Glengarry Light Infantry
Encyclopedia
The Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles were a light infantry
unit, raised chiefly in the Glengarry District
of Upper Canada
shortly before the outbreak of the Anglo-American War of 1812
. The unit fought throughout the war, and was disbanded shortly afterwards.
rejected a scheme to raise a fencible unit from the Glengarry district in Upper Canada. Many of the inhabitants were emigrants from Glengarry
in Scotland, where they had served in a unit, the Glengarry Fencibles, which had been disbanded when the Treaty of Amiens
had been signed, ending the war between Britain and republican France.
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, 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 of America 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, and the establishment of officers was also increased. Prévost renamed the corps the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles and appointed his adjutant-general, Edward Baynes, as the regiment's colonel. Major Francis Battersby, also of the 8th (King's) Regiment, was promoted to be the Glengarry unit's lieutenant colonel. Captain George MacDonnell was promoted to be the unit's major.
during the first half of 1812. During the later months of the year, the unit's companies were deployed to various locations in Upper Canada, to act as a nucleus around which the local militia could form in a crisis. On 3 October, two companies were stationed at Prescott
on the Saint Lawrence River
and were involved in a failed attack on Ogdensburg
on the American side of the river. The attack was called off when American artillery ranged in on the boats carrying the attackers.
On 22 February 1813, George MacDonnell (who had been promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed to command the garrison at Prescott) mounted another, successful, attack across the frozen river. In the Battle of Ogdensburg
, a company of the Glengarry Light Infantry made a frontal attack, while the main body of Macdonell's force turned the American right flank. The Reverend Alexander Macdonell was conspicuous in urging the Glengarry soldiers and militia in their advance.
A company was present at the Battle of York
but was able to play little part, as they were misdirected by the commander of the Upper Canadian militia. Another company suffered severe losses at the Battle of Fort George
, trying to prevent American troops landing on the lake shore to outflank the fort. Yet another company was present at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor
.
During the later part of 1813, the entire regiment was concentrated around Fort George, and was engaged for several weeks in harassing the American outposts around the captured fort.
The regiment was built back up to strength during the following winter. A company took part in the Raid on Fort Oswego in the spring of 1814. During the following summer the full regiment, together with the light infantry companies of four regular line regiments, formed a covering force on the Niagara Peninsula, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Pearson
. Later, on 25 July, the regiment formed part of a light infantry brigade under Pearson and played a major part in the Battle of Lundy's Lane
. They harassed the left flank of the American army but suffered casualties when mistaken for Americans by other inexperienced British troops.
During the remainder of 1814, they performed outpost duty during the unsuccessful Siege of Fort Erie
, and a detachment was present at the Battle of Malcolm's Mills
, the last action of the war on the Niagara Peninsula.
The regiment was disbanded shortly after the war.
musket (possibly the New Land Service version, with rudimentary backsight) rather than the Baker rifle
. Also, unlike the 95th Rifles, the Glengarry Light Infantry were granted colours.
The regimental badge, worn on the front of the shako
, was a strung bugle on which the letters "G L I" were superimposed, in white metal. The crossbelt plate featured a thistle surrounded by the words "Glengarry Light Infantry."
Officers' uniforms consisted of a dark green dolman and pantaloons, with a crimson sash. They also wore a black shoulder belt, with a silver whistle and chain. Their shako badge was of the same design as that for other ranks, but was of silver. They may also have had a dark green pelisse
, with black cords and black fur trim.
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
unit, raised chiefly in the Glengarry District
Glengarry (electoral district)
Glengarry was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1917, and from 1925 to 1953. It was located in the province of Ontario...
of Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
shortly before the outbreak of the Anglo-American War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. The unit fought throughout the war, and was disbanded shortly afterwards.
