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Not long after his
arrival in Canada, we find him, in 1807, cooperating with Colonel John
Macdonell (Aberchalder),* then Lieutenant of the County of Glengarry, in
urging on the British Government through Colonel, afterwards
Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, the advisability of raising in Glengarry
a Fencible regiment on the ground that a corps of that nature would
greatly facilitate any future project of raising troops bra more general
and extended service. besides being a great protection to the Province.
[* Colonel John Macdonell
was the eldest son of Captain Alexander Macdonell, of the King's Royal
Regiment of New York, one of the most distinguished Regiments of the
Revolutionary War, of which Sir John Johnston, Knight and Baronet, was
Colonel- Commandant. Colonel John Macdonell served during the
Revolutionary War first in the 84th or Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment,
and afterwards in command of a company of Butler's Rangers. Colonel
Mathews, who had long been on the staff of Sir Frederick Haldimand and
Sir Guy Carleton (Lord Dorchester), bore testimony to the fact that he
was an active and distinguished partizan of the Royalist cause, stating
of himself and his family and clansmen.
"I was at that time
quartered at Niagara, and an eye-witness of the gallant and successful
exertions of the Macdonells and their dependants, by which, in a great
measure the upper country of Canada was preserved, for oil little body a
fine battalion was soon formed, and afterwards a second" (Letter to the
Under Secretary of State for War, 23rd June,.1804.) He was one of the
two first members for the County of Glengarry and Speaker of the first
House of Assembly of Upper Canada in 1792. He raised in 1796 and
commanded the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Volunteer Regiment of Foot,
which garrisoned this Province until disbanded with all other Fencible
Regiments in the service during the Peace of Amiens in 1802. His
brother, Hugh Macdonell, who with him first represented Glengarry, and
had previously been an officer in the Kings Royal Regiment of New York,
was afterwards British Consul-General at Algiers; and another brother,
Chichester, who had also been an officer in Butler's Rangers during the
Revolutionary War, continued in the service, fought under Sir John Moore
at Corunna. for which battle he was awarded a gold medal, and died in
India in command of the 34th Regiment of Foot.]
The following
correspondence took place:-
"GLENGARRY, January 2801,
1807.
"SIR,-I have the honour to enclose you the proposals for raising a corps
of Highland Fencibles in this County, which were submitted to your
perusal. The alterations you made are adopted with very few exceptions:
should they meet with your approbation, you will he pleased to forward
them to the War Office.
"The permanent pay asked
for the Field Officers and Chaplain may be considered unusual, but in
this instance it is necessary and expedient for carrying the proposals
into effect. The Field Officers must undergo a vast deal of trouble, and
their time will be as much occupied as if the corps were constantly
embodied.
"The County is almost
entirely inhabited by Highlanders and their descendants, naturally brave
and loyal as subjects, and firmly attached to the British Constitution
and Government, yet from their situation and circumstances, being in
general possessed of some landed trophy, and the high run of wages in
the county, they are reluctant to quit these advantages to become
soldiers. Nothing but a scheme of this nature, headed by gentlemen whom
they know and respect, would induce them on any consideration to put
themselves under the restraints of military discipline. The Chaplain
having served in that capacity in the late Glengarry Fencibles in Great
Britain, Ireland and Guernsey, has a claim to the favour of Government.
He conducted a number of these people to this country, and having
rendered himself useful in many respects to the people at large. has
gained so far their confidence that his services in urging and
forwarding this matter will be very essential. The adoption and
successful issue of the present plan will greatly facilitate any future
project of raising troops for a more general and extended nature of
service.
I have the honour to be.
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant.
J. MacDonell.
Lieutenant of the County of Glengarry.
Colonel Brock. &c"
Colonel Brock forwarded
Colonel Macdonell's proposal to the War Office, with the following
letter to the Right Honourable William Wyndham, then Secretary for War
Qubec, February 12, 1807.
"I have the honour to
transmit for your consideration a proposal from Lieutenant-Colonel John
Macdonell, late of the Royal Canadian Volunteers, for raising a corps
among the Scotch settlers in the County of Glengarry, Upper Canada.
"When it is considered
that both the Canadas furnish only 200 militia, who are trained to arms,
the advantages to be derived from such an establishment must appear very
evident.
"The militia force in
this country is very small, and were it possible to collect it in time
to oppose any serious attempt upon Quebec, the only tenable post, the
number would of itself be insufficient to ensure a vigorous defence.
"This corps, being
stationed on the confines of the Lower Province, would be always
immediately and essentially useful in checking any seditious
disposition, which the wavering sentiments of a large population in the
Montreal district might at any time manifest. In the event of invasion
or other emergency, this force could be easily and expeditiously
transported by water to Quebec.
"The extent of the
country which these settlers occupy would make the permanent
establishment of the staff, and one surgeon in each company, very
advisable. I shall not presume to say how far the claims of the field
officers to the same indulgence are reasonable and expedient.
