An Historical Account of the Settlements of Scotch Highlanders in America Part 18

Among the prisoners taken by the Americans was Captain Angus McDonell of The Royal Greens.[130] For greater security he was transferred to the southern portion of the State. On October 12th following, at Kingston, he gave the following parole to the authorities:

"I, Angus McDonell, lieutenant in the 60th or Royal American regiment, now a prisoner to the United States of America and enlarged on my parole, do promise upon my word of honor that I will continue within one mile of the house of Jacobus Hardenburgh, and in the town of Hurley, in the county of Ulster; and that I will not do any act, matter or thing whatsoever against the interests of America; and further, that I will remove hereafter to such place as the governor of the state of New York or the president of the Council of Safety of the said state shall direct, and that I will observe this my parole until released, exchanged or otherwise ordered.

Angus McDonell."

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Valley of the Wyoming.]

The following year Captain Angus McDonald and Allen McDonald, ensign in the same company were transferred to Reading, Pennsylvania. The former was probably released or exchanged for he was with the regiment when it was disbanded at the close of the War. What became of the latter is unknown. Probably neither of them were Sir John Johnson's tenants.

The next movement of special importance relates to the melancholy story of Wyoming, immortalized in verse by Thomas Campbell in his "Gertrude of Wyoming." Towards the close of June 1778 the British officers at Niagara determined to strike a blow at Wyoming, in Pennsylvania. For this purpose an expedition of about three hundred white men under Colonel John Butler, together with about five hundred Indians, marched for the scene of action. Just what part the McDonells took in the Ma.s.sacre of Wyoming is not known, nor is it positive any were present; but belonging to Butler's Rangers it is fair to a.s.sume that all such partic.i.p.ated in those heartrending scenes which have been so often related. It was a terrible day and night for that lovely valley, and its beauty was suddenly changed into horror and desolation. The Ma.s.sacre of Wyoming stands out in bold relief as one of the darkest pictures in the whole panorama of the Revolution.

While this scene was being enacted, active preparations were pushed by Alexander McDonald for a descent on the New York frontiers. It was the same Alexander who has been previously mentioned as having been permitted to return to the Johnstown settlement, and then a.s.sisted in helping the remaining Highland families escape to Canada. He was a man of enterprise and activity, and by his energy he collected three hundred royalists and Indians and fell with great fury upon the frontiers.

Houses were burned, and such of the people as fell into his hands were either killed or made prisoners. One example of the blood thirsty character of this man is given by Sims, in his "Trappers of New York,"

as follows:

"On the morning of October 25, 1781, a large body of the enemy under Maj. Ross, entered Johnstown with several prisoners, and not a little plunder; among which was a number of human scalps taken the afternoon and night previous, in settlements in and adjoining the Mohawk valley; to which was added the scalp of Hugh McMonts, a constable, who was surprised and killed as they entered Johnstown. In the course of the day the troops from the garrisons near and militia from the surrounding country, rallied under the active and daring Willett, and gave the enemy battle on the Hall farm, in which the latter were finally defeated with loss, and made good their retreat into Canada.

Young Scarsborough was then in the nine months' service, and while the action was going on, himself and one Crosset left the Johnstown fort, where they were on garrison duty, to join in the fight, less than two miles distant. Between the Hall and woods they soon found themselves engaged. Crosset after shooting down one or two, received a bullet through one hand, but winding a handkerchief around it he continued the fight under cover of a hemlock stump. He was shot down and killed there, and his companion surrounded and made prisoner by a party of Scotch (Highlanders) troops commanded by Captain McDonald.

When Scarsborough was captured, Capt. McDonald was not present, but the moment he saw him he ordered his men to shoot him down. Several refused; but three, shall I call them men? obeyed the dastardly order, and yet he possibly would have survived his wounds, had not the miscreant in authority cut him down with his own broadsword. The sword was caught in its first descent, and the valiant captain drew it out, cutting the hand nearly in two."[131]

This was the same McDonald who, in 1779, figured in the battle of the Chemung, together with Sir John and Guy Johnson and Walter N. Butler.

Just what part the Mohawk Highlanders, if any, had in the Ma.s.sacre of Cherry Valley on October 11, 1778, may not be known. The leaders were Walter N. Butler, son of Colonel John Butler, who was captain of a company of Rangers, and the monster Brant.

Owing to the frequent depredations made by the Indians, the Royal Greens, Butler's Rangers, and the independent company of Alexander McDonald, upon the frontiers, destroying the innocent and helpless as well as those who might be found in arms, Congress voted that an expedition should be sent into the Indian country. Was.h.i.+ngton detached a division from the army under General John Sullivan to lay waste that country. The instructions were obeyed, and Sullivan did not cease until he found no more to lay waste. The only resistance he met with that was of any moment was on August 29, 1779, when the enemy hoping to ambuscade the army of Sullivan, brought on the battle of Chemung, near the present site of Elmira. There were about three hundred royalists under Colonel John Butler and Captain Alexander McDonald, a.s.sisting Joseph Brant who commanded the Indians. The defeat was so overwhelming that the royalists and Indians, in a demoralized condition sought shelter under the walls of Fort Niagara.

