Spring 1807 - A Proposal for Corps of Glengarries

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pud
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Spring 1807 - A Proposal for Corps of Glengarries

Post by pud » Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:18 pm

**Up the Glens: Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders 1783-1994. The Old Book Store, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, 1995. Lt. Col. Boss,CD. p. 14.

" At the beginning of the year 1807, Lt. Col. John Macdonell, Lieutenant of the County of Glengarry, placed before Col. Isaac Brock, Commandant of all the troops in Upper and Lower Canada, the proposal that a Corps of Highland Fencibles should be raised in the County of Glengarry."

"Col. Brock recommended the Highlanders' offer to the War Office for favourable consideration but no immediate steps were taken to implement the project."

**This proposal was originally due to the increasing efficiency and strength of the American militias who were speaking quite openly of their intent to invade Lower Canada. And there were basically two reasons why they were not allowed to raise a Corps at that time: 1) there had already been in other proposal for a Canadian Fencible Corps and 2) because the governor felt that Alex Macdonell (clergy) and his followers in the County of Glengarry did not have the ability to raise a Regiment even though their zeal was tremendous.

" Representations were once again made in December, 1811 to Sir George Prevost, the new Governor, and he nominated George Macdonell of the 8th (or Kings) Regiment, himself a Glengarrian, to investigate and report on the probable success of the undertaking. Authority to commence recruiting was given on the 6th February, 1812, and on the 13th February General Orders announced the levy of a Corps of Light Infantry Fencibles, under the general supervision of Col. Edward Baynes, Adjutant General, North America; Captain Macdonell to be employed in recruiting the Regiment with the local and temporary rank of Major, Ensign Leslie of the 8th Regiment to act as Paymaster, Serjeant Matheson of the Canadian Fencibles to do duty as Quartermaster and Lieutenant McPherson, 8th Regiment to be Recruiting officer for the unit in Montreal."

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