GENEALOGY COLLECTION
.Jliiiee
3 1833 00855 4666
THE
HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
VOLUME SEVEN
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofscotlan07brow
By
JAMES BROWNE, LL. D.
1^ FIGHT VOLUMES
'OLUME vn
JratiriB A. Ntrrnllfi & Qln.
EDINBURGH LONDON BOSFON
1913
Edinburgh Castle
Photogravnri/rom the Engraving by Thos. Dick
alJeeO dgiudnib3
®Ij0 I|t0torg nf Btothnh
By
JAMES BROWNE, LL. D.
IN EIGHT VOLUMES
VOLUME VII
MxmtxB A. NirrnllH $c Cn.
EDINBURGH LONDON BOSTON
1913
Olullnliru Eiittioxt
f^F which One Thousand numbered and
registered copies have been printed.
Number .gs-l-- J— <^-
Copyright, igog
By Francis A. Niccolls & Co.
&t Anbrrma ^rfaa
X^*30.1.00
CONTENTS
PAGB
Scotland Since Culloden (Continued) 1
A Sheaf of Scottish Songs and Ballads .... 69
Badges of the Clans Ill
Native Dyes 113
War-cries 114
MILITARY SERVICE OF HIGHLAND REGIMENTS
CHAPTER I
THE BLACK WATCH
Military character — Embodying of the independent com-
panies, known by the name of the Black Watch — Formed
into a regular regiment (the 43d) in 1740 — List of officers
— March for England — Review — Desertion — Flanders
— Battle of Fontenoy, 1745 — Conduct of the regiment on
that occasion — Returns to England — Embarks for the
French coast — Failure of that expedition — The regiment
lands in Ireland — Reembarks for Flanders — Battle of
Lafeldt, 1747 — Return of the regiment to Ireland — Num-
ber changed from the 43d to the 42d — Exemplary conduct
of the regiment in Ireland — Embarks for New York, 1756
— Louisbourg, 1757 — Ticonderoga, 1758 — Seven new
companies raised, 1758 — Embark for the West Indies, 1759
— Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 1759 — Surrender of
Montreal, 1760 — Martinique, 1760 — Havannah, 1762 —
Bushy Run, 1763 — Fort Pitt, 1763 — Ireland, 1767 —
Return of the 42d to Scotland, 1775 119
CHAPTER II
THE FORTY - SECOND IN AMERICA
Departure of the 42d for America — Disembarks in Staten
island — Battle of Brooklyn, 1776 — Broadswords and
pistols laid aside — Skirmish near New York — White
Plains — Capture of Fort Washington and Fort Lee —
Defeat of the Hessians at Trenton — Skirmish at Trenton
— Defeat of Mawhood's detachment — Pisquatua — Chesa-
peak — Battle of Brandy Wine — German Town — Skir-
mish at Monmouth — Small expeditions — New Plymouth
CONTENTS
PAsa
— Portsmouth — Verplanks and Stony Point, 1779 —
Mutiny of a detachment at Leith — Charleston — Paulus
Hook — Desertion, 1783 — Hahfax — Cape Breton — Re-
turn of the regiment to England — Marches to Scotland —
Returns to England, and embarks for Flanders — Ostend —
— Menin — Nieuport — England — Coast of France — Os-
tend — Nimeguen — Gilderwalsen — Retreat to Deventer
— Return of the regiment to England 181
CHAPTER III
IN THE WEST INDIES AI^D EGYPT
Expedition to the West Indies, 1795 — Barbadoes, St. Lucia,
St. Vincent, 1796 — Trinidad, Porto Rico, 1797 — England,
Gibraltar, Minorca, 1798 — Expedition to Egypt, 1800
— Battle of the 13th March, 1801 — Battle of the 21st —
Death of Sir Ralph Abercromby — Capture of Rosetta —
Surrender of Grand Cairo and of Alexandria — England —
Misunderstanding between the 42d and the Highland
Society of London — The regiment reviewed by George III
— Return of the 42d to Scotland — Embarks at Leith for
Weeley in Essex — Second battalion — Gibraltar — Portu-
gal — Spain — Retreat to Corunna — Battle of Corunna —
— Death of Sir John Moore — England, 1809 — Wal-
cheren — Scotland, 1810 — England, 1811 . . . . 207
CHAPTER IV
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
Return of the 42d to England — Embarks a second time for
Portugal in 1812 — Consolidation of the first and second
battalions — Spain — Battle of Salamanca — Madrid —
Siege of Burgos — Retreat into Portugal — Campaign of
1813 — Battle of Vittoria — Siege of St. Sebastian — Its
suspension — Pyrenees — Succession of battles — Fall of
St. Sebastian — Allied army enters France — Crosses the
Nivelle — Passage of the Nive — Series of actions — Bay-
onne — Battles of Orthes and Ayre — Bordeaux — Tarbes
— Battle of Toulouse — Conclusion of the Peninsular war —
Peace of 1814 — War of 1815 — Quatre Bras — Waterloo —
Return of the 42d to Scotland — Reception in Edinburgh . 247
REGIMENTS
Loudon's Highlanders 281
Montgomery's Highlanders 286
Eraser's Highlanders, or 78th Regiment 293
Eraser's Highlanders, or 71st Regiment 312
Keith's and Campbell's Highlanders. 334
Eighty-Ninth Highland Regiment 341
Johnstone's Highlanders 344
vi
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAOB
Edinburgh Castle Frontispiece
Taktan of the Macrae 40
Tartan of the Robertson 90
Scene on the Tummel 140
Tartan of the Mackenzie 190
Armorial Bearings 240
Tartan of the Macdougal 290
Tartan of the Mackay 330
THE
HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Volume VII
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
Continued
More or less closely associated with Scott in the minds
of many readers were three of his contemporaries,
James Hogg, even better known as " the Ettrick Shep-
herd; " John Wilson, still remembered as " Christopher
North; " and Scott's son-in-law and biographer, John
Gibson Lockhart. The shepherd was the son of a peas-
ant farmer living near Tushielaw Castle and was bom in
1770 or 1772, for the date is variously given. Put out
to service while still very young he could barely read
and write at the age of seventeen, but while employed
as a shepherd in Yarrow for ten years he gained access
to books. Through the son of his employer he became
known to Scott, whom he and his peasant mother,
locally famous for her acquaintance with old Scottish
songs, supplied with considerable material for Scott's
" Border Minstrelsy." It was not till he was past
thirty that Hogg published anything of his own, though
somewhat known about the countryside as a poet for
several years previously. His " Mountain Bard "
appearing in 1807, brought him fame and a little money,
though he soon lost his capital in a sheep farming
1
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
venture. Such celebrated writers as Byron, Southey,
Wordsworth, De Quincey and Wilson were presently
numbered among his friends and correspondents, while
Scott's friendship and regard for him continued through-
out his life. Hogg was materially assisted by the Duke
of Buccleugh who gave him a farm at Altrieve at a
nominal rent, but the poet attempting sheep raising
once more again fell deeply in debt. Altrieve continued
to be his home, and from it he went up to London in
1832 for a three months' visit. A picturesque figure at
all times, he was especially such in London drawing-
rooms, and if his head were somewhat turned by the
lionizing he encountered it is not greatly to be wondered
at. He died at Altrieve in November, 1835, and was
buried in Ettrick kirkyard.
A quarter century later, beside Samt Mary's Loch, a
monument was raised to his memory. Seated on the
root of an oak, wrapped in his plaid, and with his dog
Hector at his feet, the shepherd grasps his staff in one
hand while the other holds a scroll bearing a quotation
from the " Queen's Wake," — " He taught the wander-
ing winds to sing." As a verse writer Hogg was ex-
ceedingly fluent, and while his longer poems are more or
less echoes of Scott, he reveals himself in his shorter
ones as among the best song writers of his era. His
prose compositions are not inconsiderable in number,
but his fame will live rather in his poetry, the " Queen's
Wake," his masterpiece, containing the delicately
conceived fairy poem of Kilmeny. In the famous,
but now partly unreadable, " Noctes Ambrosianse,"
so long a feature of Blackwood's Magazine, Hogg
figures as the " Ettrick Shepherd," a personage with
Hogg's " exterior features and a good many of his
foibles, but endowed with considerably more than
his genius." The Shepherd bulks largely in the liter-
2
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
ary annals of his time, but save for the poem be-
ginning
" Bonny Kilmeny gaed up the glen,"
he is virtually unread in ours.
John Wilson, born in 1785 at Paisley, where his
father was a wealthy manufacturer, was educated at
Glasgow and Oxford, and coming into a fortune at
twenty-six settled down at Elleray on Lake Windermere,
as a country gentleman. Ill luck presently caused the
loss of his fortune, and going up to Edinburgh he became
associated with the coterie of Blackwood contributors.
Shortly afterward he obtained the very remimerative
chair of moral philosophy at Edinburgh University
and at the same time revealed himself to be an exceed-
ingly militant journalist. The " Noctes Ambrosianse,"
a series of highly convivial conversations, already
alluded to, was largely his invention, and as " Chris-
topher North " he contributed to Blackwood innumerable
articles on things in general. His was the dominant
influence in Blackwood for many years, but he wrote
little in his last days and resigning his professorship
in 1852 he died two years later. His stories, once popular,
are now forgotten for the most part, and his poems,
" The Isle of Palms " (1812) and " The City of the
Plague," reveal no very salient qualities. As a critic
he was vigorous rather than sound and was largely
at the mercy of his opinions, but he infused into mis-
cellaneous journalism an exuberance in language that
was in sharp contrast to much of the writing of the
period. His collected works contain a confused amount
of work both good and bad, and are not likely to attract
any but professed students of literature at the present,
but if somewhat over-estimated in the heyday of his
influence he does not quite deserve all the neglect into
3
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
which he has since fallen. What the young Tennyson
thought of the burly critic of Edinburgh may be seea
in the lines:
" To Christopher North.
" You did once review my lays,
Crusty Christopher;
You did mingle blame and praise,
Rusty Christopher.
When I learned from whom it came,
I forgave you all the blame,
Musty Christopher;
I could not forgive the praise,
Fusty Christopher."
Closely associated with Wilson in the early years of
Blackwood's Magazine, and always his friend, was John
Gibson Lockhart, bom at Cambusnethan in 1794.
Like Wilson he studied both at Glasgow and Oxford,
afterwards going to Germany for further study. He
was called to the bar on his return and soon became
one of the chief members of the Blackwood staff. As
has been previously said he was married to Sophia
Scott in 1820, and while he and his wife were living at
Chiefs wood, Lockhart, beside contributing almost con-
stantly to Blackwood, wrote four novels: "Valerius,"
"Reginald Dalton," "Matthew Weld," and "Adam
Blair," the last named being the best of the four. None
of them, it must be admitted, are familiar to the present
generation of fiction readers.- A more important work of
the Chiefswood part of his career is his " Ancient
Spanish Ballads." In 1826 he was appointed editor of
the Quarterly, and removing to London became a
prominent figure in its literary circles. In after years
the death of his wife and other domestic troubles sad-
dened him, his own health failed, and after resigning
from the Quarterly in 1853 he died the same year.
4
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
Lockhart's writings have never been collected, nor is
it possible to recover the actual authorship of articles
sometimes attributed to him. He was a sharp, even
savage critic, and is strongly suspected of writing the
famous attack upon Keats in the Quarterly. This cannot
be proved, but that he wrote the bitter onslaught on
Tennyson's early poems seems reasonably certain. His
best work is the " Life of Scott " (1837) which for skilful
arrangement of niatter, discriminating judgments and
literary quality must rank among the foremost books
of its class. His " Life of Burns," published in 1825,
is a much inferior work. His fame may be said to rest
on the biography of his father-in-law and the " Spanish
Ballads," which are excellent of their kind and reveal a
thorough understanding of what good verse should be.
Contemporary with these two lights of Scottish litera-
ture may be named Sir James Mackintosh (1765-1832)
and James Mill (1773-1836) the father of the more
widely known John Stuart Mill. On the strength of his
" Dissertation on Ethics " in the EncyclopcBdia Britari-
nica, Mackintosh is classed as a philosopher, but he
was by no means an original thinker and appears to
best advantage in the many contributions he made to
the Edinburgh Review, his criticisms being almost
invariably sound and seldom swayed by personal
feeling. MiU, a farmer's son, was bom near Montrose,
and after giving up his first inclinations towards the
ministry became a journalist. He wrote a " History of
British India," for a long time esteemed as an authority
but much less valued at present. He was a violent
Radical in politics and it is not improbable that the
pronounced opinions he held may have affected his
estimates of men and movements. Other works by
him are " Analysis of the Human Mind," and " Political
Economy." His style was hard but clear like that of
5
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the philosopher Bentham, whose disciple he was. A
more widely famed Scottish philosopher than James Mill
was Sir William Hamilton (1788-1856). Educated at
Glasgow and Oxford, he was called to the Scottish bar,
but never practised and soon began to contribute
articles on philosophy to the Edinburgh Review. In
1836 he was appointed professor of logic and meta-
physics at Glasgow University, where his lectures
attracted great attention. " Dissertations " was the
only work of his prmted in his lifetime. His lectures,
edited by Professor Veitch, appeared in 1860. Hamilton
familiarized English students with German speculation
and did much to put British metaphysical discussion
upon a higher plane than it had previously occupied,
but his style has been pronounced one of the very
worst possible. A noted disciple of his was James Ferrier,
nephew of Miss Susan Ferrier the novelist, bom in 1808
and dying in 1864 at Samt Andrews, where he had been
for twenty years a professor of moral philosophy. He
was the son-in-law of John Wilson, whose works he
edited, and the author of " Institutes of Metaphysics "
(1854). Another Hamiltonian of distinction was Pro-
fessor Thomas Spencer Baynes (1823-1887) editor of
the Encyclopcedia Britannica, and an able Shakesperean
scholar, who carefully elaborated certain portions of
Hamilton's philosophy.
Nine years the senior of Scott, whom she survived
some nineteen years, Joanna Baillie may fairly be
included in the group of Scottish authors of the earlier
decades of the nineteenth century whose works we have
just been considering. Her name was once mentioned,
not without awe, as that of a great dramatist, which
she certainly was not. Talent she possessed, but
nothing at aU approaching genius. She was bom at
Both well in 1762 and came of good family; one of her
6
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
uncles was the really great surgeon, Hunter, and her
elder brother was a celebrated anatomist. To be near
the latter she and her sister Agnes removed to Hamp-
stead, where she lived until her death in 1851. In
1798 she published the earliest of a series of " Plays of
the Passions," the primary intention being to produce
two dramas, a tragedy and a comedy, each, as illus-
trative of the greater passions. Fear, Hatred, and the
like. " Basil," or " Count Basil," was the opening
play in the first book, and it was well received, even to
the extent of a third edition. " De Montfort," in the
same volume, was acted, with Kemble in the title role,
and with fair success. Two more volumes of the series
were issued in 1802 and 1812 and a collection of " Mis-
cellaneous Plays " in 1804. Miss Baillie's tragedies did
not possess good acting qualities and the blank verse
in which they are written is correct but heavy. Only
a somewhat stern sense of duty would carry the reader
through their perusal in these more exacting times.
Her comedies are not without genuine humour in places,
but her observation of manners is obviously at second
hand. During her long career she mingled with two
generations of literary folk and enjoyed the friendship
of many authors young and old, but long before her
death her literary star had set.
Contemporary with Joanna Baillie and like her, with
a career prolonged into the nineties, was Mrs. Mary
Fairfax Somerville, born in Jedburgh, Dec. 26, 1780.
At twenty-four she was married to her cousin. Captain
Grieg, a Scottish officer in the Russian navy, who died
two years later, and after an interval of six years she
married Dr. William Somerville, a cousin, also. During
her widowhood she had devoted much time to mathe-
matics and after her second marriage she continued her
studies, in 1825 adapting the " Mecanique Celeste " of
7
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Laplace and following it with such original investiga-
tions as " The Connection of the Physical Sciences " in
1831, "Physical Geography" in 1848, "Molecular
Science," and still other works. Her death occurred in
1872 and her " Personal Recollections and Correspond-
ence " appeared the year following. The most widely
famous woman in the United Kingdom who has ever
devoted herself to science, she possessed sound scientific
knowledge and literary ability of a high order.
The friend and contemporary of Scott, whom she
survived more than twenty years, was Miss Susan
Edmonstone Ferrier (1782-1854), whose three brilliant
fictions, " Marriage " (1818), " The Inheritance " (1824),
and " Destiny " (1831), are still popular with cultivated
readers. She excelled in the drawing of character and
her stories abound in human and clever satirical touches,
but the general effect is somewhat hard, and, unlike
Jane Austen, the talented Scotswoman never laughs
mth her characters, but always at them.
One important poet of the Scott period still awaits
mention, Thomas Campbell, born in Glasgow in July,
1777. His father had once been a wealthy Glasgow
merchant but had become impoverished by the war with
America and young Campbell was forced to make his
way in the world almost unassisted. His " Pleasures
of Hope," a long poem published in 1799, proved popular,
and after its issue he was always in comfortable cir-
cumstances a^ a literary man. His writings brought
him both fame and money, and after being at one time
Lord Rector of Glasgow University he died at Boulogne
in 1844. In later days he would probably not have
achieved equal notice, but though his longer poetic
efforts remain unread he wrote three war songs that
rose far above the average level of such compositions:
" Hohenlinden," " Ye Mariners of England," and the
8
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
" Battle of the Baltic." As it happened he was in Ger-
many at the end of the eighteenth century and either
witnessed or was in the close vicinity of the battle of
Hohenlinden, a circumstance which lends added interest
to the really powerful poem of that name. Among other
short poems by Campbell may be named the familiar
"Lord Ullin's Daughter," " Lochiel," "The Last
Man," and the beautiful " Soldier's Dream," beginning:
" Our bugles sang truce, for the night cloud had lowered
And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky."
His longer poems find few readers in the twentieth
century and survive only in name. The best of them,
next to " The* Pleasures of Hope," is " Gertrude of
Wyoming," which is not without some grace of move-
ment and genuine touches of sentiment, but " Theo-
dric " (1824) and " The Pilgrim of Glencoe " need not
detain the reader longer than to catch their names. The
best estimate that has been made of his merits as a
writer is that of the critic Saintsbury who remarks of
Campbell that he is " an instance of a kind of poet, not
by any means rare in literature, but also not very com-
mon, who appears to have a faculty distinct in class
but not great in volume, who can do certain things
better than almost anybody else, but cannot do them
often, and is not quite to be trusted to do them with
complete sureness of touch. . . . Even in Campbell's
greatest things are distinct blemishes . . . yet for all
this Campbell holds, as has been said, the place of best
singer of war in a race and language which are those of
the best singers and not the worst fighters in the history
of the world."
Pulpit oratory has been nowhere more highly prized
than in Scotland, and nowhere, too, has the preacher
9
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
had to face severer critics in the pews, for the average
Scottish mind finds keen delight in argumentative
theology, and up to very recent years, indeed, it enjoyed
heresy hunting extremely and kept a sharp look out for
lapses, however small, from the orthodoxy of the
period. The body of Scottish divinity is of formidable
extent, but on the whole, except in the later decades of
the last century, it cannot be said to have contributed
very largely to literature itself. Sermons furnish pro-
verbially dry reading a few years after their delivery
and Scottish sermons are no exception to the rule.
Two great Scottish preachers of the first four decades
of the last century stand forth prominently among their
fellows, by reason of their strong personalities and their
undeniably striking gifts as leaders of men, Thomas
Chalmers, already mentioned on a previous page, and
Edward Irving. The former was born at Anstruther
in Fifeshire, March 17, 1780, and being early set apart
by his parents for the ministry was sent at eleven to
the university of Saint Andrews. Ordained as a preacher
in the Kirk of Scotland in January, 1799, he attended
lectures at Edinburgh for two years more, becoming
minister of Kilmany in Fifeshire in May, 1803. While
attending to his ministerial duties he gave lectures on
mathematics and chemistry which proved very popular,
but later appears to have undergone a spiritual revolu-
tion which had a marked effect on his preaching, ren-
dering it both earnest and eloquent. In 1815 he was
admitted minister of the Tron Church in Glasgow and
rapidly became the most popular preacher north
of the Tweed. He preached a series of discourses on
the connection between astronomical discoveries and
Christian revelation which when printed in January,
1817, produced a greater sensation than any previous
collection of sermons in the English language had done, ,
10
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
nine editions and a sale of twenty thousand copies in
the year of its appearance testifying to the fact. When
he went to London for a short time crowds flocked to
hear him and the eight years of his Glasgow ministry
saw no abatement of his remarkable popularity. In
September, 1819, he left the Tron Church for Saint
John's in order to test the existing system of providing
for the poor, presently becoming convinced that it
increased rather than relieved the evils it was intended
to lessen, and he then, with the consent of the civic
authorities, took into his own hands the management
of the poor of Saint John's parish. The parish poor had
previously cost the city £1,400 a year, but under Chal-
mers's intelligent oversight it was reduced in four years
to £280.
In addition to his already heavy burdens he began,
on going to Saint John's, a series of quarterly publica-
tions on " The Christian and Civic Economy of Large
Towns," which illustrated his theories of Christian use-
fulness, but his strength beginning to fail he removed to
Saint Andrews, where for four years from 1823 he held
the chair of moral philosophy in the university. His
lectures during this period exerted a profound influence
over his hearers, and when he went to Edinburgh in
1828, to fill the chair of theology there, the same was
true in that position also. He came into close and
cordial relations with his pupils and as one writer
observes, " to that spirit with which he so largely
impregnated the young ministerial mind of Scotland,
may, to a large extent, be traced the disruption of the
Scottish Established Church." He devoted much time at
this period to literary tasks, publishing a third volume of
the " Civic Economy of Large Towns " in 1826, " The Use
and Abuse of Literary and Ecclesiastical Endowments "
the next year, " Political Economy " in 1832, and his
11
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
celebrated Bridge water treatise on " The Adaptation
of External Nature to the Moral and Intellectual Con-
stitution of Man " in 1833. Literary honours rewarded
his labours. He was made fellow of the Edinburgh
Royal Society, corresponding member of the Royal
Institute of France, and received a degree from Oxford,
distinctions hitherto unawarded to Scottish clergymen.
During the " thirties " of the last century much dis-
satisfaction with existing conditions troubled the Kirk of
Scotland and this increased in intensity as time went on.
The major principle at issue was the right of any parish
to reject the ministerial candidate nominated by the
lay patron. The belief was firmly held by many that
the parish should extend the call, and this theory was as
strongly opposed by the Court of Session. In November,
1842, many ministers signed a declaration that they would
resign their livings if relief measures were not granted,
but in the following January the Government negatived
the church claim of spiritual independence and the
immediate consequence was the withdrawal from the
Establishment on May 18, 1843, of the 470 clergymen
who shortly constituted themselves into the Free Church
of Scotland as has been described on a previous page.
Chalmers was the first Moderator of the new body, but
he presently withdrew from active service in the church,
and confined his attention to his principalship of the
Free Church College, his death occurring in May, 1847.
As a writer Chalmers was exceedingly prolific, but very
little of his work appeals strongly to the men of the
present. He was emphatically the man of his time, a
leader of men. The testimony to his pulpit popularity
is extensive, but whatever it was that held his vast
audiences entranced is hardly, if at all, discoverable now.
His intellectual range was wide and his sympathies
were many and keen, but his reputation, so far as its
13
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
literary quality is concerned, is wholly an affair of the
past.
A very different personage from Chalmers was his
assistant at Saint John's from 1819 to 1822, Edward
Irving, born at Annan, Dumfriesshire, Aug, 4, 1792.
Graduated at seventeen from Edinburgh University in
1809, he was for a time, while master of an academy at
Haddington, the tutor of Miss Jane Welsh, who after-
ward married Thomas Carlyle. Determined to marry
only a genius, she appears to have hesitated between
the young Scotsmen, but her choice of Carlyle was
probably best on the whole, although the makings of
an entirely satisfactory husband were not to be found
in either man. Irving exchanged the mastership at
Haddington for a similar post at Kirkcaldy in 1812,
and in 1815 was licensed to preach. He remained at
Kirkcaldy till 1818, and in the latter part of his stay
in the last-named place he formed a friendship with
Carlyle which continued through life. Going from
Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh he did not immediately secure
a ministerial charge, but in 1819 was appointed assistant
to Doctor Chalmers at Glasgow. His florid style of
preaching was not greatly admired by the congregation
of Saint John's, Chalmers himself comparing it to
" Italian music appreciated only by connoisseurs," but
as a parish missionary he maintained an extraordinary
influence over the poorer classes. Called to the Caledo-
nian Church, Hatton Garden, London, he was ordained
its minister in 1822.
This was the turning point in his brilliant but erratic
career and in a very short time the Caledonian Church,
in an unfashionable quarter of London, was thronged
by crowds of enthusiastic hearers, many of whom were
unable to gain an entrance on account of the great
numbers that besieged the doors. "As far as the mere
13
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
manner of Irving's eloquence was concerned, it was
improbable that any eulogy could err on the side of
warmth and enthusiasm, for perhaps there never was
anyone more highly gifted with what may be called the
personal qualifications of an orator." Naturally his
popularity somewhat declined as the curiosity of his
audiences was satisfied, and his new church in Regent
Square, opened in 1827, was not crowded, though still
well filled. He presently developed doctrinal eccen-
tricities and in May, 1833, was deposed from the ministry
of the Scottish Kirk for heresy, by the Annan presby-
tery. He died exhausted by his labours and the intensity
of his zeal in December, 1834. The Catholic Apostolic
Church, sometimes styled the Irvingite Church, stands
for the religious tenets associated with Irving in the last
years of his career. The principal church of this de-
nomination is in Gordon Square, London, and in the
United States the sect numbers ten churches and some
thirty ministers. The description of him by one writer
as " a man of letters who had lost his way and strayed
into theology," though striking is scarcely accurate,
and a more correct impression of him may be obtained
from Mrs. Oliphant's sympathetic biography of the
noted preacher, published in 1862. Among books
written by Irving are: "For the Oracles of God,"
" For Judgment to Come," " Babylon and Infidelity,"
and his characteristic " Exposition of the Book of Rev-
elation." Except among members of the sect virtually
founded by him they find few or no readers at present.
Decidedly the foremost figure among Scottish men of
letters in the middle quarters of the last century was
that of Thomas Carlyle, born at Ecclefechan, Dum-
friesshire, Dec. 4, 1795, the son of a stone-mason. He
came of worthy peasant stock and to the end of his
career retained in his speech the brusqueness of the
14
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
Scottish peasant, which in its ignoring of many of the
courtesies of human intercourse, is not far from down-
right rudeness, though a rudeness not necessarily in-
tended. The parish schools of Ecclefechan and Annan
gave him the rudiments of an education and at fifteen
he was sent to the University of Edinburgh. Destined
for the Church he soon manifested his aversion to the
ministry, and undertaking teaching he served as a
schoolmaster for a series of years in Annan, Haddington
and Kirkcaldy, and also as a private tutor, doing much
miscellaneous literary work meanwhile, his most im-
portant work of this period being a " Life of Schiller,"
published in 1825. He was at this time living in London,
and mingling in a more or less gloomy fashion in literary
circles there.
He married Miss Welsh of Haddington the next year,
and from 1828 to 1834 they lived at his wife's farm of
Craigenputtock in Nithsdale, a sojourn which bears
witness to Mrs. Carlyle's willingness to be sacrificed
at this epoch of her life at any rate. They kept no
servant at the farm, Mrs. Carlyle performing all a serv-
ant's duties, and Carlyle, apparently quite willing that
she should do so, contentedly living on her means, since
his sole revenue otherwise was derived from the sale of
an essay now and then. Still it should be admitted that
Carlyle accomplished much during his Craigenputtock
residence. The best of his essays were written there,
so was his strange but forcible philosophical romance,
" Sartor Resartus " (the Tailor Patched), which Fraser's
Magazine printed in 1833-34, and so also was the larger
portion of his " History of the French Revolution,"
published in 1837. The formative period in Carlyle's
career was ended when he left Craigenputtock at almost
the age of forty. His was a genius that developed
slowly but it had now attained its full growth.
15
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Carlyle's place among his fellows was definitely fixed
by his " French Revolution," and Mrs. Carlyle could have
had no doubts as to her husband's possession of genius
henceforward. " There were furious decriers of style,
temper, and so forth. But nine out of every ten men at
least whose opinion was worth taking knew that a new
star of the first magnitude had been added to English
literature, however much they might think its rays in
some respects baleful." A collection of " Miscellaneous
Essays " was issued about the same time, and these
represent his style at the best and before his man-
nerisms had become so glaring as they subsequently
showed themselves. " Chartism " followed in 1839,
" Heroes and Hero Worship," originally delivered some
years earlier, in the form of lectures in 1840, and
" Past and Present " in 1843. Next to the " French
Revolution " in importance was '' Oliver Cromwell's
Letters and Speeches, with Elucidations and a Con-
necting Narrative " (1845), and after a lapse of five
years came " Latter Day Pamphlets " (1850), the most
strongly satirical of any of his books. The next year
saw the publication of a notable " Life of John Sterling,"
an admirable biography of a fellow Scotsman, and
Carlyle then set at work on his greatest undertaking,
the " History of Frederic the Great," in the preparation
of which he spent fourteen years, the successive volumes
appearing from 1858 to 1865.
This was his latest work of great importance, the
celebrated letter entitled ** Shooting Niagara — and
After," issued in Macmillan's Magazine, being the
chief thing to be noted. In 1865 he went to Edinburgh
to become Lord Rector of the University and the
next year his wife died. He outlived her fifteen years,
dying in 1881 in the modest house in Chelsea which
had been the Carlyles' home for so many years, his
16
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
occupation for this period being mainly the preparation
of his reminiscences and memorials of Mrs. Carlyle.
They were issued after his death by the historian Froude,
arousing a storm of criticism directed at Froude's editor-
ship, the propriety of publishing them at all being much
questioned, and violent discussion of the character of
the Sage of Chelsea himself. Unsocial, moody and
"gey ill to live wi'," Carlyle unquestionably was, and
his affection for his wife found much more fulness of
expression after her death than before, but her intellect
was not so greatly inferior to his while her tongue was
quite as sharp as his own, and there is no doubt of her
willingness under provocation to give it exercise. That
they wore on each other can well be believed, but that
they were continuously unhappy in their long associa-
tion as husband and wife need not be taken entirely for
granted.
Carlyle is more accurately classed as a historian than
anything else; his greatest books are histories and his
biographies are strongest on the historical side. So
too are the essays, and " out of the historic relation of
nation or individual Carlyle would very rarely attempt
to place, and hardly ever succeeded in placing, any thing
or person. He could not in the least judge literature —
of which he was so great a practitioner always, and some-
times so great a judge — from the point of view of form:
he would have scorned to do so, and did scorn those who
did so." Carlyle's style is a stumbling block to readers
oftentimes and its source has been much disputed. It
contains much that is German in effect but much more
that is not, and its fantastic quality may, suggests Mr.
Saintsbury, be traced to eccentric writers of the seven-
teenth century with whose works he was famiMar,
" much to a Scottish fervour and quaintness blending
itself with and utilizing a wider range of reading than
17
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
had been usual with Scotsmen; most to the idiosjoicras'y
of the individual."
He had a weakness for the retention of capital letters;
he liked to coin words, to omit pronouns and introduce
singular and highly unusual forms. These things re-
pelled many readers but they did not materially interfere
with the author's meaning. They might be and very
often were, decidedly in the way, but other things in
connection with Carlyle were of greater significance.
" There is in Carlyle's fiercer and more serious passages,"
to quote once again from Saintsbury, " a fiery glow of
enthusiasm or indignation, in his lighter ones a quaint
felicity of unexpected humour, in his expositions a
vividness of presentment, in his arguments a sledge-
hammer force, all of which are not to be found anywhere
else, and none of which is to be found anywhere in quite
the same form . . . the weapon of Carlyle is like none
other — it is the very sword of Goliath."
Two Scottish historians born in that wonderful birth
year of genius, 1809, deserve brief mention here: John
Hill Burton, who died in 1881, and William Forbes
Skene, who survived till 1892. Burton was a scholar of
eminence who beside publishing " A History of Scot-
land " (1853-70), " The Reign of Queen Anne " (1877),
and a life of Hume, was the author of works on Scottish
law as well as several lesser books. His style has no
especial merits but his judgment was impartial and his
industry very great. Skene succeeded Burton as His-
toriographer Royal of Scotland and became the chief
authority on Celtic Scotland. His works include " The
Highlanders of Scotland, their Origin and History "
(1837), " Chronicles of the Picts and Scots," " The Four
Ancient Books of Wales " (1869), " Celtic Scotland "
(1876), his greatest book, and others of minor importance.
A Scottish classic of '^he last century, widely known
18
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
wherever English is read, is the tenderly pathetic short
story entitled " Rab and his Friends." Its author, Dr.
John Brown (1810-1882), was an Edinburgh physician
of literary tastes whose two volumes of essays called
" Horae Subsecivse," issued 1858-60, furnish very pleas-
ant reading, but it is the story of " Rab " that will
preserve his name.
On the fourth of February, 1832, appeared in Edin-
burgh the first number of Chambers's Journal, a weekly
miscellany which has since undergone various changes
in outward appearance but still runs its prosperous
course. It was edited by the brothers William and
Robert Chambers, who founded the publishing house
which yet bears their name. William Chambers, born
at Peebles in 1800, and alluded to on an earlier page in
connection with the restoration of Saint Giles Cathedral,
was the author among other works of '' Things as They
Are in America," " American Slavery and Colour,"
"France: Its History and Revolutions," and joint
author with his brother of Chambers's " Book of Days "
and " Cyclopaedia of English Literature." He died
in Edinburgh in 1883. Robert Chambers, born at
Peebles in 1802, was an even more prolific author than
his brother, but his chief work was the " Vestiges of
Creation," published anonymously in 1844. To some
extent it was an anticipation of the Darwinian theory
of evolution and it aroused much violent opposition. It
proved very stimulating to readers two generations ago
and may still be read with pleasure. The secret of its
authorship was not formally avowed until 1884. The
greatest service which the Chambers brothers rendered
to the world consisted in their wide dissemination of
wholesome as well as inexpensive literature, and the
house which they established well carries out the prin-
ciples of its founders.
19
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
A popular opponent of Robert Chambers's "Vestiges"
was the once famous geologist, Hugh Miller, born at
Cromarty in 1802. He was fairly well educated but
worked as a stone mason until the age of thirty. He had
already written more or less and presently became
editor of the Witness, a recently established newspaper
with Free Kirk principles. He was for twenty years an
active journalist, dying by his own hand in 1856 in a fit
of insanity caused by overwork. His earliest important
work was " The Old Red Sandstone " (1841), and among
its successors were " Footprints of the Creator " (1850),
" My Schools and Schoolmasters " (1854), " The History
of the Rocks " (1857) and '' The Cruise of the Betsey''
(1858). His style had literary quality and he did much
in an unpretentious way to popularize the science of his
time.
A once prominent figure in Edinburgh literary society,
but scarcely as well known to the present generation
as his merits might entitle him to be, was William
Edmonstoune Aytoun, who was born in Edinburgh in
June, 1813, and died near Elgin in August, 1865. He
joined the staff of Blackwood in 1844 and contributed
to its pages constantly for the rest of his life. A son-in-
law of John Wilson, he filled after Wilson's death the role
of the most important literary man in Scotland, in the
popular estimate, and from 1845 to 1864 was professor
of literature in the University of Edinburgh. His
earliest poems were printed when he was but seventeen,
and in 1844 he wrote with Sir Theodore Martin the noted
" Bon Gaultier Ballads," which reached a thirteenth
edition in 1877. The book is a collection of witty paro-
dies and other light verse, but his best work is un-
questionably his serious " Lays of the Scottish Cava-
liers," published in 1848 and passing into a twentieth
edition in 1883. Aytoun closely followed Scott in his
20
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
style and while he sometimes rises to genuinely poetic
heights the book on the whole is interesting rather than
inspired. The " Lays " are deeply infused with romantic
and patriotic sentiment and on their first appearance
were received with enthusiasm. Other books by Aytoun
are " Firmilian " (1854), a satire aimed at what was
then styled the Spasmodic School of verse, of which Alex-
ander Smith, a Scotsman, and Dobell and Bailey,
Englishmen, were supposed to be the chief exponents,
" Bothwell," a long and rather heavy poem, and " Nor-
man Sinclair," a novel (1861).
Alexander Smith, though much younger than Aytoun,
may be mentioned here fitly enough. A more genuine
poet than his satirist he had in him the makings of a
greater writer than he became, but it is quite possible
that the injudicious praise his early poems received
interfered somewhat with the working out of his literary
destiny. Born in Kilmarnock in 1829 or 1830, he pub-
lished " A Life Drama " before he was twenty-one. The
book sold enormously and the reaction which soon set
in was as unintelligent as the earlier praise. Gaining a
post in the Edinburgh University he continued to write
poetry undismayed by hostile criticism, " City Poems "
appearing in 1857 and " Edwin of Deira " in 1861. He
then turned his attention to prose, publishing the story
" Dreamthorpe " in 1863 and " A Summer in Skye "
in 1865. His career was soon over and he died of con-
sumption in 1867. His work had considerable popularity
in the United States as well as in his own country and
may still awaken a mild degree of interest. As a poet
his " Life Drama " represents him at his best. He
cannot be described as original, but his verse is invariably
melodious and at times even striking.
Contemporary with Smith, but surviving him some
six years, was James Hannay, born at Dumfries in 1827.
21
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
He served as midshipman for several years and presently
engaged in journalism in which he was brilliantly
successful. He was for some years editor of the Edin-
hurgh Courant and his contributions to Edinburgh
periodicals attracted much favourable attention. He
wrote several novels that were not without excellence
in some important respects, among them being " King
Dobbs" (1848), "Singleton Fontenoy" (1850), and
" Eustace Conyers " (1855). As an essa5rist, however,
he rendered his best service to literature by his " Essays
from the * Quarterly ' " (1861), exhibiting no ordinary
merit, while his " Course of English Literature " (1866)
and " Studies on Thackeray " (1869) are stimulating
and suggestive.
The essay has always enjoyed a high measure of
public favour in Scotland, and contemporary with
Hannay, but surviving him by a considerable number
of years, were two men much unlike each other in their
style, who cultivated the essay to even greater extent
than Hannay, and still more successfully in certain
respects, John Campbell Shairp and Andrew Kennedy
Hutchinson Boyd. Shairp was born at Houstoun in
West Lothian in 1819, and died at Ormsary, Argyllshire,
in 1885. Educated at Glasgow and Oxford, he was
professor of Latin at Saint Andrews, 1861-68, principal
of the United College, Saint Andrews, 1868-77, and was
appointed professor of poetry at Oxford in 1879 and
again in 1882. He was an acute, broad-minded critic
whose writings were full of intellectual stimulus. He
published " Kilmahoe and Other Poems " in 1864,
but his title to remembrance consists in his many and
varied criticisms of poets and poetry. " Studies in
Poetry and Philosophy," appearing in 1868, contained
able and discriminating discussions of Coleridge, Words-
worth and Keble, and was followed by " Culture and
23
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
Religion " (1870), which was exceedingly popular for a
work of its character, ** The Poetic Interpretation of
Nature " (1877), a " Life of Bums " (1879), in which
a clear distinction is drawn between the character and
work of the poet, " Aspects of Poetry " (1881), contain-
ing discussions of several poets from Burns to Newman,
and " Sketches in History and Poetry " (1887).
It was the fortune of the " Country Parson," as Boyd
styled himself, to acquire a wide popularity in the middle
portion of his career and lose the most of it long before
his death. He was bom at Auchinleck, Ayrshire, in
1825, and studied at the Middle Temple, London, but
giving up thoughts of the law, took a bachelor's degree
at Glasgow and was licensed to preach by the Ayr
presbytery in 1850. While minister at Kirkpatrick
Irongray, near Dumfries, from 1854 to 1859, he became
famous as the author of " Recreations of a Country
Parson," which he contributed to Fraser^s Magazine
under the signature, A. K. H, B. His essays were very
readable in their day, though the author was more or
less given to the utterance of amiable platitudes, and
some of them, like the one entitled " Concerning the
Advantage of Being a Cantankerous Fool," possessed
distinctive excellence. Their titles frequently began
with the word " Concerning," a circumstance which
took the fancy of their author's thousands of readers
both in Great Britain and in America. Boyd's principal
books include three series of the " Recreations " (1859-
61-78), "Graver Thoughts of a Country Parson"
(1862), " The Commonplace Philosopher in Town and
Country" (1862), "Leisure Hours in To\\ti " (1862),
" Autumn Holidays of a Country Parson " (1864),
" Critical Essays of a Country Parson " (1865), '' Present
Day Thoughts " (1871), " Our Little Life " (1882-84),
" Twenty-five Years of Saint .\ndrews " (1892), " Saint
23
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Andrews and Elsewhere " (1894). Boyd was one of the
best known Scottish clergymen of his day and after
holding city pastorates in Edinburgh and Saint Andrews
was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1890. He
died at Bournemouth in 1899.
A much more forcible critic and man of letters than
the garrulous Country Parson, and not without literary
kinship with Principal Shairp, was William Minto, born
at Alford in 1845. He was educated at Aberdeen, and
after editing the London Examiner, 1874-78, became
in 1880 professor of logic and English literature at
Aberdeen. Minto was the author of several novels of
merit, " The Crack of Doom " (1886), " The Meditation
of Ralph Hardelot" (1888), and "Was She Good or
Bad? " (1889), " A Manual of English Prose Literature "
(1872), " Characteristics of English Poets from Chaucer
to Shirley " (1874), " Daniel Defoe " (1879), " Logic "
(1893), " Plain Principles of Prose Composition " (1893),
and " Prose Literature under the (Georges " (1893).
Professor Minto, whose method was strongly original,
died in 1893, his latest volumes being issued posthu-
mously.
Classical scholarship has always had its eminent
Scottish exponents, and among Scottish classical
scholars should be named Professors Blackie, Munro,
and Sellar, to mention no others who shed lustre in
this distinctive kind upon their century. John Stuart
Blackie, the eldest of the three, was bom in Glasgow
in 1809, was professor of Greek at Edinburgh Uni-
versity 1852-1882, but continued to lecture and write
until his death. He was active in educational reform,
was a stout defender of Scottish nationality and founded
a Celtic chair at his own university. He published
important translations from the Greek and German, a
Life of Burns, several volumes of verse of no very
24
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
especial distinction, and " Essays on Subjects of Moral
and Social Interest " (1890). Hugh Munro, born at
Elgin in 1819, became professor of Latin at Trinity
College, Cambridge, in 1869. He died in 1882, leaving
behind him a celebrated translation of Lucretius, as
well as many important scattered papers on classical
themes. William Young Sellar, the third of the group,
was born at Golspie in 1825. He was educated at
Glasgow, and from 1863 to his death in 1890 was pro-
fessor of humanity at Edinburgh University. The
most distinctly literary of the three (for Blackie's
eccentricities somewhat impaired the literary quality
of his miscellaneous work). Professor Sellar, published
in 1863 his " Roman Poets of the Republic," the most
valuable book of its kind in English, and this was
succeeded by his work on Virgil (1877) and " Horace
and the Elegiac Poets " (1892), which while excellent
did not quite reach the high plane of the earlier work.
Occupying the chair of Saint Augustine during four
stormy years of the Middle Victorian era, 1868-1872,
was a distinguished Scotsman, one of many natives
of North Britain whom Scotland has given to the
service of England, Archibald Campbell Tait, bom in
Edinburgh in December, 1811; died in London, Decem-
ber, 1882. Educated at Glasgow and Oxford, he was
intended for the Presbyterian ministry, but took orders
in the Anglican Church in 1836. A Churchman by
conviction he remained a Scotsman in essentials all his
life, but it was his misfortune to succeed to the Primacy
at a period when acrimonious controversy was the
order of the day, and ecclesiastical and religious problems
called for the exercise of a firm hand in their settlement.
Though personally beloved, his rulings entirely satisfied
no party in the Church, and although in his earlier career
he had openly protested against the doctrines of the
25
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Tractarians he showed them a greater measure of
tolerance when archbishop than many Churchmen
thought fit. He succeeded Thomas Arnold as head
master of Rugby School and became dean of Carlisle
in 1859. He was appointed Bishop of London in 1856
and followed Longley as Archbishop of Canterbury
in 1868. Besides the usual episcopal charges and sermons
he published " The Dangers and Safeguards of Modern
Theology " (1864), " The Word of God and the Ground
of Faith " (1864), " The Present Condition of the Church
of England " (1872), and contributed more or less
frequently to the reviews.
Of greatly superior service to his day and generation
than Archbishop Tait, though filling a far less important
office, was his fellow Scotsman, John Tulloch, Principal
of Saint Mary's College, Saint Andrews, who was born
in Perthshire in 1823 and died at Torquay, Devonshire,
in 1886. He was educated at Saint Andrews, and in
1845 was ordained at Dundee a minister in the Kirk
of Scotland. Ten years later he was made Principal
of Saint Mary's College, in 1859 was appointed one of
Her Majesty's chaplains for Scotland, and became
dean of the Chapel Royal in London in 1882, as well as
dean of the Thistle. He was widely known as a broad-
minded theologian, but although the founder of the
Scottish Liberal Church party, he defended orthodoxy
and was strongly opposed to disestablishment. He
visited the United States on a lecturing tour in 1872,
was appointed Moderator of the General Assembly
in 1878, and edited Eraser's Magazine in 1879. His
principal works, which cover a wide range of thought,
include "Theism" (1855), "Leaders of the Reforma-
tion " (1859), " English Puritanism and Its Leaders "
(1861), "Beginning Life" (1862), "The Christ of the
Gospels and the Christ of Modern Criticism," " Rational
26
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
Theology and Christian Philosophy in England in the
Seventeenth Century " (1872), " The Christian Doctrine
of Sin " (1876), " Modern Theories in Philosophy and
Religion " (1884), " Movements of Religious Thought in
Britain During the Nineteenth Century" (1885). A
well written and appreciative biography of Principal
Tulloch, by Mrs. Oliphant, was published in 1888 and
speedily reached a third edition.
Two Scotsmen who achieved distinction of a purely
literary character and who take rank as eminent critics
were David Masson and John Nichol. The first of these
was born at Aberdeen in 1822, and while intending to
enter the Scottish ministry studied theology under
Chalmers at Edinburgh University. Giving up his first
intention he returned to Aberdeen to undertake the
editorship of The Banner , a Free Church weekly, but in
two years was back in Edinburgh, where he prepared
several works for the " Educational Course," published
by the Chambers Brothers, and wrote much for Fraser's
Magazine and the Dublin University Magazine. The
year 1847 found him in London where he was for a time
secretary of the " Friends of Italy," a society which
materially aided the cause of Italian freedom, and in
1852 he succeeded the poet Arthur Hugh Clough as pro-
fessor of English Literature in University College,
London. From 1858 to 1865 he was editor of Mac-
millan^s Magazine, and from the year last named till
1895 he held the chair of English literature at Edinburgh.
In 1879 he was made editor of the Register of the
Scottish Privy Council and in 1893 Historiographer
Royal for Scotland. He is the highest authority in
whatever relates to the poet Milton, his great " Life of
Milton " in six volumes appearing from 1858 to 1880.
Masson also edited several editions of Milton's poems and
an edition of De Quincey's works in fourteen volumes
27
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
(1889-91). His other literary labours comprise " Essays,
Biographical and Critical " (1856, enlarged 1874),
" Drummond of Hawthornden " (1873), " Recent British
Philosophy" (1865), "British Novelists and Their
Styles " (1859), " Edinburgh Sketches and Memories "
(1892). In careful, scholarly editing Masson has, few
superiors. He died in Edinburgh, October, 1907.
Professor John Nichol was the son of the famous
astronomer, John Pringle Nichol, and was born in
Montrose in 1833. He was educated at Glasgow and
Balliol College, Oxford, and held the chair of English
Literature at Glasgow from 1862 to 1889. He often
visited the United States, the first time in 1865, when he
became acquainted with Longfellow and Emerson,
and during the American Civil War was a prominent
British champion of the cause of the North. He removed
to London in 1889 and died there in 1894. He was
popular and widely influential as a lecturer, was a dis-
criminating critic and was master of a spirited, original
style. The best example of his manner may be seen
in his article on American literature written in 1882
for the ninth edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
In addition to numerous contributions to reviews Pro-
fessor Nichol was the author, among other volumes, of
" Fragments of Criticisms " (1860), " Hannibal," a
drama (1873) " Byron " in the " English Men of Letters
Series" (1880), "American Literature: an Historical
Review" (1882), "Robert Burns" (1882), "Lord
Bacon's Life and Philosophy " (1887-89) and " Carlyle "
(1892).
Several Scotsmen of the last century have shed lustre
upon the name of Laing, but the various doings of the
majority of them can be but barely touched upon here.
They were: Alexander Gordon Laing (1793-1820), a
native of Edinburgh who won renown as an African ex-
28
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
plorer, was the first European to enter Timbuctoo and
was murdered a month later by hostile Arabs. David
Laing (1793-1878) a noted antiquary, born in Edin-
burgh, was the friend of Scott and the editor of the
works of John Knox, the poet Dunbar, and many other
works of the same general character. His researches in
the field of ancient Scottish verse were valuable and
extended. Malcolm Laing (1762-1818) was a native of
Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands who gave himself up to
historical investigation. His " History of Scotland from
the Union of the Crowns to the Union of the Kingdoms "
furnishes pretty dry reading for the student of to-day,
but it has the highly important merit of accuracy, a
virtue sometimes lacking in works of greater brilliance.
Malcolm Laing's nephew, Samuel Laing, deserves
rather more extended mention, and is probably the
most distinguished member of the Laing family. His
father, also named Samuel, wrote attractive volumes
of travels in Scandinavia in the middle of the last century,
and the son was bom in Edinburgh in 1810. He studied
at Saint John's College, Cambridge, was called to the
bar in 1837 and entered upon a political career by
becoming private secretary to Labouchere, president of
the Board of Trade. From 1842 to 1847 he was secretary
of the railway department and was soon looked upon
as an authority on railway management. Through his
suggestion the " parliamentary " rate of a penny a mile
was established. He was managing director of the
London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway 1848-55,
sat in Parliament as a Liberal member for Wick 1852-57,
and regained his seat in 1859. In the year just named he
was made financial secretary to the Treasury and in 1860
became Finance Minister in India. Returning from the
East in 1865 he again sat for Wick, and though defeated
in 1868 was returned in 1873 for Orkney and Shetland,
29
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
and held his seat until 1885. Again made chairman of
the Brighton line in 1867, he continued in this position
till 1895, his talents as a railway administrator being
widely recognized. Taking up authorship in later life
he published " Modern Science and Modern Thought "
in 1885, "Problems of the Future" in 1889, and
" Human Origins " in 1892; books which have been
much read by reason of their clarity of style as well as
for their able treatment of modern scientific questions.
Laing's many years of experience in public life and his
responsible official positions were also factors of moment
in gaining him a hearing. His long and useful life came
to an end at Sydenham in August, 1897.
A pathetic interest attaches to the life story of David
Gray, who died of consumption at the very opening of
what seemed a promising poetic career. Born in Merk-
land, Dumbartonshire, in 1838, the year after the
accession of Queen Victoria to the throne, he died in
1861 ere the early Victorian era was hardly closed. His
education pointed to the ministry, but becoming a
contributor to the Glasgow Citizen he decided on pursuing
a literary^life. He accordingly went to London in 1860,
where he was materially aided by Monckton Milnes,
subsequently Lord Houghton, but was unsuccessful in
finding a publisher for his poems and suffered extreme
poverty. His health soon broke down and he returned
to Scotland to die. His principal poem, " The Luggie,"
was printed, with a preface by Milnes, in 1862. Shortly
before his death he wrote a series of sonnets entitled
*' In the Gray Shadows." An enlarged edition of Gray's
poems was published in 1874. In 1868 his friend, Robert
Buchanan, published a biographical sketch in a volume
called " David Gray and Other Poems."
During the first forty years of the last century, while
the number of English women who were writing fiction
30
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
by no means amounted to the great host that are now
thus engaged, it was still large, in which respect England
differed materially from Scotland. Very few Scots-
women, comparatively speaking, attempted fiction.
Mrs. Mary Brunton of the Orkney Islands (1778-1818),
a close contemporary of Jane Austen, published in 1811
the once popular " Self-Control," which was followed in
1814 by " Discipline " (didactic tales which hit the
prevailing taste), and Susan Ferrier, already mentioned,
cultivated this field in North Britain, but they had few
rivals among their countrywomen.
One novel-writing Scotswoman there was, however,
who followed Miss Ferrier, speaking chronologically, for
the works of the two women were not at all alike : I\Iiss
Catherine Sinclair, born in Edinburgh in 1800, and who
died there sixty-four years later. In her lifetime her
stories enjoyed a wide popularity in Great Britain and
had a large circulation in the United States, and even
continued to be read for some years afterwards. Among
her many works, not all of which are fiction, are " Modern
Accomplishments " (1836), a study of the education of
Girls, "Modern Society" (1837), "Holiday House"
(1839), "Shetland and the Shetlanders " (1840),
" Jane Bouverie " (1846), " Modern Flirtations " (1855),
" Beatrice," one of her best, " Torchester Abbey "
(1857), "Anecdotes of the Caesars" (1858), "Sketches
and Short Stories of Scotland " (1859).
When the great amount and variety of her work are
taken into consideration with her high level of attain-
ment, Mrs. Margaret Wilson Oliphant must be pro-
nounced one of the most remarkable writers of her
time. Born at Wallyford, near Musselburgh, Mid-
lothian, April 4, 1828, she spent her first years with
her parents near Glasgow, removing with them while
Btill a child to Liverpool. She began to write early and
31
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
in 1849 published her first novel, " Passages in the Life
of Mrs. Margaret Maitland," a story of Scottish life and
character, which met with some favour then and is
still esteemed among her best by some critics. It was
succeeded in 1851 by " Caleb Field," and in the same
year she was invited to become a contributor to Black-
wood's Magazine, an offer which she accepted, and
which led to a life-long association with that periodical,
for not only did it contain many of her novels, but over
one hundred articles in the way of reviews, etc. Her
latest work, " Annals of a Publishing House " (1897)
was a history of the house of Blackwood with which her
name had been inseparably connected for nearly half a
century.
In 1852 Miss Wilson was married to her cousin,
Francis Wilson Oliphant, an artist in stained glass, who
died of consumption in Rome in 1859, leaving his wife
with scarcely any resources for the support of herself
and her three children. Early in 1864 she lost her only
daughter, and soon after this her brother failed in busi-
ness and Mrs. Oliphant at once offered a home to him
and his children. After some years of dependence
upon her the brother died. In 1890 her oldest son,
Cyril, died after a long illness, and in 1894 she lost her
youngest son, Frank. Grief and care at last broke down
her health, and on June 25, 1897, she died at Wimbledon,
after a life which " had been one long sacrifice to others
and in which she had enjoyed a very small share of
happiness or peace."
During her literary career she published the astonish-
ing number of 120 works, comprising, beside a long list
of novels, volumes of history, biography, travels,
description, and literary criticism. Her family was
wholly supported by the labours of her pen and for nearly
thirty years she lived in more or less retirement at
32
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
Windsor absorbed in her literary tasks. That she might
have produced work of greater excellence than anything
she has left behind her had she written less is quite
possible, but possibly, also, she may have needed the
stimulus of immediate necessity to write to best advan-
tage. Her novels display plenty of invention as well as
humour and pathos, but they are wanting in fullest
insight and make appeal to the imagination and the
emotions rather than to the strictly intellectual faculties.
In her latest stories the constructive skill is not so
apparent as earlier and she was inclined to hurry
conclusions, but her studies of character are usually
careful and sympathetic and give her a prominent place
among novelists of the second rank.
Her earliest fictions were, like " Margaret Maitland,"
Scottish in locality and character and extraordinarily
faithful in detail. Such were " Adam Graeme " (1852),
"Magdalen Hepburn" (1854), " LiUieslief " (1855)
and " The Laird of Norlaw " (1858). At intervals she
subsequently returned to her native Scotland for her
scenes and character, in whole or in part, as for example
in " A Son of the Soil " (1866), one of her best works
in some particulars though less read than some others,
and " The Ladies Lindores " (1883). Much of her best
and most artistic work is included in the series of
" Chronicles of Carlingford " (1863-76), made up of " The
Rector and the Doctor's Family" (1863), "Salem Chapel"
(1864), " Miss Majoribanks " (1866), " The Perpetual
Curate " (1864), and " Phoebe Junior " (1876). Others
of great merit are " Within the Precincts " (1879), a
well told story with Windsor for its locale; " Harry
Joscelyn " (1881), " He That Will not When he May "
(1880), and " The Primrose Path " (1878).
Several short tales of the supernatural by her, " The
Little Pilgrim" (1880), "The Little Pilgrim m the
33
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Unseen " (1882), " A Beleaguered City " and " Old
Lady Mary," attracted much attention for their delicate
handling of a theme it would have been extremely easy
to have spoiled in the treatment. The first of them
appeared anonymously for the reason, as Mrs. Oliphant
once explained in private, that she " wished to say her
say on a very important topic without the impertinence
of a name."
Her biographies of Edward Irving, Saint Francis of
Assisi, the Comte de Montalembert, Sheridan, and her
husband's erratic kinsman, Lawrence Oliphant, cover a
wide range of personality and although they are not
works of the first rank in their kind they are neverthe-
less sympathetic and animated. In fields of work allied
to these she was especially industrious, as her " His-
torical Sketches of the Reign of George II " (1869),
" The Makers of Florence " (1876), " Literary History
of England from 1790 to 1825 " (1882), " Makers of
Venice" (1887), "Royal Edinburgh" (1890), "The
Reign of Queen Anne " (1894), and " Makers of Modern
Rome " (1895). These are all pleasant and vivacious
books, valuable rather as effectively arranged compila-
tions than as contributions of moment to the literature
of their subject and suffering somewhat in point of literary
finish from the unavoidable haste of their composition.
Mrs. Oliphant's " Autobiography and Letters," edited
by H. Coghill, was published in 1899. It contains a very
frank revelation of her personality which with one excep-
tion she never had touched upon even remotely in her
books. This exception is to be found in the introduction to
the stories included in " The Ways of Life " (1897). It is
entitled " Ebb Tide " and reflects the utter weariness of
the author's latest years. Much of Mrs. Oliphant's
work must perish, much indeed has already been for-
gotten, but some few of her novels may hope for recog-
34
123S135
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
ilition by another generation and in " The Chronicles
of Carlingford " there surely abides some of the quality
of endurance.
A Scottish novelist whose period of activity was
shorter by some years than Mrs. Oliphant's, but who
outlived her only by a single year, was William Black,
who for nearly a generation enjoyed immense popularity
in Great Britain and rather more, indeed, in the United
States. Born in Glasgow, in 1841, he first took up
painting, and this proving unremunerative he entered
the field of journalism in his native city. Thence he
went to London and obtaining a place on the Morning
Star soon made his presence there felt. While repre-
sentmg his paper at the front in the war between Prussia
and Austria he was taken prisoner. On the failure of
the Star he became one of the staff of the Daily News
and was for a time editor of the Examiner. His first
novel, " James Merle " (1864), was an utter failure and
a second fiction, " Love and Marriage," published four
years later, virtually shared the same fate. The tide
now turned and the publication of " A Daughter of
Heth " was a literary event of the year 1871.
This book made Black immediately popular, as
perhaps it deserved to do, for it was written with spirit
and freshness and its characterizations were strongly
original. Its author now relinquished journalism and
gave his time solely to fiction. He wrote rapidly and in
his later novels was given to repeating himself, but his
popularity continued without any serious interruption
until his death in December, 1898. Since that time his
stories have not maintained quite their former vogue.
" The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton " (1872) fol-
lowed hard upon the " Daughter of Heth," but had not
precisely the peculiar charm of " A Princess of Thule "
(1873). " Madcap Violet " was inferior to these, but
35
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
" Macleod of Dare " (1878) was a far stronger piece of
work. Its characterization is exaggerated and the
effect that of melodrama, but it has vigour and power
and holds the reader's interest with a firm grip.
Although a Londoner by residence Black was faithful
to his Scottish instincts and continually transferred his
canvas from England to Scotland. His novels abound
in enthusiastic descriptions of Scottish scenery and his
sportsman proclivities are revealed in the accounts of
hunting, fishing and yachting which are frequently
introduced into his novels. In spite of its manifest
shortcomings Black never surpassed " Macleod of
Dare " as a whole, in his subsequent fictions, though he
may have done so in details. Among these latter are
comprised " Three Feathers " (1881), " White Wings "
(1880), "Sunrise" (1880), " Shandon Bells" (1883),
"Judith Shakespeare" (1884), "White Heather"
(1885), " In Far Lochaber " (1888), and " Wild Eelin "
(1898). Black did not possess the makings of a great
novelist. He could describe with all an artist's cleverness,
but he had very little insight into the depths of human
nature, and neither his women nor his men reflect
humanity unerringly. He loved to contrast the life of
London drawing-rooms with the free existence of north-
ern Scotland, but only as an artist might do it, not as
in any way laying bare the subtleties of character.
" A Daughter of Heth " reveals him at his talented
best, but the genius that some of his admirers acclaimed
him he most certainly was not.
Although born in England, the Rev. John Watson,
best known to the world at large as " Ian Maclaren,"
is fairly entitled to be enrolled among Scottish authors.
His native place, to be sure, was Manningtree in Essex,
where he first saw the light in 1850, but he came of
Scottish parents and his ministerial and literary career
36
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
were closely associated with North Britain. He was
educated at Edinburgh and Tiibingen, and after being
licensed by the Free Church of Scotland in 1874 became
an assistant at the Barclay Church in Edinburgh. In
the year following he was called to the Free Church
in Logicalmond in Perthshire and in 1877 to Free Saint
Matthew's Church in Glasgow, but relinquished the latter
charge in 1880 to assume that of Sefton Park Presby-
terian Church in Liverpool. Popular as a clergyman
he came suddenly into notice as a literary figure by the
publication in 1894 of a volume of short stories con-
cerned with the delineation of Scottish life and character,
entitled " Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush." It attracted
general attention, both, in Great Britain and the United
States, his pseudonym of '' Ian Maclaren " becoming as
familiar in the latter country as in his own. The
book abounded in humour as well as pathos and evinced
entire understanding of the Scottish character. Its
chief defect, one, too, that became more evident in
succeeding volumes by him, was an atmosphere of self-
consciousness. This did not materially interfere with
his popularity among general readers, but seriously
lessened the value of his work from an artistic point of
view. Watson visited the United States on several
occasions and in 1896 delivered the Lyman Beecher
lectures at the Yale Divinity School, which were pub-
lished the same year as " The Cure of Souls." While
on a lecture tour in the United States in 1907 he was
taken ill at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he died on
May sixth.
Watson's first book was quickly followed by such
fiction as "The Days of Auld Lang Syne" (1895),
" Kate Carnegie " (1896), " A Doctor of the Old School "
(1897), "Afterwards" (1898), and "Rabbi Saunder-
son " (189B), none of which quite equalled " The Bonnie
37
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Brier Bush " in excellence. He did not confine his
writing to fiction, however, as such works of religious
character as " The Upper Room " (1895), " The Mind
of the Master," " The Potter's Wheel " (1897), " Com-
panions of the Sorrowful Way " (1898), " Doctrines
of Grace " (1900) and " The Life of the Master " (1901)
abundantly testify.
A much stronger and more original individuality than
Watson's among Scottish writers was that of William
Sharp (1856-1905), who wrote much in the way of verse,
fiction, essays, and other works under his own name,
and was discovered after his death to have been identical
with " Fiona Macleod," hitherto presumed to have been
a woman, and a native of the Hebrides. Among works
published with his own name are lives of Shelley, Heine,
and Browning; such fictions as " Wives in Exile,"
and "A London Romance;" "Exce Puella and Other
Imaginings," and " Studies in Art; " and several collec-
tions of his own verse including " Lyrical Poems,"
" Transcripts from Nature and Other Poems," " Ro-
mantic Ballads and Poems of Phantasy," His acknowl-
edged work covers a wide range and shows him to have
been not only a versatile WTiter but a talented one as
well, but his most original writing is that which in his
lifetime was ascribed to Fiona Macleod. The contrast
between the two personalities is very strong, and it is
probable that the feminine one will endure the longer
where literary fame is concerned. The supposed Fiona
had apparently spent her life in the Hebrides and the
islands of lona and Arran, and her stories and poems
illustrate Celtic legend and myth. They are most
delicately conceived, and- their originality and entire
freshness of atmosphere attracted great attention, as
could not fail to be the case. Among them are
"Pharais," a romance (1895), "The Mountain Ro-
38
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
mance" (1895), "The Sin Eater and Other Tales"
(1895), '* The Washer of the Ford " (1896), '' Green
Fire " (1896), " The Laughter of Peterkin " (1902).
