riel took over as president.

Elzéar Goulet – Mail carrier from Pembina to Upper Fort Garry from 1860 to 1869. A member of the military tribunal that condemned Thomas Scott and assisted Lagimoidiére in disposing of Scott’s body.

Ambroise LéPine – Riel’s Military Adjutant-General of the Métis.

André Nault – Riel’s cousin, and it was on Nault’s land that Riel and he made a stand against the surveyors to stop by stepping on their surveyor’s chain on October 11th 1869. Nault erected the barrier at Saint-Norbert and was sent to Pembina to deliver the note from the Comité National des Métis that forbade McDougall from entering the territory.

William O’Donoghue – Previously a math teacher at St. Boniface, he was an Irish Fenian and Riel’s treasurer and second in command. He supported negotiations with America rather than join Canada.

Louis Riel – Oldest of eleven children, Louis Riel went to Montreal at age fifteen to be educated for priesthood at Seminary of St. Sulpice and then the College de Montreal where he did not finish his degree. He worked as a student in a law office in Montreal and then worked at various jobs in Chicago and St. Paul Minnesota, returning home to St. Boniface in 1868. With the incoming land surveyors, came uncertainty for the local people. Riel became the secretary and then president of the provisional government.

Father Ritchot – Local priest and friend of Louis Riel, he assisted Riel’s Métis supporters at the barricade.

André Roulotte – Tupper’s 17 year old guide to Fort Garry.

Bishop Taché – Roman Catholic leader of Red River settlement and was Louis Riel’s benefactor for years. However during the rebellion, the relationship soured as Riel imprisoned Taché.

Table of Contents

List of Characters

Chapter 1 – The Quest

Chapter 2 – The Captain

Chapter 3 – The Letter

Chapter 4 – The Wedding

Chapter 5 – The Road Crew

Chapter 6 – The Surveys

Chapter 7 – Riel’s Rise

Chapter 8 – Donald Cameron’s Assignment

Chapter 9 – McDougall’s Deceit

Chapter 10 – The Canadians

Chapter 11 – St. Cloud

Chapter 12 – Warm Reception?

Chapter 13 – Joseph Howe

Chapter 14 – Le Comité National des Métis de la Riviére Rouge

Chapter 15 – Council of Assiniboia

Chapter 16 – Pembina

Chapter 17 – The Barricade

Chapter 19 – Fort Garry

Chapter 20 – Margaret McKay

Chapter 21 – Next Steps

Chapter 22 – Emma’s Encounter

Chapter 23 – The Representatives

Chapter 24 – The Fake Proclamation

Chapter 25 – Conservator of Peace

Chapter 26 – Fort Schultz

Chapter 27 – The Delegation

Chapter 28 – Provisional Government

Chapter 29 – The Retreat

Chapter 30 – Back at the Fort

Chapter 31 – Tupper’s Quest

Chapter 32 – Christmas in Pembina

Chapter 33 – Prisoners

Chapter 34 – Tupper’s Reunion

Chapter 35 – Tupper’s Brave Dash

Chapter 36 – Smith’s Imprisonment

Chapter 37 – The Sioux

Chapter 38 – The Interview

Chapter 39 – Tupper’s Return

Chapter 1 – The Quest

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Illustration of dog cariole courtesy of McCord Stewart Museum, McCord Collection, Classification; Distribution & Transportation Objects – Land and Animal powered, Metis, Object number ME984X.218

DECEMBER 26, 1869,

Somewhere in northern Dakota

Dr. Charles Tupper gazed over the expanse of white crystalline flat landscape that seemed to go on forever. He was heading north to what was called Rupert’s Land.

So unlike the forested rolling hills of Nova Scotia. Here you could almost believe the world was flat, he mused.

The dusk light played shadows on the depressions in the snowy path. It was cold – far colder than he had ever experienced before. He snuggled further into his beaver coat and tried to think of what awaited him at the final destination, Fort Garry.

The center of murder and mayhem!

Tupper did not fear for his life. He had a quiet calm as he headed into battle – whether the battle be with words in the political realm of his duties as a member of parliament, or heading into a potential civil war as he was now. However, the uncertainty of what lay ahead at the fort unnerved him. He had heard rumours.

The horse in front of him snorted loudly as it plodded along in the snow. Tupper had never been pulled behind a horse before, preferring to ride. But everything apparently was done differently in the West. And it wasn’t such a bad setup. He settled his bulk down into his Hudson’s Bay Company cariole – much like a sled – while his seventeen-year-old Métis guide, André, stood on the back rails directing the horse, yelling Hee! and Yaw!

Doctor Tupper?

Yes André?

Sir, your first name is Charles? Does anyone ever call you Chuck or Charlie?

Heavens no boy! Take a look at me! Do I have the look of a Chuck or Charlie?

André glanced at Doctor Tupper bundled into the dog cariole, frost on his mutton chop sideburns, pink nose and white skin. He shrugged.

So you sir, are a doctor and a politician? How do you do both jobs?

It’s part of who I am, André. I often carry my black medical bag to my chair in the House of Commons, Dr. Charles Tupper replied.

