Louis Riel had counted on the Canadian government being unable to effectively respond to another uprising in the distant North-West Territories, thereby forcing them to accept political negotiation.

This is essentially the same strategy that had worked to such great effect during the 1870 rebellion, but in that instance, the first troops did not arrive until three months after Riel seized control.

However, Riel has completely overlooked the significance of the nascent Canadian Pacific Railway.

Despite major gaps in railway construction, the first Canadian regular and militia units, under the command of Major-General Frederick Dobson Middleton, arrive in Duck Lake less than two weeks after Riel had made his demands.

Knowing that he cannot defeat the Canadians in direct confrontation, Dumont had hoped to force the Canadians to negotiate by engaging in a long-drawn out campaign of guerrilla warfare; Dumont realizes a modest success along these lines at the Battle of Fish Creek on April 24, 1885.

Riel, however, insists on concentrating forces at Batoche in order to defend his "city of God".