Formation
It was proposed to form a unit of fencibles, under the same terms of enlistment as regular soldiers but obliged to serve in North America only, as early as 1807. The Secretary of State for War and the ColoniesSecretary of State for War and the Colonies
The Secretary of State for War and the Colonies was a British cabinet level position responsible for the army and the British colonies . The Department was created in 1801...
rejected a scheme to raise a fencible unit from the Glengarry district in Upper Canada. Many of the inhabitants were emigrants from Glengarry
Invergarry
Invergarry is a village in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Great Glen, near where the River Garry flows into Loch Oich.Near the centre of the village is the junction between the A82 road and the A87 road which branches off to the west towards Skye.The ruined Invergarry Castle is situated...
in Scotland, where they had served in a unit, the Glengarry Fencibles, which had been disbanded when the Treaty of Amiens
Treaty of Amiens
The Treaty of Amiens temporarily ended hostilities between the French Republic and the United Kingdom during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was signed in the city of Amiens on 25 March 1802 , by Joseph Bonaparte and the Marquess Cornwallis as a "Definitive Treaty of Peace"...
had been signed, ending the war between Britain and republican France.
In 1808, Governor General Sir James Craig
James Henry Craig
General Sir James Henry Craig KB was a British military officer and colonial administrator.-Early life and military service:...
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, Craig's replacement as Governor General, Sir George Prévost
George Prevost
Sir George Prévost, 1st Baronet was a British soldier and colonial administrator. Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, the eldest son of Swiss French Augustine Prévost, he joined the British Army as a youth and became a captain in 1784. Prévost served in the West Indies during the French Revolutionary...
, again decided to raise the unit on his own responsibility. He appointed Captain George MacDonnell
George MacDonnell
George Richard John MacDonnell , commonly known as Red George, was an officer in the British Army, who played a conspicuous part in the War of 1812....
of the 8th (King's Regiment
8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot
The 8th Regiment of Foot, also referred to diminutively as the 8th Foot and the King's, was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1685 and retitled the King's on 1 July 1881....
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
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. Most were of Scottish origins or extraction. French-speakers or recent immigrants from the United States of America were not allowed to join the unit. (Many of the French-speakers served instead in the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry
Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry
Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry was a short lived regiment in Canada during the early 19th century.The regiment was originally raised in Scotland but a rumour circulated that the regiment would be moved to the British colonies in the West Indies. The West Indies at the time were hot,...
.) 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
Alexander Macdonell (bishop)
Bishop Alexander Macdonell was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Kingston, Upper Canada.-Early years:...
, the unit grew during formation to a strength of 600, and the establishment of officers was also increased. Prévost renamed the corps the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles and appointed his adjutant-general, Edward Baynes, as the regiment's colonel. Major Francis Battersby, also of the 8th (King's) Regiment, was promoted to be the Glengarry unit's lieutenant colonel. Captain George MacDonnell was promoted to be the unit's major.
Service during the War of 1812
The unit first gathered for training at Trois-RivièresTrois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
during the first half of 1812. During the later months of the year, the unit's companies were deployed to various locations in Upper Canada, to act as a nucleus around which the local militia could form in a crisis. On 3 October, two companies were stationed at Prescott
Prescott, Ontario
Prescott is a town of approximately 4,180 people on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada. The Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, 5 km east of Prescott in Johnstown, connects it with Ogdensburg, New York...
on the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
and were involved in a failed attack on Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
on the American side of the river. The attack was called off when American artillery ranged in on the boats carrying the attackers.
On 22 February 1813, George MacDonnell (who had been promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed to command the garrison at Prescott) mounted another, successful, attack across the frozen river. In the Battle of Ogdensburg
Battle of Ogdensburg
The Battle of Ogdensburg was a battle of the War of 1812. The British gained a victory over the Americans and captured the village of Ogdensburg, New York...
, a company of the Glengarry Light Infantry made a frontal attack, while the main body of Macdonell's force turned the American right flank. The Reverend Alexander Macdonell was conspicuous in urging the Glengarry soldiers and militia in their advance.
