THE DEATH OF AN INNOCENT. Pt. 1

My late father told the story of one of his ancient McDonald cousins; though this far along, I have long since forgotten his exact identity. However, having compiled a significant amount of family research, and since I feel reasonably sure of my findings, for the sake of this story I will assign him the name of the relative whom I believe to be the individual in question. Concerning the facts surrounding the story, however, nothing is left to doubt.

Benjamin McDonald was the eldest of Isham’s children, and was born in 1790 when his father was 43 years of age; (and who had only a decade earlier served in the Revolutionary War). Isham, a Scottish immigrant, had migrated to America sometime prior to that infamous war.
Benjamin, a resident of Lowndes County, Georgia, was the father of several children of whom David was the youngest; having been born in 1848. And if my readers know anything about American History, they are familiar with another war which began a little more than a decade after the birth of Benjamin’s son.
During the American Civil War it was common for military companies of the separate southern states, known as the Home Guard, to deploy soldiers in search of young men who had not answered the call of duty, or who in the midst of war had deserted the cause, and returned home.
As several troops of the Georgia Home Guard were passing through the Cat Creek area during the first half of the war, having ‘gotten wind’ of one ‘strangler’ in particular, they drew their tired horses up next to the McDonald homestead, dismounted, and somehow made their presence known by word or deed.
While I cannot speak to the whereabouts of the 70 year old Benjamin, history records that Jane, his wife, was present, as was David, their youngest son; and who just happened to be the object of the Home Guard’s quest.
By this time the South was experiencing a dearth of goods and manpower, and though David had only just reached the tender age of 15, the Confederate officer was determined to locate him, and immediately enlist him in the service of the great State of Georgia.

(to be continued) 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 48. Copyright pending

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