Part 3
—— Also at _Garris_ —
—— Affair at _Arriverete_ 80
—— The Royal authority granted to Lieut.-Colonel Cameron, to bear on his crest the figure of a Highlander of the 92nd regiment, up to the middle in water, &c., &c., with the word _Arriverete_ —
—— Crossed the Gave d’Oleron, and moved on the road to _Orthes_ 83
—— Engaged at the _battle of Orthes_ —
—— Received the Royal authority to bear the word “_Orthes_” on the regimental colour and appointments —
—— Attack and defeat of the enemy at _Aire_ 84
—— Orders issued to the troops engaged in the action at _Aire_ 85
1814 Address from the mayor and inhabitants of Aire 86
—— Regiment moved to Vic Bigorre, in pursuit; thence to Tarbes and to Muret, on the road to Toulouse 87
—— The French evacuated _Toulouse_, the white flag was hoisted; and the British army entered the city 88
—— Abdication of Napoleon announced —
—— The intelligence disbelieved at _Bayonne_, from whence a desperate sortie was made by the French garrison —
—— Regiment marched into Villa Franche, to Beziege, and thence to Toulouse 89
—— Peace established between Great Britain and France: Louis XVIII. placed on the throne of France; and Napoleon Bonaparte proceeded to the Isle of Elba —
—— Regiment marched to Blanchfort; thence to Pouillac —
—— Received the Royal authority to bear the word “_Peninsula_,” on the regimental colour and appointments —
—— Moved down the Garonne in small craft, and embarked for Ireland —
—— Disembarked at Monkstown, and marched to Fermoy —
—— Received the thanks of Parliament for its meritorious and eminent services during the war —
—— Inspected at Fermoy by Major-General Sir William Aylett, who testified his approbation of its appearance and interior economy —
—— The second battalion disbanded at Edinburgh 90
1815 Napoleon Bonaparte quitted Elba, and returned to Paris: Louis XVIII. withdrew to Ghent; and _Napoleon_ resumed the dignity of _Emperor of the French_ —
—— Preparations for war immediately recommenced —
—— Regiment embarked at Cork for Ostend; from thence proceeded to Bruges, and to Ghent 91
—— Marched to Brussels and brigaded —
—— Reviewed by Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington —
—— Action at Quatre Bras 92
—— Colonel Cameron killed —
—— Received the particular commendations of the Duke of Wellington 93
—— Number of officers and men killed and wounded at Quatre Bras —
—— _The Battle of Waterloo_ 94
—— Destructive charge on a French column at _La Haye Sainte_ by the Scots Greys and _92nd Regiment_ 96
—— The boldness and intrepidity of “_Les Braves Ecossais_” attracted the astonishment of Napoleon Bonaparte —
—— The Prussian army on the road from Wavre —
—— The French made a last effort by a general attack, and were repulsed —
—— The allied troops advanced in pursuit, and forced the enemy to abandon every position, his artillery, arms, stores, &c. &c. —
—— The victory at Waterloo thus was achieved, and a lasting peace has ensued 97
—— Numbers of officers and men killed and wounded at _Waterloo_ —
1815 Honors and rewards conferred on the officers and men engaged in the battle of Waterloo 97
—— Received the Royal authority to bear the word “_Waterloo_” on the regimental colour and appointments —
—— The thanks of the Houses of Parliament communicated 98
—— Received also the thanks of the Highland Society of Scotland —
—— The Allied army continued the pursuit of the French to Paris —
—— General order issued by Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, announcing that, in concert with Field Marshal the Prince Blucher, he had concluded a military convention with the Commander-in-Chief of the French army near Paris, by which the French were to evacuate St. Denis, St. Ouen, Clichy, Neuilly, the heights of Monte Martre, and Paris, at specific and immediate periods; and congratulating the army upon the results of their glorious victory —
—— Louis XVIII. returned to Paris, and was reinstated on the throne of France 99
—— Napoleon Bonaparte fled to the South of France, and surrendered himself to the Captain of the British ship of war, the “Bellerophon.” He was subsequently removed to the Island of St. Helena, which was agreed upon to be fixed as his future residence —
—— The British army was reviewed in camp near Paris by the Emperors of Austria and Russia, and other Sovereigns in alliance with Great Britain —
