NY-Military-L Archives

From: "DonLinda" <>
Subject: [NY-MILITARY] June 27-1822: Col. John M'Kinstry
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2006 12:35:17 -0400

source: Republican Advocate - Batavia NY
June 27-1822

transcribed & submitted by L. Schmidt

~ From the 'Hudson Whig,' June 11.
Died.
In the town of Livingston, on Saturday morning last, Col. John
M'Kinstry, aged 77. The eventful life and unblemished character of this hero
of the revolution, are worthy of a less perishable memorial than the feeble
tribute we can offer in our columns to his services and wroth. At the first
call of his country, Col. M'Kinstry engaged in her services; and from the
memorable battle of Bunker's Hill, with which her sanguinary trials began,
down to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, with which they gloriously
ended, his zealous and sufficient support was given to the cause of freedom.
He had been repeatedly and severely wounded; and some of the enemy's balls
he has borne with him to the tomb in which his remains are deposited. As a
partizan officer he was particularly distinguished; and in many instances he
showed, that to a daring spirit of gallantry, (which was, perhaps, his most
peculiar characteristic) he added the skill and conduct so seldom attained,
and yet so indispensable to the formation of that character.
One incident, in the life of this veteran, is too remarkable to be
passed slightly over. At the battle of the Cedars, (thirty miles above
Montreal, on the St. Lawrence) Col. M'Kinstry, then captain in Col.
Patterson's regiment of continental troops, was twice wounded & taken
prisoner by the Indians. The intrepidity of Capt. M'Kinstry as a partizan
officer to which we have already alluded above, had rendered him alike the
object of their fears, and of their unforgiving resentment. The British
officers were too much in dread of their savage allies, on account of their
vast superiority of numbers, to risk an interposition of their authority to
prevent the horrid sacrifice they saw preparing: - Already had the victim
been bound to the tree, and surrounded by the faggots intended for his
immolation; - hope had fled - & in the agony of despair he had uttered that
mystic appeal which the brotherhood of masons never disregarded; when, as if
heaven had interposed for his preservation, the warrior Brent understood him
and saved him.
Brant had been educated in Europe; and had been initiated into the
mysteries of free-masonry. The advantages of education, and the native
strength of his mind, gave him an ascendancy over the uncultivated sons of
the forest, that few other chiefs possessed. Situated as he was, the
impending danger of a brother must have forcibly brought to his mind his
obligation to support him in the time of peril. His utmost endeavors were
accordingly used, and they were happily successful, in obtaining for him an
immediate respite and an eventual ransom.
One circumstance, connected with the extraordinary adventure of the late
Col. McKinstry with the Indians, as mentioned in our last, deserves to be
recorded, as honorable to all the parties concerned. On hearing of the death
of Brant, Col. McKinstry, then quite infirm, came several miles to attend
the next regular meeting of the Hudson Lodge; where he stated the
obligations he owed to that Indian chief. It was unanimously voted that the
members of the lodge should wear the customary badge of mourning for a
deceased brother, which was accordingly done.
*

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