John Macdonell (1788 - 1833)

Born 1 Jun 1788 in Glengarry, Quebec

Ancestors

Husband of Phoebe Campbell — married 1830 in Brockville, Upper Canada (Ontario)

Died Apr 1833 at age 44 in Prescott, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

John Macdonell served in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s): Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Niagara, Canada
Service ended:

John Macdonell was the son of Allan Mcdonell Margery Macdonell

[There are several documents relating to a John Macdonell living at that time and area, relating to the Catholic faith.]

He was born in 1788, in Matilda township, Dundas County, in what became Ontario.

He was a lieutenant in the 1st Stormount Militia in 1809. In 1812 he was a Captain in the 1st Dundas Militia, present at the Capture of Ogdensburg (22 Feb 1813). In March 1813 joined the Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada, becoming the senior captain at Prescott. The I.M. was transfered to York in March of 1814, and was present at the Battle of Lundy's Lane (25 June 1814). During that engagement, he was struck in his left arm, which was later amputated, ending his militiary career.

Married (#1) Jane Clarke; (#2) ? Fraser and (#3) Phoebe Campbell, 1830 [see profile] in Brockville, Leeds County, Ontario.

He received a Prince Regents Land Grant. This might have been Lot - E 112 - 37, 1st concession, Matilda which he owned.

[There are references to him being a Colonel (of Militia), but this may refer to another John McDonell, of which there are many.]

Death, about April 1833.

Burial: 10 April 1833, St Mark's, Sandy Hill Cemetery, Prescott, Ontario, Canada.^{[1] [2]}

War of 1812, Addenta

Prior to the war he was a lieutenant with the 1st Stormont Militia (7 Jan 1809). Later a Captain with the 1st Dundas Militia (2nd Flank Company), 25 Dec 1812 ^[3]

He was present at the capture of Ogdensburg (22 Feb 1813). American raids, especially those of Captain Benjamin Forsythe of the 1st Rifles led Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell at Prescott to launch an attack across the ice. This was made in two columns. The right composed largely of Glengarry Light Infantry hit above the town, but was checked and driven back. The right was aimed at the town, led by a party of selected volunteers from the militia who had been specially trained as light infantry. This was followed by a column of regulars, then militia (one version puts the Dundas in the middle of five companies).

There was minor opposition in the town, but the defenders retreated to old French Fort La Presentation. However, they slipped away through a rear entrance, and the town was taken. Considerable military material was taken and taken to the Canadian shore. It is not clear at what point, but during the engagement he was shot through the hand “but continued to do his duty; this plus exposure to the cold, produced a violent inflammation.” ^[4]

He was commissioned as a Captain Incorporated Militia, 15 June 1813, having recruited the twenty required men. A Muster Roll of 25 May 1813 lists him as captain, along with: Lieutenant Alexander Rose, Ensign James McDonell, 2 Sergeants, 1 Drummer, 31 Privates (Present) plus 5 (absent, sick) and 4 AWOL. ^[5]

On April 27 Hamilton Walker, as the “senior” Captain was given command of the I.M. units at Prescott. On May 12, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Pearson took command of that post. An experienced British officer and strict disciplinarian, he was also a stickler for regulations. The Incorporated Militia was to prove quite vexing to him for their unwillingness to conform to what they likely saw as trifling inconveniences; particulars of uniform (especially when some officers appeared in captured U.S. Riflemen coats), messing organization, and so on. Improper or incomplete paperwork would also prove a common source of complaint. Other censures directed at the officers was failure to do their rounds whist on guard duty (and keeping the men out too long).

The new corps soon got into the routine of garrison life with drills, guard and fatigue duty. On May 16j they were ordered to proceed to Johnstown and take up station there (Captain Hamilton Walker to command). They returned to Prescott in two groups during June. MacDonell’s made the move on the morning of June 17 (under Sherwood) and moved into the Stone Barracks.

