Scottish American Military History

Because our Festival is dedicated to the U.S. military, we would be remiss if we did not recount our history of Scottish American's who have helped forge our country into the beautiful free nation that she is. This military dedication is especially fitting because of this year's honored clan--Clan Wallace. William Wallace fought for his peoples' freedom from oppression and slavery through the many valiant battles he led. A recapitalization of our Scottish American Military history follows.

Woodrow Wilson said of the Scots, "Every line of strength in American history is a line colored with Scottish blood." Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, was the grandson of a Scottish Presbyterian minister. He was re-elected in 1916 by an American public wishing to avoid becoming embroiled in the troubles of Europe. When Congress, despite his best effort towards maintaining peace, declared America to be at war, his proved to be a powerful leadership.

Let's take a brief look at other Scottish Americans who served this country in time of war and peace.

General Henry Knox was appointed the first American Secretary of War in 1785.   He was an American bookseller from Boston who became the chief artillery officer of the Continental Army and was born to Scots-Irish immigrants. His father was a ship's captain, until his death in 1759. Henry left school at the age of 12 and became a bookstore clerk to support his mother. He later opened his own bookshop, the London Book Store, in Boston. Largely self-educated as a slow reader, he began to concentrate on military subjects, particularly artillery.

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) is one of the most influential Scots in American history. His father was Scottish and he himself was born in the British colony of Nevis, located in the West Indies. He fought along side George Washington at Williamsburg. His command of troops when they stormed the British redoubts was noted as “a fine example of the noblest demonstration of bravery and inspiration for soldiers to follow.” One of the main authors of the Federalist essays--instrumental in the forming of the Constitution—Alexander Hamilton became the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton developed an impressive and effective financial plan that established the credibility and strength of the government of this new nation.

General Hugh Mercer (1725-1777) served as assistant surgeon in the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 Rebellion. He immigrated to America in 1747 and settled in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. He saw service in the French and Indian Wars of 1755 and in the War of Independence. He died in 1777 after being severely wounded in the Battle of Princeton in New Jersey. His funeral took place in Philadelphia. A monument has been erected to his memory in the Laurel Hill Cemetery there. There is also a statue of him in Fredericksburg, Virginia where he was an apothecary before the Revolution. Various towns and counties throughout the US are named in his honor. Dr James Craik (1730-1814) immigrated to America, where he became a friend of George Washington. As Physician General, he organized the medical service of the American army, and served as Washington's physician in his last illness.

10General Lachlan McIntosh (1727-1806) emigrated to Georgia c.1740. He was Second-in-Command of the American Army at Savannah during the War of Independence and was appointed Commander-In-Chief of the Western Dept by George Washington in 1778. McIntosh County in Georgia is named after his family. And of course the McIntosh name is synonymous with a well-known fruit, the MacIntosh Apple.

Peter Williamson, "Indian Peter" (1730-1799) was an adventurer and entrepreneur. As a boy, while visiting his aunt, he was kidnapped from the quay at Aberdeen and shipped to America. He served as an indentured as a slave for seven years in Philadelphia, then married and settled in Pennsylvania. In 1754 he was captured by Cherokee Indians, and because of his strong physique, was kept as a slave instead of being killed. He eventually escaped and enlisted in the army where he was then taken prisoner by the French and shipped to Plymouth as an exchange prisoner. When he finally returned to Scotland he went to Aberdeen where he tried to raise an action against the magistrates for his boyhood kidnapping. He was driven out of Aberdeen and eventually settled in Edinburgh where he raised his action in the Court of Session and was awarded £100. He established a Coffee Room in Parliament House in Old Parliament Close and in 1770 instituted the Penny Post in Edinburgh. In 1773 he produced the first Edinburgh Street Directory. He was the inspiration for the fictional film "A Man Called Horse".

The Civil War

General McPherson

GEN DOUGLAS MACARTHUR

The 79th New York Highlanders Volunteers