The union of these talented personalities is a unique
feature of modern literary annals.
By far the most prominent figure among literary
Scotsmen in the closing decades of the nineteenth cen-
tury was Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson, and after
the lapse of sixteen years it maintains not only its
original degree of prominence but even exceeds it. Wide-
spread differences exist among critics concerning the
character of his work, but that he made a deep and
increasing impression upon the literature of his time is
nowhere denied.
The only son of a civil engineer named Thomas Steven-
son, he was bom at Number Eight Howard Place, Edin-
burgh, Nov. 13, 1850. In his early childhood his health
was very frail, and although he outgrew this condition
to some extent he was never physically very strong.
He at first intended to become a civil engineer like his
father, but the profession proved too great a strain
upon his health and after some years of study he was
called to the Edinburgh bar in 1875. He never practised
his profession and devoted several years to wanderings
on the Continent and in Scotland, the fruits of which were
given to the world in the volumes " An Inland Voyage "
(1878) and "Travels with a Donkey" (1879). While
at Fontainebleau in 1876 he first met Mrs. Osbourne, an
American lady who subsequently became his wife, and
two years afterward, on hearing of her ill health, he went
to San Francisco. From want of means he crossed the
Atlantic in the steerage and went as an emigrant across
the United States, hardships which very greatly impaired
his health. In May, 1880, he married Mrs. Osbourne
and removed to the mining camp in Colorado, which he
39
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
described in " The Silverado Squatters," published in
1883. In the autumn of 1880 he took his wife and
stepson to Edinburgh, where for a short time they lived
with his parents, but his health becoming much worse
they went to Davos, Switzerland, where they remained
until May, 1881, the year in which his earliest volume
of his essays, " Virginibus Puerisque," appeared. At
the close of a summer in Scotland he returned to Davos,
and after successive changes of residence necessitated
by the precarious state of his health he made his
home at Bournemouth, from January, 1884, to August,
1887.
By this time he had published in addition to the
works already named, " Treasure Island," originally
styled " The Sea Cook," " Familiar Studies of Men and
Books," "New Arabian Nights," "Prince Otto,"
" A Child's Garden of Verses," " More New Arabian
Nights," ''The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde," "Kidnapped," "The Merry Men and Other
Tales," and " Underwoods," a book of verse; a large
amount of writing for one so nearly an entire invalid as
Stevenson. His father having died in May of 1887,
Stevenson in company with his mother, his wife and his
stepson, Lloyd Osboume, left his Bournemouth home
which he had named Skerryvore, and sailed for the
United States. He spent the winter at Saranac Lake in
the Adirondacks, where he wrote the major part of
" The Master of Ballantrae," and the next June the
family set sail from San Francisco in his schooner, the
Casco. Six months were spent at Honolulu, where
" The Master of Ballantrae " and " The Wrong Box "
were completed, the latter a farcical romance written
jointly with his stepson. Within this period he visited
the leper settlement at Molokai, the immediate result
of which was his celebrated scathing " Letter to Dr.
40
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
Hyde," in vindication of Father Damien and his work in
Molokai.
Stevenson continued his cruisings in the Pacific till
the autumn of 1890, when he established himself and his
family at Vailima in Samoa. Here he remained for the
rest of his career, save for a brief visit to Hawaii, in
the enjoyment of what for him was health and vigour,
and here, while dictating his novel, " Weir of Her-
miston," he died on December 3, 1894. He had
become a general favourite with the gentle island
people and the day following his death sixty Samoans
carried his body to the top of the steep mountain Vaca,
where he had expressed a wish to be buried. His friend,
Sidney Colvin, edited (1894-98) the Edinburgh edition
of Stevenson's works in twenty-eight volumes, and in
1899 two volumes of Stevenson's " Letters," similarly
edited. " The Vailima Letters " written from Samoa
had already been printed in 1895. The latest of his
books which the brilliant author lived to see through the
press was " The Ebb Tide," in September, 1894. The
incomplete novel, " Saint Ives," was carried forward to
a close by Mr. Quiller Couch, in 1897, but " Weir of
Hermiston,"
" Like the unfinished window in Aladdin's tower
Unfinished must remain! "
Incomplete as it is there are not wanting those who
pronounce it his masterpiece.
Stevenson's hold upon his readers is quite as firm in
America as in Great Britain and his many admirers on
both sides of the Atlantic have not invariably expressed
their regard for his work in terms precisely discrimi-
nating. Even yet it is too soon to hope to arrive at a
fairly just estimate of his work as a whole. " The
41
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
charm," says Mr. Gosse, " of the personal character of
Stevenson and the romantic vicissitudes of his life are so
predominant in the minds of all who knew him or lived
within earshot of his legend, that they make the ultimate
position which he will take in the history of English
literature somewhat difficult to decide. That he was
the most attractive figure of a man of letters in his
generation is admitted; and the acknowledged fascina-
tion of his character was deepened, and was extended
over an extremely wide circle of readers by the publica-
tion of his ' Letters ' which have subdued even those
who were rebellious to the entertainment of his books.
It is therefore from the point of view of its ' charm '
that the genius of Stevenson must be approached."
The distinguishing feature of Stevenson's art seems to
consist in the fusing of a very decided and original
vision with an unusually conscientious treatment of
English. " He mastered his manner, and, as one may
say, learned his trade, in the exercise of criticism and
the reflective parts of literature before surrendering
himself to powerful creative impulse." The majority
of readers are attracted to him by his romances, but
there are still many who prefer his letters and essays
as examples of better literature, and on these it appears
most probable that his fame will one day rest. His
verse is greatly inferior to his prose, though the '' Child's
Garden of Verses " has a quality of its own that sets it
quite apart from the rest of his poetry. The life of
Stevenson has been written many times, not only in
the half-dozen biographies by his cousin, Graham
Balfour, and others, but in various sketches in periodi-
cals, while able critics like Chapman and Henry James,
to mention no others, have written thoughtful and
discriminating estimates of his literary work. " What-
ever may be the ultimate order of reputation among his
42
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
various books," observes Mr. Gosse, " or whatever
posterity may ultimately see fit to ordain as regards
the popularity of any of them, it is difficult to believe
that the time will ever come in which Stevenson will not
be remembered as the most beloved of the writers of
that age which he did so much to cheer and stimulate
by his example."
" His was the uastinted language of the Scot,
Clear, nimble, with the scriptural tang of Knox
Thrust through it like the far strict scent of box.
To keep it unforgot.
* No frugal Realist, but quick to laugh,
To see appealing things in all he knew,
He plucked the sun-sweet corn his fathers grew,
And would have naught of chaff."
With Robert Louis Stevenson this survey of the
progress of Scottish letters during the better part of two
centuries draws to its close, since the principle adopted
of excluding living authors precludes mention of such
well-known men of letters as Andrew Lang, James
Barrie, William Archer and Samuel Crockett. It is
sufficiently obx-ious that a survey of this character can
lay no claim to being exhaustive, and the selection of
certain authors and the omission of others whose claims
may seem as great, or even greater, will no doubt
appear more or less arbitrary to some readers. It only
remains to be said that want of space was at least one
governing factor in the problem. Had this not been the
case there might well have been room for mention of the
dramatist John Home (1722-1808) whose " Douglas "
delighted theatre-goers in the middle of the eighteenth
centurv; of the poets Allan Cunningham (1784-1842)
and WiUiam Motherwell (1797-1835); of the novelists
43
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
John Gait (1779-1839) and Michael Scott (1789-1835);
of the historians Patrick Fraser Tytler (1791-1849)
and Sir Archibald Alison (1792-1867) whose " History
of Europe " only the most resolute readers would dream
of attacking now, though it was translated into many
tongues, Arabic being one; of Basil Hall (1788-1844),
the British naval officer whose " Travels in North
America " once kindled the ire of over-sensitive Ameri-
cans; William Bell Scott (1811-1890), a poet who won
fame as an artist also; John Pringle Nichol (1804-
1859), the astronomer, whose " Architecture of the
Heavens " was so widely known; and George Macdonald,
novelist, poet, and mystic.
But it is not alone in literary annals that Scotland
can point to a seemingly endless roll of famous names;
in the field of art her triumphs have been quite as
marked, as we shall discover in the brief glance at the
Scottish school of painting, which must close this
chapter. That the progress of painting north of the
Tweed attracted comparatively little attention in
England till the latter half of the last century must not
be taken to imply that painting in the northern part
of the kingdom was necessarily in a backward condition
up to that time. Quite the contrary. Scottish art
flourished, though English prejudice did not always
readily admit it.
Three Scottish painters, Jamesone, Scougal and Aik-
man, appear to have been representative artists of the
seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the first
of these having been termed in quite recent times " the
Scottish Vandyck." They were all portrait painters,
as might be expected from a knowledge of their era,
and best among the works of Jamesone is a portrait of
Lady Mary Erskine, which must have been executed
prior to 1640. Scougal's portraits are fewer in number
44
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
than Jamesone's, and in the Scottish National Gallery-
is a portrait of Scougal himself. His works reveal
careful modelling but have no lightness of touch. Aik-
man was the latest of the three, a pleasing but not an
original artist, and many portraits by him are extant,
those of the poets Allan Ramsay, Gay and Thomson
being of the number. Aikman, who was born in 1662
and died in 1731, first practised his art in Edinburgh,
but like many Scottish artists he presently went to
London and set up a studio there.
The Academy of Saint Luke, which several artists
and lay persons established in Edinburgh in 1729, held
together for a short time only, but it served to stimulate
the Scottish art of the period, and the Academy which
the Glasgow painters, the Foulis brothers, founded in
Glasgow in 1753, did still more. About 1775 the Aca-
demy was closed and its collection of pictures dispersed,
but it had not existed for twenty years in vain. Allan
Ramsay, the son of the poet and a pupil of the Saint Luke
Academy, was the first Scottish painter who rose to
prominence in London. His works abound in his native
country, almost every ancient family mansion being
not without one or more examples of his art. He
was a skilful rather than a strong artist and his custom
of placing the figure in profile and showing the face at
a three-quarter angle was greatly admired. Ramsay
was a social favourite and lived in much style in London,
counting many notable personages of the time among
his friends, and having Voltaire and Rousseau among his
correspondents. It is quite possible that greater atten-
tion to his profession and less to social life might have
given Ramsay a better title to remembrance than is
now his.
The first of the Foulis Acadeniy pupils to win a name
for himself was Alexander Runciman (1736-1785), who
45
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
became a friend of Fuseli's while visiting Rome, and
Fuseli's influence it may well have been that decided
him to devote his attention to historical painting. In
a small chapel attached to Saint Patrick's Church in
the Cowgate, Edinburgh, Runciman is represented by
four panels, in one of which appears the " Prodigal
Son," a figure in profile, the original of which was the
unfortunate Scottish poet Robert Fergusson, whose
verses are quoted on another page. Runciman's brother
John, who died at twenty-four, was the more original
artist, his " Flight into Egypt," " Christ and His
Disciples on the Road to Emmaus," " The Temp-
tation " and " King Lear " displaying much individu-
ality. These are all contained in the Scottish National
Gallery, as is also the portrait group painted by them-
selves, " Alexander Runciman and John Brown."
David Allan (1744-1796) studied at the Glasgow
Academy, and early turning away from the fashionable
classicism of the period devoted himself to delineation
of pastoral scenes. In this respect he may be styled
the forerunner of Wilkie. Finding no market for his
pastoral paintings he then gave attention to producing
etchings, among which are a well-known series of
designs illustrating Ramsay's " Gentle Shepherd."
Jacob More (1740-1793) was a noted landscapist,
practising that department in Rome for a score of
years and with signal success. Goethe visited More's
studio with Angelica Kauffmann in 1787 and was greatly
taken with More's showy canvases. Gavin Hamilton
(1730-1797), unlike More, inclined strongly to classic
subjects, " Agrippina Weeping over Germanicus," " The
Death of Lucretia " and others. In occasional visits
to Scotland he painted various portraits, and a group
of these may be seen in the Scottish Portrait Gallery,
but their artistic value is not great. Sir George Chal-
46
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
mers (d. 1791), David Martin (1736-1798), George
Willison (1741-1797), John Donaldson (1737-1801)
were Scottish artists especially associated with por-
traiture in the second half of the eighteenth century,
and so also was Archibald Skirving (1749-1819), the
only one of the five who practised his art entirely in
Scotland. At first known as a miniaturist he visited
Italy somewhat late in life, and afterward confined
himself almost entirely to pastel.
During the period we have been considering, the
eighteenth century in its earlier half and the closing
years of the preceding one, painting was more or less
of an exotic art in Scotland. The majority of the
population knew little about it and cared still less, and
even the better informed regarded it somewhat askance.
It reflected nothing of the life of Scotland historic or
domestic, its artists as a whole preferring to confine
their energies " to ideals from which the study of
nature was almost excluded." The beginnings of the
break with established conventions may not be easy
to trace, but the existence of a distinctive Scottish
School of Painting is due without question to the
example and vigorous personality of one man. Sir Henry
Raeburn. The times may have been ripe for the change,
but this would have mattered little had there been no
original mind to assume leadership.
Bom in Edinburgh in 1756, of an old Border family,
Raeburn was educated at Heriott's Hospital till his
apprenticeship to an Edinburgh goldsmith in 1771. His
talents in drawing led to his being given opportunity
for study and he was introduced to Martin, already
mentioned, and who was then the fashionable portrait
painter of the Scottish capital, for instruction. Later
he went to Rome, where he served Ramsay as assistant,
but not much is known of his experiences there, and in
47
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
1787 he was back in Edinburgh, having married a woman
of wealth when scarcely of age, a circumstance which
fortunately did not lead to any abatement of industry
on his part. For thirty-six years after his return to
his native city he ranked first among Scottish portrait
painters " making his own and all succeeding generations
of Scotsmen his debtors for the work so quickly accom-
plished during these eventful years." Raeburn had
just resumed his brush after a short tour in Fife with
Sir Walter Scott and other friends when he was taken
ill, and died in his beloved Edinburgh, July 8, 1823.
On the fagade of the National Portrait Gallery his
statue is to be seen and a tablet to his memory is in
the churchyard of Saint John's Episcopal Church.
Raeburn's earliest known portrait is a full length of
" George Chalmers of Pittencrieff," which is assigned
to the year 1778, but a series of eight portraits at Raith
(1780-1795), gives the story of his development through
a period of fifteen years. Two of his most successful
canvases painted when he was not far from forty are
those of " Dr. Nathaniel Spens " and " Sir John Sin-
clair; " the first a commission from the Royal Company
of Archers. " Clad in the picturesque costume then
worn by the Royal Body Guard, Spens — seen full face
— is set against the painter's conventional landscape
with, for this special occasion, the national symbol,
erect and prickly, in the foreground." By several critics
the " Sinclair," painted a little later, is given a higher
place, while others deem it wanting in the reticence
perceptible in the " Spens."
In the first decade of the last century Raeburn
reached perhaps his highest development, while his
popuiarity was unbounded in his native land. All
through Scotland his pictures are to be seen in homes
and picture galleries and a careful catalogue of his
48
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
portraits shows 701 to his credit, though only about
150 bear any date. From this time onwards "it is in
the gradual acquisition of those transition tones which
give bloom and subtlety to the countenance, and in the
enrichment of his scheme of chiaroscuro that Raeburn's
future development consists. In much that pertains
to the incidence of light, he sometimes anticipates
qualities that are considered quite modern, as did
Velasquez in a more consistent way two hundred years
earlier."
Two masterly portraits that should be named as of
this period are those of " Colonel Alastir Macdormell of
Glengarry " and " Major William Clunes," which hang
side by side in the Scottish National Gallery. The
" Glengarry," the presumed prototype of Fergus
Mclvor of " Waverley," possesses all the accessories of a
Highland chief; the Clunes is an equally distinctive
picture of a British officer. Soon after the exhibition
of the " Glengarry " Raeburn was elected Associate
and in 1815 full member of the Royal Academy. But
Raeburn did not confine himself to robust portraits
of men, and in his latest years he painted numbers of
portraits of women, amongst the most noted being that
of " Mrs. James Campbell," " one of those old ladies,
survivals of an earlier generation, of whom one reads
in countless memoirs, and who seem almost as historic
as their male compeers." He oftener painted youth
and early middle age and one of his triumphs in por-
traiture of the latter period of life is that of " Mrs.
George Kinnear."
" It should be borne in mind," says the critic McKay,
that " in considering the Scottish painter's place in
art one or two things must be kept in mind. First he
was one of the few very capable men who have devoted
themselves entirely to portraiture. . . . Again, he differs
49
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
from the great portraitists of the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries in that he is not the outcome of a long line of
able predecessors. Such forerunners as he had in his
own country had, one may say, no influence on him.
He was the founder, as well as the greatest exponent
of his school, and this must count in weighing his genius
with that of others."
In the fuller meaning of the term Raeburn was not
a colourist, but on the whole his best pictures compare
weU with those of pronounced colourists, for in the
place of the subtle qualities of complex processes of
colouring his pigment retains the freshness of direct
application. The distinctive feature of his work is its
modernity, and it is this which lends his portraits of
the men and women of a century and more ago their
peculiar charm in our eyes. It was fortunate for Scot-
land that he elected to remain at home instead of going
to London, for the example thus set is responsible for
the retention north of the Border of a vigorous school
of art on lines of its own that would otherwise have
been impossible. WTien he died in 1823, there was
already in the Scottish capital, says McKay, " a school
of portraiture, founded on his practice, for its exponents
had the something implied in the term, and that some-
thing they owed to the stimulating art of Raeburn."
Naturally so forceful an artist as Raeburn had fol-
lowers, but they were successors, not direct imitators,
with one exception, George Watson. Influenced by
him they were far from being mere copyists of his man-
ner. Watson was eleven years younger than Raeburn,
and after studying under Reynolds opened a studio in
Edinburgh. His earliest work reflects the influence of
Sir Joshua, his subsequent achievement reveals that of
Raeburn, whose vigorous characterization he could not
quite secure. His method shows a continual alternation
50
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
between an insipid manner and a heavy handed imita-
tion of Raeburn. Watson's nephew, Sir John Watson
Gordon, was the ablest of Raeburn's followers. He
aspired to become an historical painter, but after a dozen
years spent on historical themes he turned to por-
traiture, though for ten years more he occasionally
dallied with history. Born in 1788 he lived till 1864,
becoming President of the Royal Scottish Academy
in 1841. His best work is to be noted in such strongly
conceived portraits as those of " Lord Cockburn "
(1853), the " Provost of Peterhead " (1854) and " David
Cox " (1855). His inferiority is shown in his painting
of flesh tints, which are wanting in the inner glow that
gives life to the features, and in the heaviness of his
half tones. His technique, however, nearly equals
that of some men much superior to him in other details.
Next to Watson Gordon, the strongest of Raeburn's
successors was John Graham Gilbert, in whom the
Raeburn influence is least perceptible. One of his
best pictures is '' The Love Letter " (1829). He was
given to fancy subjects, but he did not eschew portraiture,
and the bust portrait of John Gibson, the sculptor, is
one of his most admirable w^orks. His full length
portrait of Sir John Watson Gordon is excellent and so
are his portraits of women. John Syme (1795-1861),
Colvin Smith (1795-1875), Smellie Watson (1796-
1864) and William Yellowlees (1796-1856) continued
the Raeburn succession, but the fact of the succession
is much less marked in Francis Grant (1803-1878),
who alternated between fashionable portrait painting
and fox hunting. He possessed talent and industry, and
though his average accomplishment is slight in substance
he now and then executed work considerably above the
average. In the study at Abbotsford is a small full length
of Scott painted by Grant in 1832. Sir Daniel Macnee
51
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
(1806-1882) was a greater artist than Grant and like him
carried on the Raeburn tradition of portraiture. His
masterpiece is " Charles Mackay as Nicol Jarvie," which
" will always hold a foremost place amongst Scottish
portraits." His " Lady in Grey " is of no ordinary
merit, and his "Robert Dalgleish " (1874), though one
of his latest works, shows no diminution of earlier
excellence.
Although David Wilkie (1785-1841) was nearly
thirty years the junior of Raeburn, he shared with him
the distinction of founding a Scottish School, and his
influence was not only greater but more lasting. Rae-
burn's technique was his own and the quality of his
vision was more nearly that of the artists of to-day.
" It was different with Wilkie," says McKay. " From
the day he could handle a brush, he seems to have
accepted the Dutch and Flemish genre painters as his
models both in respect of technique and arrangement."
Wilkie had his aim very clearly before him and was
under no delusions regarding it or his own place in
regard to it and the world at large. As MacColl has
weU put it: "He took his own measure modestly, and
his programme frankly, that of entertainer to a middle-
class public." To quote from Wilkie's own " Remarks
on Painting: "
" To know the taste of the public — to learn what
will best please the employer — is to an artist the most
valuable of all knowledge, and the most useful to him
whose skill and knowledge it calls into exercise." In
its essence, then, Wilkie's programme was to render
himself intelligible not only to a public, but to the
public, and to impress it sympathetically. Though
Wilkie's ideals were Flemish he did not follow them
blindly, and in "The Village Recruit," " Pitlessie
Fair " and " Village Politicians," all executed when he
53
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
■was about twenty, his observations of Nature withheld
him from the exaggerations of his Flemish models. He
removed to London in 1805, taking these pictures with
him, and they secured him immediate attention, "The
Blind Fiddler " being painted for his patron, Sir George
Beaumont, when the artist was yet in his twenty-
first year. The pictures named were deeply impressed
•with the Scottish character, and so was " The Rent
Day," studied from his birthplace of Cults (1808).
" The Village Festival " (1812) is as strongly English.
The contrast is worth noting as it proves that the
artist had taken colour to a considerable extent from
his English environment.
Subsequent successes were " Blind Man's Buff "
(1813), possibly his most popular canvas, " The Letter
of Introduction," which dispassionate critics are dis-
posed to account his masterpiece, " Duncan Gray,"
" Distraining for Rent," the pathos of which makes
strong appeal to the beholder, "The Pedlar," "The
Rabbit on the Wall," and " The Penny Wedding," for
which the artist once more turned to Scotland for his
inspiration. " Reading the Will " (1821), " Chelsea
Pensioners " (1822) painted for the Duke of Wellington,
and " The Parish Beadle " were especially popular
and with them his name is perhaps most inseparably
associated. His style after this underwent certain
changes, a larger scale being chosen, but the change
w^as not altogether for the best. The altered manner
was due to impressions derived from extended travels
on the Continent, especially in Ita,ly, where the larger,
bolder treatment of a theme by Italian artists led him
to attempt to assimilate in his owti work somewhat of
the foreign method.
One result of his modified theories was an increase
in the quantity of work done by him after 1828, but
63
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
his first works at this time, the " Earl of Kellie " (1829)
and " Viscount Melville " (1831), do not exhibit any
material falling off in excellence. '* The Preaching of
Knox " (1832) reveals a forcing of the scheme of light
and shade which is far from pleasing, and " The First
Earring " (1835) evinces want of character in the
brush work although the colour remains luminous.
Two canvases of importance may be assigned to the
year 1838, " Discovering the Body of Tippoo Sahib,"
and " Queen Victoria Presiding at the Council," the
former sharing with the " Napoleon and Pope Pius VII "
the distinction of being the only examples of his subject
pictures with figures of life scale. Wilkie was master of
the art of etching, in addition to his other attainments,
and his etching of " The Lost Receipt " can hardly be too
highly praised. The painter's popularity, great in his
own day, still continues, and his brother artists have
never stinted their admiration for his talents. On the
occasion of the Wilkie Centenary Sir John Millais said :
" In the history of Art there has been no superior to
him for knowledge of composition, beautiful and subtle
drawing, portrayal of character and originality."
While Raeburn in certain respects stood alone as a
portrait painter, Wilkie had contemporaries not a few,
some of whom came more or less under his influence
while others remained unaffected by it. Two of the
more distinguished were William Allan (1782-1850)
and Andrew Geddes (1783-1844). Both possessed a
vigorous personality, but the former in his day was the
more highly esteemed. Allan travelled extensively
in the East and his chosen themes were commonly
Oriental, " The Slave Market, Constantinople," being
especially characteristic of his manner.
Geddes is an artist difficult to classify. Except for
his " Draught Players " (1809), a purely genre work
54
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
showing the influence of Wilkie throughout, he was
almost entirely a portrait artist, yet he was not in
spirit a successor of Raeburn. Among his most success-
ful portraits are those of Wilkie, George Sanders,
the miniaturist, Brydone the traveller, and the artist's
mother. He also executed several Scriptural composi-
tions, and several figures symbolizing some fancy, the
best of these last being his " Summer,'' for which a
daughter of Alexander Nasmyth, the artist, furnished
the inspiration. Like Wilkie, Geddes was skilled as an
etcher, his excursions in this field being much admired.
His ideals were high, but in his lifetime he never secured
his full share of recognition, though Time has since
done something to adjust values more nearly.
Other contemporaries of Wilkie deserving mention
were Alexander Fraser (1786-1865), his assistant for
twenty years, whose " Tam o' Shanter " is one of his
best pictures; William Lizars (1788-1859), whose
" Reading the Will " and " A Scotch Weddmg " are
in the Scottish Gallery; and William Kidd (1796-1863).
Kidd's " Cobbler's Shop " was painted at thirteen and
he frequently exhibited at the Royal Academy after
his removal to London about 1821. His talent was
considerable and his subjects mainly illustrative of sport.
Lizars's work exhibits dramatic fire and observation
of character, and the two pictures of his above named
were not, as might be supposed, suggested by Wilkie's
paintings similarly entitled, but executed several years
earlier.
In the art history of any country landscape painting
is a late development, and in regard to Scotland this is
especially true. " In portrait and figure painting the
northern may be said to be fairly abreast of the southern
division of the island in point of time, but nearly half a
century divides the painters who first seriously practised
55
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
landscape in England and Scotland respectively —
Richard Wilson and Alexander Nasmyth." The latter
(1758-1840) did not rank especially high as a painter
though as engineer, architect and landscape gardener he
rose to distinction, but his work in landscape marks
the opening of a new era in Scottish art. His pictures by
no means show entire escape from the prevailing classic
conventions but they do reveal a hitherto unfelt per-
ception of naturalism. His son Patrick (1787-1831)
who settled in London in 1808 and became known as
" the English Hobbema," seems to have been for the
most part unimpressed by the new influence, though
in one or two of his compositions a feeling for English
landscape is perceptible. A far stronger personality
than either of the Nasmyths was the Rev. John Thomson
of Duddmgston (1778-1840). He seldom left Scotland
and found his subjects mainly in his own country. He
was a tireless worker, 226 pictures being catalogued in
well-known collections, and the total is much greater.
" Thomson," says McKay, " was a bom painter, and had
the delight in and command over his material which
distinguish painting from mere coloured design. His
defects lie in a different direction and were inevitable
under the circumstances. He was an amateur, and as
such precluded from the thoroughness of technique
which separates the trained artist from the ablest of
those who devote to it only a portion of their energies
... it could not be otherwise. The long Divinity
course and the pastoral duties of the country charge
which came to him so early absorbed the greater part
of his time and attention during the period when the
foundation of the painter's craft must be laid."
Thomson's merit is that he aroused among Scottish
painters an appreciation of the pictorial aspects of their
country. His three contemporaries, John and Andrew
56
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
Wilson (1774-1855 and 1780-1848) and Hugh Williams
the Welshman (1773-1829), went far afield for their
subjects, " but the minister of Duddingston," declares
McKay, " gave the lead, and gave it grandly to those
later painters who have better interpreted the native
accent of Scottish landscape. . . . For vigour of con-
ception and imaginative power none of his Scottish
followers have excelled him." John Wilson, who spent
much of his long life in London was the much admired
painter of sea and coast scenes; Andrew Wilson resided
in Italy much of the time and was a capable though not
a brilliant artist. Williams set up a studio in Edinburgh
early in his career and was never long absent from it
except on professional tours in Italy and Greece. His
pictures were mainly of Grecian subjects and he was
commonly spoken of as " Grecian Williams."
As the nineteenth century moved onward landscape
became increasingly characteristic of Scottish art and
the more versatile artists practised in this department
as in others. William Simson (1800-1847) was one of
these and can not be classed under any one head, since
he painted with the same graceful facility landscapes
with and without figures, portraits, animals, marines,
interiors, still life and historical scenes. Removing to
London in 1838 he produced only figure subjects sub-
sequently, but among Scottish landscapists he main-
tained an honourable rank as the painter of " Sol way
Moss," " Auchendennan Bridge," and other scenes, the
first of these being his most impressive canvas.
Three figure painters of sterling excellence deserve
mention here, Thomas Duncan (1807-1845), Sir George
Harvey (180&-1876) and Robert Lauder (1803-1869).
The first of these is closely associated with the memory
of Scott, since eleven of his subjects are taken from
the novelist's pages. They rank among his best works,
67
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
as does also his Shakespearean figure piece, " Anne Page
Inviting Slender to Dinner " (1837). As an illustrator
of Scottish life from many sides Harvey is one of the
most strictly national artists, although he took up his
abode in London early. He was deeply impressed by
the history of the Covenanters and by the great Dis-
ruption movement in 1843 as well, and his Covenanting
pictures, " Communion,'' " Preaching," and " Bap-
tism," are very striking in general effect. So also are
the Disruption paintings, " Quitting the Manse " and
" Sabbath in the Glen," and in such pictures as these
the austerely religious nature of the Scotsman is well
apprehended by the artist. Representative of other
aspects of Scottish life are " The Village School," the
"School Examination" (1832), "The Skule SkaUin,"
" The Curlers " (1835), " VHlage Bowlers " (1852) and
" Sheep Shearing," the last named mdicating the
transition to figure painting. Harvey's work in its
entirety makes its strongest appeal to the emotions
and through its interpretation of such varied aspects of
national life and sentiment. The ablest of these three
artists was Robert Lauder, who, like Duncan, displayed
a strong inclination to selection of scenes from the
" Waverley Novels," the impetus being undoubtedly
afforded by his having been concerned while still a
student in illustrating an edition of Scott. Hencefor-
ward he alternated for nearly a generation between
Waverley themes, portraiture and Scriptural subjects.
Lauder married a daughter of Thomson of Dudding-
ston in 1833 and the two lived in Rome for a series of
years. His finest work, all things considered, is probably
his " Trial of Effie Deans " (1842), and besides this theme
from " The Heart of Midlothian " he chose others from
"Guy Mannering," " Ivanhoe," "Old Mortality,"
" Quentin Durward " and " The Fair Maid of Perth/'
58
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
not less than four being derived from the last-named
work. Among his Scriptural works are " Ruth " (1843),
" Christ Walking on the Sea " (1850) and two versions
of " Christ Teacheth Humility," the superior of the two
being exhibited in 1848. Lauder returned to Edinburgh
in 1852 on being made Master of the Trustees' Academy,
superintending the Life and Antique departments for
nme years. In this capacity his enthusiasm and charm
of personality influenced Scottish art more directly than
any individual painter has since done.
Born in the same year with Harvey, David Scott
(1806-1849) and William Dyce (1806-1864) were alike
in their aversion to the aims and methods of Scottish
figure paintmg, but they differed widely in other respects.
Scott's art was strongly individual but it was developed
only through a series of discouragements. Scriptural,
historical and allegorical themes were all handled by
him, but his was a many-sided art and his studies in
black and white were exceedingly meritorious. " Wal-
lace, Defender of Scotland," a triptych, '' Vasco de
Gama," " The Traitor's Gate," and " Puck Fleeing
from the Dawn," are among his most representative
works, the second of these being ranked by McKay as
Scott's supreme effort.
Dyce, who was a native of Aberdeen, mastered his
craft early and settled down in the Scottish capital
as a portrait painter. He had already painted two
masterly portraits of "Harriet Maconochie " and his
own son, when he became connected with the Govern-
ment Schools of Design. This association lasted ten
years and after this time his technique exhibits a blend-
ing of the manners of the Primitives and the Pre-
Raphaelites. He painted few easel pictures henceforth
and devoted the bulk of his attention to frescoes in the
House of Lords, Buckingham Palace and Osborne. His
59
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
historical frescoes possess much interest, but had he
continued in the line first marked out for himself he
would in all likelihood have been classed among the
foremost portraitists of his century.
James Eckford Lauder (1812-1869) a younger brother
of Robert, worked in a similar vein, his subjects being
mainly suggested by Scott or Shakespeare, themes
from the latter being the most numerous. Scenes from
" Tempest " were favourites with him and from Scott's
" Pirate " he thrice repeated " Minna and Brenda."
His famous " Ten Virgins " is familiar throughout
Scotland, but " The Parable of Forgiveness " (1847) now
in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, is of more import-
ance. Lauder's " Bailie Duncan Maewheeble at Break-
fast " has been termed " one of the happiest trans-
lations ever made from the library to the painters' art."
David Roberts (1796-1864), a native of Edinburgh,
began his career as a scene painter, but about 1821
interested himself in subjects obtainable in the pic-
turesque Scottish capital, and soon afterward in the
ruined abbeys of the Lowlands. Extending his researches
to the Continent he presently developed to the full
his chief talent, the pictorial representation of archi-
tecture. He is perceived at his best in his church
interiors which harmonize with the monochromatic
method he preferred. His technique was simple and did
not alter with the years, the " Exterior of Antwerp
Cathedral," executed in 1827, and the "Chancel of
Saint Paul's, Antwerp " (1847), both exhibiting it. He
painted many Eastern scenes, but his solemn stately
interiors are his finest work by far. Roberts was one
of the most successful artists of his time, so far as the
winning of fame and fortune is concerned, but his art
was limited, never reaching the deeper emotions and
lacking versatile perception and the charm of the best
60
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
technique. Considered strictly within his limitations he
displays very decided talent and his work delighted his
contemporaries.
Horatio Macculloch (1806-1867) was the most popular
of Scottish landscapists in the years between 1838
(when he established himself in Edinburgh) and his
death, but if over-rated then he is needlessly under-
valued at present. In his time tourists were haunting
the Highlands in rapidly increasing numbers each year,
sent thither by the genius of Scott, and Macculloch's
pictures of *' Loch Achwray," " Glencoe," " My Heart's
in the Highlands," " Dunstaffnage Castle," and many
other Highland views, came in season to harmonize
with the prevailing taste for beholding natural scenery.
The painter's defects were a too facile brush and a want
of true atmosphere.
Two notable Scottish artists of the Early and Middle
Victorian epochs were John Phillip (1817-1867) and
James Drummond (1816-1877). Phillip's earliest works
are entirely national in character as shown by such titles
as "Highland Courtship," "The New Scholar," "A
Scotch Baptism," " A Highland Lassie," " Presbyterian
Catechizing," and " The Spae-wife of the Clachan "
(1851). Not far from the time when the last-named
picture appeared the artist went to Spain for his health
and the entire change in surroundings wrought an
equal change in the nature of his work. Not only was
his treatment broader but continuous development was
perceptible. The first picture produced after his return,
" A Letter Writer, Seville," declared the change and
after a second visit came " The Prison "Window, Seville "
(1857). Other and stronger Spanish compositions fol-
lowed: "Gossips at a Well," "The Huff," " Agua
Benedita," "The Water Drinkers," "La Gloria — A
Spanish Wake," " A Chat Round the Brasero," and
61
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
"The Early Career of Murillo." It has been said of
Phillip that he restored to the Scottish School of painting
on a wider range and a more striking key the strong
qualities of virility and permanence which Raeburn had
infused into it two generations before.
Drummond, whose forte was historical painting, was
the unwearied delineator of Scotland's past in general
and of its capital in particular. During forty-three years
he sent but one portrait to the Scottish Academy and
in 1843, when he exhibited a landscape, he signed it
James Drummond, amateur. He was industrious and
his compositions were elaborate in conception, but they
interest the beholder from the antiquarian standpoint
rather than from the aesthetic one. His best work is
seen in " The Porteous Mob " (1855) in which with sure
dramatic feeling the artist has only hinted at the end
of the tragedy in a few figures seen against or barely
lighted by the smoky glare of the torches.
Of several north of England men closely associated
with the progress of Art in Scotland, Samuel Bough
(1822-1878) was the ablest. Born in Carlisle, his art
life was mainly spent in Glasgow and Edinburgh and his
fame is essentially Scottish. His popularity never knew
any abatement and his work never lacked purchasers.
The most characteristic of his works are the two pictures
of the Glasgow Broomielaw. He worked both in oil and
water colour, especially excelling in the latter. Less
popular than Bough, but still a landscapist of much
merit, was Alexander Fraser (1822-1899). Contempo-
rary with these artists were the landscapists John Win-
tour (1825-1882), Milne Donald (1819-1866), whose fame
came late in his career, James Cassie (1819-1879), a
painter of marines, and Waller Pa ton (1828-1895) who
delighted in painting Highland scenery.
A Scottish artist less known in Scotland than in Eng-
62
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
land, and intimately associated with the English Pre-
Raphaelites, was William Bell Scott (1811-1890), a
minor poet and the friend of Rossetti. Noel Paton
(1821-1901) was a prolific artist in the realm of fancy,
his composition being his strongest point. His " Ancient
Mariner " designs are widely known, and in many of his
pictures the literary influence of Shelley, Keats and
Tennyson may be detected. In the third quarter of the
last century the brothers John and Thomas Faed
(1820-1902 and 1826-1900) were extremely popular
genre artists, " Faults on Both Sides " being one of the
best of the canvases by Thomas Faed and " Annie's
Trj'st " among those by the elder brother.
Two other artists of more than ordinary attainments
were Sir William Fettes Douglass (1822-1891) and James
Archer (1823-1904). The first of these might have
been more widely famous had he not remained in
Scotland instead of migrating to London as so many of
his artistic fellow countrymen have done. Beginning
with portraits he soon passed to the delineation of themes
from poetry and fancy, from history and romance, and
especially from the threshold of the supernatural. Some
of his titles will serve to show the versatility of his
talent — " The Friend's Return from beyond the Grave,"
" The Spell," " Don Quixote Reading the Romances,"
"The Bibliomaniac," '' Oldbuck and Lovel," from
Scott's "Antiquary," " Hudibras and Ralph," "The
Conspirators," " Hudibras and the Lawyer," " Her
Grandmother's Gown " and " When the Sea Gives up Its
Dead," of which last one critic has said: " No wail of
Border ballad has a deeper pathos than this painted
story of the sea."
Archer's first canvas exhibited at the Scottish Aca-
demy was " The Child Saint John in the Wilderness "
(1843), and it was followed for fifteen years by Scriptural
63
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
subjects and fanciful scenes, while at a later period scenes
from the Arthurian legend occupied him more or less —
" Morte d'Arthur " (1861), " King Arthur in Quest of
Excalibur," and the ** Parting of Arthur and Guine-
vere." It is in the first of the Arthurian pictures that
Archer reaches high water mark both in sentiment and
execution. In the latter part of his career he gave him-
self chiefly to portraits and single figure subjects; among
the former we may note those of "Sir Daniel Macnee "
and " Professor Blackie," and as illustrating the latter
the attractive picture entitled " The King Over the
Water " (1877). In the last named canvas a Jacobite
maiden is represented as responding to the Stuart
toast after the custom known only to Jacobite en-
thusiasts.
The last two decades of the nineteenth century
witnessed the advent of new phases of art in Scotland,
the artists mostly concerned with the movement being
connected with Glasgow. At first their manner was
scouted as foreign, but the distinctly national character
of their art was presently recognized. Of this newer
development of Scottish art a very recent writer, von
Mach, has declared that " while there is much that is
pleasing in British academic circles, the germ of progress
doubtless rests with the Scotchman. Strangely enough
theirs is a democratic art, so that the time may soon
come when Great Britain will lose her proud position
as the only aristocrat among the artistic nations of the
world."
To enter upon discussion of the merits of the Glasgow
School must not be undertaken at the very end of this
all too fragmentary and imperfect summary of the
progress of Scottish art through more than two cen-
turies. Moreover, if it were not only to do its leaders a
distinct injury by so hurriedly touching upon their art
64
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
and its principles, the ruling which has been adopted
in regard to Scottish authors must apply to Scottish
artists also, — that of excluding living persons from our
survey. The most that can be done here is to name a
very few of the foremost exponents of the school with
the title of one or more pictures by each appended.
Such are John La very, " The Croquet Party; " James
Guthrie, "Afternoon Tea" (pastel), "Evening —
Helensburgh " (pastel); Joseph Crawhall, " The Cocka-
too," "The Black Rabbit;" and Edward Walton,
" The Sun Dial," " Dora."
It may seem to some readers of this chapter, devoted
to the progress of Scotland since the Battle of Culloden,
as if too much has been made of the literary and artistic
aspects as well as certain minor phases of that pro-
gression, and too little of the historical features of the
subject. A thoughtful consideration of the case will
show, nevertheless, that the disproportion arises from
the nature of the circumstances attaching to it —
indeed the disproportion is rather fanciful than actual.
And for the following reason.
The fact should not be lost sight of that Scottish his-
tory, as distinct from English annals, virtually closed
when the second Jacobite rebellion had proved a dis-
astrous failure. In that sense there was no Scottish
history. Henceforward the annals of the two nations
were, so far as political matters were concerned, not to
be separated the one from the other. Local events
there were to be recorded, ecclesiastical happenings of
importance, like the separation of the Free Church
from the Kirk of Scotland in 1843, but no political
transactions of moment with which Scotland was con-
cerned to the entire exclusion of England. The two
nations had become one, or at least were every day
becommg more nearly one, and that one was Great
66
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Britain. The glory of England was to be the glory of
the country north of the Border, too, of the Scottish
Highlands as well as of the Lowlands. Jealousies there
were, jealousies that in minor matters make themselves
felt at times even in the twentieth century. Misunder-
standings and misreadings of Scottish and English
character on both sides there were likewise, and some
such there are still, but in vital matters the solidarity of
the nation is apparent north of the Tweed as well as
south of it. Such being the condition of affairs Scottish
history in the larger sense and as an individual thing is
virtually non-existent.
What Scotland is to-day is what her people at home
have made her in the last 150 years. She has given
to the world great soldiers, none greater; brave sailors,
none braver; yet her soldiers and her sailors have not
contributed to the making of Scotland by itself but to
that of the Great Britain of which she has long been a
vital part. Her history has been made by her merchants,
her manufacturers, her engineers, her architects, her
theologians, her writers of songs, her weavers of fiction,
her painters, her metaphysicians and her philosophers.
These have made her history; it is a history to be proud
of, but it is not the record of national politics.
The literary annals of Scotland since Culloden con-
stitute the major part of Scotia's history; indeed her
literature is her history, and for this reason it is that the
greater part of this chapter has been given to the recital
of her literary development through more than thrice
fifty years. If the progress of the years has made her
sharer in many ways of the great achievements of
Englishmen at home and abroad, and especially sharers
in the literature produced on the southern side of the
Tweed, England now accords full measure of appreciation
of that which is native to the northern division of the
66
SCOTLAND SINCE CULLODEN
isle. Scott and Bums are not the property of Scotland
alone, Stevenson and Barrie have not readers by the
thousands in Scotland only. Scotland's literary bead
roll is a long and shining one, and we have by no means
exhausted its treasures in the hasty scanning given
it in these pages. The songs her poets have sung, the
tales her story-tellers have told are known wherever
English is spoken, are treasured wherever the English
language has gone.
Abundant reason may be found, therefore, for the
space that has been accorded to the account here given
of Scotland's literature during the long period under
consideration. Her literary annals are, in the deeper
sense of the term, her history. Her architects, engineers,
manufacturers, merchants, have ably borne their part
in the creation of her history, but her singers and story-
tellers have done infinitely more. Imagine Scottish lit-
erature without its Bums and the throng of minor singers
indissolubly associated with the poesy of Caledonia.
Picture what it would be without such story-tellers as
Scott and Stevenson, and the author of " Rab and His
Friends." It is not alone what these men accomplished
for literature in their proper person that is to be con-
sidered, but the impulse given to letters by their influence
and example in addition. Thomson in his " Seasons "
led the way to the appreciation of nature now so general,
Fergusson, to some extent, is responsible for the later
Burns, whUe Burns and Scott made possible in a certain
degree the innumerable singers and weavers of tales that
have flourished since their day in the country over the
Border. One need not pause to prophesy that country's
future, and her past is secure. It only remains therefore
to entreat the Ruler of Nations to
** Give her the glory of going on, and still to be.**
67
A
SHEAF OF SCOTTISH SONGS
AND BALLADS
AUTHOR INDEX
PAoa
Unknown
Bonnie George Campbell 73
Waly, Waly, Gin Love Be Bonny 74
The Boatie Rows 75
Glenlogie 7q
Anderson, Alexander
Cuddle Doon 104
Langsyne, When Life Was Bonnie 105
Toshie Nome iqq
Aytoun, William Edmonstoune
The Burial March of Dundee 94
Blamire, Susanna
What Ails This Heart o' Mine? 78
Burns, Robert
Of a' the Airts the Wind Can Blaw .... 78
Mary Morison yg
Highland Mary 80
Campbell, Thomas
Glenara 88
Davidson, John
Transformation Song jjq
Elliott, Jane
Lament for Flodden qq
Grant, Sir Robert
O Saviour: Whose Mercy Iqq
Hogg, James
When Maggy Gangs Away o ...... 86
Knox, Mrs. Isa Craig
Song 104
Laidlaw, William
Lucy's Flittin' 89
Macdonald, George
Hymn for the Mother . 101
S°*« ......... , . ] 102
71
AUTHOR INDEX
PAQB
One Home 103
Motherwell, William
Jeanie Morrison 92
Nairne, Lady Carolina Oliphant
Charlie Is My Darling 81
CaUer Herrin' 82
Jamie the Laird 82
The Land o' the Leal . . , 83
Nicoll, Robert
We are Brethren A' . 99
Ramsay, Allan
Farewell to Lochaber . 77
Robertson, James Logie
A Winter Song 107
Scott, Sir Walter
Coronach .84
Proud Maisie 85
Boat Song 85
Scott, William Bell
Parting and Meeting Again 94
Sharp, William
The Song of Flowers 109
Song 109
Soidhesk, Earl of
The Mountain Fir 103
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Requiem 108
A Mile an' a Bittock ........ 108
Tannahill, Robert
The Braes of Balquhither . 87
Thorn, William
Whisper Low 91
72
A
SHEAF OF SCOTTISH SONGS
AND BALLADS
BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL
Hie upon Hielands,
And low upon Tay,
Bonnie George Campbell
Rade out on a day.
Saddled and bridled
And gallant rade he;
Hame came his gude horse,
But never came he.
Out came his auld mither
Greeting fu' sair,
And out came his bonny bride
Rivin' her hair.
Saddled and bridled
And booted rade he;
Toom hame came the saddle,
But never came he.
"My meadow lies green,
And my corn is unshorn;
My barn is to build,
And my baby's unborn."
Saddled and bridled
And booted rade he,
Toom hame came the saddle
But never came he.
73
Unknown.
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
WALY, WALY, GIN LOVE BE BONNY
O, waly, waly up the bank,
And waly, waly down the brae,
And waly, waly yon burnside,
Where I and my love wont to gae.
I leaned my back unto an aik,
And thought it was a trusty tree.
But first it bowed, and syne it brak',
Sae my true love did lightly me.
O, waly, waly, but love be bonny,
A little time while it is new;
But when 'tis auld, it waxeth cauld,
And fades away like morning dew.
0, wherefore should I busk my head?
Or wherefore should I kame my hair?
For my true love has me forsook.
And says he'll never love me mair.
Now Arthur-Seat shall be my bed.
The sheets shall ne'er be filled by me;
Saint Anton's well shall be my drink,
Since my true love's forsaken me,
Martiimias wind, when wilt thou blaw,
And shake the green leaves off the tree?
O gentle death! when wilt thou come?
For of my life I am weary.
'Tis not the frost that freezes fell,
Nor blawing snaw's inclemency;
'Tis not sic cauld that makes me cry,
But my love's heart grown cauld to me.
When we came in by Glasgow town,
We were a comely sight to see;
My love was clad in the black velvet,
And I mysel' in cramassie.
But had I wist before I kissed
That love had been sae ill to win,
I'd locked my heart in a case of gold,
And pinned it with a silver pin.
74
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
And 0, if my young babe were born,
And set upon the nurse's knee,
And I mysel' were dead and gane,
Wi' the green grass growing over me!
Unknoim.
JFirst printed in Allan Ramsay's " Tea Table Miscellany,"
and sometimes entitled " Lady Anne Bothwell's Lament."
It has many variants.]
THE BOATIE ROWS
O, weel may the boatie row
And better may she speed;
And liesome may the boatie row
That wins the bairnies' bread.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows indeed;
And weel may the boatie row
That wins the bairnies' bread.
I coost my line in Largo Bay,
And fishies I catched nine;
"Twas three to boil and three to fry,
And three to bait the line.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows indeed,
And happy be the lot o' a'
Wha wishes her to speed.
O, weel may the boatie row.
That fills a heavy creel,
And deeds us a' frae tap to tae,
And buys our parritch meal.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows, indeed.
And happy be the lot o' a'
That wish the boatie speed.
When Jamie vowed he wad be mine,
And wan frae me my heart,
75
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
O, muckle lighter grew my creel —
He swore we'd never part.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows fu' weel;
And muckle lighter is the load
When love bears up the creel.
My kurtch I put upo' my head,
And dressed mysel' fu' braw;
I trow my heart was dough and wae,
When Jamie gaed awa'.
But weel may the boatie row,
And lucky be her part,
And lightsome be the lassie's care
That yields an honest heart.
Unknown.
GLENLOGIE
Threescore o* nobles rade up the king's ha'.
But bonnie Glenlogie's the flower o' them a',
Wi' his milk-white steed and his bonnie black e'e,
" Glenlogie, dear mither, Glenlogie for me ! "
" O, haud your tongue, daughter, yell get better than he."
"O, say not sae, mither, for that canna be;
Though Doumlie is richer and greater than he
Yet if I maun tak him, I'll certainly dee.
" Where will I get a bonnie boy, to win hose and shoon,
Will gae to Glenlogie, and come again soon? "
" 0, here am I a bonnie boy, to win hose and shoon,
Will gae to Glenlogie and come again soon."
When he gaed to Glenlogie, 'twas "wash and go dine;"
'Twas "wash ye, my pretty boy, wash and go dine."
" O, 'twas ne'er my father's fashion, and it ne'er shall be mine
To gar a lady's errand wait till I dine.
" But there is, Glenlogie, a letter for thee."
The first line that he read, a low laugh gave he;
The next line that he read, the tear blindit his e'e.
But the last line that he read, he gart the table flee.
76
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
" Gar saddle the black horse, gar saddle the broun ;
Gar saddle the swiftest steed e'er rade frae a toun: "
But lang ere the horse was drawn and brought to the green
O, bonnie GlenJogie was twa mile his lane.
When he came to Glenfeldy's door, little mirth was there;
Bonnie Jean's mither was tearing her hair,
" Ye're welcome, Glenlogie, ye 're welcome," said she, —
"Ye're welcome, Glenlogie, your Jeannie to see."
Pale and wan was she, when Glenlogie gaed ben,
But red and rosy grew she, whene'er he sat doun;
She turned awa' her head, but the smile was in her e'e,
" binna feared, mither, I'll maybe no dee."
Unknown.
FAREWELL TO LOCHABER
Farewell to Lochaber, farewell to my Jean,
Where heartsome with thee I have mony a day been:
To Lochaber no more, to Lochaber no more,
We'll maybe return to Lochaber no more.
These tears that I shed they are a' for my dear
And not for the dangers attending on weir;
Though borne on rough seas to a far bloody shore,
Maybe to return to Lochaber no more!
Though hurricanes rise, and rise every wind,
No tempest can equal the storm in my mind;
Though loudest of thunders on louder waves roar,
That's naething like leaving my love on the shore.
To leave thee behind me my heart is sair pained.
But by ease that's inglorious no fame can be gained;
And beauty and love's the reward of the brave;
And I maun deserve it before I can crave.
Then glory, my Jenny, maun plead my excuse;
Since honour commands me, how can I refuse?
Without it I ne'er can have merit for thee,
And losing thy favour I'd better not be.
77
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
I gae then, my lass, to win honour and fame.
And if I should chance to come glorious hame,
I'll bring a heart to thee with love running o'er,
And then I'll leave thee and Lochaber no more.
Allan Ramsay, 1686-1758.
WHAT AILS THIS HEART 0' MINE?
What ails this heart o' mine?
What ails this watery e'e?
What gars me a' turn pale as death
When I take leave o' thee?
When thou art far awa'.
Thou 'It dearer grow to me;
But change o' place, and change o' folk,
May gar thy fancy jee.
When I gae out at e'en.
Or walk at morning air.
Ilk rustling bush will seem to say,
I used to meet thee there.
Then I'll sit down and cry.
And live aneath the tree.
And when a leaf fa's i' my lap,
I'll ca' 't a word frae thee.
I'll hie me to the bower
That thou wi' roses tied,
And where wi' mony a blushing bud
I strove myself to hide.
I'll doat on ilka spot
Where I hae been wi' thee;
And ca' to mind some kindly word,
By ilka burn and tree.
Susanna Blamire, 1747-1794.
OF A' THE AIRTS THE WIND CAN BLAW
Of a' the airts the wind can blaw,
I dearly like the west;
For there the bonnie lassie lives.
The lassie I lo'e best.
78
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
There wildwoods grow, and rivers row,
And monie a hill's between;
But day and night my fancy's flight
Is ever wi' my Jean.
I see her in the dewy flowers,
I see her sweet and fair;
I hear her in the tunefu' birds,
I hear her charm the air;
There's not a bonnie flower that springs
By fountain, shaw or green, —
There's not a bonnie bird that sings,
But minds me o' my Jean.
Robert Burns, 1759-1796.
MARY MORISON
Mary, at thy window be!
It is the wished, the trysted hour!
Those smiles and glances let me see
That make the miser's treasure poor;
How blithely wad I bide the stoure,
A weary slave frae sun to sun,
Could I the rich reward secure,
The lovely Mary Morison.
Yestreen when to the trembling string
The dance ga'ed through the lighted ha*,
To thee my fancy took its wing,
I sat, but neither heard nor saw.
Though this was fair, and that was braw.
And yon the toast of a' the town,
I sighed, and said among them a',
" Ye are na Mary Morison."
O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace
Wha for thy sake wad gladly dee?
Or canst thou break that heart of his,
Whase only faut is loving thee?
If love for love thou wilt na gie.
At least be pity to me shown;
79
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
A thought ungentle canna be
The thought o' Mary Morison.
HIGHLAND MARY
Robert Bums.
Ye banks and braes and streams around
The castle o' Montgomery,
Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie!
There, simmer first unfauld her robes
And there the langest tarry!
For there I took the last farewell
O' my sweet Highland Mary.
How sweetly bloomed the gay green birk,
How rich the hawthorn's blossom,
As underneath their fragrant shade
I clasped her to my bosom!
The golden hours on angel wings
Flew o'er me and my dearie;
For dear to me as light and life
Was my sweet Highland Mary.
Wi' mony a vow and locked embrace
Our parting was fu' tender;
And pledging aft to meet again.
We tore ourselves asunder; t
But, 0, fell Death's untimely frost,
That nipt my flower sae early!
Now green's the sod, and cauld's the clay,
That wraps my Highland Mary.
O pale, pale now, those rosy lips
I aft hae kissed sae fondly!
And closed for aye the sparkling glance
That dwelt on me sae kindly!
And mouldering now in silent dust
The heart that lo'ed me dearly!
But still within my bosom's core
Shall live my Highland Mary.
Robert Bums,
80
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
CHARLIE IS MY DARLING
Twas on a Monday morning,
Right early in the year,
When Charlie cam' to our town,
The young Chevalier.
Oh, Charlie is my darling,
My darling, my darling,
Oh, Charlie is my darling,
The young Chevalier.
As he cam' marching up the street
The pipes played loud an' clear,
An' a' the folks cam' running out
To meet the Chevalier.
Wi' Hieland bonnets on their heads,
An' claymores bright and clear.
They cam' to fight for Scotland's right
And the young Chevalier.
They've left their bonnie Hieland hills
Their wives and bairnies dear.
To draw the sword for Scotland's lord,
The young Chevalier.
Oh, there were mony beating hearts
An' mony a hope an' fear.
An' mony were the prayers sent up
For the young Chevalier.
Oh, Charlie is my darling,
My darling, my darling,
Oh, Charlie is my darling,
The young Chevalier.
Lady Nairne, 1766-1845.
[Burns and Hogg also wrote songs to the air of " Charlie
is my Darling," including in each case the first stanza of the
unknown singer who originated the song.]
81
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
CALLER HEREIN'
Whall buy my caller herrin'?
They're bonnie fish and halesome fairin*,
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'
New drawn frae the Forth?
When ye were sleepin* on your pillows,
Dream'd ye aught o' our fine fellows,
Darkling as they faced the billows
A' to fill the woven willows?
Buy my caller herrin',
New drawn frae the Forth.
Whall buy my caller herrin',
The 're no bought without brave darin';
Buy my caller herrin',
Haled thro' wind and rain.
Whall buy my caller herrin'?
Oh, ye may call them vulgar fairin*;
Wives and mithers maist despairin'
Ca' them lives o' men.
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?
They're bonnie fish and halesome fairin',
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'
New drawn frae the Forth?
Lady Nairne.
JMllE THE LAIRD
Send a horse to the water, yell no mak' him drink;
Send a fule to the college, ye '11 no mak' him think;
Send a craw to the surgin, and still he will craw;
An' the wee laird had nae rummelgumpshon ava;
Yet he is the pride o' his fond mither's e'e;
In body or mind nae faut can she see;
" He's a fell clever lad and a bonnie wee man,"
Is aye the beginnin' an' end o' her sang.
His legs they are bow'd, his e'es they do glee,
His wig, whiles it's off, and when on, it's ajee.
83
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
He's as braird as he's lang — an* ill-faur'd is he,
A dafter like body I never did see.
An* yet for this cretur she says I am deein*;
When that I deny — She's fear'd at my leein*.
Obhged to pit up wi' the sair defamation,
I'm hken to dee wi' shame an' vexation.
An* her clish-ma-clavers gang a' thro' the town,
An* the wee lairdie trows I'll hang or /'ll drown,
Wi* his gawkie like face yestreen he did say,
"111 maybe tak' you, for Bess I'll no hae.
Nor MoUie, nor Effie, nor long-legged Jennie,
Nor Nellie, nor Katie, nor skirlin* wee Beenie."
I stoppet my ears, ran off in a fury —
I'm thinkin* to bring them before Judge and Jury.
Frien's gie yere advice — I'll follow yere counsel.
Maun I speak to the Provost or honest Town Council?
Or the writers, or lawyers, or doctors? now say.
For the law o' the Lucky I shall and will hae.
The hail town at me are jibbin' and jeerin'.
For a leddy like me it's really past hearin';
The Lucky now maun hae done wi' her claverin",
For I'll no pit up wi' her an' her haverin."
Lady Nairne.
THE LAND 0' THE LEAL
I'm wearin' awa,* John,
Like snaw-wreaths in thaw, John,
I'm wearin awa*
To the land o' the leal.
There's nae sorrow there, John,
There's neither cauld nor care, John,
The day is aye fair
In the land o' the leal.
Our bonnie bairn's there, John,
She was baith gude and fair, John,
And, oh, we grudged her sair
To the land o' the leal.
83
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
But sorrow's sel' wears past, John,
And joy's a-comin' fast, John,
The joy that's aye to last
In the land o' the leal.
Oh, dry your glist'ning e'e, John,
My saul langs to be free, John,
And angels beckon me
To the land o' the leal.
O, hand ye leal and true, John,
Your day it's wearin' through, John,
And I'll welcome you
To the land o' the leal.
Now fare-ye-weel, my ain John,
The world's cares are vain, John,
We'll meet and will be fain
In the land o' the leal.
Lady Naime*
CORONACH
He is gone on the mountain,
He is lost to the forest,
Like a summer-dried fountain.
When our need was the sorest.
The font, reappearing.
From the rain-drops shall borrow,
But to us comes no cheering.
To Duncan no morrow!
The hand of the reaper
Takes the ears that are hoary,
But the voice of the weeper
Wails manhood in glory.
The autumn winds rushing
Waft the leaves that are searest,
But our flower was in fiushiag,
When blighting was nearest.
Fleet foot on the correi,
Sage counsel in cumber,
84
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
Red hand in the foray,
How sound is thy slumber!
Like the dew on the mountain,
Like the foam on the river.
Like the bubble on the fountain,
Thou art gone and forever.
Sir Walter Scott, 1771-1832.
PROUD MAISIE
Proud Maisie is in the wood
Walking so early;
Sweet Robin sits on the bush
Singing so rarely.
"Tell me, thou bonny bird.
When shall I marry me? "
" When six braw gentlemen
Kirkward shall carry ye."
" Who makes the bridal bed?
Birdie, say truly? "
" The grey-headed sexton
That delves the grave dtily.
The glow-worm o'er grave and stone
Shall light thee steady;
The owl from the steeple sing
Welcome, proud lady."
Sir Walter Scott.
BOAT SONG
Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances!
Honoured and blessed be the ever-green Pine!
Long may the tree, in his banner that glances,
Flourish, the shelter and grace of our hne!
Heaven send it happy dew.
Earth lend it sap anew,
Gayly to bourgeon and broadly to grow,
While every Highland glen
Sends our shout back again,
" Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe! "
85
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Ours is no sapling, chance-sown by the fountain,
Blooming at Beltane, in winter to fade,
When the whirlwind has stripped every leaf on the mountain,
The more shall Clan-Alpine exult in her shade.
Moored in the rifted rock.
Proof to the tempest's shock,
Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow;
Menteith and Breadalbane, then.
Echo his praise again,
" Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!"
Proudly our pibroch has thrilled in Glen Fruin,
And Bannochar's groans to our slogan replied;
Glen Luss and Ross-dhu, they are smoking in ruin.
And the best of Loch Lomond he dead on her side.
Widow and Saxon maid
Long shall lament our raid.
Think of Clan- Alpine with fear and with woe;
Lenox and Leven-glen
Shake when they hear again,
" Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!"
Row, vassals row, for the pride of the Highlands!
Stretch to your oars for the ever-green Pine!
that the rosebud that graces yon islands
Were wreathed in a garland around him to twine!
O that some seedling gem,
Worthy such noble stem,
Honoured and blessed in their shadow might grow!
Loud should Clan-Alpine then
Ring from her deepmost glen,
" Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho ! ieroe ! "
Sir Walter ScoU,
WHEN MAGGY GANGS AWAY
O, what will a' the lads do
When Maggy gangs away?
O, what will a' the lads do
When Maggy gangs away?
There's no a heart in a' the glen
That disna dread the day; —
86
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
0, what will a' the lads do
When Maggy gangs away?
Young Jock has ta'en the hill for't,
A waefu' wight is he;
Poor Harry's ta'en the bed for't,
An' laid him down to dee;
An' Sandy's gane unto the kirk,
An' learnin' fast to pray; —
0, what will a' the lads do
When Maggy gangs away?
The young laird o' the Lang Shaw
Has drunk her health in wine;
The priest has said — in confidence —
The lassie was divine;
An' that is mair in maiden's praise
Than ony priest should say; —
But 0, what will the lads do
When Maggy gangs away?
The wailing in our green glen
That day will quaver high,
'Twill draw the redbreast frae the wood,
The laverock frae the sky;
The fairies frae their beds o' dew
Will rise an' join the lay, —
An' hey! what a day 'twill be
When Maggy gangs away?
James Hogg, 1772-1835.
THE BRAES 0' BALQUHITHER
Let us go, lassie, go,
To the braes o' Balquhither,
Where the blae-berries grow
'Mang the bonnie Highland heather;
Where the deer and the roe,
Lightly bounding together,
Sport the lang simmer day
On the braes o' Balquhither.
87
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
I will twine thee a bower
By the clear siller fountain,
And I'll cover it o'er
Wi' the flowers of the mountain;
I will range through the wilds,
And the deep glens sae drearie,
And return wi' the spoils
To the bower o' my dearie.
When the rude wintry win'
Idly raves round our dwelling,
And the roar of the linn
On the night breeze is swelling,
Sae merrily we'll sing,
As the storm rattles o'er us,
Till the dear shieling ring
Wi' the light lilting chorus.
Now the simmer's in prime
Wi' the flowers richly blooming,
And the wild mountain thyme
A' the moorlands perfuming;
To our dear native scenes
Let us journey together.
Where glad innocence reigns
'Mang the braes o' Balquhither.
