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Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 M i\ '■L>^ '-Miiiiiigiijuimi m^ atSS^gaa..* •iMs^a**!!,- ' HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, OR * CAMEEONJAN REGIMENT. C^ r\ ^> S' 'H EDITED BY THOMAS CARTER, AUJUTAKT-OKNERAL's office, horse GUARDS; AUTHOR OF "curiosities 07 WAR,'* "MEDALS OF THE BRITISH ARMT," JtC. " The lyart veteran heard the word of God By Cameron thundered." " Their deeds, These on tradition's tongue still live, these shall On history's honest page be pictured bright To latest times." Grahame. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. LONDON : W ...0, .M.ITCH^l.L, MILITARY PUBLISHER, ;•••..:!*.:•.. ij^,. CHAUING CROSS. >« ••'(•••( , •. • • • • , • , •» • , . , ■ J . ■- J ■> THE TWENTY-SIXTH, OB CAMERONIAN REGIMENT, BEARS ON THE HEQIMKMTAL COLOUR i(V EGYPT," "THE SPHINX," " CORUNNA," "CHINA," "THE DRAGON," PREFACE. The official publication of the Historical Records of the Regiments of the British Army was autho- rised by the following General Orders, dated Horse Guards, 1st January, 1836: — His Majesty has been pleased to command that, with the view of doing the fu'ilest justice to Regiments, as well as to Individuals who have distinguished them- selves by their Bravery in Action with tlie Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regiment in the British Army, shall be published under the superintendence and direction of the Adjutant-General; and that this Account shall contain the following particulars, viz. : — The Period and Circumstances of the Original Formation of the Regiment ; The Stations at which it has been from time to time employed; The Battles, Sieges, and other Military Operations in which it has been engaged, particularly specifying any Achievement it may have performed, and the Colours, Trophies, &c., it ma;y have captured from the Enemy. The Names of the Officers, and the Number of Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates Killed or Wounded by the Enemy, specifying the Place and Date of the Action. The Names of those Officers who, in consideration of their Gallant Services and Meritorious conduct in Engagements with the Enemy, have been distinguished ft PREFACE. witli TitlcB, Medals, or other Marks of" His Majesty's gracious favour. . The Names of all such Officers, Non-Commissioncd Officers, and Privates, as may have specially signalized themselves in Action. And, Tlie Badges and Devices which the Regiment may liave been permitted to bear, and the Causes on account of which such Badges or Devices, or any other Marks of Distinction, have been granted. By Command of the Right Honourable ; , GENERAL LORD HILL, Commanding-in- Chief. . * '. John Macdonald, Adjutant- General. Several regimental histories were in conse- quence compiled by the late Mr. Richard Cannon, when Principal Clerk of the Adjutant- General's Office, and published, in the first instance, under the patronage of King William the Fourth, and afterwards of Her Majesty the Queen. Upon Mr. Cannon's retirement, after a lengthened offici^i career of upwards of half a century, the Adjutant-General, in consequence of my having assisted that gentleman in preparing these Records, recommended me to the Lords Com- missioners of the Treasury as the future Editor, but it was decided that they should not be con- tinued. Although the present History is not, therefore, PBEFACE. til published by authority, yet I have endeavoured by fresh research, suggested by increased ex- perience, to make it as complete as possible; and to keep up that desirable feeling of esprit' de-corps which the publication of Regimental Records, under such distinguished patronage, was specially designed to encourage, these pages are now submitted to the Array and to the Public, in the hope that they will not prove altogether unacceptable ; while, at the same time, they are intended to afford pleasure to those who have served, are serving, or who have had rela- tives and friends, in the fine old Twenty-Sixth, or Cameronian Regiment. T. C. *r .(.'.- /^..yl( THE TWENTY-SIXTH, OK CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. CONTENTS OP THB HISTORICAL RECORD. Year .- . Paob 1688 Introducticx • • 1 1689 Formation of the Regiment • • 3 The Earl of Angus appointed its Colonel • • — Names of Officers .... • t 5 Terms of agreement on which tho Cameronians were embodied . . . . 6 Action at Dunkeld .... 9 Death and services of Colonel Clcland . 10 Remodelling of the Regiment 15 1690 Names of Officers .... 16 1691 The Regiment embarked for Flanders . 17 1692 Battle of Steinkirk .... 19 Death of the Earl of Angus 21 Lieut.-Colonel Andrew Monro promoted Colonel of the Regiment .... • • 22 1693 Battle of Landen, or Ncer-Winden • 23 Lieut.-Colonel James Ferguson promoted Colonel of - the Regiment .... 24 1694 Operations of the Campaign 25 1695 Attack on Fort Kenoquo . — Capture of Namur .... 26 1696 Reviewed by King William III. 28 1697 Peace of Ryswick . . . . — 1700 Tho Regiment proceeded to Scotland . — 1701 War of the Spanish Succession . 29 CONTENTS OF THE HISTOEICAL RECORD. YEin Paob 1702 The Regiment embarked for Flanders ... 29 Siege of Kaiserwaert ...... — Capture of Veuloo, Stcvenswaert, Rnreraoud, and Liege . . . . . . . .31 1703 Reviewed by the Duke of Marlborough . . 32 Sieges of Bonn, Limbuig, and Guelders . . 33 1704 Action at Donawert 85 Capture of Rain and Aicha .... 37 Occupation of Fricdburg ..... — Battle of Blenheim 39 Landau invested ...... 42 Occupation of Lauterburg ..... — Surrender of Landau ..... 43 1705 Relief of Liege 44 Recapture of Huy ...... — Forcing the lines at Hildesheim .... — Surrender of Louvain 45 Passage of the Dyle — Siege of Sandvliet ...... 46 Colonel John Borthwick appointed Colonel of the Regiment ....... 48 1706 Exchanged with Colonel Lord John Dalrymple, aftcnvards Earl of Stair .... — Battle of Ramillies 49 Lieut. -Colonel George Preston promoted Colonel of . the Regiment 50 Sieges of Ostend, Dendermond, and Aeth . . — 1707 Operations of the Campaign .... 52 1708 Battle of Oudenarde 53 Siege of Lisle 54 Action at Wynendale 56 Capture oi Lisle 59 Siege of Ghent 60 1709 Capitulation of Tournay 61 Siege of Mens 62 Battle of Malplaquet — Reduction of Mens 65 1710 Passage of the lines at Pont k Vendin . . 66 CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. :ci Ykar 1710 1711 1712 1713 1715 1716 1720 1727 1738" 1748 1751 1754 1757 1760 1763 1767 1775 Investment of Douay .... Siege of Bcthunc ..... Passage of the lines on the Scheklt Siege and capture of Bouchain . Services of Colonel Blackader . The Duke of Marlborough succeeded by the Duke of Ormond Bombardment of Arras .... Siege of Quesnoy Suspension of Arms ..... Treaty of Utrecht The Regiment embarked for Ireland . Ordered to England, on account of the Rebellion in favour of the Pretender Action at Pi-ostou, Lancashire . Additional services, and death of Colonel Blackader The Regiment returned to Ireland Lieut.-Colonel Philip Anstruther appointed Colonel of the Regiment .... The Regiment embarK^u for Gibraltar . Defence of Gibraltar ..... The Regiment embarked for Minorca . The Regiment returned to Ireland Royal Warrant regulating the clothing, standards facings, number, and rank of Regiments . The Regiment proceeded to Scotland . Returned to Ireland .... Colonel Edward Sandford appointed Colonel of the Regiment Colonel John Scott appointed Colonel of the Regi ment ....... The Regiment embarked for North America . War with the American Colonists Services of the Regiment at Fort Ticonderoga Crown Point, St. John's, and Fort Chambly Defence of Quebec ..... Major-Greneral Lord Adam Gordon appointed Colonel of the Regiment .... Paob 66 69 71 72 73 75 76 77 78 81 82 83 85 87 88 xH CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. I' Year 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1786 1787 1793 1795 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 The Regiment removed to New York . Action near Elizabeth Town Point Attack on Forts Montgomery and Clinton . Evacuation of Philadelphia Declaration of War by France . Remains of the Regimjnt embarked for England Ordered to Tamworth to recruit . Marched to Shrewsbury .... Arrived at Tynemouth .... Major-General Sir William Erskine, Bart., appointed Colonel of the Regiment The Regiment proceeded to Scotland . Embai'ked for Ireland .... Authorised to revive the title of " Cameronian " Embarked for Canada .... Inspected by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent Major-General the Honourable Sir Charles Stuart, K.B., appointed Colonel of the Regiment . The Regiment proceeded from Canada to Nova Scotia ...... Embarked for England .... Lieut.-General Andrew Gordon appointed Colonel of the Regiment ..... The Regiment proceeded to Egypt Action near Alexandria .... Surrender of Alexandria .... The Regiment returned to England Authorised to bear the word " Egypt," with the "Sphinx" Medal conferred by the Sultan . Names of Recipients .... The Regiment proceeded to Scotland . Formation of the Second Battalion The First Battalion embar^ked for Ireland Demonstration of national feeling at Maybole by the Mayor and Corporation .... The Second Battalion proceeded to Ireland . Both Battalions encamped on the Curragh . Paob 89 90 91 92 9. 94 95 96 97 99 100 101 103 104 CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XIU Ykar Page 1805 The Firat Battalion embarked for Germany . . 108 Wreck of the "Maria" and "Aurora" transports . — Officers and men lost therein . . . .109 Return home of the remainder of the Battalion . — 1806 Major-General Lord Elphinstonc appointed Colonel of the Regiment IJO The First Battalion embarked for Ireland . .111 1807 The Second Battalion proceeded from Ireland to North Britain 112 1808 The First Battalion encamped on the Cmragh . 114 Embarked for Cornnna — Names of Officers who proceeded to Spain . .115 Subsequent operations 116 1809 Retreat on, and Battle at, Coruuua . . . 126 • Authorised to bear the word "Corunna" . .127 The Battalion embarked for England . . .128 Encamped near Portsmouth . . . .131 The First Battalion embarked for Walchercn . 132 Names of Officers who proceeded therewith . . — Operations after the landing . , . .133 Fearful casualties from Fever .... 135 Return home of the Expedition .... — 1810 The First Battalion ordered to proceed to the neighbourhood of London, on the occasion of the ^ Riots, when Sir Francis Burdett was sent to the Tower 137 The First Battalion embarked for Jersey . . — 1811 Ordered to Portugal — Names of Officers embarked .... — Blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo . . . .140 Affairs near Aldea de Ponte . . . .142 1812 Sickness in the First Battalion . . . .145 Removed to Lisbon . . . . . . — Embarked for Gibraltar 147 1812 Success in recruiting the Second Battalion, still in Scotland .......— 1813 Major-Gcneral the Earl of Dalhousie, K.B., ap- pointed Colonel of the Regiment . . . 148 XIV CONTENTS OP THE HISTORICAL EECORD. (1 Year Pagb 1814: Disbandment of the Second Battalion . . . 152 1822 The Regiment proceeded from Gibraltar to Ireland 165 1824 Dispersed state of the Regiment . . . .158 1827 Removed to England 163 1828 Embarked for Madras 165 1830 Proceeded to Calcutta 169 1831 Toilsome marches 171 1834 Ordered on Field Service 177 Differences with the Rajah of Joudporc arranged . — 1836 Sufferings from Cholera 180 1838 Major-General Sir John Colborne (afterwards Lord Seaton), G.C. B. , appoi nted Colonel of the Regiment 182 1839 Question regarding the Pipers . . . .184 1840 The Regiment embarked for China . . . 185 Names of Officers who proceeded therewith . . — Death of Colonel Qglander . . . .186 Landing at Chusan . . . . . .187 Dreadful mortality there ..... — Singular Memorandum, from the Court of Directors, in reference to the health of the Regiment whilst '' ' in India ..... 1841 Attack upon Cheumpec Advance on Whampoa Occupation of Howqua's Fort Operations against Canton Affair near that place Complimentary Order by Major-General Sir Hugh Gougli ..... Attack of Amoy Koolangsoo 1842 Affair near Ningpo .... Attack of Chapoo .... Occupation of Paoushau and Shanghae Capture of Chin Keang-foo Landing at Nankin .... — ~ Conclusion of Peace .... ■ The Regiment authorised to bear the word "China" with the " Dragon " 198 188 189 191 192 193 195 196 197 1: CONTENTS OP THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XV Year Paqb 1842 Embarked for Calcutta . . ... 199 1843 Complimentary Order on the return home of the Regiment 200 Napoleon's Tomb at St. Helena, visited by the Regimeut 202 Stationed at Edinburgh Castle .... 203 1844 Presentation of New Colours by Lady Douglas . 205 Complimentary Order on the Regiment leaving Edinburgh 209 A iived at Newcastle-on-Tyne . . . .211 1845 Recruiting e: tended to England and Ireland . — The Regiment embarked for Ireland . . .212 1846 Colonel Mountain appointed aide-de-camp to the Queen 213 The Regiment marched to Dublin . . .214 1847 Removed to Buttcvant . .. . . .215 1848 Presentation of the Good Conduct Medal to Colour- Sergeant James Searson . . . .218 1 849 Guard of Honour, under Captains Layard and Carey, to receive the Queen at Cork . . . .219 1860 The Service Companies embarked for Gibraltar . 220 The Depot Companies removed from Ireland to Jersey 221 1851 The Depot Companies embarked for South Britain — 1853 The Service Companies proceeded to Canada . 222 1 854 Major-Gcneral Sir Philip Bainbriggc, C. B., appointed Colonel of the Regiment .... 223 The Sei-vice Companies removed to Bermuda . — 1855 The Depot Companies embarked for Ireland. . 224 Returned to England ..... — 1856 Enfield Rifles supplied to the Regiment . . 225 Yellow Fever at Bermuda .... 226 1857 Commission appointed to report thereon . . 227 1858 Plaid Forage Cap of the Regiment authorised to be continued 228 The Depot Companies removed to Ireland . . 229 1859 The Service Companies arrived at Kingstown in Ireland, from Bermuda 230 XVI CONTENTS OP THE HISTORICAL RECORD. lit Year Paox 1860 Interchangeable Kifles issued to the Regiment in lieu of the Enfield 233 1861 The Regiment embarked at Dublin for Edinburgh . 233 1862 Presentation of New Colours by Lady Belhavcn . — Complimentary Order on quitting Edinburgh . 234 The Regiment proceeded to Aldershot . . . 235 Three Pipers authorised for the Regiment . . — Major-General George enry Mackinnon, C.B., appointed Colonel of the Regiment . 1863 The Depot Companies removed from Ireland to Preston, Lancashire ..... 1865 The Service Companies ordered to proceed to Bombay District Order prior to Embarkation . Names of Officers embarked .... 1866 The Regiment stationed at Camp Bclgaum . 1867 Conclusion 236 237 238 240 SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS, 1689 to 1867 241 APPENDIX. I. — Stations and Out-Posts of the 26th Regiment, in -" Ireland, between October, 1822, and October, 1827 . 257 II. — Correspondence regarding the Pipers . . . 258 III. — Questions and Replies relating to the Epidemic Fever at Bermuda in 1856 261 IV. — CoiTcspondence relative to the Plaid Forage Cap worn by the Regimeut 264 ILLUSTRATIONS, Uniform of 1866 Uniform of 1713 .... Colours presented by Lady Bel'mvcn Frcntls^ jce. to face 77 . 233 HISTORICAL HECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH. OR CAMERONIAN REaiMElSTT. ."kC, J The Regiment which forms the subject of this 1688. Eccorcl derives its popuhir designation of Cameronians from the sect (named after one of its first preachers, Richard Cameron) formed at the time when the religious persecutions of the Stuart family enforced against their subjects of the Presbyterian persuasion in Scotland, led to the assembling of bodies of men, who, rendered desperate by ill-usage, occasionally apj)eared in arms to resist this cruel and ill-judged policy. Looking upon themselves as the remnant who had not bowed the knee to Baal, these devoted men frequently met for worship during the silent hours of night, on many a Scottish hill-side, moor, or in lonely glen — the attempts made for their extii-pation tending, as usual, only to increase their numbers. Such an example had its due effect in keeping up the spirit of resistance in the North against arbitrary power ; and when the encroach- ments of James II. on the civil and religious liberties of the nation led to his flight from England, the Camero* B HISTORICAL RECOUD OF Tllli TWKNTY-SIXTIf, II i'i I iii! li : 1688. nians gave proof of their clcvotiou to the priiici|tlo.' of the Revolution of 1688, as .several of tlieni, at this era, had volunteered for service in the Camcronian Guard, for the temporary support of the Estates ; and, moreover, rendered important service to their country hy protecting, together with the militia and some of the Argyle High- landers, the early sittings of the ('Onvention, wherein the Duke of Hamilton obtained the ascendancy, and thus rendered the new state of things, brought about by the flight of James II. and the anival in London of the Prince of Orange in November, permanent to the north of the Tweed. The Duke of Gordon, a Roman Catholic, held the Castle at Edinburgh, which had placed the members of the Convention in danger; but apprehension was allayed when Colonel Sir John Lanier appeared with reliefs, and their security was confirmed 1689. towards the middle of March, 1689, by the arrival in Edinburgh of the three Scots Regiments which had been employed for many years in the Dutch serv'^e, and had been ordered to Scotland under the command of Major- General Mackay, one of these corps being his own and the other two that of Brigadier Balfour and Colonel Ramsay's. The Cameronian Guard, consisting principally of inhabitants of Glasgow, being thus relieved, were dis- missed with the thanks of the Convention for the timely assistance afforded. A proclamation was issued in April, requiring all men between sixteen and sixty to be ready in arms ; and a proposition of the Came- ronians, chiefly in and about Douglas, had been can- vassed amongst their friends, as to the advisability of supjjlying a regiment for His Majesty's service. Such was the patriotism of the Cameronians, and their zeal and devotion, that twelve hundred men were raised in OR CAMEROStAN RP.OtMEyi'. d one clay, on tlie inatant, witliout beat of drum, and 1G89. witliout levy money ; and upon being regimented, they were plaeed under the command of the young Earl of Angus, not then twenty, only son of the Marquess of Douglas, to whom, as the first colore!, the Estates granted the following connnission,* dated 19th of April, 1689 :— " The Estates of the kingdom of Scotland, con- " sidering that James, Lord Angus has made an offer " to levie a Regiment of 1200 foot, to be commanded " by him as Colloncll, and to be employed in the service " of His Majestic, William, by the grace of God, King " of Great Ikitain, France and Irchind; and the Estates " re|K)scing trust and conlidcnoc in the lidclitic couradgc " and good conduct of the said James, Tiord Angus, . " have therefore nominated, constituted and appoynted, " and by these presents doe nominate, constitute, and " appoynt the said James, Lord Angus to be Colloncll " of the said regiment of foot appoynted by the act " of the said Estates of the dait of these presents, " to be levied by him as said is consisting of 20 com- " panics, and 60 men in each company, Avith full power " to the said James, Lord Angus to nominate the " Lieutenant Collonell and Major of the said regiment, " and the (Japtains and inferior Officers of the several " companies, and to grant Commissions accordingly, *' and to command and exercise the said regiment, " both officers and souldiers, as Collonell and Captain '^ carefully and diligently, and to keep them in good " order and discipline, and to doe and act all things " competant and incumbent for any Collonell of foot Thomson's " Acts of Scottish Parliament." B 2 4 IIISTOUICAL RECOKD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1689. " to do and performe, lequireing and commanding " hereby all officera and souldiera of the Baid regiment " to give due obedience to the said James, liord Angus " a» their Colloncll and to the rewpective commanding " Officers, -and further the estates do hereby command " and require the said James, Lord Angus to observe " and prosecute such orders and directions as he shall *' receive from tyme to tyme from them or from Major " General Mackay, present Commander in Chiefe of " the forces of this kingdome, or any other Commander " in Chiefe for the tyme, or any superior Officers, *' according to the rules and discipline of War, and " the estates do deulair that such company of both " officers and souldiers is to enter in pay afte; the " same is mustered compleat, and the Field Officer " after the whole regiment is mustered, and that his * " Commission shall continue untill the King's most " excellent Majestic shall be pleased to gi-ant new Com*- " missions for the said regiment, ' or othenvise dispose " ' thereof signed by waiTant,' and in the name of the " Estates by the Duke of Hamilton their President." Alexander Shields was appointed chaplain to the Earl of Angus's Regiment,* and his brother, Michael, clerk ; • Regiments were r.t first distinguished by tlic names of their colonels, and were not officially designated by their uumeilcal titles until the "Warrant of the 1st of July, 1751, was issued, by which it was required that ** the number of the rank of the regiment" should be painted, or embroidered, in gold Eoman characters on the colours. Before this period, however, Boards had been assembled to decide on the rank and precedency of regiments; the first was held in the Netherlands on the 10th of June, 1694, by King William III.; thesecond, in 1713, in Queen Anne's reign; and a third, by King George I., in 1715. The rule followed was, that English regitnebts raised In tlngland took rank I OR CAMERONIAN KEGIMENT. one of the stipulations being, that the Cameroniuns 1689, should liave a minister of their own persuasion, and that each company should be provided with an elder, in order that piety might be promoted, and offenders reproved. The following officers were appointed to the Regi- ment : — Compa nl«8. Captalni. Lioutcnants. Enslgni, 1st Col. Earl of Angus. Walsh, Capt. Lieut. Cranston. 2n(l Lieut.-Col. Cleland. Gilchrist. Pringle. Srcl Major Henderson. Stuart. Boyd. 4th Capt . Ker, of Kersland. Oliphant. Ferguson. 5th Monro. Dalzell. Campbell. Cth Roy Campbell. Hutchinson. J. Campbell. 7th Hay. Forrester. Nesmyth. 8th Dim Campbell. Cathcart. 9th Bortlwick. f Johnstone. \ W. Campbell. ) Grenadier j Company. 10th Hume. • • Lang. 11th Craigmoor. Veitch. Cleghorn. 12th Halden. Tate. Denniston. 13th Harris. Ballantine. Wilson. 14th Lindsay. • /, t Blackader. Kirkland. 15th Steil. Calder. Wilson. 16th Gilchrist. Clarke. Hislop. 17th Mathison. Harkness. M'Cullock. 18th Caldwell. Stewart. Hay. 19th Stephenson. Aikeman. Stephenson. 20th Gunn. Fairbom. Young. from the dates of their formation, and that English, Scots, and Irish regiments raised for the service of a foreign power, should have precedency from the dates of their being placed on the English establishment. The last Warrant published, which also followed the same ruling as the foregoing, was that of King George HI., dated 19th December, 1768. For yeai-s the 26th had been popularly known as the Caraeronians, on account of the origin of the corps; and this designation was revived, by royal sanction, in 1786, as shown in this Record of its services; but no other namerical title than the present one has ever been authorised. n 6 IIISTOJUCAL in:CO|{l> OF TIIK TWKNTV-SIXTl' 1689. Licut.-Coloucl (ylclantl's commission was of* the same (late and purport, vesting liim with power to act and command tlic Regiment in the absence of the Earl of Angus. • '' ■'' ■' ■ '" ■■'■■' '"'' '■ "' '^'"^ ' * ^'■: '' ' Although the sanction c»f the Estates had been thus obtained on the 19th of April, jet tlic organization of the Cameronians was not completed till the 12th of IMay, when they were embodied at Douglas, and on the 14tli were mustered by Mr. Buntine, Muster Master General, on the Holm, a field near that town. The following terms of agreement were read and explained to the men by their Lieut.-Colonel : — ^' 1. That all the officers of the Regiment shall be " such as in conscience and prudence may, with " cordial confidence, bo submitted unto and fol- " lowed ; such as have not served the enemy in " destroying, nor engaged by oaths and tests to " destroy the cause, now to be fought for and " defended. " 2. Tliat they shall be well affected, of approved *' fidelity, and of a sober conversation. '' 3. They declare : that the cause they are called to *' appear for is, the service of the King's Majesty, . .• "in the defence of the nation; recovery and " preservation of the Protestant religion ; and, " in particular, the work of reformation in Scot- " land, in opposition to Popery, prelacy, and " arbitrary power in all its branches and steps. " until the government of church and state be " brought back to their lustre and integrity, " established in the best and purest terms.'** 1 : :'■ * "■ Memorial of Gricvancfs." — " Faithful CouteiKhn^s." .iC-'i ir OR CAMEUONIAN KEOIMENT. i' ii f Early in June, the Cameronians were at Diiinblain, 1G89. Stirling, and St. Ninian^, where they received an issue of four hundred stand of armw, and shortly after they joined Major-deneral Maekay, to watcli the movements of Viscount Dundee, whose activity, influence, and abilities rendered his operations very dangerous. His success at Killiccrankie, at which battle the Ilegiment was not present, might have proved prejudicial to the Protestant cause, had it not been more than counterbalanced by the wound and subsequent death of this extraordinary man. Mackay, who had made «i skilful retreat with two unbroken regiments, soon regained the ascendancy, having to contend with Brigadier-Creneral Cannon, an adversary every way inferior to his predecessor, Dundee. The Cameronians, whom he had left at Dunkeld the day before the battle, joined the remains of his army on his retreat to Stirling. In July the Regiment was stationed at Perth as a check on the Highlanders, who had made several irruptions into the lowlands, to plunder and levy contributions. After receiving some reinforcements, Mackay again moved forward to counteract the designs of Cannon, who, how- ever, undertook nw enterprise of importance. The Cameronians were then ordered to occupy Dunkeld,* where they arrived on the 17th of August. Cannon, who, from neglect or want of influence, had hitherto not turned to advantage the unexpected result of the battle of Killiccrankie, now brought the whole of liis army, consisting of about five thousand men, to bear on the post of Dunkeld. Lieut.-Colonel Cleland, anticipating the danger to which he might be exposed '* Dlackadcr. HISTOllICAL RECORD OP THK T\VKNTy-8IXTH i' l'\ 'I i! f\ I 1689. in an open town — the goodwill of whose inhabitants was doubtful — lost no time in preparing for its defence by availing liimself of the localities, Avhich proved of great advantage. The Ptone walls, which formed the fences of the fields and gardens, Avere repaired, and the posts of the picqucts made tenable against a sudden attack. The Marquess of Atliol's house and the church were converted into defensible posts ; and every arrange- ment was made, that the withdrawal of the various picqucts might be conducted Avith regularity. On the 19th, Lord Cardross marched in Avith five troops of cavalry, and on the morning of the 20th a general reconnaissance of the enemy's position Avas effbcted, Avho, in the course of the operation, were driven into the Avoods. The troops then retired into the town. The same night the horse marched to Perth, in obedience to a second and peremptory order to that effect. The Cameronians were thus left in a situation of great peril, their escape from which Avas due to the skill and foresight of Lieut-Colonel Cleland, and the persevering courage of the officers and men. The attack of the Highlanders commenced about seven on the morning of the 21st of August. After a brisk action, the immense superiority of the rebels compelled the outposts to retire ; an operation Avhich was effected, with scarcely any loss, in strict conformity Avith Colonel Cleland's previous arrangements. The enemy thus obtained possession of the greater part of the town, an advantage which the official report* made to King James ascribes to the gallantry of Sir Alexander M'Lcane and liis Highlanders, Avho alone in it are admitted to have * (( Macpherson's Papers," Vol. i. p. 371. m OR CAMEUONIAN REGIMENT. 9 taken part in the engagement; but which was really the 1689. result of Lieut.-Colouel Cleland's plan of defence. " The Lieut. -Colonel had before possessed some out- " posts, with small parties, to whom ho pointed out " every step for their retreat. Captain William Hay and " Ensign Lockhart were posted on a little hill, and tlie " ensign was ordered With twenty-eight men to advance " to a stone dyke at the foot of it. They were attacked " by the rebels, who were in armour, and the foresaid " other battalion. And after they had entertained them " briskly with their fire for a pretty space, the rebels " forced tlie dyke, and obliged them to retire, firing from " one little dyke to another, and at length had to betake " themselves to the house and yard-dykes ; in which " retreat Captain Hay had his leg broken, and the whole " party came off without any more hurt. " Lieutenant Stuart was placed in a barricade at tlie " cross with twenty men, who, seeing the other lieutenant " retire, brought his men from that ground, and was " killed in the retreat, there being a multitude of the " rebels upon them. " Lieutenant Forrester and Ensign Campbell were at " the wesc end of the town, within some little dykes, " with twenty-four men, who fired sliarply upon the *^ enemies' horse, until great numbers of foot attacked '' tlieir dykes, and forced them to tlie church, where " were two lieutenants anil about one hundred men."* The assailants then commenced a vigorous attack both on the castle and church; in the front of the former * *' The Exact Narrative of the Conflict at Dunkeld betwixt the Eail of Angus' Regiment antl the Rebels." ! 10 MISTOIIICAL JlEC'OUn OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1689. Colonel Clclaiul* was killed, whilst encouraging his men, early in the action, and ]\Iajor Henderson, who received three wounds, died in a few days. This occurred about an hour after tlie conflict had commenced, when the command of the ]legimcnt devolved on Captain Monro. Undaunted by their loss, the Cameronians kept up a most destructive fire, which, together with the flames of some neighbouring Iiouscs, effectually baflled all the persevering and gallant attacks of tlieir opponents, who, despairing of success, relaxed in tl. eir efforts about * Colonel Clelaud was one of the most accomplished and gallant leaders the Covenanters ever had; but unlike many others of them, little is luiown of his early history. lie was born near Diunfries, and shortly after quitting the University was chosen one of their otBcers, before he was eighteen. At Drumclog or Louden Hill, where Duntloc, then Claverhouse, was nearly taken prisoner, the victory was generally ascribed to a stratagem of Cloland's. At Bothwell Bridge he was a captain. After the defeat at that place ho fled to Holland; in IG80 he was again in Scotland, but the Earl of Argyle's expedition having failed, he oiico more escaped to the Continent. lu 1G88, he and Dr. Blackader (brother of Colonel Blackader) were sent as agents by the Scottish emigrants in Holland to prepare his countrymen for the expected landing of the Prince of Orange. Captain CIcland was a great favourite with the Earl of Angus, and was appointed Lieut. -Colonel of his regiment. His efforts to withdraw when he was mortally wounded, lest his fall should discourage his soldiers, stamp him as a true hero. Lieut. -Colonel Cleland was a poet of considerable ability, his productions Idng chiefly humorous and satirical, although he was able to rise to higher and more dignified flights of fancy. This gift was also possessed by his son, William CIcland, Esq., one of the Commissioners of the Customs in Scotland, who was the author of the prefatory letter to Pope's Dunciad, and is believed to have been the original of the famed AVill Honeycomb, of the " Spectator." OR CAMEHONIAN ItKOIMKNT. '>»l' 11 eleven o'clock, and shortly after withdrew in confusion 1689. to the hills, notwitlistandinji; the earnest attempts of their officers to rally and brin[>' them back to tlie assault. Mackay did not approve of the arrangement by which the (/ameronians had been sent to garrison Duiikcld. Lord Macaulay, in his History of England, alludes to this fact, and thus describos the foregoing action : — " It soon appeared that liis forebodings were just. '' The inhabitants of the country round Dunkeld fur- " nished Cannon with intelligence, and lu'ged him to " make a bold push. The peasantry of Athol, impatient " for spoil, came in great numbers to swell his army. " The Regiment hourly expected to be attacked, and be- " came discontented and turbulent. The men, intrepid, " indeed, both from constitution and from enthusiasm, " but not yet broken to habits of military submission, " expostulated with Cleland, who commanded them. " They had, they imagined, been recklessly, if not " perfidiously, sent to certain destruction. They were "■ protected by no ramparts, they had a very scanty stock " of ammunition, they were hemmed in by enemies. " An officer might mount and gallop beyond reach of " danger in an hour, but the private soldier must stay " and be butchered. ' Neither I,' said Cleland, ' nor any '' ' of my officers will, in any extremity, abandon you. ** ' Bring out my horse, all our horses, they shall be " ' shot dead. These words produced a complete '' change of feeling. The men answered that the horses " should not be shot, that they wanted no pledge from " their brave colonel except his word, and that they " would run the last hazard with him. They kept their " promise well. The Puritan blood was now thoroughly " up, and what that blood was when it Avas uj), had been " proved on many fields of battle. . ! . ; ..i-; •»'. 12 HISTORTCAL RECOnn OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1689. " That night the Regiment passed under arms. On the morning of the following day, the 21st of August, all the hills round Dunkeld were alive with bonnets and plaids. Cannon's army was much larger than that which Dundee had commanded. More than a thousand horses, laden with baggage, accompanied his march. Both the horses and baggage were probably part of the booty of Killiccrankic. The wliolo number of Highlanders was estimated by those who saw them at from four to five thousand men. They came furiously on. The outposts of the Cameronians were speedily driven in. The assailants came pouring on every side into the streets. The church, however, held out obstinately, l^ut the greater part of the Regiment made its stand behind a wall which sur- rounded a house belonging to the Marquess of Athol. This wall, which had two or three days before been hastily repaired with timl)er and loose stones, the soldiers defended separately Avith musket, pike, and halberts. Their bullets were soon spent; but some of the men were employed in cutting lead from the roof of the Marquess's house and shaping it into slugs. Meanwhile, all the neighbouring houses were crowded from top to bottom with Highlanders, who kept up a galling fire from the windows. Cleland, while encouraging his men, was shot dead. The command devolved on Major Henderson. In another minute Henderson fell pierced with three mortal wounds. His place was supplied by Captain Monro, and the contest Avent on Avith undiminished fury. A party of the Cameronians sallied forth, set fire to the houses from Avhich the fatal shots had come, and turned the keys in the doors. In one single dAvelling sixteen of the enemy Avere burnt aliA'c. Those Avho Avere in the iiii OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 13 '' fight desci'ibecl it as a terrible initiation for recruits. 1689. '* Half the town was blazing ; and with the incessant " roar of the guns were mingled the piercing shrieks of *' wretches perishing in the flames. The struggle lasted " four hours. By that time the Cameronians were " reduced nearly to their last fiask of powder, but their " spirit never flagged. ' The enemy will soon carry the '^ * wall. Be it so. We will retreat into the house ; " ' we Avill defend it to the last ; and, if they force their " ' way into it, we will burn it over their heads and our " ' own.' But while they were resolving tliesc desperate " projects, they observed that the fury of the assault " slackened. Soon the Highlanders began to fall back : " disorder visibly spread among them, and Avhole bands " began to march off to the hills. It was in vain that " their general ordered them to return to the attack. " Perseverance was not one of their military virtues. *' The Cameronians, meanwhile, with shouts of defiance, *' invited Amalck and Moab to come back and to try " another chance with the chosen people. But these *' exhortations had as little effect as those of Cannon. " In a short time the whole Gailic army was in full " retreat towards Blair. Then the drums struck up ; " the victorious Puritans threw their caps into the air, " raised, with one voice, a psalm of triumph and thanks- " giving, and waved their colours — colours Avhich were *' on tliat day unfurled for the first time in the face of " an enemy— but Avhich have since been proudly borne " in every quarter of the world, and which arc now " embellished with the S])hinx and the Dragon, emblems " of brave actions achieved in Egypt and in China. " The Cameronians had good reason to be joyful and " thankful, for they had finished the war." . i ,, • In this memorable action, the Cameronians had, in 14 HISTORICAL EECORb OF THE TVVENTY-SlXTir, 1689. addition to their two field officew killed, five officer ■wounded, namely. Captains Hay, Bortlnvick, Stcil, Caldwell (died of wounds), and Lieutenant Stuart ; ( /ajjtain Steil after having his wounds dressed, returned to his post. Fifteen men were killed and thirty wounded ; the loss of their enemy is stated to have exceeded three hundred men. No pursuit was attempted, on account of the superiority of Brigadicr-CTencral Cannon's army ; but resuming their former outposts, with the experience of old soldiers, the Cameronians immediately commenced the repair of their injured defences, and cut down some trees on a little liill, whence the rebels had under cover maintained a galling fire. Their powder was ?iearly expended, and during the action they had been obliged to employ men to east slugs, made of the lead taken from the roof of the castle. The " Exact Nari'ativc " (rpioted at page 9) quaintly states : — " That a handful of unexperienced men was " wonderfully animated to a steadfast resistance against " a nudtitudc of obstinat furies ; but they give the glory " to God, and jmiiscd him, and sung psalms, after they " had fitted themselves for a new assault." The Cameronians remained unmolested at Dunkeld for some days, and afterwards were left in gaiTison in the north by General Mackay, whose march through Aberdeen and Inverness experienced little, if any, opposition. After leaving garrisons in the castle of Blair and other places, he returned with the body of his army towards Edinburgh. The Highlands, however, continued to be disturbed throughout the folloAving year. ]\Iajor-General Mackay, in a letter dated Edinburgh, 22nd October, 1689, thus wrote to Lord Melville, Secretaiy of State for Scothaul, then in London : — " OR CAMEKOXIAN REGIMENT. 