Colonel Otter was keen to see his men in battle. Poundmaker and his Cree had moved back to his reserve. Otter took 325 men, including 75 Mounted Police, in search of Poundmaker. They surprised them one morning, in a location where the Cree had the upper hand.
Had not both sides run low on ammunition, a slaughter would have taken place. The soldiers and police retreated. Poundmaker ordered a stop to any pursuit. He and his men began to drift toward Batoche.
