George MacDonnell
Encyclopedia
George Richard John MacDonnell (15 August 1780 – 6 May 1870), commonly known as Red George, was an officer in the British Army
, who played a conspicuous part in the War of 1812
.
He was born at Saint John's, Newfoundland
, the son of the Commandant of Fort Townshend. Returned with his family to England, he was commissioned an Ensign
in the 55th Foot in 1796, becoming a Captain in the 8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot
in 1805. Three years later, the 8th were posted to Nova Scotia
, and subsequently to Quebec
.
In addition to his regimental duties, MacDonnell undertook several staff duties which made him familiar with many parts of Canada and its inhabitants. Shortly before the war with the United States broke out, the settlers of the Glengarry district, many of them discharged soldiers, petitioned the Governor General, Sir George Prevost
, to be re-embodied as a unit. Prevost appointed MacDonnell as Major in the unit, the Glengarry Light Infantry.
He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel on 8 February 1813, and appointed to command the garrison at Prescott
on the Saint Lawrence River
. Although Prevost cautioned him on 20 February to remain on the defensive, MacDonnell launched an attack two days later using detachments of reinforcements which were passing through Prescott to bolster his militia. The resulting Battle of Ogdensburg
largely cleared the Saint Lawrence for use as a British supply line for the rest of the war.
MacDonnell was slightly wounded in the attack. He recovered to lead the ad-hoc 1st Light Battalion, composed of flank companies from regular infantry units and Select Embodied Militia battalions. In October he was ordered to move to reinforce Lieutenant Colonel Charles de Salaberry
's troops south of Montreal
. He was effectively second-in-command to de Salaberry at the Battle of Chateauguay
.
Later on, MacDonnell used his experience as commander on the Prescott section of the Lawrence to recommend the use of the Rideau River
as an alternate supply line should the Americans attempt to block the Saint Lawrence. However, he received no financial reward for his work as the Colonial Office claimed there had been an earlier survey.
MacDonell returned to England in 1816, but saw no further active service. He became increasingly embittered and apparently unbalanced over what he saw as lack of recognition of his services, although he became a Companion of the Order of the Bath
in 1817.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, who played a conspicuous part in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
He was born at Saint John's, Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, the son of the Commandant of Fort Townshend. Returned with his family to England, he was commissioned an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 55th Foot in 1796, becoming a Captain in the 8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot
8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot
The 8th Regiment of Foot, also referred to diminutively as the 8th Foot and the King's, was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1685 and retitled the King's on 1 July 1881....
in 1805. Three years later, the 8th were posted to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, and subsequently to Quebec
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
.
In addition to his regimental duties, MacDonnell undertook several staff duties which made him familiar with many parts of Canada and its inhabitants. Shortly before the war with the United States broke out, the settlers of the Glengarry district, many of them discharged soldiers, petitioned the Governor General, Sir George Prevost
George Prevost
Sir George Prévost, 1st Baronet was a British soldier and colonial administrator. Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, the eldest son of Swiss French Augustine Prévost, he joined the British Army as a youth and became a captain in 1784. Prévost served in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary...
, to be re-embodied as a unit. Prevost appointed MacDonnell as Major in the unit, the Glengarry Light Infantry.
He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel on 8 February 1813, and appointed to command the garrison at Prescott
Prescott, Ontario
Prescott is a town of approximately 4,180 people on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada. The Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, 5 km east of Prescott in Johnstown, connects it with Ogdensburg, New York...
on the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
. Although Prevost cautioned him on 20 February to remain on the defensive, MacDonnell launched an attack two days later using detachments of reinforcements which were passing through Prescott to bolster his militia. The resulting Battle of Ogdensburg
Battle of Ogdensburg
The Battle of Ogdensburg was a battle of the War of 1812. The British gained a victory over the Americans and captured the village of Ogdensburg, New York...
largely cleared the Saint Lawrence for use as a British supply line for the rest of the war.
MacDonnell was slightly wounded in the attack. He recovered to lead the ad-hoc 1st Light Battalion, composed of flank companies from regular infantry units and Select Embodied Militia battalions. In October he was ordered to move to reinforce Lieutenant Colonel Charles de Salaberry
Charles de Salaberry
Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry was a French-Canadian of the seigneurial class who served as an officer of the British army in Lower Canada and won distinction for repelling the American advance on Montreal during the War of 1812.-Early years:Born at the manor house of...
's troops south of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. He was effectively second-in-command to de Salaberry at the Battle of Chateauguay
Battle of Chateauguay
The Battle of the Chateauguay was a battle of the War of 1812. On 26 October 1813, a force consisting of about 1,630 French Canadian regulars and militia and Mohawk warriors under Charles de Salaberry repulsed an American force of about 4,000 attempting to invade Canada.The Chateauguay was one of...
.
Later on, MacDonnell used his experience as commander on the Prescott section of the Lawrence to recommend the use of the Rideau River
Rideau River
thumb|Rapids on the Rideau River opposite [[Carleton University]].The Rideau River is a Southern Ontario river which flows north from Upper Rideau Lake and empties into the Ottawa River at Rideau Falls in Ottawa, Ontario. Its length is 146 km...
as an alternate supply line should the Americans attempt to block the Saint Lawrence. However, he received no financial reward for his work as the Colonial Office claimed there had been an earlier survey.
MacDonell returned to England in 1816, but saw no further active service. He became increasingly embittered and apparently unbalanced over what he saw as lack of recognition of his services, although he became a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1817.