Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876Hildyard, Henry John Thoroton
History
Historical record of the 71st Regiment Highland Light Infantry: $b from its formation in 1777, under the title of the 73rd, or McLeod's Highlanders, up to the year 1876
Hildyard, Henry John Thoroton
Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 71st (Highland Light Infantry)
In May, 1807, a further removal to the interior of the prisoners
took place. The officers were collected at a college belonging to
the Jesuits about forty leagues to the northward of Cordova, and
entirely separated from their men. In this situation they remained
until August following, when, just as they were ordered to prepare
for a transfer to a station still more remote, the accounts of the
convention entered into by Lieut.-General John Whitelocke were
received, by which it was stipulated that the prisoners should be
restored to liberty on condition that all the British forces should
be withdrawn. It is scarcely necessary to remark that the prospect
of being restored to liberty and friends was greatly damped by the
military events which produced it, and which completely extinguished
the ardent hopes of success that had been entertained from the
arrival of the last British force in South America.
In September the whole of the officers and men were reconducted to
Buenos Ayres, from whence they were conveyed in boats to Monte Video,
and there embarked in transports with a view of returning to Europe.
It is a circumstance highly creditable to the character of the
soldiers of the Seventy-first that, although so many powerful
allurements were held out to induce them to remain in South America,
but few individuals were found to swerve from their duty and
allegiance to their King and country. The Spaniards were very fond
of the Highlanders, particularly of those who were Catholics. One
of these, named Donald Macdonald, overcome by solicitations, had
almost agreed to remain at Buenos Ayres, but whilst wavering one
of his companions sung to him “Lochaber no more;” the effect was
irresistible; the tears started into poor Donald’s eyes, and wiping
them away, he exclaimed, “Na, na! I canna stay, I’d maybe return to
Lochaber nae mair.”
The fleet sailed immediately, and after a tedious and rough voyage
of three months, the transports having the Seventy-first on board
put into Cork Harbour in December, and on the 27th of that month the
whole were landed, without uniform, clothing, arms, or accoutrements,
and marched to Middleton under the command of Major Henry Tolley,
Lieut.-Colonel Pack having previously returned to England from South
America.
[Sidenote: 1808.]
In March, 1808, the regiment proceeded from Middleton to Cork, where
its equipment in every respect was completed.
[Sidenote: 2nd bat.]
The second battalion embarked at Londonderry for Scotland on the 9th
of April, 1808, after transferring 200 men to the first battalion,
which raised the strength of the latter to nearly 900 rank and file.
[Sidenote: 1st bat.]
On the 26th of April, whilst in garrison at Cork, new colours,
to replace those left in South America, were presented to the
Seventy-first by Lieut.-General John Floyd, who had commanded the
cavalry and advance in the campaign of 1790 in the East Indies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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