History of the Scottish Regiments in the British ArmyMurray, Archibald K.
History
History of the Scottish Regiments in the British Army
Murray, Archibald K.
Great Britain. Army -- History
Immediately upon their embodiment, these two regiments were embarked for
America at Greenock. Associated in the British army, they were
honourably distinguished in the contest which ensued. Their disbandment
took place respectively in 1775 and 1763. Hostilities having extended to
the continent of Europe, and the Government thoroughly appreciating the
value of the Highland soldier, resolved to enrol, in 1759, other two
regiments for service in Germany, respectively
THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH, or KEITH’S HIGHLANDERS; and
THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH, or CAMPBELL’S HIGHLANDERS.
These so seasonably impressed the enemy with the might of Scottish
valour, that it is alleged the French so magnified the numbers of our
Highlanders as to imagine our army contained twelve instead of two
battalions of kilted warriors. A French officer, lamenting his own
little stature and wishing he had been a six-foot grenadier, is reported
to have become quite reconciled with himself, “when,” as he expresses
it, “he had seen the wonders performed by the little mountaineers.” One
of the journals of the day has this curious account of our
Highlanders:—“They are a people totally different in their dress,
manners, and temper from the other inhabitants of Great 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.” Accustomed to regard retreat as equivalent
to defeat, as something cowardly, it was with great reluctance our
mountaineers yielded obedience to such commands.
The EIGHTY-NINTH, or DUKE OF GORDON’S HIGHLANDERS,
was raised by His Grace, upon his extensive estates, in 1759, and was
destined for service in India. Also, raised in 1760,
The HUNDRED-AND-FIRST, or JOHNSTONE’S HIGHLANDERS.
These, with other Highland corps, were disbanded on the conclusion of
the war in 1763, but not without having won the nation’s
confidence—deserving well of the country, whose gratitude followed them.
A few years later and a new American war burst forth, intensified in its
virulence by its civil character. In the attempts made to suppress the
rebellion of the colonists the old Highland brigade, re-assembled, was
highly distinguished.
Sir Simon Fraser of Lovat, who had already shown his forwardness in
raising the clans in 1757 and ranging them in regiments in defence of
the State, now restored to the patrimony which the rebellion of his
predecessor had forfeited, was again the first to gather around him a
regiment of clansmen, known as
The SEVENTY-FIRST, or FRASER’S HIGHLANDERS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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