Canadian Historic Sites: Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History No. 11

The Battle of Queenston Heights

by Carol Whitfield

John Macdonell

John Macdonell (Greenfield), the young man fatally wounded at Queenston Heights, was one of the numerous Macdonells of Glengarry, Upper Canada. John was born 19 April 1785 at Greenfield, Glengarry, Scotland. The fourth son of Alexander and Janet Macdonell, he emigrated with his family to Canada in 1792. Either the family was wealthy or his parents believed strongly in education, for the six Macdonell brothers were educated at John Strachan's Cornwall school. The fact that Roman Catholic children were being taught by a staunch Anglican illustrates the paucity of educational facilities in the new colony.¹

Apparently Macdonell decided to follow the advice of his cousin, Alexander Macdonell of Collachie, who recommended that he move to York and train for a law career. On 6 April 1803, he became a law student and was called to the bar of Upper Canada in the Easter term of 1808. Harkness's suggestion that Macdonell was "a very successful practitioner" makes it feasible that he was the John Macdonell that William Dummer Powell, the future chief justice of Upper Canada, recommended as clerk of several commissions of Oyer and Terminer in the Eastern District. If this was John Macdonell (Greenfield), there is no evidence he ever held the position.²

Macdonells law career did result in one very exciting episode. In April, 1811, John opposed Dr. William W. Baldwin in a law case. Baldwin became incensed with Macdonell and challenged him to a duel. The men and their seconds met at the appointed hour, paced off the distance and Baldwin fired — wide. Macdonell had not raised his pistol to aim. They then shook hands and parted, their honour satisfied.³ Generally, however, Macdonell's life seems to have been placid. He was probably the secretary of the Toronto Public Library who inserted on 26 December 1811 in The York Gazette an advertisement for their annual meeting.⁴

His situation altered drastically in the fall of 1811. The accounts of the attorney general, William Firth, were not approved by the auditors and Firth angrily decamped for England, leaving this essential position vacant. Lieutenant Governor Gore, acting on the advice of the Executive Council, appointed Macdonell acting attorney general. Gore, however, felt that no resident of the province was fully qualified for the position. Among those who probably recommended Macdonell for the position was Chief Justice Powell. Many writers claim that Macdonell was engaged to Mary Bowles Powell.⁵

Apparently Macdonell performed his duties very well since Brock recommended that he be confirmed in the position, and Gore expressed himself as pleased when the Prince Regent did confirm him as attorney general of Upper Canada on 14 April 1812.⁶

There is no evidence that Macdonell ever acted as public prosecutor. The available sources suggest that his duties were limited to issuing fiats for such things as calling and proroguing the legislature.

Early in the spring of 1812 an election was held, and Macdonell decided to run for the House of Assembly. Accordingly, he wrote the electors of Glengarry requesting their support, which he subsequently received. When he did take his seat at the first meeting in July, he failed to accomplish anything. Although Macdonell was strongly allied with the administration because of his position as attorney general and his new position as provincial aide-de-camp, he was apparently unsuccessful in persuading his colleagues to enact the administration's proposals.⁷

Meanwhile, Brock was becoming alarmed at the growing bellicose spirit of the American congress. Accordingly, he made preparations in case war was declared. A new Militia Act was presented to the winter session of the legislature, and in April, John Macdonell was appointed provincial aide de-camp. He was given the rank of lieutenant colonel in the militia,⁸ but there is no evidence to suggest that he was assigned to any particular regiment. Ostensibly the position of provincial aide-de-camp was identical to aide-de-camp. Certainly at Detroit, Macdonell and Glegg, the aide-de-camp, performed the same duties.

Between the period Macdonell was appointed provincial aide-de-camp and the march on Detroit, little is known of his activities. He did apply for leave of absence from the attorney general's office for a period of six weeks to attend to his "private affairs . . . in the Eastern district."⁹ Whether or not his request was granted is unknown.

After the summer session of the legislature which Macdonell attended, Brock and his staff departed quickly to force Hull's army back to Detroit. As soon as they arrived at Amherstburg and discovered that Hull had retreated to Detroit, Brock dispatched Glegg and Macdonell under a white flag to demand that Hull surrender.¹⁰ He refused. Two days later Brock crossed the river and advanced in force upon Fort Detroit. The frightened Hull immediately offered to surrender and Macdonell and Glegg were again dispatched to negotiate the terms of capitulation.

Following the completion of the surrender Brock wrote Prevost:

I cannot on this occasion avoid mentioning the essential assistance which I derived from John Mcdonell Esqr. His Majesty's Attorney General, who from the beginning of the war has honored me with his Services, as my Provincial Aide de Camp.¹¹

Macdonell was posthumously awarded a medal for his activities at Detroit.¹²

Once Detroit was secured, Brock hastened to the Niagara frontier and it is likely that Macdonell accompanied him. The period from the capture of Detroit to the Battle of Queenston Heights Macdonell probably spent alternating between York and Fort George trying to perform his duties as attorney general and provincial aide-de-camp.

Macdonell was definitely at Fort George when Van Rensselaer's army attacked Queenston. As soon as the members of the staff at Fort George were informed of the invasion, they followed Brock to the battle site. Macdonell probably arrived after Brock had charged the redan and been killed. Gathering the small British force around him, Macdonell led a second charge up the redan, gained the top, and was mortally wounded. It is certainly understandable that a young man, untrained in military tactics, would repeat the mistake of his superior.

Macdonell died the next day and was interred with Brock at Fort George following a military funeral.¹³