15 Ml "My Lord— " ■ ' " ' '" 1680. " I am of 0))Inioii that a battalion of tlic Earlc " of Angus's regiment ouglit to be entertained so long " as his ]\Iajestic may have occasiou for such, because " they behaved well against the rebels at Dunkaldj as " a testimonie of his Majcstie's esteem ; but there ought " to be a man of service put upon their head, for at this " time they shall scarcely make up the number of six " hundred men."* This representation drew forth the following orders for remodelling the llegimcnt. " Instructions to our llight Trusty and well-beloved *' Cousin and Councellor, our Kight Trusty and well- " beloved Councellor, and our Trusty and well-beloved " David, Earle of Leven, Hugh Mackay, ]\ra,jor General " of our Forces, and ►Sir George ]\Ionro. " 1. You are to remain and modell the six regiments " commanded by the Earlc of Angus, the Earle of " Argile, the Earle of Glencairne, the Lord Viscount " of Kcnmore, the Lord Strathnaver, and the Laird " of Grant, and you are to forme a regiment to be '' commanded by Cunningham; of the said seven " regiments three are to remain in that our ancient " kingdom, and the other four to be employed for our " service in Ireland. " 2. You are to appoint the above seven regiments " to cons^ist of thirteen companies each, and sixty men " in each company, and one company of each regiment " to be grenadiers. ' " 3. For making up the said regiments you are to * Extract from original letter among the papers of the Earle of Lcvcn. .r..,>.. ..,^* 1 ~ ■' IG HISTORICAL liFXORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1G89. " disband the tliree regiments of the Earle of Mar, " Lord Blantirc, and the Lord Bargcny. " 4. You ai'e to disband all independant companies, " and what officers of them are fit for our service, you ** are to employ in situations proper for them as our " service requires. " 5. You are to appoint fit persons to be Lieutenant " Colonels, Majors, and other inferior officers to the " aforesaid seven regiments. " 6. You are to employ what officers you judge fit " for our service, that were in the three regiments, " which you are to disband, or i.i the independant " companies. " 7. You arc to turn out of any of the regiments *' what officers you think unfit for our service, and " put others who are well qualified in their places. " Lastly. You are to transmit a list of such officers as " you nominate to George, Lord Melville, our secretary, '' that they may have their commissions accordingly. — *' Given under our royal hand and signet, at our Court '' at Holland House, the 18th day of December, 1689, " and of our reigne the first year." 1690. In 1690 the llegiment was reduced to thirteen com- panies, the names of the officers being as follows : — ^^Uisf* Captains. Lieutenants. Ensigns. 1st Colonel Earl of Angus. Tate, Capt. Lieut. Cranston. 2ud Licut.-Col. Fullarton. Aikcman. 4th Major Ker, of Kersland. Oliphant. 6th Captain Koy Campbell. Green. 7th Haj'. 8th Dhu Campbell. 9tli 10th 12th Borthwick. Hume. Haldeu. Ferguson. Johnstone. f Stewart. ( Halden. Veitch. Ballantine. Pringlc. Ferguson. J. Campbell. Nesmytl). Gilchrist. Grenadier Company. Lang. Denniston. V OR CAMERONIAN REOIMENT. 17 Captains. Licutcnnnta. Kniiigns. Harris. Blackadcr. Wilson. Lindsay. Faiiborn. Kirkland. Stcil. Mathewson. "Wilson. Caldwell. Gilchrist. llislop. ^^X?"' Captalnj. Licutcnnnta. Kndigns. 1C90. 13th" 14th 15th 18th In consequence of tliis arrangement, the third, fifth, eleventli, sixteenth, seventeentli, nineteenth, and twen- tieth companies were reduced by ballot. In April, 1690, the Cameroniuns were stationed in Montrose, where a party of the rebels appeared on the 2nd, but they retired hastily when tliey saw the dis- positions which were made to attack them. In September following, a plundering party a])peared in the neighbourliood of Cardross, and defeated a detachment of thirty men, by which they were opposed. When this news reached Dumbarton, Licut.-Colonel I'ullarton marched the same night with Lord Hollo's troop of horse and one hundred of the Cameronians, with whom he overtook the rebels early the next morning. He immediately attacked and defeated them, with the loss of their commander and forty men killed, and about the same number taken prisoners. The officers and men of the detachment, whom they had taken the day before, were liberated. After this affair, the Regiment was employed under Major-General Mackay in repressing the spirit of opposition which continued to prevail in the Highlands, till they quitted the coimtry for Flanders early in the following year. The reinforcements for the army in Flanders, of 1691. which Lord Angus's llcgiment formed a part, embarked in the Frith of Forth in February, and after some weeks' detention by contrary winds, they landed in Holland. In March, the Cameronians were encamped at Halle, in South Brabant, and were brigaded with the Scots Foot Q ! II" m 18 lll.STolilCAL KECOKD OF THE TWKNTY-SIXTH, 1691. Guards, the first battnllon of the lloyuls, and tlie regiments of llninsay, iMnckay, and Hedges.* 'J'hc Frcncli besieged Mons, and the confederates hcing unable to relieve the place, the garrison was forced to .surrender on the 31st of March. In ^lay, the Cameronians Avere encamped near Brussels, and formed part of the brigade under Brigadier-General Ivamsay, ■which consisted of both battalions of the Royals, and the Scots regiments of Muckay, Ramsay, and O'Farrell. In an enumeration of the corps composing the con- federate army under King William's command, dated Canii' at Gerpynes, 27th July, the Regiment, which is styled the I'^arl of Angus's, is mentioned, and its facings then are stated to have been white. The summer was passed by the opposing armies in manoeuvring, and the campaign, although not signalized by any brilliant or successful operations, nor by any great battle, was most harassing to the soldiers by reason of the frequent marches. It terminated about the beginning of O'itober, when the troops went into winter quarters. 1092. In May, 1G92, the active operations of the year com- menced, and shortly acquired a high degree of importance by Louis XIV. undertaking in person the siege of Namur, which King William having been unable to raise, the town capitulated on the 20tli of June, and on the Ist July the citadel likewise. After this severe loss, no important event resulted from the manoeuvres of the two armies till the 3rd of August, when it was resolved to attack the enemy under Marshal the Duke of Luxem- • D'Auverguo's "Carapaigus iu Flanders." on CAMERONIAN KLUlMIiNT. 'i'^\ VJ bourg, at his castle near Steinhirh. After a teclioua 1692. march, the vaiiguanl, consisting of four battalions of English foot, two of Danes, and a detachment of General Churchill's brigade, fell upon the enemy with such vigour that they were driven from hedge to hedge, ho that the Duke of Wirtemberg succeeded in taking post in the wood which fronted the right wing of the French arn /. Wliilst his batteries were playing upon the enemy, King William's forces marchcil to the head of the defile, Avherc it opened into a little plain, and where they were ordered to halt. The regiments of Cutts (Coldstream Guards), Mackay, Graham, and Angus (Cameronlans), being In- terlined with the horse, were commanded to the right skirts of the wood; while three other regiments of infantry, intermixed with the left wing of the horse, were posted on the other fiank of the Yood. After this disposition was completed, the main body of the army being still halted, the Duke of Wirtemberg began the attack with the vanguard, and was seconded by the English in the foregoing order of battle. Never was a more terrible, and at the same time a more regular, fire heard ; during two hours it seemed to be like continued thunder. The vanguard behaved with such bravery and resolution, that although they received the charge in succession of the enemy's battalions, yet they drove them from a battery of seven pieces of cannon, which, however, they could not send away, as the French had cut the traces and carried off the horses. -* H the regi^ ments distinguished themselves by their courage and perseverance, driving their opponents from hedge to hedge, often firing muzzle to muzzle through them. The King, being informed of their difficulties, and of the great superiority of the enemy, despatched an aide-de- "..vl.: . OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 23 on the 29th of July, ordered a strong body of troops to 1C93. attack the villages of Ladr and Neer-Whden, which they did with various success, but the allies finally maintained their ground. On the side of Neer-Landen, however, after being several times repulsed, the enemy, by dint of reinforcements, and with tlic flower of the French infantry, gained this flank of the position ; and they then renewed the attack on Neer-AVindcn. The King, who had hastened from the left to this position, twice led the English battalions to tlie charge, where they fouglit with great bravery ; but, having their position turned on both flanks, their ammunition ex- pended, and being assailed by a greater superiority of numbers, and by fresh troops, he at length, seeing no chance of success, ordered them to retire. In this hard- fought, but unfortunate battle, the army lost its artillery, many standards and colours, and two hundred and fourteen officers killed, and two hundred and ninety- six wounded; six thousand and five rank and file killed and prisoners, and three thousand nine hundred and fifty-eight wounded. The casualties of the French were estimated at from eighteen to twenty thousand. As usual, the English appear to have borne the brunt of the action, having first had very important points of the position at and near La^r and Neer-Winden assigned to their care, and which they defended with success ; they were afterwards led to the defence of the entrench- ments between Necr-Winden and Neer-Landen, and finally covered the retreat. The Cameronians, who bore a part both in the glory and loss of this day, which is known as the battle of Landen, or Necr-Winden, were brigaded with O'Far- rell's (21st Royal North British Fusiliers), Mackay's, Lauder's (afterwards disbanded), and Leven's (2jflth), rl I''*; I! 24 ITISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1693. under Brigadier Ramsay, and had the following officers woimded: — Captain Stewart, and Ensign Hutchinson; Captains Alexander, Campbell, FuUarton, and Munro; the three latter were prisoners of war.* The casualties of the Regiment in non-commissioned officers and men have not been separately recorded. Luxembourg f did not turn his victory to any imme- diate uccount, but remained inactive at Waren for fifteen days. When Marshal Boufflcrs joined him with some troops from the Rhine, he then formed the siege of Charleroi, which, after a vigorous defence, from the 10th of September to the 11th of October, sun-endered on the most honourable conditions. With this event the campaign concluded, and both armies went into winter quarters, the Cameronians being stationed at Ostend. On the 25th of August, 1693, the colonelcy of the Cameronians was conferred upon Lieut. -Colonel James Ferguson, of the Regiment, in succession to Colonel Monro. After the battle of Landen, the camp at Halle, and also that of the enemy, suffered severely from sick- ness, occasioned by the excessive heat of the weather, to which Colonel Monro fell a victim. 1694. In 1694, the losses which the British had suffered in the preceding campaigns were repaired by reinforcements -ii;M * D'Auvergne. f An excellent anecdote has been handed down in reference to the Diike of Luxembourg's deformed figure. William III., his constant antagonist, is reported to have exclaimed, impa- tiently, " What ! shall I never beat this hump-backed fellow ? " This speech coming to the Duke's ears, he is stated to have replied, " How should he know the shape of my back ? T am sure he never saw me turn it to him." tiirmv.'WQiiii ■i-.oii^a OR CAMERONIAN REOIMENT. 25 from home. The Scots regiments obtained an accession 1694. of seven tliousancl men ; of these three thousand were new levies ; and with such expedition were they raised, that although the proclamation for them was not issued till the 14th of March, by the 22nd of April they were not only completed, but all actually embarked in Leith Roads for Flanders.* It does not appear to what extent the Cameronians shared in this reinforcement, but their popularity and services leave it little doubtful that it was to the full extent of their wants. It was not until the middle of June that the army left its winter quarters, when King William assumed the command. Although his forces were nearly equal in number to the enemy, yet no action whatever took place : Marshal Luxembourg manoeuvring on every occasion with great skill, to avoid a battle. In the month of September the King formed the siege of Huy, whicli surrendered on the 27th, after a defence of ten days. The British troops were not employed in this operation. In October the armies broke up, and went into winter quarters. In May, 1695, the Regiment, which had been in 1695. winter quarters in the villages near the Nieuport Canal, pitched its tents in the vicinity of Dixmude, where a small force was being assembled under Major-General EUemberg ; the main army, at the same time, took the field under King William. In June, the Duke of Wir- temberg took the command of the troops at Dixmude; reinforcements arrived, and an attack was made on Fort Kenoqm, situated at the junction of the Loo and Dix- mude Canals. .hi' ••? !> "! Ill: .1 1 I 1; 26 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1696. On the evening of the 9th of Juno, the grenadiers of tlie several regiments employed on this enterprise drove the French from their entrenchments and houses near the Loo Canal. A redoubt was afterwards taken, and a lodgment effected on the works at the bridge, in which service tlie Cameronians Iiad several men killed and wounded. The total casualties were about four hundred men, of which Ferguson's and Tiffin's regiments (now 26th and 27th) lost the most.* These attacks produced the desired effect, as the enterprise had only been designed as a diversion, to favour the operations of the main army, under King William, before Namiirj and the Regiment subsequently marched towards the Lys, and joined the covering army under the Prince of Vaudemont, who, on the approach of Marshal Villeroy with an army far superior in numbers, efrected his skilful and celebrated retreat from the camp at Arsel to the vicinity of Ghent, leaving his antagonist quite disconcerted by the masterly arrangement of tlie march.'}' While the siege of the Castle of Namur was being- carried on, Brigadier Fitzpatrick marched, on the 17tli of August, to the village of St. Denis, with a body of troops, of which the Cameronians formed part. Two * D'Auvergne. f Blackader, in an entry in his Diaiy on the 25tli May, 1706, wiites : — " Marching this day to Arsel, a place famous for the retreat of "Prince Vaudemont, made here in 1695, in presence of the " French army, who were thrice as strong as ours. And at this ** place I have a monument set up of tliankfuhicss and praise for "merciful deliverance from men who were ready to swallow *'U3 up." ''■■ • '•'■'■■• ' ■• ■• - ''■ OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 27 days afterwards, thirty-six grenadiers per company from 1605. each of the regiments composing this force were selected to proceed to Nanmr, the town of which had surrendered on the 25th of July, and every effort was now being made against the Castle. Brigadier Fitzpatrick con- tinued with his force at St. Denis, which, lying upon the skirt of a wood, was strongly fortified by the troops under his ordcrn. On the 30tli of August an assault was made, about mid-day, to storm the breach of the Terra Nova, when the grenadiers rushed forward, under a heavy fire from the Castle, and were followed by the regiments ordered to support the attack ; the latter not moving forward in time, the assailants were ovei*powered by superior numbers, and the survivors received orders to withdraw from the unequal contest. Some partial advantages were gained, but severe loss was sustained. The casualties amongst the grenadiers of the Cameronians have not been separately recorded. Preparations were made for a second assault, which was prevented by the surrender of the Castle. On the 1st of September Marshal Boufflers offered to capitulate, and on the 5th he marched out with his garrison, now reduced from fifteen thousand to five thousand five hundred men. King William III., on the 12th of that month, reviewed the whole of his troops at Lembeeque, after which they con- tinued in the field about a fortnight. Towards the end of the month both armies began to separate and take up their winter quarters, Naraur being assigned to the Cameronians. In 1G96, the French had taken the field before the 1696 allied army could be assembled j but no transaction of consequence distinguished the campaign. The Came- ronians, now brigaded with the 23rd and other regiments, 1 !l'!l f i':!ll i 'iins i 28 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1696. under Brigadier Tngoldsby, were Inspected by the King, with eight English and Scots regiments, on the 9th of July, at the camp at Vilvordc. The scheme of Louis was still defensive on the side of the Netherlands, while the active plans of King William were defeated for want of money. 1697. Negotiations for peace were commenced at Rys- wick, in the beginning of the year 1697 ; nevertheless both armies took the field, and the French besieged and took Aeth ; King William, however, confined himself to the protection of Brussels, which the enemy vainly en- deavoured to attack. During this campaign the Came- ronians were brigaded with the 25th and three foreign corps, under Brigadier-General Maitland. The treaty of Jiyswick was at length signed, at midnight, on the 10th of September (o.s.). When the Parliament met, after the peace was pro- claimed, owing to the universal ferment in the nation, produced by the terrors of a standing army, the House of Commons voted " that all the forces raised since tlie year 1680 should be disbanded;" and allotted mainte- nance for ten thousand men only The King, though very much mortified by these resolutions, was obliged to comply, and therefore received a part of the British troops into the Dutch pay, of which Ferguson's Regiment was one. It is uncertain whether the corps benefitted by the levy of one thousand men, ordered by the Scottish Parliament, in October, 1696, to be made to recruit the 1700. King's forces in Flanders. In 1700, the Cameronians were taken back into English pay and were sent to Scotland. ,,; .^ r,,;, f,^;f . .„^f r:,>r -[ 1701. When England and Holland armed in 1701, to pre- pare against any attack to which the latter might be exposed from the French and Spaniards, in conse(juence OK CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 2D of the disputes to which the late King of Spain's will 1701. (Charles II.) had given rise, the Dutcli Government claimed from England the stipulated succours. Accord- ingly thirteen Britisli battalions were embarked for Holland, in June, to assist the Dutcli against the ad- vance of the French army towards their frontiers, but the Cameronians did not proceed thither until the year following. Additional regiments were sent to the Netherlands in 1702. this year, of which the Cameronians formed one ; they received orders to join the confederate army on the 1st of February, 1702, and embarked for their destination on the 7th of March. On the day following, the decease of King William III. occurred, but Queen Anne resolved to carry into effect the views of her predecessor. War was proclaimed against France and Spain on the 4th of ]\Iay, and the Earl of Marlborough was appointed to command the British, Dutch, and auxiliary troops, with the rank of Captain-General. Thus, after a residence of about a year in their native country, during part of which time they had been in garrison at Perth, the Cameronians were recalled to the scene of their former exertions and glory, being destined to bear a conspicuous part in tliosc campaigns, which the skill and conduct of the Duke of Marlborough will ever render celebrated in the page of military history. In April the allies formed the siege of Kaiaerawaertj and the Earl of Athlone encamped at Cranenburg during the operation, to cover the siege. The French, under the Duke of Burgundy, vainly attempted to interrupt this siege, and having failed in that object, they afterwards endeavoured to surprise the Earl's camp, in which they nearly succeeded. He was compelled to make a precipitate retreat on Nmeguen, in which he had 1 30 IIISTOltlCAL HECOKD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1702. to sustain the attacks of the enemy's cavalry, which, however, were repulsed, and that place saved from the Frencli. The London Gazette stated, " the Engllsli " especially, Ijoth officers and soldiers, and particularly " the battalion of Her Majesty's Guards, showed a great "deal of valour and gallantry." The Earl's retreat did not lead to the failure of the siege of Kaiserswaert, which surrendered on the 17th of June. After the embarkation of the Hegiment, Cai)tain Blackadcr was employed for sonic time about Stirling, Edinburgh, and Lcith, in levying the necessary com- plement of men, in wliich lie was very successful, notwithstanding his disdain of the usual alluring and plausible arts of a recruiting officer.* He thus proved that the good feelings of men are sufficient, when properly addressed, to induce them to enrol themselves in the honourable list of tlic defenders of their Sovereign and country. On the 13th of July he sailed from Lcith with his recruits, and, landing on the 23rd, joined his regiment two days afterwards. In the beginning of July, the Earl of Marlborough anived in the Netherlands, assembled his army, and commencing active operations, by his skilful movements, he compelled Marshal Bouftlers to retire in every direction before him. Thus, without striking a blow in its defence, the Marshal saw himself obliged to leave Spanish Guelderland to his adversary's discretion. Though thwarted in his designs by the timidity and * " Life aud Diary of Colonel Blackadcr." He, in addition to his recruiting duties, had also to provide a chaplain for the liegi- meut, in place of Mr. Shields, who had proceeded on the Daricn expedition, and died in the West Indies. ,,,;,.:,; , .. ,i, .. OR CAMERON IAN HEUIMENT. 31 jealousy of the Dutch generals and deputies, the Earl 1702. undertook, on the 29th of August, the siege of Venloo, whicli capitulated on the 25th of September, after Fort St. Michael had been .stormed and taken on tiic 18th by the English troops under Lord Cutts. As volunteers were employed, it is probable that every corps furnished its quota. After this success, Stcvemwaert and Rurc- nionde were successively reduced, these sieges only lasting a few days, and the Earl having, by a ra[)id and secret march, anticipated Marshal Boufflers in the occu- pation of Liege^ its citadel was carried by storm on tlie 23rd of October. At the siege Oi' Liege, the British acted a conspicuous part; for, in a letter to the P]arl of Nottingham, dated 23rd October, 1702, forming part of the correspondence discovered in 1842, upon making some improvements at Blenheim, and shortly afterwards published under the superintendence of the late General the Right lion. Sir George Murray, G.C.B., Marlborough wrote : " The post " not being gone, I could not but open this letter to let ''you know that, by the extraordinary bravery of the '' officers and soldiers, the citadel has been carried by " storm, and, for the honour of Her Majesty's subjects, "the English were the first that got upon the breach, "and the Governor was taken by a lieutenant of " Stewart's regiment.* The necessary orders are given "for hastening the attack of the Chartreuse." The Chartreuse surrendered on the 29th of October, when the li^arl of Marlborough proceeded to Holland, and thence to London, where, on arrival, Queen Anne created him a Duke, as a reward for the successes gained i !V''' ♦ The present 9th Foot. .;,, 32 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWF*'TY-SIXTII, 1702. during this year. Thus ended a campaign, at the commencenient of which the States liad trembled for Nimegucn, but they now saw the French driven back into their own territories. The Cameronians, at this period, consisted of forty-four officers, one hundred and four non-commissioned officers, and seven hundred and thirty-six i)rivates.* In November, the British troops quitted the valley of Liege, and marched to Holland for winter quarters. 1703. Upon the Duke of IMarlborough's return to Holland, in March, 1703, he made a general inspection of the garrisons and troops, and reviewed the British regiments, in number eight of cavalry and sixteen of infantry, in their respective cantonments, after which he caused them to assemble near Liege. These regiments were the present Ist, 3rd, 5th, 6ih, and 7th Dragoon Guards ; and the 1st Royal, 2nd Scots Greys, and 5th Iloyaj Irish Dragoons; the Grenadier Guards, the Ist (two battalions), 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 26th, and 33rd regiments of foot. The Duke again reviewed the whole confederate army (then increased by the 2nd, 3rd, 11th, and 37th foot), near Maestricht, on the 21st and 22nd of May. In April, 1703, the Cameronians marche' irds Maestricht, where the allied army was a », and were formed in brigade with the second .lOn of the Royals, the 10th, 16th, and 21st regmients, mider Brigadier-General the Earl of Derby. The first opera- tion of importance was the siege of Bojdi, against which the trenches wre opened on the 3rd of May. On the 9th the fort was taken, which loss compelled the Marquess Harlcian M8., Ko. 7,026, BHtish Museum. ^ m OR CAMRROKIAN KEGIMKNT. .13 d'AUcgrc, after a vigorous defence, to eapitulatc on the 1703. 15th. Tliis 8UCCCS.S was followed by a scries of marches, in which the Duke's objects were frustrated by the jealousy of the Duteli generals, and the sunnncr passed without any important event occurring, except the inde- cisive battle of Kkeren, in Avhich the Dutch, under D'Obdani, were surprised and defeated, till the siege of Huif^ which surrendered, after a vigorous defence, on the 2')th of August. l>eing agahi thwarted by the Dutch in an intended assault on the enemy's lines, between the Mehaigne and Leuwe, Marlborough under- , : took the siege of Liinbimj^ for which service the Camc- ronians and other regiments were detached from the main army. Tiie place was invested on the 10th of {September, and surrendered on the 28th of September, after two days of open trenches. On the 17th of October, Ouelders capitulated, and with this success terminated a campaign which would probably, but for the intrigues of the Dutch deputies and the jealousy and timidity of thcii' generals, have been marked by more important events. It was, however, one of great fatigue to the soldiers, as the marches and countermarches were incessant, es- ])ecially during the months of May and June. The Duke, in a letter to tlu Dutch General D'Obdam, dated 3rd of July, 1703, of which the following is an extract, has feelingly alluded to the long marches made by the troops, in order to bring the enemy to a battle : — " Nous avons eu une cruelle marche aujourd'hui pour " les pauvres soldats, qui out ^te la plupart du chemin t\ " mi-jambe dans I'eau et la boue, ce qui nous obligera, " j'ai pcur, de faire halte ici deraain, mais nous poursui- " vrons la marche demain pour vous approcher de plus " pr^s, et attcndrons avec impatience vos sentiments, *' avec ccux des gt'n<5raux, sur les operations que nous W] * jfii 34 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1703. " auvons il faire pour parvenlr au plus-tot i\ nos des- " seins." Their patience under disappointments, and endurance of suffering, were thus highly proved ; and those military qualities exercised, which so greatly contril)uted to the successes of the next campaign. The Camcronians were reviewed on the 9th of June. Shortly after the capture of Limburg, the Regime^" marched back to Holland, where it Avas stationed during the winter. . ^ . , 1704, In the memorable campaign of 1704, in Avhich the Duke of ]\Iarlborough's skill and ability as a statesman and a general were so eminently conspicuous^ and in which the allied armies achieved victories, alike honour- able to the troops engaged, and remarkable for their decisive results, tlie Camcronians were constantly em- ployed. In that skilfully combined mo^■ement, by which the elite of the confederate forces were withdrawn from the Netherlands to the Danube, Ferguson's regiment marched from the Basse on the 28tli of April (o.S.), and encamped on the 18th of May at Bedburg, where the army was assembled under General Churchill, amounting to fifty-one battalions and ninety-two scpuidrons, in- cluding sixteen thousand English. The Duke, who joined on that day, commenced his march on the 19th, wah near Coblentz on the 26th of May, and on the 27th near Brauback; on the 28th at Neustad, and on the 29th he reviewed the British troops at Cassel, in pre- sence of the Elector, who was much pleased with their neat and clean appearan :*c- , " they Avere," as the Duke says in a letter to the Earl of Godolphin, " in the " Highest spirits, notAvithstanding their long and liarass- " ing marches." On the 31st the passage of the Maine was effected by the advanced guard ^ and on the 3rd of OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. June that of the Ncckar, at a bridge constructed near 1704. Ladcnburg, but the artillery and most of the infantry- were some days' march in the rtar. His Grace halted two days lo refresh his troops, and to afford time for the rear of the army to come up. On the 6th the advance passed through Wcslock, and on the 7th encamped at Irpingen. At tliis time the British had suffered much from the want of shoes, notwithstanding the Duke's care to provide tlie necessary supplies. On the Otli the Neckar was again passed, at Laufen ; and tlie next day the Duke and Prince Eugene had their first interview. On the 11th, the cavalry were reviewed at ITippah, in presence of the Prince, who expressed his surprise to see the troops in such excellent condition after so long and harassing a march, and he was par- ticularly struck at the appearance and appointments of the English. In this camp there was a halt of three days, to give tinte for the infantry to approach. On the 20th the army passed through the difficult defile of Geislingen, after which it was reviewed on the 23rd. The following day the advance reachrd the Danube, and on the 25tli the Duke fixed his head-quarters at Langenau. The Regiment thence continued its marcli with the grand army, and was present at the attack made, on the 2nd of July, on the enemy's entrenched position at Donawcrt. Count D'Arco, who connnanded the French and Bavarians, occupied a position on the heights of Schellenbcrg, situated on the left bank of tlie Danube, to cover this important town, between the l^rentz and that river : independently of its natural advantages, he had carefully strengthened it with entrenchments. The Duke of Marlborough, who had previously joined the Imperialists under Prince Lewis of Baden, no sooner D 2 I llHir 'I 36 irisTOTaCx^L recokd of the twenty-sixth, 1704. heard that the enemy awaited liim, than he determined to dispossess them of this important post before they eould he reinforced, and, therefore, hastened the march of the army, whicli only arrived before the enemy's en- trenchments hite in the day. Not a moment was lost in reconnoitring them with his advanced guard, and, when supported by sufficient troop.s, of which the English formed a part, he at once began the attack. About six in the evening the leading division, con- sisting of detachments from each British regiment,* with the Foot Guards, Koyals, and 23rd Fusiliers, com- manded by l^rigadicr-General Ferguson, and a Dutch force under General Goer, advanced under cover of a heavy cannonade, to attack the works. The contest on the liill was severe, lasting until eight in the evening ; and, though the enemy made most gallant, and at one time successful, resistance, the impetuosity and perse- verance of the allies overcame every obstacle. The entrenchments were carried, the enemy being driven in disorder, and with great loss, into the town, whence they made a hasty retreat. They were pursued across the Danube by the victorious troops, Avho captured sixteen ])ieces of artillery, several standards, colours, and tents, with the equipage and plate of the Count d'Arco ; he and his generals saved themselves by swim- ming across the river. Of the gallantry of the British, the Duke says, in a letter to the Queen, — " I crave leave humbly to add, *' that our success is, in a gTcat measure, owing to the " particular blessing of God, and the unparalleled bravery * Coloud Blackadcr states, " Only foiu' detachments of one " hundred and thirty men of the Camoronians were present." ,., OR CAMEllONIAN REGIMENT. 37 " of your troops." Leopold, Emperor of Germany, also 1704. added his tribute of praise in a letter to His Grace, — ^' Tliis will be an eternal trophy to your most serene ^' Queen, in Upper Germany, wliither the victorious '^ arms of the j^nglish nation have never penetrated ^' since the memory of man." In this attack the Cameronians had Captain Lawson and Lieutenant Seaton wounded ; one sergeant and eighteen n\en killed; three sergeants and fifty-seven men wounded. The next day tlie allies entered Donawert, where they found large magazines of provisions and military stores. On the 5th of July, the confederate forces crossed the Danube by pontoon bridges, and encamped at Mortingen, where, on the 7th, the Duke ordered a general thanks- giving through the whole army for the latc victory. The main body passed the Lech on the 10th, and moved on the 12th to cover the siege of Bm'n^ which surrendered on the 17th. On the 18th, the town oi Aicha, in which the Elector of Bavaria had left a gt;vrison of nine hundred men, was taken by storm, and a position at Frkdhurc/ was occupied by the army on the 23rd, by which the Elector's communication with his capital was intercepted, and his country left in the power of the allies. Louis XIV. made every possible exertion to retrieve the fortunes of so faithful an ally, and a fresh army was formed imder the orders of Marshal Tallard, who crossed the Danube, and opened a communication witli the Elector's forces at Augsburg. During the enemy's march, Prince Eugene had moved in a parallel line on the left of the Danube. The Duke of JMarlborough and Prince Louis of Baden quitted their position at Friedburg, and drew oft' towards that river, and after a IlISTOKICAL KKCOllD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH i ^:., m 1704. personal interview with Eugene, it was agreed that Prince Louis sliouki remain, and form the siege of InAl :i^(1 iH :n,, ;-;• .!>■; : ' ■ ': :^>a 60 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, ' ! 1 •! 1708. of war. After its surrender, the Camcronians remained for some days quartered in the town of Lisle.* Not content Avitli tliia conquest, Marlborough was determined to strike another blow before the troops marched into winter quarters; to which he was en- couraged by the incautiousness of the enemy, whose army had already taken up its cantonments. Ohent was invested on the 18th of December; and on the 30th, the batteries being ready to open, the Count de la Motte agreed to capitulate. 1709. On the 3rd of January, 1709, thirty battalions and sixteen squadrons marched out, and were conducted to Tournay ; the town and citadel were then taken pos- session of by six British regiments, under the Duke of Argyle. The French, in consequence of this loss, aban- doned Bruges, Plassendahl, and Laffengen. Thus ended this protracted campaign, in which the Camcronians bore a very distinguished part, having been actively engaged in the four principal events, viz. : the battle of Oudenarde, the siege of Lisle, the action at Wynendale, and the siege of Ghent. The Camc- ronians continued to be stationed throughout the winter, at Ghent, where Colonel Blackader rejoined them in March 1709, from leave of absence. The campaign of this year did not open till the end of June, when the allied army, numbering one hundred and ten thousand men, was assembled in the plain of Lisle. The Camcronians had quitted Ghent on the 17th of that month, on their way to join ; and arrived on the 21st, after a long and fatiguing march from five in the morning to five in the afternoon over very bad roads. ■,U-H;< ■ Y'h " Blackader's Diary." OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. '* 61 The French army, under Marshal Villars, occupied an 1709. entrenched camp at Lens. As the Duke did not deem it prudent to attack him in that position, the allied commanders, after a series of well-combined ma lies, by which Ypres was made to appear as the intended object of their attack, suddenly undertook the siege of Tournay ; the garrison of which, in order to strengthen his army, Marshal Villars had imprudently weakened. The investment took place on the 27th of June ; and though the garrison did not exceed twelve weak bat- talions and four squadrons, the works were so strong, both by art and nature, and De Surville, the governor, displayed so much skill and bravery, that the siege was protracted mucli beyond the expectation of the allies, and was attended with great loss. On the 29th of July, the besiegers having affected a practicable breach, the town capitulated, and the garrison retired into the citadel. After an abortive treaty for its surrender, hostilities recommenced on the 8th of August. As the besiegers now proceeded by the method of sap, their miners frequently met with those of the enemy under ground, and fought with bayonet and pistol. The volunteers on both sides presented themselves for these subterraneous combats, in the midst of mines and countermines, ready primed for explosion. Sometimes they were kindled by accident, and sometimes s^jrung by design ; so that great numbers of these brave men were stifled below, and others blown into the air, or buried in the rubbish. It was not till the 3rd of September, when all the pro- visions were consumed, and preparations were complete for a general assault of the trenches, that De Surville surrendered at discretion. During the continuance of this siege, the Cameronians 1^' 'Its,:?'' nil If. 4.,, u is., u Wi ■ 68 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1710. the severe loss with which a successful sortie is so often attended, and which was unhappily experienced on other occasions during this siege, but from such negli- gence theCamcronians appear to have heen altogether free. The Regiment joined the main army on the 30th, when it was threatened with an attack by Marshal Villars, who, having viewed the position of tlic con- federates, marched back, and fixed his camp at St. Laurens. The Camcronians returned tlie next day to the trenches, in which they continued to take their share of duty, but without any severe casualties, excepting on the 3rd of June, when, by an unfortunate explosion of some powder and grenades, Lieutenant Graham, Sergeant Davidson, and sixteen rank and file, were burnt and wounded, two of whom died ; and on the 20th, when, out of a detachment of thirty-nine men employed in making a lodgment in a raveline, thirty-two became hors-de-combat. On many other occasions, when it came to their turn to be in the trendies, they appear to have been much favoured, as no other considerable loss is recorded, though altogether it was large. Lieut.