In regard to the Reverend
Alexander Macdonell. I beg leave to observe that the men, being all
Catholics, it may be deemed a prudent measure to appoint him Chaplain.
His zeal and attachment to Government were strongly evinced while
filling the office of Chaplain to the Glengarry Fencibles during the
rebellion in Ireland, and were graciously acknowledged by His Royal
highness the Commander-in-Chief.
His influence over the
men is deservedly great and I have every reason to believe that the
corps, by his exertions, would be soon completed, and hereafter become a
nursery, from which the army might draw a number of hardy recruits.
"I have, &c.,
"ISAAC BROCK."
Colonel Macdonell's wise
suggestion was not at the time carried into effect, but a few years
afterwards, when our relations with the United States had arrived at a
crisis, the British Government adopted his plan, and gladly availed
itself of the services of the hardy band of Highland loyalists, who had
made their home in Glengarry in Canada, and, fortunately, though Colonel
John Macdonell was unable to aid his Sovereign and his country, the
patriotic Chaplain, with the assistance, as will be seen, of another
namesake and clansman, raised and organized the Glengarry Light Infantry
Regiment, which (ought through the War of 1812, and caused the name of
Glengarry to be respected by those who gloried in the freedom of British
institutions, and feared by those who sought to overthrow them.
At this time there was
but one Catholic Bishop in the whole of the British dominions in North
America; the entire country from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast
formed one diocese under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Quebec. In
1806, Monseigneur Plessis, the eleventh Bishop of Quebec, succeeded to
that See on the death of Bishop Denant. One of his first thoughts was to
divide his immense diocese. In announci1g the death of his predecessor,
Monseigneur Plessis expressed a hope that the Court of Rome would soon
come to all with the Court of St. James for the erection of a
Metropolitan and some Bishoprics in British North America.. Meantime, he
petitioned the Holy See to allow him three coadjutors, one in Montreal,
one in Upper Canada and a third in Nova Scotia. his intention being to
recommend as coadjutor for Upper Canada Mr. Macdonell, who had already
been placed among the number of his Vicars-General. Local difficulties,
however, added to the disturbed state of Europe and the war which
occurred between Great Britain and the United States, delayed the
consummation of the project Monseigneur Plessis had in view for several
years.
When war broke out in
1812, Mr. Macdonell (Maighster Alastair as he was then known among the
Highlander,) could, owing to the nature of his sacred profession,
scarcely be said to have been in his element, but when there was
fighting to be done, "the Chaplain" wanted to be close at hand to see
that it was well done. It was a favourite saying of his that "every man
of his name should be either a priest or a soldier," and had he not been
a priest he would have been a great soldier. He had all the qualities of
one. His stature was immense and his frame herculean. He stood six feet
four, and was stout in proportion ; he had undaunted courage, calm, cool
judgment, resolute will and a temper almost imperturbable; he had the
endurance of his race, fatigue and privation were as nothing to him ; he
was a man of great natural ability, great parts and a great personality
which impressed all brought in contact with him ; he inspired
confidence, admiration and respect, but above all he was It born leader
of men. The gain to the Church was great, the loss to the army
correspondingly great when he was ordained at Valadolid
It was necessary at once
to raise soldiers for the emergency. It was "the Chaplain" who fired the
heather! He had previously raised a regiment. He now raised another for
his Sovereign. He was an unerring judge of men, and he nominated for his
colleague the man best fitted for the task, and Captain George Macdonell
was commissioned by the Commander-in-Chief to co-operate with him, and
this gallant officer of the King's Regiment and "the Chaplain "had the
Glengarry Light Infantry, who numbered four hundred rank and file, in
the field by the 1st of May, "and we find that on Sir George Prevost's
issuing orders to recruit for a still higher establishment, the officers
engaged to double the number and did it."
The Glengarry Light
Infantry Regiment thus raised was placed on the regular establishment of
the British army, and served in the most conspicuous and creditable
manner throughout the War of 1812-14, taking part in no less than
fourteen general engagements. They were present, amongst others, at the
taking of Ogdensburg, Fort Covington and Oswego; at the attack on
Sackett's Harbour, and at the battle at York. They lost three companies
with their officers at the landing of the Americans at Fort George, and
were also at the battles of Stoney Creek and Lundy's Lane. The officers
of the first battalion were as follows :-
The Chaplain and Captain
Macdonell not only Idled up the ranks of the Regiment in Glengarry, but
distributed rather more commissions among the gentlemen of the County
than was anticipated by or altogether pleasing to the officers at
headquarters, as appears from the following letter :-
MAJOR-GERAL BROCK TO
COLONEL BAYNES.
"YORK,January 6, 1812.
"Capt. Macdonell,
accompanied by the priest, arrived here some days ago. The badness of
the weather has prevented his return as soon as he first proposed. All
the junior commissions being already disposed of among the youths of
Glengarry, I fear that little will be done in this part of the Province
towards recruiting the intended corps. A few idlers may be picked up;
but, without the aid of persons of influence, no great number can be
expected, unless indeed the militia be called Out, and land promised.