Robert Tannahill, 1774-1810.
GLENARA
O, heard ye yon pibroch sound sad in the gale,
Where a band cometh slowly with weeping and wail?
Tis the chief of Glenara laments for his dear;
And her sire, and the people, are called to her bier.
Glenara came first with the mourners and shroud;
Her kinsmen they followed, but mourned not aloud;
Their plaids all their bosoms were folded around;
They marched all in silence, — they looked on the ground.
In silence they marched over mountain and moor,
To a heath where the oak-tree grew lonely and hoar:
88
SCOTTISH SCNGS AND BALLADS
" Now here let us place the grey stone of her cairn:
Why speak ye no word? " said Glenara the stern.
" And tell me, I charge you! ye clan of my spouse,
Why fold ye your mantles, why cloud ye your brows? "
So spake the rude chieftain; no answer is made,
But each mantle unfolding, a dagger displayed.
" I dreamt of my lady, I dreamt of her shroud,"
Cried a voice from the kinsmen, all wrathful and loud;
" And empty that shroud and that coffin did seem;
Glenaral Glenaral now read me my dream!"
pale grew the cheek of that chieftain, I ween,
When the shroud was unclosed, and no lady was seen;
When a voice from the kinsmen spoke louder in scorn,
'Twas the youth who had loved the fair Ellen of Lorn:
" I dreamt of my lady, I dreamt of her grief,
1 dreamt that her lord was a barbarous chief;
On a rock of the ocean fair Ellen did seem:
Glenara! Glenara! now read me my dream? "
In dust, low the traitor has knelt to the ground.
And the desert revealed where his lady was found;
From a rock of the ocean that beauty is borne, —
Now joy to the house of fair Ellen of Lorn!
Thomas Campbell, 1777-1844.
LUCY'S FLITTIN'
Twas when the wan leaf frae the birk-tree was fa'in.
An' Martinmas dowie had wound up the year,
That Lucy rowed up her wee kist wi' her a' in 't,
An' left her auld maister an' neibours sae dear;
For Lucy had served i' the glen a' the simmer;
She cam' there afore the bloom cam' on the pea;
An orphan was she, and they had been gude till her,
Sure that was the thing brocht the tear to her e'e.
She gaed by the stable where Jamie was stannin';
Richt sair was his kind heart her flittin' to see.
89
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
" Fare ye weel, Lucy! " quo' Jamie, and ran in;
The gatherin' tears trickled fast frae her e'e.
As down the burnside she gaed slow wi' her flittin',
" Fare ye weel, Lucy! " was ilka bird's sang;
She heard the craw sayin't, high on the trees sittin',
An' the robin was chirpin't the brown leaves amang.
" 0, what is't that pits my puir heart in a flutter?
An' what gars the tears come sae fast to my e'e?
If I wasna ettled to be ony better,
Then what gars me wish ony better to be?
I'm juist like a lammie that loses its mither;
Nae mither or friend the puir lammie can see;
I fear I hae tint my puir heart a'thegither,
Nae wonder the tear fa' sae fast frae my e'e.
"^Wi* the rest o' my claes I have rowed up the ribbon.
The bonnie blue ribbon that Jamie gae me;
Yestreen, when he gae me't, and saw I was sabbin',
I'll never forget the wee blink o' his e'e.
Though now he said naething but ' Fare ye weel, Lucy! '
It made me I neither could speak, hear, nor see;
He couldna say mair but juist, ' Fare ye weel, Lucy!'
Yet that I will mind till the day that I dee."
The lamb likes the gowan wi' dew when its droukit;
The hare likes the brake and the braird on the lea;
But Lucy likes Jamie; she turned and she lookit,
She thocht the dear place she wad never mair see.
Ah, weel may young Jamie gang dowie and cheerless!
An' weel may he greet on the bank o' the burn!
For bonnie sweet Lucy, sae gentle and peerless.
Lies cauld in her grave, and will never return.
William Laidlaw, 1780-1845.
LAMENT FOR FLODDEN
I've heard them lilting at our ewe-milking.
Lassies a lilting before dawn o' day;
But now they are moaning on ilka green loaning —
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.
90
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
At bughts, in the morning, nae blythe lads are scorning,
Lassies are lonely and dowie and wae;
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighing and sabbing,
Ilk ane lifts her leglin and hies her away.
In har'st, at the shearing, nae youths now are jeering,
Bandsters are lyart, and runkled, and grey;
At fair or at preaching, nae wooing, nae fieeching —
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.
At e'en, in the gloaming, nae younkers are roaming
'Bout stacks wi' the lasses at bogle to play;
But ilk ane sits drearie, lamenting her dearie —
The Flowers of the Forest are weded away.
Dool and wae for the order, sent our lads to the Border!
The English, for ance, by guile wan the day;
The Flowers of the Forest, that fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land, are cauld in the clay.
We'll hear nae mair lilting at the ewe-milking;
Women and bairns are heartless and wae;
Sighing and moaning on ilka green loaning —
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.
Jane Elliott, 1781-1849.
WHISPER LOW
Slowly, slowly the cauld moon creeps
Wi' a licht unloesome to see;
It dwalls on the window whaur my love sleeps.
An' she winna wauken to me.
Wearie, wearie the hours, and slow,
Wauken, my lovie, and whisper low.
There's nae ae sang in heaven's licht.
Nor on the green earth doun,
Like soun's which kind love kens at nicht,
When whispers hap the soun';
Hearin,' fearin', sichin so —
Whisper, my bonnie love, whisper low I
91
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
They lack nae lieht wha weel can speak
In love's ain wordless wile;
Her ee'bree creepin' on my cheek
Betrays her pawkie smile.
Happy, happy, silent so —
Breathin' bonnie love, whisper low!
Was yon a waft o' her wee white han'
Wi' a warnin' " wheest " to me?
Or was it a gleam o' that fause moon fa'in*
On my poor misguided e'e?
Wearie, wearie, wearie —
Wauken, my lovie, and whisper low.
William Thorn, 1798-1845.
JEANIE MORRISON
I've wandered east, I've wandered west,
Through mony a weary way;
But never, never can forget
The luve o' life's young day!
The fire that's blawn on Beltane e'en
May weel be black gin Yule;
But blacker fa' awaits the heart
Where first fond luve grows cool.
O dear, dear Jeanie Morrison.
The thochts o' bygane years
Still fling their shadows ower my path,
And blind my e'en wi' tears;
They blind my e'en wi' saut, saut tears,
And sair and sick I pine.
As memory idly summons up
The blythe blinks o' lang syne.
Twas then we luvit ilk ither weel,
'Twas then we twa' did part:
Sweet time, — sad time ! twa bairns at scule,
Twa bairns, and but ae heart!
Twas then we sat on ae laigh bink,
To leir ilk ither lear;
92
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
And tones and looks and smiles were shed,
Remembered evermair.
I wonder, Jeanie, aften yet,
When sitting on that bink.
Cheek touchin' cheek, loof locked in loof,
What our wee heads could think?
When baith bent doun ower ae braid page,
Wi' ae bulk on our knee,
Thy lips were on thy lesson, but
My lesson was in thee.
0, mind ye, luve, how aft we left
The deavin dinsome toun.
To wander by the green burnside,
And hear its waters croon?
The simmer leaves hung ower our heads,
The flowers burst round our feet,
And in the gloamin' o' the wood.
The throssil whussilt sweet.
The throssil whussilt in the wood,
The wren sang to the trees.
And we, with Nature's heart in tuae^
Concerted harmonies.
And on the knowe abune the burn
For hours thegither sat
In the silentness o' joy, till baith
Wi' very gladness grat.
O dear, dear Jeanie Morrison,
Since we were sindered young,
I've never seen your face, nor heard
The music o' your tongue;
But I could hug all wretchedness.
And happy could I dee,
Did I but ken your heart still dreamed
0' bygane days and me.
William AfotherweU, 1797-1835.
93
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
PARTING AND MEETING AGAIN
Last time I parted from my Dear
The linnet sang from the briar-bush,
The throstle from the dell;
The stream, too, carolled full and clear.
It was the springtime of the year,
And both the linnet and the thrush
I love them well
Since last I parted with my Dear.
But when he came again to me
The barley rustled high and loW;
Linnet and thrush were still;
Yellowed the apple on the tree,
Twas Autumn merry as it could be,
What time the white ships come and go
Under the hill,
They brought him back again to me,
Brought him safely o'er the sea.
William Bell Scott, 1812-1890.
THE BURIAL MARCH OF DUNDEE
Sound the fife, and cry the slogan —
Let the pibroch shake the air
With its wild triumphal music.
Worthy of the freight we bear.
Let the ancient hills of Scotland
Hear once more the battle-song
Swell within their glens and valleys
As the clansmen march along!
Never from the field of combat.
Never from the deadly fray,
Was a nobler trophy carried
Than we bring with us to-day;
Never since the valiant Douglas
On his dauntless bosom bore
Good King Robert's heart — the priceless'
To our dear Redeemer's shore!
94
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
Lo ! we bring with us the hero —
Lo! we bring the conquering Graeme,
Crowned as best beseems a victor
From the altar of his fame;
Fresh and bleeding from the battle
Whence his spirit took its flight,
TMidst the crashing charge of squadrons,
And the thunder of the fight!
Strike, I say, the notes of triumph,
As we march o'er moor and leal
Is there any here will venture
To bewail our dead Dundee?
Let the widows of the traitors
Weep until their eyes are dim!
Wail ye may full well for Scotland —
Let none dare to mourn for him!
See! above his glorious body
Lies the royal banner's fold —
See! his vahant blood is mingled
With its crimson and its gold.
See how calm he looks and stately,
Like a warrior on his shield,
Waiting till the flush of morning
Breaks along the battle-field!
See — Oh never more, my comrades,
Shall we see that falcon eye
Redden with its inward lightning.
As the hour of fight drew nigh!
Never shall we hear the voice that,
Clearer than the trumpet's call,
Bade us strike for King and Country,
Bade us win the field, or fall!
On the heights of Killiecrankie
Yester morn our army lay;
Slowly rose the mist in columns
From the river's broken way;
Hoarsely roared the swollen torrent,
And the Pass was wrapped in gloom,
95
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
When the clansmen rose together
From their lair amidst the broom.
Then we belted on our tartans,
And our bonnets down we drew,
And we felt our broadswords' edges,
And we proved them to be true;
And we prayed the prayer of soldiers,
And we cried the gathering-cry,
And we clasped the hands of kinsmen.
And we swore to do or die!
Then our leader rode before us
On his war-horse black as night —
Well the Cameronian rebels
Knew that charger in the fight J
And a cry of exultation
From the bearded warriors rose;
For we loved the house of Claver'se,
And we thought of good Montrose.
But he raised his hand for silence —
"Soldiers! I have sworn a vow:
Ere the evening star shall glisten
On Schehallion's lofty brow,
Either we shall rest in triumph,
Or another of the Graemes
Shall have died in battle-harness
For his Country and King James!
Think upon the Royal Martyr —
Think of what his race endure —
Think on him whom butchers murder 'd
On the field of Magus Muir:
By his sacred blood I charge ye,
By the ruined hearth and shrine,
By the blighted hopes of Scotland,
By your injuries and mine —
Strike this day as if the anvil
Lay beneath your blows the while,
Be they Covenanting traitors,
Or the brood of false Argyle!
Strike! and drive the trembling rebels
Backwards o'er the stormy Forth;
Let them tell their pale Convention
How they fared within the North.
9e
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
Let them tell that Highland honour
Is not to be bought nor sold,
That we scorn their prince's anger
As we loath his foreign gold.
Strike! and when the fight is over,
If you look in vain for me,
Where the dead are lying thickest
Search for him that was Dundee I "
III
Loudly then the hills re-echoed
With our answer to his call,
But a deeper echo sounded
In the bosoms of us all.
For the lands of wide Breadalbane,
Not a man who heard him speak
Would that day have left the battle.
Burning eye and flushing cheek
Told the clansmen's fierce emotion.
And they harder drew their breath;
For their souls were strong within them,
Stronger than the grasp of death.
Soon we heard a challenge-trumpet
Sounding in the Pass below,
And the distant tramp of horses.
And the voices of the foe;
Down we crouched amid the bracken.
Till the Lowland ranks drew near.
Panting like the hounds in summer.
When they scent the stately deer.
From the dark defile emerging,
Next we saw the squadrons come,
Leslie's foot and Leven's troopers
Marching to the tuck of drum;
Through the scattered wood of birches,
O'er the broken ground and heath.
Wound the long battalion slowly,
Till they gained the field beneath;
Then we bounded from our covert —
Judge how looked the Saxons then,
97
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
When they saw the rugged mountain
Start to Hfe with armed men!
Like a tempest down the ridges
Swept the hurricane of steel,
Rose the slogan of Macdonald —
Flashed the broadsword of Locheilll
Vainly sped the withering volley
'Mongst the foremost of our band —
On we poured until we met them,
Foot to foot and hand to hand.
Horse and man went down like driftwood
When the floods are black at Yule,
And their carcasses are whirling
In the Garry's deepest pool.
Horse and man went down before us —
Living foe there tarried none
On the field of Killiecrankie,
When that stubborn fight was done.
IV
And the evening star was shining
On Schehallion's distant head
When we wiped our bloody broadswords.
And returned to count the dead.
There we found him gashed and gory,
Stretched upon the 'cumbered plain,
As he told us where to seek him,
In the thickest of the slain.
And a smile was on his visage.
For within his dying ear
Pealed the joyful note of triumph,
And the clansmen's clamorous cheer;
So, amidst the battle's thunder,
Shot, and steel, and scorching flame,
In the glory of his manhood
Passed the spirit of the Graeme!
Open wide the vaults of Athol,
Where the bones of heroes rest'
98
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
Open wide the hallowed portals
To receive another guest!
Last of Scots, and last of freemen —
Last of all that dauntless race
Who would rather die unsullied
Than outHve the land's disgrace I
O thou lion-hearted warrior!
Reck not of the after time:
Honour may be termed dishonour,
Loyalty be called a crime.
Sleep in peace with kindred ashes
Of the noble and the true.
Hands that never failed their country,
Hearts that never baseness knew.
Sleep! and till the latest trumpet
Wakes the dead from earth and sea,
Scotland shall not boast a braver
Chieftain than our own Dundee!
William Edmonstoune Aytoun, 1813-1865.
From *' Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers."
WE ARE BRETHREN A'
A happy bit hame this auld world would be,
If men, when they're here, could make shift to agree,
An' ilk said to his neighbour, in cottage an' ha',
"Come, gi'e me your hand, — we are brethren a'."
I ken na why ane wi' anither should fight,
When to 'gree would make ae body cosie an' right;
When man meets wi' man, 'tis the best way ava.
To say, " Gi'e me your hand, — we are brethren a'."
My coat is a coarse ane, an' yours may be fine,
An' I maun drink water, while you may drink wine;
But we baith ha'e a leal heart, unspotted to shaw:
Sae gi'e me your hand, — we are brethren a'.
The knave ye would scorn, the unfaithfu' deride;
Ye would stand like a rock, wi' the truth on your side;
Sae would I, an' naught else would I value a straw;
Then gi'e me your hand, — we are brethren a'.
99
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Ye would scorn to do fausely by woman or man;
I haud by the right aye, as weel as I can;
We are ane in our joys, our affections, an a';
Come, gi'e me your hand, — we are brethren a'.
Your mither has lo'ed you as mithers can lo'e;
An' mine has done for me what mithers can do;
We are ane high an' laigh, an' we shouldna be twa':
Sae gi'e me your hand, — we are brethren a'.
We love the same simmer day, sunny and fair;
Hame! 0, how wo love it, an' a' that are there!
Frae the pure air of heaven the same life we draw:
Come, gi'e me your hand, — we are brethren a'.
Frail shakin' auld age will soon come o'er us baith,
An' creepin' alang at his back will be death;
Syne into the same mither-yird we'll fa':
Come, gi'e me your hand, — we are brethren a'.
Robert Nicoll, 1814-1837.
SAVIOUR: WHOSE MERCY
Saviour! whose mercy, severe in its kindness,
Hath chastened my wanderings and guided ray way,
Adored be the power that illumined my blindness,
And weaned me from phantoms that smiled to betray.
Enchanted with all that was dazzling and fair,
I followed the rainbow, I caught at the toy;
And still in displeasure thy goodness was there.
Disappointing the hope and defeating the joy.
The blossom flushed bright, but a worm was below;
The moonlight shone fair, there was blight in the beam;
Sweet whispered the breeze, but it whispered of woe;
And bitterness flowed in the soft flowing stream.
So cured of my folly, yet cured but in part,
I turned to the refuge thy pity displayed;
And still did this eager and credulous heart
Weave visions of promise that bloomed but to fade.
100
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
I thought that the course of the pilgrim to heaven
Would be bright as the summer and glad as the mom:
Thou showedst me the path; it was dark and uneven,
All rugged with rock and all tangled with thorn,
I dreamed of celestial rewards and renown,
I grasped at the triumph that blesses the brave;
I asked for the palm-branch, the robe, and the crown,
I asked, and thou showedst me a cross and a grave.
Subdued and instructed, at length to thy will
My hopes and my wishes I freely resign;
O give me a heart that can wait and be still.
Nor know of a wish or a pleasure but thine.
There are mansions exempted from sin and from woe.
But they stand in a region by mortals untrod;
There are rivers of joy, but they roll not below;
There is rest, but 'tis found in the bosom of God.
Sir Robert Grant, 1814-1838.
HYMN FOR THE MOTHER
My child is lying on my knees;
The signs of heaven she reads;
My face is all the heaven she sees.
Is all the heaven she needs.
And she is well, yea, bathed in bliss,
If heaven is in my face, —
Behind it is all tenderness
And truthfulness and grace.
I mean her well so earnestly,
Unchanged in changing mood;
My life would go without a sigh
To bring her something good.
I also am a child, and I
Am ignorant and weak;
I gaze upon the starry sky,
And then I must not speak;
101
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
For all behind the starry sky,
Behind the world so broad,
Behind men's hearts and souls doth lie
The Infinite of God.
Ay, true to her, though troubled sore,
I cannot choose but be:
Thou who art peace forevermore
Art very true to me.
If I am low and sinful, bring
More love where need is rife;
Thou knowest what an awful thing
It is to be a hfe.
Hast thou not wisdom to enwrap
My waywardness about,
In doubting safety on the lap
Of Love that knows no doubt?
Lo! Lord, I sit in thy wide space,
My child upon my knee;
She looketh up into my face.
And I look up to thee.
George Macdonald, 1824-1905.
SONG
Alas, how easily things go wrong!
A sigh too much, or a kiss too long.
And there follows a mist and a weeping rain,
And hfe is never the same again.
Alas, how hardly things go right!
Tis hard to watch in a summer night.
For the sigh will come, and the kiss will stay,
And the summer night is a winter day.
George Macdonald.
102
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
ONE HOME
I go my way, thou goest thine,
Many ways we wend,
Many ways, many days,
Ending with one end;
Many a wrong with its curing song;
Many a road, many an inn —
Room to roam.
But only one home
For the whole world to win.
George Macdonald.
THE MOUNTAIN FIR
They sat beneath the mountain fir,
Beneath the evening sun;
With all his soul he looked at her —
And so was love begun.
The titmice blue in fluttering flocks
Caressed the fir-tree spray;
And far below, through rifted rocks,
The river went its way.
As stars in heavenly waters swim
Her eyes of azure shone;
With all her soul she looked at him —
And so was love led on.
The squirrel sported on the bough
And chuckled in his play;
Above the distant mountain's brow
A golden glory lay.
The fir-tree breathed its balsam balm,
With heather scents united,
The happy skies were hushed in calm —
And so the troth was plighted.
The Earl of Southesk; Sir James Carnegie, 1827-1905.
103
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
SONG
Dost thou think I captive lie
To a gracious, glancing eye?
Dost thou think I am not free?
Nay, I am; thou freest me.
All the world could not undo
Chains which bound me fast to you;
Only at your touch they fly, —
Freer than before am I.
I care not for eyes of blue;
I loved truth and thought it you;
If you charm but to deceive.
All your charms I well can leave.
Ah, my once well-loved one;
Do no more as thou hast done;
She that makes true hearts to ache,
Last of all her own will break.
Mrs. Isa Craig Knox, 1831
CUDDLE DOON
The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
Wi' muckle f aught an' din;
"Oh try and sleep, ye waukrife rogues.
Your faither's comin' in."
They never heed a word I speak;
I try to gie a froon.
But aye I hap them up and cry,
" Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon."
Wee Jamie wi' the curly heid —
He aye sleeps next the wa'.
Bangs up and cries, " I want a piece " —
The rascal starts them a'.
I rin an' fetch them pieces, drinks.
They stop awee the soun',
Then draw the blankets up an' cry,
" Noo, weanies, cuddle doon."
104
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
But ere five minutes gang, wee Rab
Cries out, frae 'neath the claes,
"Mither, mak' Tarn gie ower at ance,
He's kittlin' wi' his taes."
The mischeef's in that Tarn for tricks,
He'd bother half the toon;
But aye I hap them up and cry,
"Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon."
At length they hear their faither's fit,
An' as he steeks the door,
They turn their faces to the wa',
While Tam pretends to snore.
"Hae a' the weans been gude? " he asks,
As he pits aff his shoon;
"The bairnies, John, are in their beds,
An' lang since cuddled doon."
An' just afore we bed oursel's.
We look at our wee lambs,
Tam has his airm roun' wee Rab's neck.
And Rab his airm roun' Tam's.
I lift wee Jamie up the bed,
An' as I straik each croon,
I whisper, till my heart fills up,
Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon!
The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht
Wi' mirth that's dear to me;
But soon the big warl's cark and care
Will quaten doon their glee.
Yet, come what will to ilka ane,
May He who rules aboon
Aye whisper, though their pows be bald,
" Oh, bairnies, cuddle doon,"
Alexander Anderson, 1845
LANGSYNE, WHEN LIFE WAS BONNIE
Langsjoie, when life was bonnie.
An' a' the skies were blue,
105
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
When ilka thocht took blossom,
An' hung its heid wi' dew,
When winter wasna winter,
Though snaws cam' happin' doon,
Langsyne, when life was bonnie,
Spring gaed a twalmonth roun'.
Langsyne, when life was bonnie.
An' a' the days were lang;
When through them ran the music
That comes to us in sang,
We never wearied, liltin'
The auld love-laden tune;
Langsyne, when life was bonnie,
Love gaed a twalmonth roun'.
Langsyne, when life was bonnie,
An' a' the warld was fair,
The leaves were green wi' simmer,
For autumn wasna there.
But listen hoo they rustle,
Wi' an eerie, weary soun'.
For noo, alas, 'tis winter
That gangs a twalmonth roun'.
Alexander Anderson.
TOSHIE NORRIE
O, bonnie Toshie Norrie
To Inveraid is gane,
An' wi' her a' the sunshine
That made us unco fain.
The win' is cauld an' gurly,
An' winter's in the air.
But where dwells Toshie Norrie,
O, it's aye simmer there.
O, bonnie Toshie Norrie,
What made you leave us a'?
Your hame is no the Heelands,
Though there the hills are braw.
Come back wi' a' your daffin',
An' walth o' gowden hair,
106
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
For where dwells Toshie Norrie,
O, it's aye simmer there.
O, bonnie Toshie Norrie,
The winter nichts are lang.
An' aft we sit an' weary-
To hear an auld Scotch sang;
Come back, an' let your music,
Like sunshine, fill the air,
For where dwells Toshie Norrie,
0, it's aye simmer there.
Alexander Anderson.
A WINTER SONG
The rime lies cauld on ferm an' fauld.
The lift's a drumlie grey;
The hill-taps a' are white wi' snaw,
An' dull an' dour's the day.
The canny sheep thegither creep.
The govin cattle glower;
The plowman staunds to chap his haunds
An' wuss the storm were ower.
But ance the snaw's begond to fa'
The cauld's no' near sae sair,
'Neth stingin' drift oor herts we Uft
The winter's warst to dare.
Wi' frost an' cauld we battle bauld,
Nor fear a passin' fa',
But warstle up wi' warmer grup
0' life, an' hope, an' a'.
An' sae, my frien', when to oor een
Oor warldly ills appear
In prospect mair than we can bear,
An outlook cauld an' drear.
Let's bear in mind — an' this, yell find,
Has heartened not a few —
When ance we're in the battle's din
We'll find we're half gate thro.
James Logic Robertson, 1817 —
107
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
REQUIEM
Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Gladly did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894.
A MILE AN' A BITTOCK
A mile an* a bittock, a mile or twa,
Abiine the burn, ayont the law,
Davie an' Donal' an' Cherlie an' a'
An' the mune was shinin' clearly I
Ane went hame wi' the ither, an* then
The ither went hame wi* the ither twa men,
And baith wad return him the service again.
An' the miine was shinin' clearly!
The clocks were chappin' in house an' ha',
Eleven, twal an* ane an' twa;
An' the gudeman's face was turnt to the wa',
An' the miine was shinin' clearly I
A wind got up frae affa the sea,
It blew the stars as dear's could be,
It blew in the een o' a' the three,
An' the miine was shinin' clearly!
Noo, Davie was first to get sleep in his head,
"The best o' frien's maun twine," he said;
"I'm weariet, an' here I'm awa' to my bed."
An' the miine was shinin' clearly!
Twa' o' them walkin' an' crackin' their lane,
The mornin' licht cam grey and plain,
108
SCOTTISH SONGS AND BALLADS
An' the birds they yammert on stick an' stane,
An' the miine was shinin' clearly!
O years ayont, O years awa',
My lads, ye '11 mind whate'er befa' —
My lads, ye '11 mind on the bield o' the law,
When the miine was shinin' clearly.
Robert Louis Stevenson,
THE SONG OF FLOWERS
What is a bird but a living flower?
A flower but the soul of some dead bird?
And what is a weed but the dying breath
Of a perjured word?
A flower is the soul of a singing-bird.
Its scent is the breath of an old-time song;
But a weed and a thorn spring forth each day
For a new-done wrong.
Dead souls of song-birds, thro' the green grass,
Or deep in the midst of the golden grain.
In woodland valley, where hill-streams pass,
We flourish again.
We flowers are the joy of the whole wide earth.
Sweet Nature's laughter and secret tears —
Whoso hearkens a bird in its spring-time mirth
The song of a flow'r soul hears!
William Sharp, 1856-1905.
SONG
Love in my heart: oh, heart of me, heart of me!
Love is my tyrant. Love is supreme.
What if he passeth, oh, heart of me, heart of me!
Love is a phantom, and Life is a dream!
What if he changeth, oh, heart of me, heart of me!
Oh, can the waters be void of the wind?
What if he wendeth afar and apart from me,
What if he leave me to perish behind?
109
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
What if he passeth, oh, heart of me, heart of me!
A flame i' the dusk, a breath of Desire?
Nay, my sweet Love is the heart and the soul of me,
And I am the innermost heart of his fire!
Love in my heart: oh, heart of me, heart of mef
Love is my tyrant, Love is supreme^
What if he passeth, oh, heart of me, heart of me!
Love is a phantom, and Life is a dream!
William Sharp.
TRANSFORMATION SONG
Through the air, through the air,
We are borne; from our hair
A spicy odour is shaken:
We sing as we sail;
The strong trees quail.
And the dreaming doves awaken
The pale screech owl
That, cheek by jowl,
Goes ravening with night,
Thinks day has come,
And hurries home
Half-starved, to shun the light.
An eagle above us screams;
But a star blows a silver horn,
And a faint far echo floats
From the depths of the lakes, and the streams
Warble the shadowy notes.
A young lark thinks it morn.
And sings through our flying crowd,
That seems to his eager soul
Like a low-hung dawning-cloud.
The bells of midnight toll;
The night-Sowers tell the hour;
And the stately planets roll,
As we fly to our lady's bower.
John Davidson, 1857-1909.
From " Scaramouch in Naxos."
110
BADGES OF THE CLANS
SUAICHEANTAIS ' NAN GAIDHEAL;
or, the badges of the clans in gaelic and english *
Clans. Gaelic. English.
Buchanan { ^^g^.g bhraoUeag; | B^berry; Oak.
Cameron j ^feh"' ^^"'^^"-^*'^- | Oak; Crowberry.
(Roid; Garbhag an I WUd Myrtle; Fir Club
CampbeU \ t-sl6ibhe ) Moss.
Chisholm Raineach Fern.
r, 1 u i Broaileag nan con; ? r)o„berrv Hazel.
Colquhoun ....■( Calltuinn ^ uogoerry, nazei.
Cumin . • • Lus Mhic Cuimin . Cumin Plant.
Davidson .... ■ j '"SoTaolfea^""''' ! I'^" Whortleberry.
( Lus an Righ; Cuil- [ WUd Thyme (the
Drummond . . . .^ g^nn ) oldest); Holly.
Ferguson, MacFar-l j^^g.^^j^g. L^g. ) Little Sunflower; Fox-
quhar, and Farqu- > nam-ban-sith ) glove,
harson ^ ^ , . ,, t>
Forbes Bealaidh Broom.
Fraser lubhar Yew.
Grant, MacAlpine, 1 , r. x i. t- -d-
MacGregor, Mac-Uj^tha^ ^cotc^ ' °'
Kinnon, and Mac- j ( -iree.
Quarrie J , , ^. , t
Gordon ladh-shlat, Eitheann Ivy.
Graham and Mac- \ Buaidh chraobh, na 1 i^^^q[
Laren I laibhreas )
Gumi I^t^^h' ^"^ °^° I Juniper; Roseroot.
Johnston Sgitheach Dearg . . Red Hawthorn.
fCraobh ubhal fiar^(.j.^^, Apple Tree;
Lament ] dham; MachaU > Drvas.
( monaidh )
(Roid; Garbhag an \ Wild Myrtle; Fir Oub
MacArthur . . . .| t-sl^ibhe J Moss.
MacAulay A'Mhuileag; Giuthas Cranberry; Scotch Fir
MacDonald, Mac- f ^ n *u
Donell. MacAlis-^ Fraoch Common Heath.
ter, and Maclntyre t ti n tt ^u n^^^.^
MacDougall .... Fraoch Dearg . . Bell Heath; Cypress.
j-A'Muileag; Oireag, | (.^.^^^^g Cloud-
Macfarlane . . . • ^ foighreag, or fei- Y ^^
[ reag )
MacFie or MacPhee . { ^"fiThich"' ^'"'" 1 ^^k or Crowberry.
Ill
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Mackay Seasgan or Cuilc . . <
■Dearca-fithich
Mackenzie, MacMil
Ian, and Maclnnes
MacLachlan ....
MacLeana of Duart,
Brolaa, Penny-
cross, and Druim-
nin
MacLeans of Ard-
gour, Coll, Doch-
garroch, and Mac-
Leans of the North
MacLaine of Loch-
buie
MacLennan, Logan .
MacLeod and Ross .
MacNab Dearca-fithich
Red Grass (Arundo
phragmites).
[Ciiileann Holly.
Caoninn Mountain Ash
1 Rowan.
Crowberry.
MacNaughton
MacNeill . .
MacPherson, M'ln-
tosh, MacDuff,
MacBean, Shaw,
MacGiilivray, Da-
vidson, M'Queen,
and many others,
as belonging to
Clan Chattan
MacRae
Menzies
Munro
Murray
OgUvie
Robertson
Rose
Sinclair
^Cuileann Holly.
> Dearcan-monaidh . Blaeberry.
Conasg Furze.
Aiteann Juniper.
( Roebuckberry,
■ I Crowberry.
Lus Albannach . . Trailing Azalea.
also
Bocsa; Lus
■ cr^imsheag,
oileag
nan
bra-
Boxwood. This is
said to be the oldest
■ badge; Red Whort-
leberry.
Stewart Darag; Cluaran
Sutherland
Urquhart .
Garbhag an t-sl^ibhe Club Moss.
Uinnsean Mountain Ash.
Garbhag nan Gleann Common Club Mos.
f Calg-bhealaidh; Ai- 1 Butcher's Broom;
\ teann J Juniper.
Sgitheach Geal . . . Whitehom,Hawthorn.
( Dluth Fhraoch; Rai- ) Fine - leaved Heath;
( neach J Bracken.
Rds-M^iri Fiadhaich Wild Rosemary.
Conusg Whin, or Gorse.
fOak; also the Thistle,
the present national
badge. That of the
Pictish Kings was
Rudh (rue), which
is joined with the
Thistle in the Col-
lar of the Order.
( Calg-bhealaidh; Can- ) Butcher's Broom;
( ach or canaichean ) Cotton Sedge.
( Lus Leth-an-t-Samh- ] Gillyflower; Wall-
( raidh ) flower.
113
NATIVE DYES
The items in the following list have been gleaned from various
sources. Many of the dyes are still employed in the Highlands.
Colour. Gaelic. Dyes.
Black .... Riisg-Feirna Alder-tree bark.
Do Bun na Copaig Dock root.
Do Bim an t-Seilisdeir . . . Water-flag root.
Blue Dearcan-Fraoich, le Aim . Blueberry, with Alum
Do Droman, le Aim .... Elder, with Alum.
Brown(yeUow-|c,o^^I Lichen.
Do Duileasg Dulse.
Do Preas-dearc, le Aim . . . Currant, with Alum.
Do Cdarki ■[ Dearcan-Fraoich, le Cnoth- ( Blueberry, with Gall
^ ■' \ an-domblais | Nuts.
Crimson , . . Crotal Geal White Lichen.
Do. (dark) . Crotal Dubh Dark Lichen.
Flesh Colour . Cairt-Sheilich WUlow-bark.
Gray .... Freumhaichean Sheilisdeir Root of Yellow Water-
flag.
Green .... Bealaidh Broom.
Do Rilsg-Conuisg Whin-bark.
Do Lus-an-fhUcaxlair .... Teasel, or Fuller's
Thistle.
Do. (dark) Fraoch, le Aim Heather, with Alum.
Magenta . . . Beaman-Bride Dandelion.
Orange (dark) . Preas-Smeur Bramble.
Purple .... Lus-na-f^arnaich .... Sundew,
Do Crotal, Cdinneach .... Lichen, Cupmoss.
Red Crotal-nan-creag .... Rock Lichen.
Do Crotal Geal White Lichen.
Do Bun an Ruidh Rue root.
Do Leanartach Tormentil.
Scarlet .... Crotal Cloich-aoil .... Limestone Lichen.
Violet .... Biolaire Wild Cress.
Yellow .... Roid Bog-Myrtle.
■n« \ Freumh na Craoibh-Uinn- ) » u ^ i.
^0 i Sinn [ Ash-tree root.
Do Bun na Rainich .... Bracken root.
Do Lus Chaluim-Chille ... St. John's Wort.
Do Lus-an-fhvlcadair .... Teasel.
Do Crotal . . Lichen.
Do Fraoch, le Aim . . . . j Common Heather,
I with Alum.
Do (brieht) \ Lus-na-f^amaich, le sugh 1 Sundew, with Am-
' ^ t Chabar-f6idh . / monia.
113
WAR-CRIES
or, rallying words of some op the clans
Clan. Gaelic, English.
Buchanan " Clar Innis "... An island in Loch Lo-
mond.
( " Chlanna nan con 1 " Sons of the hounds
Cameron < thigibh a so 's > come here and get
( gheibh sibh feoil " ) flesh."
n u u S" Siol Diarmaid an ) " The Clan of Diar-
C^^V^^^ I Tuirc" ( mad of the Boar."
Do "Cruachan" . . . | A mountain near Loch
Colquhoun .... " Cnoc Ealachain " . { " The^^^ock of Eala.
Farquharson. . . . " C^m na Cuimhne " | " ^^im^^ of Remem-
Forbes " L6nach " . . . . j A mountain in Strath
Fraser " A Mhor-fhaiche." " The Great Field."
Do. (later) ..." Caisteal Dhiinie." " Castle Downie."
^ , ("AGordonI AGor-
Go^'don j doj,,»
!" Stand Fast Craig
Elaichaidh," "The
Rock of Alarm."
Logan or MacLennan " Druim nan deur " " The Ridge of Tears"
■.r .,„. „ ( " Cuimhnich b^s ) "Remember the death
MacAlpme j AUpein " . . . .} of Alpin."
MacDonald .... " Fraoch EUean " . " The Heathery Isle"
Do. (Clanranald) { " ?heireadh ^'^ *^° | " Gainsay who dare."
^ ga?ryT" • . ^^^^^'- \ "^'eh ?,^"'^°"^^'*^" \ " The Raven's Rock."
Macdougall .... " Buaidh no bas " . " Victory or Death."
Macfarlane .... " Loch Sloigh " • {'"^ost " ''''^ °^ *^^
MacGillivray .... " Dunmaglass " . . " Dimmaglass."
MacGregor .... " Ard CoiUe " . . . "The Woody Height."
( " The Loch of the
Macintosh ..... " Loch Moigh " . . < Plain," a lake near
( seat of the Chief.
Maclntyre "Cruachan" . . . j A mountain near Loch
w „, „ ("Bratach Bh^n ) "The White Banner of
^^^^^y \ Chlann Aoidh " . J the Mackays."
Mackenzie " Tulach Ard " . . A mountain in Kintail
Mackinnon . . . .|"AlJ^eS"^. '^^^ } "^^™P^,J'^'- *^^ '^^^^^
114
WAR-CRIES
Maclaren
MacLean
MacLennan or Logan
MacNaughton .
MacNeill .
MacPherson
MacQuarrie
Macrae .
Matheson
Menzies
Munro .
Scott . .
Stewart (Appin)
Sutherland . .
" Creag an Tuirc " .
" Beatha no Bks " .
" Fear eil air son
Eachainn "
"Druim nan deur" .
"The Boar's Rock."
" Life or Death."
"Another for Hector."
(Used alternately.)
"The RidgeofTears."
" Heather Island,"
Loch Awe, Argyll-
shire.
. " Victory or Death."
)"The Black Craig of
" ) Clan Chattan."
I
" Fraoch-EUean "
" Buaidh no B^s "
" Creag Dhubh
Chloinn Chatain
"An t-Arm Breac ( " ^he army of the
n^a,-n. " { checkered red"rtar-
^^^^^ ( tan].
" Sgur Urain "... A mountain in Kintail
" Achadh d^ th^ar- ) " Field of two Dechv-
naidh " ) ities."
" Geal is Dearg a ^ " Up with the White
suas "... ) and Red."
f " Castle Fowlia
" Caisteal Folais 'n aj ablaze" ; referring
theine " j probably to beacon
I. or signal lights.
— — " A BeUendaine."
!" The Cormorant's
Rock," on which is
built Castle Stalker.
I " dde bigS ■' '™'- I A bridg. at Dmrobin
115
MILITARY SERVICE OF
THE HIGHLAND REGIMENTS
MILITARY SERVICE
OF THE
HIGHLAND REGIMENTS
CHAPTER I
THE BLACK WATCH
Hitherto the account of the military exploits of the
Highlanders has been limited to the exertions which,
for a century, they made in behalf of the unfortunate
Stuarts. We are now to notice their operations on a
more extended field of action, by giving a condensed
sketch of their services in the cause of the country and
of the government; services which, by more fully de-
veloping their military character, have acquired for them
a reputation as deserving as it has been unexampled.
From moral as well as from physical causes, the High-
landers were well fitted to attain this pre-eminence.
""In forming his military character, the Highlander
was not more favoured by nature than by the social
system under which he lived. Nursed in poverty, he
acquired a hardihood which enabled him to sustain
severe privations. As the simplicity of his life gave
vigour to his body, so it fortified his mind. Possessing a
frame and constitution thus hardened, he was taught to
consider courage as the most honourable virtue, coward-
ice the most disgraceful failing; to venerate and obey
his chief, and to devote himself for his native country
and clan; and thus prepared to be a soldier, he was
119
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
ready to follow wherever honour and duty called him.
With such principles, and regarding any disgrace he
might bring on his clan and district as the most cruel
misfortune, the Highland private soldier had a peculiar
motive to exertion. The common soldier of many other
countries has scarcely any other stimulus to the per-
formance of his duty than the fear of chastisement,
or the habit of mechanical obedience to command, pro-
duced by the discipline in which he has been trained.
With a Highland soldier it is otherwise. When in a
national or district corps, he is surrounded by the com-
panions of his youth and the rivals of his early achieve-
ments; he feels the impulse of emulation strengthened
by the consciousness that every proof which he displays,
either of bravery or cowardice, will find its way to his
native home. He thus learns to appreciate the value
of a good name; and it is thus, that in a Highland
regiment, consisting of men from the same country,
whose kindred and connections are mutually known,
every individual feels that his conduct is the subject of
observation, and that, independently of his duty as a
member of a systematic whole, he has to sustain a
separate and individual reputation, which will be re-
flected on his family, and district or glen. Hence he
requires no artificial excitements. He acts from motives
within himself; his point is fixed, and his aim must
terminate either in victory or death. The German
soldier considers himself as a part of the military
machine, and duly marked out in the orders of the day.
He moves onward to his destination with a well-trained
pace, and with as phlegmatic indifference to the result
as a labourer who works for his daily hire. The courage
of the French soldier is supported in the hour of trial
by his high notions of the point of honour; but this
display of spirit is not always steady. Neither French nor
120
THE BLACK WATCH
German is confident in himself if an enemy gain his flank
or rear. A Highland soldier faces his enemy, whether
in front, rear, or flank; and if he has confidence in his
commander, it may be predicted with certainty that
he will be victorious, or die on the ground which he
maintains. He goes into the field resolved not to dis-
grace his name. A striking characteristic of the High-
lander is, that all his actions seem to flow from senti-
ment. His endurance of privation and fatigue, — his
resistance of hostile opposition, — his solicitude for the
good opinion of his superiors, — all originate in this
source, whence also proceeds his obedience, which is
always most conspicuous when exhibited under kind
treatment. Hence arises the difference observable
between the conduct of one regiment of Highlanders and
that of another, and frequently even of the same regi-
ment at different times, and under different manage-
ment. A Highland regiment, to be orderly and well
disciplined, ought to be commanded by men who are
capable of appreciating their character, directing their
passions and prejudices, and acquiring their entire
confidence and affection. The oflBcer to whom the
comimand of Highlanders is entrusted must endeavour
to acquire their confidence and good opinion. With
this view, he must watch over the propriety of his
own conduct. He must observe the strictest justice
and fidelity in his promises to his men, conciliate them
by an attention to their dispositions and prejudices,
and, at the same time, by preserving a firm and steady
authority, without which he will not be respected.
" Officers who are accustomed to command Highland
soldiers find it easy to guide and control them when
their full confidence has been obtained; but when
distrust prevails severity ensues, with a consequent
neglect of duty, and by a continuance of this unhappy
121
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
misunderstanding, the men become stubborn, dis-
obedient, and in the end mutinous. The spirit of a
Highland soldier revolts at any unnecessary severity;
though he may be led to the mouth of a cannon if
properly directed, will rather die than be unfaithful to
his trust. But if, instead of leading, his officers attempt
to drive him, he may fail in the discharge of the most
common duties. A learned and ingenious author, who,
though himself a Lowlander, had ample opportunity,
while serving in many campaigns with Highland regi-
ments, of becoming intimately acquainted with their
character, thus develops their conduct in the field;
' The character of ardour belongs to the Highlander;
he acts from an internal sentiment, and possesses a pride
of honour which does not permit him to retire from
danger with a confession of inferiority. This is a property
of his nature, and as it is so, it becomes the business
of officers, who command Highland troops, to estimate
the national character correctly, that they may not
through ignorance misapply their means, and thereby
concert their own ruin.
" ' If ardour be the characteristic of the Highlanders,
it is evident that they are not calculated for mechanical
manoeuvres, nor for demonstrations and encounters
with a view to diversion; for unless the purpose be
previously explained and understood in its full extent,
the Highlander darts on the enemy with impetuosity,
rushing into close action, where it was only intended
to amuse. He does not brook disappointment, sustain
a galling distant fire with coolness, or retire from an
enterprise with temper. He may be trusted to cover the
most dangerous retreat assigned to him as a duty; a
retreat in consequence of his own failure is likely to
degenerate into a rout. In action the Highlander
requires to see his object fully. He then feels the im-
123
THE BLACK WATCH
pression of his duty, and acts animately and consistently,
more from impression and sentiment than from external
impulse of command; for when an enemy is before the
Highlander, the authority of the officer may be said
to cease. Different nations have different excellencies or
defects in war. Some excel in the use of missile weapons ;
the power of the Highlander lies in close combat. Close
charge was his ancient mode of attack; and it is prob-
ably from impression engrafted in his nature in conse-
quence of the national mode of war, that he still sustains
the approaching point of a naked weapon with a steadier
eye than any other man in Europe. Some nations turn
with fear from the countenance of an enraged enemy.
The Highlander rushes towards it with ardour; and if
he can grasp his foe as man with man, his courage is
secure.' "
The author here quoted by General Stewart, after
describing the social meetings of the Highlanders, at
which their warlike exj^loits were the theme of con-
versation, thus proceeds: — "The Highlanders, in this
manner, looking daily on war, and the enterprise of war,
with interest and animation, acquire radical ideas of the
military art. Without design or formal intention, this
germ of military education, planted in the first years
of life, assumes a fair growth among these northern
Scots; for as objects of war and warlike enterprise
command more than other objects the exertions of the
thinkmg faculty, the Higlilanders, formed with sound
minds, and susceptible of good impressions, discover
more natural sagacity than any other class of people
in the kmgdom, perhaps than any other people in Europe.
The Highlanders, in relation with their southern neigh-
bours, were considered as freebooters, barbarians, given
to spoil and plunder. In former times the charge had
some appearance of tnith, for the Lowlanders were
123
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
considered as a hostile or strange people. But though
they drove the cattle of a hostile tribe, or ravaged a
lowland district, with which they had no connection or
bond of amity, their conduct in the year 1745 proves
that they are neither a ferocious nor a cruel people;
for no troops ever traversed a country which might be
esteemed hostile with fewer traces of outrage. They
are now better known; their character is conspicuous
for honesty and fidelity. They possess the most exalted
notions of honour, the warmest friendships, and the
highest portion of mental pride of any people perhaps
in Europe. Their ideas are few, but their sentiments
are strong; their virtues, principles in their nature."
The design of rendering such a valuable class of sub-
jects available to the state by forming regular military
corps out of it, seems not to have entered into the views
of the government till about the year 1729 or 1730, when
six companies of Highlanders were raised, which, from
forming distinct corps unconnected with each other,
received the appellation of independent companies.
Three of these companies consisted of one hundred men
each, and were therefore called large companies. Lord
Lovat, Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochnell, and Colonel
Grant of Ballindalloch were appointed captains over
them. The three smaller companies, which consisted of
seventy each, were conmaanded by Colonel Alexander
Campbell of Finab, John Campbell of Carrick, and
George Munro of Culcairn, under the commission of
captain-lieutenants. To each of the six companies
were attached two lieutenants and one ensign. To
distinguish them from the regular troops, who, from
the colour of their clothes, were called Saighdearan
Dearg, or Red Soldiers, the independent companies,
who were attired in their native tartan, were designated
Am Freiceadan Duhh, or Black Watch, — an appellation
124
THE BLACK WATCH
which they received from the sombre appearance of
their dress.
As the services of these companies were not required
beyond their own territory, and as the intrants were
not subjected to the humiliating provisions of the
disarming act, no diflficulty was found in forming them;
and when completed, they presented the singular
spectacle of a number of young men of respectable
families serving as privates in the ranks. " Many of
the men who composed these companies were of a
higher station in society than that from which soldiers
in general are raised; cadets of gentlemen's families,
sons of gentlemen farmers, and tacksmen, either im-
mediately or distantly descended from gentlemen's
families, — men who felt themselves responsible for
their conduct to high-minded and honourable families, as
well as to a country for which they cherished a devoted
affection. In addition to the advantages derived from
their superior rank in life, they possessed, in an eminent
degree, that of a commanding external deportment,
special care being taken in selecting men of full height,
well proportioned, and of handsome appearance."
The duties assigned to these companies were to enforce
the disarming act, to overawe the disaffected, and watch
their motions, and to check depredations. For this pur-
pose they were stationed in small detachments in
different parts of the country, and generally throughout
the district in which they were raised. Thus Fort
Augustus and the neighbouring parts of Inverness-shire
were occupied by the Frasers under Lord Lovat; Bal-
lindalloch and the Grants were stationed in Strathspey
and Badenoch; the Munros, under Culcaim, in Ross and
Sutherland; Lochnell's and Carrick's companies were
stationed in Athole and Breadalbane, and Finab's in
Lochaber, and the northern parts of Argyleshire among
125
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the disaffected Camerons, and Stewarts of Appin. All
Highlanders of whatever clan were admitted indis-
criminately into these companies as soldiers; but the
officers were taken, almost exclusively, from the Whig
clans.
The independent companies continued to exist as
such until the year 1739, when government resolved to
raise four additional companies, and to form the whole
into a regiment of the line. For this purpose, letters of
service, dated the twenty-fifth of October, 1739, were
addressed to the Earl of Craufurd and Lindsay, who
was appointed to the command of the regiment about
to be formed, which was to consist of one thousand
men. The regiment was accordingly embodied in the
month of May, 1740, on a field between Taybridge and
Aberfeldy, in the county of Perth, under the number
of the 43d regiment. " The uniform was a scarlet jacket
and waistcoat, with buff facings and white lace, —
tartan plaid of twelve yards plaited round the middle
of the body, the upper part being fixed on the left
shoulder ready to be thrown loose, and wrapped over
both shoulders and firelock in rainy weather. At night
the plaid served the purpose of a blanket, and was a
sufficient covering for the Highlander. These were
called belted plaids from being kept tight to the body
by a belt, and were worn on guards, reviews, and on
all occasions when the men were in full dress. On this
belt hung the pistols and dirk when worn. In the
barracks, and when not on duty, the little kilt or philibeg
was worn, a blue bonnet with a border of white, red and
green, arranged in small squares to resemble, as is said,
the fess cheque in the arms of the different branches of
the Stewart family, and a tuft of feathers, or sometimes,
from economy or necessity, a small piece of black bear-
skin. The arms were a musket, a bayonet, and a large
126
THE BLACK WATCH
basket-hilted broadsword. These were furnished by
government. Such of the men as chose to supply them-
selves with pistols and dirks were allowed to carry them,
and some had targets after the fashion of their country.
The sword-belt was of black leather, and the cartouch-
box was carried in front, supported by a narrow belt
round the middle."
The officers appomted to this regiment were, —
Colonel — John, Earl of Craufurd and Lindsay, died in 1748.
Lieutenant-Colonel — Sir Robert Munro of Fowlis, Baronet,
killed at Falkirk, 1746.
Major — George Grant, brother of the laird of Grant, removed
from the service by sentence of a court-martial, for allow-
ing the rebels to get possession of the castle of Inverness
in 1746.
Captains
George Munro of Culcaim, killed in 1746.
Dugal Campbell of Craignish, retired in 1745.
John Campbell of Carrick, killed at Fontenoy.
CoUn Campbell, junior, of Monzie, retired in 1743.
Sir James Colquhoun of Luss, Bart., retired in 1748.
CoUn Campbell of BaUimore, retired.
John Munro, promoted to be lieutenant-colonel in 1745, retired
in 1749.
Captain-Lieutenant Duncan Macfarlane, retired in 1744.
Lieutenants
Paul Macpherson.
Lewis Grant of Auchterblair.
John Maclean of Ivingarloch. ) Both removed from the regi-
John Mackenzie
ment in consequence of
having fought a duel in 1744.
Alexander Macdonald.
Malcolm Fraser, son of Culduthel, killed at Bergen-op-Zoom, in
1747.
George Ramsay.
Patrick Grant, son of the laird of Grant, died heutenant-general
in 1782.
John MacneU.
Ensigns
Dugal Campbell. Archd. Macnab, son of the laird of
Dugal Stewart. Macnab, died lieut .-general,
John Menzies of Comrie. 1790.
Edward Carrick. CoUn Campbell.
127
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Gilbert Stewart of Kincrai- Dugal Stewart.
gie. James Campbell of Glenfalloch,
Gordon Graham of Draines. died of wounds at Fontenoy.
Chaplain — Hon. Gideon Murray.
Surgeon — James Munro, son of Sir Henry Muoro of Fowlis,
killed at Falkirk in 1746.
Adjutant — Gilbert Stewart.
Qtuirtermaster — John Forbes.
After remaining nearly eighteen months in quarters
near Tay bridge, the regiment was marched northward,
in the winter of 1741 and 1742, and the men remained
in the stations assigned them till the spring of 1743,
when they were ordered to repair to Perth. Having
assembled there in March of that year, they were sur-
prised on being informed that orders had been received
to march the regiment for England, a step which they
considered contrary to an alleged understanding when
regimented, that the sphere of their services was not to
extend beyond their native country. When the inten-
tion of employing them in foreign service came to be
known, many of the warmest supporters of the govern-
ment highly disapproved of the design, among whom was
Lord President Forbes. In a letter to General Cla5iion,
the successor of Marshal Wade, the chief commander in
Scotland, his lordship thus expresses himself: " When
I first heard of the orders given to the Highland regiment
to march southwards, it gave me no sort of concern,
because I supposed the intention was only to see them;
but as I have lately been assured that they are destined
for foreign service, I cannot dissemble my uneasiness at
a resolution that may, in my apprehension, be attended
with very bad consequences; nor can I prevail with
myself not to communicate to you my thoughts on the
subject, however late they may come; because if what
I am to suggest has not been already under considera-
tion, it's possible the resolution may be departed from."
128
THE BLACK WATCH
After noticing the consequences which might result from
leaving the Highlands unprotected from the designs
of the disaffected in the event of a war with France,
he thus proceeds: " Having thus stated to you the
danger I dread, I must, in the next place, put you in
mind, that the present system for securing the peace
of the Highlands, which is the best I ever heard of, is
by regular troops stationed from Inverness to Fort
William, alongst the chain of lakes which in a manner
divides the Highlands, to command the obedience of
the inhabitants of both sides, and by a body of dis-
ciplined Highlanders, wearing the dress and speaking
the language of the countrj'-, to execute such orders as
require expedition, and for which neither the dress nor
the manner of the other troops are proper. These
Highlanders, now regimented, were at first independent
companies; and though their dress, language, and
manners, qualified them for securing the low country
against depredations, yet that was not the sole use of
them. The same qualities fitted them for every expedi-
tion that required secrecy and despatch; they served for
all purposes of hussars or light horse, in a country where
mountains and bogs render cavalry useless, and if
properly disposed over the Highlands, nothing that was
commonly reported and believed by the Highlanders
could be a secret to their commanders, because of
their intimacy with the people and the sameness of the
language."
Notwithstanding this remonstrance, the government
persisted in its determination to send the regiment
abroad; and to deceive the men, from whom their
real destination was concealed, they were told that
the object of their march to England was merely to
Ratify the curiosity of the king, who was desirous of
seeing a Highland regiment. Satisfied with this ex-
129
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
planation, they proceeded on their march. The English
people, who had been led to consider the Highlanders
as savages, were struck with the warlike appearance of
the regiment and the orderly deportment of the men,
who received in the country and towns through which
they passed the most friendly attentions.
Having reached the vicinity of London on the twenty-
ninth and thirtieth of April, in two divisions, the regi-
ment was reviewed on the fourteenth of May, on Finchley
Common, by Marshal Wade. The arrival of the corps
in the neighbourhood of the metropolis had attracted
vast crowds of people to their quarters, anxious to
behold men of whom they had heard the most ex-
traordinary relations; but, mingled with these, were
persons who frequented the quarters of the Highlanders
from a very different motive. Their object was to sow
the seeds of distrust and disaffection among the men,
by circulating misrepresentations and falsehoods re-
specting the intentions of the government. These in-
cendiaries gave out that a gross deception had been
practised upon the regiment, in regard to the object
of their journey, in proof of which they adduced the
fact of his Majesty's departure for Hanover, on the
very day of the arrival of the last division, and that the
real design of the government was to get rid of them
altogether, as disaffected persons, and, with that view,
that the regiment was to be transported for life to the
American plantations. These insidious falsehoods had
their intended effect upon the minds of the Highlanders,
who took care, however, to conceal the indignation
they felt at their supposed betrayers. All their thoughts
were bent upon a return to their own country, and they
concerted their measures for its accomplishment with a
secrecy which escaped the observation of their officers,
of whose integrity in the affair they do not, however,
130
THE BLACK WATCH
appear to have entertained any suspicion. The mutiny
which followed created a great sensation, and the cir-
cumstances which led to it formed, both in public and
in private, the ordinary topic of discussion. The writer
of a pamphlet, which was published immediately after
the mutiny, and which contains the best view of the
subject, and an intimate knowledge of the facts, thus
describes the whole affair: " From their (the inde-
pendent companies) first formation, they had always
considered themselves as destined to serve exclusively
in Scotland, or rather in the Highlands; and a special
compact was made, allowing the men to retain their
ancient national garb. From their origin and their
local attachments, they seemed destined for this special
service. Besides, in the discipline to which they were
at first subjected under their natural chiefs and superiors,
there was much aflfinity with their ancient usages, so
that their service seemed merely that of a clan sanc-
tioned by legal authority. These, and other con-
siderations, strengthened them in the belief that their
duty was of a defined and specific nature, and that they
were never to be amalgamated with the regular dis-
posable force of the country. As they were deeply
impressed with this belief, it was quite natural that they
should regard with great jealousy and distrust any in-
dication of a wish to change the system. Accordingly,
when the design of marching them into England was
first intimated to their oflScers, the men were not shy
in protesting against this unexpected measure. By
conciliating language, however, they were prevailed
upon to commence and continue their march without
reluctance. It was even rumoured, in some foreign
gazettes, that they had mutinied on the borders, killed
many of their officers, carried off their colours, and
returned to their native mountains. This account,
131
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
though glaringly false, was repeated from time to time
in those journals, and was neither noticed nor con-
tradicted in those of England, though such an occasion
ought not to have been neglected, for giving a candid
and full explanation to the Highlanders, which might
have prevented much subsequent disquietude.
" On their march through the northern counties of
England, they were everywhere received with such
hospitality, that they appeared in the highest spirits;
and it was imagined that their attachment to home
was so much abated that they would feel no reluctance
to the change. As they approached the metropolis,
however, and were exposed to the taunts of the true-bred
English clowns, they became more gloomy and sullen.
Animated, even to the lowest private, with the feelings
of gentlemen, they could ill brook the rudeness of
boors — nor could they patiently submit to affronts
in a country to which they had been called by invitation
of their sovereign. A still deeper cause of discontent
preyed upon their minds. A rumour had reached them
on their march that they were to be embarked for
the plantations. The fate of the marines, the invalids,
and other regiments which had been sent to these
colonies, seemed to mark out this service as at once
the most perilous and the most degrading to which
British soldiers could be exposed. With no enemy to
encounter worthy of their courage, there was another
consideration, which made it peculiarly odious to the
Highlanders. By the act of Parliament of the eleventh
of George I, transportation to the colonies was denounced
against the Highland rebels, etc., as the greatest punish-
ment that could be inflicted on them except death, and,
when they heard that they were to be sent there, the
galling suspicion naturally arose in their minds, that
* after being used as rods to scourge their own country-
133
THE BLACK WATCH
men, they were to be thrown into the fire! ' These
apprehensions they kept secret even from their own
officers; and the care with which they dissembled them
is the best evidence of the deep impression which they
had made. Amidst all their jealousies and fears, how-
ever, they looked forward with considerable expectation
to the review, when they were to come under the im-
mediate observation of his Majesty, or some of the royal
family. On the fourteenth of May they were reviewed
by Marshal Wade, and many persons of distinction, who
were highly delighted with the promptitude and alacrity
with which they went through their military exercises,
and gave a very favourable report of them, where it was
likely to operate most to their advantage. From that
moment, however, all their thoughts were bent on the
means of returning to their own country; and on this
wild and romantic march they accordingly set out a
few days after. Under pretence of preparing for the
review, they had been enabled to provide themselves,
unsuspectedly, with some necessary articles, and, con-
fiding in their capability of enduring privations and
fatigue, they imagined that they should have great
advantages over any troops that might be sent in
pursuit of them. It was on the night between Tuesday
and Wednesday after the review that they assembled
on a common near Highgate, and commenced their
march to the north. They kept as nearly as possible
between the two great roads, passing from wood to wood
in such a manner that it was not well known which way
they moved. Orders were issued by the lords-justices
to the commanding officers of the forces stationed in the
counties between them and Scotland, and an advertise-
ment was published by the secretary at war, exhorting
the civil officers to be vigilant in their endeavours to
discover their route. It was not, however, till about
133
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
eight o'clock on the evening of Thursday, nineteenth
May, that any certain intelligence of them was obtained,
and they had then proceeded as far as Northampton,
and were supposed to be shaping their course toward
Nottinghamshire. General Blakeney, who conmianded
at Northampton, immediately despatched Captain
BaU, of General Wade's regiment of horse, an officer
well acquainted with that part of the country, to search
after them. They had now entered Lady Wood, between
Brig Stock and Dean Thorp, about four miles from
Oundle, when they were discovered. Captain Ball was
joined in the evening by the general himself, and about
nine all the troops were drawn up in order, near the
wood where the Highlanders lay. Seeing themselves
in this situation, and unwilling to aggravate their
offence by the crime of shedding the blood of his
Majesty's troops, they sent one of their guides to inform
the general that he might, without fear, send an officer
to treat of the terms on which they should be expected
to surrender. Captain Ball was accordingly delegated,
and, on coming to a conference, the captain demanded
that they should instantly lay down their arms and
surrender as prisoners at discretion. This they posi-
tively refused, declaring that they would rather be cut
to pieces than submit, unless the general should send
them a written promise, signed by his own hand, that
their arms should not be taken from them, and that
they should have a free pardon. Upon this the captain
delivered the conditions proposed by General Blakeney,
viz., that if they would peaceably lay down their arms,
and surrender themselves prisoners, the most favourable
report should be made of them to the lords-justices;
when they again protested that they would be cut in
pieces rather than surrender, except on the conditions
of retaining their arms, and receiving a free pardon.
134
THE BLACK WATCH
' Hitherto/ exclaimed the captain, * I have been your
friend, and am still anxious to do all I can to save you;
but, if you continue obstinate an hour longer, surrounded
as you are by the king's forces, not a man of you shall be
left alive; and, for my own part, I assure you that I shall
give quarter to none.' He then demanded that two of
their number should be ordered to conduct him out of
the wood. Two brothers were accordingly ordered to
accompany him. Finding that they were inclined to
submit, he promised them both a free pardon, and, taking
one of them along with him, he sent back the other
to endeavour, by every means, to overcome the ob-
stinacy of the rest. He soon returned with thirteen
more. Having marched them to a short distance from
the wood, the captain again sent one of them back to
his comrades to inform them how many had submitted;
and in a short time seventeen more followed the example.
These were all marched away with their arms (the
powder being blown out of their pans), and when they
came before the general they laid down their arms. On
returning to the wood they found the whole body
disposed to submit to the general's troops.
" While this was doing in the country," continues our
author, '' there was nothing but the flight of the High-
landers talked of in town. The wiser sort blamed it,
but some of their hot-headed countrymen were for
comparing it to the retreat of the ten thousand Greeks
through Persia; by which, for the honour of the king-
dom of Scotland, Corporal M'Pherson was erected into a
Xenophon. But amongst these idle dreams, the most
injurious were those that reflected on their officers, and
by a strange kind of innuendo, would have fixed the
crime of these people's desertion upon those who did their
duty and stayed here.
" As to the rest of the regiment, they were ordered
135
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
immediately to Kent, whither they marched very cheer-
fully, and were from thence transported to Flanders,
and are by this time with the army, where I dare say
it will quickly appear they were not afraid of fighting
the French. In King William's war there was a Highland
regiment that to avoid going to Flanders, had formed a
design of flying into the mountains. This was discovered
before they could put it into execution; and General
M'Kay, who then commanded in Scotland, caused them
to be immediately surrounded and disarmed, and
afterward shipped them for Holland. When they came
to the confederate army, they behaved very briskly
upon all occasions; but as pick-thanks are never wanting
in courts, some wise people were pleased to tell King
William that the Highlanders drank King James's
health, — a report which was probably very true. The
king, whose good sense taught him to despise such dirty
informations, asked General Talmash, who was near him,
how they behaved in the field? ' As well as any troops
in the army,' answered the general, like a soldier and a
man of honour. * Why then,' replied the king, ' if they
fight for me, let them drink my father's health as often
as they please.' On the road, and even after they entered
to London, they kept up their spirits, and marched
very cheerfully; nor did they show any marks of terror
when they were brought into the Tower."
Though it was evident that the Highlanders were led to
commit this rash act under a false impression, and that
they were the unconscious dupes of designing men, yet
the government could not overlook such a gross breach
of military discipline, and the deserters were accordingly
tried before a general court-martial on the eighth of
June. They were all found guilty, and condemned to
be shot. Three only, however, suffered capitally.
