Date Published:
March 2005

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Cut Knife Hill

Cut Knife hill, the scene of an engagement in the North West Territories, about 38 miles west of Battleford, between a force of 350 North West Mounted Police and Canadian militia under Colonel (afterward Sir) W. Otter and a band of 250 Cree Indians under Poundmaker. Otter's force attacked the Indians on May 2, 1885, and attempted to dislodge them; but Poundmaker's warriors made such a gallant defence that, after seven hours of fighting, the attackers withdrew. The attack had probably, however, the effect of discouraging the Indians and thus preventing an Indian rising. See George T. Denison, Soldiering in Canada (Toronto, 1901), and C. T. Mulvany, History of the North West rebellion (Toronto, 1885).

Source  : W. Stewart WALLACE, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., p. 169.