André slyly asked: So do you only save the Conservatives, Doctor Tupper?

Good Heavens, no Andre, Tupper blustered indignantly almost jumping out of his cariole.

I was just having some fun Dr. Tupper, placated André. However, if the Liberals were to lose a man and the upcoming vote was a tight one...

André!

André grinned impishly.

Tupper chuckled in spite of the friendly barbs from his young guide. André was the first Métis that Tupper had ever met prior to this trip. In this area, Métis meant mixed ancestry, half French and half Indian, usually Cree or Assiniboine. Tupper was naturally a curious person and peppered André with questions.

Tell me young man, what is it like to grow up here in Rupert’s Land or specifically, the Red River area?

André said nothing for a moment, pondering how best to explain his world to someone so different – so foreign to his way of life.

Well, I speak English because my father is English, but our native language is Michif.

Michif? Or Mischief? The latter sounds more like you André, if I may say.

Michif, Dr. Tupper. And yes, my mother would agree with you. But Michif is a mixture of French and Cree.

And what is the main work of the Métis people?

Some Métis work as freighters carrying supplies from St. Cloud north to Fort Garry on the Red River carts.

I have heard those noisy wagons. They seem to creak or squeak with a shrillness that makes me wince. Why do they squeak so loudly?

They are made of only wood – no nails – and the squeaking can be heard for miles, it’s true. But being made of wood allows repairs to be done along the wooded route that follows the Red River.

I see. What about boyish fun André? What do you do as a young person here?

The buffalo hunts after the harvest are what I live for. I’m a good shot with my rifle. I downed two last season. In the winter months, well, that’s when the fiddles come out and the parties begin. André asked with a grin: Have you heard of the Red River Jig Dr. Tupper? It’s our dance that is all in the footwork. You need to be light on your feet.

I haven’t much of a desire to hop about André. Our dancing is more of a fluid purposeful series of steps.

André nodded as if he expected this reply and continued: Most of us though, are farmers. It’s harsh at times. Farming is well, unpredictable. The droughts, hail and the grasshopper invasion last year destroyed most of our crops. The grasshoppers even tried to eat the wood planks on our houses. Their corpses were about three feet thick in places and we had to shovel them into the river! The smell was disgusting. André shakes his head at the memories.

Such a different life you lead than my sons. I have a son about your age. James is his name. He loves horses and has an uncanny way about them. He talks to them and they seem to listen to him.

Do you use your horses for ploughing the fields? asked André.

No, no, chuckled Tupper. Some people do, however our horses are purely for transportation around Halifax, Nova Scotia – usually to my patient’s homes and farms. Tupper moved a heavily mitted hand over his face to brush away the frost on his eyelashes and bushy sideburns. The thermometer had read minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit when they had left. People had frozen to death earlier this week. Horrible!

They passed the next half hour in comfortable silence.

As the sun went down, André suddenly stopped the horse and exclaimed: Dr. Tupper! We must go back. There is going to be a snow fog.

A what? asked Tupper, looking around him at the vast prairie inked in the growing darkness.

A snow fog. You will soon see.

Within ten minutes they were enveloped in a frozen fog, so dense that they could hardly see the horse’s head.

Undaunted, Tupper persevered: The Red River can’t be more than a mile from here on our right. We’ll go there and make a fire.

I have no matches and no axe, replied André.

Tupper silently cursed this oversight. How could he have found himself in this critical situation? He was normally so well organized – fastidiously so.

We must be more than halfway to Scratching River, and it is as easy to go forward as back. I will walk ahead of the horse and keep to the track.[1]

So in the darkness and the dense snow fog, Tupper walked with the reins of the horse hanging from his hand as he continued along the snowy path. The only thing keeping him on the path was the firmer snow that he could feel underfoot. Dusk folded into darkness. Slowly exhaustion took hold of him and his breathing became laboured.

Suddenly his foot pushed through soft snow and it covered his boot. He stumbled forward and caught himself. Looking down, he could barely see the path as it had shifted to the left. He corrected himself and continued. This happened again and again. The visibility diminished even further until he noticed that they had crossed their own path.

Oh no! We are lost and going in circles!

He could now only see ahead less than two feet. Panic threatened to envelope him.

For the first time in a very long time, Tupper felt helpless. The intensity of the cold caught at the back of his throat.

We’re going to perish, walking in circles like this.

A crushing anxiety rose in his chest.

He gasped and dropped to his knees, fear and exhaustion overwhelming him.

How am I going to save us from a frozen death?

Chapter 2 – The Captain

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PHOTO OF DONALD CAMERON 1889[1]

Archives of Manitoba, Archives of Manitoba photo collection, Personalities - Cameron, Donald Roderick, 1889, P1266, NN22540.

One year earlier

March 14, 1868,

Tupper Residence, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Captain Donald Cameron looked down briefly at his plate of warm food, wafting the succulent aroma into the very belly of his being. Home comforts like this were a rarity for the young bachelor. 