-Coloncl Blackader states that, in riding on the afternoon of the I7th of June, he went to their hospital, "where was a melancholy sight of wounded men." It is elsewhere recorded that, previous to the 30th of May, they had lost between forty and fifty killed and wounded ; but they were in daily expectation of the arrival of eighty- five recruits, who were much wanted to fill up their ranks. The total loss sustained by the Regiment was one •* Preston, -who commantled there, gave them so warm a reception, " that, upon the first firing of his men, the enemy retired in great " conflisiou, and left above one hundred men priaoners." Vol. III., p. 42. PI OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 69 captain, three sergeants, and forty-seven soldiers killed ; 1710. one captain, five subalterns, eleven sergeants, and one Imndred and seventy-five soldiers wounded — in all, two liundred and forty-three casualties.* The aim of the French Marshal was, by continued alarms, to interrupt and protract the siege of Douay, and thus aid the defence, whicli was vigorously con- ducted by tlie numerous garrison under General Albergotti, until the besieged, being reduced to the last extremity, were obliged to capitulate on the 27th of June. On the 7th of July the Cameronians were on the march, and on the 14th they were reviewed. During these movements in the field, the Duke, finding it impracticable to force the enemy's position near Arras, resolved to besiege Bethune, which was invested on fha 15th of July, and surrendered on the 29 th of August. The Cameronians then formed part of the co army. After this success, the allies undertook at once the sieges of Aire and St. Venant, but the Cameronians were not present at either. The former surrendered on the 9th of November, and the latter on the 30th of Sep- tember. After their reduction, the army broke up, and went into winter quarters, the Ilegimcnt occupying its old quarters at Ghent. In 1711, there is reason to believe that the Came- 1711. ronians were actively employed before any other part of the army. They left Ghent on the 21st of March, and advanced into the enemy's territory, where, on the 24th, they took possession of a post, which they fortified and retained till the forces assembled, about the middle * " Annals of Queen Anne," p. 63. 70 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, i| !'v:- I'V' 1711. of April,* at Orohlcs, tlio French troops "being then concentrated between Camhray and Arras. On the 2.3rd of May, the Duke, whose army was encamped between Douay and Bouchain, was joined by Prince Eugene. lie, however, soon after qnittcd the Low Countries, witli tlie Imperial and Palatine troops, to ]n'otcct Germany. The Duke, repassing the Scarpe, oncf imped on the plains of Lens, from whence he advanced towards Aire, as if he had intended to attack the French lines in that quarter. These lines, beginning at Bouchain on the Schehlt, were continued along the Sansei and the Scar])e to Arras, and thence by th - Up])er Hcarpe to Canche. They were defended, by redoubts and other works, in such a manner that Villars deemed them impenetrable, and named them the ne plus ultra of Marlborough. Having prepared a great quantity of fascines, and made every arrangement for an imme- diate attack, and caused a report to be circulated, which was soon carried to the enemy, that it would take place on the 4th of August, the French commander was induced to collect his whole army in the full expectation of a battle. Calculating that the passage of the Sanset by Arleux would be left unguarded, Marlborough had ordered Lieut, - Generals Cadogan and Count Hompesch to * In the course of this spring, also, a draft of recruits joined the Regiment from Scotland. In the beginning of July, Lieut. -Colonel Blackader speaks of being busied with them in preparing for a review by the Earl of Orkney. It world seem probable that every year, from the frequent mention made of them, the Regiment had received reiuforccmonts from home, which must have been very necessary to maintain it in th.it eflcctivc state in which it appears constantly to have boon kept, n'.twilhstanding the severe losses that attended its arduous services. OR CAMERONIAN REaiMENT. n assemble twenty battalions and seventeen squadrons from 1711. the neighbouring garrisons, and march to that place. Brigadier-General Sutton was despatched with the artil- lery and pontoons, to lay bridges over the canal near Coulczon, and over the Scarpe near Vitry; while tlie Duke, with the whole army, began liis march for the same place about nine in the evening of the 4th, moving with such expedition, that by five in the morning of the 6th of August he had passed the river at Vitry. There His Grace received intelligence that Count Ilompesch had taken possession of the passes on the Sanset and Scheldt without opposition, the enemy having with- drawn their detachments from that side, just as had been anticipated. With his vanguard of fifty squadrons, Marlborough directed his march towards Arleux, and before eight arrived at Bacca Bacheul, where, in two hours, he was joined by the heads of the columns into which he had divided his infantry. Villars being certified of this intention, about two in the morning decamped with his whole force; and placing himself at the head of the household troops, marcheJ f»li night with such expedition that, at about eleven in the forenoon, he was in sight of the Duke, who had by this time joined Count Ilompesch. Villars immediately fell back on the main body of his army, which had advanced to the high road between Arras and Cambray ; while the allies encamped on the Scheldt, between Oisy and Estrun, after a march of ten leagues without halting, which is scarcely to be paral- leled in history. By this plan, so happily executed, Marlborough fairly out-m'-noeuvred Villars, and without the loss of one man, entered the lines which had been so confidently pronounced to be impenetrable. The Duke was thus enabled to pursue the object, with 72 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, Pi' 1711. a view to whicli lie had engaged in these arduous move- ments ; and passing, ahnost witliin cannon-shot, in front of Camhray, he threw bridges over the Scheldt ; and, on the Gth of August, crossed that river, in presence of the enemy. So well Avere his measures taken, that Villars remained in his camp, and suffered the allies, without molestation, to proceed to the investment of Bimchain, This enterprise was deemed impracticable, as it was situated in a morass, and was strongly fortified, and defended by a numerous garrison, in the neighbourhood of an anny superior in numbers to that of the allies. The place, however, was invested on the 10th of August; and, whilst the Duke exerted his utmost skill to ensure its capture, Marshal Villars had spared no pains for its safety. He had reinforced the garrison to six thousand chosen men, commanded by officers of known ability ; some eftbrts were made by him to raise the siege, which were rendered ineffectual by Marlborough's consummate prudence and activity : and he was equally unsuccessful in an attempt to surprise Douay. The trenches were rapidly advanced, and the Cameronians, towards the conclusion of the siege, were one of the corps employed in them.* In the execution of this plan, the English General was obliged to form lines, erect regular forts, raise batteries, throw bridges over a river, make a causeway through a deep morass, and provide for the security of convoys against a numerous enemy on the one side, and the garrisons of Cond^ and Valenciennes on the other. This was, therefore, considered as one of the boldest enterprises of the war. It displayed all the fortitude, skill, " Blackader's Diary."— Smollett's Hist. OR CAMEIIONIAN REQIMENT. 73 and resolution of the General, and all the valour and in- 1711. trej)idity of the troops, wlio had scarcely ever exhibited such amazing proofs of courage on any other occasion. In twenty days after the trcnclies were opened, the garrison, on tlie 13th of September, were obliged to surrender tliemselves as prisoners of war. This was the last military exploit which the Duke performed ; for, when the breaches were repaired, the army went into winter-quarters; and their illustrious Chief, who returned home, was deprived of his command by the counsels of the new ministry.* * Colonel Blackader, who had been twenty-two years in the Kegimcnt, and had shared in all its dangers and honours, now quitted the service, being permitted to sell his commissions. He left the army at Bouchaiu on the 12th of October, after a melancholy parting with some of his kind friends, and the corps with which he had so long served. His diary, to which this Record is much indebted, must rank as a singular and interesting work. The original manuscripts having been overlooked for many years, were sold with other papers to a tobacconist at Stirling, by whom they were rescued from destruction. He was born at Glencairn on the 14th of September, 1664, and was the son of the Reverend John Blackader, minister of Troqueer, expelled at the Restoration for non-compliance with episcopacy. This may account for his remarks regarding the " Ebenezers " he set up through Germany, and for his practice of visiting the field of battle after the stern conflict was over, in order to get " a preaching from the dead." Ho seems to have enjoyed a high reputation, and to have been particularly favoured by the Duke of Marlborough ; for, on taking leave of him, he says ho was quite ashamed to hear of the kind and obliging things which Hia Grace spoke about him to the generals present at the inter- view. Ho then proceeded to Holland, and after narrowly escaping a party of the enemy near Sas, he reached Rotterdam, and thenco proceeded to England . Thus, nearly at the same time that the IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT.3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^128 1.8 M. ill 1.6 V <^ % /i m V ^v % V <^.» % V % '■^ ?n? 74 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1711. During the course of this campaign the army suffered considerably from the weather; which the Duke noticed, army was deprived of its great General, under whom it had been led through an uninteiTupted course of victory, and who, by his bitterest enemy. Lord Bolingbroke, was acknowledged to bo " the greatest General and the greatest Minister that our or any other country had produced," the Cameronians lost a commander in Colonel Blackader, Avho had shared their fortunes in all the numerous situations of difficulty and trial in which they had been placed from the time of their levy. Zealous in all his duties, ho must earnestly have co-operated in that excellent system of discipline, which, by raising the moral character of the soldier, increases the efficiency of an army in the field, by withholding him from those excesses which are alike injurious to health and character; and, by protecting the persons and property, and by conciliating the feelings of the people, whose country may be the scene of operation, tends materially to diminish the effects of their hostility, as carried out in later times in the Peninsula and Franco by the Duke of Wellington. The chief principles on which this discipline was grounded are thus described by Lediard, who himself served under the Duke of Marlborough's command, and could speak as an eye-witness of its salutary effects. "The ** Duke discountenanced the slightest degree of intemperance or ** licentiousness ; and laboured to impress his officer and troops " with the same sense of religion which ho himself entertained. " Divine service was regularly performed in all his fixed camps, " both morning and evening ; and, on Sundays, sermons were " preached, both in field and in garrison. Previous to battle, ** prayers were offered up at the head of each regiment, and the ** first act, after a victory, was a solemn thanksgiving. By these " means, aided by his own example, his camp resembled a quiet, ** well-governed city. Cursing and swearing were seldom heard ** among the officers, a sot and a drunkard was the object of " scorn, and the poor soldiers, many of them the refuse and dregs ** of the nation, became, at the close of one or two campaigns, " tractable, civil, sensible, and clean, and had an air and spirit " above the vulgar." 9^ .mrn OB CAMERONIAN BEQIMENT. •J-' 76 on one occasion, with his usual humanity, for wh'ch he 1711. was so much beloved. "We have had miserable wet weather ever since wo came into the field ; and I pity the poor men so much, that it makes me uneasy to the last degree ; for it can't be otherwise but great numbers must be sick." At other times the heat was excessive. Colonel Blackader writes of the loth of June, that this " was one of the severest he ever saw. Several men, " marching in the ranks, fell down, and died upon the " very spot. The whole fields were like a field of battle, " men lying panting and fainting. Most of the regiments " did not bring above sixty or seventy men to the camp *' with their colours." The length and frequency of the marches, also, added to the fatigue of the troops ; who, however, bore every hardship with cheerfulness, being full of confidence in the skill of tlieir illustrious leader. During the course of their services under the Duke of Marlborough, Colonel Blackader states, that his Grace bestowed on the Cameronians his special thanks no less than seven different times, for their distinguished gallantry and conduct. The army broke up from its camp near Bouchain on the 27th of October, but it does not appear in what Flemish town the Regiment was quartered during the winter. In 1712, the army, under the command of the Duke of 1712. Ormond, who had succeeded Marlborough, took'the field early; and, in the beginning of March, the Earl of Albemarle was sent, with a considerable force, to bombard Arrets, which he reduced to a heap of ruins. In May, the Duke of Ormond joined Prince Eugene at Tournay, and the allies passed the Scheldt, encamping . . at Haspre and Solcnmes ; but when the Prince proposed to attack Marshal Villars, liis new coadjutor declined, being restrained by his orders from fighting a battle. ■;»•'.% ■ 76 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1712. The Prince then undertook the siege of Quesnoy with his own army, the Duke of Ormond consenting to cover it with his troops, a service which led to its surrender on the 4th of July. The Prince then invested Landre9y ; but, as the terms of peace were now arranged between France and England, the Duke of Ormond withdrew the British troops, consisting of eighteen thousand men, and proclaimed a suspension of arms for two months. The allies, being highly exasperated at this sepa- ration of the British, refused them leave to enter Douay, Lisle, Toumay, and many other towns ; but the Duke continued his arch, and seized Ghent and Bruges. He then reinforced the garrison of Dunkirk, which the French had surrendered to a force sent from England to occupy it, as a security on the part of France for the due execution of the terms of peace. i On the 6tli of August, the following corps of infantry, which were encamped near Ghent, commenced their march for Dunkirk, viz. : — two battalions of the Koyals, the 15th, 16th, 19th, 21st, and the Cameronians, together with Newton's, Evans's, and Leigh's regi- ments — the three latter were disbanded in the year following. All arrived at Dunkirk on the 10th, and the remains of the French garrison then quitted the place. When the campaign between the French and the remainder of the allies, which (after tJie separation of the British) had been attended with uniform misfortune to the latter, was terminated by the armies going into winter-quarters, the Duke of Ormond proceeded to London, leaving the English in garrison. 1713. After the occupation of Dunkirk, several movements of the British troops in the vicinity took place, with a view to the demolition of the fortifications and port. The treaty of Utrecht, which terminated the wars of Queen Anne, was signed on tlie 11th of April. On the ■^MHm .• ■*• A- . .• '1'/ - r 'l'.. ' "-y ,'■'■ .*- '1' •■ ■ * '■•' . •■• T n r»» r. »' 7 i" » o ti 1% tjCtl mSN j!!> 77 Vrxl of MiiV; 1 713, three regimmtfl, v\».: — the 3r(1. 24lh, 17VS. a«i.i 2()th, o<.'oMpied Nieuport, of whirh lixrfrtt^^ RrigH'licr rreflton, the cdlonul of ibe Oanien-iiiari*, 'Vmk. on tlie lUth i>f lli'U month, appointwl governor. <>< fhr I'iih, tliree ot!i('r n.-jriwrtt^-* viz, -. —Sth, 21. ^t, ml WyMuo'-*, formo^f part oi ihiit ^rarriso;). 'rin. 0HrncY»>?ija5i-< re>- m»ineth f<.r IiohMid, whilst th-' 4th ihftgvxtir^ and IV-rorfe's n-^iinor.t ^^>'\](^\ f«r Dover, \'*\mr ^h*: intii^r 'tr ' Wyrju-'N i'cgiment hiid prorivoaly U^'u >.•,-. muh^,. .-i i)\ih-'. (>n the 17l)i of Auu-iiNt, five cavalry rfglnitutfi proceeded from Dunkirk fnv Ireland, and a .short tinie afterwnrdfl iUfi iliirqiioFfl of Harwich '6 (7th D)cii:;oon Outrd^)^ nriy thv; end *>r Angmi, al! tiie }tr»tish tiv.»|^« ImmI qnittod tlie Low CJountri«^tj, l^iPsOameronlans eontinued in la-Jand from Hcptcialw. 17lJk; ?718, ontil tlie autumn of 1715, vihr'n, frou; the watrfv'H '.MSdt;uee placed by the Oovemnient ia th<4r Jrin^^ ki«ft^, they wer<^ bm\{ght ovvir oht' the hreRKjv.j: onjt oX vKdlion in t^o iliji^ldandH of fSootiand, aii'l in th<» U0V)k of England, in favour of the Pretender, in the r. tho Eaj:l of Mar hi»/d collected f Mr. l-'oBter, who ^tm it i% X. ■i»-i ^VK A- . -it "f OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 77 Srd of May, 1713, three regiments, viz.:— the 3rd, 24th, 1713, and 26th, occupied Nieuport, of which fortress Brigadier Preston, the colonel of the Cameronians, was, on the 19th of that month, appointed governor. On the 13tli, three other regiments, viz.: — 8th, 21st, and Wynne's, formed part of tliat garrison. The Cameronians re- mained there till the 16th of August, when they marched with the 34th, and 7th Dragoon Guards, to Dunkirk, and encamped on the esplanade, permission to enter the town being refused. The two youngest companies of each infantry regiment were then reduced. The 24th, 2Gth, and 34th, embarked on the 20th for Ireland, wliilst the 4th Dragoons and Pocock's regiment sailed for Dover, where the latter was disbanded. Wynne's regiment had previously been disbanded in June. On the 17th of August, five cavalry regiments proceeded from Dunkirk for Ireland, and a short time afterwards tlie Marquess of Harwich's (7th Dragoon Guards), and Ross's Dragoons (Stli Lancers) embarked for England. Thus, by the end of August, all the British troops had quitted the Low Countries. The Cameronians continued in Ireland from September, 1715* 1713, until the autumn of 1715, when, from the implicit confidence placed by the Government in their tried fidelity, they were brought over on the breaking out of the rebellion in the Highlands of Scotland, and in the North of England, in favour of the Pretender. In the former, the Earl of Mar had collected a body of fourteen thousand men, and commanded all the country as far as the Frith of Fortli. He hat ven succeeded in trans- porting a body of twenty-five thousand men across, under Brigadier Macintosh, which, after threatening Edinburgh, marched to the borders, and finally entered England under the command of Mr, Foster, who was 78 UISTOEICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1715. commissioned as General by the Earl of Mar. Hero they were joined by the Earl of Derwentwatcr, and then advanced to Penrith, where the posse comttatus of Cum- berland, which, to the number of ten thousand men, had been collected by the Earl of Lonsdale, dispersed pre- cipitately at their approach. Foster then pr'^'^eedcd triumphantly, by Kendal and Lancaster, to Preston^ whence Stanhope's Dragoons (since disbanded), and a regiment of militia, immediately withdrew. Their success, however, now terminated. Major- General Wills, with six regiments of horse and the Cameronians, reached the bridge of liibble before Foster received intelligence of their approach ; but when ap- prised of his danger, the latter forthwith began to raise barricades, and to put the place in a posture of defence ; in which he was interrupted on the 12th of November by the King's troops. Though so weak in infantry, Major- General Wills determined at once to attack the town in three different places. The main attack was formed by the Cameronians under Licut.-Colonel Lord Forrester, supported by fifty dismounted men of each of the six dragoon regiments, and directed against the barriers, by which the several entrances into the town were defended. After making their way through the lanes and narrow approaches, they were received with a very heavy fire from the entrenchments and houses ; and being without artilleiy, after some unavailing attempts to force their way against superior numbers, they were compelled to fall back. During the heat of tlic action, it was however discovered that the entrance into the town by the Wigan road was less strongly fortified, and that part of the Highlanders there stationed had been withdrawn. Lord Forrester immediately availed himself of thie ttl OB CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. i-'it' opening; and, though exposed to a heavy and des- 1715. tructivc fire from a concealed enemy, he succeeded, at the head of his gallant men, in occupying two houses, the superior elevation of which gave them considerable advantage over the rebels : who, in this quarter, in th I >ir turn, sustained a severe loss both of officers and men. The Pretender's adherents maintained tliemselves at the other two points of attack, no impression having been made on their position, except by Lord Forrester. In this attack, his Lordship's coolness and judgment were particularly noticed. He placed his men in a narrow passage, where they were out of fire, and then entered the street alone to reconnoitre the rebels' entrenchment; from which, and from the houses, he was exposed to a heavy fire. Having accomplished his object, his Lordship returned, and leading out his men, drew up one division across the street, to keep under by its fire that of the enemy ; whilst, with the remainder, the houses were secured ; by which a tenable lodgment was effected in the rebels' line of defence. It was in the course of these operations that he received several wounds.* An eye-witness of the action states that the men " upon all occasions behaved with a great deal of bravery and order." Major-General Carpenter having joined on the follow- ing day (13th of November) with three regiments of dragoons, the place was surrounded, and the rebels, fearful of the result of another attack, sent to propose a capitulation. Major-General Wills refused to grant them any terms, and they were under the necessity of unconditionally laying down their anns. Thus the " Patten's History." i! 80 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1716. Caracronians, the only infantry regiment present during these operations, contributed, by their great exertions, to suppress this dangerous rebellion. They suffered, however, a considerable loss — of the one hundred and forty-two casualties, ninety-two were from their ranks, and amongst the wounded were their lieut.-coloncl, Lord Forrester, Major Lawson, and Captain Preston; the latter died of his wounds.* . * « • The following anecdote hows the spirit of loyalty which animated the Cameroiiians : — It is related that a soldier of the Regiment, wlio was lying with two other wounded men, prisoners with liimsclf, when Mr. Patten, a clergyman of the rebel army, offered to pray with them, immediately replied, '' If you be a Protestant wo '' desire your prayers, but name not the Pretender aa "King."t Great encouragement had been given to the disaffected by the indecisive battle of Dumblain or Sheriffmuir, which was fought on the very day of the surrender of the rebels at Preston (13th November), and which was increased by the subsequent arrival of the Pretender ; ■ but as the Government was now able to direct an undi- • List of Killed and Wounded of the King's Forces in the attack on Preston, in Lancashire, on the \2th of November, 1715. Two captains, one ensign, and fifty-three men, including sergeants, killed; one lieutenant-colonel, one major, two lieu- tenants, one cornet, four ensigns, and seventy-seven rank and file wounded; making a total of one hundred and forty-two, of which number ninety -two belonged to the Cameronians. Lieut.- Colonel Lord Forrester and Major Lawson were wounded, and Captsiin Preston died of his wounds. — Vide "liac's History, ** Patten's History," and " Colonel Blackadcr's Life." f " Patten's History." ,, .. ,n OR CAMERONIAN RCOIMfiNT. :«« n-iM »^.- Vided attention to Scotland, by the end of January, 1716. 1716, so formidable a force was collected that the Chevalier relinquished the enter}^rise in despair. After his departure, the royal army in vain attempted to overtake his adherents, who, being deserted by their chiefs, dispersed, and rejoined their respective clans.* The whole of the Duke of Argyll's army, which consisted of fourteen battalions and ten squadrons, including the six regiments of Dutch auxiliaries, were quartered in the Highlands during the winter, the better to secure the tranquillity of that part of Scotland. The Cameronians subsequently proceeded to Ireland. On the 3rd of May, 1720, Lieut.-Colonel Philip 1727. Anstruther was promoted Colonel of the Regiment, in succession to Brigadier-General Preston, who retired by the sale of the colonelcy, under the regulations of the 27th t February of that year. The Cameronians remained in Ireland from 1716 to 1726, when they were put on board the fleet, In the following year, .in consequence of the attem^jt made by the Spaniards to recover Gibraltar, fresh ♦ 11 . — . — ^ _ * Dariug this Kebellion, Colonel Blackadcr held a temporary commission as Colonel of the Glasgow Volunteers, a coi-ps raised in that city to support the Government. As an additional reward for his services he was appointed, on the 27th of March, 1717, to be Deputy-Governor of Stirling Castle. He wasi also retnrned a member to the General Assembly: thisafibrded him opportunities of showing his talents as a public speaker, and there is a degree of pride about him to become an orator, as from his own account he was slow of speech and a stammering tongue. He discontinued his Diary at the end of the year 1728, and did not live many months after. His death occurred on Sunday morning, the 31st of August, 1729, within a few days of completing his sixty-fifth year. A plain marble tablet was erected to his memory in the \Vest Chai'ch of Stirling. 82 HISTOEICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY -SIXTH, 1727. troops were sent out to strengthen that garrison. They sailed under convoy of Admiral Sir Charles Wager's fleet, and reached the bay on the 12th of February, in fifteen days from their embarkation at Portsmouth. The Cameronians formed one of the regiments com- posing this reinforcement, and had a post of danger immediately assig-ned to them. On tlie 6th of February their alarm-post was the covertway at Southport. About the 22nd of that month, the batteries of the Spaniards opened against the place, and. according to their own gazettes, they fired at the rate of seven hundred shot an hour, the cannonade lasting from daybreak till noon, and from one till sunset. This bombardment lasted twelve days, and then ceased, owing to the run- ning of nearly all their guns. They still, however, persevered in carrying on the siege, and maintained a slow firing till the 11th of June. On the Ist of April, 1727, the alarm post of the Cameronians was on the road to Wills's, beyond the hospital ; and on the 3rd of May, the Regiment marched out of the town, and encamped on the red sands, having the line wall between the town and the new mole as their alarm-post. They were relieved by a battalion of the Guards and Colonel Clayton's regiment (14th Foot), which had just arrived. On the 25th of May, their alarm-post was Southport glacis, where they continued till the 29th of July, when the Regiment was again quartered in the town. • . During this siege no brilliant action on either side is recorded ; and, on tlie part of the garrison, their duties were chiefly confined to a patient endurance of danger and fatigue, circumstances very trying both to the health and temper of the soldiers, and affording little excitement or hope of diatinction. The Camerouians had six rank OR CAMEHONIAT^ REQiMENT. and file killed; three died of wounds, and six of sick- 1738. ness ; — twenty-nine were wounded. They formed a portion of the garrison till the 13th of June, 1738, when they embarked for Minorca,* and remained in that island until their removal to Ireland in 1748. 1748. In the Royal Warrant of the 1st of July, 1751, for 1751. ensuring unifomiity in the clothing, standards, and colours of the army, and regulating the numberf and rank of regiments, the facings of the 26 th Regiment were directed to be pale yellow. The first, or King's colour, was the great Union ; the second, or Regimental colour, was of pale yellow silk, with the Union in the upper canton ; in the centre of the colour was the number of the rank of the Regiment, in gold Roman characters, within a wreath of roses and thistles on the same stalk. In 1754, the Regiment returned to its native country, 1754. after an absence of about thirty-two years. In the spring of 1757 the Cameronians again proceeded to 1757. Ireland, and remained there for ten years. Colonel Edward Sandford was removed from the colonelcy of the 52nd to that of the 26th, on the 27th 1760. of November, 1760, vice Lieut.-General Anstruther, deceased ; and Colonel John Scott was appointed to the colonelcy, on the 14th of January, 1763, in succession 1763. to Major-General Sandford, removed to the 10th Foot. In May, 1767, the Regiment embarked from Ireland 1767. for North America, and was stationed there in the dis- charge of the ordinary duties of the country, till the American Revolution broke out in 1775, when the 1775. • Lieut.-General Anstruther of the 26th was Governor during part of this time; being replaced, on his election as a Member of Parliament in 1747, by Lieut.-General Blakeuey. - . t Vide Note, page 4. ' ' '" "'" "' a 2 I 84 HISTORICAL RECORl) OP 1:HE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1776. Cameronians were found in the posts of greatest danger, and to them, of misfortune. The British ministry, which had provoked the colonists to resistance by the impolicy and violence of their measures, had made little or no preparation in any part to support by force those orders, the voluntary and peaceable execution of which, in the existing temper of men's minds, could not reason- ably be expected. When they, at length, roused them- selves from their apathy, and determined to put forth the strength of the kingdom, to crush a rebellion which was now openly declared, their attention was diverted from Canada to those states where the danger appeared most imminent, and the whole of Lower Canada was therefore left to the protection of two regiments, the 7th and 26th, at a weak peace establishment of three Imndred and forty men each, the 8th Foot being stationed in Upper Canada. They were, moreover, separated in several remote garrisons j so they were not disposable to occupy a point oiappui, where the provincial militia might assemble, and be instructed in discipline. Though the military did their duty, yet they \» ere able scarcely at all to contribute to the safety of the province, which was due to the skilful defence of Quebec by Lieut.-General (afterwards Sir Guy) Carleton. The Americi^us, whose attention was unwearied, did not fail to remark, and to take advantage, of the defence- less state of the Canadas. Brigadier-General Mont- gomery (a uati\ e of Ireland, who liad quitted the British service a short time before, and settled at New York), and Colonel Arnold, collected a considerable force, with which they ad^Tcnced against Montreal and Quebec. The first blow, however, was struck by a volunteer, named Ethan Allan, who, on the 3rd of May, 1775, assembled, of his own accord, about fifty men, and pro- ,>{) if . OR CAMERONIAN RECHMENT. m ceeded towards Fort Ticonderoga\ wlxich was gamsoned 1775, by sixty men, under Captain Delaplace, of the 26th Re- giment. Allan, who had often been at Ticonderoga, had remarked a great want of discipline in the garrison, and the negligence of its commander was siicli, that the gates were never shut ; disposing his small force in the woods, he went to Captain Delaplace, with whom he was well acquainted, and prevailed on him to lend him twenty men, for the pretended purpose of assisting to transport some goods across the lake. Having contrived to make these men drunk, at night-fall, drawing Ids own people from their ambuscade, he advanced to tlie fort, of which he immediately became master. As there was not one person awake, though there was a sentry at the gate, they were all taken prisoners* owing to the shame- ful negligence of tlie officer, and the drunkenness of the men. Crown Point also shared the same fate. Notwithstanding these advantages, the Americans had not sufficiently completed their preparations to enable them immediately to attack St. John's, to which the re- iiainder of the 7th and 26th Regiments had withdrawn from Montreal, and where they had been employed in constructing two redoubts. In some incursions, previous to their engaging in this operation, they were repulsed witli loss. Allan (now Colonel), with a party of one hun- dred and fifty men, marched to the St. Lawrence, and, crossing the river, about three miles below Montreal, attempted to surprise that place; but, on the 25th of September, he was encountered by eighty men, thirty- six being Cameronians, under Major Campbell, and was defeated, with the loss of sixteen killed, and thirty prisoners, of whom the Colonel was one. On the 18th * Stedman's " History of the American War.'* sb: 86 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1775. of the same month, a party of two hundred men, which had approached St. John's, was attacked by a detachment of the garrison of one-half its strength, and defeated. General Montgomery having now completed his pre- parations, turned the siege into a blockade, and invested Fort Chamb^'' where Majo^ the Honourable Joseph (Stopford, of uic 7th Royal Fusiliers, and about eighty men, were in garrison. This post kept up the commu- nication between St. John's and Montreal, but the place could not be held against the very superior numbers of the enemy, and the garrison surrendered on the 20th of October. The General then resumed the siege of St. Johii'sj which had been strengthened by some new works. The garrison, consisting of five hundred and fifty men of the 7th and 26th, and a few Canadian volunteers, were commanded by Major Charles Preston, of the Cameronians, and had but a small supply of ammunition and provision, while the works were only in an imper- fect state. Nevertheless, its defence was gallant and protracted ; the soldiers were often knee-deep in mire, and were reduced to half-allowance of provisions; ammunition at length ran short, and seeing no chance of relief, the garrison was obliged to surrender on the 13th of November as prisoners of war. - •• j After this success General Montgomery rapidly ad- vanced towards Montreal, which was evacuated on his approach, and Colonel Easton, whom he detached in pursuit, having overtaken the bateaux, in which Major- General Prescott, his staff, and about one hundred and fifty men, chiefly Cameronians, had embarked to descend the St. Lawrence to Quebec, succeeded in taking pri- soners the whole party. On this occasion the Regiment lost its colours, which, when the detachment found them- ^^v-rff^.- OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. j^yZ^w 87 selves closely pursued, had been stripped from the staves 1775. and carried by an officer round liis body ; but finding escape impossible, they were then wrapped round a cannon-ball and sunk in the river. Thus, before the end of November, the whole of the small regular force, to wliich the defence of the pro- vinces had been entrusted, was captured ; and no further obstacle remained to impede the further progress of the enemyo Lieut.-General Carleton narrowly escaped being taken, when obliged to leave Montreal by night, with a few attendants, he passed through the American flotilla unobserved, in a boat with muffled oars, landing with- out being discovered, at Quebec, just as General Arnold arrived at Point Levi, opposite the town. The British General, to whose timely arrival the safety of this important town is to be ascribed, imme- diately took the most active measures for its defence. The inhabitants Avere armed and disciplined; and the sailors, belonging to the transports and merchant ships in the harbour, were landed, and ai)pointed to serve the artillery. In the beginning of December, Generals Montgomery and Arnold commenced the siege ; which, lasting till the breaking up of the frost, in the spring, allowed the approach of reinforcements from England. As few, if any, of the 26th Regiment could have parti- cipated in this siege, any details are here imnecessary. It was remarkable for the skill and resources of the Governor ; and for the patience and endurance of the most harassing duties and privations on the part of the garrison. The enemy also displayed the greatest per- severance ; and many of their assaults, though unsuc- cessful, were marked by enterprise and courage, in one of which Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded. On the decease of Major-General Scott, Major-General 88 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, w 1775. Lord Adam Gordon, from the 66ta Regiment, succeeded him as Colonel of the 26th, by commission dated 27th December, 1775. •' . - : - ]77g On the 6th of May, 1776, three King's dhips entered the basin ; and, as soon as the detachment of the 'i9th Regiment and Marines were landed, Lieut.