Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry, Ontario 1812

[Nathan]

Although I come from Cape Breton, an island rich with MacDonalds, when I moved to Ottawa, I was heartened to run into many kindred folk, notably several MacDonnells from Glengarry, Ontario.
Glengarry County (Siorrachd Gleanna Garadh) is located in eastern Ontario, Canada and is historically known for its settlement of Highland Scots that arrived as a result of the Highland Clearances.
The area was founded in 1784 by when a group of Scottish loyalists, mainly from Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry who arrived en masse to the area. In fact, in the late 18th Century, the majority of Clan MacDonnell of Glengarry took up residence in this county. Throughout the late 18th and the 19th century, other Highlanders settled into the area, drawn for the good farm land, and the chance to preserve their Highland Culture.
Although the custom was misused and arguably, forever sullied by a well known hate group in the Southern US, the “fiery cross” is a Scottish tradition that was an important aspect of Highland life under the clan (with a ‘C’) system.
The "fiery cross", also known as the Crann Tara was used as a call to arms, and a notification beacon that told all clan members to muster for battle. When war was to be waged, a shirt, which was soaked in either the blood of a wrongly slain clansman or the blood of an animal to communicate the same sentiment, was affixed to a wooden cross and set ablaze. The fiery cross (or charred wood) was then passed from one appointed messenger to another across the clan territory. The messengers, in turn, would run with the cross, bellowing the clan’s battle cry loudly.
Although the most widely known recent use of it was during the Jacobite uprising of 1745, the practice was actually used in Canada during the War of 1812 to muster the residents of Glengarry County, Ontario, most of whom were MacDonnells, against the American invaders.
Although these MacDonnell men were supposed to be simply a Territorial Army, they eventually crossed the border, engaged the US troops, and in the process won decisive victories, most notably at Ogdensburg.
Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell of Greenfield was born on 19 April 1785 near Aberchalder, Scotland and came to Canada when he was seven years old. He was a Barrister, a seated member of the legislature and attorney general. Most famously, however, he was aide-de-camp to the famous British Major General Sir Isaac Brock during the War of 1812.
Brock was struck and killed by an American musket ball at the Battle of Queenston Heights and Macdonell assumed command of the force. Despite being out numbered and minus a General, Macdonell did not retreat but charged and although his force did a great deal of damage, Macdonell was himself struck by a musket ball in the lower back and succumbed to his injuries the following day. His remains and those of Brock are at Queenston Heights and there is a plaque to Macdonell on the monument.
Many historians have written that were it not for the valour of these MacDonnells, British North America may not have been preserved and there would be no Canada today.
Today, the county is known around North America for The Glengarry Highland Games, which have been celebrated since 1948, and been held annually since in the first week of August. These Games are one of the largest of their kind outside of Scotland.
Please note that this post is historical, not political, and is not meant to cast aspersions upon our modern American friends be they Xmarks members or otherwise.
Here is a song composed about Lt. Col. Macdonell by the marvelously talented late Stan Rogers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5_zvuPw8xU