e, Glenaladale, with his handful of men, boarded the
vessel, cut down those who had been left in charge, hoisted sail, and
brought her as a prize triumphantly into the harbor of Halifax. He there
got a reinforcement, marched back to his former post, and took the whole
crew, composed of Americans and French. As regards his military virtues
and abilities Major John Small, of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal
Highland Emigrants, to which he was attached, writing to the English
government, said of him,--

"The activity and unabating zeal of Captain John Macdonald of
Glenaladale in bringing an excellent company into the field is his
least recommendation, being acknowledged by all who know his rank in
his Majesty's service."

Slight information may be gained of his connection with the Royal
Highland Emigrant Regiment from the "Letter-Book" of Captain Alexander
McDonald, of the same regiment. In embodying that regiment he was among
the very earliest and readiest. Just why he should have exhibited so
much feeling against the Americans whose country he had never seen and
who had never harmed him in the least, does not appear. Captain
McDonald, writing from Halifax, September 1, 1775, to Colonel Allan
MacLean, says,--

"What Men that are on the Island of St. Johns (Prince Edward's) are
already Engaged with Glenaladall who is now here with me, also young
Mcdonald, with whom he came, he will Write to you by this opportunity
and from the Contents of his Letter I will Leave you to Judge what
sort of a Man he is."

By the same letter, "young Mcdonald" had been sent "to ye Island of St.
John," unquestionably for the purpose of raising the Highlanders. His
great zeal is revealed in a letter from Captain Alexander McDonald to
Major Small, dated at Halifax, November 15, 1775:

"Mr. McDonald of Glenaladale staid behind at Newfoundland and by the
Last accounts from him he and one Lt Fizgerald had Six and thirty
men. I dont doubt by this time his having as many more, he is
determined to make out his Number Cost what it will, and I hope you
will make out a Commission in his brother Donald's name, * * * poor
Glenaladall I am afraid is Lost as there is no account of him since a
small Schooner Arrived which brought an account of his having Six &
thirty men then and if he should Not be Lost He is unavoidably ruined
in his Means."

The last reference is in a letter to Colonel Allan MacLean,