NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 07897407 2 THE Glengarry McDonalds OF VIRGINIA BY MRS. FLORA McDONALD WILLIAMS WITH AN INTRODUCrORV SKETCH OF rilB EABiLY HISTORY OF THE , GLENGARRY CLAN Louinilk: Geo. G. Fttter Company 1911 r THE KEV/ YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY * 'C. I ,1 p y? j5__ -fj A8T0R, LENOX AND Ttt-DEN FC-ONDATIONS. 1913 L 1^ * t « • 1 » « « € »-,,»« picture of Inver-Qarry Castle, rHEon the opposite page, is the ancient fortress and strong-hold of the Qlengarry McDonalds. It was burned by Cumberland in 1 745, but the pictur- esque ruin is still in a good state of pre- servation. Here 'Prince Charlie slept the night before Culloden, and here he found refuge for a short time after that fateful battle. *Tr/ie mansion stood to the right of the Castle, and more in the Glen. The Glen behind the Castle, through which the river Qarry flows, and from which the clan derived its name, is full of picturesque scenery, as well as the lake were the river rises. In Memory of M^ Beloved Father JNGUS WILLIAM McDONALD CONTENTS Chapter 1 Early History of the Glengarry McDonalds Chapter 2 Angus McDonald (Emigrant) Chapter 3 Angus McDonald (2d) Chapter 4 Angus William McDonald His life at West Point and on Frontier Chapter 5 .Marries Miss Naylor and begins practice of law. Sent to England to locate boundary line. Chapter 6 Col. Angus W. McDonald captured by Hunter. Chapter 7 ,\c(^ount, of Col. McDonald's Capture as told by R. D. Beall in Balto. Sun. Letters from Jefferson Davis, urging that an account of his defense of his post be written for publication. Chapter 8 Mary Naylor McDonald Chapter 9 Angus W. McDonald, Jr., School Days Chapter 10 Political and War Experiences Chapter 11 After the Surrender Chapter 12 Anne Sanford McDonald Chapter IS lldward H. McDonald Chapter 14 His account of the Capture of Sir Percy Wyndhani Chapter 15 William Naylor McDonald, His Diary Chapter 16 His War and other Experiences Chapter 17 Marshall McDonald Chapter 18 United States Commissioners of Fish and Fisheries Chapter 19 Craig Woodrow McDonald Chapter 20 Susan Leacy McDonald Chapter 21 Flora McDonald Chapter 22 Harry Peake McDonald Chapter 23 Allan Lane McDonald Chapter 24 Kenneth McDonald Chapter 25 Ellen McDonald Chapter 26 Floy McDonald Chapter 27 Donald McDonald Chapter 28 Hunter McDonald Chapter 29 G lengarry To-day By Rev. Peerce Naylor McDonald APPENDICES INTRODUCTORY Realizing some years ago how little effort had been made to preserve the records of the McDonald fam- ily, since the first member of it came to this coun- try in 1746, and discovering—as I searched further into the matter—what an honorable and generous measure each generation had contributed to the history of the country, I determined to do what I could to rescue from obscurity, and put in some per- manent form, a record of those men who had been so busy doing things that no time had been found to write them up. Little of the data preserved in family and per- sonal papers had escaped the ravages of time, to say nothing of two wars; hence I found myself much restricted along those lines. But a persistent following up of every clue, led finally to the un- earthing of much that was hitherto unknown of their distinguished ancestor, by the descendants of the original Angus, who came here in 1746. Strange to say, I found in the Library of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, more valuable and reliable information of his early activities in the French and Indian wars, than anywhere else. And I am much indebted to Dr. Reuben G. Thwaite, Librarian, for his assistance and courtesy in fur- nishing much that was not procurable elsewhere. I 10 Tlie Glengarry McDonalds of Virginia also found in "American Archives" many references to his life and work. It has always been the commonly received belief among the majority of his descendents, that he would have entered the Revolutionary army, but for his untimely death soon after the beginning of hos- tilities; his hesitation at first, resulting from a dis- inclination to serve under a man who had had no military experience, but Washington's great anxiety to have him in the field, as shown by his letter to him from Morristown, N. J,, would, most likely, have resulted in his assignment to another com- mand, had he lived. McDonald's lack of a know- ledge of "wire-pulling," had, in all probability, a good deal to do with "the parson's" getting ahead of him. Angus McDonald had been trained, like his fore- bears to service in the field, and had been an officer in the battle of Culloden, though but eighteen years of age. Macaulay says of his ancestors: "As mili- tary men the McDonalds have ever supported their high renown ; the names of those distinguishing themselves, being truly far too numerous to