Tag: Kamloops History

Kamloops, B.C. 3 Sep 1885 Marcus Smith Letter to his wife Anne

My dear Nannie
                          I wrote you hurriedly two days ago – today I have a little more time and again referring to Arthur I am very much concerned about his future prospects. He has a fine intellect but whenever I have seen him he was very quiet and apparently timid which might indicate a want of energy but as he was said to be animated on the play ground and liked his associates it might be only boyish bashfulness which would gradually wear off. But as you say he is still physically weak and listless. I fear he is much of the temperament of Adam and ill fitted to fight the battle of life – Then as to the choice of a profession can you find out if ever he has given a thought whether the legal profession will be congenial to his tastes or his health

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New Westminster, B.C. 27 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

May 27th 1885,
My dear wife
                     When you read the enclosed clippings respecting the reported battle at Eagle hills you will understand how anxious I was and how glad to receive your telegram –

Of course as the report came from the New York correspondent of a San Francisco newspaper and as it stated there were 19 Englishmen and 21 Canadians killed – a distinction not likely to be made and as there were probably not 19 Englishmen in the whole of Otter’s forces. there was an air of improbability about it – but at the same time as the capture of a number of waggons and teamsters was confirmed which would take place near the E(a)gle hills I thought Otter would have made a dash to recover them as the troops at the time would be short of provisions. Besides as you will gather from my letter of three weeks ago respecting Otter’s battle of May 2nd – I was afraid he was ambitious to distinguish himself even at the expense of heavy losses of men as he never had any experience in active warfare which requires judgement and caution of a different kind from mere drill

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Kamloops, B.C. 17 May 1885 Marcus Smith letter to wife

My Dear Wife, I have been up the line for a week and on my return yesterday (saturday) evening received your letter of the 2nd instant together with a number of newspapers mostly “weekly” which were very acceptable as they give a great deal of news about the position of the troops and other details which are not telegraphed here or copied in the newspapers. The latest telegram we have had was General Middleton’s official account of the battle at Gabrielle’s crossing on saturday the 9th inst. In which he had driven the Rebels from their position with very small loss of troops – 1 killed and 6 wounded – he concludes that he expects next – day – (sunday) to clear the Rebels out of Batoche

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