-General Carlcton marched out, at the head of the garrison, to attack the enemy ; who made a hasty retreat, leaving their guns and miUtary stores in their woi'.:s.* As a detachment of recruits for the 26th composed part of the force which landed on this occasion, under the com- mand of Captain the Earl of Harrington, of the 3rd Foot Guards, the Regiment may assume the honour of having participated in the brilliant termination of this glorious defence-t To a gallant and successful attack, made by Captain Forster, of the 8th Foot, on a body of five hundred of the provincials, at the Cedars, in which a large body of prisoners was taken, an agreement for the release of an equal number of the 7th md 26th Regiments was due4 This agreement, though confirmed by Congress, was for some time evaded, as is shown by the corres- pondence between Gener ^s the Honourable Sir William Howe and Washington, in April. Subsequent letters,' in July, intimated that the cartel was then in course of execution. It is, therefore, highly probable, that the 26th was reformed in the course of this year, though the degree of efficiency to which the Regiment had been brought cannot be exactly ascertained. In the autumn, the 7th and 26th Regiments, which ' * Short's " Jonmal and Siege of Quebec." t "MiUtary Library," vol. i. - ' ' ■ - ,■ J " Gentleman's Magazine," August, 1776. t^lv OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 89 had been companions in misfortune in Canada, were 1776. transferred to the grand scene of contest in New Yoik and New England,* the detachment of the latter, which had arrived in May, having now joined the head-quar- ters. During the winter they were stationed at Amboy, in Middlesex county. At this period a British force 1777^ under Lieut. -General Burgoyne, was advancing from Canada upon Albany ; at the same time another British army, under General Sir William Howe, was proceeding against Philadelphia ; and Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton, who commanded at New York, resolved to pene- trate into Jersey as a diversion in favour of both armies. The 7th Royal Fusiliers, with several other corps, were accordingly embarked for this service, and on the 12th of September effected a landing at four different places, without meeting with serious opposition. The 7th, 26th, and 52nd Regiments, with a body of German grenadiers and three hundred provincials, under Briga- dier General Campbell, landed at EUzaheth- Town-Pointy at about four in the morning, and advanced up the country : the enemy opposed the march, and a sharp fire was kept up throughout the day. Tlie King's forces, however, had the advantage ; they took Newark, and were advancing on Aquakinack, when they received orders to halt and wait the advance of the troops which had effected a landing at the other points. The enemy afterwards appeared in force, when several skirmishes occurred, and the British succeeded in capturing four hundred head of cattle, a like number of sheep, and a few • In a letter from Sir William Howe to Sir Henry Clinton, the former says, " I have directed the 7th and 26th Regiments of " Foot, and the Regiment of Anspacb, to remain, here tinder your " orders."— Howe's Narrative, 1^ I ' 90 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1777. horses.* On the 16th of September the force marched to Bergen Point, wliere it re-embarked and returned to Statcn Island , Towards tlie end of September, Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton having been joined by some recruits from Europe, determined to attack Forts Montgomery and Clinton^ on the Hudson lliver. After some preliminary feints, the troops, in number two thousand one hundred, were landed, on the 6th of October, at Stony Point ; and after a difficult march of twelve miles, they reached the forts about an hour before sunset. The attacks were commenced on that very day, and Fort Mont- gomery was carried with case. The attack of Fort Clintou was a more serious enterprise, as it was built on a rocky elevation, the only approach to which was by a species of pass about four hundred yards wide, between a lake and a precipice which overhung the River Hudson. This spot was covered with felled trees, so that the approach of the assailants could not be con- ducted with rapidity, nor with much regularity. Ten pieces of artillery bore on this narrow pass, whilst there was not a single cannon to cover the assault of the British, whose only chance was to press forward with as much rapidity as the ground would permit ; but they were strictly ordered on no account to fire. The flank companies of the 7th and 26th, wuth a company of Anspach grenadiers, led the attack upon one point, whilst the 63rd Regiment endeavoured to penetrate on another. In no instance during the war was greater resolu- tior evinced than on this occasion. The British And " Records of 7th Royal Fusiliers," Official Despatcbes, &c. OK CAMKRONIAN REGIMENT. 91 Foreign troops pressed fcrward silently, under a dreadful 1777. fire; and, arriving at the foot of the work, actually pushed one another up into the embia,=»urc3. The garri- son, consisting of four hundred men, for a short time longer contested the rampart; and some of the King's troops were killed in the very embrasures, while several were wounded with bayonets in the struggle ; a proof of the determined ( .rage with which it was defended. At length, however, the rampart was cleared; and the Americans, retiring to the other side of the esplanade, after discharging a volley, threw down their arms. Not- withstanding this great provocation, no retaliation was made, and none fell except in the actual: struggle on the rampart. In this expedition the 26th had Brevet-Major Francis Stewart and one man killed ; Lieutenant Lawrence Dul- huntry and one private wounded. This enterprise, which was so highly honourable to the troops empioyed, was not productive of any lasting advantage ; and with it ended the campaign on the part of Sir Henry Clinton's corps, while the capture of Philadelphia terminated the progress of General Sir William Howe. Though some barren laurels were gained by the British troops, yet, the permanent results of the campaign were decidedly favourable to the Americans. Franklin observed, on this capture, that "Sir William Howe had not taken Philadelphia, but " that Philadelphia had taken Sir William Howe." The 26tli Regiment continued with the portion of the 1773. army under Sir Henry Clinton, until the whole became united, in consequence of the evacuation of Philadelphia, which was effected in June, 1778. This operation was deemed necessary, in consequence of the declaration of war by France, and the expectation of the provincials ."sT^ I) 11 92 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-filXTH, 1778. tliat powerful military and naval reinforcements would be sent out by the king of that country, who had agreed to aid them. It was successfully accomplished, before the Count D'Estaiug reached Rariton bay, on the 11th of July ; and Sir Henry Clinton, who had succeeded to the command on tlie resignation of Sir William Howe, was able to baffle all the attempts which the Frei;ch and Americans made to dispos.sess him of such districts as were still retained by the British forces. It does not however appear what particular share the 26th took in the desultory operations of this campaign, during part of which the Regiment was at Staten Island, In the northern provinces the British army had been 1779. weakened in 1779 by the expedition which was sent to Georgia under Major-General Prevost and Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, whose activity and skill secured the reduction of the province, and General Sir Henry Clinton, therefore, confined himself this year to the same system which h' "■ been so fruitlessly pursued by his predecessor. The efforts and achievements of his troops bore fresh testi- mony to British valour, but produced no important results. He even withdrew them from Rhode Island ; and thus no progress was made towards the attainment of the objects of the war. No particular mention is recorded of the 26th during this campaign, but they continued to form a part of Sir Henry's army till the autumn, when they were drafted into other corps, and the staff, under Captain Myers,* embarked in December at New York for England. On 1780. their arrival, in February, 1780, they were ordered to • Afterwards Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, Bart., who died on the 29th of July, 1805. on CAMERONIAN REGIMENT* 93 Tamworth, in Staffordshire, to recruit. On tlio Ist of 1780. October the Kegiment mustered only one hundred and seventy-two rank and file, which by the end of the year was increased to two hundred and four. In April, 1781, the 26th marched to Shrewsbury, and 1781. remained there until December, when the Regiment, which then numbered three hundred and thirt} 'x rank and file, proceeded to Tynemouth Ban-acks, where it arrived in January, 1782, and it continued at that place 1782. until March, 1783. Major-General Sir William Erskine, Bart,, was re- moved from the Colonelcy of the 80th Royal Edinburgh Volunteers (since disbanded), to that of the 26th Regi- ment, on the 16th of May, 1782, in succession to Major- General Lord Adam Gordon, appointed to the 1st Royals. The Regiment in March, 1783, proceeded to Scotland, 1783. and was stationed at Musselburgh until October follow- ing, when it embarked for Ireland^ where it remained for upwards of three years. In 1786, the title of "Cameronian" was revived by a 1786, Royal Warrant. How or when this original and appro- priate name fell into disuse does not appear ; but Sir William Erskine, . m Colonel of the Regiment, having remarked the omission, applied to the King for its restoration, a favour which was officially granted in February of tliat year, as shown in the following noti- fication : — " Adjutant OeneraVs Office^ Duhlm^ ■' ' '< im Felruary^ 1786. " His Grace, the Lord Lieutenant, has received *' a letter from Sir George Yonge, Secretary at War, *' acquainting his Grace that his Majesty has been most " graciously pleased, at the request of Major-General ^ 94 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1786. *^ Sir William Erskiiie, to grant liia Royal permission " that the 26th Regiment may in future assume the title " of the 2Gth, or Cameronian Regiment of Foot. •i.i. (Signed) " H. Pigot, . ^^ Adjutant- Oeneraiy * » « *» OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 95 The Regiment in July, 1789, was stationed at Mon- 1789. ttcal, where, in the month of October, Licut.-Colonc^l Andrew Gordon joined, and assumed the command. In August, 1790, the 26th proceeded to the Niagara 1790. frontier, and occupied the Htations between Lakes Erie and Ontario. In this month the increase in the esta- blisb'nent of infantry regiments was notified to the troops in Cfinada. By the return of tlie Kegiment there ap- peared as present, twenty sergeants, fourteen drummers, and three hundred and fifty rank and file j the numbers wanting to complete, being ten sergeants, eight drum- mers, and two hundred and thirty-one rank and file ; while that of the preceding month showed only a defi- ciency of thirty-six rank and file. In Jmie) 1792, the Regiment returned to Lower 1792. Canada, and occupied its former quarters at St. John's, &c., in which it remained during that year. The 2Gth, in 1793, stilt occupied the posts of St. 1793. John's and Isle-aux-Noix ; and was inspected by his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, father of Her Majesty, then Prince Edward, and Colonel commanding the 7th Royal Fusiliers. His Royal Highness expressed himself satisfied with the appearance of the Regiment, and the excellent system of interior economy which '" existed in it. In October the command devolved upon Major Duke. • " In August, 1794, the Reeriment proceeded to Montreal: 1794. before quitting the fronts it was inspected by Lieut.- Colonel Beckwith (afterwards General Sir George Beck- with), Adjutant-General to the forces in Canada ; and he seems to have been equally well pleased as his Royal Highness with its discipline and appearance. ^Major-General the Honourable Sir Charles Stuart, K.B., was removed from the Colonelcy of the 68th, to m^ PTT^ {llri i\ w 96 rrsTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1794. that of the 28th, on the 25th of March, 1795, in suc- cession to Lieut.-General Sir William Erskine, Bart., deceased. 1795. The Regiment, in July, 1795, was ordered to the Quebec district, and cantoned in the villages north of that city. In September it was ordered into the garrison of Quebec. From August till November, it was in cantonments at Chateau Richer, about fifteen miles below QuebeC; and in the last-mentioned month the Cameronians proceeded to Montreal. 1797. In May, 1797, the 26th returned to Quebec. The review return of this year notices a draft of three hun- dred and fifty men, received from the 4th or King's Own. The greater part of these men were transferred without their consent ; for, as soldiers Were then enlisted for general service and not for special regiments, they were not allowed to return home with their corps, when those remaining in a settlement were incomplete. The improved principle of enlisting for particular regiments took place in the following year. In October, Major William Blakeney Borough was in the command of the 26th, which were still in garrison at Quebec, with two companies at Three Rivers. 1799. In May, 1799, the Regiment was removed to the Mon- t_ ^al district ; the head-quarters, with three companies, being at St. John's, and the remainder in Montreal and Chambly. In September following Lieut.-Colonel Lord Elphinstone having arrived frcm Europe, assumed the command of the 26th, then on an establishment of ten companies. In November the monthly return of the Regiment was dated on board the "Asia" trans- port, having embarked that day. A malignant fever having broken out in the 41 st foot, which had just arrived in the "Asia," the 26th disembarked on the 16th Or cameronian regiment. 97 of November and went into cantonments in the neigh- 1709i. bourhood of Quebec, at Cliarlebourg, Beauport, &c., and on the 16th of May, 1800, they again embarked, and 1800. proceeded in the above vessel for Nova Scotia. On arrival at Halifax, the Cameronians landed, and performed the duties of that garrison until the 2(ith of September, •when the Kegiment again embarked for England. Two of the transports reached Portsmouth in safety, and the men landed on the 5th of November ; but that in Avhich Captain Campbell's company had been embarked was captured in the chops of the Chan- nel, by the "Grande Decidee," French privateer. A con- vention was entered into, by Avhich the troops were bound not to serve till exchanged ; and Lieutenant Edward Shearman and Ensign Adam G. Campbell were taken on board the privateer as hostages ; after which the transport was allowed to pursue her voyage. Tlie agreement was confirmed by Government. These two officers were afterwards sent from Corunna, where they were landed from the privateer, to Portugal, whence they returned by Oporto to England. Lieut.-General Andrew Gordon was appointed 1801. Colonel of the 26tli Regiment on the 28th of IMarcli, 1801, in succession to Lieut.-General the Honourable Charles Stuart, K.B., deceased. - After a few months' duty in the garrison of Ports- mouth and its neighbourhood, the 26tli were called, on to reinforce the army in Egypt, which had success- fully landed in that country, and gained two vic- tories in March, near Alexandria, but had suffered tlie loss of their veteran commander. Sir Ralph Abercromby. The Regiment, consisting of twenty-four officers, tliirty- one sergeants, fourteen drummers, and four hundred and sixty-two rank and file, accordingly embarked at u 98 HISTORICAL KECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1801, Portsmouth, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Lord Elphinstone,* on the 28th of May, 1801, in the ship " Madras," and after an luiusually favourable voyage, it landed at Aboukir, on the 18tli of July following. Lieut. -General the Honourable Sir John Hely Hutchin- son, K.B. (afterwards Lord Hutchinson), who had suc- ceeded to the command of the army, advanced to Grand Cairo, which capitulated on the 27th of June. General Menou refusing to accept this capitulation, was closely besieged in Alexandria. Tlie reinforcements which joined Major-General Eyre Coote's corps near Alexandria^ consisted of tlie late 22nd Dragoons, a detachment of the Guards, 20tli (second battalion), 24th, 25th, and 26th Regiments. After their landing, the first movement of importance in which the Cameronians were con- cerned, took place on the 16th of August, when, together with the second battalion of the 54th, undei* the com- mand of Major-General Finch, they embarked on Lake Mareotis. It was intended to disembark between Mara- bout and Alexandria, but Major-General Coote, perceiv- ing some of the enemy's troops on that part of the isthmus, left Finch's brigade opposite to them to make a feint : and pursuing his course with the remainder of his corps, about three miles further, effected a landing without opposition.! This success was shortly followed up by the engage- ment of the 22nd, which is thus described in Major- General Coote's official despatcli of the following day: — " The necessary arrangements having been made on tlic " morning of the 22nd, the troops advanced against the • Official llecords. f Sir Robert Wilson's " Narrative of the Campaign." ,rn>)<, OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT, iw I >«). 99 " enemy, who was strongly posted upon a rklgc of high 1801. " hills, having his riglit flank secured by two heavy " guns, and his left by two batteries containing three '' more, with many field pieces placed in the intervals of " the line. The army moved through the sand hills in *' three columns, the Guards forming .two upon the right *' near the lake, and Major-General Ludlow's brigade " the third upon the left, having the 1st battalion of the "27th Regiment in advance. Major-General Finch's " brigade composed a reserve, and was destined to give " its support wherever it might be required. In this " manner, having our field artillery with the advance " guards, die troops continued to move forward with the "greatest coolness and regularity, under a very heavy " fire of cannon and small arms, forcing the enemy to "retreat constantly before them, and driving them to " their present position within the walls of Alexandria." In this action the 26th were in reserve, and did not fire a shot, although exposed to a very heavy fire, particularly of grape, the fatal effects of which were prevented by the inequalities of the ground, so that their loss was only four men wounded. They shared in the remaining operations of the siege, which were, however, soon terminated by the surrender of Alexan- dria on the 2nd of September.* It 's on record that after the terms of capitulation were concluded, an invitation to dinner was given to Brigadier-General Hope, by General Menou, the repast being remarkable for consisting entirely of horse-flesh. During the progi'ess, and after the conclusion of these operations, the efficiency of the Regiment was greatly Walsh's "Narrative of the Campaign. or. ' H 2 100 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1801.- impaired by the prevalence of ophthalmia, which not only attacked the men, but extended to the officers. The effective strength was so jduced that there were scarcely sufficient Men for tlie ordinary camp duties. The sick might often be seen in long files, led by the soldier whose eyes were least affected . From this afflicting state they began to be relieved, after tlieir embarkation on the 23rd of October, on which day the Cameronians, mustering twenty-one officers, thirty-two sergeants, fourteen drummers, and four hundred and forty-two rank and file, embarked at Alexandria, under the com- mand of Lieut.-Colonel Lord Elpliinstone, in the sliips "Chatham," "Doncaster," and "Flora;"* but though many recovered on the passage, the disease continued to show itself long after their return home. Thus terminated the campaign in Egypt; the achieve- ments of the British army in that country being a prelude to future victories. Both Houses of Parliament voted their thanks to the troops, and all the regiments received the Royal authority to bear on their colours the word " Egypt," with the Sphinx,! to peq^etuate the fame of * Official Records, f The Royal authority was signified in the following circular letter to the Colonels of Regiments which had served in Egypt:— *' Horse Guards^ Q>th Jultj, i802. ■._ " Sir, — I have the honour to inform yon, that His Majesty " has been graciously pleased to grant permission to the several " regiments of His army which served during the late campaign " in Egypt to assume and wear on their colours a badge, as a " distinguished mark of His Majesty's royal approbation, and as " a lasting memorial of the glory acquired to His Majesty's arraa " by the zeal, discipline, and intrepidity of His troops in that •' arduous and important campaign. ' /. :■''•: y- 7. OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT, '^TJ^ J ioi the expulsion therefrom of the self-styled " invincible " J.BOli legions of Bonaparte, who, by this expedition, expected to have been able to extend his conquests throughout Asia. The Grand Seignior established the Order of Knight- hood of the Crescent, of which the general officers were made members ; he also presented large gold medals to the field officers, and smaller ones of the same pattern to the captains and subalterns of the several regiments, which their Sovereign permitted them to receive and wear. As a further proof of the estimation in which the Sultan held these services, he ordered a palace to be built at Constantinople for the future residence of the British ambassador. The following officers of the 26th received the above medal : — Lieut.' Colonels. Hildebrand Oakes (C(7^o«e/).* ,. . John Lord Elphinstoue {Colonel). " His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief has directed " me to make this communication to you, in order that the regi- " ment under your command may avail itself of the honour " hereby conferred by His Majesty; and I am commanded at the " same time to apprize you, that a pattern of the badge approved " by His Majesty is lodged at the office of the Comptrollers of " Army Accounts, there to be had recourse to as circumstances (( may requu'e. " I have, «&c., " Harry Calvert, A.-O.'^ * Colonel Hildebrand Oakes, the senior Lieut. -Colonel of the Regiment, had joined the army under General Sir Ralph Aber- cromby in the Mediterranean in August^ 1800, and served as a brigadier in the campaign in Egypt, and was wounded at the tattle of Alexandria, on the 21st of March, 1801. !i T^W 102 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, it'' m I 1801. -,f '"i - * '* Majors. William Blakency Borough {Lieut- Colonel). Erskine Hope {Lieut.' Colonel). Captains. .'» /.• .' William G. Dacres (Major). Hugh Henry Mitchell. Christopher Davidson. William GifFord {Major). Lieutenants. William Garstin. Fountain Hogg. William Hoggins. Samuel NicoU. Thomas ConoUy. Charles Stuart Campbell. Adam G. Campbell. William Walker. Frederick Jones. Jephson George Forth. Anthony W. Waiuhouse. James Conolly. Ensign. — James Hunt. Paymaster. — Duncan Campbell. Adjutant, — Frederick Jones. Quartemiuster. — John Robertson. Assistant-Surgeon. — Duncan Campbell. 1802, The convoy put into Falmouth on the 10th of February, 1802, and then proceeded to Plymouth, where the Regiment landed on the 14t]i. The peace of Amiens was signed on the 27th of March, but was not destined to be of long duration, and only heralded the general European war which afterwards ensued. Major-General Richard England inspected the Regi- ment after its landing, when a considerable number of non-commissioned officers and men were invalided for length of service and for medical incapacity. The recruiting company had previously arrived at Plymouth, to which had been attached some old soldiers and the undrilled recruits, who had been left behind on the embarkation for Egypt, together with some others inter- mediately enlisted. During the stay of the 26th in Plymouth about eighty men were received, who volun- teered in Jersey from the Royal Irish Fencibles, but no OE CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 103 recruits were obtained in the West of England. A few 1802. parties were sent to Scotland, which furnished about twenty men. The 26th embarked for Leith, in two frigates, on the 1st of November. They disembarked on the 13th, and proceeded on the 15th to Linlithgow, and on the following day reached Stirling, where they remained till the Ist of February, 1803, when they commenced their 180i>. march in three divisions for Fort George, and arrived there on the 29th, having passed through Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, Keith, and Elgin. At this period the recruiting in Scotland was very un- productive; and some parties were therefore sent to Ireland, but their joint exertions did not obtain more than forty, of whom eleven were from a fencible regiment disbanded at Kilkenny, Hostilities were renewed with France in May, 1803; and preparations were made to repel the threatened invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte. The " Army r f Reserve Act" was passed in June for raising men for home service by ballot ; and numerous volunteer and yeomanry corps were foraied in every part of the United Kingdom. About the 31st of July the 26th embarked in two transports, and, after being a couple of days at sea, dis- embarked at Leith, whence they marched to Stirling, leaving two companies at Falkirk. When the " Army of Reserve Act" came into opera- tion, all recruiting for the regular army ceased, owing to the enormous bounties given to procure substitutes for those on whom the ballot had fallen, and who did not wish to serve personally. These fluctuated in amount from £20 even to £70; and one man, a bookbinder, received from a tradesman at Falkirk a bounty of £100. 1 ■=7r^ iiitt* mi ; 104 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1803. Upwards of one thousand men, raised under this act in Scotland, joined tlie Regiment at Stirling and Linlith- 2n(l gow in August; and the second battalion, for which ^'^^''' letters of service had been previously received, was then formed. Half of the old soldiers of the first bat- talion were drafted into it, to the number of about two -hundred and fifty ; and a similar division of the army *-• ■ of reserve men was made between the two battalions. Upon this arrangement being completed, the second proceeded to Linlithgow and Borrowstownness, where part of the army of reserve men afterwards joined it —the total number received into the Regiment being about one thousand three hundred. They were re- markably fine men, and nearly all natives of Scotland. The two battalions were at this period respectively commanded by Brevet-Colonel Lord Elphinstone and Lieut.-Colonel Borough. When permission was given for the men to volunteer for general service, at a bounty of £7. 12s. 6^., it applied at first to the army in general ; but on a representation of the inconvenience arising from the interference of other regiments, it was restricted to their own corps, and it was not again rendered general till 1806. In order to induce the men to make this extension of their -services, a recruiting system was established in the Regiment, and weekly accessions were thus gained to the permanent strength of the corps, without any altera- tion of its apparent numbers; as eidvantage was taken of this influx of prime soldiers, to remove those whose length of service or other incapacity rendered them less eligible. ,_ •, . .-s^ 1st Early in December, the first battalion quitted Stirling ^att. on its route for Port-Patrick, where it arrived on the 13th, passing through Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Ayr, and OS CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 105 Maybole. At tliis last place a strong instance of 1803. national feeling was manifested towards the Corps, by the mayor and corporation giving each man refresh- ments, for which the battalion was halted there, as re- quested, a mark of good will arising out of recollections connected with the earliest periods of its history. It embarked on the 14th, and reached Donaghadee on the 15th, and the next day Belfast, whence, after two days' halt, the Cameronians proceeded to Armagh, where they arrived on the 19th. Tims, after a stay of little more than one year in its native country, in which, with the exception of the year 1783, the Eegiment had not been quartered since 1757, it quitted its shores, and did not again revisit them, as a corps, until 1843. The second battalion followed the first so closely, that it was mustered on the 24th of December, at Belfast, where it remained. The two battalions continued in these towns, Athlone and Belfast, till they commenced their march, about the 4th of June, 1804, with a view 1804. to their forming part of the corps assembled under the command of Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart, oii die Cur- ragh of Kildare, the first remaining six weeks at Bal- linasloe, and the second about the same period at Athlone. On the 2nd of August they quitted these places, and on the 5th they reached the Curragh, which, by a well combined movement, the different corps of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, to the amount of twenty-one thousand men, entered from different points nearly at the same time. The ground having been previously appointed, and the tents apportioned, the camp was formed simultaneously through the line. The light companies of the several regiments were formed into a brigade. The two battalions of the 26th Regiment were in the right brigade, under the command of Major- w sm mm 7T^ 106 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1804. General Francis Grose. On tliis fine ground the troops continued in active practice of the grand inanccuvres of an amiy till the 30tli of September, ^vllen the troops marched and eucami)ed on Maryborough Heath ; and, on the next morning (1st of October), the different corps proceeded on their route to their respective winter cantonments. The first battalion reached Ballinasloe on the 3rd, and on the 2nd marched to Athlone, at which places they continued the remainder of the year, the two light companies proceeding to Dublin with their brigade. > During the course of this year, the attached men of the " Army of Keserve " were still allowed to extend their services in their own corps ; but this permission, supported as it was by so large a bounty, did not produce the cflfect Avhicli might have been expected. When, in the month of December, the first battalion was prepared for foreign service by passing over to the second battalion all the army of reserve men, to the number of four hundred and twenty-seven, it received in exchange, the unlimited service men of the second battalion, to the number of only two hundred and fifty-one ; it would appear that, besides the four hundred and twenty-seven thus transferred, the second battalion must then have had about five hundred and thirty-eight of the same class, making a total of nine hundred and sixty-five, who rejected every inducement for the exten- sion of their services. In these numbers of forv hundred and twenty-seven and five hundred and thirty-eight, there may indeed have been men, who for unfitness or other causes, were left with the second battalion, for whom an abatement of one hundred may be made, leaving eight hundred aua sixty-five for those who, out OR CAMERONIAN REQIMENT. 107 1st Batt. of the gross number of about one thousand tliree liundred, 1804. received from the army of reserve, adliered to their original terms of service. The actual gain of disposable men would thus seem to have been nearly four hundred and fifty, which, considering all the advantages possessed by the two battalions to induce these men to volunteer, was certainly small. During the course of the same month, above two hundred more men from the army of reserve were attached to the second battalion from the contingent of Scotland. The result of these arrange- ments was, to leave the first battalion with only six hundred rank and file, whilst the second was increased to one thousand one hundred and sixty-six. The first battalion was stationed at Ballinasloe, and the 1805. second at Athlone, till the 16th of June, 1805, when the latter changed its quarters for Dublin, and tlie first was removed to Athlone, where it remained till the 13th of August, when it commenced its march, in three divisions, for Cork, passing through Cloghan, Birr, Nenagh, Limerick, Bruff, Charleville, and Mallow. The first battalion continued at Cork from tlie 23rd of August to the 19th of November, when it embarked at Monkstown, in three transports, namely — the '' Aurora," "Pelican," and " Maria." The total numbers embarked were thirty- two officers, fifty-four sergeants, twenty-two drummers, and eight hundred and eighty-two rank and file, ninety- seven women, and forty-one children, under the command of Lieut.-Coloncl Hope. These ships sailed on the 22nd, anchoring at Spithead on the 2nd of December, where they continued till the 6th ; they then weighed for the Downs, and remained at that anchorage from the 8th to the 10th. The battalion, which had been crowded in three transports, was transhipped into two other :t--S«Ji t ( 1 1 I !' t ^!i| !l:|ii i I i 108 HISTORICAL RECOltD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1805. small vesBcls, so that it was now broken into five divisions _- ^1' of iine(inal strength. These sailed with the rest of the fleet destined for (icrmany, Lut after encountering most tenipestuouH weather, liad to put back on the IGth, excepting the " Maria " transport, which was wrecked on tlie night of the 14th, on the Haak Sands, off the Texel. In tliiw catastrophe there perished five oflScers, and nearly all the men of two companies and-a-half. Captain Fr. derick Jones, and Assistant-r^urgeon Ann- strong, with a few men who volunteered to go in a small boat to obtain assistance from the shore, were saved. This enterprise, which at the moment was deemed almost hopeless proved their safety, as they were taken by the Dutch, -who, however, were unable to render any assistance to the " Maria," which soon went to pieces, or was swallowed up in the sands. Captain Jones and his companions were kindly treated, and afterwards exchanged. The misfortunes of the Regiment, however, did not end here, for the " Aurora " transport, in whicli were the head-quarters of the battalion, under Major Christopher Davidson, in endeavouring to make the Downs, was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, and every one on board was drowned ; the violence of the tempest being such, that even the known skill and resolution of the Deal boatmen, ever ready as they are, at the peril of their lives, to render aid to vessels in danger, were of no avail. By this double visitation, the 26tli, which had been completed in May to an establishment of one thousand rank and file, by four hundred volunteers from the Irish Militia, lost half its effective strength, its grenadier company forming a part. There perished in these ships fourteen officers, and four hundred and seventy-four non- Hi OR CAMERONIAN BEGIMFNT. t09 commisaioned officers and men,* leaving about five 1805. liundred, who were embarked in tlie other tliree trans- ^ * portt*. These nailed once more with the expedition on the 22nd of December ; but one was again driven back, and the men were landed at Deal, whilst the other two reached tlie coast of Germany, one landing at Cuxhaven, on the 27th, the other at a place on the Weser, whence the men marched to Pcnningbuttcl, in which, and sub- sequently in some other villages, they were quartered during their stay on the Continent. • Thus four companies only reached their destination, and joined the expedition, which was intended to have effected a diversion in favour of the allies. The great victory of the French over the Bussians and Austrians, at Austerlitz, was followed by a treaty concluded at Vienna, wherein it was stipulated that Hanover should be occupied by the Prussians ; this led to the British troops beinj withdrawn, in February, 1806, after occu- pying the country between the Elbe and the Weser for about six weeks. * Drowned, on the 14th December, 1805, in the "Maria" Transport — Captain William Garstin, Lieutenants John Campbell and C. B. Marshman, Ensigns William Cunningham and George Mathoson, and ten sergeants, eleven corporals, two hundred and three privates, twenty-two women and children. Saved — Captain ^ones, Assistant-Surgeon Armstrong, one sergeant, and fifteen privates. Drowned, on the 16th of December, in the " Aurora " Transport — Major Christopher Davidson, Captains AVilliam Hoggins and Archibald Cameron, Lieutenants William Browne and Hopkins, (Adjutant) Ensign George Dalzcll, Quarter-Master Robertson, Paymaster Duncan Campbell, and Surgeon Robert Dewar, two hundred and fifty non-commissioned officers and private.', and thirty women and children, . . m^' r.r. ir- i III -T^W ] I no H18T0IIICAL llECORD UF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1805. During the remainder of the year, after its departure ^^^ from Athlone in June, the second battalion continued in gi*rrison in Dublin. 1806. Upon the return of the remains of the first battalion Is' from Germany, after a boisterous passage, they landed on the 21st of February, 1806, at Ramsgate, and, on the 24th marched through Canterbury to Ospringe and Feversham, where they were quartered till the 18th of March, when they moved to Asliford. On the 3rd of July, two companies were detached to Canterbury, and on the 26th of October the battalion marched for Dover, and went into barracks on the heights. On the 19th of December it proceeded to Deal. In April Lieut. - Colonel Maxwell assumed the command of the battalion, in succession to Lieut. -Colonel Hope, who retired from the service by the sale of his commission. Major-General Lord Elphinstonewas appointed Colonel of the Regiment on the 24th of April, 1806 ; in succes- sion to Lieu. -General Andrew Gordon, deceased. 