ner was not allowed to make any defence. Riel's word
was law, and to gratify his angry passions he ordered the execution to
take place the following morning. Therefore on the 4th of March, 1870,
poor Scott was led outside of the walls of the fort by a party of six
rebels under command of Ambrose Lepine and brutally murdered. When the
news of this inhuman butchery reached Ontario the people of the Province
were filled with feelings of intense indignation, and the public and
press demanded the Government to take immediate action in organizing a
force to stamp out the rebellion and effect the arrest and punishment of
the perpetrators of the crime.

The Government promptly heeded the appeals of the people, and on the
16th of April, 1870, an Order-in-Council was passed by the Cabinet
authorising the organization of a military contingent for service in the
new Province of Manitoba, the principal object being to quell the Riel
Rebellion, arrest the leaders, and establish law and order in that
territory. In accordance with this resolution two battalions of riflemen
were organized, which were designated as the First (Ontario) Battalion,
and the Second (Quebec) Battalion of Rifles. Each battalion consisted
of seven companies, with an establishment of three officers and 50
non-commissioned officers and men to each company. The staff of each
battalion consisted of one Lieutenant-Colonel, one Major, one
Adjutant (with rank of Captain), one Paymaster, one Surgeon, one
Quartermaster-sergeant, one Hospital Sergeant, one Sergeant-Major, one
Armorer-Sergeant, and one Paymaster's Clerk, making the total strength
of each battalion 375 of all ranks. These battalions were composed
of volunteers from existing corps of the Active Militia in the seven
Military Districts of the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and the
terms of enlistment were for one year, or longer if their services were
required. The enrolling of the men to form these organizations commenced
on the 1st of May, and the ranks were quickly filled. The various
companies were concentrated at Toronto, where they were clothed and
equipped, and placed under the orders of Colonel Fielden, of Her
Majesty's 60th Royal Rifles. All of the field and line officers were
duly appointed, gazetted, and joined their respective corps in due time,
and in a few weeks the expeditionary force was in excellent condition
for active service.

The following is a roster of the officers who were on active