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)
On the 8th of May, 1810, the first battalion marched to Deal
Barracks, where every exertion was continued to render it fit for
active service. Here the battalion was deprived of the services of
Lieut.-Colonel Pack, who was appointed a brigadier in the Portuguese
army under Marshal William Carr Beresford, afterwards General the
Viscount Beresford.
Nothing of moment occurred until the early part of September, when
the battalion received orders to hold six companies in readiness for
foreign service. They were prepared accordingly by drafting into
them, from the companies which were to remain at home, the most
effective officers and men, several not having recovered from the
Walcheren fever.
The following were the companies selected and completed for foreign
service, namely:—
1st or Capt. M^cIntyre’s.
2nd ” Hall’s.
3rd ” Adamson’s.
4th ” Walker’s.
6th ” Spottiswoode’s.
10th ” Lewis Grant’s.
They consisted of 2 field officers, 6 captains, 15 lieutenants, 7
ensigns, 4 staff, 38 sergeants, 12 drummers, and 603 rank and file.
On the 14th of September the above companies embarked in the Downs
on board the Melpomene and St. Fiorenzo frigates, three companies
with the staff, and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Nathaniel Levett Peacocke,
on board the former; the remaining three companies, under Brevet
Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Reynell, afterwards colonel of the regiment,
on board the latter. They sailed on the following day for Lisbon,
and entered the Tagus on the 25th of September, after a short and
pleasant passage. The companies were disembarked on the following
day, and quartered in the San Benito and Espirito Santo convents.
The greatest exertions were made to complete the companies in field
equipment, bât-mules, &c., which being effected, the detachment
marched from Lisbon on the 2nd of October to Mafra, where it was
shortly afterwards joined by Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable Henry
Cadogan, who assumed the command, and Lieut.-Colonel Peacocke
returned to the second battalion in North Britain. The detachment
being ordered to join the army under Lieut.-General Viscount
Wellington, then retreating before Marshal Massena, Prince of
Essling, marched from Mafra on the 8th of October, and on the 10th
of that month effected the junction at Sobral, where it was brigaded
with the Fiftieth and Ninety-second Regiments under Major-General Sir
William Erskine, in the first division under Lieut.-General Sir Brent
Spencer, K.B.
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