Judge Black, Father Richot, and A.H.Scott were chosen as delegates to Ottawa, though the appointment of the last of these, the "American delegate," was very distasteful to the English-speaking people.

The success of Riel led him to dismiss about a quarter of the prisoners in Fort Garry.

The fact that he seemed to hold the remainder as hostages stirred up the English people living along the Assiniboine.
What is usually called the "Portage la Prairie" Expedition was now organized, to secure the release of the remaining prisoners.

A body, varying from sixty to one hundred, marched down to Headingly, and were there joined by a number of English-speaking Canadians and others.

They then pushed on to Kildonan Church, where they were increased by a number of English half-breeds from St.Andrew's and adjoining parishes.