scott was employed by the canadian government as a surveyor during the red river rebellion. he was first arrested and imprisoned in december 1869 at upper fort garry by louis riel and his men while trying to attack the fort along with 34 other volunteers. thomas scott had briefly escaped upper fort garry in january with john christian schultz and charles mair. in february 1870, scott, alongside several volunteers amassed a rescue party outside john christian schultz's house in kildonan that sought to free any remaining prisoners at fort garry. summarily, the métis released the prisoners and the rescue party was dispersed. scott and several volunteers marched to portage, but passed too close to fort garry, where scott was captured and imprisoned by riel's garrison once again. charles mair and john christian schultz travelled through america and later reached ontario to urge the government for an extensive military expedition to the red river settlement. the joint-military operation of the wolseley expedition dispatched the ontario 1st and 60th rifles alongside british troops in may 1870. it has been reported that thomas scott suffered severe diarrhea during his second incarceration, which was said to have had a negative effect on both scott and his captors. during his captivity, scott was an extraordinarily difficult, opinionated, and verbally abusive individualist who refused to acknowledge his captors' legal authority. there is some evidence that thomas had an altercation with a group of guards that had brought him out and injured him so severely that louis riel had him locked into another cell with a stronger lock, partly for his own safety. it has also been documented that scott's fellow prisoners had asked that he be removed due to his obnoxious behaviour while in captivity. he was eventually executed for committing insubordination following a trial.