2nd The second battalion remained during the year Bait. 1806 in garrison in Dublin, where its light infantry company rejoined in August, after an absence of two years, during wliich it had formed part of the light brigade, and had been at the camps on the Curragh in 1804 and 1805. The effective strength of the battalion was above one thousand rank and file ; but as the greater portion of the men belonged to the Army of Reserve, who, perhaps, for reasons connected with the discipline of the Regiment, were unwilling to extend their services in it, the permission to volunteer for general service was extended to other corps, of which about four hundred men availed themselves between April and October. The chief part went into the First or Royal Regiment, inducec hy the persuasions of those who were themselves iU7v»» OR CAMEKONIAN KEQIMENT. -IriH 111 influenced, and who contrived to influence others by 1806. various unredeemed pledges of promotion and individual „°^ advantage. When it became evident that the rest of tlie Army of Reserve men were not to be induced by any considerations to extend their services, Government determined to form them into garrison battalions, and four hundred and sixty-two men of the second battalion of the 26th were transferred in December to the fifth garrison battalion, which was at the same time com- pleted by a similar draft from the 42nd Regiment. After this arrangement, the second battalion, now reduced below two hundred and fifty rank and file, changed its quarters from the Royal to the Old Custom House Barracks. This irreparable loss was not in any degree com- pensated by success in any other quarter, as the number of men raised by recruits, or from the militia, was inconsiderable in either battalion. It was the more to be regretted, both on account of the urgency of the demand to supply tlie wants of the first battalion, and also on account of the supcxior character of the men, and their military discipline, which rendered them an object of imitation to other corps in the garrison. The formation of the garrison battalion having taken away all hope of aid from the reserve, the only resource was in the regular recruiting, on which service, about Christmas, numerous parties were dcfspatched. The first battalion continued in quarters at Deal till Ist the 5th of May, 1807, when it marched to Ramsgate ^*"' and embarked in three transports for Ireland. These sailed immediately, and after anchoring during the 12th, at St. Helen's, finished their voyage on the 20th, on which day they arrived in the Cove of Cork. Landing there on the 23rd, the battalion marched on the 25th rl ^TTT 112 HISTORICAL KECOKD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1807. for Mallow, and continuing its route on the following g *^ days, reached Limerick on the 28th of May, where it remained in garrison till the 26th of June. Another change in the station of the battalion was produced by the frequent alterations which were at this period made in the stations of regiments, sometimes owing to the demand for troops for foreign service ; and at other times in the course of the ordinary removals which were occasionally ordered. On the 26th of June it commenced its march, one wing to Cliarleville, and the other to Doneraile, whence on the 27th of September it was again recalled to Limerick. The remainder of the year was passed in garrison in that city, sending, however, a few small detachments to some of the neighbouring villages. 2nd The second battalion terminated its protracted resi- Batt. dence in Dublin in the month of Januar}^, and, embark- ing at Donaghadee, landed at Port-Patrick and proceeded to Ayr, where it continued from the 28th of January till July, in which month it was removed to Glasgow, where it passed the rest of the year. In consequence of the second battalion being nearly a skeleton, and the fiA'st reduced to little more than five hundred men, the recruiting became a service of the utmost importance, but it was not productive. The demand for men at this period of the war was such as could only be met by the volunteering from the militia — a measure which afforded a large supply of ' • men not only of the best description, but often completely trained. The influence of the second battalion Avas exerted with considerable effect, and its efforts were highly instru- mental in rendering the first battalion effective for ser- vice in the course of the next year. The drafts were obtained from several regiments of. militi^ij but the ffcJjWMBBMWe ,iHTi,fe; OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT, r^lOT?:': 113 Dumfries furnished the largest, in number about 1807. eighty men. Whilst the second battalion was thus ^ j[ maintaining the credit of the Cameronian name in Scotland, the first battalion was wholly unsuccessful in England and Ireland, as its strength was less by thirty men at the end, than it had been at the beginning of the year. This decrease was owing to a mistaken policy which had caused the offers that were made by the men of several Regiments of Irish militia to be rejected, and particularly by those of the Galway, who would have volunteered into the 26th ; and thus the services of some hundreds were lost to the corps. Its nationality was indeed a principle of great value, and well worthy of every reasonable effort to maintain the same ; but wholly to sacrifice the efficiency of the Regiment to any abstract principle, was an extreme which cannot be justified. Had there been a choice, so that the deficiency on the establishment could liave been filled up from Scotland without draining the second battalion, and thereby depriving it of the opportunity cJ seeing foreign service, by rendering it again a skeleton, such a preference would have been laudable ; but in so great an exigency, assistance from any quarter should have been gladly received. The men who were thus unad- visedly rejected entered into other regiments, and the first battalion, on the 24th of December, mustered only five hundred and fourteen bayonets. • '•' - i « i " In January, 1808, the first battalion quitted Limerick 1808. and proceeded to Rathkeale, Newcastle, and Listowel, at each of which places three companies were quartered, with its remaining company at Tarbert. In April it received a route for Castlebar and Westport, com- mencing the march on the 18th and ending it the 26th ; proceeding through Limerick, Ennis, Gort, Galway, 1st Batt. I ■i'l i I S. € "■' 114 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTt-SIXTH, 1808. Tuara, and Ballinrobe. A wing of the battalion was J*' stationed in the towns of CastleTbar and Westport. On the 8th of June it began to inarch for the Curragh, where it arrived on the 16th, by way of Ballinrobe, Tuam, Ballinamore, Athlone, Moate, Kilbeggan, Philips- \ town, and Edenderry. When it afterwards left the camp on the 22nd of July, it proceeded by Athy, Carlow, Kilkenny, Callan, Clonmel and Clogheen to Ferraoy, and arrived there on the 31st of July. ' ^- • » - During the encampment on the Curragh a detachment of two hundred and sixty-five men arrived in June from the second battalion in Scotland ; and on the 4th . of August a second draft of two hundred and twelve men reached that place. By the exeitions and popu- larity of the second, the causes which operated against the first battalion so unfortunately in December 1805 were removed ; and its establishment was again raised to that of one thousand rank and file, with the addi- tional Lieutenants. These timely reinforcements gave the first battalion a place in the expedition fitted out for the south of Spain, under Lieut -General Sir David Baird. It marched to Cork on the 9th of September, and embarked the next day at Monkstown. The battalion mustered forty-nine officers, fifty-tliree sergeants, twenty-two drummers, and eight hundred and sixty-six rank and file ;* sixty-two •'" women and seventeen children also proceeded with it. .r'.u The names of the officers were: — Lieut.- Colonel, Wil- !\ i^ * By the monthly return of the battalion, dated Salamanca, Ist December, 1808, its strength in rank and file was then seven hundred and forty-five fit for duty, one hundred and tw^'lve in hospital, and nine absent on command ; total, eight hondrev'i: and sixty-six, as embaiked. ." ^?)r,hi*OjfJ li^^ifmli ?j.«Bk4'j - < A junction was effected with the force, under Sir David Baird, at Majorga, on the 20th of December. Every arrangement was now made to attack the corps of Marshal Soult, posted on the line of the Carion. At night fall, on the 23rd of December, the troops we e i ' 120 niBTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1808. under arms, and had begun tlicir march, animated with j.^^. a spirit wliich may be said almost to command victory. A frosty evening, whicli ensured good roads, and a sufficiency of light, seemed to favour their progress, when about midnight the columns were ordered to return. Disappointment then pervaded every heart ; and the retreat, which commenced on the following morning, excited universal discontent, the feeling of the British soldier being ever adverse to such a movement. The cavalry had already met with that of the enemy, and tlie infantry were within two hours' march of him, when an intercepted letter informed the British Com- mander that the French Emperor was near at hand, witli a superior army, as regards numbers. , ■.. ■ .. , n. :«, < The weather, which was fine and frosty till the night of the 23rd and 24th of December, broke up on the 24th, when the retreat commenced; but the Regiment remained at Sahagun until Christmas-day, when it quitted that place, and on the 26th passed the Esla at Valencia de Don Juan, which had nearly proved an insurmountable barrier to further progress. The river had tliere no bridge, and the ferry-boat being in a Avretched state, was quite useless ; but the fortunate discovery of a ford, as it was said, by the accidental enterprise of an individual officer, relieved the division from a situation of difficulty, if not of danger. The rains had so swollen the river, that the men could with difficulty support the weight of the current, and pass with their arms and accoutrements carried over their heads. Being uninterrupted in the passage, it was effected without loss of life, but not without that of some of the luggage. Thence the brigade marched to Santa Maria, and reached Astorga on the 30th of December. ^, Here JSir John Moore had at one time contemplated . I y/ OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 121 the possibility of making head against the enemy, but 1808. tlic concentration of the whole disposable French army ^*' in order to overwhelm him by an iiTcsistible superiority, and the little efficient aid which the Marquis de Romana's force could afford, decided him to continue the retreat. Even in the five days' march between Sahagun and Astorga the discipline of his army had become much impaired, partly owing to the impatience and inex- perience of the troops, to the extreme severity of the weather, and to the failure in supplying the men with provisions, the want of which must always lead to irregularities and excesses. His order of the 27th of December animadverted in strong terms on them, and forcibly described the qualities, which are most valuable in a military body. " These," he says, " are not bravery " alone, but patience and hardship, obedience to com- " mand, sobriety, firmness and resolution in every dif- *' ferent situation in which they may be placed. It is " by the display of such qualities alone, that the army " can expect to deserve the name of soldiers ; that they " can be able to withstand the forces opposed to them, " or to fulfil the expectations of their country." From any participation in the excesses which were com- mitted, the 26th or Cameronian Regiment appear to have been singularly free, as one man only was punished j and he, though taken in company with others, was supposed, from being somewhat idiotic, to have been a spectator rather than a sharer in the plunder. On the Slst of December, the Regiment quitted Astorga on its march to Lugo. At this time. Sir John Moore's despatch showed that the hope of disputing the passes of the mountains, which afforded positions of great strength, as expressed in his correspondence with Romana, was finally relinquished j for, besides the de- i'-.T 122 HISTORICAL UECORD OP THE TWENTY-8IXTII, l8t Batt. M ■(, :> 1808. stmction of the ammunition and stores collected there, the sick were abandoned, and he stated, " we must all " make forced marches to the coast from the scarcity of " provisions, and to he before the enemy, who by roads *' upon our flanks may otherwise intercept us." Ho added, " I hope to find upoH the coast transports for the " embarkation of the troops." Under these discouraging circumstances, the retreat was continued to Lugo, ajij- Shortly after the British evacuated Astorga, Napoleon arrived, and was joined by Marshal Soult. The whole French anny tliat was assembled there amounted to nearly seventy thousand men, besides other corps which were countermanded from their former destination, though not yet come up. The British army, when assembled to attack Marshal Soult, on the Carion, mustered only about twenty-five tliousand four hundred men. What greater compliment could be paid to them, than that tlie French ^ Emperorshould thus check his armies in their career of victory, to concentrate so overwhelming a force for their destruction, and wliat greater disapix>intment to him, than to find that by the masterly arrangements of his adversary it was impossible to intercept them. Unable, t' -"fore, to secure a triumph, suited to his own renown, ted to watch the event, and despatched two of his marshals, with as many divisions, with orders to follow the British closely, and to destroy them either before, or during their embarkation. In the fatigues and sufferings from hunger and bad weather, the 26th, which formed part of the reserve, had their share, but in the actions which occurred were not engaged. Ready to support, their assistance in aid of the light troops and cavalry was never required, ^.r^.^^ 1809. On the 4th of January, 1809, Sir John Moore deter- mined on retreating to Corunna instead of Vigo, as was ,li'l' ■■ >■ OU CAMEllONIAN UEOIMENT. 123 originally intended ; and orders wore sent for tlic 1809. transports to proceed immediately to the former place. _ ' The reserve reached Lugo on the 5th. The irregu- larities attendant on this march were very serious, and ])roduccd a severe order of the day on the 5th, The army occupied its position in front of Lugo on the 7th, and in the evening the 26th were obliged to exchange their quarters in the town for the field, but they were not brought into action. The stragglers from the Regiment, who were not numerous, had nearly all rejoined on the ()th, and the corps was quite efficient when it took its place in the line. It was not, however, the enemy's policy to fight the British army on such strong ground, but to delay and harass its march. After offering battle all day, the troops began to draw off at night fall ; and then was renewed, even in marching to Lugo, the disorder which had before prevailed, but which was now aggravated ten-fold. Neither had the commissariat made much effort to alleviate the suffering of the soldiers during the halt ; for though they then received some provisions, they were insufficient for the march which followed. Hunger, sickness, want of necessary clothing, bad roads and inclement weather, were all combined to complete their misery ; and in the eleven leagues which they had to travel to Be- tanzos, no supply could be obtained but wine, which proved only a source of evil. The French, who were not apprised of the retreat till the morning, did not overtake the rear guard before the evening of the 9th ; and, but for the protection which was afforded to the loiterers, the enemy would have caused scarcely any trouble. To save these men, L'sut.-General Lord Paget remained some miles from Betanzos, whilst the army generally was quartered at that place on the 10th. 1 i!l!!l ! I , ]'l 124 HISTORICAL RECOKD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1809. The 26th arrived there close upon eleven in the mom- T. '. ing, with aLout fifty men, fourteen officers and the colours. Twenty-three of the men belonged to the light company. The greater part, however, came in during the day. Other corps were even more reduced. Here provisions were plenty ^ but shoes, the want of which had occasioned the loss of so many men, were not to ^ procured. Between Lugo and Betanzos the troops, during the short halts which were unavoidable, were without slielter, as it was preferable that they should endure the cold and rain even of a severe night, rather than encounter the risk of intoxication. . '' : . • ■ On the llth of January, the army left Betanzos on its last day's march to Corunnay which was conducted with more regularity than on former occasions. The 26th were quartered in the town. Though all the baggage had been at different times lost, mostly before arriving at Astorga, and the men's clothing, who remained with their colours, had become miserably tattered ; yet, in spite of all their sufferings, the spirits of the soldiers continued unbroken, and their arms and accoutrements were all complete and in a fairly serviceable state. As the transports had not anived, the sick only embarked in the few ships then in the bay. The result of the march was, that the army arrived entire and unbroken ; and in a military point of view the operation was successful. Nearly seventy thousand Frenchmen, led by their favourite Emperor, with a great superiority of cavalry, had endeavoured in vain to surround or to defeat twenty-six thousand British ; two hundred and fifty miles of country had been traversed ; and mountains, defiles, and rivers had been crossec' in daily contact with the enemy. Though frequently ''? .ir;, , OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. • VkM 125 engaged, even their rear guard was never beaten or 1809. thrown into confusion; but was succcssfiil in every j.^' encounter. However great the sacrifice of baggage and of stores from want of adequate means of con- veyance, and the state of the roads, " neither Napoleon " nor the Duke of Dalmatia won by force a piece of " artillery, a standard, or a single military trophy from " the British army."* ,, . , As the position was found to be bad, and the trans- ports not arrived, some recommended Sir John Moore to treat with the enemy, which advice he properly rejected. On the 12th the French appeared in force on the right bank of the Mero, and on ihe 13th Lieut.-General Sir David Baird marched out of Corunna with his division, to occupy the position on the rising grounds in front, and to remain out all night. The 26th were in this division. On the 14th Marshal Soult made some demonstrations, accompanied by a cannonade, which was soon returned with effect, when he drew off his guns, and on the 15th his whole army made a forward move- ment, and took up a strong position in front of the British ; in the evening the transports from Vigo hove in sight, and an attempt was made to seize two of his guns, which failed by the death of Lieut.-Colonel John Mackenzie of the 5th Regiment, who led the attack* On the morning of the 16th the enemy remained ap])arently quiet, and the preparations for embarking the array during the night were completed. Sir John Moore had passed the morning in transacting business, and having made his arrangements for the ensuing niglitj if the French should not move, he set off at one o'clock ' • "Narrative of the Campaign," by Jamea Carvick Moor^. I .1 n: w 126 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1809. to visit the outposts, when he was met on the road by a jj^'j^ messenger from Lieut.-General the Honourable John Hope, (afterwards Earl of Hopetoun), to report that " the enemy's line was getting under arms." Sir John expressed the highest satisfaction at this intelligence with a feeling truly British, and only regretted that there would not be day-light enough to profit sufficiently from the advantages which he ant cipated as certain. The battle soon after began on the right, which was the weak part of the position, against which the enemy made the most vigorous efforts, but they were constantly repulsed. In the course of the conflict, first Sir David Baird, and afterwards Sir Jo "n Moore were carried off the field wounded. The soldiers, however, continued the contest with success, although they had witnessed the fall of their two leaders, and Marshal Soult was compelled to draw back his left wing. ' '• Finding that he was not likely to succeed in his first attempt, his efforts became more forcibly directed towards the British centre, where the French wete success- fully resisted by Major-General Manningham's brigade, forming the left of Sir David Baird's division, ancj by a part of that under Major-General Leitli, composing the right of Lieut.-Gcneral Hope's division. Before five o'clock in the evening, not only was every attack success*- fully repulsed which was made on the position, but ground was gained at almost all points, and a more forward line Was occupied than at the commencement of the action. Lieut. -General the Honom-able John Hope observed in his despatch, that " the bnnit of the action fell upon " the 4tli, 42nd, 50th and 81st Regiments, with parts of " the brigade of Guards and the 2Gth Regiment ;" and in his general orders, of the 18th of January, thus ex- pressed his appreciation of their conduct :-— " Major- •fil.'. OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. ,t :;« T • > 1 1 127 " General Manningham, with his brigade, consisting of 1809. " the Royals, the 26th and 81st Regiments, and Major- g^., " General Warde, with the brigade of Guards, will also " be pleased to accept his best thanks for their steady " and gallant conduct during the action." > ,;» -.jt .".nrt The victory was complete, and gained under many disadvantages. The British had been reduced by sick and stragglers, and by the detachment of Brigadier- General Craufurd's brigade sent to Vigo, to barely fifteen thousand men, whilst the French army, though also diminished from the same causes, still mustered full twenty thousand. Their position was more favourable, and their cannon of much heavier calibre ; yet by the daring courage of the troops, by the skilful disposition of the army, and by the manoeuvres during the action, Soult was completely discomfited. The British loss was between seven and eight hundred men in killed and wounded, whilst that of the French was about two thousand. This was OAving to the quick firing and steady aim of the former, the enemy's veteran officers afterwards declaring that they liad never before been in so hot a .fire. In commemoration of this victory the 26th subsequently received the royal autnority to bear the word " Corunna" on the regimental colours and appointments.* The anny also received the thanks of i • The following is the authority for bearing the word "CoBUNNA," by which justice was at length rendered to the services of the 26th ou that memorable occasion: — , r " Horse Guards, 22nd Jjml, 1 825. " My Lord, — I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, " by direction of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-ehief> " that His Majesty has been pleased to approve of the 26tli (or " Caraeroniau) Regiment bearing on its colours and appointmeuts, ^ ' "i f m ,|. I J « i 128 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, ' 1809. both Houses of Parliament, " for its distinguished dis- g ^ cipline, firmness, and valour in the battle of Corunna." Lieut.-General Hope, under the circumstances in which the British army was placed, and knowing that reinforcements would soon reach the French, considered it would be impossible to maintain his position for any length of time. He therefore judged that the only prudent step that could be taken was to embark the army. At ten o'clock the troops, by brigades, moved from the field and marched to Corunna. Strong pickets were left to guard the ground, and Major General William Carr Beresford commanded the rear guard of two thousand men. He occupied the lines in front of the town, and Major-General Kowland Hill was stationed with a reserve behind the town. Tlie boats were all in readiness, and the previous measures had been so well concerted, that nearly the whole force was embarked during the night. When the army quitted its position on the night of the 16th, the regiments marched off", left in front, and the 26th, who were on the left of Lieut, -General Sir David Baird's division, led the way ; as it was from that flank the movement was made. Pickets were left " ill addition to any other badges or devices which may have '* heretofore been granted to the Regiment, the word " Corunna," " in commemoration of the distinguished services of the Regiment " in the action fought near Cornnna on the 16th of January, 1809. "I have, &c., ♦••P( w i\. w.r-,- .\v.j,M.\ ..J. Macdonald, * Lieut- General the • — ! hi ** D,-A,'G. I '* Earl of DalhoustBy G.C.B,^ ?>■,..!? ;"rf ^.^ nv(jvnil» (d •* i " Colonel of the 2Qth {or Cameraman) li htU iatU '* ^K^mm^lkn^^ " Regiment of Foot* OR cameronian regiment. 129 Sir i ■' hy each corps, of one captain, two subalteins, and fifty 1809. men; the 26th furnisliing one of the same strength for ^^^ the 81st, in consequence of that corps having suiferecl so great a loss in the action. The embarkation of the Cameronians was made from Santa Lucia, a suburb on the hind side, and the boats being ready, the men were quickly taken on board ; as it came on to b^ow hard, and it was difficult, owing to the darknesi^ of the night and the roughness of tlic sea, to lind the riglit sliips, tho men were put into those nearest, by which a great mixture of corps ensued. The greater part of the llegiment was embarked .. transports, but twenty-nine men and five officers proceeded in tlic " Implacable." At two oVLck, on the 17th, Major-General Hill's brigade embarked under the citadel, notwithstanding that the enemy had erected some batteries on the heights and had so alarmed the masters of some of the trans- ports, that they cut their cables, and four ran aground. These were burnt, and the troops removed to other ships. During that night, and the morning of the 18th, IMajor-General Beresford sent off all the sick and wounded, whose condition adndttcd of their being re- moved ; and lastly, the rear guard embarked Avilhout the slightest opposition being made by the enemy. Most of the women, who had been allowed to follow their husbands in the proportion of six to each hundred men, succeeded in effecting their escape, and many had accon\panied them througli the whole campaign, having suffered almost incredible hardships. The condition of all ranks, when on board, was wretched, as the officers were without baggage, and the men's kits were reduced nearly to nothing ; their health became impaired from want of cleanliness, which, without the necessary change of clothes, and in the crowded state of the vessels, could ' ' '- ii ' I ■ l' I 130 HISTORICAL RECORt) OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1 809. not be attained. Disease broke out amongst them on ^^' the passage, and in their subsequent removal from Ply- mouth and Portsmouth to other parts higher up the channel. Numbers were landed, and sent into the hos- pital, of whom many never recovered; whilst the re- mainder were gradually collected at the quarters assigned for the several corps. The 2Gth disembarked chiefly at Portsmouth, but others were landed at Plymouth, Liverpool, and Rams- gate, and as soon as circumstances permitted, the Regi- ment was assembled at Horsham, to which place tlie disposable part marched direct from Portsmouth, and arrived there on the 1st of February, where it remained till the 27th of June. It is difficult to ascertain the loss which the Regiment experienced during this campaign, owing to the pecu- liarities of the service, which impaired the accuracy of the returns, both during its continuance and after the arrival of the army in England. It appears to have lost by death to January, 1809, inclusive, thirty-five men; and two sergeants, three drummers, and one hundred and eighty-seven men were left in Spain. Of these, forty- three afterwards returned, having escaped through Portugal, where, with those of other corps, they were, for a short time, formed into a provisional battalion. The actual strength at Horsham on the 25th of February was four hundred and three men fit for duty, which increased as the sick rejoined. The casualties among the officers at the battle of Corunna were Lieutenants Lawrence Chevera and Joseph Nunn, killed ; Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, who lost his arm ; Lieutenants Francis Shearman, and Thomas Tliompson, and Surgeon Henry Messiter, wounded. « ' ; !• 1 OK CAJIEKONIAN KEGOIENT. m iatt. The second battalion, whicli had proceeded to Glasgow 1809. in July, 1807, remained In that city till tlie 26th of May, ^"^J 1809, when it was removed to Haddington, where it was quartered the remainder of the year. It was occu] 1, during this period, in endeavouring to replace, by re- cruiting and l)y volunteers from the militia, the losses which the first battalion had sustained. On tlie 7th of JMay, the first battalion Avas inspected 1st by Major-General the Earl of Dalhousie, when it was. about six hundred strong, and on the l(ith of June it received a draft of two hundred men from the second battalion ; whicli, being the only aid obtained from that quarter, shows that the second battalion, itself too weak for service, had not jjcen very sucect >{u\ in recruiting. Its influence was, however, so great at this time, when men could hardly be procured, that between thirty and forty men volunteered from the Lanark militia, a corps which had always shown a decided disinclination to enter the line. By this rein- forcement the nominal strength of the first battalion was raised to one thousand and twenty rank and file, though its eftectives, when it marched in two divisions from Horsham on the 27th of June, were only about eight hundred. A depot, composed of the actual non-effective men then wdth the corps, who were trans- ferred to the second battalion, was left there in charge of the heavy luggage, and the absentees in Spain were still retained on the strengtli of the first battalion. The first battalion of the 2()th Avas subsequently en- camped near Portsmouth, and was brigaded with the first battalion of the 5th, the second battalion of the 23rd, and the 32nd Regiment, under the command of Brigadier- General Gore BroAvne. Immense preparations had been made by the British K 2 11 \' jiir ' iF V*' iliil' 1 ■■ ^H^^H 1, 1 ( II l'd'2 HISTORICAL BECOKD OF THE TWENTy-SIXTH, 1809. Government to fit out tlie most formidable armament Batt *^^^^ ^^'^'^ ^^^ ^ ^^"S ^^^^ proceeded from England. Tlie troops amomited to forty thou.sand men, eonmianded by Lleut.-General the Earl of Chatham ; the naval portion consisted of thirty-nine ships of the line^ thirty-six frigates, and ttumerous gmi-boats and bomb-vesselsj together with otlier small craft, under Admiral Sir Richard Strachan. The object of the expedition was to obtain possession of the islands at the mouth of tae Scheldt, and to destroy the French ships in that river, with the docks and arsenals at Antwerp. The first battalion of the 2Gth, or Cameronian Kegiment, em- barked at Stoke's Bay for Walcheren, on the Kith of July, on board of the *' Marlborough" and "Hero," 74 guns. The strength of the battalion was forty- one officers, forty-seven sergeants, sixteen drunmiers, ahd six hundi-ed and sixty-three rank and file. The names of the officers werej — Lieut.- Colonel j William Maxwell J Majors, Fountain Hogg, Honourable Henry Murray (2nd battalion) j Captains^ Frederick Joiies, William Fotheringham (Deputy- Assistant Adjutant- General), James ConoUy, Charles Stuart Campbell, William Walker, Percival Pym, Edward Whitty, Adam G. Campbell j Lieutenants, Kobert Hagger- stone, John Brooks, Joseph Smith, Andrew Lett, Francis Shearman, James Stedman, Tliomas Thomson, Robert Smith, George Piatt, John Westlake, James Dunn, Thomas Murray, Hamilton Maxwell, George Pipon, Hugh Law, Hugh McLatchic, Frederick Camp- bell Heatley, Henry Maxwell, Standish Lowcay ; Ensigns^ Patrick James Robertson, George Bray, John Grim- shaw, George W. Charleton, Edward James White, Francis R. Masters (2nd battalion) ; Paymaster ^ William Laforest ; Adjutant, James Nash • Quarter Master^ John O OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 133 1st Batt. n Connell ; Surgeon, Jolm Carroll ; Assistant- Surgeon, John 1809, Coldstream. Captain Hope, of the 2r)th, was on the staff, as {lide-de-camp to Lieut. -General the Honourable Sir John Hope. The ships sailed on the 25th, and anchored in the Downs on the 27th ; and weighing on the 29th, they again anchored in the evening off Wal- chercn. The troops landed during the evening of the 30th, and took up a position about half a mile from the shore. The next day they marched five miles, and encamped near the village of Domberg. On the 1st of August, the troojis advanced towards Flushing. The Cameronians marched by West Capellc, and leaving Middleberg to the left, they halted at West Soberg. On the 2nd, the right wing was ordered to the support of the 5th Foot, and afterwards the left, the enemy having attacked that corps. After this affair had ended, two companies remained on picket. In reference to the operations which followed the landing of the army, the Earl of Chatham stated, on the 2nd, that the " loss will not appear to have been " great, when the serious impediments it was in the " power of the enemy to oppose to our progress are " considered, as well as the formidable state of the " batteries of Flushing, to which our troops were ex- " posed." Having succeeded in the investment, active measures were taken for the reduction of the fortress by a regular siege, and his Lordship wrote on the 7th, that '' we have been unremittingly employed in bringing up " the artillery of siege, the ammunition and stores to " the vicinity of Flushing ; and the troops have been " occupied in the construction of the batteries, and in " caiTying on the several works before the place, but " which have been necessarily interrupted by the heavy " rains which have fallen here. Th*e enemy is active 134 IIISTOHICAL RKCORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1809. '' and ontcipiislng, and tlic f^arrison lian certainly re- ■n ,. " ccivcd considerable rciiiforcemcntH from tlie opposite *' coast, nor has it l)cen in the power of the flotilla " hitherto to prevent it." The 2Gth were actively engaged in these operations, and on the 3rd and 5th they suffered some loss. On the latter day Lieutenant Henry ]\Iaxwell was dan- gerously wounded, and died in September follo^\ing. On the 7th they changed their post in consequence of an attack on the British right. From tlic 8th to the 11th tliey were employed alternately in working in the trenches, and in protecting the Avorking parties. On the 13th, the batteries having commenced to fire, the Cameronians were ordered to protect them. The fire proved so destructive, and the Congreve rockets and other missiles had done such damage, that on the 15th a flag of truce was sent out. On the Ifith and 17th the arrangements for the surrender were complete, and on the 18th, the 26tli had the honour of taking post at the East gate, -whilst the garrison defiled as prisoners of war before them. After remaining two days in camp, they marched on the 21st to Armuyden, where they again came under the eonnnand of Brigadier- General Browne, who had been wounded during the siege ; his brigade then consisted of the first battalion of the 26th, and the second battalions of the 23rd, 81st, and 84th Regiments. During the three weeks of these operations the Came- ronians were not only exposed to danger from the enemy's fire, and in skirmishes which occurred with the outposts, but from exposure to the weather, which there, and in St. Joostland, laid the seeds of the disease that afterwards proved so fatal. The actual casualties from the 30th of July to the surrender of Flushing were five OR CAMERONIAN KEOIMENT. 135 rank and file killed, and two sergeants and nineteen 1809, rank and tile wounded. Many deaths from sickness ^^^ afterwards occurred. The total loss from sickness during tlie year amounted to seven sergeants, one drum- mer, and ninety-two rank and file. On the 7th of September the battalion was removed into farmhouses nearer the Scheldt. During this month the sickness increased fearfully — from ten to fifteen men were daily sent into hospital — whence they afterwards proceeded to England ; and on the 25th of September only two hundred and eighty-seven men were fit for duty. Captain Fotheringliam, Lieutenant Law, Ensign Charle- ton, and Surgeon Carroll, died of fever. All hope of success for the ultimate object of the expedition against Antwerp having been relinquished, and the French having recovered from their first alarm, the greater part of the armament and its commander returned to England ; but a considerable garrison was left for the security of Flushing ; these troops had little to contend with but the pestilential climate of this marshy island, which was more certain in its effects than any efforts of the enemy could have been for their defeat and expulsion. After struggling in vain against this most destructive climate, which reduced every corps to a mere skeleton, insufficient for the ordinary duties of the places in which they were quartered, the tardy and reluctant consent of the ministry to the abandonment of this dearly purchased conquest was extorted. The works of the fortress and the arsenal were mined and destroyed, and the troops re- embarked for England. The Cameronians landed at Portsmouth on the 30th 1810. of December, and marched back into Horsham barracks on New Year's Day, 1810, with ninety men. Thus *Wt 186 IIISTOllICAL HliCOUD OF THE TWENTY-aiXTH, I 1810. ceased tlii.s ill-fated enterprise ; and though the troops, Ist u ^vhcn in presence of the enemy showed tlie greatest ' " intrepidity/' ''and sustained with pleasure and cheerful- " ness the laborious duties they had to perform;'' yet, as thoy -were not afterwards brought into a fair field of action, they lost their spirits, and became the ready victims of a contagion, the progress of M'hich no medical skill could arrest. This short campaign proved even more fatal to the Regiment than that in Spain, with all its protracted toil and hardships. The total casualties of the 26th on these two occasions appears to have been about two hundred and twenty-four, who died or were killed; one liundred and twenty of the absentees on the Corunna retreat were never afterwards heard of, and twenty men were discharged, and fifty-six transferred to the second battalion. Not including the last (though many of them were unfit for the service), the gross number at the time lost to the corps amounted in these two years to three hundred and sixty-four. It would be difficult to give a correct statement of the casualties attributable to the one or the other of these campaigns, as the sick were spread tln-ough so many hospitals, and the returns were so irregular and uncertain as to prevent any accurate distribution of them. Besides this positive loss, the constitution of very many, both officers and men, received a shock from which they never recovered, and death, or premature discharge with pension, followed. 2nd During the whole of 1810, the second battalion re- Batt. maincd at Haddington, and its strength was not sufficient to provide a draft for the first, which much needed a reinforcement. The recruiting continued, but without any remarkable success. OR CAiMERONIAN REaiMENT. 