Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Macdonald debanyere aha na Queen's Own Rifles nke Canada na 13 October 1868 dị ka onye na-agba egbe. Ọ nọrọ oge okpomọkụ nke afọ 1866 na 14th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles nso Cornwall, na atụmanya nke
Ndị Fenian wakporo ha. Ọ gbagoro n'ọkwa nke Sergeant tupu e nye ya ọrụ dịka Ensign na 22 Eprel 1870. Macdonald sonyeere ndị njem nke Colonel Garnet Joseph Wolseley ma mee njem ahụ gaa n'ebe obibi Osimiri Uhie dị na Manitoba. E hiwere Òtù Njem Wolseley iji kwụsị Nnupụisi Osimiri Uhie nke Louis Riel. Mgbe o sonyere na mwakpo nke Upper Fort Garry (mgbe ọpụpụ Riel) ọ laghachiri Toronto, mana ọ ga-esonye n'ịkwụsị nnupụisi nke abụọ Riel. Ọ lara ezumike nká na QOR na 26 Eprel 1882 wee kwaga Winnipeg. N'oge nnupụisi nke North-West na 1885, Macdonald jere ozi dị ka onye lieutenant na 90th (Winnipeg) Battalion of Rifles, otu nke o nyere aka ịhazi. O mechara lụọ agha na Fish Creek nke dị na Saskatchewan.