Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Vittoria, Toulouse (A. F. McIntosh, K.H. Lieut. 3rd Dgn. Gds.) good very fine £1800-2200

Provenance: Spink 1973, in pair with a K.H.

Alexander Fisher McIntosh, of Dunchattan, was born on 13 January 1795, son of Charles MacIntosh, F.R.S., chemist and inventor of the waterproof fabric of the raincoat named after him. Alexander MacIntosh entered the Army as a Cornet in the 14th Light Dragoons on 31 October 1811, before purchasing a Lieutenancy in the 3rd Dragoon Guards on 11 June 1812. He joined the regiment in the Peninsula in July 1812 just as Wellington’s Army, fresh from its great victory at Salamanaca, entered Madrid which had been under French occupation since 1808. With the reverse to Allied fortunes at the end of the year, however, McIntosh saw action at Alba-de-Tormes, the retreat to Ciudad Rodrigo and the action of San Munos. He further participated in the skirmish at the re-crossing of the Tormes, and the attack on the French rearguard under General Eugene Villate, the action at Hormaza before Burgos, and the battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813, when the 3rd Dragoon Guards made several charges late in the day to hasten the enemy’s retreat. He next took part in the investment of Pamplona but was in reserve with his regiment at the battle of the Pyrenees where the country was unsuitable for cavalry operations. He ‘further distinguished himself at Tarbes and in the cavalry action at St Gaudens’ and was present at the battle of Toulouse on 10 April 1814. At the conclusion of the war in June the 3rd Dragoon Guards marched north through France to Calais and sailed for England on 20 July.

McIntosh was promoted to Captain in the 60th Rifles on 6 June 1816, but was placed on Half-Pay the following month. He exchanged into the 79th Highlanders in 1823, and became a Major in the 93rd Highlanders at the end of that year. In July 1825 he exchanged into the 15th Foot, which he was destined to command with distinction and marked competence for nine years. In May 1827 the regiment embarked for Canada and the Christmas season that year found McIntosh at Fort Henry where ice, which cut regular communication by boat or ship, afforded a dozen deserters the means of crossing the St Lawrence to the United States. In May 1832, McIntosh was called out in aid of the civil power following political unrest in Montreal. On a day of ‘drenching rain’ and at the close of a poll in the west of the city, he confronted an angry mob protesting violently at the imprisonment of a certain Dr Tracey who had published a reactionary paper called The Validiction. The Riot Act having been read by the Magistrates, McIntosh was authorised to take such steps as might appear necessary. The Limerick Chronicle of 22 August subsequently reported:

‘On approach of the military the mob fled down St James’s Street , the military taking the same direction, headed by their Commanding Officer. About this time the stones began to fly again from the mob in a dangerous manner, and as that part of the town had been recently macadamized, the mob had a plentiful supply of stones ready at hand, which we lament to say, they used with dreadful dexterity. Colonel McIntosh and several of the other Officers were struck, the former very severely. Still, the utmost exertions - the most persuading entreaties were used by both Colonel McIntosh and the magistrates and those in authority, to no prevail on the misguided and infatuated mob to disperse - but to no effect. The stones and other missiles continued to be thrown, and several persons were knocked down before our eyes. At length the fatal word was given - Fire! and in another moment four persons were lying dead in the streets, and several wounded. One of them a young man not more than fifteen or sixteen years of age. The mob fled.’

The conduct of McIntosh and the Captain of the Picquet was duly investigated both by Grand Jury and the Military Authority, whereupon both were commended for their ‘judgement, steadiness and discipline.’

In June 1832 there was a deadly outbreak of Asiatic cholera, in which the regiment suffered severely. But for the actions of their Commanding Officer, the results would have been even worse.

In 1833 Colonel McIntosh proceeded to England on home leave and, having been invested with the Royal Guelphic Order, was placed on Half-Pay in June 1838. He was subsequently advanced to Major-General on 11 November 1851. He toured the Crimea to reconnoitre the probable operations of the Allied Expeditionary Force. He was successively appointed Colonel of the 90th Foot in March 1857, and of the 93rd Highlanders in June 1826. He was promoted to General in December 1864, and died in Scotland on 28 August 1868. There is a memorial tablet in his name in Glasgow Cathedral Cemetery.

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