men- tion, and had they been only as wise and prudent as they were brave and generous, there would never have been another clan equal to it." A record of a more recent date, preserved in "Coyner's Diary," who served as Captain under Ashby, in the war between the States, furnishes additional testimony to their soldierly qualities. Tt has this to say: "The McDonald that Ashby followed and the McDonalds who followed Ashby were alike brave The Glengarry McDonalds of Virginia H and gallant soldiers, and stand beside the noblest names on the pages of history." I have no doubt that some errors will be found but I have taken every pains to verify my state- ments, when given as facts. I have found my work most engrossing and interesting and close it with regret, for I shall miss the companionship of those whose activities I have recounted in the following pages. They have seemed very real and near to me. Flora McDonald Williams. EARLY HISTORY OF THE GLENGARRY McDONALDS CHAPTER I. That those who are entitled to the distinction should wish to place on record their claim to High- land ancestry, is not to be wondered at, when we remember how that small section of the globe, geo- graphically considered, has influenced so many de- partments of the world's history. The origin of the Highland clans dates back to a very early period, some of the Celtic authorities claiming a direct descent for them from the cele- brated Irish "King Conn, of a Hundred Battles,"' and to those who might be disinclined to acknow- ledge this remote Irish origin, claimed by Sir James McDonald, in 1615, he says: "Whatever Ireland may have been since those early days, to the ancient Western world, it was then the cradle of religion and the nursery of civilization." In this same connection, Macneil says: "While the Germans and Northmen were yet roving heathen tribes, the Gaels in Ireland and Scotland had their Seminaries of learning, where Literature was loved and cherished. And from the Colleges of Durrow and lona, missionaries, whose well-trained minds and zealous hearts fitted them for the undertaking, went forth to Christianize the people of England and the Teutonic tribes on the Continent." I ^ 14 The Glengarry McDonalcU of Yirginia Macaulay, in his "History of Eng-land," says: ''In perseverence, in self-command, in forethought, in all the qualities which conduce to success in life, the Scots have never been surpassed. In mental culti- vation Scotland had an indisputable superiority. Though that kingdom was then the poorest in Christendom, it already vied in every branch of learning with the most favored countries. Scotsmen, whose dwellings and whose food were as wretched as those of the Icelanders of our time, wrote Latin verse with the delicacy of Vida, and made dis- coveries in science which would have added renown to Galileo." Macaulay further says: "In 1696, the Estates of Scotland met at Edinburg '^ * * * and by far the most important event of this short session was the passing of the act for the settling of schools. By this memorable law it was, in Scotch phrase, statuted and ordained that every Parish in the realm should provide a commodious school house and should pay a moderate stipend to the schoolmaster. The effect could not be immediately felt, but before one generation had passed it began to be evident that the common people of Scotland were superior in in- telligence to the common people of any other coun- try in Europe. To whatever land the Scotchman might wander, to whatever calling he might betake himself, in America, or in India, in trade or in war, the advantage of his early training raised him above * * * * his competitors. And Scotland, in spite of the barrenness of her soil and the severity of her climate made such progress in agriculture, in com- merce, in letters, in science, in all that constitutes i The Glengarry McDonalds of Virginia 15 civilization, as the Old World had never seen " * '•' '' equalled Scotland in becoming a part of the British Monarchy, preserved ail her dignity. She was joined to her stronger neighbor on the most honorable terms; she gave a king instead of receiv- ing one." Although the downfall of the hapless house of Stewart, practically put an end to native rule, the individuality of the Scotsman was never lost, nor his independent spirit subdued. And notwithstand- ing they are credited with being the most practical of all people, they have furnished both poets and writers of fiction with some of the most engaging characters known in the realm of literature. To call those rugged hills "barren" which have supplied fuel for the divine fire, from the days of Ossian down to the Barries, McLarens and Stephensons of our own period, seems almost sacrilege, and only those who are woefully ignorant,—or worse still, unap- preciative—would dare do so.