1815 Regiment marched to St. Germains, and thence to Boulogne 99
—— Complimentary orders issued by Major-General Sir Denis Pack on the regiment quitting his command —
—— Marched to Calais, and embarked for England 100
1816 Landed at Margate, and thence proceeded to Colchester, and subsequently to Edinburgh —
—— The Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia, while on a visit at Edinburgh, was present at an inspection of the regiment —
1817 Embarked for Ireland —
1819 Embarked for Jamaica 101
—— Sustained serious losses in officers and men from yellow fever 102
1820 Appointment of Lieut.-General John Hope to be Colonel in succession to General the Earl of Hopetoun, removed to the 42nd regiment 103
1823 Appointment of Lieut.-General Hon. Alexander Duff to be Colonel in succession to Lieut.-General Sir John Hope, removed to the 72nd Regiment 106
1824 Address from the magistrates and vestry of Trelawny on the good conduct of the regiment while stationed in that part of the island 107
1825 The regiment formed into six _service_, and four _depôt_ companies 109
1827 Embarked for England on being relieved by the 84th regiment 110
—— Landed at Portsmouth, and proceeded to Edinburgh castle —
1828 Embarked for Ireland 111
1829 Lieut.-Colonel John McDonald, appointed from half-pay, assumed the command of the regiment 112
1830 Orders received for tartan trousers to be adopted on all occasions, when the kilt is not worn 112
—— Inspected by Lieut.-General Sir John Byng, commanding the forces in Ireland, by whom great approbation was expressed on the state of the regiment —
—— Address received from the magistrates of _Queen’s County_ on the good conduct of the regiment, particularly when called upon to aid the civil power 114
—— New colours presented to the regiment by Lieut.-General Sir John Byng, K.C.B., with a complimentary address 115
1831 Orders expressive of the approbation of the General Commanding in Chief of the conduct of the regiment, and of the zeal and exertions of Lieut.-Colonel McDonald 118
—— Appointment of Lieut.-General Sir John Hamilton Dalrymple, Bart. (afterwards Earl of Stair) to be Colonel in succession to Lieut.-General Hon. Alexander Duff, removed to the 37th regiment 119
—— Inspected by Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney, K.C.B., by whom great commendation was bestowed —
1832 Detachment employed in aid of the civil power, and in the protection of the magistrates 120
1833 Regiment formed into six service and four depôt companies preparatory for foreign service —
—— Depôt companies embarked for Scotland 121
1834 Service companies embarked for Gibraltar —
1836 Ditto for Malta —
—— Depôt companies embarked for Ireland —
1837 Service companies inspected by Major-General Sir Henry Bouverie, K.C.B., commanding at Malta —
1838 Inspected by H. R. H. Prince Maximilian of Bavaria, on his visit at Malta 121
—— Furnished a Guard of Honor to receive Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, on her arrival at Malta 122
—— The Officers presented to Her Majesty —
—— The Regiment passed in review before Her Majesty —
1840 Depôt companies embarked for Scotland 123
1841 Service companies embarked from Malta for the West Indies —
1843 Appointment of Lieut.-General Sir William Macbean, K.C.B., to be Colonel in succession to General the Earl of Stair, removed to the 46th regiment 124
—— Service companies embarked from the West Indies for England —
1844 Proceeded to Scotland, and joined by the depôt companies at Aberdeen —
1846 Received the thanks of the Magistrates and Commissioners of Police at Edinburgh —
—— Embarked for Ireland —
—— Colonel John McDonald promoted to the rank of Major-General, and Major John Alexander Forbes promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel 125
1850 Stationed in Ireland, and moved to Kilkenny —
—— Received orders to prepare for Foreign Service —
—— Received complimentary address from the Mayor and Citizens of Kilkenny —
1851 Embarked for Corfu —
—— THE CONCLUSION 126
PLATES.
Costume of the regiment _to face page_ 1
Colours of the regiment ” 28
Plan of Arroyo-del-Molinos ” 54
Two soldiers on duty ” 126
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF THE
NINETY-SECOND REGIMENT,
(HIGHLANDERS.)
