The Great Lone Land and The Wild North Land

This work contains the first-hand accounts by Lieutenant General Sir William Francis Butler when, as a young Lieutenant he carried out great journeys of exploration in the north-west of North America, in two volumes, available now together first the first time.

Beginning in 1870, he describes his part in the Red River Expedition, travelling difficult and dangerous trails through the United States to approach the Red River from that side. After suppression of the rebellion, Butler, who had fallen in love with the north-west, stayed until October 1870 and was taking a reluctant leave when Lieutenant Governor Archibald asked him to travel through the newly acquired western territory and report on conditions. Butler set out for Edmonton in October 1870. arriving a month later, then, after a few days' rest, he left for Rocky Mountain House, returning via Edmonton and returned to Red River, by dog team in the dead of winter, arriving in late February 1871. His subsequent report (also reproduced here) proved most influential and valuable to the Government.

Butler returned to Canada in the winter of 1872/73: he travelled his earlier route as far as Fort Carlton and then went north to Lake Athabasca and the Peace River. When the ice broke up in the spring, he made his way west through the Peace River canyon into central British Columbia and down the Cariboo Road to the coast.

Butler well-deserves his reputation as a fine descriptive writer, writing with great perception and intelligence. His work will render a valuable eye-witness account of the state of north-west Canada in the years before the advent of the trans-continental railway and the growth of new settlement.