Formation of the Glengarry Light Infantry It was proposed to form a unit of fencibles in the Glengarry district in Upper Canada as early as 1807. Many of the inhabitants of the district were Catholic emigrants from Glengarry, Scotland, and many had served in the Glengarry Fencibles, which had been raised in 1794 and disbanded in 1802 shortly after the Treaty of Amiens had been signed, ending the war between Britain and Republican France. During that time they had performed garrison duties in the Channel Islands and fought in the Irish rebellion of 1798. The fencible units raised in Canada would serve under the same terms of enlistment as regular soldiers but would be obliged to serve in North America only. The Secretary of State for War and the Colonies rejected the scheme but in 1808, Governor General Sir James Craig issued a letter of service authorising the raising of the unit on his own authority. He was forced to withdraw it a month later as the unit's officers could not raise the promised number of men in time. In 1812 however, as war with the United States appeared to be inevitable, Craig's replacement as Governor General, Sir George Prévost, again decided to raise the unit on his own responsibility. He appointed Captain George MacDonnell of the 8th (King's) Regiment to raise the "Glengarry levy", which initially was to have a strength of 376 other ranks. Recruits came from districts as far away as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Most were of Scottish origins or extraction. French-speakers or recent immigrants from the United States were not allowed to join the unit. (Many of the French-speakers served instead in the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry.) Recruits were granted a bounty of four guineas on enlistment, and were promised 100 acres of land after the war. Partly through the efforts of the unit's chaplain, Alexander Macdonell, the unit grew during formation to a strength of 600. Prévost raised the corps' status to that of a regiment and renamed it the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles. He appointed his adjutant-general, Edward Baynes, as the regiment's Colonel. Major Francis Battersby, who like Captain George MacDonnell was from the 8th (King's) Regiment, was promoted to be the unit's lieutenant colonel. MacDonnell was promoted to be the unit's major.
| 
MacDonnell directing attack at Ogdensburg
|

Officer of the Glengarry Light Infantry | Service During the War of 1812 The regiment was scattered from Quebec to Fort George. Two companies of the Glengarrys at Prescott were involved in an abortive attack on Ogdensburg on 3 October 1812. Together with 600 militiamen, the Glengarrys set out from Prescott to cross the St. Lawrence River. The American artillery quickly ranged on the boats and turned back the force before it was halfway across the river.
On 22 February 1813, Lieutenant-Colonel "Red George" Macdonell of the Glengarrys repeated the attempt on Ogdensburg. With 500 men, including a company of the Glengarry Light Infantry and a number of Glengarry and Stormont militia, Macdonell marched out on the frozen river. British soldiers performing drill on the ice were a common sight, so the American sentries gave little heed to the moving column until it had reached halfway across the river with no sign of wheeling about.
The alarm was given and the Americans opened fire; but Macdonell's troops completed the river crossing, urged on by the church militant in the person of Father Alexander Macdonell. After a brief resistance the Americans fled, leaving Ogdensburg in British hands. Macdonell's men withdrew to Prescott; but the people of Ogdensburg, anxious to avoid further attacks and to continue a clandestine trade with the British, asked Washington not to station another garrison in the town. The authorities complied, and Ogdensburg saw no more American troops until the end of the war.
Throughout the summer campaign of 1813 the Glengarrys fought in Upper Canada with some distinction, but little success. A company was at York when it was attacked and captured by the Americans. in April. Another company formed part of the garrison of Fort George on 27 May, when the position was attacked in strength by the Americans. Attempts to meet the enemy assault columns at the landing points were frustrated by effective covering fire from American naval forces. The British evacuated the fort and withdrew to Burlington at the head of Lake Ontario.
Later in May, a company of the Glengarry Light Infantry was involved in the confused British attack on Sackets Harbor, and, in June, it was engaged at Stoney Creek. Although it was a dismal year for the war, the regiment earned a fine reputation for its fighting ability. The Indian allies admiringly called it the "Black Stump Brigade" for both its dark uniforms and its skill in forest warfare.
The 1814 campaign saw an improvement in the fortunes of the Glengarrys. In May, the Light Company accompanied a battalion of Royal Marines in an assault-landing operation to capture Fort Oswego. The entire battalion fought together for the first time in July, when it was sent to York to reinforce Major-General Riall's Right Division of the British Army. As part of Riall's force, the Glengarry Light Infantry fought at the Battle of Lundy's Lane on 25 July 1814. The regiment also saw action at Fort Erie on 17 September, and on 17 October at Cook's Mills; it was commended for its performance on both occasions.
The unit was granted permission to emblazon the battle honour Niagara on its colours. The fact that the regiment had colours indicates that, though dressed like a rifle regiment, it was light infantry both in name and custom.
In view of its outstanding service record, it was hoped that the Glengarry Light Infantry would be retained on the regular establishment of the British Army. But the authorities decreed otherwise, and the regiment was disbanded in Kingston on 18 May 1816. Nevertheless, the name of Glengarry and the traditions of the Glengarry Light Infantry are perpetuated by the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders of the Canadian Militia.
|
|
|
|