Year Page
1796 George, Marquis of Huntly, G.C.B. 127 1806 John, Earl of Hopetoun, G.C.B. 129 1820 Sir John Hope, G.C.B. 131 1823 Honorable Sir Alexander Duff, G.C.B. 132 1831 John, Earl of Stair, K.T. — 1843 Sir William Macbean, K.C.B. —
SUCCESSION OF LIEUTENANT-COLONELS 133
SUCCESSION OF MAJORS 134
APPENDIX.
Page
General Order, dated 16th of May, 1801, relating to the campaign in Egypt, and the death of General Sir Ralph Abercromby 137
List of regiments, and names of the Commanding Officers, employed in Egypt in 1801 139
List of regiments employed in the expedition to Copenhagen in 1807 141
General Orders, dated 18th of January, and 1st of February, 1809, relating to the _Battle of Corunna_, and the death of Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, on the 16th of January, 1809 142 & 144
List of regiments, and the names of the Commanding Officers, which composed the army under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore at Corunna 146
List of the British and Hanoverian regiments, as formed in brigades and divisions, and the names of the General Officers, and of the Commanding Officers of Regiments, at the _Battle of Waterloo_, on the 18th of June, 1815 147
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE NINETY-SECOND REGIMENT,
(HIGHLANDERS.)
[Sidenote: 1793]
The French Revolution, which commenced in the year 1789, by its destroying and sanguinary course, menaced Europe with universal anarchy. On the 21st of January, 1793, Louis XVI. was decapitated, and on the 1st of February the National Convention declared war against Great Britain and Holland.
Augmentations were in consequence made to the army; volunteer companies were formed by the patriotism of the British people, and every exertion was made to defend those institutions which had raised England to a high position among the nations of Europe.
[Sidenote: 1794]
To these events the NINETY-SECOND regiment owes its origin. A letter of service was addressed to the Duke of Gordon on the 10th of February, 1794, authorizing him to raise a regiment in Scotland, and the commission of Lieut.-Colonel Commandant was conferred upon his son the Marquis of Huntly.
The establishment of the regiment was directed to consist of one lieut.-colonel commandant, two majors, ten captains, one captain-lieutenant, twenty-one lieutenants, eight ensigns, one adjutant, quarter-master, surgeon, assistant-surgeon, chaplain, serjeant-major, quarter-master serjeant, forty serjeants, twenty drummers, two fifers, and one thousand rank and file.
On the 24th of June, 1794, the regiment was embodied at Aberdeen, and was generally known as “_The Gordon Highlanders_;” the regiment was inspected on the following day by Lieut.-General Sir Hector Munro, K.B., who expressed himself highly pleased with the general appearance of the corps.
The following officers were present, namely:—
_Lieut.-Colonel Commandant_ George Marquis of Huntly. _Major_ Charles Erskine.
_Captains._
Alexander Napier. | William McIntosh. John Cameron. | Alexander Gordon. Honorable John Ramsay. | Simon McDonald. Andrew Patton. | John Gordon (_Capt.-Lieut._)
_Lieutenants._ | _Ensigns._ | Peter Grant. | Charles Dowie. Archibald McDonell. | George Davidson. Alexander Stewart. | Archibald McDonald. John McLean. | Alexander Fraser. Patrick Gordon. | William Todd. | James Mitchell.
_Adjutant_ John Henderson. | _Surgeon_ William Findlay. _Quarter-Master_ Peter Wilkie. | _Assistant-Surgeon_ John Clark.
_Chaplain_ William Gordon.
On the 9th of July, the regiment embarked at Fort George for England, and landed at Southampton on the 16th of August, when it was encamped on Netley Common. About this period it was numbered the _Hundredth_ regiment.
The uniform of the officers was as follows:—
JACKET.—Scarlet, facings yellow, with lappels turned back, and laced two and two; lace, silver, with a blue silk-worm in the centre; flat buttons, silver or plated, with the number of the regiment ‘100’ in the centre.
EPAULETS.—Two for all ranks, of silver bullion, having two stripes of yellow silk in the centre of the strap, with a thistle, and a binding of blue round the edge.
WAISTCOAT.—Scarlet, with regimental buttons, and laced with silver.
BELTED PLAID.—Twelve yards of blue, black, and green tartan, with a narrow yellow stripe.