July 5th Pearson “under painful necessity of publicly expressing his displeasure” of eight officers, including Captain MacDonell, for “not attending to their stations, it is but too obvious that the behaviour of many of the militia officers in the garrison that the increments[?] arising from their commissions are to be the only objects of their attention.” ^[6]

[The American attempt to capture Montreal passed Prescott on the night of November 6-7. On the 8th the pursuing British came on the 8th, picked up most of the regulars there and continued. This left the I.M. as the principle garrison. The American invasion was broken at the Battle of Chrysler’s Farm (11 Nov 1813) and their army went to the area round French Mills, N.Y.]

In January 1814 several officers of the Incorporated Militia resigned their commissions (some as they had not met their quota of recruits, others for a variety of reasons). On the 25th Ensign John Macdonell formally of Captain Jonas Jones' company, was added to his division. On February 7, the various small detachments at Prescott were reorganized. MacDonell was one of three captains selected to command them. ^[7]

In early 1814 it was realized the dreams of up to six battalions of Incorporated Militia would never be met. The alternative was to gather all the dispersed units together at York and create a single unit. The units at Prescott moved in two groups, one arriving at York on March 7, the other on the 16th.

Command of the Battalion was given to Captain William Robinson of the 8th (King’s), who was to spend the ensuing months drilling the Battalion up to a standard where they could fight alongside the regular troops. At the end of April the company structure of the Battalion was set with John McDonell [sic] picked as Captain of No. 9 (second from the left when drawn up). ^[8]

On May 25, MacDonell and Capt. Edward Walker (and Lieut. Clark and Ensign Robbins ) were ordered to proceed to Kingston. ^[9]

When news reached York of the defeat at the Battle of Chippawa (July 6) orders were issued for the Incorporated Militia to leave that same day. They crossed quickly to Fort George, and began an immediate night march to Queenston. They moved forward the next day and encountered the rest of the army in retreat accompanied by streams of refugees. They moved off the road and fell in behind them. They halted at McFarland House a mile from Fort George where they remained until the 13th when they moved to 12 Mile Creek and were formed into the 2nd or “Light” Brigade with the Glengarries, a detachment of the 19th Light Dragoons, and two 6-pounder guns. They were under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Pearson (who had commanded the I.M. detachments at Prescott in 1813).

On the 24th the light brigade made a night march down the Portage Road, halting at 7 in the morning at the junction with Lundy’s Lane and halted. About an hour later they were joined by the 1st Militia Brigade (Major Simons, back with II Lincoln). Meanwhile, the American command decided to probe northwards. When alerted of this Riall, believing he was about to encounter the bulk of the enemy army, ordered an immediate retreat. The Incorporated Militia and Glengarries were assigned rear guard. After marching less than two miles, they encountered Drummond with his force who ordered a return to Lundy’s Lane. Running back the Light Brigade fanned out to cover the hill top, the Battalion went to the left and took up position on the eastern slope of the hilltop, the Glengarries the right. As the rest of the army came up and formed into a solid line, the two forces shifted outwards. They ended up in a field of buckwheat, with woods to their front and to their left (bordering the Niagara River) However, Drummond neglected to send troops or Natives into the latter. Eventually the enemy appears, and rather than wait for reinforcements their commander, Winfield Scott chose to attack.

The Incorporated Militia was soon engaged with the US Twenty-Fifth. During this exchange Ensign John Campbell (Fraser's company) was killed, Captain MacDonell received a ball through his sash without injury. Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, seeing American guns deploying to his front, swung his line forward to flank them. At this point the lead elements of the of the American Twenty-Fifth Regiment came out of the woods on the flank , which had managed to sneak through the woods on the river side unobserved, opened fire. [Being the No. 9 company, MacDonell's men would have been the second from the left of their line.) Robinson reacted by swinging the line back. A half-hour fire fight ensued, during which both sides suffered casualties, including their commander, Robinson. The Battalion began retiring by companies to the British main line. Some of the companies on the far left were slow to extricate themselves, others tried to extend to the left to prevent being completely enfiladed. MacDonell was able to extricate his men.

At this point the bulk of the Twenty-Fifth charged from the woods and poured in a volley. The companies out on the end recoiled but did not break, although some were cut off and many men taken prisoner. The remnants of the Battalion reformed at a right angle to the main British line, using the slight cover of a split-rail fence. The Twenty-Fifth, having done what damage they could, and encumbered with prisoners, retired.