137 On the (»tli of April, 1810, in consequence of the 1810. riots w'liich ensued when Sir Francis Burdett waH sent J^' Batt. to the Tower, the iirst hattiilion proceeded to tlie neiglibourliood of London hy a sudden route received at Hiidniglit. Tiie ofticcrs and men were quartered for some days at Dorkin/?, Epsom, Mitchani, and Wim- bledon, wlicro tliey remained without being brought into tlic metropolis, as the riots gradually subsided. The battalion was therefore shortly after ordered back to Horsham, where it continued till the 4th of June, when it marched to Portsmouth. C)n its arrival on the 7th it embarked in transports; and on the 11th, they sailed from Spithead. Having reached Jersey on the 14th of June, the battalion landed, and marched the same day to Grouville, where it continued the rest of the year. Whilst quartered in England, it was not suc- cessful in its recruiting. The first battalion remained in Jersey till June, 1811, 1811, when it was ordered to join the araiy in Portugal. It left Grouville on the 23rd, and on the same day em- barked in three tranr?ports. During the periods of its being stationed in this island, it obtained scarcely any accession to its strength, a score of recruits and volun- teers who joined having about balanced the various causes of decrease. On embarkation there were on board thirty-three officers, thirty-four sergeants, twenty- one drummers and six hundred and eighteen rank and file, including eighteen volunteers from the Stirlingshire militia, leaving seventy non-commissioned officers and men behind. The following officers embarked for the Peninsula: — Lt'eut,- Colonel, William Maxwell; Majors Edward Sheannan ; Captains, James Conolly, Charles Stuart Campbell, William Walker, Edward Whitty, Adam G. Campbell, Robert Child ; Lieutenants, AndreAV ,1 1 ' 138 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, ill 1st Batt. 1811. Lett, Francis Shoarman, Jaracs Stedman, Thomas Thomson, Robert Smitli, John Westlake, James Dunn, Thomas Murray, George Pipon, llugli McLatchie, Hugh Pollock, Standish Lowcay, Edmund Jordan (second l)attalion), Thomas Hay (second battalion) ; Ensigns^ Francis R. Masters, Robert Robson, Alexander Arnott, George Anderson, John Wilkinson, Thomas Taylor; Paymaster^ AVilliam Laforest ; Adjutatit, James Nash ; Quarter Master , John Connell ; Surgeon, John Butt Taylor ; Assistant Surgeon, William Mayben. Captain James Archibald Hope and Lieutenant William Chartres, of the 26th, were already in the Peninsula; the former as aide-de-camp to Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham, and the laiter doing duty with the Portuguese array. After a tine run of ton days, the transports entered ths Tagus on the 4th of .July, and on the r)tli, the battalion disembarked at Lisbon, and was quartered in the convent of St. Paulisto. The 32nd and 77th Regiments, which had sailed under the same convoy, arrived and landed with it. They jn'oceeded on the 18th, up the Tagus in boats to Velada, where they disembarked, and marched the following day to San- tarem, and thence by Gclegao and Punhete to Abrantes, where they arrived on the 22nd, and were quartered in Pega, a small village on the left bank of the Tagus. T! ey remained there till the 27th, when they continued their route on the 29th to Alpalhao, and there joined the first division under Lieut.-General Sir Brent Spencer, K.C.B., on the 31st, upon its arrival that day, and were brigaded with the 24th, 42nd, 60th, fifth battalion (first company) and 79th regiments, under Lieut.-Colonel Lord Blantyre.* ;^ The strength of iho brigade in rank and file was as follows:— OR CAMRRONIAN REGIMENT. 180 Ist Batt. Tlic main body of the army about this time quitted 1811. the Alemtejo, wlicrc Lieut. -General Viscount Wellington had continued since June, when Marshals Marmont and Soult united on the Guadiana to relieve Badajoz, which, witli an army of sixty-two thousand infantry and eight thousand cavalry, they were enabled to effect, as Wellington could only op])ose to them a body of fifty thousand men, including four thousand cavalry. It might have been expected that Avith so decided a supe- riority of numbers, the enemy Avould have sought a general action, for which the British General was prepared, and had his army so concentrated near and on the Caya, as to be ready, in a few hours, to occupy a defensive position wherein he had determined to give him battle. The French Marshals, after their recon- naissance, on the 22nd of June, from which they retired without gaining any information regarding the numbers and position of the allied army, as it was skilfully concealed in the woods and behind the hills, were content to remain quiet for above a month, during which the reduction of Ciudad Rodrigo was planned, and the preparations for the attack commenced.* It was at this period that the 26th arrived ; and as it joined that part of the army which moved to the north, it avoided all exposure to the climate of the Alemtejo, 24tli (second battalion) . . 289 26th (first battalion) . 590 42nd (second battalion) . . 346 79t; 7 "St battalion) . 595 60th (fifth battalion, one company) . 26 Total . 1,846 • " Jones's Campaigns." , Hi i iV 14.0 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWKNTY-SIXTH, 1811. which, in the summer, becomes very unliealthy. Between ^^^ the 1st and 10th of August, the Regiment had marched from Alpalhao to St. Estivao, where it remained till the 28tli, on which day it moved by Sabugal and Alfayates, to Mealhada de Sorda, where the Cameronians were stationed from the 1st to the 23rd of September. This was an easy march, and although not conducted througli a country affording good accommodation to the troops, yet it tended to the preservation of their health. Cliange of scene and climate, even when the men are obliged to be out, arc at the fine season always con- ductive to the well being of soldiers, whose minds and bodies alike need to be kept in active employment. The Portuguese villages were wretched, both in the construction of the houses and in their cleanliness, and offered a striking contrMst to those within the Spanish boundaries, which were, in every respect, but especially in neatness, very superior. ^lealhada de Sorda was an ordinary village, Avhich, however, was made to contain the whole corps. The frontier villages were, in a great measure, deserted by the inhabitants, Avhich enabled the troops more easily to find accommodation. After its removal from the Alemtejo, the British army was collected, with a view to the blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo, which being situated in a country decidedly hostile to the French, was obliged to be provisioned by convoys escorted from a distance, and with the allied troops encamped in its neighbourhood, it could only be relieved by a force equal to contend succcssfally with tlie British. As the enemy's garrison began to be straitened for supplies, Viscount Wellington had placed some corps of his army in advance of Yuente Guinaldo, so as com- pletely to command tho country about Rodrigo, and ascertain the strength with which the French might o ia'lit OR CAMEUONIAN KEGIMENT. 141* Ist Batt. advance to protect their convoy. On the 23rd of 1811. September, its head appeared in the plain in front of Rodrigo, and on tlie following day, a string of loaded cars, mules, and wagons, several miles in length, entered the fortress. On the morning of the 25th, thirty squadrons of cavalry, and a liody of infantry, with artillery, crossed the Agueda, as a reconnaissance. The French troops, on the advance of the British at El Bodon, were hard pressed, and the Letter to avoid a con- flict with superior numbers, their commander judiciously crossed to the right of the Agueda, and re-passed at a ford higher up. On the left, the only force to oppose the enemy's formidable cavalry were two British and one Portuguese battalion, with three squadrons of dragoons and four guns. They maintained their ground for some time, and when ordered to fall back, the infantry being formed in two squares, retired in admirable order, only halting occasionally to repel the attacks of the French cavalry. Thus a brilliant retreat was successfully eftected, the British cavalry completing, by well-timed charges, the disorder which Avas occasioned by the fire of the squares. Thus alternately covering each other, this small corps fell back on the supports, which, though distant, were ordered up in suffiAjient time to preserve it from being overwhelmed by the vast superiority of the enemy. Lieut. -Generals Thomas Picton and the Honourable George Lowry Cole's divisions were then placed in the position of Guiiialdo, and the enemy halted in front of it. On the 2()th, Major-General Eobcrt Craufiu-d's division took ground on the same alignment. As the English left flank fell abruptly into a spacious plain, it was necessary to post a strong body of troops on it to p.evv, .V the French from manoeuvring in rear of the il Si i 142 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTii, 1811. position. The Caineronians, on the alarm of the enemy's B \t '"^Ppoach, had moved up with the first division towards Fuentes d'Onor, whence tliey afterwards retired to join with, and protect, the left of the position. In the course of the day. Marshal Marmont had collected thirty-five thousand infantry, and a numerous cavalry, within a few hundred yards of the heights forming Wellington's posi- tion ; and at dusk, the head of another very large column appeared in sight ; which, when united, would have in- creased the enemy's force to sixty thousand infantry, and five thousand cavalry. After dark, the British army was therefore withdrawn, being followed, on the 27tli, by two columns of the French, when some smart affairs took place between them and Sir Lowry Cole's division, near Aldea de Ponte. At night, the whole army again fell baekj according to a preconcerted plan, to a position selected on a chord of the arc, formed by the Coa, neal* Sabugal, and on the 28th battle was offered to the enemy, when the latter, having effected his object of re- victualling Eodrigo, declined the challenge, and returned to Sala^ manca. The British troops were replaced in cantonments, but more retired than, before, as it was no longer ail object to Avateli the fortress so closely. The 26th proceeded to Ma^al de Chao, where they remained from tlie 30th of September to the 24th of November, and then, after beiag ordered up to Fuentes d'Onor wit! I the brigade, owing to some imfounded reports of the enemy's movements, they marched to Villa Torpin and Vermioza, and the adjacent villages, in which they were quartered, from the 30th of November to the end of the year* . Wliile thus stationed, workiiig parties were furnished from the Regiment, under officers, to assist in repairing the fortifications of Almeida, which the French had OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 143 1st Batt. blown up on the lOtli of May, when General Brennier, 1811. the governor, by skill and promptitude of movement, effected liis escape, penetrating the British line of invest- ment. Other parties were at the same time engaged in preparing fascines and gabions, with a view to the intended attack on Ciudad Rodrigo. It was after the alerte^ which had been occasioned by the operations attending upon the relief of Ciudad Rodrigo, that the Camcronians began to suffer materially from sickness. Then fever and ague made great havoc in their ranks, which were fearfullv thinned. Several causes may have concurred to render them more suscep- tible to the variations of climate than the regiments which were more used to it. A large number had before suffered from the Waleheren fever, to which the disease prevalent in some of the valleys of Beira had an affinity. On leaving Lisbon, they did not get any blankets, neither were they issued afterwards, and the want of them was greatly felt. The men were, indeed, generally housed, but a roof might literally be said to constitute the whole aceonnuodation afforded by tliese wretched villages. The pay of the anny being in arrear, the 26th werc not enabeld to obtain any advance of money, and they were thus deprived of many comforts, especially salt, which even the soldiers could have obtained either from tiie country people or the settlers, had they been able to make payment. Tliese, and perhaps some other casual disadvantages of management, placed both officers and men imder circumstances of great difficulty, which afterwards unhappily increased, and ultimatf.'ly led to their c[uitting the Peninsula. Whilst engaged in the defensive movements between the 23rd and 29th of September, the detachment undef Major Hogg reached the battalion near Fuentcs d'Onor. 144 IIISTOUICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTil. 1811. This reinforcement, wliicli consisted oftlic following eleven ^®' officers, viz.. Major ^ Fountain Hogg ; Captain^ Charles Addison ; LieuteyiantSy Hamilton Maxwell, Frederick Campbell Heatley, John Wright, Heniy lloberts, Jesse Collins, John Marshall, and George Bray ; and Enstgr}Sj Thomas William Boyesand Charles Frederick Sw^ceney; ten sergeants, one drummer, and one hundred and eighty- seven rank and file, proceeded by sea from Leitli to Gravesend, and thence by land to Portsmouth, where they embarked on tlie 3rd of July in the " Mercury " frigate. After being at sea about seven weeks, of which tliree were passed at Spitliead, and one at Fal- mouthj they arrived at Lisbon on the 22nd of August, and were fjuartered, on arrival, iii the convent of St* Carmo. kSix days aftcrwrtrds they rc-emliarked, and sailed for Figueira, where they lauded, and proceeded to join the army by the route of Coimbra, Vizeu, and Celorico. In the course of the march, they were obliged , to leave behind sick about four sergeants, and twenty- five rank and file, a loss which was partly attributable to eating fruit in excess, and that unripe. In countries where fruits are abundant, no pains should be spared in impressing strongly on the men's minds, the absolute necessity of great moderation in the use of them, and of especial care that such as are not ripe may be avoided. To men accustomed to live in countries where fruits are scarce, few objects are more tempting to the appetite, or more gratifying to persons overcome by fatigue ; j ct, excepting strong liquors, none are more fatal. The natives, even, vdio are used to them, partake of them in great moderation, and select, with the utmost care, only such as arc ripe. The soldiers, however, would devour them as though they could never be satiated, and in consequence, bowel complaints ensued. lu other respects, OR CAJIERONIAX REGIMENT. 140 I the detaclinent was in very good order, and might fairly 1811. have ensured, at Ica.st, in point of nnml)or.«<, to the J^' ,. . . 1 . , . , . . Bate. Ixegnnent its place ni the army tor the ensuing campaign. The second battalion passed the year 1811 bctAvecn 2ud Haddington and Glasgow, having removed to the latter * ' on the 20th of June, after a march of four days. Its popularity whilst at Glasgow gained it a considerable number of recruits, and the T^anark and Argyll regi- ments of i\[ilitia had turned out some volunteers when the corps was at Haddington. Tliougli mablc to aug- ment its strength sufficiently to be tit for active service, it ever maintained the efficiency of the lirst battalion, under a combination of most untoward events. In consequence of the lamentable sickness which con- 1812* tinued to prevail among the Cameronians, as well as in some other corps, they were deprived of their expected share at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, wlilch commenced on the 8tli of January, 1812, and terminated by the capture of the place by assault, on the night of the 19th of that month. The 2Gth had quitted Yermioza on the 31st of December, and continued their march direct to Vizeu, where they arrived on the 5th of January, and remained in that town with the 79th Regi- ment, which had also been sent there from sickness, till the 25th of February. Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham (afterwards Lord Lynedoch) was ordered to inspect the battalion, witli a view to ascertain its efficiency for the tield, but unhappily the sickness still pre /ailed to such an extent that he recommended its removal to Lisbon. Leaving Vizeu on the 25th of February, the Camero- nians reached Coimbra on the 28th, where they halted till the 2nd of March. They were then quartered at Montemor o Velho, whence on the 8th of April they H^ 1 1 1 ^H sl Ij ilB •It ^1 146 HISTORICAL KECORD OF TJIE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1812. proceeded down the Mondego in boats to Figueiras, and ^ embarked on the 9tli In three transiiorts for Lisbon. Batt. They entered the Tagus on the 10th, and disembarking the next day, were iirst quartered in the Castle, and in about three -weeks -were removed to the barracks at the Campo d'Orique, as it Avas considered a more liealthy station. On the 23rd of April they were joined by a draft of three sergeants and ninety-eight rank and file, under Captain Thomas Best and Lieutenant John Brooks, who had left the second battalion at Glasgow on the 26th of February. Although this reinforcement raised the effectives to upwards of eight hundred non-com- missioned officers and men, yet Major-Gcneral Warren M. Peacocke, who commanded at Lisbon, at his inspec- tion did not deem the 26th fit to return to the army, and they were therefore ordered to Gibraltar to replace the first battalion of tlie 82nd, which proceeded to the Peninsula. This unfortunate result shows the importance of anti- cipating, by every effort of foresight and care, the causes which are likely to produce an unfavourable influence on the health of the soldiery, so as altogether to counter- act, or else to lessen by every practicable means, their effect. Disease is an enemy, which in war is commonly more destructive than the sAvord ; and it is moreover one, to which an undue poAver is often given by the neglect of precautions, AAhich, if they fail to prevent, Avould, AA^hen adopted in time, at least mitigate the evil. The zeal and valour of both officers and men become paralysed at the moment Avhen their exertions are most needful for their country's cause ; because objects Avhich might tend to the preserA'ation of health, have been deemed to be trifling and unAvorthy of notice. On the 26th of May the battalion, under the command OK CAMERON IAN RKUIMENT. 147 of Major Edward Shearman (Lieutenant-Colonel Max- 1812. well being on sick leave in En;^-land), consisting of thirty- ,, ' seven officers, iifty-one sergeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and forty-one rank and file, embarked in three transports, which sailed from the Tagus on the 2nd of June. On the 4th tlu^y anchored at Gibraltar, and on the 8th the battalion landed, and occupied the barracks at Windmill Hill. At this time a large number of men continued to be unfit for duty, and a separate Ijuilding was assigned for the accommodation of convalescents, who at first amounted to upwards of one hundred. Sixty men had also been left sick in Portugal, most of whom afterwards rejoined. Though they came to Gibraltar at a season considered very unfavourable to tlie health of young soldiers, of whom there was a very largo proportion in the battalion, owing to the heavy and repeated losses which they had experienced, yet the change liad a favourable influence on them ; and towards the end of the year their efiicieney was completely restored. Tlie opportunity, however, of employment with the army was quite lost, and tliey were obliged to become a perma- nent part of the regular gan-ison of the fortress, being- brigaded with the 11th Regiment and the Fourth Veteran Battalion, under Major-General D. L. T. Wid- drington. The second battalion had much success in recruiting 2ud at Glasgow, and obtained some volunteers from tlie ^**** Lanark and Argyll regiments of militia. (Jn the 25th of May it was removed from Glasgow, and arrived at Dumfries on the 28tli, where it continued the remainder of the year. In this town also the battalion Avas success- fill in recruiting, and received twenty volunteers from the Lanark and thirty from the Dumfries militia. L 2 1st Batt. 148 HISTORICAL ItECOUD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1813. Mnjor-General the Earl of Dalhousie, K.B., Avas ivmovcd from the colonelcy of the fSixtli Garrison Battalion to that of the 2Gth Regiment, on the 2l8t of May, 1813, in succession to Lieut-General Lord Elphinstone, deceased. In 1813 the first battalion was engaged in the ordinary duties of the garrison of Gibraltar, which did not admit of any occurrence worthy of remark, till the bilious remittent fever broke out, and towards the end of the summer acquired a virulence equal to the plague. All the ordinary business of civil life was interrupted, trade ceased, the intercourse of friendship was suspended, the streets were deserted, except by those compelled by duty to frequent them, and by the dead cart, and a general system of quarantine was established between house and house, as by mutual consent. The Lieut. -Governor, Lieut.-General Colin Campbell,* on the Dth of September placed the garrison under quarantine, and adopted additional sanitary measures of the greatest strictness, which, however, the emergency of the case fully justified. The lower classes of the inhabitants, who had not sutlicient house-room to secure them from being over- crowded, were obliged to remove to the neutral ground to the number of three or four thousand, where they were furnished with tents to encamp, and provided with rations at the public expense, when they had no other means of support ; all the sick were instantly removed to the Lazaretto, between the north end of the rock and the inimdation, where they were placed under proper medical superintendence. There were also about three thousand of the inhabi- Died at Gibraltar on 2nd of April, 1814. OR CAMERONIAN KEGIMENT. 149 tants, who fjuittcil tlio garrison, and those, witli tlic oxccp- 1813. tion of a few rich individuals, Avho fled from the danp^er, , were persons without any claim to reside in it. In the town all access to houses in wiiicli there were sick, was placed under restrictions by palisades across the streets, and by sentries, the necessary communication to the town beinp^ confined to the line wall. The troops were forbidden to enter the town, and even the main guard, which was augmented to one hundred and fifty men, was outside, the sentries only being brought Avithin it. Stringent measures were ado])ted for cleaning the streets, and infected houses; and as public furicrals were forbidden, the dead were buried by the agents of the police, who cariied them out in carts every morning to the neutral ground. It required all the exertions of the Lieut.-CTOvernor and the generals of brigades, and other superintendents, among whom Major-(Jeneral Sir Montague Burgoyne, Bart., was most conspicuous for his zeal and energy, to enforce the necessary regulations. By great exertions, however, this dreadful scourge was partially restrained, and when the weather changed in the month of October, the malignity of the disease began to abate. During the month of September, and beginning of October, the mortality Avas iir" ^nse ; and though the higher classes, by timely and Avell-judged precautions, were less exposed, they did not escape the pestilence. The troops cxperiencod less proportionate loss tlian the inhabitants; for notAvithstanding the nature of their duties, not ahvays favourable to them, the enforcement of the necessary precautions Avas in their case easier to effect. They Avere all encamped, some on the Landport glacis, and some in the south. The Ckmeronians had removed from Windmill Hill Barracks, which Avere turned into a hospital, to Europa ; i Is it 150 HISTORICAL TUX'ORD OF THK TWENTY-SIXTH, fl 1813. where tlioy encampcrl, and were rostrainod from com- ^^^ municating witli other parts of the rock, except on duty. Although tlic disease was less fatal among tlic military,* yet, even among them, it prevailed to a most alarming extent, so much so, that tiie effective men were unequal to the duties of the garrison, which were diminished by the town heing com])letcly cut off, and all the guards and sentries with(h'awn, hut such as were necessary to exclude every communication with it, except when made by the authority of the police. At one period the daily number of fresh cases in the battalion was from twenty to thirty, but they did not lose so many men as other corps. When the great heat abated after the rains, the deaths sensibly decreased, and in November they became comparatively very few, till in December the usual state of health was restored. Whether this terrible visitation originated in local causes, or whether it was a contagion imported from Spain, where the disease had appeared at an earlier period, are points about which the medical profession differed. 2nd The second battalion was quartered at Dumfries till ^^^ ' about the 3rd of September, when it proceeded to Kilmarnock. It marched on the 23rd for Dumbarton, and remained there the rest of the year. Early in 1813, it furnished a draft of ninety-six rank and file, which reached Gibraltar in May ; and another of forty-four rank * During the year 1813, the 26th lost the following officers from fever, namely — Captain Robert Child, 29th of September; Lieutenant Maurice Mahony, 30th of September; Surgeon John Butt Taylor, 1st of October ; Lieutenant Thomas Thomson, 2nd of October; Captain Thomas Best, 6th of October; and Ensign Thomas Clubbe, 2nd of December. The deaths amongst the men amounted to fifty-four, and many wero sent home invalided. ^'" ; OR CAMERONIAN UKGIMENT. 151 and file, wliich arrived there in October. The first was 1813. commanded by jVIajor Frederick Jones, and the second ,':"^: hy Captain Thoinan Siiepheurd. Besides the recruiting, abc I twenty volunteers were obtained from the Lanark, and thirty from the Dumfries regiments of militia. In 1814 the Cameronians continued in the usual rou- 1814. tine of garrison duties, wiiich present but little variety. ^^' This smnnier there were again symptoms of the bilious remittent, though not in so aggravated a degree as last year.* Its partial appearance, however, excited great alarm, and immediate measures of quarantine were adopted; but as the .symptoms did not increase very materially, these precautions were neither so numerous, nor so strict as before. The troops had been previously encamped, and they continued so until about October, when the battalion struck its tents at Europa, and occu- pied the south barracks, having a detachment in the town of the men who had suffered from the fever the year before.f The inhabitants, in great numbers, en- camped on the neutral ground ; and the more wealthy were permitted to erect wooden sheds for their occasional residence in tlie summer. As the disease did not assume its former malignant type, though the deaths were still numerous, both public and private business was still transacted. The disease abated as usual in the month of October, when the cold weather com- menced. 1 ; * Captains Charles Grant and Thomas Shephcard died at this period, the former on the 23rd of September and the latter on the 2ud of October, 1814 ; also twenty-three men of the Regiment. ■)■ In ^larch, 1815, a return was prepared of the number of men remaining in the corps who had passed the fever in 1813 and 1814, with a view to their being employed on particular duties, by which ]52 HISTOllICAL RKCORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1814. The second battalion continued at Dumbarton till ■o\ March, when it removed to Glasgow. It was disbanded on the 24th of October, in consequence of the peace, which caused a general reduction in the military force of the kingdom. A detachment of one hundred and twenty-five rank and file left Dumbarton, on the 29tli of February, and reached Gibraltar on the 19th of May, a period much too late for troops to arrive in that garrison with a due regard to their health. In December, the remaining effectives (one hundred and fifty) of the late second battalion arrived there. The Cameronians were thus reduced to an establishment of ten companies of one hundred rank and file t..ch, and one recruiting company, which remained at Glasgow. When the effective men joined at Gibraltar in December, the Regiment bernne forty men above its establishment of one thou^ai rank and file, notwithstanding that sixty-five men had been sent home as invalids. 1815. In 1815 the Cameronians continued to be quartered in the south, and were then brigaded Avith the eighth batta- lion of the 60tli Regiment under the command of Major- General Widdrington. The depot company proceeded on the 24th of June, 1815, from G^ .sgow to Ayr, but as the Regiment was above its estaMishment, it was not required to recruit. they would be more exposed to this disease, should it reappear in the garrison, as it was thought that it did not attack the same person a second time. This paper showed that sixteen sergeants, twenty-three corporals, two drummers, and three 1 . Ired and twenty-two privates remained Avbo had had the fever, ►o which number, if fifty-four deaths in 181' aid twenty-three in 1814, be added, there will be a total of fori r hundred and forty who had the disease in the two years. This number was smaller than fiat of the other corps then ia the garrison. r^ OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 153 ed The Regiment in 1810 was removed frcm the south +o 1816. barracks in the town. Being by this time accustomed to the climate, and so many having actually had the fever, the Cameronians continued in the town during the remai cr of their stay on the rock. The fear of infec- tion being over, the communication witli 8pain was open, except in the autumn of 1820 and that of 1821. 1820. Gibraltar is, in many respects, one of the best 1821. stations, both for officers and men, which the British dependencies afford, when the communication with Spain is free ; yet a residence ti.cre is attended with little variety of pursuits, except by excursions into the Penin- sula. The communication after 1814 was wholly with- out interruption, except ir those years when the gates were shut during three or four summer and autumn months. A cordon was at these times established across the isthmus, beyond the village and gardens, some of the troops being cneampod on the neutral ground, and guard huts of wood were built in 1820, for the better accommodation of the men employed on the duty. Thus the place was most etfectually put under quaran- tine on the land side ; and the result was, that for this, or some other less obvious cause, the fever did not penetrate. With Barbary the communication was also open ui^U the plague broke out at Tetuan in 1818; when the most strict prohibitory system was immediately enforced, and with complete success. The usual supplies of meat, vegetables, &c., for which the garrison mainly depended on the Moroqueens, were, however, if not wholly suspended, in a great measure interrupted. The indolent lu bits, the bad husbandry, and the enormous exactions to which the cupidity of a disorganised and starving soMiery subjected the Spanish peasantry, in addition to duties on the produce of the soil, which the m 154 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1821. impolicy of a needy government exacted, rendered tlie neighbom'ing districts of Sr^win unable fully to supply wants, wliich, luider Letter fiscal and agricultural manage- ment, Avould have proved a source of emolument. The active exertions and encouragement of the Lieut.- Governor, General Sir George Don, G.C.B., wlio introduced great improvements in the cultivation of the gardens, and the low price at which Ireland and Jersey furnished potatoes, with such sup])lies as came from Spain, still placed it within the power of the soldiery to procure an adequate quantity of vegetables for their dinners ; so that their diet, although only varied twice a week with fresh meat of indifferent quality, was wholesome, and their healtli never suffered. To this good rt It, the abundance of fruit, such as oranges, melons, tigs, and grapes, greatly contributed. The use of wholesome ordinary Avine, instead of spiri- tuous liquors, tlic sale of which Avas forbidden to the troops, though it did not suppress drunkenness, rendered its consequences generally less fatal. From this vice the Camcronians Avere comparatively free. A general reduction having taken place in the army in 1821, the Eegimcnt, Avhich Avas then eighty-tAVO men beloAV its establishment, Avas reduced from ten to eight comparics, and from thirty-five sergeants, tAventy-two drummers, and six hundred and fifty rank and file, to tAventy-nine sergeants, twelve drummers, and five Imndred and fifty-six rank and file, by Avhich tAventy- • eight non-commissioned officers and men Avere discharged as supernumeraries. After that period its strength AA'^as effectually maintained by the recruiting parties, and the highest deficiency at any time Avas in 1822, Avhcn thirty- six men Avcre required to complete the establishment. In May 1821, an order Avas received for the Came- OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 155 ronians to return to England, but by the next packet a 1821. counter order arrived, which created general disappoint- ment ; not indeed that a dislike "was felt to the place, but men are generally eager for change, and a station nearer to their homes could not be otherwise than acceptable. The next spring, however, the order Avas renewed, and on the 19th of September, 1822, the "Success" transport, Avith two companies of the 43rd Light Infantry anchored in the bay. The head-quarters of the 26th embarked in that vessel at one p.m., on the 28tli, and sailed with a fair wind the same evening. It lasted just long enough to enable the transport to weatlier Cape St. Vincent, and as the wind was generally unfavourable, she did not anchor in the (Jove of Cork till late on the evening of the 16th of October. A tedious quarantine ensued, owing to the necessity ' of referring to Dublin ; but on the evening of the 24th, pratique Avas received, and a division of the Regiment arrived the next day by the steamer at Ballinacurragli ; this was quartered at Middleton until the 26th, when it marched into Fermoy Barracks. The 2nd division joined there on the 1st, and the 3rd division on the 2nd of November, having embarked from Gibraltar on the 5th and 8th of October, and anchored in the Cove on the 28th. The correspondence relative to the '' Success " saved the others the delay of aAvaiting pratique from Dublin. During the re^^t of the year 1822 theUegiuient continued in Fermoy Barracks, being joined by its depot of forty men from the Isle of Wight on the 16th of December. This de])6t had proceeded from Ayr to Edinburgh in March 1816, Avhcre it remained till the arrangement took effect, by which all the depots in the army were assembled at Albany Barracks in the Isle of Wight. That of the lll!l i I it |!iP' i| ¥ rf 156 HISTORICAL IlECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1822. Cameronlans carrivcrl tlicre in May, 1820. The recruiting parties, however, remained in Edinburgh, Ghisgow, and Dumfries. The Regiment was inspected by ]\rajor-General Sir .Fohn Lambert, K.C.B., on the 18th of November, and by Lieut. -General Lord Combermere, Ct.C.B., on tlie 1823. 9tli of Marcli, 1828. The 26t]i marched into Cork Barracks on the 7th of April. During tlieir stay at Fermoy they were in a body ; all the detachments which the troubled state of the country required being furnished by the 71st Begiment, Avhich was almost entirely dispersed in small parties through tlic villages, to restrain the excesses of the Itockites. The Camcronians were constantly called upon to furnish patrols to traverse niglitly the roads about Fermoy. The knowledge that such parties were on foot might have operated to restrain tlie evil disposed, but in no one instance did they succeed in apprehending them. Every thing, however, was done which the nature of the circumstances permitted, and legal powers, under the Insurrection Act, were even virtually vested in the military by the presence of a ])olice constable with each party. The troops were thus employed against the people, yet it was extremely rare for them to be ill used ; an occurrence which, when it did happen, nearly always originated in the fault of tiie soldier. No accident of the ki lid occurred among the Camcronians. On tl leir removal to Cork, several detachments were given in the country, which were stationed in hired houses, Their orders were to patrol, and to assist the police, on requisition, a duty which was very harassing in its nature, as it occurred commonly after dark, without regard toweatlier, and acrosrj country. During the whoU- period, however, no instance happ< ned of any quarrel with the people, I f OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT, 15f with whom the men, in the com'se of their duties, were 1823. constantly broiiglit into contact ; a proof, in no ordinary degree, of the good temper, and of the discipline and judicious arrangements made by their officers. This state of things lasted through the remainder of 1823, during which the head-quarters of the Regiment per- formed, with the 1st Eoyal Veteran Battalion, the duties of the garrison of Cork. On the arrival of the Regiment in Ireland the situation of the soldiers became greatly changed, and their moral discipline sustained a shock Avhich threatened to produce results permanently injurious to its welfare, in Gibraltar almost the whole population spoke a different language, which rendered their intercourse with the soldiery extremely limited. In Ireland, on the contrary, the people, Avho are naturally social, eagerly seek the acquaintance of the military. This transition from a state of restraint to one of more than ordinary freedom^ brought with it inducements to mix with the inhabitants to a degree which was attended with unavoidable temp- tation. The danger was greatly augmented by the wretched moral condition of the lower orders in the towns, Avhose Ignorance and proHIgacy rendered their society ruinous to all Avho kept it. These circimistances gave rise to an increase of military offences; but amidst all their errors, the genuine good sense and intelligence of the men, and the restraining influence of the excellent moral education whicli distinguishes their country, generally brought them back in the end to the path of duty, without the necessity of severe coercion; audit may be said to their lionour, that desertion was as yet altogether unknown. Intemperance, at this period, Avas only too common amongst the peasantry of Ireland, and its influence could not but be productive of breaches of discipline in reglmenta quartered in that country. i.58 HISTORICAL RECOKD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTIf, 7i I ia 1823. Tlio Regiment was inspected by Sir John Lambert, on the 14tli of June and the lltli of October. 1824. In January, 1824, the Cameronians were removed to Kinsalc and out-posts, which extended southward to Bere Ish\nd, in Bantry Bay, and to Macromp westward.