PURSE, SHOES, AND HOSE.—Badger skin, ornamented with six white tassels, mounted with silver, and having a rim of silver round the top. The shoes were low-quartered, with silver buckles. The rosettes and garters were of red tape. The hose were tartan of white and red chequer.
The sword was the Highland claymore; the sword belt of buff leather, and the breastplate oval, of silver, ornamented with a crown and thistle, encircled by the words “_Gordon Highlanders_.”
The sash was of crimson silk, and was worn across the left shoulder. The bonnet was ornamented with black ostrich feathers, and the dirk was silver mounted.
The dress of the serjeants and privates was similar, the arms of the former being the claymore and halbert, and the latter had muskets; queues were worn by officers and men.
On the 5th of September, the regiment embarked at Southampton for Gibraltar, where it landed on the 27th of October: at this station the drill of the regiment was completed, and it was immediately placed on the garrison roster. The effective strength consisted of three field officers, seven captains, nine lieutenants, six ensigns, four staff, twenty-nine serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and twenty-seven rank and file.
In December the regiment received its colours on Windmill Hill, after being consecrated by the garrison chaplain; the regiment was marched under them by files in ordinary time, previously to which the Marquis of Huntly made a very impressive address, calling the attention of the officers and men to the duties which their King and Country expected from them, and to the honors which he trusted they would acquire under these banners.
The first or King’s Colour was, as usual, the Great Union. The second, or Regimental Colour, was composed of yellow silk; in the centre of both, the number ‘100,’ surmounted with a crown, and the words “_Gordon Highlanders_,” the whole within a wreath of thistles and roses.
[Sidenote: 1795]
On the 11th of June, 1795, the regiment embarked for Corsica, and landed at Bastia on the 11th of July.
In February of the previous year a landing was effected in Corsica by the allied troops, and, through the influence of General Paoli, the Commander-in-Chief of the island, a decree was made by the Assembly of Deputies, declaring the separation of Corsica from France, and its union to the British dominions.
In December, 1795, Lieut.-Colonel the Marquis of Huntly obtained leave of absence, and the command of the regiment devolved on Major Erskine.
[Sidenote: 1796]
The regiment was inspected on the 14th of April, 1796, at Bastia, by Lieut.-General Thomas Trigge, commanding at Corsica, who expressed his gratification at the appearance of the men, and the very correct manner in which they performed the different movements.
On the 14th of May, His Excellency the Viceroy, Lieut.-General Sir Gilbert Eliott reviewed the regiment, and signified his highest approbation of its appearance.
On the following day, the greater portion of the regiment, under the command of Major Alexander Napier, to which rank he had been promoted in March of this year, proceeded to _Corte_, in order to suppress a serious rebellion which broke out in that part of the island, and upon the return of the troops, a general order was issued by Lieut.-General the Honorable John Thomas De Burgh, who had succeeded to the command of the forces in Corsica, expressive of his best thanks for the exertions and good conduct displayed during the above fatiguing service.
Lieut.-Colonel Commandant the Marquis of Huntly was promoted to the rank of colonel of the regiment on the 3rd of May, 1796; Major Charles Erskine was also promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, the commission of the latter being ante-dated 1st May of the previous year.
In July Lieut.-Colonel Erskine obtained leave of absence, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Major Napier.
On the 14th of August, a detachment, consisting of one field officer, two captains, four subalterns, seven serjeants, eight corporals, and two hundred privates, was ordered to be held in readiness at a moment’s notice, to embark upon a secret expedition. The zeal and spirit of the corps showed itself in a most conspicuous manner, by the unanimous wish of the whole to be employed upon it; and in consequence of which, Major Napier, then commanding the regiment, made an offer to that effect to the Commander-in-Chief, who was pleased to give the following answer:—
“The Commander-in-Chief is sensible of the zeal and laudable motive, which have induced the officers and men of the Hundredth regiment to offer their services on the present occasion, and he desires Major Napier to express his best thanks to them, as well as his assurance, that he will be ready at all times to testify his satisfaction at their general good conduct and appearance, although circumstances will not at this time allow him to avail himself of their services to the extent they offer them.”
This expedition proved to be against _Porto Ferrajo_, in the Isle of Elba, and was completely successful, without any loss on the part of the troops employed.