Canada's '49th Rangers'

[Henry4440]

Canada's '49th Rangers' mixed blood scouts for the North American Boundry Commission.

[Two Flints]

Lonesome Henry,

Your research tenacity is great.  Links for the three photos, please.

Two Flints

[Dirty Brass]

Wow - those carbine barrels look really short in the bottom row. I figure that is normal, but it never struck me before how short they were.

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

Just Google - Metis scouts of the British-Canadian boundary commission 1872-75, for more info

There is also a color close-up of one of the Spencer carbines. The Metis scouts were issued Spencer carbine 1865 model in .50 cal, 20" bbl.

[Forty Rod]

Wonder why the guy on the left end of the bottom row has his Spencer cocked.

[Two Flints]

Just another version of the same photo posted by Lonesome Henry. Thanks again Lonesome Henry for the post!

Two Flints

Metis Scouts of the Canadian Boundary Commission, 1872-1874


In 1873, Commissioner Cameron chose William Hallett as Chief Scout to recruit a group to protect the British contingent from Sioux Indians or anyone else who might try to molest them. The scouts provided their own horses and were provided with Spencer carbines. They were intended to act as guides, hunters and herdsmen. The budget was £4000 per year for the thirty men who were recruited. Hallett assigned Adam McDonald as deputy commander and Francois Gosselin, Guillaume Lafournaise and William Gaddy as sub-leaders. D'Arcy East took over with Crompton as deputy when Hallett died in the winter of 1873. Once the commission completed its work on October 13, 1874 the 49th Rangers were disbanded and the Metis scouts discharged. (copy and paste from Lonesome Hnery's post below)

[Henry4440]

In 1873, Commissioner Cameron chose William Hallett as Chief Scout to recruit a group to protect the British contingent from Sioux Indians or anyone else who might try to molest them. The scouts provided their own horses and were provided with Spencer carbines. They were intended to act as guides, hunters and herdsmen. The budget was £4000 per year for the thirty men who were recruited. Hallett assigned Adam McDonald as deputy commander and Francois Gosselin, Guillaume Lafournaise and William Gaddy as sub-leaders. D'Arcy East took over with Crompton as deputy when Hallett died in the winter of 1873. Once the commission completed its work on October 13, 1874 the 49th Rangers were disbanded and the Metis scouts discharged.

Great version and quality!!!!

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

Just as an aside, Major Marcus Reno, 7th Cav of LBH fame was part of the U.S. Boundary Commission escort.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Here is some more on the boundary commission.  It is a bit tedious, but there is a photo of the officers, which shows "gentlemanly" dress in the west, and several more of carts and ox wagons

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1480844/pdf/canvetj00083-0053.pdf

P.S.  Here is the link to the original topic of this thread;

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22220327/Metis-Scouts-of-the-British-Canadian-Boundary-Commission-1872-74

[Fox Creek Kid]

Wonder why the guy on the left end of the bottom row has his Spencer cocked.

You get a better photo that way. 

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

Here is some more on the boundary commission.  It is a bit tedious, but there is a photo of the officers, which shows "gentlemanly" dress in the west, and several more of carts and ox wagons

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1480844/pdf/canvetj00083-0053.pdf

P.S.  Here is the link to the original topic of this thread;

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22220327/Metis-Scouts-of-the-British-Canadian-Boundary-Commission-1872-74

Interesting stuff Sir Charles, thanks for posting this.  I printed it off to add to my library.  For those not aware, L.W. Herchmer the man 4th from the left in the first photo in the first link, wearing the light colored hat, became Commissioner of the North West Mounted Police during the period 1886-1900.