The lower Mohawk Valley having experienced the calamities of border wars was yet to feel the full measures of suffering. On Sunday, May 21, 1780, Sir John Johnson with some British troops, a detachment of Royal Greens, and about two hundred Indians and Tories, at dead of night fell unexpectedly on Johnstown, the home of his youth. Families were killed and scalped, the houses pillaged and then burned. Instances of daring and heroism in withstanding the invaders have been recorded.

Sir John's next achievement was in the fall of the same year, when he descended with fire and sword into the rich settlements along the Schoharie. He was overtaken by the American force at Klock's Field and put to flight.

Sir John Johnson with the Royal Greens, princ.i.p.ally his former tenants and retainers, appear to have been especially stimulated with hate against the people of their former homes who did not sympathize with their views. In the summer of 1781 another expedition was secretly planned against Johnstown, and executed with silent celerity. The expedition consisted of four companies of the Second battalion of Sir John's regiment of Royal Greens, Butler's Rangers and two hundred Indians, numbering in all about one thousand men, under the command of Major Ross. He was defeated at the battle of Johnstown on October 25th.

The army of Major Ross, for four days in the wilderness, on their advance had been living on only a half pound of horse flesh per man per day; yet they were so hotly pursued by the Americans that they were forced to trot off a distance of thirty miles before they stopped,--during a part of the distance they were compelled to sustain a running fight. They crossed Canada Creek late in the afternoon, where Walter N. Butler attempted to rally the men. He was shot through the head by an Oneida Indian, who was with the Americans. When Captain Butler fell his troops fled in the utmost confusion, and continued their flight through the night. Without food and even without blankets they had eighty miles to traverse through the dreary and pathless wilderness.

On August 6, 1781, Donald McDonald, one of the Highlanders who had fled from Johnstown, made an attempt upon Sh.e.l.l's Bush, about four miles north of the present village of Herkimer, at the head of sixty-six Indians and Tories. John Christian Sh.e.l.l had built a block-house of his own, which was large and substantial, and well calculated to withstand a seige. The first story had no windows, but furnished with loopholes which could be used to shoot through by muskets. The second story projected over the first, so that the garrison could fire upon an advancing enemy, or cast missiles upon their heads. The owner had a family of six sons, the youngest two were twins, and only eight years old. Most of his neighbors had taken refuge in Fort Dayton; but this settler refused to leave his home. When Donald McDonald and his party arrived at Sh.e.l.l's Bush his brother with his sons were at work in the field; and the children, unfortunately were so widely separated from their father, as to fall into the hands of the enemy.

"Sh.e.l.l and his other boys succeeded in reaching their castle, and barricading the ponderous door. And then commenced the battle. The besieged were well armed, and all behaved with admirable bravery; but none more bravely than Sh.e.l.l's wife, who loaded the pieces as her husband and sons discharged them. The battle commenced at two o'clock, and continued until dark. Several attempts were made by McDonald to set fire to the castle, but without success, and his forces were repeatedly driven back by the galling fire they received.

McDonald at length procured a crow-bar and attempted to force the door; but while thus engaged he received a shot in the leg from Sh.e.l.l's Blunderbuss, which put him _hors du combat_. None of his men being sufficiently near at the moment to rescue him, Sh.e.l.l, quick as lightning, opened the door, and drew him within the walls a prisoner.

The misfortune of Sh.e.l.l and his garrison was, that their ammunition began to run low; but McDonald was very amply provided, and to save his own life, he surrendered his cartridges to the garrison to fire upon his comrades. Several of the enemy having been killed and others wounded, they now drew off for a respite. Sh.e.l.l and his troops, moreover, needed a little breathing time; and feeling a.s.sured that, so long as he had the commanding officer of the beseigers in his possession, the enemy would hardly attempt to burn the citadel, he ceased firing. He then went up stairs, and sang the hymn which was a favorite of Luther during the perils and afflictions of the Great Reformer in his controversies with the Pope. While thus engaged the enemy likewise ceased firing. But they soon after rallied again to the fight, and made a desperate effort to carry the fortress by a.s.sault. Rus.h.i.+ng up to the walls, five of them thrust the muzzles of their guns through the loopholes, but had no sooner done so, than Mrs. Sh.e.l.l, seizing an axe, by quick and well directed blows ruined every musket thus thrust through the walls, by bending the barrels.

