In the early part of the eighteenth century, the British Colonies in North America were extended along the coast;--at the same time, the Indian trade drew many persons into the interior of the country, where they found a delightful climate, and a fruitful soil; and a company of merchants obtained a charter for a tract of land beyond the Allegany Mountains, where they commenced establishing a settlement. The French laid claim to this part of the country, drove away the settlers, and erected a fort to command the entrance into the lands on the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers. These aggressions giving indication of an approaching war, the British army was augmented in the winter of 1755-6, and that distinguished veteran corps, the THIRD REGIMENT OF FOOT, OR THE BUFFS, was increased in numbers to twenty-two companies, and was divided into two battalions in 1756. [Sidenote: 1757] In the summer of 1757, the THIRD Regiment formed part of an expedition against the coast of France, the land forces being under General Sir John Mordaunt, and the fleet commanded by Admiral Sir Edward Hawke. The _Isle of Aix_ was captured in September, and an attack on Rochefort was contemplated; but the wind proved unfavourable, and the fleet returned to England. [Sidenote: 1758] In the spring of 1758, the SECOND BATTALION of the BUFFS was constituted the “SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT,” under the command of Major-General Granville Elliott, from the Austrian service, by commission dated the 21st of April; the lieut.-colonelcy was conferred on Major John Barlow, of the Buff’s, and the majority on Captain Christopher Teesdale, senior captain of the Buffs. The Regiment, being thus formed from the THIRD Foot, was permitted to assume the Buff facing. After its formation, the regiment was encamped at Chatham, with the Thirty-seventh and Sixty-fifth, under Major-General the Earl of Panmure. The following officers were holding commissions in the regiment:-- _Colonel_, MAJOR-GENERAL GRANVILLE ELLIOTT. _Lieut.-Colonel_, JOHN BARLOW. _Major_, CHRISTOPHER TEESDALE. _Captains._ James Patterson A. Singleton Thomas Hardcastle M. Brabazon Roger Crowle William Buckley John Barford _Captain-Lieutenant._ William Gunning _Lieutenants._ John Acklom W. Peyton John Rowland John Waugh John Read N. Doolan Peter Maturin S. Pearce John Poole William Wilson F. Blomberg A. Leishman D. Gilchrist Thomas Brown G. V. Chetwode R. Beatson R. Kelly J. Badger _Ensigns._ John Skinner John Ireland Jarvis Palmer John Keir Edward Crowe Samuel Horner James Savage John Arbuthnot _Chaplain_, George Shaw; _Adjutant_, William Gunning; _Surgeon_, Peter Johnston; _Quarter-Master_, Samuel Grey. Towards the end of the year the regiment embarked for the West Indies, with the armament sent against the French West India Islands, under Major-General Hopson and Commodore Moore. [Sidenote: 1759]