A company was present at the Battle of York
Battle of York
The Battle of York was a battle of the War of 1812 fought on 27 April 1813, at York, Upper Canada . An American force supported by a naval flotilla landed on the lake shore to the west, defeated the defending British force and captured the town and dockyard...
but was able to play little part, as they were misdirected by the commander of the Upper Canadian militia. Another company suffered severe losses at the Battle of Fort George
Battle of Fort George
The Battle of Fort George was a battle fought during the War of 1812, in which the Americans defeated a British force and captured the Fort George in Upper Canada...
, trying to prevent American troops landing on the lake shore to outflank the fort. Yet another company was present at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor
Battle of Sackett's Harbor
The Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor or simply the Battle of Sacket's Harbor, took place on 29 May 1813, during the War of 1812. A British force was transported across Lake Ontario and attempted to capture the town, which was the principal dockyard and base for the American naval squadron on the lake...
.
During the later part of 1813, the entire regiment was concentrated around Fort George, and was engaged for several weeks in harassing the American outposts around the captured fort.
The regiment was built back up to strength during the following winter. A company took part in the Raid on Fort Oswego in the spring of 1814. During the following summer the full regiment, together with the light infantry companies of four regular line regiments, formed a covering force on the Niagara Peninsula, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Pearson
Thomas Pearson
Thomas Pearson was a British soldier, who took part in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars, and in the War of 1812 against the United States of America....
. Later, on 25 July, the regiment formed part of a light infantry brigade under Pearson and played a major part in the Battle of Lundy's Lane
Battle of Lundy's Lane
The Battle of Lundy's Lane was a battle of the Anglo-American War of 1812, which took place on 25 July 1814, in present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario...
. They harassed the left flank of the American army but suffered casualties when mistaken for Americans by other inexperienced British troops.
During the remainder of 1814, they performed outpost duty during the unsuccessful Siege of Fort Erie
Siege of Fort Erie
The Siege of Fort Erie was one of the last and most protracted engagements between British and American forces during the Niagara campaign of the American War of 1812...
, and a detachment was present at the Battle of Malcolm's Mills
Battle of Malcolm's Mills
The Battle of Malcolm's Mills was a brief skirmish during the War of 1812 in which a force of American cavalry overran and scattered a force of Canadian militia. The battle was fought on November 6, 1814, near the village of Oakland, in Brant County, Ontario...
, the last action of the war on the Niagara Peninsula.
The regiment was disbanded shortly after the war.
Uniform and equipment
When Craig first tried to form the unit he proposed that wear the dress of Scottish highland regiments, with a Glengarry tartan plaid. Prevost intended the unit to be used as skirmishing light infantry and it adopted a dark green uniform with black facings as worn by the 95th Rifles. However, they were armed with the smoothbore Brown BessBrown Bess
Brown Bess is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire and acquired symbolic importance at least as significant as its physical importance. It was in use for over a hundred...
musket (possibly the New Land Service version, with rudimentary backsight) rather than the Baker rifle
Baker rifle
The Baker rifle was a flintlock rifle used by the Rifle regiments of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was the first standard-issue, British-made rifle accepted by the British armed forces....
. Also, unlike the 95th Rifles, the Glengarry Light Infantry were granted colours.
The regimental badge, worn on the front of the shako
Shako
A shako is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a peak or visor and sometimes tapered at the top...
, was a strung bugle on which the letters "G L I" were superimposed, in white metal. The crossbelt plate featured a thistle surrounded by the words "Glengarry Light Infantry."
Officers' uniforms consisted of a dark green dolman and pantaloons, with a crimson sash. They also wore a black shoulder belt, with a silver whistle and chain. Their shako badge was of the same design as that for other ranks, but was of silver. They may also have had a dark green pelisse
Pelisse
A pelisse was originally a short fur lined or fur trimmed jacket that was usually worn hanging loose over the left shoulder of hussar light cavalry soldiers, ostensibly to prevent sword cuts. It was fastened there using a lanyard...
, with black cords and black fur trim.