Let's set the scene: It's 1885 in Canada. Tensions between the Métis people, led by Louis Riel, and the Canadian government have boiled over into armed conflict in what's now Saskatchewan. The government calls for volunteers. Charles Daoust, a young French-Canadian from Montreal, answers the call and joins the 65th Battalion. This book is the diary he kept during the entire 120-day campaign.

The Story

The book follows Daoust's journey from the excitement of enlistment in Montreal to the grueling train journey west, and finally into the harsh reality of the Canadian prairies in spring. We march with him. We feel the exhaustion of long treks through mud and the biting cold of nights spent in makeshift camps. The narrative builds toward the pivotal Battle of Batoche, the conflict's climax, where Daoust's battalion saw action. But this isn't a constant action thriller. A big part of the story is the waiting—the boredom, the rumors, the struggle against disease and poor conditions. It ends with the rebellion's suppression, the long return home, and a young soldier left to process everything he has seen and done.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this book special is its voice. Daoust isn't a historian looking back; he's a kid writing in the moment. His observations are fresh, sometimes naive, and utterly human. You get the small details they leave out of textbooks: the taste of hardtack biscuits, the frustration of soggy gear, the dark humor among soldiers. He writes about the landscape with wonder and describes the Métis fighters not as abstract enemies, but as skilled and determined adversaries. It complicates the simple 'good guy vs. bad guy' story. Reading this, you don't just learn about the North-West Rebellion; you experience the weight of it through the boots of one participant.

Final Verdict

This is a must-read for anyone interested in real, unvarnished military history or Canadian history. It's perfect if you love primary sources like soldier's letters or diaries. The translation from French is straightforward, making it very accessible. If you're looking for a sweeping historical epic with lots of dialogue and drama, this isn't it. But if you want an authentic, ground-level view of a defining Canadian conflict—a story of youth, adventure, and the harsh realities of war—then Daoust's 120 days will stay with you long after the last page.