In 1775 the American War of Independence broke out and this historic event posed a very serious problem to the Highland Colonists in Carolina. Were they to remain loyal to George III and Britain or throw in their lot with the great vigorous new Republic about to be born? So far as the MacLeods of St. Kilda and Bay as well as all the Campbells of Harris were concerned, their loyalty to the de facto Hanoverian kings in Britain was unquestioned, even during the stirring episode of the Forty Five.
It is all the more amazing therefore that Donald Campbell actually sheltered Prince Charles Edward Stuart in his
house at Scalpay, refused to give him up and spurned the offer of £30,000 which the Government placed on the Prince's head. This remarkable demonstration of humanity reflects the greatest credit on Donald Campbell. The revolution in America must have placed the Highlanders in a most perplexing position. They decided to remain true to George III and Britain-- for any other course would have meant an intolerable break from their beloved kinsfolk in the Hebrides. Alexander MacLeod and his brothers, as well as John, son of Donald Campbell, rose on behalf of Britain. He was promoted Captain and shared in the disastrous Battle of Moore's Creek in 1776, when two of his brothers and brother-in-law were killed and Captain Alexander himself was captured. His plantation was now ruthlessly plundered, his family were cruelly illtreated and in danger of losing their lives. They were left almost destitute, though no doubt Donald Campbell assisted them as much as he could.
We find that Donald Campbell atually bought land after his son John had been killed and it does see even then that he was determined to remain in the U.S.A. Possibly he hoped that the revolution would fail, but in the end, to safeguard his property and also that of his family, he was compelled to take the Oath of Loyalty to the new Republic. In consequence, the following notice appeared in the Minutes of the Moore County Court in May 1785, "Cumberland County, Otober Court 1782, ordered that Barbary (sic) MacLeod be allowed for her maintenance 200 acres of land, 16 head of cattle and the small household furniture that she now has in her possession". Meanwhile Alexander, after suffering dreadful hardships in prison, was released, joined Cornwallis and suffered more hardships from which he died at Charlestown in January 1782.
Alexander MacLeod married Barbara (who died in 1785), daughter of Donald Campbell of Scalpay, with issue.