A few more well-directed shots by Sh.e.l.l and his sons once more drove the a.s.sailants back. Sh.e.l.l thereupon ran up to the second story, just in the twilight, and calling out to his wife with a loud voice, informed her that Captain Small was approaching from Fort Dayton with succors. In yet louder notes he then exclaimed--'Captain Small march your company round upon this side of the house. Captain Getman, you had better wheel your men off to the left, and come up upon that side.' There were of course no troops approaching; but the directions of Sh.e.l.l were given with such precision, and such apparent earnestness and sincerity, that the stratagem succeeded, and the enemy immediately fled to the woods, taking away the twin-lads as prisoners. Setting the best provisions they had before their reluctant guest. Sh.e.l.l and his family lost no time in repairing to Fort Dayton, which they reached in safety--leaving McDonald in the quiet possession of the castle he had been striving to capture in vain. Some two or three of McDonald's Indians lingered about the premises to ascertain the fate of their leader; and finding that Sh.e.l.l and his family had evacuated the post, ventured in to visit him. Not being able to remove him, however, on taking themselves off, they charged their wounded leader to inform Sh.e.l.l, that if he would be kind to him, (McDonald,) they would take good care of his (Sh.e.l.l's) captive boys. McDonald was the next day removed to the fort by Captain Small, where his leg was amputated; but the blood could not be stanched, and he died within a few hours. The lads were carried away into Canada. The loss of the enemy on the ground was eleven killed and six wounded. The boys, who were rescued after the war, reported that they took twelve of their wounded away with them, nine of whom died before they arrived in Canada. McDonald wore a silver-mounted tomahawk, which was taken from him by Sh.e.l.l. It was marked by thirty scalp-notches, showing that few Indians could have been more industrious than himself in gathering that description of military trophies."[132]

The close of the Revolution found the First Battalion of the King's Regiment of New York stationed at Isle aux Noix and Carleton Island with their wives and children to the number of one thousand four hundred and sixty-two. The following is a list of the officers of both Battalions at the close of the War:

"RETURN OF THE OFFICERS OF THE LATE FIRST BATTALION, KING'S ROYAL REGIMENT OF NEW YORK."

-------|-------------------|--------|-------|------------------------------ | | |Length | FORMER SITUATIONS AND Rank | NAMES |Place of| of | REMARKS | |Nativity|Service| -------|-------------------|--------|-------|------------------------------ Lt |Sir John Johnson |America | 8 yrs.|Succeeded his father, the late Col | Bart | | | Sir Wm. Johnson, as a Com | | | | Maj. Gen. of the Northern Lt | | | | Dis. of the Prov. of New | | | | York; was in possession | | | | of nearly 200,000 acres of | | | | valuable land, lost in | | | consequence | | | | of the rebellion.

Maj |James Gray |Scotland|26 yrs.|Ensign in Lord London's | | | | Regt., 1745; Lieut, and | | | | Capt. in ye 42nd till after | | | | taking the Havannah, at | | | | which time he sold out.

| | | | Had some landed property, | | | | part of which is secured | | | | to his son, ye remnant | | | | lost in consequence | | | | of the rebellion.

Capt |Angus McDonell |Scotland|25 yrs.|Ensign in 60th Regt. July | | | | 8th, 1760; Lieut, in same | | | | regt., 27th Dec., 1770.

| | | | Sold out on account of bad | | | | state of health, 22nd May, | | | | 1775. Had no lands.

Capt |John Munro |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Had considerable landed | | | | property, lost in | | | | consequence of ye Rebellion, | | | | and served in last war in | | | | America.

Capt |Patrick Daly |Ireland | 9 yrs.|Lieut, in the 84th Regt. at | | | | the Siege of Quebec, | | | | 1775-76.

Capt |Richard Duncan |Scotland|13 yrs.|Five years Ensign in the | | | | 56th Regiment.

Capt |Sam'l. Anderson |America | 8 yrs.|Had landed property, and | | | | served in last war in | | | | America.

Capt |John McDonell |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Had landed property, 500 | | | | acres, purchased and began | | | | to improve in April | | | | 1774.

Capt |Alex McDonell |Scotland| 8 yrs.|200 acres of land in fee | | | | simple under Sir John | | | | Johnson. Bart., ye annual | | | | rent of 6 per 100 -------+-------------------+--------+-------+------------------------------

"RETURN OF THE OFFICERS OF THE LATE FIRST BATTALION, KING'S ROYAL REGIMENT OF NEW YORK."

-------|-------------------|--------+-------+------------------------------ | | |Length | FORMER SITUATIONS AND Rank | NAMES |Place of| of | REMARKS | |Nativity|Service| -------|-------------------|--------|-------|------------------------------ Capt |Arch. McDonell |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Merchant. No lands.

Capt |Allan McDonell |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Held 200 acres of land under Lt | | | | Sir John Johnson, at 6 | | | | per 100.