"Understanding from Captain Macdonell that the Commander of the forces
had applied to the Prince Regent for permission to offer some of the
waste land of the Crown as an inducement to the Scotch emigrants to
enlist, I stated the circumstances to Council, and have much pleasure in
assuring His Excellency, that should he be of opinion the Present aspect
of affairs calls for prompt measures, and that a direct promise of land
would accelerate the recruiting, this Government will readily pledge
itself to grant one, or even two, hundred acres to such as enlist on the
terms proposed by His Excellency. This will be deviating largely from
the King's instructions; but in these eventful and critical times, the
Council conceives that an expression from His Excellency of the
necessity of the measure will be sufficient to warrant a departure from
the usual rules. Should His Excellency think it expedient to act
immediately, and authorize a direct offer of land, I have no doubt that
a number of young men might be collected between Kingston and
Amhertsburg, in which case His Excellency may sanction the raising of
two additional companies under my superintendence.
I have, &c.,
"ISAAC BROCK."
"The Bishop," as Colonel
Coffin styles him, though he was but a priest at the time, "had been
most active in raising and recruiting the Glengarries during the
preceding winter. The fiery cross had passed through the land and every
clansman had obeyed the summons." Well was he in a position to state in
after years, "The Second Glengarry Regiment. raised in the Province when
the Government of the United States of America invaded and expected to
make a conquest of Canada, was planned by me and partly raised by my
influence. My zeal in the service of my country and my exertions in the
defence of this Province were acknowledged by His late Majesty through
Lord Bathurst, then Secretary of State for the Colonies. My salary was
then increased and a seat was assigned to me in the Legislative Council
as a distinguished mark of my Sovereign's favour; an honour," he
continues, striking out at some who had the hardihood to traduce him, "I
should consider it a disgrace to resign, although I can hardly ever
expect to sit in Council, nor do I believe that Lord Glenelg who knows
something of me would expect that I should show so much imbecility in my
latter days as to relinquish a mark of honour conferred upon me by my
Sovereign to gratify the vindictive malice of a few unprincipled
radicals."
But his attention was not
confined to Glengarry alone, nor his vast energy to the raising of men;
now he was to be found at York, again at Quebec, in communication with
General Brock, Sir George Prevost and other leading military men,
suggesting plans of various kinds, which readily met with acceptance,
urging that the waste lands of the Crown should be offered to emigrants
to encourage them to enlist, and with the eye of an old campaigner,
seeing that communication was kept Open between Quebec and the Upper
Country of Canada.
MAJOR GENERAL BROCK TO
SIR GEORGE PREVOST.
"YORK, January 26, 1817
"The very serious
inconvenience which the inhabitants of this Province experience for want
of a sufficient land communication with Lower Canada induces me to
trouble you on the subject. The Reverend Mr. Macdonell, of Glengarry,
the hearer of this letter, is so well qualified to explain the causes
which have hitherto impeded the cutting of a road to connect the two
Provinces that I need not detain Your Excellency, particularly as
reference can be had to Lieutenant-Colonel Bruyeres, who, having been
employed by Sir James Craig to ascertain the grounds upon which a
difficulty arose in the attainment of so desirable an object, can give
every necessary information" and I find that a measure having been
adopted to this end in the following year (15th February, 1813), the
Reverend Alexander Macdonell, Alexander McMillan, Esquire, and Allan
Macdonell, Esquire, were appointed commissioners to open a road between
Upper and Lower Canada under the Act 53, George III., Chapter 4. I
presume that the road then built is that now known as "the King's Road."
When Ogdensburg was taken
by the Glengarry Fencibles and the Glengarry Militia under Colonel
George Macdonell [Colonel George Macdonell was awarded one of the two
gold medals given for the Battle of Chateaugnay, and was created a
Companion of the Bath. He afterwards commanded the 79th Regiment of
foot.] on 23rd February, 1813, the Chaplain was with his clansmen. A
good story of him is told me by my friend, Mr. Kenneth Ross, of
Lancaster, whose father was wounded in the attack. Ross was carried into
the house of an inn-keeper near Prescott. a half-Yankee, like many of
his ilk along the border. The Chaplain saw that the wounded man was as
much in need of stimulants as of priestly counsel, and went at once in
search of some brandy. Excuses of various kinds were made by the woman
of the house. Her husband was absent and had the keys, and so on. The
Chaplain told her he would take no denial, and that if she did not
procure the brandy forthwith he would have it in short order. She still
demurred, whereupon he walked to the tap-room door, and with one kick
lifted it off its hinges, and not only Mr. Ross, but all others of His
Majesty's liege subjects had all the brandy they required after their
bard day's fighting. Though Mr. Ross was a Presbyterian and the Chaplain
a Catholic Priest. I doubt if he could have been better served in his
extremity even by a Minister of his own denomination. |
