28 April 1815
by Elizabeth Campbell“Friday The Cuchulin arrived from Fort Daer, with Eight families & some lumber…. The party that arrived to-day were quite astonished when they saw Capt. McDonald [Miles Macdonell] & Mr. Warren & several others of our men on the Bank of the River to-day because they were told above that they were all taken prisoners by the N. W. Co. & this was so strongly circulated among them that, even Mr. [Michael] McDonell gave up work above [at Fort Daer].” – Archibald McDonald Journal
The Cuchulin was designed and built by Donald Livingstone, a boat builder who came out with the 1812 group of settlers.
From today’s entry we can see the effects of the propaganda of the North West Company officials on even the leadership of the colony. At this point, Michael Macdonell is so disheartened by the news that the Governor has been made prisoner that he completely gives up the work he was assigned at Fort Daer. The N.W.Co. further uses this item of misinformation to lure him into surrendering to them, an act that significantly weakened the position of the loyal colonists and HBC employees holding out against the N.W.Co. and deserting colonists at the Forks.
(reference: page 18321 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)
Tags: Archibald McDonald, Archibald McDonald Journal, Cuchulin, Donald Livingstone, Fort Daer, Michael Macdonell, Miles Macdonell, North West Company propoganda