Lt |Mal. McMartin |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Held 100 acres of land under | | | | Sir John Johnson, at 6.

Lt |Peter Everett |America | 7 yrs.|Had some landed property.

Lt |John Prentiss |America | 9 yrs.|A volunteer at the Siege of | | | | Quebec, 1775-76.

Lt |Hugh McDonell |Scotland| 7 yrs.|Son of Capt. McDonell.

Lt |John F. Holland |America | 5 yrs.|Son of Major Holland, | | | | Surveyor-General, | | | | Province of Quebec.

Lt |William Coffin |America | 3 yrs.|Son of Mr. Coffin, merchant, | | | | late of Boston.

Lt |Jacob Farrand |America | 7 yrs.|Nephew to Major Gray.

Lt |William Claus |America | 7 yrs.|Son of Col. Claus, deputy | | | | agent Indian Affairs.

Lt |Hugh Munro |America | 6 yrs.|Son of Capt. John Munro.

Lt |Joseph Anderson |America | 6 yrs.|Son of Capt. Sam'l Anderson.

Lt |Thomas Smith |Ireland | 4 yrs.|Son of Dr. Smith.

Ens |John Connolly |Ireland | 2 yrs.|Private Gentleman.

Ens |Jacob Glen |America | 3 yrs.|Son of John Glen, Esq., of | | | | Schenectady. Had | | | | considerable landed | | | | property.

Ens |Miles McDonell |Scotland| 3 yrs.|Son of Capt. John McDonell.

Ens |Eben'r Anderson |America | 6 yrs.|Son of Capt. Sam'l. Anderson.

Ens |Duncan Cameron |Scotland|14 yrs.|In service last war preceding | | | | this one.

Ens |John Mann |America | 8 yrs.|Private Gentleman.

Ens |Francis McCarthy |Ireland |28 yrs.|Formerly Sergeant in the | | | | 34th Regiment.

Ens |John Valentine |America |24 yrs.|18 years in 55th and 62nd | | | | Regiments.

Ch'p |John Doty |America | 8 yrs.|Formerly minister of the | | | | Gospel at Schenectady.

Adjt |James Valentine |Ireland | 4 yrs.|Son of Ens John Valentine.

Q.M. |Isaac Mann |America | 8 yrs.|Merchant.

Surg. |Charles Austin |England |22 yrs.|14 years in hospital work.

M'te |James Stewart |Scotland|14 yrs.|Surgeon's mate in the 42nd | | | | Regt. the war before last.

"RETURN OF THE OFFICERS OF THE LATE SECOND BATTALION, KING'S ROYAL REGIMENT OF NEW YORK."

-------|-------------------|--------+-------+------------------------------ | | |Length | FORMER SITUATIONS AND Rank | NAMES |Place of| of | REMARKS | |Nativity|Service| -------|-------------------|--------|-------|------------------------------ Maj. |Robert Leake |England | 7 yrs.|Had some landed property, | | | | etc., lost in consequence | | | | of the rebellion.

Capt. |Thos. Gummesell |England | 8 yrs.|Formerly Merchant in New | | | | York.

Capt. |Jacob Maurer |Foreign'r|28 yrs|Served in ye army in the | | | | 60th Regt., from 1756 to | | | | 1763, afterwards in the | | | | Quarter-Master General's | | | | Dept.

Capt. | Wm. Morrison |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Was lieut., 19th June, 1776, | | | | in 1st Batt.; Capt., 15th | | | | Nov., 1781, in the 2nd | | | | Batt.

Capt. |James McDonell |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Held 200 acres of land in fee | | | | simple, under Sir John | | | | Johnson, at 6 per 100.

Capt. |Geo. Singleton |Ireland | 8 yrs.|Formerly merchant.

Capt. |Wm. Redf'd Crawford|America | 8 yrs.|Held lands under Sir John | | | | Johnson.

Capt. |---- Byrns |Ireland | 8 yrs.|Held lands under Sir John | | | | Johnson.

Capt. |---- Leps...o...b.. |England | 7 yrs.|Mids.h.i.+pman Royal Navy.

Capt. |---- McKenzie |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Held lands under Sir John | | | | Johnson.

Lt. |Patrick Langan |Ireland | 7 yrs.|Private Gentleman.

Lt. |Walter Sutherland |Scotland|10 yrs.|Soldier and non-commissioned | | | | officer in 26th Regt; | | | | ensign, 17th Oct., 1779, in | | | | 1st Batt., lieut., Nov., | | | | 1781, in 2nd Batt.

Lt. |William McKay |Scotland|15 yrs.|7 years volunteer and | | | | sergeant in 21st Regt.

Lt. |Neal Robertson |Scotland| 8 yrs.|Merchant.

Lt. |Henry Young |America | 8 yrs.|Farmer.