By Nicholas McDonald-Lyons, great-great-great grandson of James McDonald

James McDonald was born in County Donegal, Ireland*, circa 1834 into a family of tenant farmers who migrated to Scotland in the mid 1840’s to escape the ‘Great Famine’ which had brought the scourge of starvation and penury to Ireland. Spending his formative years in Edinburgh, James worked in a variety of menial jobs to help support his widowed mother Mary and his younger siblings. On reaching adulthood James embarked on what he would refer to for the remainder of his life as his ‘great adventure.’

Buoyed by the prospect of a new life, James traveled to the post-Civil War United States where he worked in railroad construction and labored in a coal mine. Deciding that military service would offer him the best opportunity to see more of the country, James enlisted in the 8^th U.S. Cavalry and was part of Company B. Despite many of the newly enlisted men finding it difficult to adapt to the regimented life of military service, it appears that James thrived in his new surroundings.

B Company was deployed to outpost duty and was involved in several campaigns against Native Americans in the Arizona territory during the late 1860’s. During this period, James gained promotion to the rank of Corporal and was cited for ‘bravery in scouts and actions’ among thirty-eight contemporaries for field operations in the locale of the Black Mountains, Arizona, between the 13^th of August and 31^st of October 1868. After his recognition for gallantry McDonald continued his service with the U.S. Army for the next three years and gained further advancement in the non-commissioned ranks, becoming a Sergeant.

Among the duties that James was involved with was almost continuous field service working as an advanced scout or as part of an escort or guard detail in strategic locations beyond railroad communications. James McDonald was discharged from active service in October 1871 at Fort Stanton, New Mexico, and made his way home to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Over the ensuing decades James enjoyed a happy marriage to his bride Bridget and together they raised a healthy family. Though he returned to manual work, the military service which James had instigated became a family tradition, culminating with his great-grandson Charles McDonald who was a highly decorated Royal Marine in World War Two. James McDonald lived to be an octogenarian and passed away on July 21^st, 1915, at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, from the resulting injuries of a streetcar accident. He is interred at Mount Vernon Cemetery, Edinburgh.

*Note that when he enlisted in the U.S. Army, McDonald gave his birthplace as Scotland. Therefore, that is his official birthplace in U.S. military records.

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