They had said grace, and prior to delving into this delicious meal, the host – Dr. Tupper had just asked Captain Donald Cameron about his recent experience on his military campaign in Bhutan.

Cameron tried to push the gruesome details of the fighting and human carnage from his mind as he formed a reply to the polite company seated at the elegant dinner table around him.

Looking up at his gracious but intimidating host, Dr. Tupper, Cameron composed what he hoped was a balanced reply.

Well as peace missions go sir, our expectations of a brief and amicable sojourn were not in keeping with the reality of Bhutan. But then again, diplomacy is never an easy task when one party stands to lose ground in the name of peace.

Tupper looked into the eyes of the young guest and noticed much pain beneath the surface. The monocle had thrown Tupper off but he could see that there was a depth and breadth of emotions behind his long angular face. Still, Tupper had reservations about this man. His posh way of speaking seemed a bit haughty to Tupper. Perhaps he was insecure. 

Captain Cameron continued: Having said that, the five months of the war could have been much longer and had more casualties had we not out-numbered the Bhutan army.

Tupper’s three sons watched with wide eyes. 

’Scuse me Captain Cameron but did you kill soldiers? asked young six-year-old Willy.

William! Captain Cameron is trying to eat and that kind of conversation is better left to the drawing room after dinner, scolded Frances Tupper with a warm twinkle in her eye. I’m sure Captain Cameron would like to put those thoughts aside and enjoy a good wholesome meal while it’s hot, she continued.

Captain Cameron smiled his thanks to Mrs. Tupper and savoured the delicious meal.

Emma Tupper took it all in. This dashing Captain Cameron had a beautiful smile that transformed his face from stiff and formal to something else that piqued her interest. Most of the men that father invited to dinner were his political friends who droned on about politics. Here was a soldier – a young and brave man who was now stationed at the British garrison in Halifax.

As the meal conversation floated around her, Emma picked up a slight Scottish accent now and then from the Captain.

Captain Cameron –

"Please, call me Donald.

Somehow this made Emma blush. Donald, then. I detect a slight Scottish accent. Where were you born?

Very astute my lady. I had thought that my French military training may have covered that up but now you have found me out! Donald’s eyes twinkled flirtatiously and lingered for a moment longer on Emma, which did all kinds of things to her heart. Suddenly she wanted to find out everything about this man. 

After dinner Emma asked if Donald would like a tour of the gardens before sunset.

I’d like nothing better, and he gave her that lovely smile again.

Can we come too? chimed in Charles and Willy.

Seventeen-year-old James had more intuitive sense than to intrude in what he could see was an intimate stroll for his older sister.

Emma sighed and looked at her mother but Frances replied: Of course you can but try not to pester our guest too much.

The sun was setting slowly and the trees glinted copper in the fading light. The water of the North West Arm beyond the trees reflected the sunset in a simmering vista.

Were you ever afraid when you were a soldier over in Bhutan? asked twelve-year-old Charles who believed in wasting no time in getting to his questions.

Charles, war is not something to be glorified. The Bhutanese didn’t have a regular army.

They didn’t? asked Willy, sounding surprised.

No, their men were armed with matchlocks, bows and arrows, swords, knives and catapults. And they were very effective with these actually, so when we talk of bravery, I would say they were the brave ones. They were taking on the British army who were very well organized and well-equipped.

So you weren’t ever afraid then? asked Charles gazing at this tall visitor with a touch of wonderment.

Well yes, actually many times we were afraid, Charles. Cameron stopped walking and turned to face young Charles. You see, in spite of our strength in numbers and artillery, we suffered some humiliating defeats at a place called Deothang. Cameron inwardly winced as he blocked some of the images of fallen friends and cries of agony. 

When we captured Dewangiri we turned things around. Cameron continued: Often that happens in war – there comes a pivotal point in the battle when the fortunes reverse.

You sound brave, Captain Cameron, Charles said softly.

Well thank you Charles.

Now then boys, could we show Captain Cameron some of the grounds and move away from talk of war? Emma patiently suggested.

Ok Emma. Both boys excitedly sprang into action.

Come over here Captain Cameron – this is the stable where our horses are and over here are the gardens and oh! Let us show you our best fishing rock. But you have to wait till high tide, said Willy excitedly.

Later that evening as Emma prepared for bed, she reflected on this new and interesting man that she had met.

I hope that is not the last I see of you Captain Cameron, she thought as she settled into her room overlooking the view. I wonder if he feels something for me?

Captain Donald Cameron walked briskly back to the Halifax barracks humming a tune that he hadn’t thought of in years. There was a lightness to his step that was out of keeping with his normal formal gait. The evening had been warm and lovely with the unexpected treat of meeting the beautiful Emma Tupper. She was an accomplished pianist, and he had so enjoyed singing a duet with her and feeling her eyes dancing over to his as they luxuriated in the moment. 

It was a far different evening than what he had expected – an invitation to dine at the home of Dr. Charles Tupper, one of the Fathers of Confederation and member of the first government of Canada. Cameron didn’t feel any warmth from Dr. Tupper. He was polite but guarded