These were Corporals Malcolm, and Samuel M'Pherson,
136
THE BLACK WATCH
and Farquhar Shaw, a private. They were shot upon
the parade within the Tower, in presence of the other
prisoners, who joined in their prayers with great earnest-
ness. The unfortunate men met their death with
composure, and acted with great propriety. Their
bodies were put into three coffins by three of the pris-
oners, their clansmen and connections, and were buried
together in one grave over the place of execution.
From an ill-judged severity, one hundred of the desert-
ers were equally divided between the garrisons of
Gibraltar and Minorca, and a similar number was dis-
tributed among the different corps in the Leeward
islands, Jamaica and Georgia, — a circumstance which,
it is believed, impressed the Highlanders with an idea
that the government had intended to deceive them.
Near the end of May the remainder of the regiment
was sent to Flanders, where it joined the army under
the command of Field-Marshal the Earl of Stair. During
the years 1743 and 1744, they were quartered in different
parts of that country; and by their quiet, orderly, and
kind deportment, acquired the entire confidence of
the people among whom they mixed. The regiment
" was judged the most trustworthy guard of property,
insomuch that the people in Flanders choose to have
them always for their protection. Seldom were any of
them drunk, and they as rarely swore. And the elector
palatine wrote to his envoy in London, desiring him to
thank the King of Great Britain for the excellent
behaviour of the regiment while in his territories in
1743 and 1744, and for whose sake he adds, ' I will
always pay a respect and regard to a Scotchman in
future.' "
Lord Sempill, who had succeeded the Earl of Craufurd
in the colonelcy of the regiment in 1740, being appointed
in April, 1745, to the 25th regiment, Lord John Murray,
137
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
son of the Duke of Athole, succeeded him as colonel of
the Highlanders. During the command of these offi-
cers, the regiment was designated by the titles of its
successive commanders, as Lord Craufurd's, Lord
Sempill's, and Lord John Murray's Highlanders.
Baffled in his efforts to prevent the elevation of the
Grand Duke of Tuscany to the imperial throne, the
King of France resolved to humble the house of Austria
by making a conquest of the Netherlands. With this
view he assembled an immense army in Flanders under
the command o2 the celebrated Marshal Saxe, and having
with the dauphin joined the army in April, 1745, he, on
the thirtieth of ihat month, invested Toumay, then
garrisoned by eight thousand men, commanded by
General Baron Dorth, who defended the place with
vigour. The Duke of Cumberland, who arrived from
England early in May, assumed the command of the
allied army assembled at Soignies. It consisted of twenty
battalions and twenty-six squadrons of British, five
battalions and sixteen squadrons of Hanoverians, all
under the immediate command of his Royal Highness;
twenty-six battalions and forty squadrons of Dutch
commanded by the Prince of Waldeck; and eight
squadrons of Austrians under the command of Count
Konigseg.
Though the allied army was greatly inferior in number
to the enemy, yet as the French army was detached,
the duke resolved to march to the relief of Toumay.
Marshal Saxe, who soon became aware of the design
of the allies, drew up his army in line of battle, on the
right bank of the Scheldt, extending from the wood of
Barri to Fontenoy, and thence to the village of St.
Antoine in sight of the British army. Entrenchments
were thrown up at both villages, besides three redoubts
in the intermediate space, and two at the corner of the
138
THE BLACK WATCH
wood whence a deep ravine extended to Fontenoy,
and another thence to St. Antoine. Along the whole
space from the wood to St. Antoine was posted a double
line of infantry in front, and cavalry in the rear,
and an additional force of infantry and cavalry was
formed behind the redoubts and batteries. Opposite
to St. Antoine on the other side of the river, a battery
was also erected. The marshal distributed his numerous
artillery along the line, and in the village and redoubts.
The allied army advanced to Leuse, and on the ninth
of May took up a position between the villages of
Bougries and Maulbre, in sight of the French army. In
the evening the duke, attended by Field-Marshal
Konigseg and the Prince of Waldeck, reconnoitred the
position of Marshal Saxe. They were covered by the
Highlanders, who kept up a sharp fire with the French
sharpshooters who were concealed in the woods. After
a general survey, the Earl of Craufurd, who was left
in command of the advance of the army, proceeded
with the Highlanders and a party of hussars to examine
the enemy's outposts more narrowly. In the course of
the day a Highlander in advance observing that one
of the sharpshooters repeatedly fired at his post, placed
his bonnet upon the top of a stick near the verge of a
hollow road. This stratagem decoyed the Frenchman,
and whilst he was intent on his object, the Highlander
approaching cautiously to a point which afforded a
sure aim, succeeded in bringing him to the ground.
Having ascertained that a plain which lay between the
positions of two armies was covered with some flying
squadrons of the enemy, and that their outposts com-
manded some narrow defiles through which the alUed
forces had necessarily to march to the attack, the Duke
of Cumberland resolved to scour the plain, and to dis-
lodge the outposts, preparatory to advancing upon the
139
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
besieging army. Accordingly at an early hour next
morning, six battalions and twelve squadrons were
ordered to disperse the forces on the plain and clear the
defiles, a service which they soon performed. Some
Austrian hussars being hotly pressed on this occasion
by the French light troops, a party of Highlanders was
sent to support them, and the Frenchmen were quickly
repulsed with loss. This was the first time the High-
landers stood the fire of the enemy in a regular body,
and so well did they acquit themselves that they were
particularly noticed for their spirited conduct.
Resolving to attack the enemy next morning, the
commander-in-chief of the allied army made the neces-
sary dispositions. Opposite the space between Fon-
tenoy and the wood of Barri, he formed the British and
Hanoverian infantry in two lines, and posted their
cavalry in the rear. Near the left of the Hanoverians
he drew up the Dutch, whose left was towards St.
Antoine. The French in their turn completed their
batteries, and made the most formidable preparations
to receive the allies. At two o'clock in the morning of
the eleventh of May, the Duke of Cumberland began
his march, and drew up his army in front of the enemy
in the above order. The engagement began about four
by the guards and Highlanders attacking a redoubt,
advanced on the right of the wood near Vizou, occupied
by six hundred men, in the vicinity of which place the
dauphin was posted . Though the enemy were entrenched
breast-high, they were forced out by the guards with
bayonets, and by the Highlanders wdth sword, pistol,
and dirk, who killed a considerable number of them.
After the redoubt had been carried, the British and
Hanoverians advanced to the attack; and though the
French contested every inch of ground withihe greatest
pertinacity, they were driven back on their entrench-
140
IsmmuT adt no anao^
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Accordingly at an early hour next
which they soon perfonned. Some
■m, and the Frenchmen were quicxiy
, , . . . i|^g High-
iar body,
and so well did they acquit themselves that they were
r ■ " ' " .r their spiriteri conduct.
,v the enemy next morning, the
commanfi the allied anny made the neces-
<;<; ' - -I .r-Q between Fon-
i. , d the British and
-v, and posted ■
, of the Hanovciic^xio
;it was towards St.
The !• -!rn completed their
d mLiui nidable preparations
allie?. • -k in the morning of
•ith of " f Cumberland began
' - a front of the enemy
nt began about four
(king a redoubt,
r Vizou, occupied
! which place the
• were entrenched
the guards with
1: sword, pistol,
■r of them.
" British and
t though the
Scene on the Tummel
Photogravure from the Painting by Houston
THE BLACK WATCH
ments. Meanwhile the Dutch on the left made an
unsuccessful attack upon Fontenoy. The enemy,
keeping up an incessant and destructive fire from their
batteries, the Duke of Cumberland sent a detachment,
of which the Highlanders formed a part, to take pos-
session of the wood of Barri, and drive the enemy from
that redoubt; but owing to accident or mistake, no
attack was made. The Dutch having failed in several
attempts to obtain possession of Fontenoy, his Royal
Highness ordered Lord Sempill's regiment to assist
them, but with as little success. Determined, not-
withstanding these untoward circumstances, to cross
the ravine between the redoubts and the village, the
duke pushed forward; but after advancing beyond the
ravine, he found that he had not a sufficiency of ground
to form his whole army in line. He, therefore, made
the flanks wheel back on their right and left, and then
facing towards their proper front, they moved forward
along with the centre, the whole forming the three sides
of a hollow square. Supported by cavalry, the French
infantry made three desperate attacks upon the allied
army, while marching in this order; but though they
were assisted by a heavy cannonade from the whole of
the batteries, they were repulsed in every charge.
The allies continuing steadfastly to advance. Marshal
Saxe, who had, during three attacks, lost some of his
bravest men, began to think of a retreat; but being
extremely averse to abandoning his position, he resolved
to make a last effort to retrieve the fortune of the day by
attacking his assailants with all his forces. Being far
advanced in a dropsy, the marshal had been carried
about the whole day in a litter. This he now quitted,
and mounting his horse, he rode over the field giving
the necessary orders, whilst two men supported him on
each side. He brought forward the household troops
141
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
of the King of France. He posted his best cavalry on
the flanks, and the king's body-guards, with the flower
of the infantry in the centre. Having also brought up
all his field-pieces, he, under cover of their fire and that
of the batteries, made a combined charge of cavalry
and infantry on the allied army, the greater part of
which had, by this time, formed into line by advancing
beyond the confined ground. The allies, unable to
withstand the impetuosity of this attack, gave way,
and were driven back across the ravine, carrying along
with them the Highlanders, who had been ordered
up from the attack of the village, and two other regi-
ments ordered from the reserve to support the line.
After rallying for a short time beyond the ravine, the
whole army retreated by order of the duke, the High-
landers and Howard's regiment (the 19th) under the
command of Lord Craufurd, covering the rear. The
retreat, which was commenced about three o'clock in
the afternoon, was effected in excellent order. When
it was over his lordship pulled off his hat, and returning
thanks to the covering party, said " that they had
acquired as much honour in covering so great a retreat,
as if they had gained a battle." The carnage on both
sides was great. The allies lost, in killed and wounded,
about seven thousand men, including a number of ofl5-
cers. The loss of the French is supposed to have equalled
that of the allies. The Highlanders lost Captain John
Campbell of Carrick,' whose head was carried off by a
cannon-ball early in the action; Ensign Lachlane Camp-
bell, son of Craignish, and thirty men; Captain Robert
Campbell of Finab; Ensigns Ronald Campbell, nephew
of Craignish, and James Campbell, son of Glenfalloch;
two sergeants, and eighty-six rank and file wounded.
Before the engagement, the part which the High-
landers would act formed a subject of intense specula-
U2
THE BLACK WATCH
tion. Those who knew them had no misgivings; but
there were other persons, high in rank, who looked
upon the support of such men with an unfavourable
eye. So strong was this impression " in some high
quarters, that, on the rapid charge made by the High-
landers, when pushing forward sword in hand nearly at
full speed, and advancing so far, it was suggested that
they inclined to change sides and join the enemy, who
had already three brigades of Scotch and Irish engaged,
which performed very important services on tliat
day." All anxiety, however, was soon put an end
to by the decided way in which they sustained the
national honour.
Captain John Munro of the 43d regiment, in a letter
to Lord President Forbes, thus describes the battle:
" A little after four in the morning, the thirtieth of
April, our cannon began to play, and the French bat-
teries, with triple our weight of metal and numbers too,
answered us; about five the mfantry was in march; we
(the Highlanders) were in the centre of the right brigade;
but by six were ordered to cross the field (I mean our
regiment, for the rest of our brigades did not march to
attack), a little village on the left of the whole, called
Fontenoy. As we passed the field the French batteries
played upon our front, and right and left flanks, but to
no purpose, for their batteries being upon rising ground,
their balls flew over us and hurt the second line. We
were to support the Dutch, who, in their usual way, were
very dilatory. We got within musket-shot of their
batteries, when we received three full fires of their
batteries and small arms, which killed us forty men and
one ensign. Here we were obliged to skulk behind
houses and hedges for about an hour and a half, waiting
for the Dutch, who, when they came up, behaved but
so and so. Our regiment being in some disorder, I
143
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
wanted to draw them up in rear of the Dutch, which
their general would scarce allow of; but at last I did
it, and marched them again to the front. In half an
hour after the Dutch gave way, and Sir Robert Munro
thought proper we should retire; for we had then the
whole batteries from the enemy's ground playing upon
us, and three thousand foot ready to fall upon us. We
retired; but before we had marched thirty yards, we
had orders to return to the attack, which we did; and
in about ten minutes after had orders to march directly
with aU expedition, to assist the Hanoverians, who had
got by this time well advanced upon the batteries upon
the left. They behaved most gallantly and bravely;
and had the Dutch taken example from them, we had
supped at Toumay. The British behaved well; we
(the Highlanders) were told by his Royal Highness
that we did our duty well. ... By two of the clock
we all retreated; and we were ordered to cover the
retreat, as the only regiment that could be kept to their
duty, and in this affair we lost sixty more; but the
duke made so friendly and favourable a speech to us,
that if we had been ordered to attack their lines afresh,
I dare say our poor feUows would have done it."
The Highlanders on this occasion were commanded
by Sir Robert Munro of Fowlis, their lieutenant-colonel,
in whom, besides great military experience, were united
all the best qualities of the soldier. Aware of the im-
portance of allowing his men to follow their accustomed
tactics, he obtained leave of the Duke of Cumberland to
allow them to fight in their own way. He accordingly
" ordered the whole regiment to clap to the ground on
receivuig the French fire; and instantly after its dis-
charge they sprang up, and coming close to the enemy,
poured in their shot upon them to the certain destruc-
tion of multitudes, and drove them precipitately through
144
THE BLACK WATCH
their lines; then retreating, drew up again, and attacked
them a second time after the same manner. These
attacks they repeated several times the same day, to
the surprise of the whole army. Sir Robert was every-
where with his regiment, notwithstanding his great
corpulency, and when in the trenches he was hauled
out by the legs and arms by his own men; and it is
observed that when he commanded the whole regiment
to clap to the ground, he himself alone, with the colours
behind him, stood upright, receiving the whole fire of
the enemy; and this because (as he said), though he
could easily lie down, his great bulk would not suffer
him to rise so quickly. His preservation that day was
the surprise and astonishment not only of the whole
army, but of all that heard the particulars of the action."
The gallantry thus displayed by Sir Robert and his
regiment was the theme of universal admiration in
Britain, and the French themselves could not withhold
their meed of praise. " It must be owned," says a
French writer, " that our forces were thrice obliged to
give way, and nothing but the good conduct and extreme
calnmess of Marshal Saxe could have brought them to the
charge the last time, which was about two o'clock, when
the allies in their turn gave way. Our victor}^ may be
said to be complete; but it cannot be denied, that, as
the allies behaved extremely well, more especially the
English, so they made a soldier-like retreat, which was
much favoured by an adjacent wood. The British
behaved well, and could be exceeded in ardour by none
but our officers, who animated the troops by their
example, when the Highland furies rushed in upon
us with more violence than ever did a sea driven by a
tempest. I cannot say much of the other auxiliaries,
some of whom looked as if they had no great concern
in the matter which way it went. In short, we gained
145
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the victory; but may I never see such another! " Some
idea may be formed of the havoc made by the High-
landers from the fact of one of them having killed nine
Frenchmen with his broadsword, and he was only pre-
vented from increasing the number by his arm being
shot off.
In consequence of the rebellion in Scotland, eleven of
the British regiments were ordered home in October,
1745, among whom was the 43d. The Highlanders
arrived in the Thames on the fourth of November, and
whilst the other regiments were sent to Scotland under
General Hawley to assist in quelling the insurrection,
the 43d was marched to the coast of Kent, and joined
the division of the army assembled there to repel an
expected invasion. When it is considered that more
than three hundred of the soldiers in the 43d had fathers
and brothers engaged in the rebellion, the prudence and
humanity of keeping them aloof from a contest between
duty and affection are evident. Three new companies,
which had been added to the regiment in the early part
of the year 1745, were, however, employed in Scotland
against the rebels before joining the regiment. These
companies were raised chiefly in the districts of Athole,
Breadalbane, and Braemar, and the command of them
was given to the laird of Mackintosh, Sir Patrick Murray
of Ochtertyre, and Campbell of Inveraw, who had
recruited them. The subalterns were James Farquhar-
son, the younger of Invercauld; John Campbell, the
younger of Glenlyon, and Dugald Campbell; and
Ensign Allan Grant, son of Glenmoriston ; John Camp-
bell, son of Glenfalloch; and Allan Campbell, son of
Barcaldine. General Stewart observes that the privates
of these companies, though of the best character, did
not occupy that rank in society for which so many
individuals of the independent companies had been
146
THE BLACK WATCH
distinguished. One of these companies, as has been
elsewhere observed, was at the battle of Prestonpans.
The services of the other two companies were confined
to the Highlands during the rebellion, and after its
suppression they were employed along with detachments
of the Enghsh army in the barbarous task of burning
the houses, and laying waste the lands of the rebels, —
a service which must have been very revolting to their
feelings.
Having projected the conquest of Quebec, the govern-
ment fitted out an expedition at Portsmouth, the land-
forces of which consisted of six thousand men, including
Lord John Murray's Highlanders, as the 43d regiment
was now called. The armament having been delayed
from various causes until the season was too far advanced
for crossing the Atlantic, it was resolved to employ it
in making a descent on the coast of France, for the pur-
pose of surprising the Port I'Orient, then the repository
of all the stores and ships belonging to the French East
India Company. WhUe this new expedition was in
preparation, the Highland regiment was increased to
eleven hundred men, by draughts from the three com-
panies in Scotland.
As the force destined for North America was considered
inadequate for the intended descent on France, a rein-
forcement of two thousand of the foot-guards and a
large detachment of artillery were added to it. The
expedition sailed from Portsmouth on the fifteenth day of
September, 1746, under the command of Rear-Admiral
Lestock, and on the twentieth the troops were landed,
without much opposition, in Quimperly bay, ten miles
from Port I'Orient. General St. Clair, the commander,
reached L'Orient on the twenty-fourth, and having,
on the evening of next day, completed one mortar-
battery and two twelve-gun batteries, he laid siege to
147
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the place. Having offered to surrender on terms which
were rejected, the inhabitants prepared for a vigorous
defence. Assuming a garb resembling that worn by
the Highland soldiers, the garrison advanced towards
the batteries, and under that disguise approached very-
near before the deception was discovered. They were
then driven back amidst a volley of grape-shot, and
pursued by the Highlanders. As the besieged soon
obtained a great accession of force, and as General St,
Clair soon perceived that he could not carry the place,
he abandoned the siege, and retiring to the sea-coast,
re-embarked his troops.
Some of these forces returned to England; the rest
landed in Ireland. The Highlanders arrived at Cork
on the fourth of November, whence they marched to
Limerick, where they remained tUl February, 1747, when
they returned to Cork, where they embarked to join
a new expedition for Flanders. This force, which con-
sisted chiefly of the troops that had been recalled in
1745, sailed from Leith roads in the beginning of April,
1747. Lord Loudon's Highlanders and a detachment
from the three additional companies of Lord John
Murray's Highlanders also joined this force; and such
was the eagerness of the latter for this service, that when
informed that only a part of them was to join the army,
they all claimed permission to embark, in consequence
of which demand it was found necessary to settle the
question of preference by drawing lots.
To relieve Hulst, which was closely besieged by Count
Lowendahl, a detachment, consisting of Lord John
Murray's Highlanders, the first battalion of the Royals
and Bragg's regiment, was ordered to Flushing, under
the command of Major-General Fuller. They landed at
Stapledyke on the first of May. The Dutch governor
of Hulst, General St. Roque, ordered the Royals to join
148
THE BLACK WATCH
the Dutch camp at St. Bergue, and directed the High-
landers and Bragg's regiment to halt within four miles
of Hulst. On the fifth of May the besiegers began an
assault, and drove the outguards and piquets back
into the garrison, and would have carried the place, had
not the Royals maintained their post with the greatest
bravery till relieved by the Highland regiment, when
the French were compelled to retire. The Highlanders
had only five privates killed and a few wounded on this
occasion. The French continuing the siege, St. Roque
surrendered the place, although he was aware that an
additional reinforcement of nine battalions was on the
march to his relief. The British troops then embarked
for South Beveland. Three hundred of the Highland
regiment, who were the last to embark, were attacked
by a body of French troops. " They behaved with so
much bravery, that they beat off three or four times their
number, killing many, and making some prisoners, with
only the loss of four or five of their own number."
Having collected his whole army, the Duke of Cum-
berland posted himself between the two Nethes to cover
Bergen-op-Zoom and Maestricht; and Marshal Saxe,
calling in his detachments, encamped between Mechlin
and Lou vain, with the view of hazarding a general en-
gagement. Arriving at Brussels on the fifteenth of June,
the French king put his army in motion towards Tirle-
mont. The allies formed themselves in order of battle,
with their right at Bilsen, and their left extending to
Wirle, within a mile of Maestricht, having in the front
of their left wing the village of Lafeldt, in which were
posted several battalions of British infantry. Prince
Wolfenbuttle was posted at the abbey of Everbode with
the reserve of the first line, and the second line took
up a position at Westerloo to sustain the reserve. These
arrangements were completed on the seventeenth of
149
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
June; but no engagement took place till the morning
of the second of July, although both armies cannonaded
each other the preceding day.
In the morning the enemy's infantry marched down
from the heights of Herdeeren in a large column, and
attacked the village of Lafeldt. In their approach they
suffered dreadfully from the cannon of the allies, and
from a well-directed fire from the British musketry.
The French, unable to withstand, retired; but fresh
brigades coming up the allies were obliged in their turn
to abandon the village. For four hours the battle raged
round this village, which was thrice carried, and as often
lost. About noon, the Duke of Cumberland ordered the
whole left wing to advance against the enemy, whose
infantry gave way. Prince Waldeck led up the centre,
and Marshal Bathiani making a motion with the right
wing towards Herdeeren, victory seemed within reach
of the confederates, when the fortune of the day was
suddenly changed by the Irish and Scotch brigades * in
the service of France, who being ordered up by Marshal
Saxe, charged and drove back in great confusion the
centre of the allied army. At this critical moment some
squadrons of Dutch cavalry who were in the rear, instead
of supporting the line, turned to the right-about, and fly-
ing off at full gallop, overthrew five battalions of infantry
that were marching up from the reserve. The con-
fusion was still farther increased by the French cavalry,
who charged the confederates with great impetuosity,
and penetrated through their lines. The Duke of Cum-
berland with difficulty reached the left wing; and the
defeat would in all probability have been complete,
had not Sir John Ligonier gallantly resolved, at the
imminent risk of his life, to save the army. At the head
of three British regiments of dragoons, and some squad-
rons of Austrians, he charged the whole line of the
150
THE BLACK WATCH
French cavalry with such vigour and success, as to
overthrow all who opposed him. By this diversion the
Duke of Cumberland was enabled to effect an orderly
retreat to Maestricht. Sir John Ligonier, after having
his horse killed under him, was taken prisoner. The
allies lost 5,620 men in killed and wounded; but the loss
of the French was nearly double that number.
A few days after the battle, Count Lowendahl laid
siege to Bergensop-Zoom with a force of twenty-five thou-
sand men. This place, from the strength of its fortifica-
tions, the favourite work of the celebrated Coehom,
having never been stormed, was deemed impregnable.
The garrison consisted of three thousand men, including
Lord Loudon's Highlanders. Though Lord John Mur-
ray's Highlanders remained in South Beveland, his
lordship, with Captain Fraser of Culduthel, Captain
Campbell of Craignish, and several other officers of his
regiment, joined the besieged. After about two months'
siege, this important fortress was taken by storm from
the too great confidence of Constrom, the governor, who
never anticipated an assault. On obtaining possession
of the ramparts, the French attempted to enter the
town, but were attacked with such impetuosity by two
battalions of the Scottish troops in the pay of the
States-general, that they were driven from street to
street, until fresh reinforcements arriving, the Scotch
were compelled to retreat in their turn; yet they dis-
puted every inch of ground, and fought till two-thirds of
them were killed on the spot. The remainder thee
abandoned the town, carrying the old governor along
with them.
The different bodies of the allied army assembled in
the neighbourhood of Raremond in March, 1748, but,
with the exception of the capture of Maestricht, no
military event of any importance took place in the
151
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Netherlands; and preliminaries of peace having been
signed, the Highlanders returned to England in Decem-
ber, and were afterward sent to Ireland. The three
additional companies had assembled at Prestonpans in
March, 1748, for the purpose of embarking for Flanders;
but the orders to ship were countermanded in conse-
quence of the preliminaries of peace being signed, and
in the course of that year these companies were reduced.
The following year, in consequence of the reduction of
the 42d regiment (Oglethorpe's), the number of the
Highland regiment was changed from the 43d to the
42d, the number it has ever since retained.
During eight years that the Highlanders were stationed
in Ireland, the utmost cordiality subsisted between them
and the inhabitants of the different districts where they
were quartered, — a circumstance the more remarkable
when it is considered that the military were generally
embroiled in quarrels with the natives. So lasting and
favourable an impression did they make, that upon
the return of the regiment from America, after an
absence of eleven years, applications were made from
the towns and districts where they had been formerly
quartered, to get them again stationed among them.
Although, as General Stewart observes, the similarity
of language, and the general and prevailing belief of the
same origin, might have had some influence with both
parties, yet nothing but the most exemplary good
conduct on the part of the Highlanders could have
overcome the natural repugnance of a people who, at
that time, justly regarded the British soldiery as ready
instruments of oppression.
In consequence of the mutual encroachments made by
the French and English on their respective territories
in North America, both parties prepared for war; and
as the British ministry determined to make their chief
153
THE BLACK WATCH
efforts against the enemy in that quarter, they resolved
to send two bodies of troops thither. The first division,
of which the Highlanders formed a part, under the com-
mand of Lieutenant-General Sir James Abercromby, set
sail in March, 1756, and landed at New York in June
following. In the month last mentioned seven hundred
recruits, who had been raised by recruiting parties sent
from the regiment previous to its departure from
Ireland, embarked at Greenock for America. When
the Highlanders landed, they attracted much notice,
particularly on the part of the Indians, who, on the
march of the regiment to Albany, flocked from all
quarters to see strangers, whom, from the similarity
of their dress, they considered to be of the same ex-
traction as themselves, and whom they therefore re-
garded as brothers.
Before the departure of the 42d regiment, several
changes and promotions had taken place. Lieutenant-
Colonel Campbell (the late Duke of Argyle), who had
commanded the regiment during the six years they
were quartered in Ireland, having been promoted to
the command of the 54th, was succeeded by Major
Grant, who was so popular with the men, that, on the
vacancy occurring, they subscribed a sum of money
among themselves to purchase the lieutenant-colonelcy
for him; but the money was not required, the promotion
at that time being without purchase. Captain Duncan
Campbell of In vera w was appointed major; Thomas
Graeme of Duchray, James Abercromby, son of General
Abercromby of Glassa, the commander of the expedition,
and John Campbell of Strachur, were made captains;
Lieutenant John Campbell, captain-lieutenant; En-
signs Kenneth Tolme, James Grant, John Graeme,
brother of Duchray, Hugh M'Pherson, Alexander Turn-
bull of Stracathro, and Alexander Campbell, son of
153
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Barcaldine, were raised to the rank of lieutenants. From
the half-pay lists were taken Lieutenants Alexander
MTntosh, James Gray, William Baillie, Hugh Arnot,
William Sutherland, John Small, and Archibald Camp-
bell; the ensigns were James Campbell, Archibald
Lamont, Duncan Campbell, George M'Lagan, Patrick
Balneaves, son of Edradour, Patrick Stewart, son
of Bonskeid, Norman M'Leod, George Campbell, and
Donald Campbell.
The regiment had been now sixteen years embodied,
and although its original members had by this time
almost disappeared, " their habits and character were
well sustained by their successors, to whom they were
left, as it were, in charge. This expectation has been
fulfilled through a long course of years and events. The
first supply of recruits after the original formation, was,
in many instances, inferior to their predecessors in per-
sonal appearance, as well as in private station and
family connections; but they lost nothing of that firm
step, erect air, and freedom from awkward restraint,
the consequence of a spirit of independence and self-
respect, which distinguished their predecessors."
The second division of the expedition, under the Earl
of Loudon, who was appointed commander-in-chief of
the army in North America, soon joined the forces under
General Abercromby; but, owing to different causes,
they did not take the field till the summer of the follow-
ing year. Pursuant to an attack on Louisburg, Lord
Loudon embarked in the month of June for Halifax
with the forces under his command, amounting to
5,300 men. At Halifax his forces were increased to
10,500 men, by the addition of five regiments lately
arrived from England, including Eraser's and Mont-
gomery's Highlanders.
When on the eve of his departure from Halifax, Lord
154
THE BLACK WATCH
Loudon received information by means of some small
vessels he had sent out to examine and reconnoitre the
condition of the enemy, that the Brest fleet had arrived
in the harbour of Louisburg. In consequence of this
intelligence, the preparations for the expedition were
suspended, and several councils of war were held, at
which various opinions were delivered; but the resolu-
tion to abandon the enterprise was not taken till it
clearly appeared from letters which were taken in a
packet bound from Louisburg to France, that the force
was too great to be encountered. It turned out that
there were at that time at Louisburg six thousand
regular troops, three thousand natives, and thirteen
hundred Indians, with seventeen ships of the line and
three frigates moored in the harbour, and that the place
was well suppHed wdth ammunition, provisions, and
every kind of military store. Leaving the remainder of
the troops at Halifax, Lord Loudon returned to New
York, taking along with him the Highlanders and four
other regiments.
The Marquis de Montcalm, the commander of the
French army, in the meantime availed himself of the
departure of Lord Loudon from New York, to improve
the advantages he had already gained. Collecting all
his disposable forces, amounting, with Indians, to eight
thousand men, and a large train of artillery, he laid siege
to Fort William-Henry, garrisoned by three thousand
men under the command of Colonel Munro. After a siege
of six days. Colonel Munro surrendered, on condition
that the garrison should not serve for eighteen months.
As the garrison marched out the Indians fell upon them,
robbed them of their effects, and, dragging the Indians
in the English service out of the ranks, assassinated them
in presence of the French commander, who was either
unwilling or unable to restrain them.
155
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
The Earl of Loudon having been recalled, the command
of the army devolved on General Abercromby. Deter-
mined to wipe off the disgrace of former campaigns,
the ministry, who had just come into power, fitted out
a great naval armament and a military force of thirty-
two thousand men, which were placed under conamanders
who enjoyed the confidence of the country. The com-
mand of the fleet was given to Admiral Boscawen; and
Brigadier-Generals Wolfe, Townsend, and Murray were
added to the military staff. Three expeditions were
planned in 1758, one against Louisburg; another against
Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and a third against Fort
du Quesne.
General Abercromby, the commander-in-chief, took
charge of the expedition against Ticonderoga, with a
force of 15,390 men, of whom 6,337 were regulars (in-
cluding Lord John Murray's Highlanders), and 9,024
provincials, besides a train of artillery.
Fort Ticonderoga stands on a tongue of land between
Lake Champlain and Lake George, and is surrounded on
three sides by water; part of the fourth side is protected
by a morass; the remaining part was strongly fortified
with high entrenchments, supported and flanked by
three batteries, and the whole front of that part which
was accessible was intersected by deep traverses, and
blocked up with felled trees, with their branches turned
outwards, and their points first sharpened and then
hardened by fire, forming altogether a most formidable
defence. On the fourth of July the commander-in-chief
embarked his troops on Lake George, on board nine
hundred batteaux and 135 whale-boats, with provisions,
artillery, and ammunition, several pieces of cannon being
mounted on rafts to cover the landing, which was
effected next day without opposition. The troops were
then formed into two parallel columns, and in this order
166
THE BLACK WATCH
marched towards the enemy's advanced post, consisting
of one battalion, encamped behind a breast-work of
logs. The enemy abandoned this defence without a
shot, after setting the breast-work on fire and burning
their tents and implements. The troops continued their
march in the same order, but the route lying through a
wood, and the guides being imperfectly acquainted
with the country, the columns were broken by coming
in contact with each other. The right column, at the
head of which was Lord Howe, fell in with a detachment
of the enemy who had also lost their way in the retreat
from the advanced post, and a smart skirmish ensuing,
the enemy were routed with considerable loss. Lord
Howe unfortunately fell in the beginning of this action.
He was much regretted, being " a young nobleman of
the most promising talents, who had distinguished him-
self in a peculiar manner by his courage, activity, and
rigid observance of military discipline, and had acquired
the esteem and affection of the soldiery by his generosity,
sweetness of manners, and engaging address."
Perceiving that his men were greatly fatigued,
General Abercromby ordered them to march back to
their landing-place, which they reached about eight
o'clock in the morning. Having taken possession of a
sawmill in the neighbourhood of Ticonderoga, which the
enemy had abandoned, General Abercromby advanced
towards the place next morning. It was garrisoned by
five thousand men, of whom twenty-eight hundred were
French troops of the line, who were stationed behind the
traverses and felled trees in front of the fort. Receiving
information from some prisoners that General Levi,
with a force of three thousand men, was marching to the
defence of Ticonderoga, the English commander resolved
to anticipate him by striking, if possible, a decisive blow
before a junction could be effected. He therefore sent
157
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
an engineer across the river on the opposite side of the
fort to reconnoitre the enemy's entrenchments, who
reported that the works being still unfinished, might
be attempted with a prospect of success. Preparations
for the attack were therefore instantly made. The
whole army being put in motion, the piquets, followed
by the grenadiers, the battalions and reserve, which last
consisted of the Highlanders and the 55th regiment,
advanced with great alacrity towards the entrenchments,
which they found to be much more formidable than they
expected. The breast-work, which was regularly forti-
fied, was eight feet high, and the ground before it was
covered with an abhatis or chemux-de-frize, projecting
in such a manner as to render the entrenchment almost
inaccessible. Undismayed by these discouraging ob-
stacles, the British troops marched up to the assault in
the face of a destructive fire, and maintained their
ground without flinching. Impatient in the rear, the
Highlanders broke from the reserve, and, pushing for-
ward to the front, endeavoured to cut their way through
the trees with their broadswords. After a long and
deadly struggle, the assailants penetrated the exterior
defences and advanced to the breast- work; but being
unprovided with scaling ladders, they attempted to gain
the breast-work, partly by mounting on each other's
shoulders, and partly by fixing their feet in the holes
which they made with their swords and bayonets, in the
face of the work. No sooner, however, did a man reach
the top, than he was thrown down by the troops behind
the entrenchments. Captain John Campbell,' and a
few men, at length forced their way over the breast-
work, but they were immediately despatched with the
bayonet. After a desperate struggle, which lasted about
four hours under such discouraging circumstances,
General Abercromby seeing no possible chance of suc-
158
THE BLACK WATCH
cess, gave orders for a retreat. It was with diflSculty,
however, that the troops could be prevailed upon to
retire, and it was not till the third order that the High-
landers were induced to retreat, after more than one-half
of the men and twenty-five officers had been either
killed or desperately wounded. No attempt was made
to molest them in their retreat, and the whole retired
in good order, carrying along with them the whole of
the wounded, amounting to sixty-five officers and 1,178
non-commissioned officers and soldiers. Twenty-three
officers and 567 rank and file were killed.
The loss sustained by the 42d regiment was as follows,
viz.: Eight officers, nine sergeants, and 297 men killed;
and seventeen officers, ten sergeants, and 306 soldiers
wounded. The officers killed were Major Duncan Camp-
bell of Inveraw, Captain John Campbell, Lieutenants
George Farquharson, Hugh MTherson, William Baillie
and John Sutherland; Ensigns Patrick Stewart, brother
of Bonskeid, and George Rattray. The wounded were
Captains Gordon Graham, Thomas Graham of Duchray,
John Campbell of Strachur, James Stewart of Urrard,
James Murray (afterward general); Lieutenants James
Grant, Robert Gray, John Campbell, William Grant,
John Graham, brother of Duchray, Alexander Campbell,
Alexander Mackintosh, Archibald Campbell, David
Miller, Patrick Balnea ves; and Ensigns John Smith and
Peter Grant.
The intrepid conduct of the Highlanders on this
occasion was made the topic of universal panegyric in
Great Britain, and the public prints teemed with honour-
able testimonies to their bravery. If an}i;hing could add
to the gratification they received from the approbation
of their country, nothing was better calculated to enhance
it than the handsome way in which their services were
appreciated by their companions in arms. " With a
159
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
mixture of esteem, grief, and envy," says an officer of
the 55th, " I consider the great loss and immortal glory
acquired by the Scots Highlanders in the late bloody
affair. Impatient for orders, they rushed forward to the
entrenchments, which many of them actually mounted.
They appeared like lions breaking from their chains.
Their intrepidity was rather animated than damped
by seeing their comrades fall on every side. I have only
to say of them, that they seemed more anxious to revenge
the cause of their deceased friends, than careful to
avoid the same fate. By their assistance, we expect
soon to give a good account of the enemy and of our-
selves. There is much harmony and friendship between
us." The folio wmg extract of a letter from Lieutenant
WiUiam Grant, an officer of the regiment, seems to con-
tain no exaggerated detail: — "The attack began a
little past one in the afternoon, and about two the fire
became general on both sides, which was exceedingly
heavy, and without any intermission, insomuch that
the oldest soldier present never saw so furious and inces-
sant a fire. The affair at Fontenoy was nothing to it,
I saw both. We laboured under insurmountable diffi-
culties. The enemy's breast-work was about nine or
ten feet high, upon the top of which they had plenty
of waU-pieces fixed, and which was well lined in the inside
with small arms. But the difficult access to their lines
was what gave them a fatal advantage over us. They
took care to cut down monstrous large oak trees which
covered all the ground from the foot of their breast-
work about the distance of a cannon-shot every way in
their front. This not only broke our ranks, and made it
impossible for us to keep our order, but put it entirely
out of our power to advance till we cut our way through.
1 have seen men behave with courage and resolution
before now, but so much determined bravery can hardly
160
THE BLACK WATCH
be equalled in any part of the history of ancient Rome.
Even those that were mortally wounded cried aloud to
their companions, not to mind or lose a thought upon
them, but to follow their officers, and to mind the honour
of their country. Nay, their ardour was such, that it
was difficult to bring them off. They paid dearly for
their intrepidity. The remains of the regiment had the
honour to cover the retreat of the army, and brought off
the wounded as we did at Fontenoy. When shall we
have so fine a regiment again? I hope we shall be allowed
to recruit." Lieutenant Grant's wish had been antici-
pated, as letters of service had been issued, before the
affair of Ticonderoga was known in England, for raising
a second battalion, besides an order to make the regiment
royal, " as a testimony of his Majesty's satisfaction and
approbation of the extraordinary courage, loyalty, and
exemplary conduct of the Highland regiment."
So successful were the officers in recruiting, that within
three months seven companies, each 120 men strong,
which, with the three additional companies raised the
preceding year, were to form the second battalion, were
raised in three months, and embodied at Perth in
October, 1758. The officers appointed to these seven
additional companies were Francis M'Lean Alexander
Sinclair, John Stewart of Stenton, William Murray, son
of Lintrose, Archibald Campbell, Alexander Reid, and
Robert Arbuthnot, to be captains; Alexander M'Lean,
George Grant, George Sinclair, Gordon Clunes, Adam
Stewart, John Robertson, son of Lude, John Grant,
James Eraser, George Leslie, John Campbell, Alexander
Stewart, Duncan Richardson, and Robert Robertson,
to be lieutenants; and Patrick Sinclair, John M'Intosh,
James M'Duff, Thomas Fletcher, Alexander Donaldson,
William M'Lean, and William Brown, to be ensigns.
Government having resolved to employ the seven new
161
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
companies in an expedition against Martinique and
Guadaloupe, two hundred of the men, on being em-
bodied, were immediately embarked at Greenock for the
West Indies, under the convoy of the Ludlow Castle, for
the purpose of joining the armament lying in Carlisle
bay, destined for that service. The whole land force em-
ployed in this expedition amounted to 5,560 men, under
the command of Major-Generals Hopson and Barring-
ton, and of Brigadier-Generals Armiger, Haldane,
Trapand, and Clavering. They sailed from Barbadoes
on the thirteenth of January, 1759, for Martinique,
which they descried next morning; and on the following
day the British squadron entered the great bay of Port
Royal. About this time the other division of the seven
newly raised companies joined the expedition. On the
sixteenth, three ships of the line attacked Fort Negro,
the guns of which they soon silenced. A detachment
of marines and sailors landing in flat-bottomed boats,
clambered up the rock, and, entering through the em-
brasures with fixed bayonets, took possession of the
fort, which had been abandoned by the enemy. The
whole French troops retired to Port Royal, leaving the
beach open, so that the British forces landed next
morning at Cas de Navire without opposition. No
enemy being in sight, the grenadiers, the 4th or king's
regiment, and the Highlanders, moved forward about
ten o'clock to reconnoitre; but they had not proceeded
far when they fell in with parties of the enemy, who
retired on their approach. When within a short distance
of Morne Tortueson, an eminence that overlooked the
town and citadel of Port Royal, and the most important
post in the island, the advanced party halted till the rest
of the army came up. The advancing and retiring par-
ties had kept up an irregular fire when in motion, and
they still continued to skirmish. It was observed on
16«
THE BLACK WATCH
this occasion, " that although debarred the use of arms
in their own country, the Highlanders showed them-
selves good marksmen, and had not forgot how to handle
their arms." The inhabitants of Martinique were in the
greatest alarm, and some of the principal among them
were about sending deputies to the British commander to
treat for a surrender, but General Hopson relieved them
from their anxiety by reembarking his troops in the
evening. The chief reason for abandoning the enter-
prise was the alleged impracticability of getting up the
heavy cannon. The British had one oflBcer killed and
two wounded, one of whom was Lieutenant Leslie of the
Royal Highlanders. Sixty privates were killed and
wounded.
In a political point of view, the possession of Mar-
tinique was an object of greater importance than Guada-
loupe, as it afforded, from its spacious harbour, a secure
retreat to the enemy's fleets. By taking possession of
St. Pierre, the whole island might have been speedily
reduced; and the British commanders proceeded to that
part of the island with that view; but alarmed lest they
might sustain considerable loss by its capture, which
might thus cripple their future operations, they absurdly
relinquished their design, and proceeded to Guadaloupe.
On the expedition reaching the western division of the
island, it w^as resolved to make a general attack by sea
upon the citadel, the town, and the batteries by which it
was defended. Accordingly, on the twentieth of January,
three line-of-battle ships formed in a line opposite the
town of Basseterre, and at nine o'clock in the morning
opened a tremendous fire on the town and batteries,
which was returned and kept up on both sides with great
vivacity for many hours. About five o'clock in the
evening the fire of the citadel slackened. In the course
of the afternoon the Rippon, of seventy-four guns, ran
163
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
aground, and would probably have been destroyed, had
not Captain Leslie of the Bristol, coming in from sea,
run in between the Rippon and the batteries, and, by
silencing their fire, enabled the Rippon to get off. At
seven in the evening, all the other large ships having
silenced the guns to which they had been respectively
opposed, joined the rest of the fleet. Four bombs were
then anchored near the shore, which threw shells into
the town, in consequence of which several houses were
soon set on fire, and about ten o'clock at night the place
was in a general conflagration.
The troops landed at five o'clock in the evening of the
following day without opposition, and took possession
of the town and citadel, which they found entirely
abandoned. The Chevalier D'Etreil, the governor of the
island, taking shelter among the mountains, yielded the
honour of continuing the contest to a lady of masculine
courage named Ducharmey. Arming her slaves, whom
she headed in person, she made several bold attempts
upon an advanced post on a hill near the town, occupied
by Major (afterward general) Melville, opposite to which
she thirew up some entrenchments. Annoyed by the
incessant attacks of this Amazon, Major Melville attacked
her entrenchments, which he carried, after an obstinate
resistance. Madame Ducharmey escaped with difficulty,
but some of her female companions in arms were taken
prisoners. Ten of her people were killed and many
wounded. Of the British detachment, twelve were slain
and thirty wounded, including two subaltern officers,
one of whom, Lieutenant M'Lean of the Highlanders,
lost an arm.
Finding it impracticable to carry on a campaign
among the mountains of Basseterre, the general resolved
to transfer the seat of war to the eastern division of the
island, called Grandeterre, which was more accessible.
164
THE BLACK WATCH
Accordingly, on the tenth of February, a detachment of
Highlanders and marines was landed in that part of the
island in the neighbourhood of Fort Louis, after a severe
cannonading which lasted six hours. The assailants,
Bword in hand, drove the enemy from their entrench-
ments, and, taking possession of the fort, hoisted the
English colours.
General Hopson died on the twenty-seventh. He was
succeeded by General Barrington, who resolved to com-
plete the reduction of the island with vigour. Leaving,
therefore, one regiment and a detachment of artillery
under Colonel Debrisay in Basseterre, the general re-
embarked the rest of the army and proceeded to Grande-
terre. On the departure of Barrington, the enemy
descended from the hills, and endeavoured to take pos-
session of the town; but they were repulsed in every
attempt by the small garrison. In one of these attacks
a powder magazine unfortunately exploded, in which
explosion Colonel Debrisay, together with two other
oflScers and some soldiers, perished.
Meanwhile General Barrington was carrying on a series
of successful operations in Grandeterre, by means of
detachments. One of these, consisting of six hundred
men, under Colonel Crump, carried the towns of St.
Anne and St. Francis with little loss, notwithstanding
the fire from the entrenchments. The only officer who
fell was Ensign M'Lean of the Highlanders. Another
detachment of three hundred men took the town of
Gosier by storm, and drove the garrison into the woods.
The next operation of the general was an attempt to
surprise the three towns of Petit Bourg, St. Mary's, and
Gouyave, on the Capesterre side, the execution of which
was conmiitted to Colonels Crump and Clavering; but,
owing to the extreme darkness of the night, and the
incapacity of the negro guides, the attempt was rendered
165
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
abortive. Resolved to carry these towns, the general
directed the same commanders to land their forces in a
bay near the town of Amonville. No opposition was
made to their landing by the enemy, who retreated
behind a strong entrenchment they had thrown up
behind the River Licorn. With the exception of two
narrow passes which they had fortified with a redoubt
and entrenchments mounted with cannon, which were
defended by a large body of mUitia, the access to the
river was rendered inaccessible by a morass covered with
mangroves; yet, in spite of these difficulties, the British
commanders resolved to hazard an assault. Accordingly,
under cover of a fire from the entrenchments from their
field-pieces and howitzers, the regiment of Duroure and
the Highlanders moved forward, firing by platoons with
the utmost regularity as they advanced. Observing
the enemy beginning to abandon the first entrenchment
on the left, " the Highlanders drew their swords, and,
supported by a part of the other regiment, rushed for-
ward with their characteristic impetuosity, and followed
the enemy into the redoubt, of which they took pos-
session."
Several other actions of minor importance afterward
took place, in which the enemy were uniformly worsted;
and seeing resistance hopeless, they capitulated on the
first of May, after an arduous struggle of nearly three
months. The only Highland officer killed in this expedi-
tion was Ensign M'Lean. Lieutenants M'Lean, Leslie,
Sinclair, and Robertson were wounded; and Major
Anstruther and Captain Arbuthnot died of the fever.
One hundred and six privates of the Royal Highlanders
were killed, wounded, or died of disease.
After the reduction of Guadaloupe, the services of the
second battalion of Royal Highlanders were transferred
to North America, where they arrived early in July, and
166
THE BLACK WATCH
after reaching the headquarters of the British army,
were combined with the first battahon. About this time
a series of combined operations had been projected
against the French settlements in Canada. Whilst
Major-General Wolfe, who had given proofs of great
military talents at the siege of Louisburg, was to proceed
up the St. Lawrence and besiege Quebec, General
Amherst, who had succeeded General Abercromby as
commander-in-chief, was to attempt the reduction of
Ticonderoga and Crown Point, after which he was to
cross Lake Champlain and effect a junction with General
Wolfe before Quebec. Brigadier-General Prideaux was
to proceed against the French fort near the falls of the
Niagara, the most important post of all French America.
The aimy under General Amherst, which was the first
put in motion, assembled at Fort Edward on the nine-
teenth of June. It included the 42d regiment and Mont-
gomery's Highlanders, and when afterward joined by
the second battalion of the Royal Highlanders, it
amounted to 14,500 men. Preceded by the first battal-
ion of the 42d, and the light infantry, the main body of
the army moved forward on the twenty-first, and en-
camped in the neighbourhood of Ticonderoga. The
enemy seemed at first resolved to defend that important
fortress; but perceiving the formidable preparations
made by the English general for a siege, they abandoned
the fort, after having in part dismantled the fortifica-
tions, and retired to Crown Point.
On taking possession of this important post, which
effectually covered the frontiers of New York, General
Amherst proceeded to repair the fortifications; and,
while these were going on, he directed batteaux and
other vessels to be prepared, to enable him to obtain the
command of the lakes. Meanwhile the enemy, who
seem to have had no intention of hazarding an action,
167
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
evacuated Crown Point, and retired to Isle aux Noix,
on the northern extremity of Lake Champlain. Detach-
ing a body of rangers to take possession of the place, the
general embarked the rest of the army and landed at the
fort on the fourth of August, where he encamped.
The general then ordered up the second battalion of the
Royal Highlanders from Oswego, with the exception of
150 men under Captain James Stewart, who were left
to guard that post. Having by great exertions acquired
a naval superiority on Lake Champlain, the general
embarked his army in furtherance of his original plan
of descending the St. Lawrence, and cooperating with
General Wolfe in the reduction of Quebec; but 'm con-
sequence of contrary winds, the tempestuous state of
the weather, and the early setting in of winter, he was
compelled to abandon further prosecution of active
operations in the meantime. He then returned to
Crown Point to winter. A detail of the important enter-
prise against Quebec wUl be found in the history of
Eraser's Highlanders.
After the fall of the fort of Niagara, which was taken
by Prideaux's division, and the conquest of Quebec,
Montreal was the only place of strength which remained
in possession of the French in Canada. General Murray
was ordered to proceed up the St. Lawrence to attack
Montreal, and General Amherst, as soon as the season
permitted, made arrangements to join him. After his
preparations were completed, he ordered Colonel Havi-
land, with a detachment of troops, to take possession
of the Isle aux Noix, and thence to proceed to the banks
of the St. Lawrence by the nearest route. To facilitate
the passage of the armed vessels to La Galette, Colonel
Haldimand with the grenadiers, light infantry, and a
battalion of the Royal Highlanders took post at the
bottom of the lake. Embarking the whole of his army
168
THE BLACK WATCH
on the tenth of August, he proceeded towards the mouth
of the St. Lawrence, and, after a dangerous navigation,
in the course of which several boats were upset and
about eighty men drowned, landed six miles above
Montreal on the sixth of September. General Murray
appeared before Montreal on the evening of the same
day, and the detachments under Colonel Haviland came
down the following day on the south side of the river.
Thus beset by three armies, who, by a singular com-
bination, had united almost at the same instant of
time, after traversing a great extent of unknown
country, Monsieur Vandreuil, the governor, seeing re-
sistance hopeless, surrendered upon favourable terms.
Thus ended a series of successful operations, which
secured Canada to the crown of Great Britain.
The Royal Highlanders remained in North America
until the close of the year 1761, when they were em-
barked along with ten other regiments, among whom
was Montgomery's Highlanders, for Barbadoes, there to
join an armament against Martinique and the Havan-
nah. The land forces consisted altogether of eighteen
regiments, under the command of Major-Gen eral
Monckton. The naval part of the expedition, which was
commanded by Rear-Admiral Rodney, consisted of
eighteen sail of the line, besides frigates, bomb-vessels,
and fire-ships.
The fleet anchored in St. Ann's Bay, Martinique, on
the eighth of January, 1762, when the bulk of the army
inunediately landed. A detachment under Brigadiers
Grant (Ballindalloch) and Haviland, made a descent
without opposition in the Bay of Ance Darlet. Re-
embarking his troops, General Monckton landed his
w^hole army on the sixteenth near Cas de Navire, under
Mome Tortueson and Mome Garnier. As these two
eminences commanded the town and citadel of Fort
169
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Royal, and were their chief defence, great care had
been taken to improve by art their natural strength,
which, from the very deep ravines, which protected them,
was great. The general having resolved to attack Mome
Tortueson first, he ordered a body of troops and eight
hundred marines to advance on the right along the sea-
side towards the town, for the purpose of attacking two
redoubts near the beach, and to support this movement,
he at same time directed some flat bottomed boats,
each carrying a gun, and manned with sailors, to follow
close along the shore. A corps of light infantry was to
get round the enemy's left, whilst, under the cover of the
fire of some batteries which had been raised on the
opposite ridges by the perseverance of some sailors from
the fleet, who had dragged the cannon to the summit
of these almost perpendicular heights, the attack on
the centre was to be made by the grenadiers and High-
landers supported by the main body of the army. After
an arduous contest the enemy were driven from the
Mome Tortueson; but a more diflBcult operation still
remained to be performed. This was to gain possession
of the other eminence, from which, owing to its greater
height, the enemy annoyed the British troops. Prepara-
tions were made for carrying this post; but before they
were completed the enemy descended from the hill
and attacked the advanced posts of the British. This
attempt was fatal to the assailants, who were instantly
repulsed. " When they began to retire, the High-
landers, drawing their swords, rushed forward like furies,
and being supported by the grenadiers under Colonel
Grant (BaUindalloch), and a party of Lord Rollo's
brigade, the hills were mounted, and the batteries seized,
and numbers of the enemy, unable to escape from the
rapidity of the attack, were taken." The militia dis-
persed themselves over the country, but the regulars
170
THE BLACK WATCH
retired into the town, which surrendered on the seventh
of February. The whole island immediately submitted,
and in terms of the capitulation all the windward islands
were delivered up to the British.
In this enterprise the Royal Highlanders had two
oflficers, viz.. Captain William Cockburn and Lieutenant
David Barclay, one sergeant and twelve rank and file
killed. Major John Reid, Captains James Murray and
Thomas Stirling; Lieutenants Alexander Mackintosh,
David Milne, Patrick Balnea ves, Alexander Turnbull,
John Robertson, Wm. Brown, and George Leslie; three
sergeants, one drummer, and seventy-two rank and file
were wounded.
The Royal and Montgomery's Highlanders were em-
ployed the following year in the important conquest of
the Havannah, under Lieutenant-General, the Earl of
Albermarle, in which they sustained very little loss.
That of the two battalions of the 42d consisted only of
two drummers and six privates killed, and four privates
wounded; but they lost by disease Major Macneil,
Captain Robert Menzies, brother of the late Sir John
Menzies, and A. Macdonald; Lieutenants Farquharson,
Grant, Lapsley, Cunnison, Hill and Blair, and two drum-
mers, and seventy-one rank and file.
Shortly after the surrender of the Havannah, all the
disposable forces in Cuba were removed from the island.
The first battalion of the 42d and Montgomery's regi-
ment embarked for New York, which they reached in
the end of October. Before leaving Cuba all the men of
the second battalion of the Royal Highlanders fit for
service were drafted into the first. The remainder with
the oflicers returned to Scotland, where they were re-
duced the following year. The junior oflBcers were
placed on half pay.
The Royal Highlanders were stationed in Albany till
171
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the summer of 1763, when they were sent to the relief
of Fort Pitt, then besieged by the Indians. The manage-
ment of this enterprise was entrusted to Colonel Bouquet
of the 60th regiment, who, in addition to the 42d, had
under his conmaand a detachment of his own regiment
and another of Montgomery's Highlanders, amounting
in whole to 956 men. This body reached Bushy Run
about the end of July. When about to enter a narrow
pass beyond the Run, the advanced guards were suddenly
attacked by the Indians, who had planned an ambuscade.
The light infantry of the 42d regiment moved forward
to the support of the advanced guard, and driving the
Indians from the ambuscade, pursued them a con-
siderable distance. The Indians returned and took
possession of some neighbouring heights. They were
again compelled to retire; but they soon reappeared
on another position, and continuing to increase in num-
bers, they succeeded in surrounding the detachment,
which they attacked on every side. Night put an end
to the combat; but it was renewed next morning with
increased vigour by the Indians, who kept up an inces-
sant fire. They, however, avoided coming to close action,
and the troops could not venture to pursue them far,
as they were encumbered with a convoy of provisions,
and were afraid to leave their wounded lest they might
fall into the hands of the enemy. Recourse was, there-
fore, had to stratagem to bring the Indians to closer
action. Feigning a retreat. Colonel Bouquet ordered
two companies which were in advance to retire, and fall
within a square which had been formed, which, as if
preparing to cover a retreat, opened its files. The
stratagem succeeded. Assuring themselves of victory,
the Indians rushed forward with great impetuosity, and
whilst they were vigorously charged in front, two com-
panies, moving suddenly round a hill which concealed
172
THE BLACK WATCH
their approach, attacked them in flank. The assailants,
in great consternation, turned their backs and fled, and
Colonel Bouquet was allowed to proceed to Fort Pitt
without further molestation. In this affair, the loss sus-
tained by the Royal Highlanders was as follows: viz.,
Lieutenants John Graham and James Mackintosh, one
sergeant, and twenty-six rank and file, killed; and
Captain John Graham of Duchray, Lieutenant Duncan
Campbell, two sergeants, two drummers, and thirty
rank and file, wounded.
After passing the winter in Fort Pitt, eight companies
of the Royal Highlanders were sent on a new enterprise
in the summer of 1764, under Colonel Bouquet, now
promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. The object
of this expedition was to repress the attacks of the
Indians on the back-settlers. After a harassing warfare
among the woods, the Indians sued for peace, which was
accordingly gi-anted, and the detachment under Briga-
dier-General Bouquet returned to Fort Pitt in the month
of January, after an absence of six months. Notwith-
standing the labours of a march of many hundred
miles among dense forests, during which they ex-
perienced the extremes of heat and cold, the High-
landers did not lose a single man from fatigue or ex-
haustion.
The regiment passed the following year in Pennsyl-
vania. Being ordered home, permission was given to
such of the men as were desirous of remaining in America
to volunteer into other regiments, and the result was,
that a considerable number availed themselves of the
offer. The regiment, reduced almost to a skeleton,
embarked at Philadelphia for Ireland in the month of
July, 1767.
The following extract from the Virginia Gazette of the
thirtieth of that month, shows the estimation in which
173.
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the Highlanders were held by the Americans: — " Last
Sunday evening the Royal Highland regiment em-
barked for Ireland, which regiment, since its arrival in
America, has been distinguished for having undergone
most amazing fatigues, made long and frequent marches
through an inhospitable country, bearing excessive
heat and severe cold with alacrity and cheerfulness,
frequently encamping in deep snow, such as those that
inhabit the interior parts of this province do not see,
and which only those who inhabit the northern parts
of Europe can have any idea of, continually exposed
in camp, and on their marches, to the alarms of a
savage enemy, who, in all their attempts, were
forced to fly. ... In a particular manner, the free-
men of this and the neighbouring provinces have most
sincerely to thank them for that resolution and bravery
with which they, under Colonel Bouquet, and a small
number of Royal Americans, defeated the enemy, and
ensured to us peace and security from a savage foe;
and, along with our blessings for these benefits, they have
our thanks for that decorum in behaviour which they
maintamed during their stay in this city, giving an
example that the most amiable behaviour in civil life
is no way inconsistent with the character of the good
soldier; and for their loyalty, fidelity, and orderly
behaviour, they have every wish of the people for health,
honour, and a pleasant voyage."
The loss sustained by the regiment during the seven
years it was employed in North America and the West
Indies was as follows: —
KILLED.
In Officers . , 13
Sergeants 12
Rank and File 382
Total 407
lU
THE BLACK WATCH
WOtJNDED.
In Officers 33
Sergeants 22
Rank and File 508
Total 563
Grand Total 970
With the exception of the unfortunate affair at Ticon-
deroga, the loss sustained by the 42d in the field during
this war was comparatively smaller than that of any
other corps. The moderate loss the Highlanders suffered
was accounted for, by several ofl&cers who served in the
corps, from the celerity of their attack and the use of the
broadsword, which the enemy could never withstand.
" This likewise," says General Stewart, " was the opinion
of an old gentleman, one of the original soldiers of the
Black Watch, in the ranks of which, although a gentle-
man by birth and education, he served till the peace of
1748. He informed me, that although it was believed
at home that the regiment had been nearly destroyed
at Fontenoy, the thing was quite the reverse; and that
it was the subject of general observation in the army,
that their loss should have been so small, considering
how actively they were engaged in different parts of the
field. ' On one occasion,' said the respectable veteran,
who was animated with the subject, * a brigade of Dutch
were ordered to attack a rising ground, on which were
posted the troops called the King of France's own guards.
The Highlanders were to support them. The Dutch
conducted their march and attack as if they did not
know the road, halting and firing, and halting every
twenty paces. The Highlanders, losing all patience with
this kind of fighting, which gave the enemy such time
and opportunity to fire at their leisure, dashed forward,
passed the Dutch, and the first ranks giving their fire-
175
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
locks to the rear rank, they drew their swords, and soon
drove the French from their ground. When the attack
was concluded, it was found that of the Highlanders not
above a dozen men were killed and wounded, while the
Dutch, who had not come up at all, lost more than five
times that number.' "
On the arrival of the regiment at Cork, recruiting
parties were sent to the Highlands, and so desirous were
the Highland youth to enter the corps, that in May
following the regiment was completed to the then
establishment.' At the time the battle of Fontenoy
was fought there was not a soldier in the regiment born
south of the Grampians, and at this period they were all,
except two, bom north of the Tay.
At the period of their arrival in Ireland, the uniform
of the regiment had a very sombre appearance. " The
jackets were of a dull rusty-coloured red, and no part of
the accoutrements was of a light colour. Economy
was strictly observed in the article of clothing. The old
jacket, after being worn a year, was converted into a
waistcoat, and the plaid, at the end of two years, was
reduced to the philibeg. The hose supplied were of so
bad a quality, that the men advanced an additional
sum to the government price, in order to supply them-
selves with a better sort. Instead of feathers for their
bonnets, they were allowed only a piece of black bear-
skin; but the men supplied themselves with ostrich
feathers in the modem fashion, and spared no expense
in fitting up their bonnets handsomely. The sword-
belts were of black leather, two inches and a half in
breadth; and a small cartouch-box, fitted only for thirty-
two rounds of cartridges, was wom in front above the
purse, and fixed round the loins with a thick belt, in
which hung the bayonet. In these heavy colours and
dark-blue facings, the regiment had a far less splendid
176
THE BLACK WATCH
appearance at a short distance than EngHsh regiments
with white breeches and belts; but on a closer view the
line was imposing and warlike. The men possessed what
an ingenious author calls * the attractive beauties of a
soldier; sunburnt complexions, a hardy weatherbeaten
visage, with a penetrating eye, and firm expressive
countenance, sinewy and elastic limbs, traces of muscles
strongly impressed, indicating capacity of action, and
marking experience of service.' The personal appearance
of the men has, no doubt, varied according as attention
was paid to a proper selection of recruits. The appoint-
ments have also been different. The first alteration in
this respect was made in the year 1769, when the
regiment removed to Dublin. At this period the men
received white cloth waistcoats, and the colonel supplied
them with white goat-skin and buff leather purses, which
were deemed an improvement on the vests of red cloth,
and the purses made of badgers' skin.
" The officers also improved their dress, by having their
jackets embroidered. During the war, however, they
wore only a narrow edging of gold-lace round the borders
of the facings, and very often no lace at all, epaulettes
and all glittering ornaments being laid aside, to render
them less conspicuous to the Indians, who always"
aimed particularly at the officers. During their stay in
Ireland, the dress of the men underwent very little
alteration. The officers had only one suit of embroidery;
this fashion being found too expensive was given up,
and gold-lace substituted in its stead. Upon ordinary
occasions they wore light hangers, using the basket-
hilted broadsword only in full dress. They also carried
fusils. The sergeants were furnished with carbines
instead of the Lochaber axe or halbert, which they
formerly carried. The soldiers were provided with new
arms when on Dublin duty in 1774. The sergeants had
177
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
silver-lace on their coats, which they furnished, however,
at their own expense."
The regiment remained in Ireland after its return from
North America about eight years, in the course of which
it was occasionally occupied in different parts of that
country in aid of the civil power, — a service in which,
from their conciliatory disposition, they were found
very useful. While in Ireland a new company was
added, as was the case with all the other regiments on
the Irish establishment. Captain James Macpherson,
Lieutenant Campbell, and Ensign John Grant were
in consequence appointed to the 42d.
In 1775 the regiment embarked at Donaghadee, and
landed at Port- Patrick, after an absence from Scotland
of thirty-two years. Impelled by characteristic attach-
ment to the country of their birth, many of the old
soldiers leaped on shore with enthusiasm, and kissed the
earth which they held up in handfuls. From Port
Patrick the regiment marched to Glasgow.
