Editing Allan MacNab (section)

==Upper Canada Rebellion, 1837==

Before the Rebellion broke out, MacNab argued for increased American immigration as "they are a useful and enterprising people and if admitted would be of great advantage to the country" in 1837. Again before the Rebellion, MacNab was appointed as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Regiment of the Gore [[militia]] in May 1830, partly through the influence of the Chisholm family of Oakville.<ref name=dcb/>

MacNab opposed the [[Reform movement (Upper Canada)|reform movement in Upper Canada]] that was led by [[William Lyon Mackenzie]]. When Mackenzie led the [[Upper Canada Rebellion]] in 1837, MacNab was part of the force of British [[Regular army|regular troops]] and Upper Canada militia that moved against Mackenzie at [[confrontation at Montgomery's Tavern|Montgomery's Tavern]] in Toronto on 7 December, dispersing Mackenzie's rebels in less than an hour.

MacNab in turn for the victory at Montgomery's Tavern was awarded sole command of troops sent to [[London District, Upper Canada|London District]] by [[Francis Bond Head|Lieutenant Governor Sir Francis Bond Head]] and led a militia of his own against the rebels marching towards Toronto from [[London, Ontario|London]], led by [[Charles Duncombe (Upper Canada Rebellion)|Charles Duncombe]]. Duncombe's men also dispersed when they learned that MacNab was waiting for them, but the quality of MacNab's leadership was nonetheless regarded as "mixed". There were "extreme problems" in communication, procuring supplies, and controlling the volunteers, along with MacNab ignoring basic operational procedures. MacNab was given 250 troops but ultimately had some 1500 men assembled total, as MacNab argued "as early as December 14".<ref name=dcb/>

Mackenzie fled to the [[United States]] following his defeat at the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern on 7 December, and return to Canada on 13 December, occupying [[Navy Island|Navy island]], with increased American sympathy. MacNab was dispatched by Sir Bond Head on [[Christmas|Christmas Day]] (25 December 1837) to command the troops in Niagara with support from both naval forces and regular officers. MacNab saw himself alternating between "drilling or dining" for about 4 to 5 days as "supplies and billeting were inadequate and orders were vague" regarding command centers in Toronto and Montreal. Moreover, there were contradictory reports coming to both Head and MacNab regarding the amount of American supplies and the strength and morale of Mackenzie's new rebel force, and Head refused to sanction Navy island but offered no other alternatives. There were some 2000 raw and reckless volunteers amassed as troops by 29 December 29.<ref name=dcb/>

29 December proved to be important to MacNab as [[Republic of Canada|two attacks happened against Mackenzie's forces]] on 29 December under MacNab's command: a dawn attack and a dusk attack. The first attack proved how little discipline the officers had under MacNab, how little control MacNab had over them, and how weak the line of command was, and the second attack showed how reckless MacNab could be if his position as "commander" was stood up. The dawn (first) attack was not sanctioned or ordered by MacNab and was the result of a group of particularly [[Alcohol intoxication|bibulous]] officers and the event nearly ended in disaster. The second (dusk) attack however both ended in disaster and was the result of MacNab's order. MacNab and Captain Andrew Drew, a retired officer of the [[Royal Navy]], commanding a party of militia, acting on information and guidance from [[Alexander McLeod]], attacked Mackenzie's supply ship at Navy Island, an American ship called the Caroline. The sinking of the ''SS Caroline'' happened in American waters and saw an American citizen killed – the stakes became raised and the reaction was swift and immediate. The event became known as the [[Caroline affair]]. The affair saw MacNab [[Indictment|indicted]] for [[murder]] in [[Erie County, New York]], and subsequently replaced by Colonel Hughes, taking MacNab's post of Commander in Niagara. However, before leaving the frontier MacNab protested that Hughes would be the one to receive "all the credit" whilst MacNab and the militia had done "all the drudgery". Later, MacNab quitted the Niagara frontier on 14 January 1838. There were some 3500 troops amassed only four days before. On the evening of 14 January, Mackenzie and his force slipped off the island and Hughes (MacNab's replacement) was occupying Navy island as MacNab was lobbying in Toronto for his command position back.<ref name=dcb/>

During the Rebellions, MacNab appreciated "degrees of involvement" with rebel forces in that he jailed "only the rebel leaders" under his own initiative and saw the "common followers" of the rebels as people who were "deceived", even promising [[Pardon|clemency]] to some. MacNab also shared a common philosophy in his own troops, believing that officers earn the respect of their subordinates "not only through courage in war but also by tempering strict justice with kindness and approachability off the battlefield".<ref name=dcb/>

In 1838, Macnab was knighted for his zeal in suppressing the rebellion.

In 1860, Macnab was appointed an honorary colonel in the British army, and aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=13 July 1860 |issue=22403 |page=2614}}</ref>