As the battle progressed casualties began to mount in the British centre, Drummond pulled Incorporated Militia companies from the left to plugged gaps and weak points in the line.

While the main part of the American force was aimed at the centre of the line, off on their left General Brown discovered into a strong body to the immediate right of the British guns. This included a company of the 1st Royal Scots (Brereton) and the companies of Captain Fraser and McDonell, plus the Lights of the 41st (Glew). He halted Miller’s troops and warned him, but after discussion he determined to press on. As they moved forward they heard renewed volley exchanges off to his left.

Lieutenant Duncan Clark (Fraser’s) later recalled that the fire of this division, “opened upon them with effect and threw them in some confusion, but they soon rallied and firmly stood their ground for a time, till the well directed and destructive fire of the British compelled them to fall back with heavy loss.” ^[10]

This distraction likely contributed to the successful American rush that captured the British guns. The 89th attempted to retake them but was driven back by the enemy’s fire. They returned with reinforcements including the 41st and Incorporated Militia. Twice more the two lines clashed. General Drummond was wounded in the neck. Captain McDonell was hit in the left arm (severely) and Ensign McDonell (dangerously) were also wounded at this point (along with Captain Brereton and Lieutenant Fraser of the Royal Scots). ^[11]

[After this the battle raged until both sides withdrew in the dark, the British 500 yards in rear of the hill, the American returning to Chippawa and then Fort Erie.] In consequence of his wounds, McDonell's left arm was amputated (his left hand had previously been injured at Ogdensburg, 22 Feb 1813). This ended John MacDonell’s direct role in the war.

He requested a medical board to be set up at Kingston or Fort Niagara to certify the loss of his arm. On 9 Jan 1815 a letter was sent out announcing that McDonell would receive one year's full pay for the loss of his arm. ^[12]

It appears he was receiving a pension which ceased to be issued, 30 July 1817; he made a memorial petition to Maitland, 6 Oct 1818.^[13]

Sources

• A United Empire Loyalist Family, by W.L. Scott, K.C. Reprinted from Vol XXXII, Papers and Records, Ontario Historical Society. pdf available from Anemone Cerridwen

• Cruikshank, Ernest A. ‘’Record of the Services of Canadian Regiments in the War of 1812: XIII, The Militia of the Eastern District’’ ’Selected Papers, Canadian Military Institute’’. 21 (1913-15), 69-98.
• Feltoe, Richard. ‘’Red Coated Ploughboys: The Volunteer Battalion of Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada, 1812-15’’. Toronto: Dundurn, 2012.
• Gray, William.’’Soldiers of the King: The Upper Canadian Militia, 1812-1815’’. Toronto: Stoddart, 1995.
• Irving, L.H. ‘’Officers of the British Forces in Canada during the War of 1812’’. Toronto: Canadian Military Institute, 1908.

Library and Archives of Canada (LAC) [Hand-written notes from original documents made by J. Everett, Ottawa, c. 1992)]

• MG19/A39: Duncan Clark Papers
• RG9-1B7, v. 2: Pre-Confederation Records, Military, Upper Canada. Reel t-10379 is available online: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-e.php?q2=35&q3=2840&tt=1244&sqn=908

• Ancestry.com, quinners1 family tree: https://www.ancestry.ca/family-tree/person/tree/16503116/person/362067804427/facts
• Ancestry.com, Reena McBride tree: https://www.ancestry.ca/family-tree/person/tree/85259565/person/190128304218/facts

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760-1923 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
2. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132004061
3. ↑ Gray, 56, 57
4. ↑ Proceedings of Medical Board, 20 Oct 1815, LAC C.704, p 287
5. ↑ Feltoe, 155
6. ↑ Feltoe, 159
7. ↑ Clark Papers
8. ↑ Feltoe, 193
9. ↑ Clark Papers
10. ↑ Clark Papers; Feltoe, 276
11. ↑ Clark Papers; Feltoe, 278
12. ↑ Proceeding of Medical Board, 20 Oct 1815, LAC C.704, 287; (Letter, Foster to Alex M'Donell, Esq., HQ Kingston, 9 Jan 1815: RG5-A1:vol 22, p. 9243)
13. ↑ LAC RG -A1 v 40, 20849-51.