* These detachments were afterwards increased by a sergeant's party, which occupied Camden Fort, at the mouth of Cork harbour, shortly before the inspection by Sir John Lambert, on the 20th of May. On the 4th of September i\ captain's party of one hundred men was sent, for a short time, to do duty in Cork ; and so great was then the dispersion of the Kegiment, that when Sir John came, on the 1st of October, to make his half- yearly inspection, there were not one hundred men at head-quarters. Though a wild and unfrequented part of this great country, the greatest tranquillity prevailed among the people, so that the men were rarely called upon for duty. They passed their time very quietly in these quarters, which were much liked ; but the breaking up of a regiment in this way is adverse to the preservation both of military and moral discipline, as it tends to idleness, by withdrawing many of the ordinary occupa- tions of the soldier, and encourages too free an inter- course with the people. In October, the Cameronians relieved the 29th Regi- ment, at Tralec, liaving detachments at Killarney, Listowel, and Tarbert, and afterwards at Castle Island. The 26th remained in these quarters till August, 1825. 1825, and were inspected by Lieut. -General Sir John Lambert, K.C.B., in June, just before that officer quitted Vide Appendix 1. bR CJAMEROKlAN RfiGlMEf^T. 159 the staff of Ireland, where he rendered good services to 1825. the country during a period of violent domestic agitation, by measures at once hrm, but conciliatory, and repressive of party violence. The Regiment was thus under his orders nearly three years, and obtained frequent expres- sions of his approbation. The augmentation of the establishment of the Regi- ment from eight to ten companies, took place from tlie 25th of March, 1825; six companies were fixed at four sergeants, one drummer, and eighty-six rank and tile each, and four at three sergeants, one drummer, and fifty-six rank and file. Recruiting parties were im- mediately sent to Scotland in addition to those per- manently stationed at Glasgow and Edinburgh. Owing to the very groat distance at which the Cameronians were th ^n placed from their resources, it Avas not prac- ticable so nroniptly to complete their new establishment, as t^-. ' orps did Avhich recruited on the spot. This circumstance gave the latter an appearance of advantage ; but the continued popularity of the Regiment in its own country is strongly shown by one hundred and forty- eight recruits having joined during the last eight months of 1825, and one hundred and thirty-six more in the first six months of 1826 ; so that a body of two hundred and eighty-four men were raised in fourteen months, who nearly all came from Scotland. In thus applying to their countrymen to complete their ranks, tlie Cameronians, as they had not been in Scotland, as a regiment, since 1803, except the second battalion, Avhich was disbanded there in 1814, had to contend against great disadvantages. The long period of their absence, the distance from their country when the recruiting commenced, the small number of men who had been able to obtain furloughs to sec their i60 HiatORICAL RECOUb OF THE TWENTY-SIXTIf, 1825. friends, and the consequently very limited intercourse which had .^ubs^lHted between them and their country- men, were circumstances which could not but have a tendency to diminish local influence. Notwithstanding all these disadvantages, however, the established charac- ter of the Regiment operated so powerfully in its favour, that if there had not been a large proportion of old soldiers to dlscltv ge, which produced a continued dimi- nution of numbers, the establishment would have been completed early in 182G.* Had not also the distance to w? ich the parties were sent, been so great, which rendered the conmiencement nearly two months later than was the case with corps recruited in Ireland, the Cameronians would have probably been complete as early as any other regiment. * The catablislmient being nearly completed in June, 1826, the recruiting was then confined to the higher standard of five feet eight inches; yet, before the end of the year, twenty- three more recruits had joined. The casualties, iiowever, were that year large, being one hundred and thirty-five men, whilst the increase amounted to one hundred and eighty-six, which left a balance in favour of the Regiment of fifty-one. The next year, 1827, the recruiting was still very successful, and though dependent on the regular parties, after the additional ones had been withdrawn be- tween May and Jnly, it produced one hundred and twenty-nine men, whereby there was in December a surplus over the establishment. From 1807 to 1817, only forty-seven recruits were obtaiued, its requirements being met by volunteers from the Army of Reserve and from the Scottish Militia; but from 1818 to 1827, seven hundred and eighty-four recruits joined. The number of casufdties, from 1807 to 1827 inclusive, amounted to five hundred and sixty-one dead, one thousand three hundred and twenty-five discharged, and two hundred and thirteen deserted. Rejoined from desertion, one hundred and twenty-eight. The average strength iu non-commissioned oflScers and men during these twenty-one years was seven hundred and seventy. OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 161 ued, 827, )er of iidrecl -five from ength y-one On the Ist of August the 26th commenced their march 1825. to Limerick, proceeding through Castle Island and Rathkcale. Their stay in Limerick was very short. A sudden order, which left barely time for their inspection, on the Ist of October, by Major-General Sir Charles William Doyle, C.B., caused them to commence their march for Naas, on the 3rd, where the head- quarters arrived on the 7th, relieving the 73rd. One company was detached to Wicklow, one to Trim, and three to Drogheda, with smaller detachments at Baiting- lass, Kathangan, Robertstown and Kilcock.* At these stations the Regiment continued during the remainder of 1825, and until May of the following year. On the 1826. 27th of March, 182G, the detachment at Drogheda was withdrawn, and upon its return a company was sent to Carlow, one to Athy, and another to Maryborough, which somewhat diminished the number of men at head- quarters, and small parties were subsequently placed in the mountain barracks in Wicklow. In consequence of the riots in Lancashire, the 73rd and 58th Regiment;^ were suddenly ordered from Dublin to England, but they shortly afterwards returned to Ireland. The Cameronians, then at Naas, received a route at midnight on the 2nd of May, in conformity with which they marched the next morning, at six, to Dublin, and occupied the Royal Barracks. The other detachments came in as soon as relieved, except the company at Wicklow, which did not join till the 10th of August. The Regiment remained the rest of the year in the Irish metropolis, and was inspected on the 20tli of May by Lieut. -General Sir George Murray, G.C.B., and on * Vide Appendix L tf ii I 162 HISTORICAL KECOKD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1826. the 14tli of September "by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, K.C.B. After tlie removal of the Regiment to Naaw, hiit in a still more striking degree whilst in Dublin, the crime of desertion, which had been always very rare, increased to a remarkable extent. During its stay at Naan, there were thirteen, and at Dublin, be- tween May and November, twenty-one cases, of which several were immediately, and others more remotely, recovered to the service.* This can only be attributed to the state of demoralization produced by the society to which the men were exposed in places depressed by poverty, and the resort of the most profligate characters. To such, a soldier is always a prey of sufficient value to induce them to exert their arts for his ruin, to fully avoid which, required the exercise of prudence and self- government. In this way so many as thirty-eight were tempted to violate their oaths of allegiance, some of whom never repented of their crime and returned to their colours. With the increase of this most aggravated offence, others of a minor nature were also frequent, to the injury both of moral and military discipline. Some severe corporal punishments proved insufficient; and other measures were adopted which checked the growing evil. Notwithstanding this deterioration, the general conduct of the Regiment was highly creditable. * From 1818 to 1825, only thirty-seven men deserted from the Cameronians, and twenty-two rejoined from desertion. The Regiment durin'^ ^'ese eight years averaged six hundred and sixty-five non-commissioned officers and men. From 1826 to 1827, forty-two men deserted, and twenty-seven rejoined from desertion, on au average strength of seven hundred and twenty- eight. OR CA.MER0N1AI? REGIMENT. 163 especially after its removal in January, 1827, from the 1827. Royal to Richmond Barracks; and it might, witliout partiality, be deemed equal, if not superior to that of most other corps. In July the Regiment was removed to Watcrford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Duncannon, Currick, and Kilmack- thoraas, its head-quarters being at the first-nanied town. The three companies at Kilkenny were removed on the 14th of August to Watcrford. Towards the end of September, orders were sent from the Horse Guards for the removal of the 2()th, i58th, Gl.st, and 72nd Regiments to England, with a view to their being held in readiness for colonial service. Tlic Came- ronians were gradually relieved at their several stations between the 19th of September and the Stli of October, on which day they were all assembled at Fcrmoy. On the 9th, they marched into Cork Barracks, and the first division embarked on the 19th in the " Stentor" tran- sport ; the second on the 26th, in the "Lord Sufiield;" and the third division in the " Flora,'' on the 1st of November. The first two divisions landed at Gravesend on the 5th of November, and marched the same day into Chatham Barracks, where the third arrived on the 12 th of that month : here the Regiment continued tlie re- mainder of the year. The 2()th had been reviewed by Lieut.-General Sir George Murray, G.C.B., on the 10th of April, and were inspected by Ma jor-General Sir Colqulioun Grant, K.C.B., on the 7th of May, at Dublin, and at Cork, on tlie 13th of October, by ]\Iajor-General Sir George R. Bingliam, K.C.B., who severally expressed their approbation of the general conduct and appearance of the corps. When the Regiment embarked at Cork, as its des- tination was supposed to be India, permission was given M 2 ...^, ^. ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT.3) & // / :/. i/.. e 1.0 I.I 11.25 25 '2.2 1^ M ill 1.6 <^ 7 y Q>- S^ 164 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTt-SIXTfi, i «*. 1827* to take on board twelve women to each hundred men, whereby all but fourteen of the soldiers' wives were pro- vided with a passage. Of these, some took the allow* ance to go home, and others made their way after their husbands, by Bristol to Chatham. It is always a most difficult point to prevent marriages in a regiment ex- tending beyond the means of providing for the wives and families on embarkation for foreign service, but the Cameronians, from judicious management and careful superintendence, and their destination allowing a larger proportion of women, did not suffer materially in this respect. During its stay at Chatham every effort was made to render the Regiment efficient by removing such of the older soldiers as were not likely to be fit for service in India, after which it was reported in November, 1827, as complete in numbers, and then all recruiting was forbidden, notwithstanding that every effort was made to obtain permission to increase the corps to its future Indian establishment. Sufficient recruits to complete the Regiment to this augmented strength could at once have been easily procured, had not the order in question been issued. Owing, however, to the discharge of men that afterwards took place, the order for recruiting was 1828. renewed in February, 1828. Although there was little doubt of the 26th being embarked in the course of the spring, and that Madras would be the destination of the Regiment, yet the official intimation was not given till the 7th of February. Thia delay in the promulgation of the order arose from the unwillingness of the Court of Directors that any fresh regiment should be sent out. Their wish was to bring home the 30th, 47th, and 59th, without being replaced. It was, however, overruled by the Cabinet, which deter- mined that the number of the King's regiments should OR CAMESONIAN BEOIMENT. 165 not be diminished, but that their establiahment should 18r3» be lowered, whereby a reduction of expense to the India Company, though in a different mode, would be effected, After this official notification, the Court of Directors appeared to entertain the hope of a change of counsels, as they did not take up tonnage for the conveyance of the Regiment till the month of April, when the four fol* lowing ships were assigned for this service. The arrange- ments made for the distribution of the Regiment in these four vessels were two hundred and ten non-commissioned officers and men in]the " Rose," one hundred and seventy in the " Prince Regent," one hundred and ninety-seven in the " Asia," and one hundred and ninety-six in the <' Marchioness of Ely." The first two received their pro- portion on the 9th of May — the baggage, with a large guard, having been put on board the day previously. The total number embarked amounted to thirty-eight officers, thirty-nine sergeants, twenty drummers, and seven hundred and fourteen rank and file. The head» quarter division, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Henry Oglander, proceeded in the " Rose" on the 22nd of May, and the " Asia ^' and the " Marchioness of Ely ** sailed on the day following. The " Prince Regent " and "Rose" started together, but experienced a gale in the Bay of Biscay, when the two ships separated. On the 15th of July these vessels again came close to each other, but on the 30th once more parted company. On the 30th of August two large ships were in sight of the " Rose," which the next day proved to be the " Prince Regent" and the " Asia." On the 6th of September, the ** Prince Regent" was again in sight, and early on the morning of the 10th the " Rose " anchored in Madras Roads a few hours after the "Prince Regent." The "Asia" and "Marchioness of Ely" had a better passage across the I' • .ill i t i ; 166 HIBTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1828. Bay, and, being superior in sailing to the other two ships, fairly beat them, and reached their destination first ; but the ai-rival of the four divisions of the Regiment with an interval of only forty-eight hours, was, however, a very fortunate termination of their voyage, and rendered the arrangements for landing and the occupation of their quarters in Fort St. George most convenient. The divi- sion from the " Asia" landed on the 9th, that from the " Marchioness of Ely " on the 10th, and that from the " Rose " and " Prince Regent " on the 1 1th. Nothing could exceed the healthiness of the men, among whom there was no serious sickness, and buc little of any kind. The only man that died was Mitchell Douglass, who was very ill of consumption on embarkation, and, being un- willing to be left behind, was allowed to try the effect of the voyage. He died, however, on the 23rd of June. Thus the Cameronians for the first time in their career were brought on service in the East Indies. They landed later than European troops generally arrive in that country, as they usually embark in the early ships. The great heat had passed by, but September, October, and November, are not the healthiest months. Though a con- siderable number of men passed through the hospital, yet the cases would have been slight, but for the occurrence of cholera. This fearful disease was not then generally prevalent, and the cases which occurred in the 26th were considered as sporadic. Under all circumstances, the Regiment was deemed to be remarkably healthy, which may be attributed to the men being generally of sober and regular habits, to every precaution being used to check excesses (whether in liquor or in the use of fruits), and to ensure a regular diet of four meals a day — the Srst, a pint of coffee-water taken before any man turned out for duty, parade, or exercise j the second, a breakfast of OR CAMEBONIAN REGtlMENT. 167 tea or coffee at half-past seven ; the third, a dinner of 1828. meat and vegetables at two; and the fourth, a supper of tea or coffee at half-past seven. By a watchful superintendence, and an appeal to the soldier's reason, the flannel belt and woollen bedgown were worn with tolerable regularity; and their use proved a great preservative against disease. Much at- tention was given to prevent unnecessary exposure to the sun; and by limiting the hours, and seeking for shady places, even the drill of the recruits was carried on without any increased sickness being observable among them. To avoid wet iaetj from the morning dew, is also of consequence, and therefore the evening was chosen for exercise in the field, whether of the squad or of the corps ; and till the time of inspection, the 26th were rarely taken beyond the fort. The recruiting, which had taken effect in March, was continued after the departure of the Regiment, and proved so successful, that sixty-eight men were raised before the 24th of July, when it ceased, the establish- ' ^ ment having been exceeded. The depot was thus ren- dered strong, and its appearance, and the conduct of the men, were stated to be very creditable ; but unhappily they were not allowed to remain in the Regiment. Calculating on the effect of the volunteering from corps about to return home, to complete the deficiencies in the Cameronians, the Commander-in-Chief directed that the dep6t should be drafted into regiments thus circum- stanced, to effect which, a bounty was offered as an inducement to the men to change; so that the depdt, from which a fresh supply of good soldiers was ex- pected, became reduced nearly to a skeleton, since there oniv remained a few undersized men, with some old soldiers, who were awaiting their discharge. li 168 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1828. In India, two hundred and thirty-four men were transferred from the 30th Regiment, a considerable proportion of whom were neither an acquisition either , in appearance or in morals. These men joined on the 5th of November, which made the 26th the strongest corps in the Presidency. Immediate measures were adopted to supply the volunteers with clothing and accoutrements ; this was effected partly before the end of 1828, and completed early in the following year, the stores of the Company furnishing a portion of the arti- cles required, and the remainder being made according to pattern by native workmen. Though some articles were not of as good a quality, as they would have been if furnished from England, their average price was less, and the decided advantage of immediate equip- ment was gained, which could not have been otherwise effected in less than twelve months. The Regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir John Doveton, on the 8th of December. 1829. The Cameronians remained the whole of 1829 at Fort St. George, the year being passed in perfect tran- quillity and without any remarkable occurrence. They were inspected on the 30th May, by Major-General Sir John Doveton, and on the 19 th December, by Brigadier-General Andrew Macdowall, C.B. Throughout the year the men were very healthy, the loss by death being only nineteen. 1830. From the 1st of January, 1830, to the 30th of Sep- tember, the Cameronians remained in gaiTison in Fort St. George ; their half-yearly inspection being made on the 24th of May, by Brigadier-General Andrew Mac- dowall, C.B., when the Regiment was commanded by Major Mountain. Various rumours had been some time current as to its removal to Bengal, but no certain infor- ,H OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 169 mation was received till July, when, besides the relief of 1880. the 89th and Eoyals by the 55th and 62nd, the Came- ronians were directed, after the amval of the 57th from New South Wales, to proceed to Calcutta, to replace the 14th Regiment. It being the wish of Lieut-General Sir George Towns* hend Walker, G.C.B., that the Cameronians should be removed to Bangalore, as it would have saved expense to have sent on the 57th to Bengal, whenever they might reach Madras Roads, application was made to General the Earl of Dalhousie, G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief in India, to authorise this deviation from the orders sent from home, and Bangalore continued therefore nearly to the last moment to be regarded as the future station of the Regiment; but as no reply was received from his lord- ship, then at Penang, the Governor in Council decided, on the arrival of part of the 55th, that the Cameronians should embark in the ships which brought that and the 62nd, as they arrived. The head-quarter division accordingly embarked, on the 30th of September, in the Honourable Company's chartered ship "Malcolm," which sailing on the morning of the 2nd of October, reached Calcutta on the 10th. The second division, under Captain William Johnstone, embarked in the chartered ship " Lady Kennaway " on the 2nd and arrived at Calcutta on thv^. 10th of October. These divisions were transhipped into two steamers on the morning of the 11th, and landed at Chinsurah at three p.m. of the same day. The third division, under Captain Michael Poynton, embarked in the ship " Pro- tector" on the 6th of October, and reaching Calcutta on the 23rd, passed up the river in boats to Chinsurah, where it landed on the 25th of that month. The fourth division, under Major Armine Simcoe Henry 170 HISTORICAL BECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1880. Mountain, which quitted Madras BoadB in the " Marquis of Hastings " on the 9th of October, arrived at Calcutta on tlie 30th of October, and Chinsurah on the 2nd of November. The last division, under Captain Henry- Francis Strange, in the ship " Susan," was placed in boats at Calcutta on the 4th and joined the Kegiment on the 5th of November. Thus, in the space of thirty-six days, the removal of the Cameronians from Fort St. George to Chinsurah was completed, with the loss of only two men, who died at sea. A small party of sick, and a few others, in number twenty-eight, remained at Madras. On the return of the Earl of Dalhousie from Penang, after a short hesitation relative to the future station of the 26th, it was decided that they should march to Kurnaul, which, though a distance of nearly one thousand miles, would, after their long stay at Fort St. George, afford them a favourable change of climate. The 1st, 10th and 20tli of November, and 1st of December, were successively fixed for the commencement of the march, and on the 7th of December, the Kegiment actually moved from Chinsurah into camp at Tarragonee, where, however, it was detained till the 16th, owing to the Chowdry, who had contracted to supply two hundred and forty-one hackories for the conveyance of the baggage of the officers and men, proving deficient in about one hundred of that number. In the interval, the requisite supply was obtained through the commissariat, and the Begiment resuming its march on the 16th of December, proceeded by Burdwan to Bancoorah, and encamped at Arrard on the last day of the year, having then proceeded one hundred and twenty-six miles. The loss suffered by death was this year greater than the last, being altoge<;her thirty-one — thirteen died at OR CAMEROKIAN REGIMENT. 171 Madras, two on the passage, fifteen at Chinsurah, and 1880. one after embarkation on the river. The sickness at Chinsurah was considerable, and, owing to the frequency of cholera in its worst fomi, it often proved fatal; yet no sooner was the Kegiment encamped than it ceased, the whole number of admis- sions from the 7th[to the Slst of December being reduced to twenty-four, and only seven were in the hospital tent on the latter day. Sixteen of the men left sick at Madras had been embarked, but were ordered ashore by the Inspector of Hospitals, owing to the crowded state of the ship. Most of these, shortly after, recovered. On the 6th of January, 1831, the Regiment reached 1881. Chass, no considerable local difficulty having been ex- perienced on the march, except the passage of the Dammoodah near Burdwan on the 22nd of December, .i The country being flat and at this season dry, and not intersected with rivers and nullahs, the road, though often very inefficiently made and repaired, was practi- cable for the hackory, which is the sole mode of con- veyance in Bengal. The ox of that presidency, though small, draws with ease the light country cart of bamboos, carrying a load of from six hundred and forty to eight hundred pounds. During the nine following marches, which were at- tended with great difficulty, the Regiment passed tlirough the beautiful and picturesque district of Ramghur. An extensive line of hills, which, in some places, rose three thousand feet above the sea, was passed over, and though the road had been made with Vi]i, yet from its imperfect condition, and the frequency of the declivities, the baggage occasioned much delay. The oxen became unequal to the task of dragging the carts up the hills, and across the beds of the rivers and nullahs. From ii*a W 172 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1881. fatigue and 'jickness occasioned b}^ the extreme cold, the thermometer having for many days been below freezing point, and once at twenty-four, so that these animals died in great numbers. Both the commissariat and private baggage suffered so much, that it was only by halts and by putting the whole resources of the district in requisition, and by the aid of constant and large fatigue parties, that the Regiment reached Haza- reebagh on the 14th of January. Ramghur is a country which has little land reclaimed from jungle, though all very susceptible of cultivation ; and the Saggur oxen are so small and wild as to be very unfit for the yoke in the Bengal hackory. Though two companies were at work on fatigue till past mid-day, the distress had become so serious at Cliittroo Chuttee on the 11th, that one-half of the men's boxes were broken up to lighten the loads, and they marched to Hazareebagh with knapsacks. With every effort some of the baggage remained behind, which did not come up during the halt at Hazareebagh, and was therefore brought to Benares, where it was embarked in boats. At Hazareebagh some public draught oxen and a portion of pack bullocks were pro- cured, with which the baggage was conveyed to Sheirgatty without much difficulty. At this place the Collector had procured a considerable supply of fresh hackories, which rendered the further progress to Benares a matter of comparative ease. No assistance from the fatigue parties was required after passing Hazareebagh, except at the Soane, where as at the Dammoodah, the whole Regiment was employed during the heat of the day and relieved at night by the coolies. The deep sandy beds of these rivers occasioned much more labour than the ferries. In the Dammoodah there was one stream only to be passed in boats, but in the Soane there were OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 178 two. Many of the smaller streams which, would have 1881. occasioned great loss of time and of cattle, were made nearly as good as the highway, by the simple expedient of laying clay on the sand, which formed an excellent road. For this idea the Kegiment was indebted to the Assistant-Collector, Mr, Neave, whose zeal and intelli- gence had greatly contributed to smooth the obstacles which impeded its progress through this difficult but beautiful country. At Benares, the passage of the river was a matter of comparative ease, as there was not much sand, and the river deep but not broad, with plenty of boats. The Regiment encamped at Secrole from the 4th to the 6th of February inclusive. The new hackories, with the fine oxen of Cawnporc, which were ready for use at Benares, enabled it to move alorg the excellent broad road to Allahabad without any difficulty, and the crossing of the Ganges was easily effected in one dayj although there was a feny and a large tract of sand to pass. On the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of Febniary some inconvenience was felt from the deep state of the road, occasioned by the heavy fall of rain on the three previous days, during which the Regiment haltfed at Chanby Serai* These tains had a very favourable influence on the weatherj which continued cool till after the 26th reached Meerut* No obstacle occurred during the march, which was con* tinned, with only the halt on Sundays, till the Regiment arrived at the barracks at that station on the morning of Saturday the 26th of March. Thus was successfully terminated a journey of unusual length for a King's regiment in India. The total distance was nine hundred and five miles, which was per- formed in eighty marches, being somewhat over eleven and a half daily. The longest march was sixteen, the shortest under three, miles. 174 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THB TWEKTY-SIXTIt, 1881. The men were very healthy, especially during the first month, when the sick list fluctuated from six to eighteen, afterwards it increased to thirty, but never exceeded forty, and only two men died— one of cholera at Ronee-kec Tolea, and one of apoplexy at Bolundshuhur. Supplies from the commissariat were excellent, and regular — one pound of biscuit, one and a half of beef, two drams of rum, were the daily allowance to Benares ; thence, to Meerut, bread, which >\ 3 generally of good quality, in place of biscuit. The remainder of the year passed over without anything remarkable. The barracks afforded every comfort and accommodation; but after a fire in the cavalry line, the 16th Lancers were obliged to send a detachment, which occupied the four rear lines of the new, and the two rear lines of the old barracks from 1st June till October, which occasioned an uncomfortable crowding. The detachment which left Chinsurah by the river on the 6th of December, 1830, and consisted of thirty-eight sick and forty-six married and weakly men, arrived at Meerut on the 16th of May, having lost one by disease and one by accidental drowning^ — seven were still sick* The difficulties and delays experienced by this small detachment afforded a strong example how much the march by land is preferable to the river navigation. ' On the 2nd of May and the 22nd of November, the Regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir Samford Whittingham, K.C.B«, K.C.H., who, on both occasions, expressed his full satisfaction with its appearance and conduct. General the Earl of Dalhousie, G.C.B., also visited the Cameronians in October. He arrived on the 24th and departed on the 29th of that month to rejoin his camp at Delhi. During 1831 the Begiment was generally healthy } it OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 176 lost twenty-four men, of whom four died by accident ; ten 1 88 1. of the twenty-four were absent from the corps at the time of their decease. The total of admissions into hospital — including those from the river party, numbered seven hundred and seventy-nine, being fifty-one less than in 1830, and one hundred and sixty-nine less than in 1829. The other casualties amounted to ten — two sent home as invalids, five transferred, two discharged by purchase, and one on expiration of limited service. The year 1832 was passed in undisturbed tranquillity 1832. at Meerut, and unmarked by any event of note. The successor to the Earl of Dalhousie, as Commander-in- Chief in India, General Sir Edward Barnes, G.C.B., reviewed the Regiment, witii other corjis, in line on the 14th of March, 1832, and again on the 3rd of December, when he inspec -^d it separately. On both occasions he expressed his sa^x^raction at its appearance. Brigadier David Ximines, Lieut-Colonel of the 16th Foot, made the first half-yearly inspection of the Regi- ment, on the 7tli of May, and Major-General Sir Samford "Whittingham, the second; both signified their favour- able opinion of its appearance and conduct. ^ In 1832, the health of the Regiment was not so good as in 1831, owing chiefly to an epidemic catarrh in April, and its sequence in the hot and rainy season. The admissions into hospital were nine hundred and ninety-five, being two hundred and sixteen in excess of the previous year. The deaths were, however, two less, all except three being at head-qUarters, and, with two exceptions, from disease. The other casualties were twenty-six ; of which twenty-three were discharges. No material change in the situation or circumstinces 1883* of the Regiment occuned during 1833. The Com- mander-in-Chief, Sir Edward Barnes, proposed its re» " 176 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH; 1833. moval to Ghazeepore, to make way for the 16tli Foot; but his recommendation was not acceded to by the Governor-General in Council, on account of expense, and the 26th therefore continued at Meerut, which was considered the best station in India. The first half- yearly inspection was made by Brigadier Sir David Ximines, K.C.H., on the -Lth of May, and the second by Major-General the Honourable John Eamsay, on the 3rd of December ; both these officers expressed their good opinion of the appearance, discipline, and conduct of the corps. , .>^ v/i ' sri Notwithstanding the extraordinary heat of the summer and autumn, the admissions into hospital were three hundred and two less than in the previous year, and the deaths were diminished by seven, which, with due allow- ance for reduced numbers, proved a better state of health. It is remarkable, however, that both dysentery and hepatitis, two of the most ruinous enemies to the con- stitution with which Europeans have to contend in India, had considerably increased, althougli the total number of admissions were so greatly diminished. It is much to be feared that the use of ardent spirits, restricted as it was, contributed mainly to create a predisposition to these diseases* Besides tlie fifteen deaths, there wete fifty other casualties, of which foi'ty-six were from discharges, including four invalids* From the 1st of January, of this year, the embroideiy of the officers' uniform was changed from silver to gold, in conformity to the general orders from the Horse Guards on the subjec'^^ Nos. 495 and 503, dated 25th of September, 1830, and ?8th of May, 1831. 1834. Meerut continued to be the station of the Regiment during the year 1834, wi J.i one short exception. On the 21st of August, a totally unexpected order of immediate OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 177 preparation for service in the field was received, but no 1834. destination was stated. Report, lioAvever, indicated tl-B Rajpoot principality of Marwar as the object of attack, which, in the result, proved collect. Subsequent orders intimated a delay in the march, which was fixed for the 24th of September, and it was further postponed to the Ist of October, on which day the Regiment left Meerut. Its progress was an-ested by the receipt, on the night of the 11th, of a letter from Major Alves, the political agent in Rajpootana, in which he recommended the corps to be halted till instructions should be received from Brigadier-General Stevenson. This change arose from the amicable arrangement of the diflferences with the Rajah of Joudpore, who had prudently yielded all the points in dispute. On the 14th, an order was received for the Cameronians and two squadrons of the 11th Dragoons to return to Meerut, where they arrived on the 25th. The country between that station and a village within six miles of Rewaree, the extreme point reached by the Regi nent, presented few objects worthy of notice, except Dcllii. In the advance, the road to the Sohulke Sevai left all the antiquities of Delhi unseen; but on the return, that through Maroulee afforded a complete view of them. The lendezvous assigned for the formation of the army was distant from Meerut two hundred and seventy-four miles, of which only eighty-seven were marched. The equipment was complete. The baggage of the officers and men was carried entirely on camels, of which eighty- four were employed for the former and one liundred and fifty-five for the latter. The average weight of each soldier's kit was twenty seers, in which were included his knapsack, coatee, and bedding. Each company had one camel for stores. N I iE 178 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE tWEKTT-SlXTtt, 1834. The Regiment was inspected on the 5th of May and on the 5th of December by Major-General the Honourable John Ramsay, who on botli occasions expressed his satisfaction with regard to its field discipline and internal economy. Orders were issued from the Horse Guards, on the 17th March, for recruiting to recommence in Scotland, but as only one sergeant, one corporal, and five privates were employed, little progress was made therein. No change took place in the station of the Regiment 1835. during 1835 j but it was included in the autumnal schedule of reliefs for removal to Ghazeepore, the 3rd Bufts having been appointed to replace it at Meerut. The half-yearly inspections were made on the 8th of May and the 22nd of December, with the usual results, by Major-General the Honourable John Ramsay. In November, sixty-two recruits and one old soldier landed at Calcutta, and in the folloAving month they embarked in boats to join the head-quarters. Four men from the 38th, which regiment embarked for Eng- land, in December, volunteered for the Camcronians. Notwithstanding that the year was remarkably favour- able to health, the deaths equalled those in 1834, but there was a decrease in the admissions to hospital. The number invalided was small, being only six. As the anival of the 3rd Bufts at Meerut had been fixed for the 5th of January, 1836, preparations were made for the 26th Camcronians to encamp at Km-kowda on that day, the two regiments passing each other on the road. The hospital was broken up on the 27th of December, and the detachment of sick, convalescent, and married men, under Captaiii William Cain, left Meerut for Ghurmuckliour, on the 28tli. It consisted of five sergeants, eight corporals, one drummer, eighty-four pri- OB CAMERONIAN REQIMENT. 