Of the books that have provided me with much of my working material I must acknowledge as the basis of this volume Browne’s _History of the Highlands_, vol. iv., Cromb’s _The Highland Brigade_, Archibald Forbes’ _The Black Watch_, the various regimental records, and for their respective campaigns—Maclean’s _Highlanders in America_, Napier’s _War in the Peninsular_, Dr. Fitchett’s _Wellington’s Men_ and _The Tale of the Great Mutiny_, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s _The Great Boer War_. For the chapter on Afghanistan I have drawn upon Miss Brooke-Hunt’s _Biography_ of Lord Roberts, and for the last chapter I have to thank the proprietors of the _Scotsman_ for permission to quote some extracts from their files. I should also like to express my indebtedness to many other writers, whose books I have named where possible in the text. There are those whose personal assistance has saved me much labour. In particular are my thanks due to my wife, who has collected much material and revised the proof sheets. FREDERICK WATSON. _September 1915._ CONTENTS Preface v 1. The Formation of the Black Watch 1 2. Flanders and Fontenoy 8 3. The Black Watch at Ticonderoga 17 4. With Wolfe and Fraser’s Highlanders 26 at Quebec 5. Red Indian Warfare 33 6. The American War of Independence 43 7. With the Highland Light Infantry at 55 Seringapatam 8. The Winning of the Hackle 63 9. With Abercromby in Egypt 70 10. The Retreat on Corunna 79 11. The Camerons in the Peninsular 91 12. The Gordons at Quatre Bras 105 13. With Wellington at Waterloo 114 14. The Highland Brigade at the Alma 126 15. The ‘Thin Red Line’ at Balaclava 135 16. From Meerut to Cawnpore 142 17. With Sir Colin Campbell and the 158 Sutherlands to Lucknow 18. With Wolseley and the Black Watch to 178 Coomassie 19. With Roberts and the Seaforths in 187 Afghanistan 20. Majuba Hill 204 21. The Highland Brigade at Tel-el-Kebir 212 22. From El-Teb to Omdurman 218 23. Chitral and Dargai 234 24. Outbreak of War in South Africa 241 25. The Highland Brigade at 255 Magersfontein 26. Paardeberg and the Gordons at 264 Ladysmith