The conduct of the regiment, and its mode of discipline
while in Ireland, is thus depicted by an intelligent officer
who served in it at that time, and for many years both
before and after that period, in a communication to
General Stewart. He describes the regiment as still
possessing the character which it had acquired in Ger-
many and America, although there were not more than
eighty of the men remaining who had served in America,
and only a few individuals of those who had served in
Germany previously to the year 1748. Their attachment
to their native dress, and their peculiarity of language,
habits and manners, contributed to preserve them a race
of men separate from others of the same profession, and
to give to their system of regimental discipline a dis-
tinctive and peculiar character. Their messes were
managed by the non-commissioned officers, or old sol-
178
THE BLACK WATCH
diers, who had charge of the barrack-room; and these
messes were always so arranged, that, in each room, the
men were in friendship or intimacy with each other, or
belonged to the same glen or district, or were connected
by some similar tie. By these means every barrack-
room was like a family establishment. After the weekly
allowances for breakfast, dinner, and small necessaries
had been provided, the surplus pay was deposited in a
stock purse, each member of the mess drawing for it in
his turn. The stock thus acquired was soon found worth
preserving, and instead of hoarding, they lent it out to
the inhabitants, who seemed greatly surprised at seeing a
soldier save money. Their accounts with their oflScers
were settled once in three months, and, with the ex-
ception of a few careless spendthrifts, all the men pur-
chased their own necessaries, with which they were
always abundantly provided. At every settlement of
accounts they enjoyed themselves very heartily, but
with a strict observance of propriety and good humour;
and as the members of each mess considered themselves
in a manner answerable for one another's conduct, they
animadverted on any impropriety with such severity,
as to render the interference of farther authority unneces-
sary.
Shortly after the arrival of the regiment in Glasgow,
two companies were added, and the establishment of the
whole regiment augmented to one hundred rank and file
each company. The battalion, when complete, amounted
to 1,075 men, including sergeants and drummers. Little
inducement was required to fill the ranks, as men were
always to be found ready to join a corps in such high
estimation. At this time the bounty was a guinea and
a crown. It was afterward increased to three guineas;
but this advance had little effect in the north where the
esprit de corps had greater influence than gold.
179
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Hitherto the oflficers had been entirely Highland and
Scotch; but the lord-lieutenant of Ireland, contrary to
the remonstrances of Lord John Murray, who saw the
advantage of officering the regiment with natives of
Scotland, prevailed with the government to admit two
English officers into the regiment. His excellency even
went so far as to get two lieutenants' commissions in
favour of Scotchmen cancelled, although they had been
gazetted.
In consequence of hostilities with America, the regi-
ment was ordered to embark for that country. Before
its departure the recruits were taught the use of the
firelock, and from the shortness of the time allowed, were
drilled even by candle-light. New arms and accoutre-
ments were supplied to the men by the government, and
the colonel furnished them with broadswords and pistols,
iron-stocked, at his own expense. The regiment was
reviewed on the tenth of April, 1776, by General Sir
Adolphus Oughton, and being reported quite complete
and unexceptionable, embarked on the fourteenth at
Greenock along with Eraser's Highlanders.
180
CHAPTER II
THE FORTY -SECOND IN AMERICA
In conjunction with Eraser's Highlanders, the 42d
embarked at Greenock on the fourteenth of April, 1776,
to join an expedition under General Howe against the
American revolutionists. The transports separated in
a gale of wind ; but they all reached their destination in
Staten Island, where the main body of the army had
assembled. A grenadier battalion was immediately
formed under the command of the Hon. Major (after-
ward General) Sir Charles Stewart, the staff appoint-
ments to which, out of respect to the 42d, were taken
by the commander-in-chief from that regiment. A
light infantry corps was also formed, to the command of
which Lieutenant-Colonel Musgrave was appointed. The
flank companies of the 42d were attached to these bat-
talions. "The Highland grenadiers were remarkable
for strength and height, and considered equal to any
company in the army. The light infantry were quite
the reverse in point of personal appearance, as the
commanding officer would not allow a choice of men for
them. The battalion companies were formed into two
temporary battalions, the command of one being given
to Major William Murray (Lintrose), and that of the
other to Major William Grant (Rothiemurchus) wdth an
adjutant quartermaster in each battalion; the whole
being under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas
Stirling. These grenadiers were placed in the reserve
with the grenadiers of the army, under the command of
181
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Earl Cornwallis. To these was added the 33d, his lord-
ship's own regiment."
The whole of the British force under the command of
Sir William Howe, including thirteen thousand Hessians
and Waldeckers, amounted to thirty thousand men.
The campaign opened by a landing on Long Island on
the twenty-second of August, 1776. The whole army
encamped in front of the villages of Gravesend and
Utrecht. The American army, under General Putnam,
was encamped at Brooklyn, a few miles distant. A range
of woody hills, which intersected the country from east
to west, divided the two armies.
The British general having resolved to attack the
enemy in three divisions, the right wing under General
Clinton seized, on the twenty-sixth of August, at night-
fall, a pass on the heights, about three miles from
Bedford. The main body then passed through, and
descended to the level country which lay between the
hills and General Putnam's lines. Whilst this move-
ment was going on, Major-General Grant (Ballindalloch)
with his brigade (the 4th) supported by the Royal High-
landers from the reserve, was directed to march from the
left along the coast to the Narrows, and attack the enemy
in that quarter. The right wing, having reached Bed-
ford at nine o'clock next morning, attacked the left
of the American army, which, after a short resistance,
retired to their lines in great confusion pursued by the
British troops, Colonel Stuart leading with his battalion
of Highland grenadiers. The Hessians who had remained
at Flat Bush, on hearing the fire at Bedford, advanced,
and, attacking the centre of the American army, drove
them, after a short engagement, through the woods, and
captured three pieces of cannon. General Grant had
previously attacked the right of the enemy, and a can-
nonade had been kept up near the Narrows on both sides
182
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
till the Americans heard the firing at Bedford, when they
retreated in disorder. Notwithstanding these advan-
tages, neither General Howe nor General Grant ventured
to follow them up by pursuing the enemy, and attacking
them in their lines, although they could have made no
effectual resistance. The enemy lost two thousand men,
killed, drowned, and taken prisoners. The British had
five oflicers, and fifty-six non-commissioned officers
and privates, killed; and twelve officers, and 245
non-commissioned officers and privates wounded.
Among the latter was Lieutenant Crammond and nine
rank and file of the 42d.
About this time the broadswords and pistols which the
men received in Glasgow were ordered to be laid aside.
The pistols being considered unnecessary, except in the
field, were not intended like the swords to be worn by
the men in quarters. The reason for discontinuing the
broadswords was that they retarded the men by getting
entangled in the brushwood. " Admitting that the
objection was weU-founded, so far as regarded the
swords, it certainly could not apply to the pistols. In
a close woody country, where troops are liable to sudden
attacks and surprises by a hidden enemy, such a weapon
is peculiarly useful. It is, therefore, difficult to discover
a good reason for laying them aside. Neither does there
appear to have been any objection to the resumption
of the broadsword when the service alluded to ter-
minated. The marches through the woods of Long
Island were only a few miles; whereas, we have seen
that the two battalions of the 42d, and Eraser's, and
Montgomery's Highlanders, in the seven years' war,
carried the broadsword on all their marches, through
woods and forests of many hundred miles in extent.
In the same manner the swords were carried in Mar-
tinique and Guadaloupe, islands intersected with deep
183
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
ravines, and covered with woods no less impervious
than the thickest and closest woods of America. But,
on that service, the broadsword, far from being com-
plained of as an encumbrance, was, on many occasions,
of the greatest efficacy, when a decisive blow was to be
struck, and the enemy were to be overpowered by an
attack hand to hand. I have been told by several old
officers and soldiers, who bore a part in these attacks,
that an enemy who stood for many hours the fire of
musketry invariably gave way when an advance was
made sword in hand. It is to be regretted that a weapon,
which the Highlanders could use so well, should, to-
gether with the pistol, which is peculiarly serviceable
in close woody countries, have been taken from the
soldiers, and after the expense of purchase had been
incurred, sent to rust and spoil in a store. They were
never restored, and the regiment has had neither swords
nor pistols since. It has been said that the broadsword
is not a weapon to contend with the bayonet. Certainly,
to all appearance, it is not, yet facts do not warrant the
superiority of the latter weapon. From the battle of
Culloden, where a body of undisciplined Highlanders,
shepherds and herdsmen with their broadswords, cut
their way through some of the best disciplined and most
approved regiments in the British army (drawn up, too,
on a field extremely favourable for regular troops), down
till the time when the swords were taken from the
Highlanders, the bayonet was in every instance over-
come by the sword."
The army encamped in front of the enemy's lines in
the evening of the twenty-seventh of August, and next
day broke ground opposite their left redoubt. General
Washington had crossed over from New York during
the action at Brooklyn, and seeing resistance hopeless,
resolved to retreat. With surprising skill he trans-
184
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
ported nine thousand men with guns, ammunition, and
stores, in the course of one night, over to New York;
and such was the secrecy with which this movement was
effected, that the British army knew nothing of it till
next morning, when the last of the rear-guard were seen
in their boats crossing the broad ferry and out of danger.
Active operations were not resumed till the fifteenth
of September, when the reserve, including the Royal
Highlanders^ crossed over to New York, and, after
some opposition, took possession of the heights above
the town. The Highlanders and Hessians fell in with and
captured a body of New England men and Virginians.
Next day the light infantry were sent out to dislodge a
party of the enemy from a wood opposite the British
left. A smart action ensued, and, the enemy pushing
forward reinforcements, the Highlanders were sent to
support the light infantry. The Americans were then
driven back to their entrenchments; but they renewed
the attack with an increased force, and were again
repulsed with considerable loss. The British had four-
teen men killed, and five officers and seventy men
wounded. The 42d had one sergeant and five privates
killed; and Captains Duncan Macpherson and John
Mackintosh, and Ensign Alexander Mackenzie (who died
of his wounds), and one piper, two drummers, and
forty-seven privates wounded.
General Howe, in expectation of an attack, threw
up entrenchments; but General Washington, having no
such intention, made a general movement, and took up
a strong position on the heights in the rear of the White
Plains. To induce the enemy to quit their ground,
General Howe resolved to make a movement, and
accordingly embarked his army on the twelfth of October
in flat-bottomed boats, and, passing through the intricate
narrow called Hell Gate, disembarked the same evening
185
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
at Frogsneck, near West Chester. In consequence of the
bridge which connected the latter place with the main-
land having been broken down by the enemy, the general
reembarked his troops next day, and landed at Pell's
Point at the mouth of Hudson's River. On the four-
teenth he reached the White Plains in front of the
enemy's position. As a preliminary to a general engage-
ment, General Howe attacked a post on a rising ground
occupied by four thousand of the enemy, which he
carried; but General Washington declining battle, the
British general gave up the attempt, and proceeded
against Fort Washington, the possession of which was
necessary in order to open the communication between
New York and the continent, to the eastward and north-
ward of Hudson's River. The fort, the garrison of which
consisted of three thousand men, was protected by
strong grounds covered with lines and works. The
Hessians, under General Knyphausen, supported by the
whole of the reserve, under Major-General Earl Percy,
with the exception of the 42d, who were to make a feint
on the east side of the fort, were to make the principal
attack. The Royal Highlanders embarked in boats
on the sixteenth of November, before daybreak, and
landed in a small creek at the foot of the rock, in the face
of a smart fire. The Highlanders had now discharged
the duty assigned them, but determined to have a fuU
share in the honour of the day, they resolved upon an
assault, and assisted by each other, and by the brush-
wood and shrubs which grew out of the crevices of the
rocks, scrambled up the precipice. On gaining the
summit, they rushed forward, and attacked the enemy
with such rapidity, that upwards of two hundred,
unable to escape, threw down their arms; whilst the
Highlanders, following up their advantage, penetrated
across the table of the hill, and met Lord Percy's brigade
186
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
as they were coming up on the opposite side. On seeing
the Hessians approach in another direction, the enemy
surrendered at discretion. In this affair the Royal High-
landers had one sergeant and ten privates killed; and
Lieutenants Patrick Grseme (Inchbrakie), Norman
Macleod, and Alexander Grant, and four sergeants and
sixty-six rank and file wounded.
To secure the entire command of the North River, and
to open an easy entrance into the Jerseys, Fort Lee
was next reduced, in which service the Royal High-
landers were employed. The enemy, pursued by the
detachment which captured that post, retired success-
ively to Newbridge, Elizabeth Town, Newark, and
Bnmswick. On the seventeenth of November General
Howe entered Prince Town with the main body of the
army, an hour after it was evacuated by General Wash-
ington. Winter having now set in. General Howe put
his army into winter quarters. The advanced posts,
which extended from Trenton to Mount-holly, were
occupied by the Hessians and the Royal Highlanders,
who were the only British regiments in front.
If, instead of suspending active operations, General
Howe had continued occasionally to beat up the quarters
of the Americans whilst dispirited by their late reverses,
it is thought that he would have reduced them to the last
extremity. General Washington availed himself of the
inactivity of the British commander, and by making
partial attacks on the advanced posts, he not only
improved the discipline of his army, but, in consequence
of the success which sometimes attended these attacks,
revived the drooping spirits of his men. On the twenty-
second of January, 1777, he surprised and completely
defeated the detachment of Hessians stationed at Tren-
ton; in consequence of which reverse, the Royal High-
landers, who formed the left of the line of defence at
187
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Mount-holly, fell back on the light infantry at Prince
Town.
On hearing of the defeat of the Hessians, Lord Corn-
wallis, who was at New York with the intention of em-
barking for England, returned to the army. To dislodge
the Americans from Trenton, his lordship moved for-
ward with the grenadiers, two brigades of the line, and
the two Highland regiments. Considerable skirmishing
took place in the advance, and on approaching Trenton
he observed General Washington posted on some high
ground beyond it. Both parties commenced a heavy
cannonade, which, with occasional skirmishing between
the advanced guards, was kept up till night. As it
formed no part of General Washington's plans to hazard
a general engagement, he decamped during the night,
leaving large fires burning to deceive the British. He
retreated towards Prince Town, and defeated a detach-
ment of British under Colonel Mawhood, who was on
his way from that place to join Lord Cornwallis.
During the remainder of the season the Royal High-
landers were stationed in the village of Pisquatua, on
the line of communication between New York and
Brunswick by Amboy. The duty was severe from the
rigour of the season and the want of accommodation.
The houses in the village not being sufficient to contain
one half of the men, the officers and soldiers were inter-
mixed in barns and sheds, and they always slept in their
body-clothes, as the enemy were constantly sending
down nocturnal parties to fire at the sentinels and
piquets. The Americans, however, always kept at a
respectful distance, and did not make any regular
attack on the post till the tenth of May, on which day,
at four o'clock in the afternoon, a body of two thousand
men, under the command of Maxwell and Stephens,
American generals, attempted to surprise the High-
188
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
landers. Advancing with great secrecy, and being com-
pletely covered by the rugged nature of the country,
their approach was not perceived till they had gained a
small level piece of ground in front of the piquets, when
they rushed forward, and attacked them with such
promptitude, that the piquets had hardly time to seize
their arms. At this time the soldiers were either all
employed in different avocations, or taking the rest they
could not obtain at night; but the piquets, by dis-
puting every inch of ground, gave time to the soldiers
to assemble, who drove the enemy back with great
precipitation, leaving behind them upwards of two
hundred men in killed and wounded. On this occasion
the 42d had three sergeants and nine privates killed;
and Captain Duncan Macpherson, Lieutenant William
Stewart, three sergeants, and thirty-five privates
wounded.'
The British troops again took the field about the mid-
dle of June, when General Howe attempted to draw
Washington from his station at Middle Brook; but the
American commander knew too well the value of such a
strong position to abandon it. Not judging it prudent
to attack it, the British general resolved to change the
seat of war. Pursuant to this resolution, he embarked
thirty-six battalions of British and Hessians, including
the flank battalions of the grenadiers and light infantry,
and sailed for the Chesapeake. Before the embarkation
the Royal Highlanders received an accession of 170
recruits from Scotland.
The army landed at Elk Ferry on the twenty-fourth
of August, after a tedious voyage. It was not till the
third of September that they began their march for
Philadelphia. The delay enabled Washington to cross
the country, and to take an advantageous position at
Red Clay Creek, whence he pushed forward detachments
189
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
to harass the British troops on their march. General
Howe did not reach the Brandy Wine River till the middle
of September, in consequence of the difficulties he met
with in traversing a country covered with wood and full
of defiles. On reaching that river, he found that the
enemy had taken up a strong position beyond it, with the
view of opposing the farther advance of the royal army.
The Americans had secured all the fording places, and
in expectation that the British would attempt to cross
at Chad's Ford, they had erected batteries and thrown
up entrenchments at that place to command the passage.
Making a circuit of some miles. Lord Comwallis crossed
Jeffrey's Ford, with one division of the army, without
opposition, and turning down the river feU in with the
American general, SuUivan, who had been detached by
Washington to oppose him. An action took place, and
the Americans were driven from aU their posts through
the woods towards the main army. Meanwhile General
Knyphausen, with his division, made demonstrations
for crossing the river at Chad's Ford, and as soon as he
knew from the firing of cannon that Lord CornwaUis's
movement had succeeded, he passed the river, and car-
ried the batteries and entrenchments of the enemy.
A general rout ensued, and General Washington, with
the corps he was able to keep together, fled with his
baggage and cannon to Chester. The British had fifty
officers killed and wounded in the battle of Brandy Wine,
and 438 rank and file, including non-commissioned offi-
cers. The flank companies of the 42d being the only
ones engaged, had six privates killed, and one sergeant
and fifteen privates wounded.
Had General Howe followed up this advantage by
unmediately pushing forward to Philadelphia next morn-
ing, he would probably have dispersed the remains of the
American army ; but, instead of pursuing the enemy, he
190
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
remained contented with his success, and allowed the
American commander to collect the scattered portions
of his army, and to recruit it. Emboldened by the
supineness of the British general, that cautious, yet
bold and enterprising chief, ordered a select brigade of
his light troops, under the command of General Wayne,
to take post six miles in the rear of the British for the
purpose of attacking them whilst passing the Schuylkill
River, which they intended to ford at Valley Forge on
the twenty-second of September. They were, however,
surprised at midnight by a detachment under the Hon.
Major Maitland, and the most of them were either
bayonetted or taken prisoners. On the twenty-fifth,
the army marched to German Town, and the following
morning the grenadiers took peaceable possession of
Philadelphia.
Having received considerable reinforcements, General
Washington formed a design to surprise the British army
at German Town. He arrived in the neighbourhood
about three in the morning, and would probably have
succeeded had not his progress been stopped by the
intrepidity of Lieutenant-Colonel Musgrave, who, throw-
ing himself into a large stone house with six companies
of the 40th regiment, kept the Americans at bay tiU
two brigades came up, who forced the Americans to
retire. The loss sustained on both sides in this smart
engagement was greater than in that of Brandy Wine.
The Highlanders, being sent in a detachment under
Lieutenant-Colonel Stirling to drive the enemy from a
post at Billingspoint, were not present in this action.
No occurrence of any importance took place during the
winter. Sir William Howe was recalled in May, 1778,
and was succeeded in the chief command of the army by
General Clinton. The new commander opened the sum-
mer campaign by the evacuation of Philadelphia. He
191
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
crossed the Delaware and reached Monmouth on the
twenty-eighth of June, in the neighbourhood of which
place the enemy were posted in considerable force.
General Clinton's movements were much retarded by
the extreme heat of the weather and a large convoy
of provisions; and, to add to his difficulties, his rear was
several times attacked by a detachment of Americans
under the Marquis de la Fayette, who, with several other
French officers, had lately joined the American cause.
Annoyed by these attacks, General Clinton attacked
the main body of the enemy, who were drawn up in
line behind Monmouth court-house. He drove them
successively fron two positions which they occupied,
but as they returned and formed in a third position, he
desisted from the attack, and led off his troops at ten at
night, and resuming his march, passed over to Staten
and Long Islands, and thence to New York.
The next enterprise in which the Royal Highlanders
were engaged was under Major-General Charles Grey,
who embarked with the grenadiers, the light infantry
brigade, and the 42d regiment, for the purpose of
destroying a number of privateers, with their prizes, at
New Plymouth, The troops landed on the banks of the
Acushnet River on the fifth of September, and having
destroyed seventy vessels, with all the stores, cargoes,
wharfs, and buildings, along the whole extent of the
river, the whole were reembarked the following day, and
returned to New York.
Matters remained quiescent till the twenty-fifth of
February, when Colonel Stirling, with a detachment
consisting of the light infantry of the Guards and the
42d regiment, was ordered to attack a post at Elizabeth
Town, which was taken without opposition. In April
following, the Highland regiment was employed in an
expedition to the Chesapeake to destroy the stores and
192
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
merchandise at Portsmouth in Virginia. They were
again employed with the Guards and a corps of Hessians
in another expedition under General Mathews, which
sailed on the thirtieth, under the convoy of Sir George
Collier, in the Reasonable, and several ships of war.
This expedition reached its destination on the tenth of
May, when the troops landed on the glebe on the western
bank of Elizabeth. They returned to New York after
fulfilling the object of the expedition.
The campaign of 1779 was begun by the capture,
on the part of the British, of Verplanks and Stony
Point. A garrison of six hundred men, among whom
were two companies of Eraser's Highlanders, took
possession of this last post; but owing to the too great
confidence of the conamander, it was surprised and re-
captured. Flushed with this success, the American
general, Wayne, made an immediate attack upon Ver-
planks, which was garrisoned by the 33d regiment; but
receiving accounts of the advance of Colonel Stirling
with the light infantry and the 42d, he retreated from
Verplanks and abandoned Stony Point, of which Colonel
Stirling took possession. This officer being shortly
thereafter appointed aide-de-camp to the king, and a
brigadier-general, the conmaand of the 42d regiment
devolved on Major Charles Graham.
About this time a circumstance occurred which tended
greatly to deteriorate, for several years, the hitherto
irreproachable character of the Royal Highland regiment.
By order of the inspector-general at Chatham, a body of
150 recruits, raised prmcipally from the refuse of the
population of London and Dublin, was embarked for
the regiment in the autumn of this year. Of such dissi-
pated habits had these men been, that sixteen died on the
voyage, and seventy-five were sent to the hospital as
soon as they disembarked. The infusion of such immoral
193
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
ingredients could not have failed to have tainted the
whole mass, and General Stirling made a strong represen-
tation to the commander-in-chief to avert such a calamity
from the regiment, by removing the recruits to another
corps. They were, in consequence, drafted into the
26th, in exchange for the same number of Scotchmen;
but the introduction of these men into the regiment
dissolved the charm which, for nearly forty years, had
preserved the Highlanders from contamination. During
that long period there were few courts-martial, and for
many years no instance of corporal punishment occurred.
So nice were their notions of honour, that " if a soldier
was brought to she halberts he became degraded, and
little more good was to be expected of him. After being
publicly disgraced, he could no longer associate with his
comrades; and, in several instances, the privates of a
company have, from their pay, subscribed to procure
the discharge of an obnoxious individual." But " pun-
ishments being found indispensable for the men newly
introduced, and others becoming more habituated to the
sight, much of the sense of honour was necessarily
lost."
An illustration of the strong national feeling with
which the corps was regarded by the Highlanders, and
of the expediency of keeping it unmixed, occurred in
April of the same year, when two strong detachments of
recruits belonging to the 42d and 71st regiments arrived
at Leith from Stirling castle, for the purpose of em-
barking to join their respective regiments in North
America. Being told that they were to be turned over
to the 80th and 82d, the Edinburgh and Hamilton
regiments, the men remonstrated, and declared openly
and firmly that they were determined to serve only ui
the corps for which they were enlisted. After some
negotiation, troops were sent to Leith with orders
194
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
to convey the refractory Highlanders as prisoners to
Edinburgh castle, if they persisted in their determina-
tion. As they still refused to forego their resolution,
attempts were made to enforce the orders; but the
Highlanders refused to submit, and flying to arms, a
desperate conflict ensued, in which Captain Mansfield
of the South Fencible regiment and nine men were
killed, and thirty-one soldiers wounded. Being at last
overpowered, the mutineers were carried to the castle.
In the month of May following, three of these prisoners,
Charles Williamson and Archibald Macivor, soldiers in
the 42d regiment, and Robert Budge, soldier in the 71st,
were brought before a court-martial, " charged with
having been guilty of a mutiny at Leith upon Tuesday
the twentieth of April last past, and of having instigated
others to be guilty of the same, in which mutiny several
of his Majesty's subjects were killed, and many
wounded."
Their reasons for resisting the orders to embark, are
thus stated in their defence. " The prisoners, Archibald
Macivor and Charles Williamson, enlisted as soldiers
in the 42d, bemg an old Highland regiment, wearing the
Highland dress. Their native language was Gaelic, —
the one being a native of the northern parts of Argyle-
shire, and the other of the western parts of Inverness-
shire, where the language of the country is Gaelic only.
They have never used any other language, and are
so ignorant of the English tongue, that they cannot avail
themselves of it for any purpose of life. They have
always been accustomed to the Highland habit, so far
as never to have worn breeches, a thing so inconvenient,
and even so impossible for a native Highlander to do,
that, when the Highland dress was prohibited by act of
parliament, though the philibeg was one of the forbidden
parts of the dress, yet it was necessary to connive at
195
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the use of it, provided only that it was made of a stuff
of one colour and not of tartan, as is weU known to all
acquainted with the Highlands, particularly with the
more moimtainous parts of the country. These circum-
stances made it more necessary for them to serve in a
Highland regiment only^ as they neither could have
understood the language, nor have used their arms, or
marched in the dress of any other regiment."
The other prisoner, Budge, stated that he was a native
of the upper parts of Caithness, and being ignorant of
the English language, and accustomed to wear the High-
land garb, he enlisted to serve in Eraser's Highlanders,
and in no other regiment. In continuation, the three
prisoners stated, that, " when they arrived at Leith,
they were informed by their officer, Captain Innes, who
had conducted them, that they were now to consider
the officers of the 82d, or Duke of Hamilton's regiment,
a regiment wearing the Lowland dress and speaking the
English tongue, as their officers; but how this happened
they were not informed. No order from the commander-
in-chief for their being drafted was read or explained to
them, but they were told that they must immediately
join the Hamilton and Edinburgh regiments. A great
number of the detachment represented, without any
disorder or mutinous behaviour, that they were alto-
gether unfit for service in any other corps than High-
land ones, particularly that they were incapable of
wearing breeches as a part of their dress. At the same
time, they declared their willingness to be regularly
transferred to any other Highland regiment, or to con-
tinue to serve in those regiments into which they had
been regularly enlisted. But no regard was paid to these
remonstrances, which, if they had had an opportunity,
they would have laid before the commander-in-chief.
But an order for an immediate embarkation prevented
. 196 .
; THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
this. The idea that naturally suggested itself to them
was, that they should insist on serving in the same
regiment in which they had been enlisted, and not to
go abroad as part of the Duke of Hamilton's regiment
till such time as these difficulties were removed. They
accordingly drew up under arms on the shore of Leith,
each respective corps by itself. The prisoners were
informed that the orders issued were to take them
prisoners to the castle. Had these orders been explained
to them, they would have submitted, and, with proper
humility, have laid their case before those that could
have given them redress. But, unfortunately, the
sergeant who undertook to explain to them in Gaelic,
represented that they were immediately to go on board
as part of the Hamilton regiment, but which they do with
great deference say, that they did not at the time con-
ceive they could lawfully have done." After the defence
was read, " Captain Innes of the 71st regiment showed
an attestation to the court, which he said was in the
uniform style of the attestations for that regiment; and
it expressly bore, that the persons thereby attested
were to serve in the 71st regiment, commanded by
General Simon Fraser of Lovat, and that they were to
serve for three years only, or during the continuance
of the present war."
Having been found guilty, the prisoners were sentenced
to be shot. The king gave them a free pardon, '' in full
confidence that they would endeavour, by a prompt
obedience and orderly behaviour, to atone for this atro-
cious offence." These men, along with the rest of the de-
tachment, joined the second battalion of the 42d. The
prisoners justified the confidence of his Majesty by steadi-
ness and good conduct in the regiment.
With the intention of pushing the war with vigour,
the new commander-in-chief resolved to attack Charles-
197
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
ton, the capital of South Carolina. Leaving General
Knyphausen in command, he embarked part of his army,
and after a boisterous and protracted voyage of nearly
seven weeks, during which some of his transports were
lost or taken, he landed at John's Island, thirty miles
from Charleston, on the eleventh of February, 1780.
Owing to various impediments, he did not reach Charles-
ton till the end of March. After a siege of six weeks
the place surrendered. The loss of the British did not
exceed three hundred men. Lieutenant Macleod of
the 42d, and nine privates, were killed; and Lieutenant
Alexander Grant of the same regiment, son of Colonel
Grant of Moy, was wounded by a six-pound ball, which
struck him on the back in a slanting direction, near the
right shoulder, and carried away the entire scapula
with several other bones. The surgeons considered
his case as utterly hopeless, but to their surprise they
found him alive next morning, and free from fever and
all bad symptoms. He recovered completely, and
served many years in perfect good health. Fourteen
privates were wounded.
The Royal Highlanders, with the Grenadiers and Hes-
sians, reembarked on the fourth of June for New York,
and, after several movements in the province, went into
winter quarters. Here they received an accession of a
hundred recruits from Scotland. The regiment was
not again employed in any active service during the
remainder of the war.
Whilst the war lasted, the Americans held out every
allurement to the British soldiers to induce them to
desert their ranks and join the cause of American inde-
pendence. Many were, in consequence, seduced from
their allegiance; but during five campaigns, and until
the unfortunate draft of men from the 26th regiment,
not one man from the 42d deserted its ranks. About the
198
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
close of the war the regiment was stationed at Paulus
Hook, an advanced post from New York leading to the
Jerseys, and here, for the first time, several of the men
deserted to the enemy. One of these deserters, by name
Anderson, was afterward taken, tried by a court-martial,
and shot.
After the peace the establishment of the regiment was
reduced to eight companies of fifty men each. The
ofl&cers of the ninth and tenth companies were not put
on half-pay, but kept as supernumeraries to fill up
vacancies as they occurred in the regiment. Many of the
men having been discharged at their own request, their
places were supplied by drafts from Eraser's and Mac-
donald's Highlanders, and from the Edinburgh and
Hamilton regiments, some of the men in these corps
having preferred rather to remain in America than return
home with their regiments.
During the American revolutionary war the loss of
the Royal Highlanders was as follows:
KILLED.
In Officers 2
Sergeants 9
Rank and File, including Drummers .... 72
Total 83
WOUNDED.
In Officers , 13
Sergeants 18
Rank and File, including Drummers .... 256
Total ....... 287
Grand Total . . . . . .370
In October, 1782, the regiment was sent to Halifax
in Nova Scotia, where it remained till the year 1786,
when six companies were removed to the island of Cape
Breton, the remaining two companies being detached
199
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
to the island of St. John. Next year two companies
were added to the regiment, in consequence of prepara-
tions for war with Holland. Captains William Johnstone
and Robert Christie succeeded to these companies.
Lieutenant Robert Macdonald, brother of Sanda, from
the half-pay of Fraser's regiment, and Ensign James
Rose, were appointed lieutenants; and Ensign David
Stewart (afterward major-general, and author of the
" Military Sketches "), and James Stewart, nephew of
the Earl of Moray, ensigns.
About this time the regiment had to regret the loss
of its colonel, Lord John Murray, who died on the first
of June this year, after commanding the corps forty-one
years. He was the steady friend of the oflficers and men.
Major-General Sir Hector Monro succeeded him in the
command.
The regiment embarked for England in August, 1789,
and landed in Portsmouth in October, after an absence
of fourteen years. They wintered in Tynemouth barracks,
where they received a reinforcement of 245 young re-
cruits. At this time a small alteration was made in the
military appointments of the men. Instead of the black
leather belts for the bayonet, white buff belts were
substituted. The epaulettes of the officers, formerly
very small, were then enlarged to the present size.
The regiment was removed to Glasgow in the month
of May, 1790, where they were received with great
cordiality by the inhabitants. From an ill-judged
hospitality on the part of the citizens, who compelled
some of the soldiers to drink copiously of ardent spirits,
the discipline of the regiment was relaxed; but its
removal to Edinburgh castle in the month of November
cured the evil.
"Warlike preparations having been made in 1790,
in expectation of a rupture with Spain, orders were re-
200
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
ceived to augment the regiment; but, from recent
occurrences in the Highlands, the regiment was not
successful in recruiting. Several independent companies
were raised, one of which, a fine body of young High-
landers, recruited by the Marquis of Huntly (now Duke
of Gordon), joined the regiment along with his lordship,
who had exchanged with Captain Alexander Grant.
The regiment was reviewed in June, 1791, by Lord
Adam Gordon, the commander-in-chief in Scotland, and
was marched to the north in October following. The
headquarters were at Fort George; one company was
stationed at Dundee, another at Montrose, two at
Aberdeen, and one at Banff. The regiment assembled
at Fort George m the spring of 1792, and after having
been marched south to Stirling, and reviewed by the
Hon. Lieutenant-General Leslie, returned to their former
cantonments along the coast. The men had however
scarcely returned to their quarters, when they were
ordered to proceed by forced marches into Ross-shire,
to quell some tumults among the tenantry who had been
cruelly ejected from their farms. Fortunately, however,
there was no occasion for the exercise of such an un-
pleasant duty, as the poor people separated and con-
cealed themselves on hearing of the approach of the
military. After a series of marches and countermarches,
the regiment returned to its former cantonments.
In consequence of the war with France, the whole
regiment was ordered south, and, preparatory to their
march, assembled at Montrose in April, 1793. An
attempt to increase the establishment by recruiting
proved unsuccessful, the result, in some degree, of the
depopulating system which had lately been commenced
in Ross-shire, and which soured the kindly dispositions
of the Highlanders. The corps at this time scarcely
exceeded four hundred men, and to make up for de-
201
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
ficiencies in recruiting, two independent companies,
raised by Captains David Hunter of Bumside, and
Alexander Campbell of Ardchattan, were ordered to
join the regiment.
On the eighth of May, the regiment embarked at
Musselburgh for Hull, the inhabitants of which received
the Highlanders most kindly, and were so well pleased
with their good conduct, that, after they embarked for
Flanders, the town sent each man a present of a pair of
shoes, a flannel shirt, and worsted socks. The regiment
joined the army under his royal highness, the Duke of
York, then encamped in the neighbourhood of Menin,
on the third of October.
The first enterprise in which the Highlanders were
engaged was in conjunction with the light companies
of the 19th, 27th, and 57th regiments, in the month of
October, when they marched to the relief of Nieuport,
then garrisoned by the 53d regiment, and a small bat-
talion of Hessians. On the appearance of this reinforce-
ment, the besiegers retired. The Highlanders had one
sergeant and one private killed, and two privates
wounded. After this the regiment was reembarked
for England along with the three others just mentioned,
to join an expedition then preparing against the French
colonies in the West Indies; but on arriving at Ports-
mouth, the 42d was ordered to join another expedition
then fitting out against the coast of France, under the
command of the Earl of Moira. Colonel Graham, who
had held the command of the regiment since the year
1791, being at this time appointed to the command of a
brigade, the command devolved on Major George
Dalrymple.
The expedition sailed on the thirtieth of November,
but although it reached the coast of France to the east-
ward of Cape la Hogue, no landing took place. The
203
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
expedition, after stopping some time at Guernsey,
returned to Portsmouth in the beginning of January,
1794. The troops remained in England till the eighteenth
of June, when they were re embarked for Flanders, under
the command of the Earl of Moira. They landed at
Ostend on the twenty-sixth. At this time the allied
armies, in consequence of the advance of a large French
army and the partial defection of Prussia, were placed
in a very critical situation, particularly the small
division under the Duke of York, encamped at Malines.
A junction with the duke became a primary object with
Lord Moira, who accordingly resolved to abandon
Ostend. He embarked all the stores and the garrison,
and, whilst the embarkation was proceeding, the troops
were ordered under arms on the sand hills in the neigh-
bourhood in light marching order. The ofl&cers left all
their luggage behind, except what they carried on their
backs. In the evening of the twenty-eighth the troops
moved forward, and halting ten miles beyond the town,
proceeded at midnight towards Ostaker, and reached
Alost on the third of July. Whilst these troops remained
here, about four hundred of the enemy's cavalry entered
the town, and being mistaken for Hessians, passed un-
molested to the market-place. One of them made an
attempt to cut down a Highlander named Macdonald,
who was passing through the market-place with a basket
on his head. The dragoon having wounded the man
severely in the hand which held the basket, the enraged
mountaineer drew his bayonet with the other hand and
attacked the horseman, who fled. Macdonald there-
upon continued his course, venting his regret as he went
along that he had not a broadsword to cut down the
intruder. On being recognized, the enemy were driven
out by some dragoons and piquets.
After a fatiguing march in presence of a superior force
203
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
under General Vandamme, the reinforcement joined the
Duke of York on the ninth of July. A succession of
petty skirmishes occurred until the twentieth, when
Lord Moira resigned the command. He was succeeded
by Lieutenant-General Ralph Abercromby, to whom
the command of the third brigade, or reserve, in which
were the Highlanders, was assigned. The army crossed
the Waal at Nimeguen on the eighth of October.
Several smart affairs took place between the advanced
posts of the two armies till the twentieth, when the enemy
attacked the whole of the British advanced posts. They
were repulsed, but the 77th regiment sustained a severe
loss in officers and men. By incessant attacks, however,
the enemy established themselves in front of Nimeguen,
and began to erect batteries preparatory to a siege;
but on the fourth of November they were driven from
their works, after an obstinate resistance. The enemy
still persevering with great energy to push their prepara-
tions for a siege, it was fomid necessary to evacuate the
town.
This evacuation took place on the seventh of Novem-
ber, and the army was cantoned along the banks of the
river. They suffered greatly from the severity of the
weather, and so intense was the frost, that the enemy
crossed the Waal on the ice. They took post at Thuyl;
but although the place was surrounded with entrench-
ments, and the approach flanked by batteries placed
on the isle of Bom m ell, they were forced from all their
posts, and obliged to repass the Waal by a body of eight
thousand British, among whom was the third brigade.
The loss of the British was trifling. The enemy again
crossed the Waal on the fourth of January, 1795, and
retook Thuyl, from which it was now found impossible
to dislodge them. In an attack which they made on
the forces under General David Dundas at Gilder-
204
THE FORTY-SECOND IN AMERICA
maslen, they were repulsed with the loss of two hundred
men, whilst that of the British was only about one-
fourth of that number. The 42d regiment had one
private killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lamond and
seven privates wounded.
Compelled by the severity of the weather and the
increasing numbers of the French to retreat, the British
troops retired behind the Leek, after the division under
Lord Cathcart had repulsed an attack made by the enemy
on the eighth.
Disease, the result of a want of necessaries and proper
clothing, had greatly ditninished the ranks of the
British; and the men, whose robustness of constitution
had hitherto enabled them to withstand the rigours of
one of the severest winters ever remembered, at last
sank under the accumulated hardships which beset
them. Such was the state of the British army when
General Pichegru, crossing the Waal in great force, made
a general attack on the fourteenth of January along the
whole line, from Amheim to Amerougen. After a con-
tinued resistance till morning, the British began the
disastrous retreat to Deventer, the miseries of which
have only been exceeded by the sufferings of the French
in their disastrous retreat from Moscow. The inhumanity
of the Dutch boors, who uniformly shut their doors
against the unfortunate sufferers, will ever remain a
disgrace on the Dutch nation. The hospitable conduct
of the inhabitants of Bremen, where the remains of this
luckless army arrived in the beginning of April, formed a
noble contrast to that of the selfish and unfeeling
Dutch.
In no former campaign was the superiority of the
Highlanders over their companions in arms, in enduring
privations and fatigues, more conspicuous than in this;
for whilst some of the newly raised regiments lost
205
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
more than three hundred men by disease alone, the
42d, which had three hundred young recruits in its ranks,
lost only twenty-five, including those killed in battle,
from the time of their disembarkation at Ostend till
their embarkation at Bremen, on the fourteenth of
April.
The Royal Highlanders having landed at Harwich
were marched to Chelmsford, and encamped in June,
1795, in the neighbourhood of Danbury. In September
the regiment was augmented to a thousand men, by
drafts from the Strathspey and Perthshire Highlanders,
and the regiments of Colonel Duncan Cameron and
Colonel Simon Fraser, which had been raised the pre-
ceding year, and were now broken up. " Although these
drafts," says General Stewart, " furnished many good
and serviceable men, they were, in many respects, very
inferior to former recruits. This difference of character
was more particularly marked in their habits and man-
ners in quarters, than in their conduct in the field,
which was always unexceptionable. Having been em-
bodied for upwards of eighteen months, and having been
subject to a greater mixture of character than was usual
in Highland battalions, these corps had lost much of
their original manners, and of that strict attention to
religious and moral duties which distinguished the
Highland youths on quitting their native glens, and
which, when in corps unmixed with men of different
characters, they always retained. This intermixture
produced a sensible change in the moral conduct and
character of the regiment."
206
CHAPTER III
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
Government having determined to reduce the French
and Dutch possessions in the West Indies, a large arma-
ment was fitted out under the command of Sir Ralph
Abercromby. The land forces consisted of 460 cavalry
and 16,479 infantry. The Royal Highlanders formed
part of this expedition. Another expedition, destined
also for the West Indies, consisting of 2,600 cavalry,
and 5,680 foot, assembled at Cork during the embarka-
tion of the first. Great care was taken to furnish the
troops with everything necessary for the voyage, and
particular attention was paid to their clothing. To
protect them from the damps and chills of midnight,
they were supplied with flannel, and various changes
were made in their clothing to guard them against the
effects of the yellow fever. Among other changes, the plain
kilt and bonnet of the Highlanders were laid aside, and
their place supplied by Russian duck pantaloons and a
round hat; but experience showed that the Highland
dress was better suited to a campaign in the West Indies
during the rainy season, than the articles which super-
seded it.
The embarkation was completed by the twenty-
seventh of October, but in consequence of damage sus-
tained by some of the ships in a hurricane, and the loss
of others, the expedition did not sail till the eleventh
of November. On that day the fleet, amounting to 328
207
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
sail, got under weigh with a favourable breeze. Owing to
accidents which befell two of the ships, the fleet did not
clear the channel till the thirteenth of December; but
it had scarcely got out when a violent storm arose, which
continued almost without intermission for several
weeks. The greater part of the fleet was scattered, and
many of the ships took refuge in different ports in Eng-
land. Admiral Crichton struggled with such of the ships
as remained with him till the end of January, but was
at last obliged, from the disabled state of some of the
ships, to return to Portsmouth, where he arrived on the
twenty-ninth of that month with about fifty sail.
Seventy-eight of the ships which kept the sea proceeded
on their voyage, and reached Barbadoes in a straggling
manner. Had the troops been sent off in detachments as
they embarked, these misfortunes would have been
avoided.
After the partial return of the expedition, the destina-
tion of some of the returned regiments was changed.
Five companies of the Highlanders were in a few weeks
embarked for Gibraltar, under the command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Dickson. The other five companies
reached Barbadoes on the ninth of February in the
Middlesex East Indiaman, one of the straggling ships
which had proceeded on the voyage. The expedition
again put to sea on the fourteenth of February, and
arrived at Barbadoes on the fourteenth of March. By
the great care of Sir Ralph Abercromby, in ordering the
transports to be properly ventilated on their arrival,
and by enforcing cleanliness and exercise among the
troops, few deaths occurred; and of the five Highland
companies, none died, and only four men with trifling
complaints were left on board when the troops disem-
barked at St. Lucia in April. The troops from Cork,
though favoured with better weather, were less fortunate
208
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
in their voyage, — several officers and a great many men
having died.
The first enterprise was against the Dutch colonies
of Demerara and Berbice, which surrendered to a part
of the Cork division under Major-General White, on the
twenty-second of April. On the same day the expedition
sailed from Barbadoes, and appeared off St. Lucia on
the twenty-sixth, it being considered imprudent to
attempt Guadaloupe with a force which had been so
much diminished.
The troops landed in four divisions at Longueville
Bay, Pigeon Island, Chock Bay, and Ance la Raze. The
Highlanders, under the command of Brigadier-General
John Moore, landed in a small bay close under Pigeon
Island. The army moved forward on the twenty-seventh
to close in upon Mome Fortunee, the principal post in
the island. To enable them to invest this place, it became
necessary to obtain possession of Mome Chabot, a strong
and commanding position overlooking the principal
approach. Detachments under the command of Briga-
dier-Generals Moore and the Hon. John Hope were
accordingly ordered to attack this post on two different
points. General Moore advanced at midnight, and
General Hope followed an hour after by a less circuitous
route; but falling in with the enemy sooner than he
expected. General Moore carried the Mome, after a short
but obstinate resistance, before General Hope came up.
Next day General Moore took possession of Mome
Duchassaux. By the advance of Major-General Morshead
from Ance la Raze, Mome Fortunee was completely
invested, but not until several officers and about fifty
of the grenadiers, who formed the advanced post under
Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonald, had been killed and
wounded.
To dispossess the enemy of the batteries they had
209
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
erected on the cul-de-sac, Major-General Morshead's
division was ordered to advance against two batteries
on the left, whilst Major-General Hope, with the five
companies of the Highlanders, the light infantry of the
67th regiment, and a detachment of Malcolm's Rangers,
supported by the 55th regiment, was to attack the
battery of Secke, close to the works of Morne Fortunee,
The light infantry and the rangers quickly drove the
enemy from the battery; but they were obliged to retire
from the battery in their turn under the cover of the
Highlanders, in consequence of the other divisions under
Brigadier-General Perryn and Colonel Riddle having
been obstructed in their advance. In this affair Colonel
Malcolm, a brave officer, was killed, and Lieutenant
J. J. Fraser of the 42d, and a few men, wounded. The
other divisions suffered severely.
So great were the difficulties which presented them-
selves from the steep and rugged nature of the ground,
that the first battery was not ready to open till the
fourteenth of May. In an attempt which the 31st
regiment made upon a fortified ridge called the Vizie,
on the evening of the seventeenth, they were repulsed
with great loss; but the grenadiers, who had pushed
forward to support them, compelled the enemy to retire.
For six days a constant fire was kept up between the
batteries and the fort. Having ineffectually attempted
to drive back the 27th regiment from a lodgment they
had formed within five hundred yards of the garrison,
the enemy applied for and obtained a suspension of
hostilities. This was soon followed by a capitulation
and the surrender of the whole island. The garrison
marched out on the twenty-ninth, and became prisoners
of war. The loss of the British was two field-officers,
three captains, five subalterns, and 184 non-commis-
sioned officers and rank and file killed; and four field
210
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
oflBcers, twelve captains, fifteen subalterns, and 523
non-commissioned oflBcers and rank and file wounded and
missing.
As an instance of the influence of the mind on bodily
health, and of the effect of mental activity in preventing
disease. General Stewart adduces this expedition as a
striking illustration. " During the operations which,
from the nature of the country, were extremely harassing,
the troops contmued remarkably healthy; but immedi-
ately after the cessation of hostilities, they began to
droop. The five companies of Highlanders, who landed
508 men, sent few to the hospital until the third day
subsequent to the surrender; but after this event, so
sudden was the change in their health, that upwards of
sixty men were laid up within the space of seven days.
This change may be, in part, ascribed to the sudden
transition from incessant activity to repose, but its
principal cause must have been the relaxation of the
mental and physical energies, after the motives which
stimidated them had subsided."
The next enterprise was against St. Vincent's, where a
detachment consisting of the Buffs, the 14th, 34th,
42d, 53d, 54th, 59th, and 63d regiments, and the 2d
West Indian regiment, landed on the eighth of June.
The enemy had erected four redoubts on a high ridge
called the Vizie, on which they had taken up a position.
The arrangements for an attack having been completed
on the tenth, the troops were drawTi up in two divisions
imder Major-Generals Hunter and William Morshead,
at a short distance from the ridge. Another division
formed on the opposite side of the hill. The attack was
commenced by a fire from some field-pieces on the re-
doubts, which was kept up for some hours apparently
with little effect. As a feint, the Highlanders and some
of the Rangers in the meantime moved forward to the
811
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
bottom of a woody steep which terminated the ridge,
on the top of which stood one of the redoubts, the first
in the range. Pushing their way up the steep, the 42d
regiment turned the feint into a real assault, and with
the assistance of the Buffs, by whom they were supported,
drove the enemy successively from the first three re-
doubts in less than half an hour. Some of the High-
landers had pushed close under the last and principal
redoubt, but the general, seeing that he had the enemy
in his power, and wishing to spare the lives of his troops,
recalled the Highlanders, and offered the enemy terms of
capitulation, which were accepted. The conditions,
inter alia, were, that the enemy should embark as pris-
oners of war; but several hundreds of them broke the
capitulation by escaping into the woods the following
night. The total loss of the British on this occasion
was 181 in killed and wounded. The Highlanders had
one sergeant and twelve rank and file killed; and one
officer, Lieutenant Simon Fraser, two sergeants, one
drummer, and twenty-nine rank and file wounded.
In order to subjugate the island, the troops were
divided and sent to different stations, and military posts
were established in the neighbourhood of the country
possessed by the Caribbs and brigands. Favoured by
the natural strength of the country, the enemy carried
on a petty warfare with the troops among the woods till
the month of September, when they surrendered. The
French, including the brigands, were sent prisoners to
England, and the Indians or Caribbs, amounting to
upwards of five thousand, were transported to Ratan,
an island in the Gulf of Mexico.
In September, Sir Ralph Abercromby returned to
England, when the temporary command of the army
devolved upon Major-General Charles Graham, who was
promoted this year from the lieutenant-colonelcy of
213
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
the 42d to the colonelcy of the 5th West India regiment.
He was succeeded in the lieutenant-colonelcy by Major
James Stewart. The conamander-in-chief returned from
England in February, 1797, and immediately collected
a force for an attack on Trinidad, which surrendered
without opposition. He, thereafter, assembled a body of
troops, consisting of the 26th light dragoons dismounted,
the 14th, 42d, 53d, and some other corps, at St. Chris-
topher's, for an attack on Porto Rico, whither they
proceeded on the fifteenth of April, and anchored off
Congregus's Point on the seventeenth. The enemy
made a slight opposition to the landing, but retired
when the troops disembarked. As the inhabitants of
Porto Rico, whose dispositions had been represented as
favourable, did not show any disposition to surrender,
and as the Moro or castle was too strong to be attacked
with such an inconsiderable force, which was insufficient
to blockade more than one of its sides, the commander-
in-chief resolved to give up the attempt, and accordingly
reembarked his troops on the thirtieth of April. This
was the last enterprise against the enemy in that quarter
during the rest of the war. The Highlanders were sent
to IVIartinique, where they embarked for England, free
from sickness, after having the casualties of the two
preceding years more than supplied by volunteers from
the 79th Highlanders, then stationed in Martinique.
The Royal Highlanders landed at Portsmouth on the
thirtieth of July in good health, and were marched to
Hillsea barracks. After remaining a few weeks there, the
five companies embarked for Gibraltar, where they
joined the five other companies, whose destination had
been changed by their return to port after the sailing
of the expedition to the W^est Indies. The regiment was
now eleven hundred men strong.
The next service in which the Royal Highlanders was
213
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
engaged was on an expedition against the Island of
Minorca, under the command of Lieutenant-General the
Hon. Sir Charles Stewart, in the month of November,
1798. The British troops having invested Cittadella,
the principal fortress in the island, on the fourteenth
of November, the Spanish commander, who had con-
centrated his forces in that garrison, surrendered on the
following day. The Spanish general, whose force greatly-
exceeded that of the invaders, was deceived as to their
numbers, which, from the artful mode in which they were
dispersed over the adjoining eminences, he believed to
amount to at least ten thousand men.
The possession of Minorca was of considerable impor-
tance, as it was made the rendezvous of a large force about
to be employed on the coast of the Mediterranean, in
support of our allies, in the year 1800. The command of
this army was given to Sir Ralph Abercromby, who
arrived on the twenty-second of June, accompanied by
Major-Generals Hutchinson and Moore. A part of the
army was embarked for the relief of Genoa, then closely
besieged by the French, and a detachment was also sent
to Colonel Thomas Graham of Balgowan, who blockaded
the garrison of La Vallette in the Island of Malta.
Genoa having surrendered before the reinforcement
arrived, the troops returned to Minorca, and were after-
ward embarked for Gibraltar, where they arrived on the
fourteenth of September, when accounts were received
of the surrender of Malta, after a blockade of nearly
two years. Early in October, the armament sailed for
Cadiz, to take possession of the city, and the Spanish
fleet in the harbour of Carraccas, and was joined by the
army under Sir James Pulteney from Ferrol; but when
the Highlanders and part of the reserve were about
landing in the boats, a gun from Cadiz announced the
approach of a flag of truce. The town was suffering
214
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
dreadfully from the ravages of the pestilence, and the
object of the communication was to implore the British
commander to desist from the attack. Sir Ralph Aber-
cromby, with his characteristic humanity, could not
withstand the appeal, and accordingly suspended the
attacli. The fleet got under weigh the following mommg
for the Bay of Tetuan, on the coast of Barbary, and after
being tossed about in a violent gale, during which it was
obliged to take refuge under the lee of Cape Spartell,
the fleet returned to Gibraltar.
Government, having determined to make an attempt
to drive the French out of Egypt, despatched orders to
the commander-in-chief to proceed to Malta, where, on
their arrival, the troops were mformed of their destina-
tion. Tired of confinement on board the transports,
they were all greatly elevated on receiving this intelli-
gence, and looked forward to a contest on the plains of
Egypt with the hitherto victorious legions of France,
with the feelings of men anxious to support the honour
of their country. The whole of the British land forces
amounted to 13,234 men, and 630 artillery; but the
efficient force was only 12,334. The French force
amoimted to thirty-two thousand men, besides several
thousand native auxiliaries.
The fleet sailed in two divisions for Marmorice, a bay
on the coast of Greece, on the twentieth and twenty-
first of December, in the year 1800. The Turks were to
have a remforcement of men and horses at that place.
The first division arrived on the twenty-eighth of
December, and the second on the first of January follow-
ing. Having received the Turkish supplies, which were
in every respect deficient, the fleet again got under weigh
on the twenty-third of Febmary, and on the morning of
Sunday, the first of March, the low and sandy coast of
Egypt was descried. The fleet came to anchor m the
215
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
evening in Aboukir bay, on the spot where the battle of
the Nile had been fought nearly three years before.
After the fleet had anchored, a violent gale sprung up,
which continued without intermission till the evening
of the seventh, when it moderated.
As a disembarkation could not be attempted during
the continuance of the gale, the French had ample time
to prepare themselves, and to throw every obstacle which
they could devise in the way of a landing. No situation
could be more embarrassing than that of Sir Ralph
Abercromby on the present occasion; but his strength
of mind carried him through every difficulty. " He had
to force a landing in an unknown country, in the face
of an enemy more than double his numbers, and nearly
three times as numerous as they were previously be-
lieved to be, — an enemy, moreover, in full possession
of the country, occupying all its fortified positions,
having a numerous and well-appointed cavalry, inured
to the climate, and a powerful artillery, — an enemy
who knew every point where a landing could, with any
prospect of success, be attempted, and who had taken
advantage of the unavoidable delay, already mentioned,
to erect batteries and bring guns and ammunition to
the point where they expected the attempt would be
made. In short, the general had to encounter embarrass-
ments, and bear up under difficulties, which would have
paralyzed the mind of a man less firm and less confident
of the devotion and bravery of his troops. These dis-
advantages, however, served only to strengthen his
resolution. He knew that his army was determined to
conquer or to perish with him; and, aware of the high
hopes which the country had placed in both, he resolved
to proceed in the face of obstacles which some would have
deemed insurmountable."
The first division destined to effect a landing, con-
216
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
sisted of the flank companies of the 40th, and Welsh
fusileers on the right, the 28th, 42d, and 58th, in the
centre, the brigade of guards, Corsican rangers, and a
part of the 1st brigade, consisting of the Royals and
54th, on the left, — amounting altogether to 5,230
men. As there were not a sufficiency of boats, all this
force did not land at once; and one company of High-
landers, and detachments of other regiments, did not
get on shore till the return of the boats. The troops
fixed upon to lead the way got into the boats at two
o'clock on the morning of the eighth of March, and
formed in rear of the Mondovi, Captain John Stewart,
which was anchored out of reach of shot from the
shore. By an admirable arrangement, each boat was
placed in such a manner, that, when the landmg was
effected, every brigade, every regiment, and even every
company, found itself in the proper station assigned to
them. As such an arrangement required time to com-
plete it, it was eight o'clock before the boats were ready
to move forward. Expectation was woimd up to the
highest pitch, when, at nine o'clock, a signal was given,
and the whole boats, with a simultaneous movement,
sprung forward, under the command of the Hon.
Captain Alexander Cochrane. Although the rowers
strained every nerve, such was the regularity of their
pace, that no boat got ahead of the rest.
At first the enemy did not believe that the British
would attempt a landing in the face of their lines and
defences; but when the boats had come withm range of
their batteries, they began to perceive their mistake,
and then opened a hea\^' fire from their batteries in
front, and from the castle of Aboukir in flank. To the
showers of grape and shells, the enemy added a fire of
musketry from twenty-five hundred men, on the near
approach of the boats to the shore. In a short time the
217
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
boats on the right, containing the 23d, 28th, 42d, and
58th regiments, with the flank companies of the 40th,
got under the elevated position of the enemy's batteries,
so as to be sheltered from their fire, and meeting with
no opposition from the enemy, who did not descend to
the beach, these troops disembarked and formed in line
on the seashore. Lest an irregular fire might have
created confusion in the ranks, no orders, were given to
load, but the men were directed to rush up the face
of the hill and charge the enemy.
When the word was given to advance, the soldiers
sprung up the ascent, but their progress was retarded
by the loose dry sand which so deeply covered the
ascent, that the soldiers fell back half a pace every
step they advanced. When about half way to the sum-
mit, they came in sight of the enemy, who poured down
upon them a destructive volley of musketry. Redoubling
their exertions, they gained the height before the enemy
could reload their pieces; and, though exhausted with
fatigue, and almost breathless, they drove the enemy
from their position at the point of the bayonet. A
squadron of cavalry then advanced and attacked the
Highlanders, but they were instantly repulsed, with the
loss of their commander. A scattered fire was kept up
for some time by a party of the enemy from behind a
second line of small sand-hills, but they fled in con-
fusion on the advance of the troops. The guards and
first brigade, having landed on ground nearly on a level
with the water, were immediately attacked, — the first
by cavalry, and the 54th by a body of infantry, who
advanced with fixed bayonets. The assailants were
repulsed.
In this brilliant affair the British had four officers,
four sergeants, and ninety-four rank and file killed,
among whom were thirty-one Highlanders; twenty-six
218
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
oflBcers, thirty-four sergeants, five dminmers, and 450
rank and file wounded; among whom were, of the
Highlanders, Lieutenant-Colonel James Stewart, Cap-
tain Charles Macquarrie, Lieutenants Alexander Camp-
bell, John Dick, Frederick Campbell, Stewart Campbell,
Charles Campbell, Ensign Wilson, seven sergeants, four
drummers, and 140 rank and file.
The venerable commander-in-chief, anxious to be at
the head of his troops, immediately left the admiral's
ship, and on reaching the shore, leaped from the boat
with the vigour of youth. Taking his station on a little
sand-hill, he received the congratulations of the officers
by whom he was surroimded, on the ability and firmness
with which he had conducted the enterprise. The
general, on his part, expressed his gratitude to them
for " an intrepidity scarcely to be parallelled," and which
had enabled them to overcome every difficulty.
The remainder of the army landed in the course of the
evening, but three days elapsed before the provisions
and stores were disembarked. Menou, the French com-
mander, availed himself of this interval to collect more
troops and strengthen his position; so that on moving
for\\'ard on the evening of the twelfth, the British found
him strongly posted among sand-hills, and palm and
date trees, about three miles east of Alexandria, with a
force of upwards of five thousand infantry, six hundred
cavalry, and thirty pieces of artillery.
Early on the morning of the thirteenth, the troops
moved forward to the attack in three columns of regi-
ments. At the head of the first column was the 90th
or Perthshire regiment ; the 92d or Gordon Highlanders
formed the advance of the second; and the reserve
marching in column covered the movements of the first
line, to which it ran parallel. When the army had
cleared the date trees, the enemy, leaving the heights,
219
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
moved down with great boldness on the 92d, which had
just formed in line. They opened a heavy fire of cannon
and musketry, which the 92d quickly returned; and,
although repeatedly attacked by the French line, sup-
ported by a powerful artillery, they maintained their
ground singly till the whole line came up. Whilst the
92d was sustaining these attacks from the infantry,
the French cavalry attempted to charge the 90th regi-
ment down a declivity with great impetuosity. The
regiment stood waiting their approach with cool intrepid-
ity, and after allowing the cavalry to come within fifty
yards of them, they poured in upon them a well-directed
volley, which so completely broke the charge that only
a few of the cavalry reached the regiment, and the
greater part of these were instantly bayonetted; the
rest fled to their left, and retreated in confusion. Sir
Ralph Abercromby, who was always in front, had his
horse shot under him, and was rescued by the 90th
regiment when nearly surrounded by the enemy's
cavalry.
After forming in line, the two divisions moved forward,
— the reserve remaining in column to cover the right
flank. The enemy retreated to their lines in front of
Alexandria, followed by the British army. After
reconnoitring their works, the British conmiander con-
ceiving the difficulties of an attack insuperable, retired,
and took up a position about a league from Alexandria.
The British suffered severely on this occasion, having
had six officers and 150 men killed, and sixty-six officers
and 1,004 men wounded. The Royal Highlanders,
who were only exposed to distant shot, had only three
rank and file killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson,
Captain Archibald Argyle Campbell, Lieutenant Simon
Fraser, three sergeants, one drummer, and twenty-three
rank and file wounded.
320
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
In the position now occupied by the British general, he
had the sea on his right flank, and the Lake Maadie on
his left. On the right the reserve was placed as an
advanced post; the 58th possessed an extensive ruin,
supposed to have been the palace of the Ptolemies. On
the outside of the ruin, a few paces onward and close on
the left, was a redoubt, occupied by the 28th regiment.
The 23d, the flank companies of the 40th, the 42d, and
the Corsican rangers, were posted five hundred yards
towards the rear, ready to support the two corps in
front. To the left of this redoubt a sandy plain extended
about three hundred yards, and then sloped into a valley.
Here, a little retired towards the rear, stood the cavalry
of the reserve; and still farther to the left, on a rising
ground beyond the valley, the guards were posted, with
a redoubt thrown up on their right, a battery on their
left, and a small ditch or embankment in front, which
connected both. To the left of the guards, in form of an
echelon, were posted the Royals, 54th (two battalions),
and the 92d; then the 8th or King's, 18th or Royal Irish,
90th and 13th. To the left of the line, and facing the
lake at right angles, were drawn up the 27th or Ennis-
killen, 79th or Cameron Highlanders, and 50th regiment.
On the left of the second line were posted the 30th,
89th, 44th, Dillon's, De Roll's, and Stuart's regiments;
the dismounted cavalry of the 12th and 26th dragoons
completed the second line to the right. The whole was
flanked on the right by four cutters, stationed close to
the shore. Such was the disposition of the army from
the fourteenth till the evening of the twentieth, during
which time the whole was kept in constant employment,
either in performing military duties, strengthening the
position — which had few natural advantages — by
the erection of batteries, or in bringing forward cannon,
stores, and provisions. Along the whole extent of the
231
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
line were arranged two 24-pounders, thirty-two field-
pieces, and one 24-pounder in the redoubt occupied by
the 28th.
The enemy occupied a parallel position on a ridge
of hiUs extending from the sea beyond the left of the
British line, having the town of Alexandria, Fort Caf-
farelli, and Pharos, in the rear. General Lanusse was
on the left of Menou's army with four demi-brigades of
infantry, and a considerable body of cavalry com-
manded by General Roise. General Regnier was on the
right with two demi-brigades and two regiments of
cavalry, and the centre was occupied by five demi-
brigades. The advanced guard, which consisted of one
demi-brigade, some light troops, and a detachment of
cavalry, was commanded by General D'Estain.
Meanwhile the fort of Aboukir was blockaded by the
queen's regiment, and, after a slight resistance, sur-
rendered to Lord Dalhousie on the eighteenth. To
replace the Gordon Highlanders, who had been much
reduced by previous sickness and by the action of the
thirteenth, the queen's regiment was ordered up on the
evening of the twentieth. The same evening the British
general received accounts that General Menou had ar-
rived at Alexandria with a large reinforcement from
Cairo, and was preparing to attack him.
