on their way to Canada. This
state of affairs could not be concealed from the Americans, who, none
too soon, came to view the whole neighborhood as a nest of treason.
Military force could not be employed against women and children (for
from time to time nearly all the men had left), but they could be
removed where they would do but little harm. General Schuyler discussed
the matter with General Herkimer and the Tryon County Committee, when it
was decided to remove of those who remained "to the number of four
hundred." A movement of this description could not be kept a secret,
especially when the troops were put in motion. In March, 1777, General
Schuyler had permitted both Alexander and John MacDonald to visit their
families. Taking the alarm, on the approach of the troops, in May, they
ran off to Canada, taking with them the residue of the Highlanders,
together with a few of the German neighbors. The journey was a very long
and tedious one, and very painful for the aged, the women, and the
children. They were used to hardships and bore their sufferings without
complaint. It was an exodus of a people, whose very existence was almost
forgotten, and on the very lands they cleared and cultivated there is
not a single tradition concerning them.

From papers still in existence, preserved in Series B, Vol. 158, p. 351,
of the Haldeman Papers, it would appear that some of the families,
previous to the exodus, had been secured, as noted in the two following
petitions, both written in either 1779 or 1780, date not given although
first is simply dated "27th July," and second endorsed "27th July":

"To His Excellency General Haldimand, General and Commander in Chief
of all His Majesty's Forces in Canada and the Frontiers thereof,

The memorial of John and Alexander Macdonell, Captains in the King's
Royal Regiment of New York, humbly sheweth,

That your Memorialist, John Macdonell's, family are at present
detained by the rebels in the County of Tryon, within the Province of
New York, destitute of every support but such as they may receive
from the few friends to Government in said quarters, in which
situation they have been since 1777.

And your Memorialist, Alexander Macdonell, on behalf of his brother,
Captain Allan Macdonell, of the Eighty-Fourth Regiment: that the
family of his said brother have been detained by the Rebels in and
about Albany since the year 1775, and that unless it was