Book Reviews and Notices : Deutschland,Jahrbuch 1949. EDITED BY DR. KLAUS MEHNERT AND DR. HEINRICH SCHULTE. (Essen: West Verlag. 1949. Pp. 502.)

• DOI: 10.1177/106591294900200341
• Author: Oscar J. Hammen
• Published date: 01 September 1949
• Date: 01 September 1949
• Subject Matter: Articles

458
Suppression of the Rebellion in the North West Territories of Canada,
1885. BY GENERAL SIR FRED MIDDLETON. Edited, with introduction,
by MAJOR G. H. NEEDLER. University of Toronto Studies: History and
Economic Series. Vol. XII. (Toronto: The University of Toronto
Press. 1948. Pp. xix, 80. $2.00.)
This is not a new historical document, for it was first published in
serial form in London, England, in the United Service Magazine (Novem-
ber and December, 1893, and January and February, 1894). But the
inaccessibility of this English monthly to the Canadian reader justified
the republication of Middleton’s account.
Middleton’s narrative begins with his departure from the scene of
the rebellion; tells the story of the preparations, the marches, and the
engagements; and closes with the words with which he took leave of his
forces when the rebellion was surpressed. The account is brief, readable,
and at times humourous and exciting. Throughout it Middleton reveals
himself as a rugged and a fearless soldier, somewhat professionally con-
descending, but apparently quite considerate of the welfare of his raw
troops, and certainly appreciative of the aid rendered him by the officials
of the Hudson Bay Company and others. Obviously Middleton would
not impugn his own generalship, but what he failed to do in this respect,
the editor, Major G. H. Needler, now a scholar but in 1885 a corporal
in K Company of the Queen’s Own Regiment serving with Middleton’s
second column under Lieutenant Colonel Otter, did for him, both in the
introduction and in the copious explanatory and critical notes.
Major Needler’s emendations are not to be disputed, and his criticism
of Middleton’s generalship at the Fish Creek engagement seems to be in
order. But his attack on Middleton’s apparent unconcern for the alarmist
reports from Battleford and elsewhere seems to be too severe. As a
professional soldier Middleton could hardly allow himself to be startled
into any hasty action of relief at the...