Anticipating this attack, the British army was under
arms at an early hour in the morning of the twenty-
first of March, and at three o'clock every man was at
his post. For half an hour no movement took place on
either side, till the report of a musket, followed by that
of some cannon, was heard on the left of the line. Upon
this signal the enemy immediately advanced, and took
possession of a small piquet, occupied by part of Stuart's
regiment; but they were instantly driven back. For a
time silence again prevailed, but it was a stillness which
222
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
portended a deadly struggle. As soon as he heard the
firing, General Moore, who happened to be the general
officer on duty during the night, had galloped off to
the left; but an idea having struck him as he proceeded,
that this was a false attack, he turned back, and had
hardly returned to his brigade when a loud huzza, suc-
ceeded by a roar of musketry, showed that he was not
mistaken. The morning was unusually dark, cloudy,
and close. The enemy advanced in silence until they
approached the piquets, when they gave a shout and
pushed forward. At this moment Major Sinclair, as
directed by Major-General Oakes, advanced with the left
wing of the 42d, and took post on the open ground
lately occupied by the 28th regiment, which was now
ordered within the redoubt. Whilst the left wing of the
Highlanders was thus drawn up, with its right supported
by the redoubt, Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Stewart
was directed to remain with the right wing two hundred
yards in the rear, but exactly parallel to the left wing.
The Welsh fusileers and the flank companies of the 40th
moved forward, at the same time, to support the 58th,
stationed in the ruin. This regiment had drawn up in
the chasms of the ruined walls, which were in some parts
from ten to twenty feet high, imder cover of some loose
stones which the soldiers had raised for their defence,
and which, though sufficiently open for the fire of
musketry, formed a perfect protection against the en-
trance of cavalry or infantry. The attack on the ruin,
the redoubt, and the left wing of the Highlanders, was
made at the same moment, and with the greatest im-
petuosity; but the fire of the regiments stationed there,
and of the left of the 42d, under Major Stirling, quickly
checked the ardour of the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonels
Paget of the 28th, and Houston of the 58th, after allow-
ing the enemy to come quite close, directed their regi-
223
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
ments to open a fire, which was so well-directed and
effective, that the enemy were obliged to retire precip-
itately to a hollow in their rear.
During this contest in front, a column of the enemy,
which bore the name of the Invincibles, preceded by a
six-pounder, came silently along the hollow interval
from which the cavalry piquet had retired and passed
between the left of the 42d and the right of the guards.
Though it was still so dark that an object could not be
properly distinguished at the distance of two yards, yet
with such precision did this column calculate its distance
and line of march, that on coming in line with the left
wing of the Highlanders, it wheeled to its left, and
marched in between the right and left wings of the regi-
ment, which were drawn up in parallel lines. As soon
as the enemy were discovered passing between the two
lines, Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Stewart instantly
charged them with the right wing to his proper front,
whilst the rear-rank of Major Stirling's wing, facing to
the right about, charged to the rear. Being thus placed
between two fires, the enemy rushed forward with an
intention of entering the ruin, which they supposed was
unoccupied. As they passed the rear of the redoubt the
28th faced about and fired upon them. Continuing their
course, they reached the ruin, through the openings of
which they rushed, followed by the Highlanders, when
the 58th and 48th facing about as the 28th had done, also
fired upon them. The survivors (about two hundred),
unable to withstand this combined attack, threw down
their arms and surrendered. The Generals Moore and
Oakes were both wounded in the ruin, but were still
able to continue in the exercise of their duty. The
former, on the surrender of the Invincibles, left the ruin,
and hurried to the left of the redoubt, where part of the
left wing of the 42d was busily engaged with the enemy
824
IN THE 'W^ST INDIES AND EGYPT
after the rear rank had followed the enemy into the
rums. At this time the enemy was seen advancing in
great force on the left of the redoubt, apparently with an
intention of making another attempt to turn it. On
perceiving their approach, General Moore immediately
ordered the Highlanders out of the ruins, and directed
them to form line in battalion on the flat on which Major
Stirling had originally formed, with their right sup-
ported by the redoubt. By thus extending their line
they were enabled to present a larger front to the enemy;
but in consequence of the rapid advance of the enemy,
it was found necessary to check their progress even be-
fore the battalion had completely formed in line. Orders
were therefore given to drive the enemy back, which were
instantly performed with complete success.
Encouraged by the commander-in-chief, who called
out from his station, " My brave Highlanders, remember
your country, remember your forefathers!" they pur-
sued the enemy along the plain; but they had not pro-
ceeded far, when General Moore, whose eye was keen,
perceived through the increasing clearness of the
atmosphere fresh colunms of the enemy drawn up on
the plain beyond with three squadrons of cavalry, as
if ready to charge through the intervals of their retreat-
ing infantry. As no time was to be lost, the general
ordered the regiment to retire from their advanced
position, and re-form on the left of the redoubt. This
order, although repeated by Colonel Stewart, was only
partially heard in consequence of the noise of the firing;
and the result was, that whilst the companies who heard
it retired on the redoubt, the rest hesitated to follow.
The enemy, observing the intervals between these com-
panies, resolved to avail themselves of the circumstance,
and advanced in great force. Broken as the line was by
the separation of the companies, it seemed almost im-
225
" THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
possible to resist with effect an impetuous charge of
cavalry; yet every man stood firm. Many of the enemy
were killed in the advance. The companies who stood
in compact bodies drove back all who charged them
with great loss. Part of the cavalry passed through the
intervals, and wheeling to their left, as the " Invin-
cibles " had done early in the morning, were received
by the 28th, who, facing to their rear, poured on them a
destructive fire, which killed many of them. It is
extraordinary that in this onset only thirteen High-
landers were wounded by the sabre, — a circumstance
to be ascribed to the firmness with which they stood, first
endeavouring to bring down the horse, before the rider
came within sword-length, and then despatching him with
the bayonet, before he had time to recover his legs from
the fall of the horse.
Enraged at the disaster which had befallen the elite
of his cavalry, General Menou ordered forward a column
of infantry, supported by cavalry, to make a second
attempt on the position; but this body was repulsed at
all points by the Highlanders. Another body of cavalry
now dashed forward as the former had done, and met
with a similar reception, numbers falling, and others
passing through to the rear, where they were again
overpowered by the 28th. It was impossible for the
Highlanders to withstand much longer such repeated
attacks, particularly as they were reduced to the neces-
sity of fighting every man on his own ground, and unless
supported they must soon have been destroyed. The
fortunate arrival of the brigade of Brigadier-General
Stuart, which advanced from the second line, and formed
on the left of the Highlanders, probably saved them
from destruction. At this time the enemy were ad-
vancing in great force, both of cavalry and infantry,
apparently determined to overwhelm the handful of
226
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
men who had hitherto baffled all their efforts. Though
surprised to find a fresh and more numerous body of
troops opposed to them, they nevertheless ventured to
charge, but were again driven back with great pre-
cipitation.
It was now eight o'clock in the morning, but nothing
decisive had been effected on either side. About this
time the British had spent the whole of their ammunition ;
and not being able to procure an immediate supply, owing
to the distance of the ordnance-stores, their fire ceased,
— a circumstance which surprised the enemy, who,
ignorant of the cause, ascribed the cessation to design.
Meanwhile, the French kept up a heavy and constant
cannonade from their great guns, and a straggling fire
from their sharpshooters in the hollows, and behind
some sand-hills in front of the redoubt and ruins. The
army suffered greatly from the fire of the enemy, par-
ticularly the Highlanders, and the right of General
Stuart's brigade, who were exposed to its full effect,
being posted on a level piece of ground over which the
cannon-shot rolled after striking the ground, and car-
ried off a file of men at every successive rebound. Yet
notwithstanding this havoc no man moved from his
position except to close up the gap made by the shot,
when his right or left hand man was struck down.
At this stage of the battle the proceedings of the
centre may be shortly detailed. The enemy pushed for-
ward a heavy column of infantry, before the dawn of
day, towards the position occupied by the guards. After
allowing them to approach very close to his front.
General Ludlow ordered his fire to be opened, and his
orders were executed with such effect, that the enemy
retired with precipitation. Foiled in this attempt, they
next endeavoured to turn the left of the position; but
they were received and driven back with such spirit by
227
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the Royals and the right wing of the 54th, that they
desisted from all further attempts to carry it. They,
however, kept up an irregular fire from their cannon and
sharpshooters, which did some execution. As General
Regnier, who commanded the right of the French line,
did not advance, the left of the British was never
engaged. He made up for this forbearance by keeping
up a heavy cannonade, which did considerable injury.
Emboldened by the temporary cessation of the British
fire on the right, the French sharpshooters came close to
the redoubt; but they were thwarted in their designs
by the opportune arrival of anmiunition. A fire was
immediately opened from the redoubt, which made them
retreat with expedition. The whole line followed, and by
ten o'clock the enemy had resumed their original position
in front of Alexandria. After this, the enemy despairing
of success, gave up all idea of renewing the attack, and
the loss of the commander-in-chief, among other con-
siderations, made the British desist from any attempt to
force the enemy to engage again.
Sir Ralph Abercromby, who had taken his station in
front early in the day between the right of the High-
landers and the left of the redoubt, having detached the
whole of his staff, was left alone. In this situation two
of the enemy's dragoons dashed forward, and drawing
up on each side, attempted to lead him away prisoner.
In a struggle which ensued, he received a blow on the
breast; but with the vigour and strength of arm for
which he was distinguished, he seized the sabre of one of
his assailants, and forced it out of his hand. A corporal
of the 42d, coming up to his support at this instant, shot
one of the dragoons, and the other retired. The general
afterward dismounted from his horse, though with diffi-
culty; but no person knew that he was wounded, till
some of the staff who joined him observed the blood
228
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
trickling down his thigh. A musket-ball had entered
his groin, and lodged deep in the hip-joint. Notwith-
standing the acute pain which a wound in such a place
must have occasioned, he had, during the interval be-
tween the time he had been wounded and the last charge
of cavalry, walked with a firm and steady step along the
line of the Highlanders and General Stuart's brigade,
to the position of the guards in the centre of the line,
where, from its elevated position, he had a full view of
the whole field of battle, and from which place he gave
his orders as if nothing had happened to him. In his
anxiety about the result of the battle, he seemed to for-
get that he had been hurt; but after victory had de-
clared in favour of the British army, he became alive
to the danger of his situation, and in a state of exhaustion,
lay down on a little sand-hill near the battery.
In this situation he was surrounded by the generals
and a number of officers. The soldiers were to be seen
crowding round this melancholy group at a respectful
distance, pouring out blessings on his head, and prayers
for his recovery. His wound was now examined, and a
large incision was made to extract the ball ; but it could
not be found. After this operation he was put upon a
litter, and carried on board the Fondroyant, Lord
Keith's ship, where he died on the morning of the
twenty-eighth of March. " As his life was honourable,
so his death was glorious. His memory will be recorded
in the annals of his country, will be sacred to every
British soldier, and embalmed in the memory of a
grateful posterity,"
The loss of the British, of whom scarcely six thousand
were actually engaged, was not so great as might have
been expected. Besides the commander-in-chief, there
were killed ten officers, nine sergeants, and 224 rank and
file; and sixty oflBcers, forty-eight sergeants, three drum-
229
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
mers, and 1,082 rank and file, were wounded. Of the
Royal Highlanders, Brevet-Major Robert Bisset, Lieu-
tenants Colin Campbell, Robert Anderson, Alexander
Stewart, Alexander Donaldson, and Archibald M'Nicol,
and forty-eight rank and file, were killed; and Major
James Stirling, Captain David Stewart, Lieutenant
Hamilton Rose, J. Milford Sutherland, A. M. Cuningham,
Frederick Campbell, Maxwell Grant, Ensign William
Mackenzie, six sergeants, and 247 rank and file wounded.
As the 42d regiment was more exposed than any of the
other regiments engaged, and sustained the brunt of the
battle, their loss was nearly three times the aggregate
amount of the loss of all the other regiments of the
reserve. The total loss of the French was about four
thousand men.
General Hutchinson, on whom the command of the
British army now devolved, remained in the position
before Alexandria for some time, during which a detach-
ment under Colonel Spencer took possession of Rosetta.
Having strengthened his position between Alexandria
and Aboukir, General Hutchinson transferred his head-
quarters to Rosetta, with a view to proceed against
Rhamanieh, an important post, commanding the passage
of the Nile, and preserving the communication between
Alexandria and Cairo. The general left his camp on the
fifth of May to attack Rhamanieh; but although
defended by four thousand infantry, eight hundred
cavalry, and thirty-two pieces of cannon, the place was
evacuated by the enemy on his approach.
The commander-in-chief proceeded to Cairo, and took
up a position four miles from that city, on the sixteenth
of June. Belliard, the French general, who had a force
of thirteen thousand men under him in the town, of
whom 10,850 were French, might have made a formidable
resistance; but he had made up his mind to capitulate
230
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
whenever he could do so with honour; and accordingly,
on the twenty-second of June, when the British had
nearly completed their approaches, he offered to sur-
render, on condition of his army being sent to France
with their arms, baggage, and effects.
Nothing now remained to render the conquest of
Egypt complete, but the reduction of Alexandria.
Returning from Cairo, General Hutchinson proceeded to
invest that city. Whilst General Coote, with nearly
half the army, approached to the westward of the town,
the general himself advanced from the eastward. Gen-
eral Menou, anxious for the honour of the French arms,
at first disputed the advances made towards his lines;
but finding himself surrounded on two sides by an
army of 14,500 men, by the sea on the north, and cut
off from the country on the south by a lake which had
been formed by breaking down the dike between the
Nile and Alexandria, he applied for, and obtained, on
the evening of the twenty-sixth of August, an armis-
tice of three days. On the second of September the
capitulation was signed, the terms agreed upon being
much the same with those granted to General Belliard.
The number of the French troops re embarked for
France, in terms of the capitulations of Cairo and Alex-
andria, was 27,482, showing a deficit out of the original
force, when the British landed, of about seven thousand
men by war and sickness, after a campaign of about five
months.
After the French were embarked, immediate arrange-
ments were made for settling in quarters the troops that
were to remain in the country, and to embark those
destined for other stations. Among these last were
the three Highland regiments. The 42d regiment
landed at Southampton, and marched to Winchester.
With the exception of those who were affected with
231
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
ophthalmia, all the men were healthy. At Winchester,
however, the men caught a contagious fever, of which
Captain Lamont and several privates died.
" At this period," says General Stewart, " a circum-
stance occurred which caused some conversation, and
to which I have alluded in a note,* on the French stan-
dard taken at Alexandria. The Highland Society of
London, much gratified with the accounts given of the
conduct of their countrymen in Egypt, resolved to
bestow on them some mark of their esteem and approba-
tion. The society being composed of men of the first
rank and character in Scotland, and including several
of the royal family as members, it was considered that
such an act would be honourable to the corps and
agreeable to aU. It was proposed to commence with the
42d as the oldest of the Highland regiments, and with
the others in succession, as their service offered an
opportunity of distinguishing themselves. Fifteen hun-
dred pounds were immediately subscribed for this pur-
pose. Medals were struck with a head of Sir Ralph
Abercromby, and some emblematical figures on the
obverse. A superb piece of plate was likewise ordered.
While these were in preparation, the society held a
meeting, when Sir John Sinclair, with the warmth of
a clansman, mentioned his namesake, Sergeant Sinclair,
as having taken or having got possession of the French
standard, which had been brought home. Sir John,
being at that time ignorant of the circumstances, made
no mention of the loss of the ensign which the sergeant
had gotten in charge. This called forth the claim of
Lutz, a soldier of Stuart's regiment, accompanied with
some strong remarks by Cobbett, the editor of the work
in which the claim appeared. The society then asked an
explanation from the officers of the 42d regiment. To
this very proper request a reply was given by the oflFi-
233
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
cere who were then present with the reghnent. The
majority of these happened to be young men, who
expressed, in warm terms, their surprise that the society
should imagine them capable of countenancing any
statement implying that they had laid claim to a trophy
to which they had no right. This misapprehension of
the society's meaning brought on a correspondence,
which ended in an interruption of farther communica-
tion for many years. By this imfortunate misunder-
standing, a check was given to the intention of the
society to present marks of their esteem to those of
their countrymen who, either in collective bodies as
regiments, or individually, had distinguished themselves,
and contributed, by their actions, to support the military
character of Scotland. The approbation of such a body
as the Highland Society of London, composed of men of
the first rank and talent, and every way competent to
appreciate the character and actions of our national
corps, would unquestionably have acted as an incitement
to the youth of the north to establish future claims to
their notice. That a purpose so well intended should
have suffered a temporary interruption was therefore a
matter of regret.
" However, as a prelude to a fresh correspondence
and intimacy between the society and the Highland
regiments, the communication with the 42d was again
renewed in 1816. I was then one of the vice-presidents
of the society; and being in the full knowledge of the
circumstances, although absent from the regiment when
the first correspondence took place, and knowing that
the whole originated in mistake and misapprehension,
I was requested by the society to open a communica-
tion with the regiment. This ended in a complete under-
standing; and on the anniversary of the battle of
Alexandria, the twenty-first of March, 1817, his Royal
233
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Highness the Duke of York, then president of the High-
land Society, in the chair, presented the Marquis of
Huntly, on behalf of the 42d regiment, with a superb
piece of plate, in token of the respect of the society for
a corps which, for more than seventy years, had con-
tributed to uphold the martial character of their country.
This his Royal Highness accompanied with an impressive
speech, in which he recapitulated the various services
of the corps, from the battle of Fontenoy, down to those
of Quatre Bras and Waterloo."
In May, 1802, the regiment marched to Ashford,
where they were reviewed by George III, who expressed
himself satisfied with the appearance of the regiment;
but although the men had a martial air, they had a
diminutive look, and were by no means equal to their
predecessors, either in bodily appearance or in com-
plexion.
Shortly after this review the regiment was ordered to
Edinburgh. During their march to the north, the men
were everywhere received with kindness; and, on
approaching the northern metropolis, thousands of its
inhabitants met them at a distance from the city, and,
welcoming them with acclamations, accompanied them
to the castle. They remained in their new quarters,
giving way too freely to the temptations to which they
were exposed, by the hospitality of the inhabitants, till
the spring of 1803, when, in consequence of the interrup-
tion of peace, they were embarked at Leith for the camp
then forming at Weeley in Essex. The regiment at this
time did not exceed four hundred men, in consequence,
chiefly, of the discharge of 475 men the preceding
year.
As a means at once of providing for the internal de-
fence of the kingdom, and recruiting the regular army,
an act was passed to raise a body of men by ballot, to
234
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
be called " The Army of Reserve." Their services were
to be confined to Great Britain and Ireland, with
liberty to volunteer into the regular army, on a certain
boimty. In the first instance, the men thus raised in
Scotland were formed into second battalions to regiments
of the line. The quota raised in the counties of Perth,
Elgin, Nairn, Cromarty, Ross, Sutherland, Caithness,
Arg}de, and Bute, which was to form the second battalion
of the 42d, amounted to 1,343 men. These embarked in
November at Fort George, to join the first battalion in
Weeley barracks, about which time upwards of five
hundred had volunteered into the regular army. In
April of this year Captain David Stewart, Garth, was
appointed major, and Lieutenants Robert Henry Dick
and Charles M'Lean, captains to the second battalion
of the 78th regiment. In September following, Colonel
Dickson was appointed brigadier-general; and Lieu-
tenant-Colonels James Stewart and Alexander Stewart
having retired, they were succeeded by Lieutenant-
Colonels Stirling and Lord Blantyre. Captains M'Quarrie
and James Grant became majors; Lieutenants Stewart
Campbell, Donald Williamson, John M'Diarmid, John
Dick, and James Walker, captains; and Captain Lord
Saltoun was promoted to the foot-guards.
In consequence of the removal of a part of the garrison
of Gibraltar, the first battalion of the 42d, and the second
battalion of the 78th, or Seaforth's Highlanders, were
marched to Plymouth, where they embarked early in
October for Gibraltar, which they reached in November.
Nothing worthy of notice occurred during their stay in
Gibraltar. Since their former visit, the moral habits of
the 42d had improved, and they did not fall into those
excesses in drinking in which they had indulged when
formerly at Gibraltar. The mortality consequently
was not so great as before, — thirty-one only out of
235
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
850 men having died during the three years they re-
mained at this station.
In 1806, Sir Hector Munro, the colonel of the regiment,
died, and was succeeded by Major-General, the Marquis
of Huntly, now Duke of Gordon. Sir Hector was a brave
man; but he felt little interest in the regiment, and kept
aloof from his officers and men; and to such an extent
did he carry this reserve, that although both battalions
were quartered a considerable time at Fort George, in
the neighbourhood of which his country-seat was, he
never came near them except once, when he stopped
to change horses in the garrison on his way to London.
After the battle of Vimiera, which was fought on the
twenty-first of August, 1808, the British army was
jomed by the 42d regiment from Gibraltar, then 624
men strong, and by the Gordon and Cameron Highlanders
from England. Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley,
who had gained the battle, was superseded the same day
by two senior generals. Sir Harry Burrard and Sir John
Moore, who were, strange to tell, again superseded by
General Sir Hew Dalrj^mple the following morning.
Generals Burrard and Dalrymple having been recalled
in consequence of the convention of Cintra, the command
of the army devolved on Sir John Moore, who, on the
sixth of October, received an order to march into Spain.
Having made no previous preparations for marching,
the advance of the army from Lisbon was retarded;
and as he could obtain little assistance from the Portu-
guese government, and no correct information of the
state of the country, or of the proper route he ought to
take, he was obliged to act almost entirely upon con-
jecture. Conceiving it impossible to convey artillery
by the road through the mountains, he resolved to divide
his army and to march into Spain by different routes.
One of these, consisting of the brigade of artillery and
236
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
four regiments of infantrj'-, of which the 42d was one,
under the Hon. Lieutenant-General Hope, marched upon
Madrid and Espinar; another, under General Paget,
moved by Elvas and Alcantara; a third by Coimbra
and Almeida, under General Beresford; and a fourth,
under General Mackenzie Eraser, by Abrantes and Al-
meida. These divisions, amounting together to eighteen
thousand infantry and nine hundred cavalry, were to
form a junction at Salamanca. General Moore reached
Salamanca on the thirteenth of November, without
seeing a single Spanish soldier. The armies which he
had expected to find were either dispersed or removed
to too great a distance for cooperation, and the people
themselves seemed to take no interest in the war.
Whilst on the march, Lieutenant-General Sir David
Baird arrived off Corunna with a body of troops from
England, for the purpose of forming a junction with
General Moore; but his troops were kept on board
from the thirteenth to the thirty-first of October, and,
when allowed to disembark, no exertions were made
by the Spaniards to forward his march.
Whilst waiting the junction of General Baird and the
division of General Hope, which, from its circuitous
route, was the last of the four in reaching Salamanca,
General Moore received intelligence of the defeat and
total dispersion of General Blake's army on the tenth of
November, at Espenora de los Monteros, as well as of a
similar fate which subsequently befell the army of
General Castanos at Tudela. No Spanish army now
remained in the field except the corps under the Marquis
of Romana, but acting independently, it tended rather
to obstruct than forward the plans of the British com-
mander.
It was now the first of December, General Baird had
reached Astorga, and General Hope's division was still
237
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
four days' march from Salamanca. Beset by accumu-
lated diflSculties, and threatened with an army already
amounting to a hundred thousand men, and about to be
increased by additional reinforcements, General Moore
resolved on a retreat, though such a measure was opposed
to the opinion of many officers of rank. Whilst he him-
self was to fall back upon Lisbon, he ordered Sir David
Baird to retire to Corunna, and embark for the Tagus.
He afterward countermanded the order for retreat, on
receiving some favourable accounts from the interior,
but . having soon ascertained that these were not to be
relied on, he resumed his original intention of retiring.
Instead of proceeding, however, towards Lisbon, he
determined to retreat to the north of Spain, with the
view of joining General Baird. This junction he effected
at Toro on the twenty-first of December. Their united
forces amounted to 26,311 infantry, and 2,450 cavalry,
besides artillery.
The general resolved to attack Marshal Soult at Sal-
danha; but after making his dispositions, he gave up
his determination, in consequence of information that
Soult had received considerable reinforcements; that
Buonaparte had marched from Madrid with forty
thousand infantry and cavalry; and that Marshals
Junot, Mortier, and Lefebre, with their different divi-
sions, were also on their march towards the north of
Spain. The retreat was begun on the twenty-fourth of
December, on which day the advanced guard of Buona-
parte's division passed through Tordesillas.
When ordered again to retreat, the greatest disappoint-
ment was manifested by the troops, who, enraged at
the apathy shown by the people, gratified their feelings
of revenge by acts of insubordination and plunder
hitherto unheard of in a British army. To such an
extent did they carry their ravages, that they obtained
238
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
the name of " malditos ladrones," or cursed robbers,
from the unfortunate .inhabitants. The following
extract of general orders, issued at Benevente on the
twenty-seventh of December, shows how acutely the
gallant Moore felt the disgrace which the conduct of his
troops brought on the British name. " The Com-
mander of the Forces has observed, with concern, the
extreme bad conduct of the troops, at a moment when
they are about to come into contact with the enemy,
and when the greatest regularity and the best conduct
are most requisite. The misbehaviour of the troops in
the column which marched from Valderas to this place
exceeds what he could have believed of British soldiers.
It is disgraceful to the officers, as it strongly marks their
negligence and inattention. The Commander of the
Forces refers to the general orders of the fifteenth of
October and of the eleventh of November. He desires
that they may be again read at the head of every com-
pany in the army. He can add nothing but his deter-
mination to execute them to the fullest extent. He can
feel no mercy towards officers who neglect, in times like
these, essential duties, or towards soldiers who injure
the country they are sent to protect. It is impossible
for the general to explain to his army his motive for the
movements he directs. When it is proper to fight a
battle he will do it, and he will choose the time and place
he thinks most fit. In the meantime, he begs the officers
and soldiers of the army to attend diligently to discharge
their part, and leave to him and to the general officers
the decision of measures which belong to them alone."
It is quite unnecessary, in a work of this nature, to
give the details of this memorable retreat. Suffice it
to say, that after a series of brilliant and successful
rencounters with the enemy, and after enduring the
most extraordinary privations, the British army arrived
239
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
in the neighbourhood of Corunna on the eleventh of
January, 1809. Had the transports been at Corunna,
the troops might have embarked without molestation,
as the French general did not push forward with vigour
from Lago; but, as they had to wait the arrival of trans-
ports from Vigo, the enemy had full time to come up.
The inhabitants showed the greatest kindness to the
troops, and in conjunction with them exerted themselves
with much assiduity to put the town in a proper state
of defence.
On the land side Corunna is surrounded by a double
range of hills, a higher and a lower. As the outward
or higher range was too extensive, the British were
formed on the inner or lower range. The French on
their arrival took post on the higher range.
Several of the transports having arrived on the four-
teenth, the sick, the cavalry, and part of the artillery,
were embarked. Next day was spent in skirmishing,
with little loss on either side; but on the sixteenth,
affairs assumed a more serious aspect. After midday,
the enemy were seen getting under arms. The British
drew up immediately in line of battle. General Hope's
division occupied the left. It consisted of Major-General
Hill's brigade of the queen's, 14th, 32d, and Colonel
Crawford's brigade of the 36th, 71st, and 92d or Gordon
Highlanders. On the right of the line was the division
of General Baird, consisting of Lord William Bentinck's
brigade of the 4th, 42d or Royal Highlanders, and 50th
regiment; and Major-General Manningham's brigade of
the third battalion of the royals, 26th or Cameronians,
and second battalion of the 81st; and Major-General
Ward with the first and second battalions of the foot-
guards. The other battalions of guards were in reserve,
in rear of Lord William Bentinck's brigade. The rifle
corps formed a chain across a valley on the right of Sir
240
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
David Baird, communicating with Lieutenant-General
Eraser's division, which was drawn up in the rear at a
short distance from Corunna. The division was com-
posed of the 6th, 9th, 23d or Welsh fusileers, and second
battalion of the 43d, under Major-General Beresford;
and the 36th, 79th or Cameron Highlanders, and 82d,
under Brigadier-General Fane. General Paget's brigade
of reserve formed in rear of the left. It consisted of the
20th, 28th, 52d, 91st, and rifle corps. The whole force
under arms amounted to nearly sixteen thousand
men.
The battle was begun by the enemy, who, after a dis-
charge of artillery, advanced upon the British in four
columns. Two of these moved towards General Baird's
wing, a third advanced upon the centre, and a fourth
against the left. The enemy kept a fifth column as a
reserve in the rear. On the approach of the French the
British advanced to meet them. The 50th regiment,
under Majors Napier and Stanhope, two young
officers who had been trained up under the general's
own eye, passing over an enclosure in front, charged and
drove the enemy out of the village of Elvina, with great
loss. General Moore, who was at the post occupied by
Lord William Bentinck's brigade, directing every move-
ment, on observing the brave conduct of the regiment,
exclaimed, " Well done the 50th — well done my
majors!" Then proceeding to the 42d, he cried out,
" Highlanders, remember Egypt." They thereupon
rushed forward, accompanied by the general, and drove
back the enemy in all directions. He now ordered up
a battalion of the' guards to the left flank of the
Highlanders. The light company conceiving, as their
ammunition was spent, that the guards were to relieve
them, began to fall back; but Sir John, discovering their
mistake, said to them, " My brave 42d, join your com-
241
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
rades, — ammunition is coming, — you have your
bayonets." This was enough.
Sir David Baird about this time was forced to leave
the field, in consequence of his arm being shattered by
a musket ball, and immediately thereafter a cannon
ball struck Sir John Moore in the left shoulder and
beat him to the ground. *' He raised himself and sat
up with an unaltered countenance, looking intensely at
the Highlanders, who were warmly engaged. Captain
Harding threw himself from his horse and took him by
the hand; then observing his anxiety, he told him
the 42d were advancing, upon which his countenance
inmiediately brightened up."
After the general and Sir David Baird had been carried
off the field, the command of the army devolved upon
Lieutenant-General Hope, who, at the close of the
battle, addressed a letter to the latter, from which the
following is an extract: " The first effort of the enemy
was met by the commander of the forces and by yourself,
at the head of the 42d regiment, and the brigade under
Lord William Bentinck. The village on your right
became an object of obstinate contest. I lament to
say that, after the severe wound which deprived the army
of your services, Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore,
who had just directed the most able disposition, fell by a
cannon-shot. The troops, though not unacquainted
with the irreparable loss they had sustained, were not
dismayed, but by the most determined bravery not only
repelled every attempt of the enemy to gain ground, but
actually forced him to retire, although he had brought
up fresh troops in support of those originally engaged.
The enemy, finding himself foiled in every attempt to
force the right of the position, endeavoured by numbers
to turn it. A judicious and well-timed movement which
was made by Major-General Paget with the reserve,
042
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
which corps had moved out of its cantonments to sup-
port the right of the army, by a vigorous attack defeated
this intention. The major-general having pushed for-
ward the 95th (rifle corps) and the first battalion of the
52d regiment, drove the enemy before him, and in his
rapid and judicious advance threatened the left of the
enemy's position. This circumstance, with the position
of Lieutenant-General Eraser's division (calculated to
give still farther security to the right of the line),
induced the enemy to relax his efforts in that quarter.
They were however more forcibly directed towards the
centre, when they were again successfully resisted by
the brigade under Major-General Manningham, forming
the left of your division, and a part of that under Major-
General Leith, forming the right of that under my
orders. Upon the left the enemy at first contented
himself with an attack upon our piquets, which how-
ever in general maintained their ground. Finding, how-
ever, his efforts imavailing on the right and centre, he
seemed determined to render the attack upon the left
more serious, and had succeeded in obtaining possession
of the village through which the great road to Madrid
passes, and which was situated in front of that part of
the line. From this post, however, he was soon expelled,
with a considerable loss, by a gallant attack of some
companies of the second battalion of the 14th regiment,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholls. Before five in the
evening, we had not only successfull)'' repelled every
attack made upon the position, but had gained groimd
in almost all points, and occupied a more forward line
than at the commencement of the action; whilst the
enemy confined his operations to a cannonade, and the
fire of his light troops, with a view to draw off his other
corps. At six the firing ceased."
The loss of the British was eight hundred men killed
243
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
and wounded. The 42d regiment had one sergeant and
thirty-six rank and file killed; and six officers, viz.,
Captains Duncan Campbell, John Fraser, and Maxwell
Grant, and Lieutenants Alexander Anderson, William
Middleton, and Thomas Macinnes; one sergeant, and
104 rank and file wounded. The enemy lost upwards
of three thousand men, — a remarkable disproportion,
when it is considered that the British troops fought under
many disadvantages.
Though the victory was gained. General Hope did not
consider it advisable, under existing circumstances, to
risk another battle, and therefore issued orders for the
immediate embarkation of the army. By the great
exertions of the naval officers and seamen, the whole,
with the exception of the rear-guard, were on board
before the morning; and the rear-guard, with the
sick and wounded, were all embarked the following
day.
General Moore did not long survive the action. When
he fell he was removed, with the assistance of a soldier
of the 42d, a few yards behind the shelter of a wall.
He was afterward carried to the rear in a blanket by
six soldiers of the 42d and guards. When borne off the
field his aide-de-camp, Captain Harding, observing the
resolution and composure of his features, expressed his
hopes that the wound was not mortal, and that he would
still be spared to the army. Turning his head round, and
looking steadfastly at the wound for a few seconds, the
dying commander said, " No, Harding; I feel that to be
impossible." A sergeant of the 42d and two spare files,
in case of accident, were ordered to conduct their brave
general to Corunna. Whilst carried slowly along, he
made the soldiers turn frequently round, that he might
view the field of battle and listen to the firing. As the
sound grew fainter, an indication that the enemy were
244
IN THE WEST INDIES AND EGYPT
retiring, his countenance evinced the satisfaction he felt.
In a few hours he was numbered with the dead.
Thus died, in the prime of life, one of the most accom-
plished and bravest soldiers that ever adorned the
British army. " From his youth he embraced the pro-
fession with the sentiments and feelings of a soldier.
He felt that a perfect knowledge and an exact perform-
ance of the humble but important duties of a subaltern
officer are the best foundation for subsequent military
fame. In the school of regimental duty, he obtained
that correct knowledge of his profession, so essential
to the proper direction of the gallant spirit of the soldier;
and was enabled to establish a characteristic order and
regularity of conduct, because the troops found in their
leader a striking example of the discipline which he
enforced on others. In a military character, obtained
amidst the dangers of climate, the privations incident
to service, and the sufferings of repeated wounds, it is
difficult to select any point as a preferable subject for
praise. The life of Su* John Moore was spent among
his troops. During the season of repose, his time was
devoted to the care and instruction of the officer and
soldier; in war, he courted service in every quarter of the
globe. Regardless of personal considerations, he es-
teemed that to which his country called him, the post
of honour; and, by his undaunted spirit and uncon-
querable perseverance, he pointed the way to victory."
General Moore had been often heard to express a wish
that he might die in battle like a soldier; and, like a
soldier, he was interred in his full uniform, hi a bastion
in the garrison of Corunna.
WTien the embarkation of the army was completed
it sailed for England. One division, in which the 42d
was, landed at Portsmouth. Another disembarked at
Plymouth.
245
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
The regiment was now brigaded at Shorncliffe with the
rifle corps, under the command of Major-General Sir
Thomas Graham. As the second battalion, which had
been in Ireland since 1805, was about to embark for
Portugal, they could obtain no draughts from it to
supply the casualties which they had suffered in the late
retreat and the loss at Corunna, but these were speedily
made up otherwise.
The 42d was next employed in the disastrous expedi-
tion to Walcheren, and returned to Dover in September,
1809, having only 204 men fit for duty out of 758, who,
about six weeks before, had left the shores of England.
The regiment marched to Canterbury on the eleventh of
September, where it remained till July, 1810, when it
was removed to Scotland, and quartered in Mussel-
burgh. The men had recovered very slowly from the
Walcheren fever, and many of them still suffered under
its influence. During their stay at Musselburgh, the
men unfortunately indulged themselves to excess in the
use of ardent spirits, a practice which would have
destroyed the health of the men, had not a change of duty
put an end to this baneful practice.
246
CHAPTER IV
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
In August, 1811, the regiment sailed for England, and
after remaining some time in Lewis barracks, embarked
in April of the following year for Portugal. The ardour
for recruiting had now ceased, and the consequence was
that the regiment obtained few recruits while in Scot-
land. Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Blantyre, the commander
of the second battalion, had experienced the growing
indifference of the Highlanders for the army, having
been obliged, before his departure for Portugal, to enlist
150 men from the Irish militia. Tlie first battalion
joined the army,' under Lord Wellington, after the cap-
ture of Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz, and meeting with
the second battalion, they were both consolidated. The
second battalion, which had been two years in the
Peninsula, was actively engaged at Fuentes d'Honoro,
in May, 1811, and had maintained the good character
of the regiment during its whole service.
On the consolidation of the two battalions, the officers
and staff of the second were ordered to England, leaving
the first upwards of 1,160 rank and file fit for service.
These were placed in the division under Lieutenant-
General Sir Thomas Graham. The allied army now
amounted to fifty-eight thousand men, being larger than
any single division of the enemy, whose whole force
exceeded 160,000 men.
After a successful attack on Almarez by a division of
the army under General Hill, Lord Wellington moved
247
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
forward and occupied Salamanca, which the French
evacuated on his approach, leaving eight hundred men
behind to garrison the fort, and retain possession of two
redoubts formed from the walls and ruins of some con-
vents and colleges. After a gallant defence of some days,
the fort and redoubts surrendered on the twenty-
seventh of June.
Whilst the siege was proceeding, Marshal Marmont
manoeuvred in the neighbourhood; but not being yet
prepared for a general action, he retired across the
Douro, and took up a position on the twenty-second
from La Seca to Polios, By the accession of a reinforce-
ment from the Asturias, and another from the army of
the centre, the marshal's force was increased to nearly
sixty thousand men. Judging himself now able to cope
with the allied army, he resolved either to bring Lord
Wellington to action, or force him to retire towards
Portugal, by threatening his communication with that
country. By combining with Marshal Soult from the
south, he expected to be able to intercept his retreat
and cut him off. Marmont did not, however, venture
to recross the Douro, but commenced a series of masterly
manoeuvres, with the view of ensnaring his adversary.
Alluding to this display of tactics, the Moniteur remarked
that " there were seen those grand French military
combinations which command victory, and decide the
fate of empires; that noble audacity which no reverse
can shake, and which conmiands events." These move-
ments were met with corresponding skill on the part
of the British general, who baffled all the designs of his
skilful opponent. Several accidental rencounters took
place in the various changes of positions, in which both
sides suffered considerably.
Tired of these evolutions, Lord Wellington crossed the
Guarena on the night of the nineteenth of July, and on
248
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
the morning of the twentieth drew up his army in order
of battle on the plains of Valisa; but Marmont declined
the challenge, and, crossing the river, encamped with his
left at Babila Fuentes, and his right at Villameda. This
manoeuvre was met by a corresponding movement on
the part of the allies, who marched to their right in
columns along the plain, in a direction parallel to the
enemy, who were on the heights of Cabeca Vilhosa. In
this and the other movements of the British, the sagacity
of the commander-in-chief appeared so strange to a
plain Highlander, who had paid particular attention to
them, that he swore Lord Wellington must be gifted
with the second sight, as he saw and was prepared to
meet Marmont's intended changes of position before
he commenced his movements.
The allied army were now on the same ground they
had occupied near Salamanca, when reducing the forts
the preceding month; but in consequence of the enemy
crossing the Tormes at Alba de Tormes, and appearing
to threaten Cuidad Rodrigo, Lord Wellington made a
corresponding movement, and on the twenty-first
halted his army on the heights on the left bank. During
the night the enemy possessed themselves of the village
of Calvarasa de Ariba, and the heights of Nuestra
Senora de la Pena. In the course of this night, Lord
Wellington received intelligence that General Clausel
had reached Polios with a large body of cavalry, and
would certainly join Marmont on the twenty-third or
twenty-fourth.
The morning of the twenty-second, a day memorable
in the annals of the Peninsular war, was ushered in with
a violent tempest, and a dreadful storm of thunder and
lightning. The operations of the day commenced soon
after seven o'clock, when the outposts of both armies
attempted to get possession of two hills, Los Arapiles,
249
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
on the right of the allies. The enemy, by his numerical
superiority, succeeded in possessing himself of the most
distant of these hills, and thus greatly strengthened his
position. With his accustomed skill, Marmont manoeu-
vred until two o'clock, when imagining that he had
succeeded in drawing the allies into a snare, he opened
a general fire from his artillery along his whole line,
and threw out numerous bodies of sharpshooters, both
in front and flank, as a feint to cover an attempt he
meditated to turn the position of the British. This
ruse was thrown away on Lord Wellington, who, acting
on the defensive only, to become, in his turn, the assail-
ant with the more effect, and perceiving at once the
grand error of his antagonist in extending his line to
the left, without strengthening his centre, which had
now no second line to support it, made immediate
preparations for a general attack; and, with his char-
acteristic determination of purpose, took advantage of
that unfortunate moment, which, as the French com-
mander observed, " destroyed the result of six weeks
of wise combinations of methodical movements, the
issue of which had hitherto appeared certain, and which
everything appeared to presage to us that we should
enjoy the fruit of."
The arrangements were these. Major-General Paken-
ham, with the third division, was ordered to turn the
left of the enemy, whilst he was to be attacked in front
by the divisions of Generals Leith, Cole, Bradford, and
Cotton, — those of Generals Clinton, Hope, and Don
Carlos de Espana acting as a reserve. The divisions
under Generals Alexander Campbell and Alten were to
form the left of the line. Whilst this formation was in
progress, the enemy did not alter his previous position,
but made an unsuccessful attempt to get possession of the
village of Arapiles, held by a detachment of the guards,
250
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
About four o'clock in the afternoon the attack com-
menced. General Pakenham, supported by the Portu-
guese cavalry, and some squadrons of the 14th dragoons
under Colonel Harvey, carried all their respective
points of attack. The divisions in the centre were
equally successful, driving the enemy from one height
to another. They however received a momentary check
from a body of troops from the heights of Arapiles.
A most obstinate struggle took place at this post.
Having descended from the heights which they occupied,
the British dashed across the intervening valley and
ascended a hill, on which they found the enemy most
advantageously posted, formed in solid squares, the
front ranks kneeling, and supported by twenty pieces
of cannon. On the approach of the British, the enemy
opened a fire from their cannon and musketry, but this,
instead of retarding, seemed to accelerate the progress of
the assailants. Gaining the brow of the hill, they in-
stantly charged, and drove the enemy before them; a
body of them attempting to rally, were thrown into
utter confusion by a second charge with the bayonet.
A general rout now took place, and night alone saved the
French army from utter annihilation.
Seven thousand prisoners and eleven pieces of cannon
fell into the hands of the victors; but the loss of the
enemy in killed and wounded was not ascertained.
General Marmont himself was wounded, and many of his
officers were killed or disabled. The loss of the allies
was 624 killed, and about four thousand wounded.
Among other important results to which this victory
led, not the least was the appointment of Lord Well-
ington as generalissimo of the Spanish armies, by which
he was enabled to direct and control the operations of
the whole Spanish forces, which had hitherto acted as
independent corps.
251
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
The allied army pushed forward to Madrid, and, after
various movements and skirmishes, entered that city
on the twelfth of August, amid the acclamations of the
inhabitants. Learning that General Clausel, who had
succeeded Marshal Marmont in the command, had or-
ganized an army, and threatened some of the British
positions on the Douro, Lord Wellington left Madrid on
the first of September, and marching northward, entered
Valladolid on the seventh, the enemy retiring as he
advanced. Being joined by Castanos, the Spanish
general, with an army of twelve thousand foot, he took
up a position close to Burgos, in which the enemy had
left a garrison of twenty-five hundred men. The castle
was in ruins, but the strong thick wall of the ancient
keep was equal to the best casements, and it was
strengthened by a horn-work which had been erected
on Mount St. Michael. A church had also been con-
verted into a fort, and the whole enclosed within three
lines, so connected, that each could defend the other.
Preliminary to an attack on the castle, the possession of
the horn-work was necessary. Accordingly, on the
evening of the nineteenth of September, the light
infantry of General Stirling's brigade having driven
in the outposts, took possession of the outworks close
to the mount. When dark it was attacked by the same
troops, supported by the 42d, and carried by assault.
On the twenty-ninth an unsuccessful attempt was
made to spring a mine under the enemy's works, but on
the fourth of October another mine was exploded with
better effect. The second battalion of the 24th regiment
established themselves within the exterior line of the
castle, but were soon obliged to retire. The enemy
made two vigorous sorties on the eighth, drove back
the covering parties, and damaged the works of the
besiegers, who sustained considerable loss. A third
252
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
mine was exploded on the thirteenth, when the troops
attempted an assault, but without success. The last
attack, a most desperate one, was made on the nine-
teenth, but with as little success; two days after which,
Lord Wellington, to the great disappointment of the
besiegers, ordered the siege, which had lasted thirty days,
to be raised, in consequence of the expected advance of
a French army of eighty thousand men. The loss sus-
tained by the 42d regiment in this siege was three offi-
cers, two sergeants, and forty-four rank and file killed,
and six officers, eleven sergeants, one drummer, and 230
rank and file wounded. The officers killed were Lieu-
tenants R. Ferguson and P. Mihie, and Ensign David
Cullen; those wounded were Captains Donald Wil-
liamson (who died of his wounds), Archibald Menzies,
and George Davidson, Lieutenants Hugh Angus Fraser,
James Stewart, and Robert Mackinnon.
Whilst Lord Wellington was besieging Burgos, the
enemy had been concentrating their forces, and on the
twentieth of October, his lordship received intelligence
of the advance of the French army. Joseph Buona-
parte, newly raised by his brother to the throne of
Spain, was, with one division, to cut off Lord Welling-
ton's communication with General Hill's division be-
tween Aranjuez and Toledo, and another, commanded
by General Souham, was to raise the siege of Burgos.
After the abandonment of the siege, on the twenty-
first of October, the allied army retired after nightfall,
unperceived by General Souham, who followed with
a superior force, but did not overtake them till the eve-
ning of the twenty-third.
During this retrograde movement, the troops suffered
greatly from the inclemency of the weather, from bad
roads, but still more from the want of a regular supply
of provisions; and the same irregularities and dia-
253
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
organization prevailed among them as in the retreat
to Corunna. In the general orders which the com-
mander-in-chief issued on the occasion, he stated that
both divisions of the army indulged in a laxity of disci-
pline to a greater degree " than any army with which he
had ever served, or of which he had ever read." In
continuation, he observed that " it must be obvious to
every officer that, from the time the troops commenced
their retreat from Burgos, on the one hand, and from
Madrid on the other, the officers lost all command over
their men. Irregularities and outrages of every descrip-
tion were committed with impunity." Much of this
disorder has been ascribed to the impatience with which
British soldiers bear a retreat, when influenced by the
feeling that they are considered incapable of meeting an
enemy, a feeling which makes them quickly lose their
usual sense of duty and discipline. Pressed as they were
in their rear by the enemy's cavalry, an arm in which
the French were vastly superior, they nevertheless dis-
played their usual gallantry, and whenever the enemy
appeared in sight, they seemed to forget all their priva-
tions, formed as they were ordered, and repulsed with
vigour every attack.
The allied army retired upon Salamanca, and after-
ward to Frenada and Corea, on the frontiers of Portugal,
where they took up their winter quarters. The enemy,
apparently unable to advance, unwilling to retire, and
renouncing the hope of victory, followed the example
thus set. Subsequent events proved that this opinion,
expressed at the time, was correct, "for every move-
ment of the enemy after the campaign of 1812 was
retrograde, every battle a defeat."
Having obtained a reinforcement of troops and
abundant military supplies from England, Lord Welling-
ton opened the campaign of 1813 by moving on Sala-
254
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
manca, of which, for the third time, the British troops
took possession on the twenty-fourth of May. The
division of Sir R. Hill was stationed between Tormes and
the Douro, and the left wing, under Sir Thomas Graham,
took post at Miranda de Douro. The enemy, who gave
way as the allies advanced, evacuated Valladolid on the
fourth of June, and General Hill havmg, on the twelfth,
attacked and defeated a division of the French army
under General Reille, the enemy hastened their retreat,
and blew up the works of the castle of Burgos, on which
they had expended much labour the preceding year.
The enemy fell back on Vittoria, followed by Lord
Wellington, who drew up his army on the River Bayas,
separated by some high grounds from Vittoria. His men
were in the highest spirits, and the cheerfulness and
alacrity with which they performed this long march,
more than 250 miles, formed a favourable contrast
with their conduct when retreating the previous year.
The French army, under the command of Joseph
Buonaparte and Marshal Jourdan, made a stand near
Vittoria, for the purpose of defending the passage of
the River Zadorra, having that town on their right, the
centre on a height, conmaanding the valley of that
stream, and the left resting on the heights between
Arunez and Puebla de Arlanzon. The hostile armies
were about seventy thousand men each.
On the morning of the twenty-first of June, the allied
army moved forward in three columns to take possession
of the heights in the front of Vittoria. The right wing
was commanded by General Hill, the centre by General
Cole, and the left wing by General Graham. The
operations of the day commenced by General Hill
attacking and carrying the heights of Puebla, on which
the enemy's left rested. They made a violent attempt
to regain possession, but they were driven back at all
255
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
points, and pursued across the Zadorra. Sir Rowland
Hill, passing over the bridge of La Puebla, attacked and
carried the village of Sabijana de Alava, of which he kept
possession, notwithstanding repeated attempts of the
enemy to regain it. The fourth and light divisions now
crossed the Zadorra at different points, while, almost
at the same instant of time, the colunm under Lord
Dalhousie reached Mendonza; and the third, under Sir
T. Picton, followed by the seventh division, crossed a
bridge higher up. These four divisions, forming the
centre of the army, were destined to attack the right of
the enemy's centre on the heights, whilst General Hill
pushed forward from Alava to attack the left. The
enemy dreading the consequences of an attack on his
centre, which he had weakened to strengthen his posts
on the heights, abandoned his position, and commenced a
rapid retreat to Vittoria.
Whilst these combined movements of the right and
centre were in progress, the left wing, under Sir Thomas
Graham, drove the enemy's right from the hills above
Abechuco and Gamarra. To preserve their communica-
tion with Bayonne, which was nearly cut off by this
movement, the enemy had occupied the villages of
Gamarra, Mayor, and Menor, near which the great road
touches the banks of the Zadorra. They were, however,
driven from these positions by a Spanish division under
Colonel Longa, and another of Portuguese under General
Pack, supported by General Anson's cavalry brigade
and the fifth division of infantry under General Oswald.
General Graham, at the same time, attacked and
obtained possession of the village of Abechuco.
Thus cut off from retreat by the great road to France,
the enemy, as soon as the centre of the allies had pene-
trated to Vittoria, retreated with great precipitation
towards Pampluna, the only other road left open, and
256
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
on which they had no fortified positions to cover their
retrograde movement. The enemy left behind them all
their stores and baggage, and out of 152 pieces of cannon,
they carried off only one howitzer. General Hill, with
his division, continued to pursue the panic-stricken
French from one position to another till the seventh of
July, when he took post on the summit of the pass of
Maya, beyond the Pyrenees, " those lofty heights
which," as Marshal Soult lamented, in a proclamation
he issued, " enabled him proudly to survey our fertile
valleys."
With the exception of Pampluna and St. Sebastian,
the whole of this part of the north of Spain was now
cleared of the enemy. To reduce these places was the
next object. It was resolved to blockade the former and
lay siege to the latter, which last-mentioned service
was entrusted to General Graham. This was a most
arduous task, as St. Sebastian was, in point of strength,
next to Gibraltar.
The arrangements for the siege of St. Sebastian being
completed, the batteries opened on the convent of St.
Bartolomeo on the fourteenth of July, and on the
seventeenth this stronghold, though fortified with a
protecting work, and a steep hill on its left flank, was so
completely destroyed, that General Graham ordered
both to be stormed. The division of General Oswald
carried these posts, though bravely defended by a strong
body of men. Having made two breaches which were
considered practicable, a party of two thousand men
made an assault on the twenty-fifth; but after an
obstinate contest they were recalled, after sustaining a
very severe loss. The attention of the conmiander-
in-chief being now directed to the movements of Marshal
Soult, who was advancing with a large army, the siege
of St. Sebastian was suspended for a time.
257
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
At this time the allied army occupied a range of
mountain passes between the valley of Roncesvalles,
celebrated as the field of Charlemagne's defeat, and
St. Sebastian, but as the distance between these stations
was sixty miles, it was found impossible so to guard all
these passes as to prevent the entrance of an army.
The passes occupied by the allies were defended by the
following troops: Major-General Byng's brigade and
a division of Spanish infantry held the valley of
Roncesvalles, to support which General Cole's division
was posted at Piscarret, with General Picton's in reserve
at Olaque; the valley of Bastan and the pass of Maya
was occupied by Sir Rowland Hill, with Lieutenant-
General William Stewart's and Silviera's Portuguese
divisions, and the Spanish corps under the Conde de
Amaran; the Portuguese brigade of Brigadier-General
Archibald Campbell was detached to Los Alduidos; the
heights of St. Barbara, the town of Pera, and the
Puerto de Echelar, were protected by Lord Dalhousie
and Baron Alten's light division, Brigadier-general
Pack's being in reserve at Estevan. The communica-
tion between Lord Dalhousie and General Graham was
kept up by General Longa's Spanish division; and the
Conde de Abisbal blockaded Pampluna.
Such were the positions of the allied army when
Marshal Soult, who had been lately appointed to the
command of a numerous French army, recently collected,
having formed a plan of operations for a general attack
on the allied army, advanced on the twenty-fifth of
July at the head of a division of thirty-six thousand men
against Roncesvalles, whilst General Count d'Erlon,
with another division of thirteen thousand men, moved
towards the pass of Maya. Pressed by this overwhelming
force, General Byng was obliged, though supported by
part of Sir Lowry Cole's division, to descend from the
258
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
heights that commanded the pass, in order to preserve
his communication, in which situation he was attacked
by Soult and driven back to the top of the mountain,
whilst the troops on the ridge of Arola, part of Cole's
division, were forced to retire with considerable loss, and
to take up a position in the rear. General Cole was
again obliged to reth-e, and fell back on Lizoain. Next
day General Picton moved forward to support General
Cole, but both were obliged to retire in consequence of
Soult's advance.
Meanwhile Count d'Erlon forced the battalions
occupying the narrow ridges near the pass of Maya to
give way; but these being quickly supported by Briga-
dier-General Barnes's brigade, a series of spirited actions
ensued, and the advance of the enemy was arrested.
General Hill, hearing of the retrograde movement from
Roncesvalles, retired behind the Irurita, and took up a
strong position. On the twenty-seventh Sir Thomas
Picton resumed his retreat. The troops were greatly
dejected at this temporary reverse; but the arrival of
Lord Wellington, who had been with the army before
St. Sebastian, revived their drooping spirits. Im-
mediately on his arrival he directed the troops in reserve
to move forward to support the division opposed to the
enemy. He formed General Picton's division on a ridge
on the left bank of the Argua, and General Cole's on the
high grounds between that river and the Lanz. To
support the positions in front. General Hill was posted
behind the Lizasso; but, on the arrival of General
Pakenham on the twenty-eighth, he took post on the
left of General Cole, facing the village of Sourarem;
but before the British divisions had fully occupied the
ground, they were vigorously attacked by the enemy
from the village. The enemy were, however, driven
back with great loss.
259
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Soult next brought forward a strong column, and
advancing up the hill against the centre of the allies, on
the left of General Cole's line, obtained possession of that
post, but he was almost immediately driven back at the
point of the bayonet by the Fusileers. The French
renewed the attack, but were again quickly repulsed.
About the same time, another attack was made on the
right of the centre, where a Spanish brigade, supported
by the 40th, was posted. The Spaniards gave way, but
the 40th not only kept their ground, but drove the enemy
down the hill with great loss.
The enemy pushing forward in separate bodies with
great vigour, the battle now became general along the
whole front of the heights occupied by the fourth division,
but they were repulsed at all points, except one occupied
by a Portuguese battalion, which was overpowered and
obliged to give way. The occupation of this post by
the enemy exposed the flank of Major-General Ross's
brigade, immediately on the right, to a destructive fire,
which forced him to retire. The enemy were, however,
soon dispossessed of this post by Colonel John Maclean,
who, advancing with the 27th and 48th regiments,
charged and drove them from it, and inmiediately
afterward attacked and charged another body of the
enemy who were advancing from the left. The enemy
persevered in his attacks several times, but was as
often repulsed, principally by the bayonet. Several
regiments charged four different times.
The division of Lord Dalhousie, from the left, havmg
reinforced the centre the following day, Soult withdrew
a part of his troops from his strong position in front of
the allies, with the intention of turning the left of their
position. Though the position occupied by Soult in
front appeared almost impregnable, yet Lord Welling-
ton resolved, after this reduction of Soult's force, to
260
PROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
attempt it. Accordingly, on the morning of the thirtieth,
Lord Dalhousie made a well-conducted attack on the
heights on the right, which was performed with great
bravery by Brigadier-General Inglis's brigade. Sir
Thomas Picton, during this operation, turned their left,
whilst General Pakenham, at the same time, drove them
from the village of Ostiz. These successful attacks were
followed up by one made in front by General Cole's
division, upon which the enemy, to use the words of
Lord Wellington, " abandoned a position which is one
of the strongest and most difficult of access that I have
yet seen occupied by troops." The enemy were now
pursued beyond Olaque, in the vicinity of which General
Hill, who had been engaged the whole day, had repulsed
all the attacks of Count d'Erlon.
The enemy endeavoured to rally in their retreat, but
were driven from one position to another till the second
of August, when the allies had regained all the posts they
had occupied on the twenty-fifth of July, when Soult
made his first attack. As the 92d or Gordon High-
landers was the only Highland regiment which had
the good fortune to be engaged in these brilliant attacks,
in which they particularly distinguished themselves,
the account of these operations might have been deferred
till we come to give an account of the services of that
excellent regiment; but as the omission of these details
in this place would have broken the continuity of the
narrative, it was deemed proper to insert them here.
After this second expulsion of the French beyond the
Pyrenees, the siege of St. Sebastian was resumed with
redoubled energy. A continued fire was kept up from
eighty pieces of cannon, which the enemy withstood
with surprising courage and perseverance. At length a
practicable breach was made, and on the morning of
the thirty-first of August the troops advanced to the
261
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
assault. The breach was extensive, but there was only
one point where it was possible to enter, and this could
only be done by single files. All the inside of the wall
to the height of the curtain formed a perpendicular
scarp of twenty feet. The troops made the most per-
severing exertions to force the breach, and everything
that bravery could attempt was repeatedly tried by the
men who were brought forward in succession from the
trenches; but each time, on attaining the summit, all
who attempted to remain were destroyed by a heavy
fire from the entrenched ruins within, so that "no
man outlived the attempt to gain the ridge." The
moment was critical; but General Graham, with great
presence of mind, directed his artillery to play against
the curtain, so as to pass a few feet over the heads of
the troops in the breach. The fire was directed with
admirable precision, and the troops advanced with
perfect confidence. They struggled unremittingly for
two hours to force the breach, and, taking advantage
of some confusion occasioned by an explosion of anmiu-
nition within the ramparts, they redoubled their efforts,
and by assisting each other got over the walls and ruins.
After struggling about an hour among their works, the
French retreated with great loss to the castle, leaving
the town, which was now reduced to a heap of ruins, in
the possession of the assailants. This success was dearly
purchased, — the loss of the allies, in killed and wounded,
being upwards of two thousand men. Soult made an
attempt to raise the siege, by crossing the Bidassoa
on the very day the assault was made with a force of
nearly forty thousand men; but he was obliged, after
repeated attacks, to repass the river.
Having determined to carry the war into France, Lord
Wellington crossed the Bidassoa at low water, near its
mouth, on the seventh of October. After a series of
263
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
successful operations, the allied army was established
in the French territories; but as Pampluna still held out,
the commander-in-chief delayed his advance for a time.
Pampluna surrendered on the thirty-first of October,
after a blockade of four months. Lord Wellington
having now the whole allied force, amounting to up-
wards of eighty-five thousand men, at his disposal,
resolved to commence operations.
Since the battle of the Pyrenees, the French had occu-
pied a position with their right towards the sea, at a
short distance from St. Jean de Luz, their centre, on a
village in Sare, and on the heights behind it, with their
left resting on a stony height in the rear of Ainhoe.
This position, strong by nature, had been rendered still
stronger by art. The attack on the French lines was to
be made in columns of divisions. In consequence of
heavy falls of snow and rain. Lord Wellington was
obliged to defer his attack till the tenth of November,
on the morning of which day the allies moved forward
against the enemy. General Hill, who conamanded the
right, comprising the divisions of Sir William Stewart,
Sir Henry Clinton, Sir John Hamilton's (Portuguese)
and General Morilla's (Spanish), marched against the
left of the enemy, whilst Marshal Beresford, at the head
of the centre, consisting of the divisions of Sir Thomas
Picton, Sir Lowry Cole, Lord Dalhousie, Baron Alten,
and the Spanish reserve under Generals Giron and
Freyre, was to attack the enemy's centre. The left,
under General Hope (now second in command, in con-
sequence of the resignation of General Graham), con-
sisting of the brigades of Major-Generals Howard and
Oswald, the Portuguese brigades of Brigadier-Generals
Wilson and Bradford, and Lord Aylmer's independent
British brigade, was directed to move against all the
enemy's lines from the centre to the sea.
263
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
The attack was begun by General Cole's division, which
attacked and carried the principal redoubt in front of
Sare with such rapidity, that several of the enemy
were taken in it before it could be evacuated. Another
redoubt on the left was carried in the same rapid manner
by Lord Dalhousie's division, commanded in his absence
by Colonel Le Cor. General Cole's division thereupon
took possession of the village. General Alten having
carried La Petite Rhune, the whole centre divisions
united, and made a joint attack on the enemy's principal
position behind the village. Sir Thomas Picton's divi-
sion (now commanded in his absence by General
Colville), and that of Le Cor, carried the redoubt on
the left of the enemy's centre. The light divi-
sion advancing from La Petite Rhune, attacked the
works in their front, supported by the 52d regiment,
who, crossing with great rapidity a narrow neck of land,
where they were exposed to the fire of two flanking
batteries, rushed up the hill with such impetuosity, that
the enemy grew alarmed, and fled with precipitation.
Meanwhile the right, under General Hill, attacked the
heights of Ainhoe. The attack was led by General
Clinton's division, which, marching on the left of five
redoubts, forded the Nivelle, the banks of which were
steep and difficult, and attacked the troops in front of
the works. These were immediately driven back with
loss, and General Hamilton joining in the attack on the
other redoubt, the enemy hastily retired. The brigade
of General Stewart's division, under General Pringle,
drove in the enemy's piquets in front of Ainhoe, whilst
General Byng's brigade attacked and drove the enemy
from the entrenchments, and from a redoubt farther
to the left.
By these successful movements the allies were firmly
established on the right bank of the Nivelle; but as the
264
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
troops driven from the enemy's centre were concen-
trating above the heights of Saint Pe, some farther
efforts were necessary. Accordingly the divisions of
Colville and Le Cor crossed the river below the village,
and driving the enemy from these heights, established
themselves in the position beyond them. The enemy,
now seeing further resistance hopeless, abandoned all
their positions and works in front of St. Jean de Luz
and retired upon Bidart, after destroying all the bridges
on the Lower Nivelle. In these successful and compli-
cated movements, the allies had twenty-one officers
and 244 soldiers killed, and 120 officers and 1,657 soldiers
wounded. Of the 42d regiment, Captain Mungo Mac-
pherson and Lieutenant Kenneth Macdougall were
wounded, one private only killed, and two sergeants
and twenty-three rank and file wounded. The French
lost thirty-one pieces of cannon, fifteen hundred prison-
ers, and had a proportional number killed and wounded.
In consequence of the heavy rains and the destruction
of the bridges, the allies were prevented from pursuing
the enemy, who retired to an entrenched camp near
Bayonne. The allied troops were cantoned between the
Nivelle and the sea, and made preparations for dis-
lodging the French from their new position; but the
incessant rains, which continued till December, put a
total stop to all active movements. Having thrown
bridges over the Nive in the beginning of December,
Lord Wellington commenced operations on the ninth
for the passage of that river. As the position of the
enemy was considered too strong to be attacked in
front, the commander-in-chief determined to make a
movement to the right, and by thus threatening Soult's
rear, he hoped to induce him to abandon his position.
Accordingly the allied army crossed the Nive at different
points on the ninth of November. General Hope met
265
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
with little opposition, and General Hill, who crossed by
the ford of Cambo, was scarcely opposed. In danger of
being intercepted by General Clinton's division, which
had crossed at Ustariz, the enemy retired in great haste,
and assembled in considerable numbers at Ville Tranche,
but they were driven from this post by the light infantry
and two Portuguese regiments, under Colonels Douglas
and Browne. General Hill next day took up a position
with his division, with his left on Ville Franche and his
right on the Adour, in consequence of which he cut off
the communication between Bayonne and St. Jean
Pied de Port. In this situation the French troops
stationed at the latter place were forced to retire on
St. Palais.
Leaving a force to keep General Hill in check. Marshal
Soult left his entrenched camp on the morning of the
tenth, and, making an impetuous attack on the light
division of General Hope's wing, drove back his out-
posts. Then establishing himself on a ridge between the
corps of Baron Alten and Major-General Andrew Hay's
fifth division, he turned upon the latter, and attacked
it with a determined bravery which it was almost
impossible to withstand; but after an arduous struggle
the enemy were repulsed by Brigadier-General Robin-
son's brigade of the fifth division, and Brigadier-General
Archibald Campbell's Portuguese brigade. The enemy,
no way discouraged by these repulses, renewed the
attack about three o'clock, but with the same want of
success.
During the night, Soult made dispositions for attack-
ing the light division at Arcangues; but Sir John Hope
perceiving his intention, moved towards the threatened
point. Anticipated in this movement, the experienced
marshal again changed his dispositions to the left; but
General Hope, equally on the alert, met him also in that
266
FROM SALA]\IANCA TO WATERLOO
direction. With the exception of some partial skirmish-
ing between the out-posts, no occurrence of any im-
portance took place on the following day; but on the
twelfth the enemy renewed the attack on the left, but
without success.
Thus foiled in all his attempts, Soult resolved to change
entirely his plan of operations, and accordingly, during
the night of the twelfth, he drew his army through
Bayonne, and on the morning of the thirteenth attempted
to force his way between the centre and right of the
British position, at the head of thirty thousand men.
Advancing with great vigour and celerity, he might
have succeeded, had not General Hill, with his usual
promptitude of decision, ordered his troops on the flanks
to support the centre. The enemy, after a violent
struggle, were repulsed with great loss, and retired with
such precipitation that they were out of reach before
the arrival of the sixth division, which had been ordered
up to support General Hill.
Whilst this contest was going on. General Byng's
brigade, supported by the Portuguese brigade under
General Buchan, carried an important height, from which
the enemy made several attempts to dislodge them;
but being unsuccessful at aU points, they at length
retired to their entrenchments, whither they were fol-
lowed by General HiU, who took up a parallel position.
The inclemency of the weather, and a succession of
heavy rains which had swelled the rivers and destroyed
the roads, rendering farther movements impracticable
for a time, Marshal Soult availed himself of the interrup-
tion thus given to the progress of the allied army to
strengthen his position. The weather becoming favour-
able about the middle of February, 1814, Lord Welling-
ton began a series of movements with the view of induc-
ing Soult to withdraw from his strong position, or,
267
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Bhould he decline, to cut off his communication with
France, by marching the allied army into the heart of
that country. By these movements the British general
obtained the command of the Adour, which obliged
Soult, who obtained his supplies down that river from
the interior, to withdraw from Bayonne in the direction
of Daxe. He left, however, a strong garrison in the
place.
Leaving General Hope to blockade Bayonne, Lord
Wellington made a general movement with the right
and centre of the army on the twenty-fourth of Febru-
ary. Next day they marched forward to dislodge the
enemy from a position they had taken up on the Gave
de Pau at Orthes. Between the extreme points of this
position ran a chain of heights receding in a line, bending
inwards, the centre of which was so retired as to be pro-
tected by the guns of both wings. On his left, Soult
was supported in this strong position by the town and the
river; his right rested on a coijimanding height in rear
of the village of St. Bois; whilst the centre, accom-
modating itself to the incurvation of the heights,
described a horizontal reversed segment of a circle
protected by the strong position of both wings.
The arrangements for carrying this important post
were as follow: — Marshal Beresford, with Generals
Cole's and Walker's divisions, and Colonel Vivian's
brigade of cavalry, was ordered to attack and endeavour
to turn the right; the heights on the left and centre were
to be attacked by Generals Picton and Clinton, with
General Cotton's and Lord Edward Somerset's brigades
of cavalry, supported by General Alten's light division
in reserve in rear of the two columns; whilst General
Hill was to cross the Gave two miles above Orthes, and
attack the left flank and rear of the position. In pur-
suance of these dispositions. Marshal Beresford attacked,
268
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
and, after an obstinate resistance, carried the village of
St. Bois. General Cole then advanced against the heights
above the village, but the defile through which he
attempted to pass was so narrow, that only two battal-
ions could be brought forward in line to oppose the
weight of the whole force on the heights, and he was
therefore obliged to relinquish the advance in that
direction. A new plan was instantly adopted by the
reserve and the troops of the right, by making an
attack upon the enemy's left, in the expectation of
turning their flank. In a short time every point was
carried, but the enemy retired in a very orderly manner,
firing by echelons of divisions, each covering the other
as they retreated. Observing General Hill, who had
just crossed the river, advancing upon their left flank,
on the road from Orthes to St. Sever, the enemy became
at once apprehensive that they would be intercepted,
and, instead of continuing their masterly retreat, they
ran off at full speed, followed by their pursuers. The
latter continued the chase for nearly three miles at a
full trot, and the French at length breaking their lines,
threw away their arms, and fled in all directions. The
pursuit was continued, however, as far as Sault de
Navailles, on reaching which the remains even of an
army were no longer to be seen. The loss of the enemy
was estimated at eight thousand men in killed, wounded,
and prisoners. The loss of the allies in killed and
wounded amounted to about sixteen hundred. Of the
42d, Lieutenant John Innes was the only oflScer killed,
besides one sergeant, and three rank and file. Major
William Co well. Captain James Walker, Lieutenants
Duncan Stewart and James Brander, five sergeants, and
eighty-five rank and file were wounded.
The French army, lately so formidable, was now
broken and dispersed, and many of the soldiers, dis-
269
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
pirited by their reverses, returned to their homes;
others, for the first time, abandoned their standards,
and went over to the allies. Soult, however, midis-
mayed by these difficulties, collected the remains of that
part of his army which still remained faithful, and
exerted all his energies to arrest the progress of the vic-
tors, but his efforts were unavailing; and after sustaining
a defeat at Ayre, where he attempted to cover the re-
moval of considerable magazines, he retreated to Tarbes.
All the western part of Gascony being thus left exposed
to the operations of the allied army. Lord Wellington
detached Marshal Beresford and Lord Dalhousie, with
three divisions, to Bordeaux, which they entered amidst
the acclamations of the inhabitants.
Having obtained reinforcements from Spain and Eng-
land, Lord Wellington, after leaving four thousand men
at Bordeaux under Lord Dalhousie, again put his army
in motion. Soult attempted to make a stand at Vicq
with two divisions, but he was driven from this position
by General Picton with the third division, and forced
to retire beyond Tarbes. With the apparent intention
of disputing the farther advance of the allies, the marshal
concentrated his whole force at this point; but he was
dislodged from this position by a series of combined
movements. It was now discovered that the enemy
were drawn up on two hills running parallel to those
from which their advance had been driven, and it was
farther ascertained that this conomanding position
could not be gained by an advance in front without a
great sacrifice of men, reinforced as it had been by the
troops driven from the heights in front. It was there-
fore determined to attack it on flank; but before the
necessary arrangements could be completed night came
on, and Soult, taking advantage of the darkness, moved
off towards Toulouse, whither he was followed next
270
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
morning by the allies, who reached the banks of the
Garonne on the twenty-seventh of March.
This river was much swollen by recent rains and the
melting of the snow on the Pyrenees. There being only
one bridge at Toulouse, and that being in possession of
the enemy, it became necessary to procure pontoons to
enable the army to pass. Whilst the necessary prepara-
tions were going on for this purpose, Marshal Soult
made the most extraordinary exertions to put himself
in a proper posture of defence. He was not even yet
without hopes of success; and although it is generally
believed that he was now aware of the abdication of
Buonaparte, an event which, he must have known,
would put an immediate end to the war, he was unwilling
to let slip the only opportunity he now had of wiping
off the disgrace of his recent defeats.
The city of Toulouse is defended by an ancient wall,
flanked with towers. On three sides it is surrounded
by the great canal of Languedoc and by the Garonne, and
on the fourth side it is flanked by a range of hills close
to the canal, over which pass all the roads on that side
the town. On the summit of the nearest of these hills
the French had erected a chain of five redoubts, between
which and the defences of the town they formed en-
trenchments and lines of connection. These defences
consisted of extensive field-works, and of some of the
ancient buildings in the suburbs well fortified. At the
foot of the height, and along one-half its length, ran
the small river, Ers, the bridges of which had all been
destroyed; on the top of the height was an elevated
and elongated plain in a state of cultivation, and towards
the end next the town there stood a farmhouse and
offices. Some trenches had been cut around this house,
and three redoubts raised on its front and left. Such
was the field selected by Soult to redeem, if possible,
371
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
by a last effort, his fallen reputation, and to vindicate the
tarnished honour of the French arms.
Pontoons having been procured, part of the allied
army crossed the Garonne on the fourth of April; but
the melting of the snow on the Pyrenees, owing to a few
days of hot weather, swelled the river so much, that it
became necessary to remove the pontoons, and it was
not till the eighth that they could be replaced. On that
day the whole army crossed the river, except General
Hill's division, which remained opposite the town in
front of the great bridge, to keep the enemy in check
on that side. From the insidated nature of the town, no
mode of attack was left to Lord Wellington but to at-
tempt the works in front.
Accordingly, on the tenth of April, he made the follow-
ing dispositions: The Spaniards under Don Manuel
Freyre were to attack the redoubts fronting the town;
General Picton and the light division were to keep the
enemy in check on the great road to Paris, but not to
attack; and Marshal Beresford, with General Clinton
and the sixth division, was to attack the centre of the
entrenchments, whilst General Cole with the fourth
marched against the right. When formed in this order,
the divisions marched in a parallel direction to the
heights on their right, from which they were exposed
to a smart cannonade till they came opposite to their
respective points of attack, when they immediately
changed their front to the right and marched up the hill.
The lines and a redoubt on the right were attacked and
carried by General Pack's brigade of the 42d, 79th, and
91st, supported by General Lambert's brigade of the
36th, 37th, and 61st regiments. These brigades having
gained the summit, the enemy retreated to the redoubt
at the farmhouse.
Observing this attack, Don Manuel Freyre with great
273
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
spirit marched up with a Spanish division, but it was
thrown into great confusion by a severe cannonade,
which being observed by the enemy, they rushed out
of their entrenchments and drove the Spaniards down
the hill ; but the light division advancing to their support,
they again rallied on the plain at the bottom in front of
General Picton's division. With the intention of crossing
the canal, General Picton pushed forward the 45th
regiment and part of his division, but, from the width
and depth of the canal, it was found impracticable to
cross it, and being exposed to a heavy fire of cannon and
musketry, they were compelled to retire.
The repulse of the Spaniards had disarranged the plan
of attack, and a general cessation ensued at all points
till they were rallied and brought forward again, — a
piece of service which was performed by Lord Welling-
ton in person. Meanwhile Marshal Beresford's artillery,
which he had left at Montblanc, was brought up to
cannonade the heights. The attack now recommenced.
The Spaniards made several attempts, but were unable
to succeed. General Pack's brigade advanced to attack
the works at the farmhouse and the two centre redoubts,
and whilst marching forward several hundred yards
over a ploughed field, which, from its breadth and smooth
surface, gave a full range to the enemy's fire, he was
exposed to the whole fire of the lines, redoubts, and
entrenchments. The troops did not, however, return a
shot, and advanced with a steadiness that surprised the
enemy. Alluding to the 42d and 79th, a French officer
exclaimed, " My God ! how firm these sans culottes
are! " On reaching the redoubt, they leaped into the
trenches, and carried them with the bayonet. Two-
thirds of the lines which defended the heights, and three
of the redoubts, were now in the possession of the
allies.
273
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Two of these redoubts on the left were occupied by
the 42d, — that on the right by the 79th, and the 91st
was stationed in rear of the farmhouse. The outward
redoubt on the left was on the edge of the declivity
towards the plain at the bottom of the hill. Traversing
the summit of the heights were three roads sunk deep
into the earth by long use, and having very high banks
on each side. One of these roads ran close to the outward
redoubt on the left, and by some oversight had not
been properly occupied, the men being stationed in the
inner entrenchment. To regain, if possible, these
positions, the enemy, under shelter of this kind of
covered-way, marched up a column of between five and
six thousand men, and with such secrecy, that the head
of the column had nearly passed the unoccupied redoubt
before they were observed. Having gained the proper
point, they immediately rushed furiously forward in
such numbers as almost to overpower the 42d, who
were compelled to retire to the farmhouse; but being
promptly supported by the 91st, they attacked the
enemy and drove them down the hill, with great loss.
The Highlanders also suffered very severely. Deter-
mined to carry the redoubts, a fresh body of the enemy
advanced up the hill and made a most desperate attack,
and persevered with a gallantry which it required the
utmost firmness of the British troops to resist. In this
struggle the 42d occupied the outward redoubt, the
79th that in the centre, and the 91st the farmyard.
After a furious contest, the enemy were forced to
desist from the attempt. The whole of the French then
retired, leaving the heights in full possession of the
allies.
Finding the city, which was now within reach of the
guns of the allies, quite untenable, Soult evacuated it
the same evening, and was allowed to retire without
274
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
molestation. Even had he been able to have withstood
a siege, he must soon have surrendered for want of the
provisions necessary for the support of a population
of sixty thousand inhabitants; and of his own army,
which was now reduced by the casualties of war and
recent desertions to thirty thousand men. " Thus, as a
wary and experienced fox (to use a familiar illustra-
tion), who, after a long and intricate chase, and in spite
of his numberless doublings and manoeuvres, is at length
earthed under some bank, — so the Field Marshal of
France was now cooped up within the small circle of a
city, the capital of the second province of France, into
which an army which had conquered two kingdoms had
been driven for shelter, after a series of retrograde move-
ments and manoeuvres from Seville to Toulouse. In the
course of these operations, the army of Great Britain
and her allies had liberated and given independence to
two kingdoms, and had fought eight pitched battles
against the bravest soldiers, and the ablest and most
experienced generals of France, who had been foiled by
the British general in their boasted tactics, and out-
manoeuvred, out-marched, out-flanked, and overturned.
That army had been also successful in many arduous
sieges and assaults, and had at length established them-
selves in Bordeaux and Toulouse, the two principal
cities of the south of France. Such are a few of
the glorious results of these campaigns. Quatre Bras
and Waterloo completed a series of victories, the
more honourable, as they were gained over an enemy
remarkable for transcendent military talents and
genius."
The loss of the 42d in the battle of Toulouse was four
cflficers, three sergeants, and forty-seven rank and file
killed; and twenty-one officers, fourteen sergeants, one
drummer, and 231 rank and file wounded. The names of
275
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
the officers killed were Captain John Swanson, Lieu-
tenant William Gordon, Ensigns John Latta and Donald
Maccmmmen ; the wounded were Lieutenant-Colonel
Robert Maeara, Captains James Walker, John Hender-
son (who died of his wounds), and Alexander Mackenzie,
Lieutenants Donald Mackenzie, Thomas Munro, Hugh
Angus Eraser, James Robertson, R. A. Mackinnon,
Roger Stewart, Robert Gordon, Charles Maclaren,
Alexander Strange, Donald Farquharson (who died of
his wounds), James Watson, William Urquhart, Ensigns
Thomas Macniven, Colin Walker, James Geddes, John
Malcolm, and Mungo Macpherson.
The allies entered Toulouse on the morning after the
battle, and were received with enthusiasm by the
mhabitants, who, doubtless, considered themselves
extremely fortunate in being relieved from the presence
of the French army, whose retention of the city a few
hours longer would have exposed it to all the horrors of
a bombardment. By a singular coincidence, official
accounts reached Toulouse in the course of the day of
the abdication of Buonaparte, and the restoration of
Louis XVni; but it is said that these despatches had
been kept back on the road.
In consequence of the cessation of hostilities, the
British troops removed without delay to their appointed
destinations, and the three Highland regiments were
embarked for Ireland, where they remained till May,
1815, when they were shipped for Flanders, on the return
of Buonaparte from Elba.
The inteUigence of Buonaparte's advance reached
Brussels on the evening of the fifteenth of June, when
orders were immediately issued by the Duke of Welling-
ton for the assembling of the troops. The 42d and 92d
regiments were among the first to muster. The men had
become great favourites in Brussels, and were on such
276
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
terms of friendly intercourse with the inhabitants in
whose houses they were quartered, that it was no un-
common thing to see a Highland soldier taking care of
the children, and even keeping the shop of his host, —
an instance of confidence perhaps unexampled.
The 42d, with other regiments, hastened to Quatre
Bras early next morning, to take up a position, but
before they were able to unite, the enemy advanced
in great numbers from a variety of points, and attacked
these regiments separately. The 42d was drawn up in
a field of barley nearly breast-high. At some distance
they observed a corps of cavalry, which they supposed,
from their uniform, to be Prussians or Belgians. They
were in fact a body of French lancers, but the mistake
was not discovered in time to receive the squadrons of
the enemy in proper formation. The Highlanders
endeavoured to throw themselves into a kind of square,
which movement being observed by the enemy, they
galloped up and charged the Highlanders with great
impetuosity before they had nearly completed their
formation. The enemy were, however, repulsed, and
forced back at every point. The regiment now formed
itself into a compact square, and in that situation gal-
lantly withstood the repeated attacks of the lancers,
who were unable to make any impression. At the end
of every charge, the enemy, turning their backs, scam-
pered off to a short distance, amid the jeers and laughter
of the Highlanders, who kept firing at them both on their
approach and retreat. Fmding all their attempts
against the Highland phalanx fruitless, the enemy
desisted from the attack.
The principal loss sustained by the Highlanders was
at the first onset; yet it was by no means so severe
as might have been expected. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir
Robert Macara, Lieutenant Robert Gordon and Ensign
277
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
William Gerrard, two sergeants, and forty rank and file
were killed. Including officers, there were 243 wounded.
The names of the officers were Lieutenant-Colonel Dick,
Captains A. Menzies, George Davidson (who died of his
wounds), Donald Macdonald, Donald Mackintosh, and
Robert Boyle, Lieutenants Donald Chisholm, Duncan
Stewart, Donald Mackenzie, Hugh Angus Fraser, John
Malcolm, and A. Dunbar, Ensigns William Fraser and
A. L. Fraser, and Adjutant James Young.
In the battle of Waterloo, in which the regiment was
partially engaged, the 42d had only five men killed and
forty-five wounded. In these last are included the
following officers, viz.: Captain Mungo Macpherson,
Lieutenants John Orr, George Gunn Munro, Hugh
Angus Fraser, and James Brander, and Quartermaster
Donald Mackintosh.
With the battle of Waterloo, the last of a long series of
engagements, the present history of the 42d regiment,
embracing a period of seventy-five years, ends. It has
been observed, as a remarkable circumstance in the
history of the Royal Highlanders, that on every occasion
when they fired a shot at an enemy (except at Ticon-
deroga, where success was almost impossible), they were
successful to such an extent at least, that whatever the
general issue of the battle might be, that part of the
enemy opposed to them never stood their ground,
unless the Highlanders were by insurmountable obstacles
prevented from closing upon them. Fontenoy even does
not form an exception, for although the allies were de-
feated, the Highlanders carried the points assigned
them, and then, as at Ticonderoga, they were the last
to leave the field.
After the surrender of Paris the regiment returned to
England, whence they marched for Scotland in the
spring of 1816. On their arrival in the vicinity of Edin-
278
FROM SALAMANCA TO WATERLOO
burgh on the eighteenth of March, an immense number
of the inhabitants went out several miles to welcome
the heroes to the capital of their native land; and on
entering the suburb of the Canongate the crowd was so
dense, and the pressure of the moving mass so great,
that the pipers and band were obliged to put up their
instruments for want of room to play, and of the soldiers
little was seen except their bonnets and feathers. In
the spacious High Street of the city the crowd was
equally great, and the windows of that majestic and con-
tinued double range of lofty houses, extending from the
Watergate to the Castle hill, were filled with spectators,
chiefly ladies. In marching into the castle, Lieutenant-
Colonel Robert Dick, who had succeeded Lieutenant-
Colonel Macara in the command, was accompanied at
the head of the regiment by Major-General Hope, com-
mander of the forces, and Colonel (afterward major-
general) David Stewart of Garth. In consequence of
the density of the crowd, the march towards the castle
was so much impeded that the soldiers took an hour and
a quarter to walk from the palace of Holyrood to the
castle gate, where they experienced the utmost diffi-
culty to disengage themselves from the crowd. All the
city bells were rung on the occasion, and during their
march through the city the spectators rent the air with
their acclamations. Nor did this manifestation of pub-
lic feeling towards this meritorious body of men stop
here. A public dinner was given to them in the Assembly
Booms, George Street, which was superintended by Sir
Walter Scott and other eminent citizens; and each sol-
dier was presented with a ticket of admission to the
theatre for one night.
Nothing now remains but to give a summary of the
number of men that entered the regiment, from its
formation down to the battle of Waterloo, and the
279
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
number of those who were killed, wounded, died of
Bickness, or were discharged during that period.
The grand total of men embodied in the Black Watch
and 42d or Royal Highland regiment, from its origin
at Tay Bridge in April, 1740, to 24th June, 1815, exclu-
sive of the second battalion of 1780,' and that of 1803,1"
was 8792
Of these there were killed, during that period,
exclusive of thirty-five officers .... 816
Wounded during the same period, exclusive of
133 officers 2413
Died by sickness, wounds, and various casualties,
including those who were discharged and those who
volunteered into other regiments, when the 42d
left America in 1767, up to 25th June, 1793 . . 2275
Died by sickness, wounds, and various casualties,
from25thJune, 1793, to 24th June, 1815 . . .1135
Discharged during same period .... 1485
Unaccounted for during same period, having been
left sick in an enemy's country, prisoners, etc. . . 1 38
8262
Number remaining in the first battalion on 24th
June, 1815 530
When it is considered that out of seventy-five years'
service, forty-five were spent in active warfare, the
trifling loss of the regiment by the enemy will appear
extraordinary; and the smallness of that loss can only
be accounted for by the determined bravery and firnmess
of the men, it being now the opinion of military men
that troops, who act vigorously, suffer less than those
who are slow and cautious in their operations.
280
LOUDON'S HIGHLANDERS
1745
Next in order of date, this regiment falls to be
noticed.
The bravery displayed by Lord John Murray's High-
landers at Fontenoy opened the eyes of government to
the importance of securing the military services of the
clans. It was, therefore, determined to repair, in part,
the loss sustained in that well-fought action, by raising
a second regiment in the Highlands, and authority to
that effect was granted to the Earl of Loudon. By the
influence of the noblemen, chiefs, and gentlemen of the
country, whose sons and connections were to be ap-
pointed officers, a body of 1,250 men was raised, of
whom 750 assembled at Inverness, and the remainder
at Perth. The whole were formed into a battalion of
twelve companies, under the following officers, their
commissions being dated the eighth of June, 1745.
Colonel. — John Campbell, Earl of Loudon, who died in 1782, a
general in the army.
Lieutenant^Colonel. — John Campbell (late Duke of Argyle), who
died a field-marshal in 1806.
Captains
John Murray (late Duke of Athole), son of Lord George Murray.
Alexander Livingston Campbell, son of Ardkinglass.
John Macleod, younger of Macleod.
Henry Munro, son of Colonel Sir Robert Munro of Fowlis.
Lord Charles Gordon, brother of the Duke of Gordon.
John Stewart, son of the Earl of Moray.
Alexander Mackay, son of Lord Reay.
281
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Ewen Macpherson of Clunie.
John Sutherland of Forse.
Colin Campbell of Ballimore, killed at Culloden.
Archibald Macnab, who died a lieutenant-general in 1791, son of
the laird of Macnab.
Lieutenants
Colin Campbell of Kilberrie. Duncan Robertson of Druma-
Alexander Maclean. chuine, afterward of Strowan,
John Campbell of Strachur, who Patrick Campbell, son of Achal-
died in 1806, a general in the lader.
army, and colonel of the 57th Donald Macdonald.
regiment. James Macpherson of Killihuntly.
John Robertson, or Reid of Stra- John Campbell of Ardshginish.
loch, who died in 1806, at the Alexander Campbell, brother to
age of eighty-five, a general in Barcaldine.
the army, and colonel of the Donald Macdonell of Lochgany.
88th or Connaught Rangers. Colin Campbell of Glenure.
Patrick Grant, younger of
Rothiemurchus.
Ensigns
James Steward of Urrard. Donald Macneil.
John Martin of Inch. Alexander Maclagan, son of the
George Munro of Novar. minister of Little Dunkeld.
Malcolm Ross, younger of Pit- Robert Bisset of Glenelbert, after-
calnie. ward commissary-general of
Hugh Mackay. Great Britain.
James Eraser. John Grant, younger of Dai-
David Spalding of Ashintully. rachnie.
Archibald Campbell.
Before the regiment was disciplined, the rebelHon
broke out, and so rapid were the movements of the rebels,
that the communication between the two divisions, at
Perth and Inverness, was cut off. They were therefore
obliged to act separately. The formation of the regiment
at the time was considered a fortunate circumstance,
as many of the men would certainly have joined in the
insurrection; and indeed several of the officers and men
went over to the rebels. Four companies were employed
in the central and southern Highlands, whilst the rest
were occupied in the northern Highlands, under Lord
Loudon. Three companies under the Hon. Captains
283
LOUDON'S HIGHLANDERS
Stewart and Mackay, and Captain Munro of Fowlis,
were, with all their officers, taken prisoners at the battle
of Gladsmuir. Three other companies were also at the
battle of Culloden, where Captain Campbell and six men
were killed, and two soldiers wounded.
On the thirtieth of May, 1747, the regiment embarked
at Burntisland for Flanders, but it did not join the Duke
of Cumberland's army till after the battle of Lafeldt,
on the second of July. Though disappointed of the
opportunity which this battle would have given them
of distinguishing themselves, another soon offered for
the display of their gallantry. Marshal Saxe having
determined to attack the strong fortress of Bergen-op-
Zoom, with an army of twenty-five thousand men under
General Count Lowendahl, all the disposable forces in
Brabant, including Loudon's Highlanders, were sent to
defend the lines, which were strongly fortified. To
relieve the garrison, consisting of six battalions, and to
preserve a communication with the country, eighteen
battalions occupied the lines. The fortress, which was
considered impregnable, was defended by 250 pieces
of cannon. The siege was carried on unremittingly
from the fifteenth of July till the seventeenth of Sep-
tember, during which interval many sorties were made.
In the Hague Gazette, an account is given of one of these,
which took place on the twenty-fifth of July, in which
it is stated '* that the Highlanders, who were posted
in Fort Rouro, which covers the lines of Bergen-op-
Zoom, made a sally, sword in hand, in which they were
so successful as to destroy the enemy's grand battery,
and to kill so many of their men, that Count Lowen-
dahl beat a parle}^, in order to bury the dead. To this
it was answered, that had he attacked the place agree-
ably to the rules of war, his demand would certainly
have been granted; but as he had begun the siege, like
283
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
an incendiary, by setting fire to the city with red-hot
balls, a resolution had been taken neither to ask or grant
any suspension of arms."
Having made breaches in a ravelin and two bastions,
the besiegers made an unexpected assault on the night
of the sixteenth of September, and throwing themselves
into the fosse, mounted the breaches, forced open a
sally port, and, entering the place, ranged themselves
along the ramparts, almost before the garrison had
assembled. Cronstrun, the old governor, and many of his
officers were asleep, and so sudden and unexpected was
the attack, that several of them flew to ranks in their
shirts. Though the possession of the ramparts sealed
the fate of the town, the Scottish troops were not dis-
posed to surrender it without a struggle. The French
were opposed by two regiments of the Scotch brigade,
in the pay of the States-General, who, by their firmness,
checked the progress of the enemy, and enabled the
governor and garrison to recover from their surprise.
The Scotch assembled in the market-place, and attacked
the French with such vigour that they drove them from
street to street, till, fresh reinforcements pouring in,
they were compelled to retreat in their turn, — dis-
puting every inch as they retired, and fighting till two-
thirds of their number fell on the spot, killed or severely
wounded, — when the remains brought off the old gov-
ernor, and joined the troops in the lines.
The troops in the lines, most unaccountably, retreated
immediately, and the enemy thus became masters of
the whole navigation of the Scheldt. " Two battalions,"
says an account of the assault published in the Hague
Gazette, " of the Scotch brigade have, as usual, done
honour to their country, — which is all we have to
comfort us for the loss of such brave men, who, from
1,450, are now reduced to 330 men, — and those have
284
LOUDON'S HIGHLANDERS
valiantly brought their colours with them, which the
grenadiers twice recovered from the midst of the French
at the point of the bayonet. The Swiss have also suffered,
while others took a more speedy way to escape danger."
In a history of this memorable siege the brave conduct
of the Scotch is also thus noticed: "It appears that
more than three hundred of the Scotch brigade fought
their way through the enemy, and that they have had
nineteen officers killed and eighteen wounded. Lieuten-
ants Francis and Allan Maclean of the brigade were
taken prisoners, and carried before General Lowendahl,
who thus addressed them: ' Gentlemen, consider your-
selves on parole. If all had conducted themselves as
you and your brave corps have done, I should not now
be master of Bergen-op-Zoom,' " "
The loss of a fortress hitherto deemed impregnable
was deeply felt by the allies. The eyes of all Europe
had been fixed upon this important siege, and when the
place fell strong suspicions were entertained of treach-
ery in the garrison. Everything had been done by the
people of the United Provinces to enable the soldiers
to hold out. They were allowed additional provisions
of the best quality, and cordials were furnished for the
sick and dying. Large sums of money were collected
to be presented to the soldiers, if they made a brave
defence; and £17,000 were collected in one day in Am-
sterdam, to be applied in the same way, if the soldiers
compelled the enemy to raise the siege. Every soldier
who carried away a gabion from the enemy was paid
a crown, and such was the activity of the Scotch, that
some of them gained ten crowns a day in this kind of
service. Those who ventured to take the burning fuse
out of the bombs of the enemy (and there were several
who did so) received ten or twelve ducats. In this
remarkable siege the French sustained an enormous
285
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
loss, exceeding twenty-two thousand men; that of the
garrison did not exceed four thousand.
After the loss of Bergen-op-Zoom, Loudon's High-
landers jomed the Duke of Cumberland's army, and at
the peace of 1748 returned to Scotland, and was re-
duced at Perth m June of the same year.
MONTGOMERY'S HIGHLANDERS
OR SEVENTY - SEVENTH REGmENT
1757
Alluding to the formation of several Highland
regiments during this and the following years, Lord
Chatham thus expresses himself, in his celebrated speech
on the differences with America in 1766: " I sought for
merit wherever it was to be found; it is my boast that
I was the first minister who looked for it and found it
in the mountains of the North. I called it forth, and
drew into your service a hardy and intrepid race of
men, who, when left by your jealousy, became a prey
to the artifice of your enemies, and had gone nigh to have
overturned the state in the war before the last. These
men, in the last war, were brought to combat on your
side; they served with fideUty, and they fought with
valour, and conquered for you in every part of the
world." The only way by which the Highlanders could
be gained over was by adopting a liberal course of policy,
the leading features of which should embrace the em-
ployment of the chiefs, or their connections, in the
military service of the government. It was reserved to
the sagacity of Chatham to trace the cause of the dis-
affection of the Highlanders to its source, and, by sug-
gesting a remedy, to give to their military virtue a safe
direction.
Acting upon the liberal plan he had devised, Lord
286
MONTGOMERY'S fflGHLANDERS
Chatham (then Mr. Pitt), in the year 1757, recommended
to his Majesty George II to employ the Highlanders in
his service, as the best means of attaching them to his
person. The king approved of the plan of the minister,
and letters of service were immediately issued for raising
several Highland regiments. This call to arms was
responded to by the clans, and " battalions on bat-
talions," to borrow the words of an anonymous author,
" were raised in the remotest part of the Highlands,
among those who a few years before were devoted to
and too long had followed the fate of the race of Stuart.
Frasers, Macdonalds, Camerons, Macleans, Macpher-
sons, and others of disaffected names and clans, were
enrolled; their chiefs or connections obtained com-
missions; the lower class, always ready to follow, with
eagerness endeavoured who should be first listed."
This regiment was called Montgomery's Highlanders,
from the name of its colonel, the Hon. Archibald Mont-
gomerie, son of the Earl of Eglintoun, to whom, when
major, letters of service were issued for recruiting it. Be-
ing popular among the Highlanders, Major Montgomerie
soon raised the requisite body of men, who were formed
into a regiment of thirteen companies of 105 rank and
file each; making in all 1,460 effective men, including
sixty-five sergeants, and thirty pipers and drummers.
The colonel's conmiission was dated the fourth of
January, 1757. The commissions of the other officers
were dated each a day later than his senior in the same
rank.
Lienienanl-Colonel commanding
The Hon. Archibald Montgomerie, afterward Earl of Eglintoun,
died a general in the army, and colonel of the Scots Greys, in 1796.
Majors
James Grant of Ballindalloch, died a general in the army in 1806.
Alexander Campbell.
287
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Captains
John Sinclair.
Hugh Mackenzie.
John Gordon.
Alexander Mackenzie, killed at St. John's, 1761.
WilUam Macdonald, killed at Fort du Quesne, 1759.
George Munro, _ do. do.
Robert Mackenzie.
Allan Maclean, from the Dutch brigade, colonel of the 84th High-
land Emigrants; died a major-general, 1784.
James Robertson.
Allan Cameron.
Captain-Lieutenant, Alexander Mackintosh.
LieiUenants
Charles Farquharson.
Alexander Mackenzie, killed at
Fort du Quesne, 1759.
Nichol Sutherland, died lieuten-
ant-colonel of the 47th regi-
ment, 1780.
Archibald Robertson.
Duncan Bayne.
James Duff.
CoUn Campbell, killed at Fort du
Quesne, 1759.
James Grant.
Alexander Macdonald.
Joseph Grant.
Robert Grant.
Cosmo Martin.
John Macnab.
Hugh Gordon, killed in Marti-
nique, 1762.
Donald Macdonald.
WiUiam Mackenzie, killed at
Fort du Quesne.
Robert Mackenzie, killed at
Fort du Quesne.
Henry Mum-o.
Alexander Macdonald, killed at
Fort du Quesne.
Donald Campbell.
Hugh Montgomerie, late Earl of
Eglintoun.
James Maclean, killed in the West
Indies, 1761.
Alexander Campbell.
John Campbell of Melford.
James Macpherson.
Archibald Macvicar, killed at the
Havannah, 1762.
Ensigns
Alexander Grant.
WiUiam Haggart.
Lewis Houston.
Ronald Mackinnon.
George Munro.
Alexander Mackenzie.
John Maclachlane.
Chaplain — Henry Munro.
Adjutant — Donald Stewart.
Surgeon — Allan Stewart.
William Maclean.
James Grant.
John Macdonald.
Archibald Crawford.
James Bain.
AHan Stewart.
Quartermaster — Alex. Montgom-
erie.
The regiment embarked at Greenock for Halifax,
and on the commencement of hostilities in 1758 was
288
MONTGOMERY'S HIGHLANDERS
attached to the corps under Brigadier-General Forbes,
in the expedition against Fort du Quesne, one of the
three great enterprises undertaken that year against
the French possessions in North America. Although
the point of attack was not so formidable, nor the num-
ber of the enemy so great, as in the cases of Ticonderoga
and Crown Point, yet the great extent of country which
the troops had to traverse, covered with woods, mo-
rasses, and mountains, made the expedition as difficult
as the other two. The army of General Forbes was
6,238 men strong.
The brigadier reached Raystown, about ninety miles
from the fort, in September. Having sent Colonel
Bouquet forward to Loyal Henning, forty miles nearer,
with two thousand men, this ofiBcer rashly despatched
Major Grant of Montgomerj^'s with four hundred High-
landers, and five hundred Provincials, to reconnoitre.
When near the garrison Major Grant imprudently ad-
vanced with pipes playing and drums beating, as if
entering a friendly town. The enemy instantly marched
out, and a warm contest took place. Major Grant
ordered his men to throw off their coats and advance
sword in hand. The enemy fled on the first charge, and
spread themselves among the woods; but being after-
ward joined by a body of Indians, they rallied and
surrounded the detachment on aU sides. Protected by
a thick foliage, they opened a destructive fire upon the
British. Major Grant then endeavoured to force his
way into the wood, but was taken in the attempt,
on seeing which his troops dispersed. Only 150 of the
Highlanders returned to Loyal Henning.
In this unfortunate affair 231 soldiers of the regiment
were killed and woimded. The names of the officers
killed on this occasion have been already mentioned;
the following were wounded: viz.. Captain Hugh Mac-
289
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
kenzie, Lieutenants Alexander Maedonald, junior, Archi-
bald Robertson, Henry Munro, and Ensigns John Mae-
donald and Alexander Grant. The enemy did not
venture to oppose the main body, but retired from Fort
du Quesne on its approach, leaving their ammunition,
stores, and provisions imtouched. General Forbes took
possession of the fort on the twenty-fourth of November,
who, in honour of Mr. Pitt, gave it the name of Pitts-
burgh.
The regiment passed the winter of 1758 in Pittsburgh,
and in May following they joined part of the army
under General Amherst in his proceedings at Ticonder-
oga. Crown Point, and the Lakes, — a detail of which has
been given in the history of the service of the 42d regi-
ment.
In consequence of the renewed cruelties committed by
the Cherokees, in the spring of 1760, the commander-in-
chief detached Colonel Montgomery with seven hundred
Highlanders of his own regiment, four hundred of the
Royals, and a body of Provincials, to chastise these
savages. The colonel arrived in the neighbourhood of
the Indian town. Little Keowee, in the middle of June,
having, on his route, detached the light companies of
the Royals and Highlanders to destroy the place.
This service was performed with the loss of a few men
killed, and two officers of the Royals wounded. Finding,
on reaching Estatoe, that the enemy had fled, Colonel
Montgomery retired to Fort Prince George. The Chero-
kees still proving refractory, he paid a second visit
to the middle settlement, where he met with some
resistance. He had two officers and twenty men killed,
and twenty-six officers and sixty-eight men wounded.
Of these, the Highlanders had one sergeant and six pri-
vates killed, and Captain Sutherland, Lieutenants Mac-
master and Mackinnon, and Assistant-Surgeon Monro,
290
MONTGOMERY'S HIGHLANDERS
and one sergeant, one piper, and twenty-four rank and
file wounded. The detachment took Fort Loudon, —
a small fort on the confines of Virginia, — which was
defended by two hundred men.
The next service in which Montgomery's Highlanders
were employed was in an expedition against Dominique,
consisting of a small land force, which included six com-
panies of Montgomery's Highlanders, and four ships of
war, under Colonel Lord RoUo and Commodore Sir
James Douglas. The transports from New York were
scattered in a gale of wind, when a small transport, with
a company of the Highlanders on board, being attacked
by a French privateer, was beaten off by the Highlanders,
with the loss of Lieutenant Maclean and six men killed,
and Captain Robertson and eleven men wounded. The
expedition arrived off Dominique on the sixth of June,
1761. The troops immediately landed, and marched
with little opposition to the town of Roseau. Lord Rollo
without delay attacked the entrenchments, and, though
the enemy kept up a galling JBre, they were driven, in
succession, from all their works, by the grenadiers,
light infantry, and Highlanders. This service was exe-
cuted with such vigour and rapidity that few of the
British suffered. The governor and his staff being made
prisoners surrendered the island without further oppo-
sition.
In the following year Montgomery's Highlanders
joined the expeditions against Martinique and the
Havannah, of which some account will be found in
the narrative of the service of the 42d regiment. In
the enterprise against Martinique, Lieutenant Hugh
Gordon and four rank and file were killed, and Captain
Alexander Mackenzie, one sergeant, and twenty-six
rank and file were wounded. Montgomery's Highlanders
suffered still less in the conquest of the Havannah,
291
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Lieutenant Macvicar and two privates only having
been killed, and six privates wounded. Lieutenants
Grant and Macnab and six privates died of the fever.
After this last enterprise Montgomery's Highlanders
returned to New York, where they landed in the end of
October.
Before the return of the six companies to New York,
the two companies that had been sent against the In-
dians in the autumn of 1761 had embarked with a small
force, under Colonel Amherst, destined to retake St.
John's, Newfoundland, which was occupied by a French
force. The British force, which consisted of the flank
companies of the Royals, a detachment of the 45th, two
companies of Fraser's and Montgomery's Highlanders,
and a small party of Provincials, landed on the
twelfth of September seven miles to the northward
of St. John's. A mortar battery having been completed
on the seventeenth and ready to open on the garrison,
the French commander surrendered by capitulation to an
inferior force. Of Montgomery's Highlanders, Captain
Mackenzie and four privates were killed, and two privates
wounded.
After this service the two companies joined the regi-
ment at New York, where they passed the ensuing winter.
In the summer of 1763 a detachment accompanied the
expedition sent to the relief of Fort Pitt under Colonel
Bouquet, the details of which have been already given
in the account of the 42d regiment. In this enterprise
one drummer and five privates of Montgomery's High-
landers were killed, and Lieutenant Donald Campbell,
and Volunteer John Peebles, three sergeants, and seven
privates were wounded.
After the termination of hostilities an offer was made
to the oflScers and men either to settle in America or
return to their own country. Those who remained
2d2,
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
obtained a grant of land in proportion to their rank.
On the breaking out of the American war a number of
these, as well as officers and men of the 78th regiment,
joined the royal standard in 1775, and formed a corps
along with the Highland Emigrants in the 84th regiment.
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
OR SEVENTY - EIGHTH AND SEVENTY - FIRST REGIMENTS
I. 78th Regiment, raised in 1757
Following up the liberal policy which Lord Chatham
(then Mr. Pitt) had resolved to pursue in relation to
the Highlanders, he prevailed upon his Majesty George
II to appoint the Hon. Simon Fraser, son of the unfor-
tunate Lord Lovat, and who had himself, when a youth,
been forced into the rebellion by his father, lieutenant-
colonel commandant of a regiment to be raised among
his own kinsmen and clan. Though not possessed of
an inch of land, yet, such was the influence of clanship,
that young Lovat in a few weeks raised a corps of eight
hundred men, to which were added upwards of six hun-
dred more by the gentlemen of the country and those who
had obtained commissions. The battalion was, in point
of the number of companies and men, precisely the same
as Montgomery's Highlanders.
The following is a list of the officers whose commissions
were dated the fifth of January, 1757: —
Lieutenant-Colonel commandant
The Hon. Simon Fraser, died a lieutenant-general in 1782.
Majors
James Clephane.
John Campbell of Dunoon, afterward lieutenant-colonel, command-
ant of the Campbell Hignlanders in Germany.
293
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Captains
John Macpherson, brother of Clunie.
John Campbell of Ballimore.
Simon Fraser of Inverallochy, killed on the heights of Abraham, 1759.
Donald Macdonald, brother to Clanranald, killed at Quebec in 1760.
John Macdonell of Lochgarry, afterward colonel of the 76th, or
Macdonald's regiment, died in 1789 colonel.
Alexander Cameron of Dungallon.
Thomas Ross of Culrossie, killed on the heights of Abraham, 1759.
Thomas Fraser of Strui.
Alexander Fraser of Culduthel.
Sir Henry Seton of Abercorn and Culbeg.
James Fraser of Belladrum.
Captain-Lievienard — Simon Fraser, died lieutenant-general in 1812.
Lieutenants
Alexander Macleod.
Hugh Cameron.
Ronald Macdonell, son of Keppoch.
Charles Macdonell from Glengary, killed at St. John's.
Roderick Macneill of Barra, killed on the heights of Abraham, 1759.
William Macdonell.
Archibald Campbell, son of Glenlyon.
John Fraser of Balnain.
Hector Macdonald, brother to Boisdale, killed 1759.
AUan Stewart, son of Innemaheil.
John Fraser.
Alexander Macdonald, son of Barisdale, killed on the heights of
Abraham, 1759.
Alexander Fraser, killed at Louisbourg.
Alexander Campbell of Aross.
John Douglass.
John Nairn.
Arthur Rose, of the family of Kilravock.
Alexander Fraser.
John Macdonell of Leeks, died in Berwick, 1818.
Cosmo Gordon, killed at Quebec, 1760.
David Baillie, killed at Louisbourg.
Charles Stewart, son of Colonel John Roy Stewart.
Ewen Cameron, of the family of Glennevis.
Allan Cameron,
John Cuthbert, killed at Louisbourg.
Simon Fraser.
Archibald MacalHster, of the family of Loup.
James Murray, killed at Louisbourg.
Alexander Fraser.
Donald Cameron, son of Fassafern, died lieutenant on half-pay, 1817.
Ensigns
John Chisholm. James Mackenzie.
Simon Fraser. Donald Macneil.
294
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
Malcolm Fraser, afterward cap- Henry Munro.
tain 84th regiment. Alexander Gregorson, Ardtor-
Hugh Fraser, afterward captain nish.
84th, or Highland Emigranta. James Henderson.
Robert Menzies. John Campbell.
John Fraser of Errogie.
Chaplain — Robert Macpherson. Quartenruister — John Fraser.
Adjviant — Hugh Fraser. Surgeon — John Maclean.
The uniform of the regiment " was the full Highland
dress with musket and broadsword, to which many of
the soldiers added the dirk at their own expense, and a
purse of badger's or otter's skin. The bonnet was raised
or cocked on one side, with a slight bend inchning
down to the right ear, over which were suspended two
or more black feathers. Eagle's or hawk's feathers were
usually worn by the gentlemen, in the Highlands,
while the bonnets of the common people were ornamented
vAih. a bunch of the distinguishing mark of the clan or
district. The ostrich feather in the bonnets of the
soldiers was a modem addition of that period, as the
present load of plumage on the bonnet is a still more
recent introduction, forming, however, in hot cHmates,
an excellent defence against a vertical sun." ^
The regiment embarked in company with Mont-
gomery's Highlanders at Greenock, and landed at Hali-
fax in June, 1757. They were intended to be employed
in an expedition against Louisbourg, which, however,
after the necessary preparations, was abandoned.
About this time it was proposed to change the uniform
of the regiment, as the Highland garb was judged unfit
for the severe winters and the hot sunmiers of North
America; but the oflScers and soldiers having set them-
selves in opposition to the plan, and being warmly
supported by Colonel Fraser, who represented to the
commander-in-chief the bad consequences that might
follow if it were persisted in, the plan was relinquished.
295
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
** Thanks to our gracious chief," said a veteran of the
regiment, " we were allowed to wear the garb of our
fathers, and, in the course of six winters, showed the
doctors that they did not understand our constitution;
for, in the coldest winters, our men were more healthy
than those regiments who wore breeches and warm
clothing."
Amongst other enterprises projected for the cam-
paign of 1758, the design of attacking Louisbourg was
renewed. Accordingly, on the twenty-eighth of May,
a formidable armament sailed from Halifax, under the
command of Admiral Boscawen and Major-General Am-
herst, and Brigadier-Generals Wolfe, Laurence, Monck-
ton, and Whitmore. This armament, consisting of
twenty-five sail of the line, eighteen frigates, and a num-
ber of bombs and fire-ships, with thirteen thousand
troops, including the 78th Highlanders, anchored, on
the second of June, in Gabarus Bay, seven miles from
Louisbourg. In consequence of a heavy surf no boat
could approach the shore, and it was not till the eighth
of June that a landing could be effected. The garrison
of Louisbourg consisted of twenty-five hundred regulars,
six hundred militia, and four hundred Canadians and
Indians. For more than seven miles along the beach
a chain of posts had been established by the enemy,
with entrenchments and batteries; and, to protect
the harbour, there were six ships of the line and five
frigates placed at its mouth, of which frigates three were
sunk.
The disposition being made for landing, a detachment
of several sloops, under convoy, passed the mouth of
the harbour towards Lorembec, in order to draw the
enemy's attention that way, whilst the landing should
really be on the other side of the town. On the eighth
of June, the troops being assembled in the boats before
296
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
daybreak in three divisions, several sloops and frigates,
that were stationed along shore in the bay of Gabarus,
began to scour the beach with their shot. The division
on the left, which was destined for the real attack,
consisted of the grenadiers and light infantry of the
army, and Fraser's Highlanders, and was commanded by
Brigadier-General Wolfe. After the fire from the sloops
and frigates had continued about a quarter of an hour,
the boats containing this division were rowed towards
the shore; and, at the same time, the other two divisions
on the right and in the centre, commanded by Briga-
dier-Generals Whitmore and Laurence, made a show of
landing, in order to divide and distract the enemy.
The landing-place was occupied by two thousand men
entrenched behind a battery of eight pieces of cannon
and ten swivels. The enemy reserved their fire till the
boats were near the beach, when they opened a discharge
of cannon and musketry which did considerable execu-
tion. A considerable surf aided the enemy's fire, and
numbers of the men were drowned by the upsetting of
the boats. Captain Baillie and Lieutenant Cuthbert
of the Highlanders, Lieutenant Nicholson of Amherst's,
and thirty-eight men were killed; but, notwithstanding
these disadvantages. General Wolfe pursued his point
with admirable courage and deliberation: " and nothing
could stop our troops, when headed by such a general.
Some of the light infantry and Highlanders got first
ashore, and drove all before them. The rest followed;
and, being encouraged by the example of their heroic
commander, soon pursued the enemy to the distance
of two miles, where they were checked by a cannonading
from the town."
The town of Louisbourg was immediately invested;
but the difficulty of landing stores and implements
in boisterous weather, and the nature of the ground,
297 .
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
which, being marshy, was unfit for the conveyance
of heavy cannon, retarded the operations of the siege.
The governor of Louisbourg, having destroyed the grand
battery which was detached from the body of the place,
recalled his outposts, and prepared for a vigorous de-
fence. He opened a fire against the besiegers and their
works from the town, the island battery, and the ships
in the harbour, but without much effect. Meanwhile
General Wolfe, with a strong detachment, marched
round the northeast part of the harbour to secure a point
caUed the Lighthouse Battery, from which the guns could
play on the ships and on the batteries on the opposite
side of the harbour. This service was performed on the
twelfth by General Wolfe with great ability, who,
" with his Highlanders and flankers," took possession of
this and all the other posts in that quarter with very
trifling loss. On the twenty-fifth the inland battery
immediately opposite was silenced from this post. The
enemy, however, kept up an incessant fire from their
other batteries and the shipping in the harbour. On
the ninth of July they made a sortie on Brigadier-Gen-
eral Laurence's brigade, but were quickly repulsed. In
this affair Captain, the Earl of Dundonald, was killed.
On the sixteenth General Wolfe pushed forward some
grenadiers and Highlanders, and took possession of the
hills in front of the Light Horse battery, where a lodg-
ment was made under a fire from the town and the ships.
On the twenty-first one of the enemy's line-of-battle
ships was set on fire by a bombshell and blew up, and
the fire being communicated to two others, they were
burned to the water's edge. The fate of the town was
now nearly decided, the enemy's fire being almost
totally silenced and their fortifications shattered to
the ground. To reduce the place nothing now remained
but to get possession of the harbour, by taking or burning
298
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
the two ships of the line which remained. For this
purpose, in the night between the twenty-fifth and
twenty-sixth, the admiral sent a detachment of six
hundred men in the boats of the squadron, in two
divisions, into the harbour, under the command of Cap-
tains Laforey and Balfour. This enterprise was gal-
lantly executed, in the face of a terrible fire of cannon
and musketry, the seamen boarding the enemy sword
in hand. One of the ships was set on fire and destroyed ,
and the other towed off. The town surrendered on the
twenty-sixth, and was taken possession of by Colonel
Lord Rollo the following day. The garrison and seamen,
amounting together to 5,637 men, were made prisoners
of war. Besides Captain Baillie and Lieutenant Cuth-
bert, the Highlanders lost Lieutenants Fraser and
Murray, killed; Captain Donald M'Donald, Lieutenants
Alexander Campbell (Barcaldine) and John M'Donald,
wounded; and sixty-seven rank and file killed and
wounded.
In consequence of the treaty of peace between Great
Britain and the several nations of Indians between the
Appalachian Mountains and the Lakes, in October, 1759,
the British government was enabled to carry into effect
those operations which had been projected against the
French settlements in Canada. The plan and partial
progress of these combined operations have been al-
ready detailed in the service of the 42d regiment. The
enterprise against Quebec, the most important by far
of the three expeditions planned in 1759, falls now to
be noticed from the share which Eraser's Highlanders
had in it.
According to the plan fixed upon for the conquest
of Canada, Major-General Wolfe, who had given promise
of great military talents at Louisbourg, was to proceed
up the river St. Lawrence and attack Quebec, whilst
^99
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
General Amherst, after reducing Ticonderoga and
Crown Point, was to descend the St. Lawrence and co-
operate with General Wolfe in the conquest of Quebec.
Though the enterprise against this place was the main
undertaking, the force under General Wolfe did not
exceed seven thousand effective men, whilst that under
General Amherst amounted to more than twice that
number; but the commander-in-chief seems to have
calculated upon a junction with General Wolfe in suffi-
cient time for the siege of Quebec.
The forces under General Wolfe comprehended the
following regiments, — 15th, 28th, 35th, 43d, 47th,
48th, 58th, Fraser's Highlanders, the Rangers, and the
grenadiers of Louisbourg. The fleet, under the command
of Admirals Saunders and Holmes, with the transports,
proceeded up the St. Lawrence, and reached the Island
of Orleans, a little below Quebec, in the end of June,
where the troops were disembarked without opposition.
The Marquis de Montcalm, who commanded the French
troops, which were greatly superior in number to the
invaders, resolved rather to depend upon the natural
strength of his position than his numbers, and took his
measures accordingly. The city of Quebec was tolerably
well fortified, defended by a numerous garrison, and abun-
dantly supplied with provisions and ammunition. This
able, and hitherto fortunate, leader had reinforced the
troops of the colony with five regular battalions, formed
of the best of the inhabitants, and he had, besides,
completely disciplined all the Canadians of the neighbour-
hood capable of bearing arms, and several tribes of
Indians. He had posted his army on a piece of ground
along the shore of Beaufort, from the river St. Charles
to the falls of Montmorency, — a position rendered
strong by precipices, woods, and rivers, and defended by
entrenchments where the ground appeared the weakest.
300
ERASER'S HIGHLANDERS
To undertake the siege of Quebec under the disadvan-
tages which presented themselves, seemed a rash enter-
prise; but, although General Wolfe was completely
aware of these difficulties, a thirst for glory, and the
workings of a vigorous mind, which set every obstacle
at defiance, impelled him to make the hazardous at-
tempt. His maxim was, that " a brave and victorious
army finds no difficulties; " and he was anxious to verify
the truth of the adage in the present instance.
Having ascertained that, to reduce the place, it was
necessary to erect batteries on the north of the St. Law-
rence, the British general endeavoured, by a series of
manoeuvres, to draw Montcalm from his position;
but the French commander was too prudent to risk a
battle. With the view of attacking the enemy's entrench-
ments, General Wolfe sent a small armament up the
river above the city, and, having personally surveyed the
banks on the side of the enemy from one of the ships,
he resolved to cross the river Montmorency and make
the attack. He therefore ordered six companies of
grenadiers and part of the Royal Americans to cross the
river and land near the mouth of the Montmorency,
and at the same time directed the two brigades com-
manded by Generals Murray and TowTishend to pass a
ford higher up. Close to the water's edge there was a
detached redoubt, which the grenadiers were ordered
to attack, in the expectation that the enemy would
descend from the hill in its defence, and thus bring
on a general engagement. At all events the possession
of this post was of importance, as from it the British
commander could obtain a better view of the enemy's
entrenchments than he had yet been able to accomplish.
The grenadiers and Royal Americans were the first
who landed. They had received orders to form in four
distinct bodies, but not to begin the attack till the first
301
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
brigade should have passed the ford, and be near enough
to support them. No attention, however, was paid to
these instructions. Before even the first brigade had
crossed, the grenadiers, before they were regularly formed,
rushed forward with impetuosity and considerable con-
fusion to attack the enemy's entrenchments. They
were received with a well-directed fire, which effectually
checked them and threw them into disorder. They en-
deavoured to form under the redoubt, but being unable
to rally, they retreated and formed behind the first
brigade, which had by this time landed, and was drawn
up on the beach in good order. The plan of attack being
thus totally disconcerted. General Wolfe repassed the
river and returned to the Isle of Orleans. In this un-
fortunate attempt the British lost 543 of all ranks killed,
wounded, and missing. Of the Highlanders, up to the
second of September, the loss was eighteen rank and file
killed. Colonel Fraser, Captains Macpherson and Simon
Fraser, and Lieutenants Cameron of Gleneves, Ewen
Macdonald, and H. Macdonald, and eighty-five rank
and file wounded. In the general orders which were is-
sued the following morning. General Wolfe complained
bitterly of the conduct of the grenadiers: "The check
which the grenadiers met with yesterday will, it is
hoped, be a lesson to them for the time to come. Such
impetuous, irregular, and unsoldier-like proceedings,
destroy all order, make it impossible for the commanders
to form any disposition for attack, and put it out of the
general's power to execute his plan. The grenadiers
could not suppose that they alone could beat the French
army; and therefore it was necessary that the corps
under Brigadiers Monckton and Townshend should
have time to join, that the attack might be general. The
very first fire of the enemy was sufficient to repulse men
who had lost all sense of order and military discipline.
303
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
Amherst's (15th regiment) and the Highlanders alone,
by the soldier-like and cool manner they were formed
in, would undoubtedly have beaten back the whole
Canadian army if they had ventured to attack them."
General Wolfe now changed his plan of operations.
Leaving his position at Montmorency, he re embarked
his troops and artillery, and landed at Point Levi,
whence he passed up the river in transports; but finding
no opportunity of annoying the enemy above the
town, he resolved to convey his troops farther down,
in boats, and land them by night within a league of
Cape Diamond, with the view of ascending the heights
of Abraham, — which rise abruptly, with steep ascent,
from the banks of the river, — and thus gain possession
of the ground on the back of the city, where the fortifica-
tions were less strong. A plan more replete with dangers
and difficulties could scarcely have been devised; but,
from the advanced period of the season, it was necessary
either to abandon the enterprise altogether, or to make
an attempt upon the city, whatever might be the result.
The troops, notwithstanding the recent disaster, were
in high spirits, and ready to follow their general wherever
he might lead them. The commander, on the other
hand, though afflicted with a severe dysentery and fever,
which had debilitated his frame, resolved to avail himself
of the readiness of his men, and to conduct the hazard-
ous enterprise in which they were about to engage in
person. In order to deceive the enemy. Admiral Holmes
was directed to move farther up the river on the twelfth
of September, but to sail down in the night time, so as
to protect the landing of the forces. These orders w^ere
punctually obeyed. About an hour after midnight of
the same day four regiments, the light infantry, with the
Highlanders and grenadiers, were embarked in flat-
bottomed boats, under the command of Brigadiers
303
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Monckton and Murray. They were accompanied by
General Wolfe, who was among the first that landed.
The boats fell down with the tide, keeping close to the
north shore in the best order; but, owing to the rapidity
of the current, and the darkness of the night, most of
the boats landed a little below the intended place of
disembarkation. When the troops were landed the
boats were sent back for the other division of the troops,
which was under the command of Brigadier-General
Townshend. The ascent to the heights was by a narrow
path, that slanted up the precipice from the landing-
place. This path the enemy had broken up, and rendered
almost impassable, by cross ditches, and they had made
an entrenchment at the top of the hill. Notwithstanding
these difficulties. Colonel Howe, who was the first to
land, ascended the woody precipices, with the light
infantry and the Highlanders, and dislodged a captain's
guard which defended the narrow path. They then
mounted without further molestation, and General
Wolfe, who was among the first to gain the summit
of the hill, formed the troops on the heights as they
arrived. In the ascent the precipice was found to be so
steep and dangerous, that the troops were obliged to
climb up the rugged projections of the rocks, and, by
aid of the branches of the trees and shrubs growing
on both sides of the path, to pull themselves up. Though
much time was thus necessarily occupied in the ascent,
yet such was the perseverance of the troops, that they
all gained the sunmait in time to enable the general
to form in order of battle before daybreak. M. de
Montcalm had now no way left of saving Quebec but by
risking a battle, and he therefore determined to leave his
stronghold and meet the British in the open field. Leav-
ing his camp at Montmorency, he crossed the river
St. Charles, and, forming his line with great skill, ad-
304
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
vanced forward to attack his opponents. His right
was composed of half the Provincial troops, two bat-
talions of regulars, and a body of Canadians and In-
dians; his centre, of a column of two battalions of
Europeans, with two field-pieces; and his left of one
battalion of regulars, and the remainder of the colonial
troops. In his front, among brushwood and corn-
fields, fifteen hundred of his best marksmen were posted
to gall the British as they approached. The British
were drawn up in two lines, — the first, consisting of
the grenadiers, 15th, 28th, 35th Highlanders, and 58th;
the 47th regiment formed the second line, or reserve.
The left of the front line was covered by the light in-
fantry. It appearing to be the intention of the French
commander to out-flank the left of the British, Brigadier-
General Townshend, with Amherst's regiment (15th),
which he formed en potence, — thus presenting a double
front to the enemy. The Canadians and the Indians,
who were posted among the brushwood, kept up an
irregular galling fire, which proved fatal to many officers,
who, from their dress, were singled out by these marks-
men. The fire of this body was, in some measure,
checked by the advanced posts of the British, who re-
turned the fire; and a small gun, which was dragged
up by the seamen from the landing-place, was brought
forward, and did considerable execution. The French
now advanced to the charge with great spirit, firing as
they advanced; but, in consequence of orders they re-
ceived, the British troops reserved their fire till the main
body of the enemy had approached within forty yards of
their fine. When the enemy had come within that dis-
tance, the whole British line poured in a general and de-
structive discharge of musketry. Another discharge fol-
lowed, which had such an effect upon the enemy, that they
stopped short, and after making an ineffectual attempt
305
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
upon the left of the British line, they began to give way.
At this time General Wolfe, who had received two wounds
which he had concealed, was mortally wounded whilst
advancing at the head of the grenadiers with fixed
bayonets. At this instant every separate corps of the
British army exerted itself, as if the contest were for
its own peculiar honour. Whilst the right pressed on
with their bayonets, Brigadier-General Murray briskly
advanced with the troops under his command, and soon
broke the centre of the enemy, " when the Highlanders,
taking to their broadswords, fell in among them with
irresistible impetuosity, and drove them back with
great slaughter." The action on the left of the British
was not so warm. A smart contest, however, took place
between part of the enemy's right and some light in-
fantry, who had thrown themselves into houses, which
they defended with great courage. During this attack,
Colonel Howe, who had taken post with two companies
behind a copse, frequently sallied out on the flanks of the
enemy, whilst General Townshend advanced in platoons
against their front. Observing the left and centre of
the French giving way, this oflBcer, on whom the com-
mand had just devolved in consequence of General
Monckton, the second in command, having been dan-
gerously wounded, hastened to the centre, and finding
that the troops had got into disorder in the pursuit,
formed them again in line. At this moment, Monsieur
de Bougainville, who had marched from Cape Rouge
as soon as he heard that the British troops had gained
the heights, appeared in their rear at the head of two
thousand fresh men. General Townshend immediately
ordered two regiments, with two pieces of artillery,
to advance against this body; but Bougainville retired
on their approach. The wreck of the French army
retreated to Quebec and Point Levi.
306
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
The loss sustained by the enemy was considerable.
About one thousand of them were made prisoners,
including a number of officers, and about five hundred
died on the field of battle. The death of their brave
commander, Montcalm, who was mortally woimded
almost at the same instant with General Wolfe, was a
serious calamity to the French arms. When informed
that his wound was mortal, — " So much the better,"
said he, " I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec."
Before his death he wrote a letter to General Townshend,
recommending the prisoners to the generous humanity
of the British. The death of the two commanders-in-
chief, and the disasters which befell Generals Monckton
and Severergues, the two seconds in command, who were
respectively carried wounded from the field, are remark-
able circumstances in the events of this day. This
important victory was not gained without considerable
loss on the part of the British, who, besides the com-
mander-in-chief, had eight officers and forty-eight men
killed; and forty-three officers and 435 men wounded.
Of these, the Highlanders had Captain Thomas Ross
of Culrossie, Lieutenant Roderick Macneil of Barra,
Alexander Macdonell, son of Barrisdale, one sergeant
and fourteen rank and file killed; and Captains John
Macdonell of Lochgarry, Simon Eraser of Inverallochy;
Lieutenants Macdonell, son of Keppoch, Archibald
Campbell, Alexander Campbell, son of Barcaldine,
John Douglas, Alexander Eraser, senior; and Ensigns
James Mackenzie, Malcolm Eraser, and Alexander
Gregorson; seven sergeants, and 131 rank and file
wounded. The death of General Wolfe was a national
loss. " He inherited from nature an animating fervour
of sentiment, an intuitive perception, and extensive
capacity, and a passion for glory, which stimulated him
to acquire every species of military knowledge that
307
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
study could comprehend, that actual service could ilhis-
trate and confirm. Brave above all estimation of dan-
ger, he was also generous, gentle, complacent, and hu-
mane, — the pattern of the officer, the darling of the sol-
dier. There was a sublimity in his genius which soared
above the pitch of ordinary minds; and had his faculties
been exercised to their full extent by opportunity and
action, had his judgment been fully matured by age
and experience, he would, without doubt, have rivalled
in reputation the most celebrated captains of antiquity."
When the fatal ball pierced the breast of the young hero,
he found himself unable to stand, and leaned upon the
shoulder of a lieutenant who sat down on the ground.
This officer, observing the French give way, exclaimed,
— " They run! they run! " " Who run? " inquired the
gallant Wolfe with great earnestness. When told that
it was the French who were flying, "What," said he,
"do the cowards run already? Then I die happy!"
and instantly expired.
On the eighteenth of September the town surrendered,
and a great part of the circumjacent country being re-
duced, General Townshend embarked for England,
leaving a garrison of five thousand effective men in
Quebec, under the Hon. General James Murray. Ap-
prehensive of a visit from a considerable French army
stationed in Montreal and the neighbouring country.
General Murray repaired the fortifications, and put the
town in a proper posture of defence; but his troops suf-
fered so much from the rigours of winter, and the want
of vegetables and fresh provisions, that, before the end
of April, the garrison was reduced, by death and disease,
to about three thousand effective men. Such was the
situation of affairs when the general received certain
intelligence that General de Levi, who succeeded the
Marquis de Montcalm, had reached Point au Tremble
308
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
with a force of ten thousand French and Canadians,
and five hundred Indians. It was the intention of the
French commander to cut off the posts which the
British had established; but General Murray defeated
this scheme, by ordering the bridges over the river
Rouge to be broken down, and the landing-places at
Sylleri and Foulon to be secured. Next day, the twenty-
seventh of April, he marched in person with a strong
detachment and two field-pieces, and took possession
of an advantageous position, which he retained till the
afternoon, when the outposts were withdrawn, after
which he returned to Quebec with very little loss,
although the enemy pressed closely on his rear.
General Murray was now reduced to the necessity of
withstanding a siege, or risking a battle. He chose
the latter alternative, a resolution which was deemed
by some military men as savouring more of youthful
impatience and overstrained courage, than of judg-
ment; but the dangers with which he was beset, in the
midst of a hostile population, and the difficulties incident
to a protracted siege, seem to afford some justification
for that step. In pursuance of his resolution, the general
marched out on the twenty-eighth of April, at half-past
six o'clock in the morning, and formed his little army
on the heights of Abraham. The right wing, com-
manded by Colonel Burton, consisted of the 15th, 48th,
68th, and second battalion of the 60th, or Royal Ameri-
cans; the left under Colonel Simon Eraser, was formed
of the 43d, 47th Welsh fusileers, and the Highlanders.
The 35th, and the third battalion of the 60th, consti-
tuted the reserve. The right was covered by Major
Balling's corps of light infantry; and the left by Captain
Huzzen's company of rangers, and one hundred volun-
teers, under the command of Captain Macdonald of
Eraser's regiment. Observing the enemy in full march
309
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
in one column, General Murray advanced quickly for-
ward to meet them before they should form their line.
His light infantry, coming in contact with Levi's ad-
vance, drove them back on their main body; but pur-
suing too far, they were furiously attacked and repulsed
in their turn. They fell back in such disorder on the line,
as to impede their fire, and in passing round by the
right fiank to the rear, they suffered much from the fire
of a party who were endeavouring to turn that flank.
The enemy having made two desperate attempts to pene-
trate the right wing, the 35th regiment was called up
from the reserve, to its support. Meanwhile the British
left was struggling with the enemy, who succeeded so
far, from their superior numbers, in their attempt
to turn that flank, that they obtained possession of two
redoubts, but were driven out from both by the High-
landers, sword in hand. By pushing forward fresh num-
bers, however, the enemy at last succeeded in forcing
the left wing to retire, the right giving way about the
same time. The French did not attempt to pursue,
but allowed the British to retire quietly within the walls
of the city, and to carry away their wounded. The
British had six officers, and 250 rank and file killed;
and eighty-two officers, and 679 non-commissioned
officers and privates wounded. Among the killed, the
Highlanders had Captain Donald Macdonald, Lieuten-
ant Cosmo Gordon, and fifty-five non-commissioned
officers, pipers, and privates; their wounded were
Colonel Fraser, Captains John Campbell of Dunoon,
Alexander Fraser, Alexander Macleod, Charles Mac-
■donell, Lieutenants Archibald Campbell, son of Glen-
lyon, Charles Stewart, Hector Macdonald, John Mac-
bean, Alexander Fraser, senior, Alexander Campbell,
John Nairn, Arthur Rose, Alexander Fraser, junior,
Simon Fraser, senior, Archibald M'Alister, Alexander
310.
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
Fraser, John Chisholm, Simon Fraser, junior, Malcolm
Fraser, and Donald M'Neil; Ensigns Henry Monro,
Robert Menzies, Duncan Cameron (Fassafern), William
Robertson, Alexander Gregorson, and Malcolm Fraser,
and 129 non-commissioned officers and privates. The
enemy lost twice the number of men.
Shortly after the British had retired, General Levi
moved forward on Quebec, and, having taken up a
position close to it, opened a fire at five o'clock. He
then proceeded to besiege the city in form, and General
Murray made the necessary dispositions to defend
the place. The siege was continued till the tenth of
May, when it was suddenly raised, the enemy retreating
with great precipitation, leaving all their artillery
implements and stores behind. This unexpected event
was occasioned by the destruction or capture of all
the enemy's ships above Quebec, by an English squad-
ron which had arrived in the river, and the advance of
General Amherst on Montreal. General Murray left
Quebec in pursuit of the enemy, but was unable to over-
take them. The junction of General Murray with
General Amherst, in the neighbourhood of Montreal,
in the month of September, and the surrender of that last
stronghold of the French in Canada, have been already
mentioned in the history of the service of the 42d regi-
ment.
Eraser's Highlanders were not called again into active
service till the summer of 1762, when they were, on
the expedition under Colonel William Amherst, sent to
retake St. John's, Newfoundland, a detail of which
has been given in the notice of Montgomery's High-
landers. In this service Captain Macdonell of Eraser's
regiment, was mortally wounded, three rank and file
killed, and seven wounded.
At the conclusion of the war, a number of the officers
311
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
and men having expressed a desire to settle in North
America, had their wishes granted, and an allowance
of land given them. The rest returned to Scotland,
and were discharged. When the war of the American
revolution broke out, upwards of three hundred of
those men who had remained in the country enlisted
in the 84th regiment, in 1775, and formed part of two
fine battalions embodied under the name of the Royal
Highland Emigrants.
The loss of this regiment during four years' active
service was,
KILLED
In Officers 14
Non-commissioned Officers and Privates . .109
Total 123
WOUKDED
In Officers 46
Non-commissioned Officers and Privates . . 400
Total 446
Grand Total 669
II. Seventy - FIRST Regiment — 1775
The American revolutionary war requiring extraor-
dinary exertions on the part of the government, it was
resolved to revive Fraser's Highlanders, by raising two
battalions, under the auspices of Colonel Fraser, who,
in testimony of his services, had been rewarded by
King George III with a grant of the family estates of
Lovat, which had been forfeited in 1746. In his exer-
tions to raise the battalions, Colonel Fraser was warmly
assisted by his officers, of whom no less than six, besides
himself, were chiefs of clans, and within a few months
after the letters of service were issued, two battalions
313
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
of 2,340 Highlanders were raised, and assembled first
at Stirling, and afterward at Glasgow, in April, 1776.
The following were the names of the officers:
FIRST BATTALION
Colonel — The honourable Simon Fraser, of Lovat, died in 1782,
a lieutenant-general.
Lieutenant-Colonel — Sir William Erskine of Torry, died in 1795,
a lieutenant-general.
Majors
John Macdonell of Lochgarry, died in 1789, colonel.
Duncan Macphereon of Cluny, retired from the foot-guarde in 1791,
died in 1820.
Captains
Simon Fraser, died lieutenant-general in 1812.
Duncan Chisholm of Chisholm.
CoUn Mackenzie, died general in 1818.
Francis Skelly, died in India, lieutenant-colonel of the 94th regi-
ment.
Hamilton Maxwell, brother of Monreith, died in India lieutenant-
colonel of the 74th regiment, 1794.
John Campbell, son of Lord Stonefield, died lieutenant-colonel
of the 2d battalion of the 4 2d regiment at Madras, 1784.
Norman Macleod of Macleod, died Ueutenant-general, 1796.
Sir James Baird of Saughtonhall.
Charles Cameron of Lochiel, died 1776.
Lieutenants
Charles Campbell, son of Ard- Hugh Fraser.
chattan, killed at Catauba. Alexander Fraser.
John Macdougall. Thomas Fraser, son of Leadclune.
CoHn Mackenzie. Dougald Campbell, son of Craig-
John Nairne, son of Lord Nairne. nish.
William Nairne, now Lord Robert Macdonald, son of Sanda.
Nairne. Alexander Fraser.
Charles Gordon. Roderick Macleod.
David Kinloch. John Ross.
Thomas Tause, killed at Savan- Patrick Cumming.
nah. Thomas Hamilton.
William Sinclair.
Ensigns
Archibald Campbell. Allan Malcolm.
Henry Macpherson. John Murchison.
John Grant. Angus Macdonell.
Robert Campbell, son of Eder- Peter Fraser.
hne.
313
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
Chaplain — Hugh Blair, D
professor of Rhetoric in
University of Edinburgh.
Surgeon — William Fraser.
D., Adjutant — Donald Cameron,
the Quartermaster — David Camp-
bell.
SECOND BATTALION
Colonel — Simon Fraser.
Lieutenant-Colonel — Archibald Campbell, died lieutenant-general,
1792.
Majors
Norman Lamont, son of the laird of Lamont.
Robert Menzies, killed in Boston harbour, 1776.
Captains
Angus Mackintosh of Kellachy, Andrew Lawrie.
formerly captain in Keith's Charles Cameron, son of Fassa-
Highlanders, died in South fern, killed at Savannah, 1779.
Carolina, 1780. George Munro, son of Culcairn.
Patrick Campbell, son of Glenure. Boyd Porterfield.
iEneas Mackintosh, of Mackintosh. Law. Robert Campbell.
LieiUenarUs
Robert Hutchinson.
Alexander Sutherland.
Archibald Campbell.
Hugh Lamont.
Robert Duncanson.
George Stewart.
Charles Barrington Mackenzie.
James Christie.
James Fraser.
Dougald Campbell, son of Ach-
naba.
Lodovick Colquhoun, son of
Luss.
John Mackenzie.
Hugh Campbell, son of Glenure.
John Campbell.
Arthur Forbes.
Patrick Campbell.
Archibald Maclean.
David Ross.
Thomas Fraser.
Archibald Balnevia, son of Ed-
radour.
Robert Grant.
Thomas Fraser.
Ensigns
WiUiam Gordon.
Charles Main.
Archibald Campbell.
Donald Cameron.
John Grant.
Smollett Campbell, eon of Craig-
nish.
Gilbert Waugh.
William Bain.
Chaplain — Malcolm Nicholson.
Adjutant — Archibald Campbell.
Quartermaster — J. Ogilvie.
Surgeon — Colin Chisholm, after-
ward physician in Bristol.
314
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
At the time when the regiment was mustered in
Glasgow, there were nearly six thousand Highlanders
in that city, of whom three thousand belonging to the
42d and 71st regiments were raised and brought from
the North in ten weeks. A finer and a more healthy
and robust body of men could not have been anywhere
selected; and their conduct was so laudable and ex-
emplary as to gain the affections of the inhabitants,
between whom and the soldiers the greatest cordiality
prevailed. So great was the desire of the Highlanders
to enlist into this new regiment, that before leaving Glas-
gow for embarkation, it was found that more men had
arrived than were required, and it became necessary,
therefore, to leave some of them behmd; but unwilling
to remain, several of these stole on board the transports,
and were not discovered till the fleet was at sea. There
were others, however, who did not evince the same
ardour to accompany their countrymen. A body of
120 men had been raised on the forfeited estate of
Captain Cameron of Lochiel, by the ancient tenants, with
the view of securing him a company. Lochiel was at the
time in London, and being indisposed, was unable to
join the regiment. His men were exceedingly disap-
pomted at not meeting their chief and captain at
Glasgow, and when they received orders to embark,
they hesitated, as they believed that some misfortune
had befallen him; but General Fraser, with a persuasive
eloquence, in which he was well skilled, removed their
scruples; and as Captain Cameron of Fassafem, a friend
and near relation of Lochiel, was appointed to the com-
pany, they cheerfully consented to embark. WTien
Lochiel heard of the conduct of his men he hastened
to Glasgow, though he had not recovered from the se-
vere illness which had detained him in London; but the
fatigue of the journey brought on a return of his com-
315
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
plaint, to which he fell a victim in a few weeks. His
death was greatly lamented, as he was universally
respected.
Sometime after the sailing of the fleet, they were scat-
tered in a violent gale, and several of the ships were
attacked singly by American privateers. One of these,
with eight guns, attacked a transport with two six-
pounders only, having Captain, afterward Sir ^Eneas
Mackintosh and his company on board. Having spent
all their ammunition, the transport bore down upon the
privateer to board her; but the latter sheered off, and
the transport proceeded on her voyage.
Another transport, having Colonel Archibald Camp-
bell and Major Menzies on board, was not so fortunate.
Ignorant of the evacuation of Boston by General Howe,
they sailed into Boston harbour, and were instantly
attacked by three privateers full of men. The transport
beat off her antagonists, but expended all her ammuni-
tion, and getting her rudder disabled by a shot, she
grounded under a battery, and was forced to surrender.
Major Menzies and seven men were killed, and Colonel
Campbell and the rest were made prisoners. The death
of Major Menzies was a great loss, as from his great
military experience he was particularly well qualified
to discipline the corps which had not yet undergone the
process of drilling.
The regiment joined the army imder General Howe
in Staten Island, and though totally undisciplined, the
71st was immediately put in front, the general judging
well from the experience he had had of Fraser's High-
landers in the seven years' war, that their bravery,
if engaged before being disciplined, would make up
for their want of discipline. The regiment was divided,
the grenadiers being placed in the battalion under
the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Stewart, and the
316
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
other companies, which were formed into three small
battalions, formed a brigade under Sir William Erskine.
The first affair in which they were engaged, was the
battle of Brooklyn, detailed in the notice of the 42d.
In this action they fully justified the expectations of
the commander. They displayed, in common with the
other troops, great eagerness to push the enemy to
extremities, and compel them to abandon the strong
position they had taken up; but from a desire to save the
lives of his troops, General Howe restrained their ardour
by recalling the right wing, in which the grenadiers
were, from the attack. The loss sustained on this occa-
sion, by the 71st, was three rank and file killed, and two
sergeants and nine rank and file wounded.
The regiment passed the winter at Amboy. The next
campaign was spent in skirmishes, in some of which the
regiment was engaged. They were also employed in
the expeditions against Willsborough, and Westfield,
at the commencement of the campaign of 1777. They
afterward embarked for the Chesapeake, and part of
them were engaged in the battle of Brandywine. They
embarked for New York in November, where they re-
ceived an accession of two hundred recruits from Scot-
land. Along with a hundred more from the hospital,
they were formed into a corps under Captain Colin (after-
ward General) Mackenzie. This small corps acted as
light infantry, and formed part of an expedition sent
up the New River to make a diversion in favour of
General Burgoyne's movements. This corps led a suc-
cessful assault on Fort Montgomery on the sixth of
October, in which they displayed great courage. In
the year 1778, the 71st regiment was employed in the
Jerseys, under Lord Comwallis, in which excursion no
occasion occurred for distinguishing themselves.
On the twenty-ninth of November, 1777, an expedi-
317
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
tion, of which the 71st formed a part, destined against
Savannah, the capital of Georgia, sailed from Sandy
Hook, and reached the river of that name about the
end of December, under Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald
Campbell, who had been exchanged this year. The
1st battalion and the light infantry, having landed a
little below the town, Captain Cameron, an " officer of
high spirit and great promise," instantly pushed forward
to attack the advanced post of the enemy, when he
and three men were killed by a volley. The remainder
advancing, charged the enemy and drove them back
on the main body, drawn up in line in an open plain
behind the town. As soon as the disembarkation was
finished, Colonel Campbell formed his army in line;
and whilst he detached Sir James Baird with the light
infantry, to get round the right flank of the enemy
by a narrow path, he sent the corps, lately Captain
Cameron's, to get round the left. The attention of the
enemy being occupied by the army in front, they neg-
lected to watch the motions of the flanking parties,
who, on reaching their ground, made signals to the front
to advance. These being instantly answered, the enemy
now perceived they were nearly surrounded, and turning
their backs fled in great disorder. They suffered severely
from the light infantry, who closed in upon their flanks;
they had one hundred men killed, and five hundred
wounded or taken prisoners. The British had only
four soldiers killed and five wounded. The town then
surrendered, and the British took possession of all the
shipping and stores and forty-five pieces of cannon.
Colonel Campbell now advanced into the interior,
and entered Augusta, a town 150 miles distant from
Savannah, where he established himself. Meanwhile
General Prevost, having arrived at Savannah from
Florida, assumed the command. Judging the ground
318
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
occupied too extensive, he evacuated Augusta. The
Americans, taking courage frona this retrograde move-
ment, assembled in considerable numbers, and harassed
the rear of the British. The Loyalists in the interior were
greatly dispirited, and, being left unprotected, suffered
much from the disaffected. The winter was spent in
making some inroads into the interior, to keep the
Americans in check. About this time Lieutenant-
Colonel Maitland succeeded to the command of the
regiment, in consequence of the return of Colonel
Campbell to England, on leave of absence.
The regiment remained almost inactive till the month
of February, 1779, when it was employed in an enter-
prise against Boston Creek, a strong position defended by
upwards of two thousand men, besides one thousand men
occupied in detached stations. The front of this posi-
tion was protected by a deep swamp, and the only ap-
proach in that way was by a narrow causeway. On each
flank were thick woods nearly impenetrable, except by
the drier parts of the swamps which intersected them;
but the position was more open in the rear. To dislodge
the enemy from this stronghold, which caused consid-
erable annoyance, Lieutenant^Colonel Duncan Mac-
pherson, with the first battalion of the 71st, was di-
rected to march upon the front of the position; whilst
Colonel Prevost, and Lieutenant-Colonels Maitland
and Macdonald, with the 2d battalion, the light infantry,
and a party of provincials, were ordered to attempt
the rear by a circuitous route of many miles. These com-
bined movements were executed with such precision,
that, in ten minutes after Colonel Macpherson appeared
at the head of the causeway in front, the fire of the body
in the rear was heard. Sir James Baird, with the light
infantry, rushing through the openings in the swamps,
on the left flank, the enemy were overpowered after a
319
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
short resistance. In this affair the Highlanders had three
soldiers killed, and one officer and twelve rank and file
wounded.
General Prevost next determined to dislodge a con-
siderable force under General Lincoln, stationed on the
South Carolina side of the river. With the troops
lately so successful at Brien's Creek, he crossed the river
ten miles below the enemy's position. Whilst the general
advanced on their front, he ordered the 71st to attack
their rear by a circuitous march of several miles. Guided
by a party of Creek Indians, the Highlanders entered
a woody swamp at eleven o'clock at night, in traversing
which, they were frequently up to the shoulders in the
swamp. They cleared the woods at eight o'clock
in the morning, with their ammunition destroyed. They
were now within half a mile of the enemy's rear, and al-
though General Prevost had not yet moved from his
position, the Highlanders instantly attacked and drove
the enemy from their position without sustaining any
loss.
Emboldened by this partial success, the general made
an attempt upon Charleston; but after summoning the
town to surrender, he was induced, by the approach of
the American general, Lincoln, with a large force, to
desist, and determined to return to his former quarters
in Georgia. As the Americans were in arms, and had
possessed themselves of the principal pass on the route,
he was forced to return by the sea-coast, a course very
injurious to the troops, as they had to march through
unfrequented woods, and salt water marshes and
swamps, where they could not obtain fresh water. In
this retreat, the British force was separated in conse-
quence of Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost, the quarter-
master-general, who had gone with a party on a foraging
excursion, having removed part of a bridge of boats
320
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
leading to John's Island. The enemy, who had five
thousand men in the neighbourhood, endeavoured to
avail themselves of this circumstance, and pushed for-
ward two thousand men with some artillery, to attack
a battalion of the Highlanders and some Hessians under
Colonel Maitland, who were placed in a redoubt at
Stone Ferry, for the purpose of protecting the foraging
party. Hearing of the advance of the enemy. Colonel
Maitland sent out Captain Colin Campbell, with four
officers and fifty-six men, to reconnoitre. Whilst this
small party was standing on an open field, the enemy
emerged from a thick wood. Regardless of the inequality
of numbers. Captain Campbell attacked the enemy with
great vivacity; and a desperate contest took place, in
which all the Highlanders and officers, except seven of
the soldiers, fell. When Captain Campbell was struck,
he desired such of his men as were able to retire to
the redoubt; but they refused to obey, as they considered
that if they left their officers behind in the field, they
would bring a lasting disgrace on themselves. The
enemy, unexpectedly, ceased firing, and the seven men,
availing themselves of the respite, retired, carrying their
wounded officers along with them, followed by such of
the soldiers as were able to walk. The enemy then ad-
vanced on the redoubt, and the Hessians having got
into confusion, they forced an entrance; but they were
driven out by the Highlanders, at the point of the
bayonet. The enemy were preparing for another attack,
but the second battalion of the Highlanders having
come up, the Americans retired with considerable loss.
After this affair. General Prevost retired with the
main body towards Savannah, leaving behind him
seven hundred men under Colonel Maitland, who took
up a position in the island of Port Royal. In the month
of September, 1779, the Count D'Estaing arrived on the
321
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
coast of Georgia with a large fleet, with troops on board,
for the purpose of retaking Savannah, then garrisoned by-
eleven hundred effective men, including one battalion
of the 71st. The town, situated on a sandy plain, gently
declining towards the south, had few natural or artificial
means of defence, and as the force about to attack it
was said to exceed twelve thousand men, the British
general had nothing to rely upon but the energy and firm-
ness of his troops. The count, on landing, made regular
approaches, and summoned the town to surrender. In
the absence of Colonel Maitland's detachment in Port
Royal, time was of importance, and being demanded,
was granted. Colonel Maitland on hearing of the arrival
of the enemy, instantly set out for Savannah; but find-
ing the principal passes and fords in possession of the
enemy, he made a wide circuit; and after a most tedious
march through marshes and woods hitherto considered
impassable, he reached Savannah before General Pre-
vost had returned a definite answer to D'Estaing's
summons.
Having thus accomplished his object. General Prevost
made immediate preparations to defend the place to
the last extremity, and being seconded by the zeal and
abilities of Captain Moncrieff, the chief engineer, and
the exertions of the officers and soldiers, assisted by the
negro population, the town was put in a good state of
defence, before the enemy had completed their ap-
proaches. During these operations, several sorties were
made by the garrison. On the morning of the twenty-
fourth of September, Major Colin Graham sallied out
with the light company of the 16th, and the Highlanders,
and drove the enemy from their outworks, with the loss
of fourteen oflScers, and 145 men killed, wounded, and
prisoners. In this affair. Lieutenant Henry Macpherson
of the 71st and three privates were killed, and fifteen
322
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
wounded. In another sortie, Major Macarthur with the
piquets of the Highlanders advanced with such caution,
that, after a few rounds, the Americans and French
mistaking their object, fired on each other, and killed
fifty men, during which rencounter he retired without
loss.
Having completed his arrangements, D'Estaing made
an assault, on the ninth of October, before daybreak,
with all his forces. Owing to a thick fog, and the dark-
ness of the morning, it was some time before the be-
sieged could ascertain in what direction the principal at-
tack was to be made. As soon as daylight appeared, the
French and American forces were seen advancing in
three columns, D'Estaing leading the right in person.
By taking too large a circuit, the left column got en-
tangled in a swamp, and being exposed to the guns of the
garrison, fell into confusion, and was unable to advance.
The heads of the right and centre columns suffered
greatly, from a well-directed fire from the batteries;
but they still persevered in advancing; the men in the
rear supplying the place of those who fell in front. WTien
the enemy reached the first redoubt, the contest became
furious; many of them entered the ditch, and some
of them even ascended and planted the colours on the
parapet, where they were killed. The first man who
mounted was stabbed by Captain Tawse of the 71st,
who commanded the redoubt, and the captain himself
was shot dead by the man who followed. The grenadiers
of the 60th came up to the support of Captain Archibald
Campbell, who had assumed the command of the re-
doubt, and the enemy's column, being attacked on both
sides, was broken and driven back with precipitation.
In this enterprise the enemy are supposed to have lost
fifteen hundred men killed, wounded, and prisoners.
The British had only three officers and thirty-six sol-
323
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
diers killed, and two officers and sixty men wounded.
The Americans retired to South Carolina, and the French
to their ships. The garrison before the siege was sickly,
but during active operations the disease was in a
manner suspended, an effect which has been often ob-
served in the army. After the cause of excitement was
over, by the raising of the siege, the men relapsed, and
one-fourth of them were sent to the hospital.
The grenadiers of the 71st were not employed in
Georgia, but were posted at Stony Point and Verplanks,
in the State of New York, which places had been recently
taken from the enemy. Wishing to make amends for
allowing his post to be surprised by Major-General Sir
Charles Grey, the American general, Wayne, was sent to
retake the posts of Stony Point and Verplanks. Ac-
cordingly, with a body of troops, he proceeded at eight
o'clock in the evening of the fifteenth of July, 1779,
and taking post in a hollow, within two miles of the fort,
advanced unperceived, about midnight, in two colunms.
One of these gained the summit, on which the fort stood,
without being observed, and the garrison being sur-
prised, surrendered after a short resistance, with the loss
of seventeen soldiers killed, and three officers and
seventy-two privates wounded. The piquet, which
was commanded by Lieutenant Cumming of the 71st,
resisted one of the colunms till almost all the men com-
posing it were killed or wounded. Lieutenant Cumming
was among the latter.
After the surrender of Charleston on the twelfth of
May, 1780, to the forces under Sir Henry Clinton,
Lord Cornwallis was appointed to the command of the
southern provinces. Having projected an excursion
into the interior, he was joined by the 71st, which had
remained at Savannah in quarters during the winter.
In the beginning of June, the army, amounting to
324
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
twenty-five hundred men, reached Canabden, and en-
camped in the neighbourhood, the general making that
place his headquarters. The American general. Gates,
having, in July, assembled a force of seven thousand
men, took up a position at Rugley's Mill, nearly twelve
miles from Cambden. Determined to surprise and
attack the enemy, the British general moved forward
on the night of the fifteenth of August; whilst, by a
singular coincidence, the American commander left his
position at the very same hour, with the same intention.
It was full moon, and the sky was unclouded. Before
three o'clock in the morning, the advanced guards
met half-way, and exchanged some shots; but both
generals, ignorant of each other's strength, declined a
general action, and lay on their arms till morning. The
ground on which the armies lay was a sandy plain,
with straggling trees, but a part on the left of the British
was soft and boggy. Each army prepared for battle,
by forming line. The British right consisted of the light
infantry, and the Welsh fusileers; the 33d regiment
and the volunteers of Ireland formed the centre; and
the Provincials composed the left, having the marshy
ground in their front. Whilst this formation was going
on. Captain Charles Campbell, who commanded the
Highland light companies on the right, mounted the
stump of an old tree to reconnoitre, and perceiving the
enemy in motion, as if they intended to turn his flank,
he leaped down, muttering to himself, " I'll see you
damn^ first," and calling to his men, said, " Remember
you are light infantr}''; remember you are Highlanders
— charge! " The Highlanders instantly rushed forward,
and such was the impetuosity of the attack, that the
division of the enemy which was to have surrounded the
right of the British was completely broken and driven
from the field before the battle commenced in the othei
325,
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
parts of the line. In the contest which took place between
these, the centre of the enemy gained ground; but neither
party seeming disposed to advance, a pause of a few
minutes took place, as if by mutual consent, during
which both parties remained stationary without firing a
shot. Whilst matters were in this state. Lord Cornwallis
ordered the corps in the centre to open their right and
left; and when a considerable space intervened, he di-
rected the Highlanders, who were getting impatient
at being left in the rear, whilst their friends were fighting
in front, to advance and occupy the vacant space.
When the Highlanders had taken their ground, his lord-
ship cried out, " My brave Highlanders, now is your
time! " The words were scarcely uttered, when they
rushed forward, accompanied by the 33d, and the vol-
unteers of Ireland. The charge was irresistible, and the
centre of the enemy was completely overthrown. Mean-
while the right of the enemy, which was enveloped
in the smoke of the fire, advanced unperceived, and
gained the ground on which the Highlanders had been
formerly posted as a reserve. Unaware of the fate of
their companions, they gave three cheers for victory;
but their joy was of short duration, for, the smoke im-
mediately clearing up, they saw their mistake; and a
party of Highlanders turning on them, the greater part
threw down their arms, whilst the remainder flew in all
directions. The loss of the British in this decisive
action was three ofiicers and sixty-six men killed, and
seventeen officers and 226 rank and file wounded.
Lieutenant Archibald Campbell and three soldiers of the
71st were killed, and Captain Hugh Campbell, Lieutenant
John Grant, two sergeants and thirty privates wounded.
Though the battle of the sixteenth of August was
decisive, yet, as General Sumpter with a strong corps
occupied positions on the Catawba River, which com-
326
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
manded the road to Charleston, it was necessary to dis-
lodge him. For this purpose Colonel Tarleton was
directed to proceed with the cavalry, and a corps of
light infantry, under Captain Charles Campbell of the
71st. On the morning of the eighteenth they came in
sight of Fishing Creek, and observing some smoke at a
short distance on their right, the sergeant of the ad-
vanced guard halted his party, and went forward to
reconnoitre. He observed an encampment with arms
piled, and, with the exception of a few sentinels, and
some persons employed in cooking, the soldiers were
reposing in groups apparently asleep. The sergeant
reporting what he had seen to Captam Campbell, the
latter, who commanded in front, fearing a discovery,
formed such of the cavalry as had come up, and with
forty of the Highland light infantry rushed quickly
forward, secured the piled arms, and surprised the
camp. The success was complete; a few men were killed,
nearly five hundred surrendered prisoners, and the rest
fled in all directions. The loss was trifling, but the
Highlanders had in an especial manner to regret the
death of Captain Campbell, who was killed by a random
shot.
The American general, Morgan, having entered South
Carolina, in December, 1780, with about eleven hundred
men. Colonel Tarleton was detached with some infantry,
of which the first battalion of the 71st formed a part,
and a small body of cavalry. On the morning of the
seventeenth of January, 1781, intelligence was received
that General Morgan was posted on a rising ground
in front, which was thinly covered with pine-trees.
The front line was drawn up on the top of the rising
ground, and the second, four hundred paces in rear of the
first. Colonel Tarleton instantly formed in order of
battle. In front he placed the 7th, or fusileers, the in-
327
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
fantry of the British legion, and the light infantry; the
Highlanders and cavalry formed the reserve. The
line, exhausted by running at a rapid pace, received the
fire of the enemy, at the distance of thirty or forty yards,
which did considerable execution. The fire was returned,
but without spirit and with little effect; and it was kept
up on both sides for ten or twelve minutes, neither party
advancing. The light infantry then made two attempts
to charge, but were repulsed with loss. In this state
of matters the Highlanders were ordered up, and ad-
vancing rapidly to the charge, the enemy's front line
instantly gave way; and this retrograde motion being
observed by the second line, which had not yet been
engaged, it inmiediately faced to the right and inclined
backwards, and by this skilful manoeuvre opened a
space by which the front line retreated. Eager to pursue,
the Highlanders followed the front line, when Colonel
Howard, who commanded the enemy's reserve, threw in
a destructive fire upon the 71st, when within forty yards
of the hostile force. So disastrous was the effect of this
fire, that nearly one-half of the Highlanders fell; and the
rest were so scattered over the ground, on which they
pursued, that they could not be united to form a charge
with the bayonet. Though checked, the Highlanders
did not fall back, probably expecting that the first line
and the cavalry would come up to their support; but
they were mistaken; and after some irregular firing
between them and Colonel Howard's reserve, the front
line of the Americans ralUed, returned to the field, and
pushed forward to the right flank of the Highlanders.
Alone, and unsupported, and almost overpowered
by the increasing numbers of the enemy, the Highlanders
began to retire, and at length to run, the first instance
(may it be the only one!) of a Highland regiment run-
ning from an enemy! A general rout ensued; few of
328
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
the infantry escaped, but the cavalry saved themselves
by the speed of their horses. The loss of the British, in
this disastrous affair, exceeded four hundred men. The
Highland oflficers were perfectly satisfied with the con-
duct of their men, and imputing the disaster altogether
to the bad dispositions of Colonel Tarleton, made a rep-
resentation to Lord ComwalUs, not to be employed
again under the same officer, a request with which his
lordship complied.
The main body of the American army under General
Green retreated northward after this action, and Lord
Cornwallis made every exertion to follow them. Pre-
vious to the march the two battalions of the 71st, being
greatly reduced, were consolidated into one, and formed
in brigade with the Welsh fusileers and 33d regiment.
General Green retreated to Guilford Court-house, where,
on the sixteenth of March, he prepared for battle. He
drew up his army in three lines: the first occupied the
edge of a wood with a fence in front of Hogstie farm;
the second a wood of stunted oaks at some distance
in the rear; and the third line was drawn up in the more
open parts of the woods and upon cleared ground.
The front line of the British was formed of the German
regiment of De Bos, the Highlanders and guards under
the Honourable General Leslie on the right; and the
Welsh fusileers, 33d regiment, and 2d battalion of
guards under Brigadier-General Charles O'Hara, on the
left. The cavalry were in the rear, supported by the
light infantry of the guards and the German Yagers.
The order of battle being completed, the attack began
at one o'clock. The Americans, covered by the fence in
their front, reserved their fire till the British were within
thirty or forty paces, at which distance they opened a
most destructive fire, which annihilated nearly one-
third of Colonel Webster's brigade. The fire was returned
329
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
by the brigade, who rushed forward on the enemy.
These abandoned their fence, and retreated on the
second line. The contest was maintained with greater
pertinacity on the more open ground, where the regi-
ment of De Bos and the 33d retreated and advanced
repeatedly before they succeeded in driving the enemy
from the field. A party of the guards, pressing forward
without observing a body of cavalry placed in the right
flank as a reserve, were charged in flank, had their line
broken, and lost several men. The enemy, who had
retreated, emboldened by the effect of this charge, halted,
turned their face to the field, and recommenced firing.
Whilst matters were in this state, and the Hessians
warmly engaged, the Highlanders, who had rapidly
pushed round the flank, appeared on a rising ground in
rear of the enemy's left, and rushing forward with
shouts, made such an impression on the Americans that
they inmiediately fled, leaving their guns and am-
munition behind. In this well-contested action, every
corps fought separately, each depending on its own
firmness; and having to sustain the weight of so greatly
superior numbers, the issue was for some time doubt-
ful. The British had seven officers and 102 non-com-
missioned officers and rank and file killed, among whom
were Ensign Grant and eleven soldiers of the 71st;
and twenty oflicers and 419 non-commissioned oflficers
and rank and file wounded, including four sergeants and
forty-six soldiers of the same regiment.
No solid advantage was gained by this battle, as Lord
Cornwallis found it necessary to retreat, and was even
obliged to leave his wounded behind in a house in the
neighbourhood. The British took the direction of Cross
Creek, followed close in the rear by the Americans.
The settlement of Cross Creek was possessed by emi-
grant Highlanders, who had evinced great loyalty
330
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
during the war; and they now offered to bring fifteen
hundred men into the field, and to furnish every neces-
sary except arms and ammunition; but stipulated that
they should be commanded by officers from the line.
This reasonable offer was declined; but it was proposed
to form them into what was called a provincial corps
of the line. This proposition was rejected by the emi-
grant Highlanders, who retired to their settlements,
after a negotiation of twelve days. The army then
marched for Wilmington, where it arrived on the seven-
teenth of April. Here Lord Cornwallis halted till the
twenty-sixth, when he proceeded on the route to Peters-
borough. After traversing several hundred miles of
a country chiefly hostile, he arrived at Petersborough
on the twentieth of May, where he formed a junction
with Major-General Philips, who had recently arrived
from New York with three thousand men. With the
united forces, which amounted to six thousand men,
Lord Cornwallis proceeded to Portsmouth, and whilst
he was preparing to cross the river at St. James's Island,
the Marquis de la Fayette, ignorant of the strength
of the British army, gallantly attacked Colonel Thomas
Dundas's brigade, with two thousand men. The marquis
was repulsed, but not without a warm contest.
Arriving at Portsmouth, Lord Cornwallis continued
his march to Yorktown, and took up a position on the
York River, on the twenty-second of August. The
place selected was an elevated platform, on the banks of
the river, nearly level. On the right of the position
extending from the river, was a ravine about forty feet
in depth, and upwards of one hundred yards in breadth;
a line of entrenchments, with a horn-work, formed the
centre. Beyond the ravine, on the right of the position,
was an extensive redoubt, and two smaller ones on the
left, also advanced beyond the entrenchments. These
331
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
defences, which constituted the chief strength of the
camp, were not completed when General Washington,
who had been lately joined by the Count de Rocham-
beau, took up a position at the distance of two miles
from the British lines. His force consisted of seven
thousand French and twelve thousand Americans,
being thrice as numerous as that of the British, which did
not exceed 5,950 men.
General Washington immediately proceeded to erect
batteries, and to make his approaches. He first di-
rected his fire against the redoubt on the right, which
after four days' bombardment was reduced to a heap
of sand. He did not, however, attempt an assault on this
point of the position, but turned his whole force against
the redoubts on the left, which he carried by storm, and
turned the guns of the redoubts on the other parts of
the entrenchments. Some soldiers of the 71st, who
had manned one of these redoubts, conceiving that the
honour of the regiment was compromised by their
expulsion from the redoubt, sent a petition through the
conunanding officer to Lord Comwallis, for permission
to retake it; but as his lordship did not think that the
acquisition would be of much importance, under exist-
ing circumstances, he declined the proposition.
Finding his position quite untenable, and his situation
becoming every hour more critical, the British com-
mander determined to decamp at midnight with the
elite of his army, to cross the river, and leave a small
force in the works to capitulate for the sick and wounded,
the former being very numerous. The plan would have
succeeded had not the passage of the river been ren-
dered dangerous, if not impracticable, by a squaU of
wind. The first division was embarked, and some of the
boats had reached Gloucester Point on the opposite
shore, when the general countermanded the enterprise
333
FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS
in consequence of a storm which arose. Judging farther
resistance hopeless, Lord Corawallis made proposals
of capitulation, and the terms being adjusted, the
British troops marched out with their arms and baggage
on the eighth of October, 1781, and were afterward sent
to different parts of the country. The garrison had
six officers, and 150 non-commissioned officers and rank
and file killed, and six officers and 319 non-commissioned
officers and rank and file wounded. Lieutenant Eraser
and nine soldiers of the 71st were killed, and three
drummers and nineteen soldiers wounded.
The military services of this army, which were now
closed, had been most arduous. In less than twelve
months they had marched and countermarched nearly
two thousand miles, had been subjected to many severe
hardships, and besides numerous skirmishes, had fought
two pitched battles, in all of which they had been vic-
torious; yet all their exertions were unavailable in the
general contest.
With this misfortune also ended the military career
of the Eraser Highlanders, who remained prisoners till
the conclusion of the war. True to their allegiance,
they resisted to a man the solicitations of the Americans
to join their standard and settle among them, thus ex-
hibiting a striking moral contrast with many soldiers
of other corps, who, in violation of their oath, entered the
American ranks. In other respects the conduct of the
Highlanders was in perfect keeping with this high state
of moral feeling and daring, not one instance of dis-
graceful conduct ever having occurred in the 71st. The
only case of military insubordination was that which
happened at Leith in April, 1779, of which an account
has been given in the history of the 42d regiment ; but
it is clear that no fault was attributable to the men of
the detachment in question, who merely insisted on the
333
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
fulfilment of the engagement which had been entered
into with them.
The regiment returned to Scotland on the termination
of hostilities, and was discharged at Perth in 1783.
KEITH'S AND CAMPBELL'S HIGHLANDERS
OE EIGHTY - SEVENTH AND EIGHTY - EIGHTH REGIMENTS
1759
The first of these regiments consisted of three compa-
nies of 105 men each. Major Robert Murray Keith, who
had served in the Scotch Brigade in Holland, and a rela-
tion of the celebrated Field Marshal Keith, was ap-
pointed to the conmiand. About the end of the year
1759 this regiment joined the allied army in Germany
under Prince Frederick of Brunswick.
The Highlanders were not long in the allied camp
when they were brought into action. On the third of
January, 1760, the Marquis de Vogue attacked and
carried the town of Herbom, and made a small detach-
ment of the allies who were posted there prisoners.
At the same time the Marquis Dauvet made himself
master of Dillemberg, the garrison of the allied troops
retiring into the castle, where they were closely besieged.
Prince Ferdinand no sooner understood their situation
than he began his march with a strong detachment for
their relief on the seventh of January, when he attacked
and defeated the besiegers. On the same day "the
Highlanders under Major Keith, supported by the hussars
of Luckner, who commanded the whole detachment,
attacked the village of Eybach, where Beau Fremonte's
regiment of dragoons was posted, and routed them with
great slaughter. The greater part of the regiment was
killed, and many prisoners were taken, together with
334
KEITH'S AND CAMPBELL'S HIGHLANDERS
two hundred horses and all their baggage. The High-
landers distinguished themselves on this occasion by
their intrepidity, which was the more remarkable, as
they were no other than raw recruits, just arrived from
their own country, and altogether unacquainted with
discipline." The Highlanders on this occasion had four
men killed and seven wounded.
Prince Ferdinand was so well satisfied with the con-
duct of this body, that he recommended to the governor
not only to increase it to eight hundred men, but to raise
another regiment of equal strength, to be placed under
his Serene Highness. This recommendation was in-
stantly attended to, and, in a few weeks, the requisite
number of men was raised in the counties of AJgyle,
Perth, Inverness, Ross, and Sutherland. The command
of the new regiment was conferred on John Campbell
of Dunoon, but power was reserved to the Earls of Suth-
erland and Breadalbane, the lairds of Macleod and Innes,
and other gentlemen in the North, to appoint captains
and subalterns to companies raised on their respective
estates. Major Macnab, son of the laird of Macnab; Cap-
tain Archibald Campbell, brother of Achallader; John
Campbell of Auch and other officers, were recommended
by Lord Breadalbane; and Macleod, who raised a com-
pany in Skye, appointed his nephew, Captain Fothring-
ham of Powrie, to it. Sir James Innes, chief of that name,
who succeeded to the estates and dukedom of Roxburgh
in the year 1810, was also appointed to a company.
Keith's regiment was embodied at Perth and Camp-
bell's at Stirling, and, being embodied at the same
time and ordered on the same service, an interchange
of officers took place. Embarking for Germany they
joined the allied army, under Prince Ferdinand, in
1760, and were distinguished by being placed in the
grenadier brigade.
335
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
The allied army moved from Kalle on the thirtieth
of July, 1760, in consequence of the advance of the
French, who took up a position on the River Dymel.
The hereditary Prince of Brunswick, who had passed that
river the preceding day, was directed by Prince Ferdi-
nand to turn the left of the enemy, who were posted
between Warburg and Ochsendorff, whilst he himself
advanced in front with the main body of the army. The
French were attacked almost at the same moment both in
flank and rear, and defeated with considerable loss. In
an account of the battle written by Prince Ferdinand
to George II he says " that the loss of the allies, which
was moderate, fell chiefly upon Maxwell's brave battal-
ion of English grenadiers and the two regiments of Scots
Highlanders, which did wonders. Colonel Beckwith,
who commanded the whole brigade formed of English
grenadiers and Scots Highlanders, distinguished himself
greatly." None of the Highlanders were killed but
Lieutenant Walter Ogilvie, and two privates were
wounded.
Another affair soon occurred in which the Highlanders
also distinguished themselves. Prince Ferdinand, having
determined to beat up the quarters of a large French
detachment stationed at Zeirenberg, pitched upon five
battalions, with a detachment of the Highlanders and
eight regiments of dragoons, for this service. This body
began their march on the night of the fifth of August,
and when within two miles of the town the corps pro-
ceeded by three different roads. Maxwell's brigade
of grenadiers, the regiment of Kingsby, and the High-
landers keeping together. They marched in profound
silence, and though their tramp was at last heard by the
French the surprise was too sudden for effectual resist-
ance. "The Scots Highlanders mounted the breaches
sword in hand, supported by the Chasseurs. The col-
336
KEITH'S AND CAMPBELL'S HIGHLANDERS
umn of English grenadiers advanced in good order and
with the greatest silence. In short, the service was
complete, and the troops displayed equal courage,
soldier-like conduct, and activity." The loss of the
Highlanders in this affair was three privates killed and
six wounded.
The hereditary prince being hard pressed by Marshal de
Castries, was reinforced from the camp at Warburg.
The Highlanders joined him on the fourteenth of Octo-
ber, shortly after he had been attacked by the marshal,
who had compelled him to retire. The prince now at-
tacked the French commander in his turn, but was un-
successful, being obliged again to retire after a warm
contest, which lasted from five till nine in the morning.
The Highlanders, who " were in the first column of
attack, were the last to retreat, and kept their ground
in the face of every disadvantage, even after the troops
on their right and left had retired. The Highlanders were
so exasperated with the loss they sustained, that it was
with difficulty they could be withdrawn, when Colonel
Campbell received orders from an aide-de-camp sent by
the prince, desiring him to retreat, as to persist in main-
taining his position longer would be a useless waste of
human life." In this action Lieutenants William Ogilvie
and Alexander Macleod of the Highlanders, four ser-
geants, and thirty-seven rank and file were killed, and
Captain Archibald Campbell of Achallader, Lieutenants
Gordon Clunes, Archibald Stewart, Angus Mackintosh of
Killachy, and Walter Barland, and ten rank and file
wounded.
On the preceding night an attempt was made by Major
Pollock, with one hundred grenadiers and the same
number of Keith's Highlanders, to surprise the convent
of Closter Camp, where a detachment of the enemy was
posted, and where, it was supposed, the French com-
337
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
mander and some of his officers were to pass the night;
but this attempt miscarried. On reaching the sentinel
of the main-guard Major Pollock rushed upon him and
ran him through the body with his sword. The wounded
man, before falling, turned round upon his antagonist and
shot him with a pistol, upon which they both fell dead.
The next affair in which the Highlanders were en-
gaged was the battle of Fellinghausen, in July, 1761.
The commander-in-chief, in a general order, thus ex-
pressed his approbation of the conduct of the corps in
this action: " His Serene Highness, Duke Ferdinand of
Brunswick, has been graciously pleased to order Colonel
Beckwith to signify to the brigade he has the honour
to command his entire approbation of their conduct on
the 15th and 16th of July. The soldier-like persever-
ance of the Highland regiments in resisting and repulsing
the repeated attacks of the chosen troops of France, has
deservedly gained them the highest honour. The ar-
dour and activity with which the grenadiers pushed and
pursued the enemy, and the trophies they have taken,
justly entitle them to the highest encomiums. The in-
trepidity of the little band of Highlanders merits the
greatest praise." Colonel Beckwith, in making this
communication, added that " the humanity and gen-
erosity with which the soldiers treated the great flock
of prisoners they took, did them as much honour as their
subduing the enemy." In this action Major Archibald
Campbell of Achallader, who had been promoted only
a week before, and Lieutenants William Ross and John
Grant, and thirty-one rank and file, were killed; and
Major Archibald Macnab, Captain James Fraser, Lieu-
tenants Archibald Macarthur, Patrick Campbell, and
John Mackintosh, brother of Killachy and father of the
late Sir James Mackintosh, M. P., two sergeants, and
seventy privates, were wounded.
338
KEITH'S AND CAMPBELL'S HIGHLANDERS
No enterprise of any moment was attempted till the
twenty-eighth of June, 1762, when Prince Ferdinand
attacked the French army at Graibenstein, and defeated
them. The French lost upwards of four thousand men
in killed, wounded, and prisoners, including two hundred
officers, whilst that sustained by the allies did not exceed
seven hundred men. The British troops, who were under
the command of the Marquis of Granby, " behaved with
a bravery not to be parallelled, especially our grenadiers
and Highlanders."
The Highlanders, from the distinction they had earned
in these different rencounters, now began to attract the
especial notice of the Germans. When an entire igno-
rance prevailed among the people of England respecting
the Highlanders, it is not to be wondered at that the
Germans should have formed the most extraordinary
notions of these mountaineers. In common with the
English they looked upon the Highlanders as savages;
but their ignorance went farther, for the people of Ger-
many actually believed that the Highlanders were still
strangers to Christianity. " The Scotch Highlanders,"
says an article which appeared in the Vienna Gazette of
1762, " are a people totally different in their dress,
manners, and temper from the other inhabitants of
Britain. They are caught in the mountains when young,
and still run with a surprising degree of swiftness. As
they are strangers to fear, they make very good soldiers
when disciplined. The men are of low stature, and the
most of them old or very young. They discover an
extraordinary submission and love for their officers,
who are all young and handsome. From the goodness
of their dispositions in everything, for the boors are
much better treated by these savages than by the
polished French and English ; from the goodness of their
disposition, which, by the bye, shows the rectitude of
339
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
human nature before it is vitiated by example or preju-
dice, it is to be hoped that their king's laudable, though
late, endeavours to civilize and instruct them in the
principles of Christianity will meet with success! "
The article adds that the " French held them at first
in great contempt, but they have met with them so often
of late, and seen them in the front of so many battles,
that they firmly believe that there are twelve battalions
of them in the army instead of two. Broglio himself
has lately said that he once wished that he was a man of
six feet high, but that now he is reconciled to his size
since he has seen the wonders performed by the little
mountaineers." An acquaintance with the Highlanders
soon dissipated the illusions under which the Germans
laboured.
The Highlanders were not engaged in the battle of
Johannisberg, in which the allies were worsted; but,
on the twenty-first of September, in the subsequent
action at Brucher Miihl, they took a part. The French
occupied a mill on one side of the road, and the allies a
redoubt on the other, and the great object of both par-
ties was to obtain possession of a small post which
defended the bridge at Brucher Miihl. At first a slight
cannonade was opened from a few guns, but these were
speedily augmented to twenty-five heavy pieces on each
side. In the post occupied by the allies there were only
at first one hundred men, but during the action, which
lasted without intermission for fifteen hours, no less than
seventeen regiments were successively brought forward,
replacing one another after they had spent their am-
munition. Both sides remained in their respective posi-
tions, and although the contest was long and severe
the allies lost only six hundred men in killed and
wounded. The Highland corps had Major Alexander
Maclean and twenty-one rank and file killed, and Captain
34a
EIGHTY-NINTH HIGHLAND REGIMENT
Patrick Campbell, and Lieutenant Walter Barland, three
sergeants, and fifty-eight rank and file wounded.
On the conclusion of hostilities in November, 1762,
the Highlanders were ordered home. In the three cam-
paigns in which they had served they had estabhshed
a well-earned reputation for bravery, and so great was
the estimation in which they were held by the Dutch,
that, on their march through Holland, they were wel-
comed with acclamations, particularly by the women
who presented them with laurel leaves, — a feeling
which, it is said, was in some measure owing to the
friendly intercourse which had previously existed be-
tween the inhabitants and the Scotch brigade.
After landing at Tilbury Fort the regiments marched
for Scotland, and were received everywhere on their
route with the most marked attention, particularly at
Derby, the inhabitants of which town presented the men
with gratuities in money. Among various reasons as-
signed for the remarkable predilection shown by the
people of Derby the most probable is a feeling of grati-
tude for the respect shown by the Highlanders to the
persons and properties of the inhabitants when visited
by them in the year 1745.
Keith's regiment was marched to Perth and Camp-
bell's to Linlithgow, and were reduced in July, 1763.
The total loss of these corps was 115 men, besides
seven officers; and 176 men, and thirteen officers,
wounded.
EIGHTY -NINTH HIGHLAND REGIMENT
1759
The war in which Great Britain was engaged requir-
ing, at this time, increased exertions on the part of the
government, government resolved to raise, in addi-
341
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
tion to Keith's Highlanders, another regiment in those
parts of the Highlands where the influence of the Gordon
family prevailed. At the solicitation of the Dowager
Duchess of Gordon Major Staates Long Morris, to whom
she had been lately married, was appointed to raise
the regiment; and, to strengthen his interest amongst
the youth of the North, the late Duke of Gordon, then a
youth at college, was appointed a captain; his brother,
Lord William, a lieutenant; and his younger brother,
Lord George, an ensign. The object of the duchess in
obtaining these appointments was to counteract the
political influence of the Duke of Argyle during the
minority of her son. Major Morris was so successful
that, in a few weeks, 760 men were collected at Gordon
Castle, who, in December, 1759, were marched to Aber-
deen. The following officers then received their com-
missions: —
Lieutenant-Colonel commandant — Staates Long Morria, died a
general in the army.
First Major — George Scott, a general in 1798, died in 1811.
Second Major — Hector Munro, a general in 1798, died in 1806.
Captains
Alexander, Duke of Gordon. Norman Lamont, son of the
Alexander Duff of Cubben. laird of Lamont.
George Morrison of Bognie. Duncan Macpherson, afterward
WilUam Macgillivray of Duma- in the 42d and 71st regiments,
glass. died 1807.
Ludovic Grant of Knockando.
Captain-Lieutenant — Archibald Dunbar, son of Sir Archibald
Dunbar of Northfield.
Lieutenants
Lord William Gordon. Ral. Hanson.
Charles Gordon of Shellagreen, George Campbell,
afterward lieutenant-colonel John Gordon,
of the 77th, or Athole High- John Macdonald, lieutenant-
landers, colonel of the 81st Highland
Lawrence Leith. regiment, 1783.
Alexander Stewart of Lismurdie. Alexander Macpherson.
343
EIGHTY-NINTH HIGHLAND REGIMENT
William Baillie, killed in India, William Macphersoa.
1779, then commanding a de- R. T. Rd, Maitland.
tachment of Sir Hector Mun- James Fordyce.
ro's army. Robert Munro.
Alexander Godsman. Alexander Duff of Mayne.
William Finlayson, died in 1817.
Ensigns
Lord George Gordon. Patrick Ogilvie, brother to Ogil-
James Gordon. vie of East Milne.
Alexander Gordon. John Macpherson.
John Edwards. Harry Gilchrist.
Chaplain — Alexander Chambers. Quartermaster — James Bennett.
Adjutant — Alexander Donald. Surgeon — James Arthur.
The regiment embarked at Portsmouth for the East
Indies in December, 1760, and arrived at Bombay in
November following. The Duke of Gordon was de-
sirous of accompanying the regiment, but his mother,
at the especial request of George II, induced him to
remain at home to finish his education.
The 89th had no particular station assigned them,
but kept moving from place to place till a strong de-
tachment under Major Hector Munro joined the army
under the command of Major Camac, in the neighbour-
hood of Patna. Major Munro then assumed the com-
mand, and being well supported by his men, quelled a
formidable mutiny among the troops. After the ring-
leaders had been executed and discipline restored, Major
Munro attacked the enemy at Buxar, on the twenty-
third day of October, 1764, and, though the force
opposed to him was five times as numerous as his own,
he overthrew and dispersed it. The enemy had six
thousand men killed, and left 130 pieces of cannon on
the field, whilst his Majesty's troops had only two officers
and four rank and file killed. Major Munro received a
letter of thanks on the occasion from the president and
council of Calcutta. " The signal victory you gained,"
343 .
THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
they say, " so as at one blow utterly to defeat the designs
of the enemy against these provinces, is an event which
does so much honour to yourself, Sir, in particular, and
to aU the officers and men under your command, and
which, at the same time, is attended with such particu-
lar advantages to the company, as call upon us to return
you our sincere thanks." For this important service
Major Munro was immediately promoted to the brevet
rank of lieutenant-colonel.
The services of the regiment being no longer required
it was ordered home, and was reduced in the year 1765.
It has been remarked, as a singular circumstance at-
tending their service, that, although five years embodied,
four of which were spent in India, or on the passage
going and returning, none of the officers died, nor was
there any promotion or other change among them,
except the change of Lord William Gordon to the 67th
regiment, and the promotion of his successor to his
lieutenancy. The same good conduct which distin-
guished the other Highland corps was not less con-
spicuous in this, — not one man out of eight of the com-
panies, numbering in all 780 men, having been brought
to the halberts. Of the whole regiment only six men
suffered corporal punishment.
JOHNSTONE'S HIGHLANDERS
OR ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST REGIMENT
1760
This regiment, which consisted of five companies,
of five sergeants and 105 rank and file each, was raised
in the year 1760 by the following gentlemen, viz., Colin
Graham of Drainie, James Cuthbert of Milncraigs, Peter
Gordon of Knockespic, Ludovick Grant of the family of
344
JOHNSTONE'S HIGHLANDERS
Rothiemurchus, and Robert Campbell, son of Ballivolin.
These all received captain's commissions.
After the companies were completed they assembled
at Perth, and thence were marched to Newcastle, where
they remained till near the end of the year 1761, when
they were sent to Germany, to reinforce Keith's and
Campbell's Highlanders, Their officers did not accom-
pany them, but were ordered back to the Highlands to
raise six additional companies of the same strength
as the other five. This service was soon performed,
six hundred men having assembled at Perth in a few
months. Major, afterward Sir, James Johnstone of
Westerhall was appointed to the command of the corps,
with the rank of major-cocomandant. The major,
Adjutant Macveah, and Sergeant-Major Coxwell, were
the only persons in the 101st regiment not Highlanders.
Lieutenant-General Lord George Beauclerk reviewed
the regiment at Perth in 1762, and declared that he had
never seen a body of men in a more " efficient state,
and better fitted to meet the enemy." They had, how-
ever, no opportunity of realizing the expectations formed
of them, not having been called into active service. The
regiment was reduced at Perth in August, 1763.
END OF VOLUME VII.
345
NOTES
1. Aodach-sTiaicheantais, means the national costume or dress
complete, with the badge, etc,
2. The list of Badges and War-Cries has been extended and
revised by Mr. Henry Whyte (" Fionn "), Glasgow.
3. " Captain John Campbell of Carrick was one of the most
accompUshed gentlemen of his day. Possessing very agreeable
manners and bravery, tempered by gaiety, he was regarded by the
people as one of those who retained the chivalrous spirit of their
ancestors. A poet, a soldier, and a gentleman, no less gallant
among the ladies than he was brave among men; he was the object
of general admiration; and the last generation of Highlanders
among whom he was best known took great pleasure in cherishing
his memory and repeating anecdotes concerning him. He married
a sister of General Campbell of Mamore, afterward Duke of Argyle,
and grandfather to the present duke." — Stewart's Sketches.
4. An officer in the army writing to his friend at York, says that
these brigades " fought like devils; that they neither gave nor took
quarter; that observing the Duke of Cumberland to be extremely
active in defence of this post (Lafeldt) they were employed, on this
attack, at their own request; that they in a manner cut down all
before them, with a full resolution, if possible, to reach his Royal
Highness, which they certainly would have done, had not Sir John
Ligonier come up with a party of horse, and thereby saved the
duke at the loss of his own liberty." — Gentleman's Magazine, 1747.
5. This officer, who was son of Duncan Campbell, of the family
of Duneaves, in Perthshire, along with Gregor M'Gregor, commonly
called Gregor the Beautiful, grandfather of Sir Gregor M'Gregor,
were presented to George II in the year 1743, when privates in the
Black Watch. " They performed (says the Westminster Journal)
the broadsword exercise, and that of the Lochaber axe, or lance,
before his Majesty, the Duke of Cumberland, Marshal Wade, and a
number of general officers assembled for the purpose in the great
gallery at St. James's. They displayed so much dexterity and skill
in the management of their weapons, as to give perfect satisfactioa
347
NOTES
to his Majesty. Each got a gratuity of one guinea, which they gave
to the porter at the palace gate as they went out," Campbell
was promoted to an ensigncy for his conduct at Fontenoy.
6, To allure the yoimg Highlanders to enlist into other regi-
ments, recruiting parties assumed the dress of the Royal High-
landers, thus deceiving the recruits into the belief that they were
entering the 4 2d. When the regiment lay in Dublin, a party of
Highland recruits, destined for the 38th regiment, arrived there;
but on representing the deception which had been practised upon
them, they were, after a full inquiry, discharged by Lord Townshend,
the lord heutenant. They, however, immediately re-enlisted into
the 42d regiment. — Stewart.
7, " On this occasion Sergeant Macgregor, whose company was
immediately in the rear of the piquet, rushed forward to their
support with a few men who happened to have their arms in their
hands, when the enemy commenced the attack. Being severely
wounded, he was left insensible on the ground. When the piquet
was overpowered, and the few survivors forced to retire, Macgregor,
who had that day put on a new jacket with silver-lace, having,
besides, large sUver buckles in his shoes, and a watch, attracted
the notice of an American soldier, who deemed him a good prize.
The retreat of his friends not allowing him time to strip the sergeant
on the spot, he thought the shortest way was to take him on his
back to a more convenient distance. By this time Macgregor
began to recover; and, perceiving whither the man was carrying
him, drew his dirk, and grasping him by the throat, swore that he
would run him through the breast if he did not turn back and carry
him to the camp. The American, finding this argument irresistible,
compUed with the request, and meeting Lord Cornwallis (who had
come up to the support of the regiment when he heard the firing)
and Colonel Stirling, was thanked for his care of the sergeant;
but he honestly told them that he only conveyed him thither to
save his own life. Lord Cornwallis gave him liberty to go whither-
soever he chose. His lordship procured for the sergeant a situation
under government at Leith, which he enjoyed many years." —
Stewart's Sketches.
8, The affair alluded to is shortly this: — When the " Invin-
cibles " were followed into the ruin by the 42d, the French officer
surrendered the standard of his regiment to Major Stirling, who
gave it in charge to a sergeant of his regiment. The sergeant, when
standing by a gun, was overthrown and stunned by the cavalry,
who had charged in the rear. When he recovered, the standard was
348
NOTES
gone, and he could give no account of it. Some time after this, a
soldier of Stewart's regiment brought a standard to Colonel Aber-
cromby, the deputy adjutant-general, which he stated he had
taken from a French cavalry officer in front of his regiment, and for
which he got a receipt, and a reward of $24. This standard is
preserved; but whether it is the identical one which was deUvered
up to Major Stirhng in uncertain. At all events, the honour of
obtaining possession of the standard belonging to the " Invincibles "
belongs to the 42d.
9. There was no exchange of men and officers between this and
the first battalion.
10. The number of men who died in this battalion from Decem-
ber, 1803, to 24th October, 1814, was 322. The number discharged
and transferred to the first battalion and to other regiments, from
1803 till the reduction in 1814, was 965 men.
11. Lieutenant Allan Maclean was son of Maclean of Torloisk.
He left the Dutch and entered the British service. He was a captain
in Montgomery's Highlanders in 1757; raised the 114th Highland
regiment in 1759; and, in 1775, raised a battalion of the 84th,
a Highland Emigrant regiment; and, by his unwearied zeal and
abilities, was the principal cause of the defeat of the Americans
at the attack on Quebec in 1775-6. Lieutenant Francis Maclean
also entered the British service, and rose to the rank of major-
general. In the year 1777 he was appointed colonel of the 82d
regiment, and, in 1779, commanded an expedition against Penobscot
in Nova Scotia, in which he was completely successful. — Stewart's
Sketches.
349
]Af,^^ V, V !^. Av
TVNews
OpenLibrary