179 Vates, sixty-four women, and one hundred-and-twenty 1835. children. They embarked on the 31st December, and leaving the Ghauts on the 2nd of January, after a pas- 1836. sage rendered tedious by the shallowness of the river and by contrary winds, arrived at Gliazcepore on the 8th of February. Here the recruits, who had embarked at Calcutta on the 6th of December, as a part of a large bat- talion of detachments, joined on the 10th of February. The Regiment having proceeded into camp on the 6th of January, as previously arranged, was enabled to continue its march on the 9th, all its equipments and supplies having been completed on the previous day. The journey tenninated on the 29th of ¥ bruary, after forty-five marches and eight Sabbath-days' halt, in addition to the three at the Camp of Kurkowda. The men of both the water detachments were very healthy, and but one died of cholera. The Regiment was also very healthy, the sick ranging only from five to twelve daily, with one death. Having occupied its new station on the 29th of Feb- ruary, 1856, the Regiment expected to have remained therein for the usual period, but to its great surprise, was included in the change of quarters for the approach- ing cold season. The 44th Regiment, from Fort Wil- liam, having been named to replace the Cameronians, the latter were finally ordered to commence their march to Calcutta on the 1st of December. v . ^ . The recruits of 1835 who had joined at Ghazecpore, generally proved an acquisition to the Regiment, and only eighteen men left it; of these recruits eight died within twelve months. As Brigadier-General White's health did not admit of ; ' : his visiting Ghazeepore, the half-yearly inspection was not regidarly niade in May, neither was there any in N 2 ri t, : If J 180 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1886. November, previor > t the march, but the Regiment was reviewed on the 10th . i' October, by General Sir Henry ■ Fane, G.C.B., who was pleased to express his satisfaction at its general appeprance and conduct. During the nine months the 26lh re/nained at Gha- zeepore, the climate pi d very unfavourable to health. In March, April, and May, the admissions into hospital were within the average of the seven previous years; but towards the end of May, three cases of cholera occurred, and this disease rapidly increased. The hos- pital became a scene of horror and distress, which demanded, and ha^jpily received, every exertion of moral courage and of medical skill, to meet its almost overwhelming duties. Some alarm was excited lest further injury should spring from the building being so crowded ; but happily the disease abated with the setting in of the rains, and disappeared as the wet season advanced. During the continuance of cholera, there Avas little other disease ; the admissions in July, August, September, and October, were beyond the usual ave- rage, and in the last half of September, and early in October, a severe but not fatal fever prevailed, so that when General Sir Henry Fane, G.C.B., Commander- in-Chief in India, visited the hospital at his inspection, there were one hundred and eleven patients. The men's health rapidly improved in November, and all those with the Regiment, on the 1st of December, were fit to march. On the morning of the 1st of December, the 26th crossed to the right on the Ganges, and eontiiming their march, with only Sabbath-day halts, reached Ghyretty 1837. at half-past six a.m., on the 13th of January, 1837, when the men and baggage immediately embarked in the boats which brought up the 44th Regiment, and dropped OR CAMEEO.TIAN REGIMENT. 181 down witli the tide to Fort William, disembarking 1837. thereat during the evening of the same day; the men encamped on the glacis until the 17th, when, at sunrise, they marched into and occupied the fort barracks. As about one hundred and seventy camels had been procured from Agra, of which sixty-five were for the use of the non-commissioned officers and men, and the remainder for the officers, the difficulties encountered in 1830-31, on the same line of road in the march to Meerut, were not again experienced. The greater part of those who proceeded by water were convalescent, and their health became so improved on the passage down the Ganges, that only seven were in hospital on the arrival of the corps at Fort William. The mortality dm*ing the preceding year was gTcater than any which had occurred during tlie service of the Regiment in India; of the fifty deaths, thirty arose from cholera, otherwise the difference, twenty, would hav? been two and a half below the previous annual average. Colonel Oglander, who had held the command of the Regiment since March, 1818, having been appointed Brigadier at Cawnpore, resigned the command of it at Hazareebagh, while en route to Calcutta, on the 19th of December, 1836, to Lieut.-Colonel V/illiam James. The year 1837 was passed in Fort William. The health of the Regiment, considering the general insalu- brity of the climate of Bengal, and of that of Calcutta in particular, was good. The number daily in hospital amounted to sixty-one, which, out of an average strength of six hundred and eighty, was a higher rate than had been before experienced, but still much lower than was usual at the station, and the deaths, considered a large number elsewhere, constituted a moderate mortality for Calcutta. The average death-rate for eleven years 182 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1887. amongst the regular aiiny in this garrison was sixty- six. The deaths in the 26th, in 1 837, amounted to thirty, three of which were from cliolera. This more favourable state of health in the Regiment was partly due to the existence of a Temperance Society, which, though before attempted, had encountered so much opposition, that it failed ; but happily, at Calcutta, cir- cumstances occurred which favoured its formation. The summer inspection was made on the 27th of May, by Brigadier-General Penny, and the winter one by Major-General Sir Willoughby Cotton, K.C.H., on the 1.5th of December, on which occasions Lieut.-Colonel James had the satisfaction of receiving those officers' approval of the appearance and conduct of the Regiment. During the year, fifty-seven recruits and old soldiers joined from home, and twenty volunteers from the 20th and 45th Regiments. The recruits would have been eighty-two had not volunteering been authorised at Chatham, to fill up the former corps, to /hich twenty- nine of them transferred their services. The 26th had 1 ong been below their establishment, notwithstanding every effort having been made to recruit ; ^^ut as men can only be enlisted after vacancies become known in England, a deficiency v/as almost inevitable ; and the large number of men likely to be reported non-effective, rendered it desirable for the depot to be excepted from this volun- teering, which caused the loss of its best recruits. Major-General Sir John Colbome (afterwards Lord Seaton), G.C.B. and G.C.H., was removed from the 94th to the colonelcy of the 26th or Cameronian Regi- 1838. iwent on the 28th of March, 1838, in succession to General the Earl of Dalhousie, G.C.B., deceased. No remarkable event occurred during 1838, to break the monotony of the duties of the garrison of Fort OR CAMEBONIAN REaiMENT. 183 William, where the Regiment continued tliroughout the 1838. year. Its healtli was good, notwithstanding an attack of cholera in Marcli and April. The average strength wm six hundred and thirty-six. The Temperance Society still continued its operation, and though the number of members was fluctuating, yet its general result, as evinced by the improved health of the men, proved gratifying to its promoters. Major-General Sir Willoughby Cotton, K.C.H., made the summer inspection on the 24th of May, and Major- General FaithfiiU the winter one, on the 28th of Decem- ber. Both these officers expressed strongly their satis* faction with all which came under their notice. Two enlistments at head-quarters, and ninety-eight men from England were insufficient to prevent the Regi^ ment from experiencing a further decrease in its strength, but there were fewer ineffective soldiers in the ranks than formerly. ^ During the year 1838 the Regiment lost by death (in- cluding eight cholera cases) twenty-four men; these, with discharge and other casualties, made the decrease one hundred and thirty-seven. Nothing of importance affecting the Regiment occurred 1839. during its continued stay at Fort William in 1839. It was only once inspected — namely, on the 30th of May — when Major-General Burgh bestowed the usual meed of praise. The Temperance Society still maintained its firm footing, and may justly be deemed to have exercised a beneficial influence, not only with regard to morality, but also in respect of health. Many who did not adopt the pledge, doubtless, profited by an indirect influence which may have often checked the disposition to excess. The remittances to friends and the deposits in the savings' bank were this year of a respectable amount. 184 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1 839. By authority received from the Horse Guards and War Office, dated the 30th of March and the 3rd of April, 1839, the establishment of the nine companies of the Regiment in India was increased to forty-seven officers, fifty-one sergeants, eighteen drummers, and nine hundred and seventy-one rank and file; but the efforts of the recruiting parties, acting upon the popularity of the Cameronians at home, speedily produced the required supply of men, of whom one hundred and twenty-six joined in August, forty-five in November, and twelve in December, with three more at other dates. These, with five boys, enlisted at head-quarters, made an increase of one hundred and ninety-one. The casualties consisted of thirteen deaths and six discharges. A question arose in the autumn of 1839, regarding the enlistment of Cosmo Cameron for the purpose of being employed as a Piper in the 26th Regiment. This recruit appears to have been below the standard, and a cor- respondence ensued on the subject, which resulted in authority being granted for his receiving the full bounty.* 1840. At the beginning of the year 1840 the Cameronians still remained at Fort William, but in February orders were received for them to prepare for active service. The Regiment having been inspected by the Commander- in-Chief in India, General Sir Jasper Nicolls, K.C.B., who spoke of it in the highest terms, embarked at Calcutta, on the 24th of March, niixC hundred and two strong, namely, forty-four sergeants, sixteen drummers, and eight hundred and forty-two rank and file, leaving behind only six sick. The meritorious conduct of the ' vn * The queaMoti of Pipers was also renewed in 1862, vide cor- respondence, Appendix II. i OR CAMERONIAll REGIMENT. 185 26tli, whilst in garrison at Fort William, also called 1840. forth a very flattering order from the Right Honourable the Governor-General tlie Earl of Auckland. A course of persecution had been pursued by the Government of China against the property and persons of British merchants trading with that empire, in con- sequence of the introduction by the latter of opium into that country, which, althoUj^li admitted by the local authorities, was contrary to the Chinese laws; and when at length the Emperor resorted to summary measui*es, without sufficient notice, application was made to the Governor-General of India for assistance. The result was, that an expedition was fitted out, in order that the ruling powers of the Celestial Empire might be taught to acknowledge the principles of international law, as un- derstood by civilized nations, and the 2Gth was one of the corps selected for this service. The Regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel James; but Colonel Oglander, relinquishing liis sick leave and local rank as Major-General, with that zeal for the service which had always distinguished him, obtained permission to join, and overtaking it at Singa- pore assumed the command. Twenty-eight officers embarked with the 26th, namely — Lieut.- Colonel, William James ; Captamsj William Johnstone {Major) , James Paterson, James Piggott, George F. Mylius, John Shum; Lieutenants, Thomas Ffrench, William B. Staff, Edward Regan Gregg, Edmund Pomeroy Gilbert, John M. Daniell, John William Johnstone, Charles Cameron, John Rodgers, George Sweeny, Alexander Gordon Moorhead, Henry James William Postlethwaite, William Thomas Betts ; Ensigns, John Gumming, Richard Palmer Sharp, Henry B. Phipps, Albany French Wallace, Robert Colville -! h-8 186 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1840. Jones; Paymaster ^ Richard Henry Strong; Adjutant^ Alexander M'Donald; Quarter Master^ Joseph Good- fellow; Surgeon f William Bell, M.D. ; and Assistant' Surgeon^ Chilley Pine. Tlie whole force (the naval portion of which was under Captain Elliot, R.N., the Queen's representative, and the military under Brigadier-General George Bur- rell, of the 18th Royal Irish regiment) was to rendez- vous at Singapore, and the transports in which the 26th were embarked having reached Penang on the 16th of April, remained there for some days, and an-ived at Singapore on the 6th of May. The entire fleet sailed for the China seas on the 30th of May, and now com- menced the first of a aeries of misfortunes which ren- dered this year a most unfortunate one for the Corps. Colonel Oglander gradually sank, under an attack of dysentery which had assailed him, and died on the 22nd of June, whe. ihe ships were off the Canton river ; in him the 26th lost an invaluable commanding officer, whose high talent and well-regulated mind were entirely devoted to the prosperity and happiness of the Cameronians, by whom his memory will ever be respected. The last Memorandum dictated by this extraordinary man, on his death-bed, was to the following effect: — That with regard to the officers and men of the Regiment, they have now for so many years always had his best care, and on being removed from amongst them that feeling will accompany him as one of the sources of future enjoyment. Chusan, the destination of the force, was reached on the 4th of July, and a landing being effected on the following day, possession was taken of Tinghae, the principal city, with scarcely any opposition on the part of the Chinese. OB CAMERONIAN EEQIMENT. 187 The 26th were encamped on a hill, within the city 1840. walls, and here the body of Colonel Oglander was deposited, none anticipating the number of his fellow soldiers by whom he was shortly to be surrounded. This hill was one mile and a half from the shore, the greater portion forming a very steep ascent, and the Regiment being without native followers had to carry their provisions and perform various other fatigue duties, which, coupled with those of a military nature, were so severe as not to give a single day of rest, and all were performed under a burning sun. Provisions (mostly salt) of the very worst description, and frequently so bad as not to be fit for use, a climate most inimical to the European constitution, and the irregularity of the ground, which would not admit of the tents being pitched so as to afford proper shelter, naturally produced feaiful results — in the first six weeks this fine corps was reduced to a mass of debilitated dying soldiers. The sickness became so appalling that the Regiment was moved into the city of Tinghae in September, where the sick (over four hun- dred men) were placed in a large building, ill-adapted, from its site and want of glazed windows, for a hospital; here the mortality continued grea: amounting in October to seventy-nine, and in November to eighty-four. An attempt had been made to le-embark the corps; this failed, flom the transports which brought the 26th being filled with naval stores from Her Majesty's ship " Mel- ville." A party was, however, actually embarked and sent to Manilla in November, and of these two hundred and sixty were Cameronians. They were selected from men who had been ill and were recovering, it being hoped that the voyage thither would benefit them ; but this anticipation was, unhappily, not realized, as the mortality amongst them proved fearful. At the termi- ^ 188 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1840. nation of the year there were at head-quarters, Chusan, on the 31st of December, only two hundred and seventy- three men, and of them one hundred and sixty-three were sick.* The officers, though equally attacked, did not suffer in the same proportion as the men; but several con- tracted disease, which afterwards proved fatal ; only one, however, (Lieut. John M. Daniell) died at this period.t Whilst recording this great sickness and mortality, it may be well, in juxtaposition, to subjoin a copy of a most singular Memorandum from the Court of Directors, dated in November of this year, calling for all the details of the arrangements adopted for the internal economy of the 26th Foot, because they had noticed the comparative immunity which the Regiment had enjoyed from both : — ^^ Adjutant- GeneraVs Office^ Head QuarterSy " Calcutta^ I3th November ^ 1840, "Memorandum. " The Honourable the Court of Directors having had * The number of deaths atiiongst the non-commissioned offi- cers and men, during 1840 and two succeeding years, amounted to seven hunclred and seven — viz., in 1840, two hundred and forty ; in 1841, two hundred and sixty- seven ; and in 1842, two hundred. These were exclusive of casualties amongst those invalided home. In February, 1843, twenty-six died at Cal- cutta, seven on passage to England, and forty-eight at Chatham, during August. . f The folio wing officers of the Regiment also died from disease contracted on this service. In 1841, Lieut.-Colonel William James (while on passage to England) ; Lieutenants William B. Staff and George Sweeny. In 1842, Major (Lieut.-Colonel) William Johnstone, Ensign Horatio De Quincey, and Assistant- Surgeon William Godfrey Bace, M.D. In 1843, Lieutenant Thomas Seccombe. on CAMEHOJiTAM RfiOIMENt. 189 ** under consideration the Report of the Medical Board 1840. " on the health of the European troops of the Presidency, " and having noticed the comparative immunity from " mortality and sickness enjoyed by Her Majesty's 26th " Regiment during the year 1838, tlie excellency of the " system establislied in that Corps has impressed itself " on the Honourable Court ; and the Adjutant-General " of the Army, in consequence, under instrucaons from " Government, has been directed by His Excellency the " Commander-in-Chief to request that the Adjutant- " General, Queen's Troops, will have the goodness to " obtain and forward to him the details of the arrange- *^ ments adopted for the internal economy of Her " Majesty's 26th Regiment, for transmission to t)ie home " authorities. "(Signed) J. R. Lumley, ^^ Adjutant- General of the Arm^y ^ At the commencement of the year 1841 the Regimeni, 1841. was still at Chusan. The men sent to Manilla in search of health, arrived at the Canton River on the 2nd of January, but so far from being recovered they had there many deaths, and the survivors continued in a most wretched condition. One vessel, the "Defiance," having suffered in a gale of wind, was so leaky that the men had just been removed therefrom into the "Thetis." The sick and healthy were separate^ ' y putting the latter into Her Majesty's ship "Jupiter." A sudden order, how- ever, was received on the night of the 5th of January to move up all the healthy men to the Bocca Tigris to assist in the attack upon Cheumpee. They at once proceeded in a steamer, reached the fleet on the evening of the 6th, and on the morning of the 7th of January were present at the attack and capture of the forts and batteries l90 HISTORICAL EECORD OP THE TWENTY-SlXTH, 1841. of the island. The detachments of the Queen's troops, the 26th and 49th Regiments, were imder the immediate command of Brevet-Major William Johnstone, of the Cameronians ; the whole force, amounting to one thousand four hundred and seventy men, were under that of Brevet-Major Thomas Simson Pratt, of the same corps, who, with those under him, was thanked in general orders, and for this sei-vice lie was subsequently pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the army. On the morning of the 8th, the troops and ships were again on the move to attack the principal forts, when the Chinese having struck their colours and begged for time to communicate with Keshen, the Imperial Commissioner, the assault was countermanded, even after a few shots had been fired, and negotiations again commenced. The result of these were that apparent peace was made, the Island of Hong Kong taken possession of by the English, and the forts at Cheumpee and Fycoctow dcli\ered for- mally back. Chusan also was restored, and the whole force ordered down from the north ; but either through the treachery of the Imperial Commissioner, or a change in the Emperor's council at Pekin, this treaty, which was equally disliked by the Government at home and the Chine^ ) authorities, became null and void. Evident intentions having been displayed on their part to renew hostilities, the fleet and troops, on the 22nd of February, again moved to the Bocca Tigris, and on the 26th of that month, the formidable forts there were forthwith attacked, and carried by the combined force. Major William Johnstone again commanded the detachments of the Queen's regiments, and Brevet-Major Thomas Simson Pratt had once more the good fortune to com- mand the land force. It being advisable to advance rapidly withotit awaiting the arrival of the troops from Chusan, I Or CA»tERONIAit REaiMEi^. ■ ri 191 in two daya the expedition proceeded up the river, and 1841, arrived at Whampoa on the 2nd of March, when Major- General Sir Hugh Gough, K.C.B., joined, and assumed the command from that date. The troops continued to advance, and Howqua's Fort was taken possession of, without opposition, by the detachments under Major Pratt ; but the progress of the force was arrested during a reconnaissance, within sight of the walls of Canton, by an announcement that negociations had again com- menced. Meanwhile the troops began to arrive from Chusan, and the head-quarters of the Regiment, joined by the detachments, were collected together with the rest of the force at the Bocca Tigris, on which all had fallen back. Here Lieut. -Colonel William James left on sick leave, and the command of the corps devolved on Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Pratt, to v/hich rank he had been pro- moted on the Gth of May, of this year. The fleet liaving dropped down to Hong Kong Bay, preparations were being made for a move to the northward, when hostile feelings once more displaying themselves at Canton, the expedition again moved up the river on the 22nd of May, and arrived within a few miles of that place. The Regiment was ordered to land on the 24th, and take possession of the factories, and co- operate with the navy on the south side, whilst the main body, under Sir Hugh Gough, disembarked to the north of the city, and on the 25th took posscsssion of the heights Avith the forts thereon. While the 2 Gth were protecting the factories, an agreement had been made with the senior naval officer, for a simultaneous attack on the sea line ; and the General having deter- mined to escalade on the north front, sent orders for the Cameronians to join him without delay, which was i! ' 192 HISTORICAL RECOrb OF THE TWE^TY-SIXTtt, ■i . . ,:.. ^ .: 1841. effected on the 27tli, and tliey were quartered in a joss house. Here the Kcgiment found, that pending certain negotiations, warhke operations had been stop- ped. On the morning of the 30th of May, however, the right wing was suddenly ordered out, in consequence of multitudes of armed men advancing from the interior, and collecting on every s'de around the British posts. The Major-General gave instructions for the 26th, witli a party of the 37th Madras Native Infantry, and the Bengal Volunteers, to drive them from the opposite hills. This service was performed, the enemy retiring in all directions, and the 26th crowned the hills, the hordes of Chinese having retreated to another range. It being now nearly sunset, and a violent thunder storm setting in, directions were given for the troops to return. Some of the Chinese, thinking the firelocks would not go off from the violence of the rain (which was the case), made an attempt, by rushing at the rear of the column, to spear the men, and it became necessary to refonn line, in the midst of the paddy cultivation, and use the bayonet, on which the enemy withdrew altogether. This affair took place under a burning sun (so vio- lent that Major Robert Becher, Deputy Quartermaster- General, dropped dead in the field), and continued from ten o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock at night, amidst perfect swamps ; it was considered so creditable, that on the next day the following general order was issued by Sir Hugh Gough upon the subject. " To the wing of the 26tli Cameronians, the com- " pany of Royal Marines, three companies of the 37tli " M. N. I., and detachment of Bengal Volunteers, who " were engaged yesterday in repelling the advance of ** a large body of the enemy, Major-Gcneral Sir Hugh OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 193 " Gough, offers his best thanks for their steady and 1841. " spirited conduct, which was as satisfactory to the " Major-General as it was creditable to them, " By order, " A. S. H. Mountain, '' Lieut.- Colonel, D. A. G:' From the 23rd to the 30th of May, during the opera- tions before Canton, the 26th had three men killed and fifteen Avounded. Lieutenant John William Johnstone was slightly wounded. The troops were ordered out on the 31st, but no contest took place, a ransom having been offered for Canton, and a provisional treaty agreed to. On the 6th of June, the whole force re-embarked on board the several ships, which all dropped down to Hong Kong Bay, where they were subject to violent typhoons, which did much damage, but not to the vessels. A Coiut of Inquiry was held this year to examine into the cause of the mortality at Chusan, of which Sir Hugh Gough was appointed president, and Lieut. -Colonel Pratt, a member. In August, a move northwards having been deter- mined upon, the main portion of the Cameronians was directed to continue and protect British interests in the Canton River; but three companies, under Major John- stone, proceeded with the force to the attack of Amoj/, situated in a fine gulf in the province of Fokien, the great tea district of China. In this they participated on the 26th of August. Major Johnstone also commanded the attack on the Island of Koolangsoo, and the conduct of the detachment was deemed most creditable. These companies remained in garrison there, until re-united to the head-quarters, which had been ordered up to join f i I: 194 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1841. the force at Ningpo, and embarked for that purpose in Her Majesty's ship "Jupiter," on the 26th r " December, having been increased in num rs by the arrival of two hundred and sixty-two recruits from England, which again raised the corj)s to five hundred and eight}'-four men in China. Percussion muskets were issued to the Regiment immediately before starting, which were joyfully accepted, in lieu of the wretched flint-lock previously in use. Having regained health to a great extent during its stay at Hong Kong, the 26th pro- ceeded to the north, in good heart and spirits. Lieut.-Colonel Mountain, who was with the force as Deputy Adjutant -General, and Lieut.-Colonel Pratt, were this year, for their services, appointed Companions of tlie most Honourable Order of the Bath. > ^ 1842. At the beginning of tlie year 1842, the Regiment was in the Formosa Channel, beating up to the northwards. It reached Amoy on the 9tli of January, and the anchorage at St. Helen's, Chusan, on the 3rd of February, when disturbances being expected at Ningpo, the corps was suddenly ordered to proceed thither, and arrived tliere on the 7th of February. Here tlic Cameronians had an opportunity of being drilled to a certain extent, and were inspected by ISir Hugh Gough on the 1 st of March, when much praise was bestowed. About this time information was received of the death of Lieut.-Colonel James (succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel Pratt), at sea, while on passage home on medical certificate. At dawn on the 10th of March, the Chinese, Avho had approached the place on the night of the 9th, attacked Ningpo, and A^•t're repulsed. The 26th, with the excep- tion of a few men, were not engaged in this aftair ; but, on the 15th of that month, the head-quarters, and three I *vr>' OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 195 companies, were directed, with other portions of the 1842. force, to proceed to Tsekee, a town about fifteen miles from Ningpo, on the hills, in the neighbom-hood of which, the Chinese were stated to have a fortified camp, protected by the ilite of their soldiery. They made rather a warm resistance, but were eventually driven off by the troops which headed the columns. A portion of the 26th Regiment was ordered to protect the guns ; but the grenadier company succeeded in getting into con- tact with the enemy. The force advanced on the next day to the Chankee Pass, where anotlier body was posted, and the Cameronians were on this occasion* detailed to lead. On reaching the top, however, of this very for- midable position, which might easily have been defended, it was found quite deserted, and the troops thereupon returned to cantonments in Ningpo. No further operations took place until the 7th of May, when it was decided to evacuate Ningpo, and proceed northwards in order to attack Chapoo. The troops assembled off that city on the I7tli of May, and landed on the following morning, the 2Gth forming the leading regiment of Colonel Schoedde's column,* and in a few hours the place was escaladed and taken. A id 3d * The left column, uncler Colonel Schoeddc (the late Lieut.- Gencral Sir James Holmes Schoedcle, K.C.B.), of the 55th Ilegiment, consisted of the following corps : — ,''^>^' Officers. other Ranks. 26th Cameronians . 27 521 . 55th Regiment 15 274 Sappers . 1 25 43 820 2 196 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1842. number of Tartars retreating unto a joss-house* outside the walls, defended themselves to the last, and Lieut.- Colonel Mountain, C.B., Deputy- Adjutant General, re- ceived three severe wounds. Two men of the 26th were killed and three wounded. Lieut.-Colonel Pratt was named in the despatch. • ■ The Regimer.t re-embarked on the 27th of May, and proceeded with the force to the Yangtse-Kiang, and rendezvoused off Woosung. On the Kith of June, the line of batteries there was principally taken by the naval ^ force. The 26th landed with others and proceeded to the attack of Paoushan, a walled city, into which it was stated the Tartar soldiers had retired ; the place was, however, undefended. The troops advanced, on the 19th, up the Woosung River to Shanghae, which city also offered no resistance, and remained tnere for some days, when on the 6th of July the force, now largely increased both from England and India, moved up the noble river Yangtse-Kiang, en route to Nankin. After sundry delays, * " The rout of the Chinese soon became total, the fugitives *' throwing away their arms. At this period, three hundred " Tartars, finding their retreat cut off by Her Majesty's 26th ' Kegiment, threw themselves into a loop-holed joss-house, in one " of the defiles, and defended themselves a considerable time with *' the most determined bravery. Tiie artillery had no effect in " dislodging them. This check to the whole force by a handful " of men, could not be borne, and several runs were made at the " door, to burst it in and get amongst them, but without effect. " The gallant Colonel Tomlinson, of the 18th, was shot through *' the neck in leading one of these assaults, and several other " officers and men fell at this spot. Ultimately, the place was " fired by rockets, and breached by bags of powder, placed under '* the superintendence of Captain Pears, Avhcn about fifty of the de- " fondants were taken priG(3ners, but nearly all of them wounded." — Hough's "Political and Military Events in British India." OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 197 caused by ignorance of the river, the troops reached the 1842 walled city of Chui-Keang-foo^ one of the strongest and most important in Ciiina, situated at the entrance of the Grand Canal and having Golden Island in its neighbour- hood. This jjlace was defended by a strong body of Tartar soldiers. The troops landed on tlic 2l8t of July on different points of the city ; the 26th on the north, as part of Major-Gencral Lord Saltoun's brigade. The place was captured on both sides aboiit the same time, the Cameronians entering by a gate which was blown in by the engineers ; they had one man killed, and Ensign Charles Diipericr, and seven men wounded ; many, however, suffered from the extreme heat. On the 3rd of August the Regiment again moved on to Nankin, and arrived before that city on the 7th, when the walls were seen covered with white flags, there appearing a great desire on the enemy's side to make peace. On the llthofxVugust the Ivcgimcnt landed with the rest of Lord Saltoun's brigade, and the corps was posted in a joss-house on a hill to the northward of the city, and within one thousand yards of one of its gates, which was selected as the point of attack. The Emperor, seeing that it was impossible to ofier further resistance, sued for peace, and a month was employed in drawing up the terms of a treaty, which met the most sanguine wishes of the British. ' Peace being concluded, the 26th re-embarked on the 11th of September, being the last troops on shore. The whole force suffered from the intermittent and remit- tent fevers during its stay here, and passage down the river ; but fortunately, from having plenty of native followers, and good food, the Regiment escaped the mortality which had so severely visited it in Chusan-; indeed, the Cameronians were about the most healthy corps in the river. On the 5th of October they reached 198 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1842. Chusan, and again starting from that place on the 22nd, arrived at Hong Kong on the 30th of that month : here, instead of the Regiment being joined by a body of healthy, Avell-driUed recruits, four hundred and thirty- nine having landed there in June, it found them a mass of emaciated dying lads ; one hundred and twenty-seven had already died, whilst the survivors seemed fast follow- ing them. Immediate precautions were taken to arrest the progress of disease, by affording aid with native fol- lowers and increased medical attendance ; ultimately, by a removal to hospital ships, these measures had effect to a certain extent, and though many were too far gone to recover, yet several lives were saved. In commemoration of the services of the 26th during these campaigns, the word " China" and the device of the "Dragon" were authorised by Her Majesty to be inscribed on the regimental colour and appointments,* * The following letter signified Her Majesty's authority for this additional inscription: — ^^ Horse Guards, 17th January, 1843. " Sir, — I have the honour to acquaint you, by direction of the " Commander-in-Chief, that in consideration of the gallantry dis- " played by the 26th Regiment (Cameronians) when serving with " the troops recently employed under the orders of Lieut. -General " Sir Hugh Gough, upon the roasts and in the rivers of China, " Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to permit the Regiment *•' to bear upon its colours and appointments the word " China" " and the device of the *' Dragon," in commemoration of its dis- " tinguished services. ** I have, &c., "John Macdonald, " Lieut- General Lord Seaton, G. C.B., " Colonel of the 26th Regiment {Cameronians)" OR CAMERONIAN BEQIMENT. 199 The 26th remained at Hong Kong until the 20th of 1842. Decemher, when tlie portion of the force destined to return to India, embarked for Singapore, and on the last day of tlie year the vessel conveying it was at anchor in the roadstead of that ph\ce. Information was here received tliat Major Johnstone had been promoted to the brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel for services in the Canton River, and on reaching Calcutta, it became known that this excellent officer and worthy man had died at sea on the 19th of October, 1842, when on leave on medical certificate, of disease contracted in China. It was also on arrival at Singapore, that Lieut.- General Sir Hugh Gougli, Gr.C.B., received a letter from the Commander-in-Chief in India, General Sir Jasper Nicolls, K.C.B., to the effect that, having to send two regiments home, he had been induced to fix on the 26th as one, because those before it on the roster were employed on the north-west frontier, and lie imagined that the change to ICurope would benefit the corps after the severe sickness with which it had been visited. This order was unacceptable to almost every individual in the Regiment, who, after much privation and confinement on board ship, looked forward with pleasure to return to Bengal; and, as it proved, was most unfortunate for the Cameronians, by excluding them from all participation in the future brilliant ser- vices of their heroic leader in China (who, in March, 1843, was appointed Commander-in-Chief in India), which gained for Sir Hugh Gougli his peerage ; wliile, on the other hand, a march to the upper provinces of India might have had as beneficial an influence upon the health of the men, as the long voyage to England. The head-quarters of the Regiment arrived in Calcutta 1843. on the 7th of February, 1843, and the remaining divi- 200 HISTOBICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1843. sions between the 7tli and 10th, and the corps encamped on the glacis of Fort William on the 16th of that month. Lieut.-Colonel Mountain, who, on the termination of the war, had been struck oflf the staff, assumed command of the Camcroniansonthe 16th of February, and was immediately called upon to make arrangements for the embarkation of the Regiment, wliich was then upwards of one thousand strong, and the Governor-General's order against volun- teering made it necessary to provide tonnage for all, with the exception of twenty-four left sick in hospital at Fort William. < ■ . i: , Towards the end of the month the Gazettes arrived, containing the promotions and rewards granted by Her Majesty on the close of the China war. Captain James Paterson was promoted to a brevet majority, and Lieut.- Colonel Mountain was appointed Deputy- Adjutant General to the Queen's troops, Madras, but his Regi- ment being under orders for embarkation, he embarked with it. Prior to the embarkation of the 26th for England, the following Government General Order was issued by the Honourable the President of the Council in India: — " Fort Williamj " 2Sth February, 1843. " No. 49 of 1843. " Her Majesty's 26th and 49th Regiments, being " about to return to England, the President of the " Council of India in Council cannot permit them to *' leave the shores of India without some public ac- " knowledgment of their gallant services. " Both these corps had served n ny years in India, " and were remarkable for exemplary conduct before " their embarkation for China. During the protracted I OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 201 " struggle in a country new to Europeans, where the 1843. " troops were alternately exposed to great temptation *' and to harassing privations, these corps maintained " their high character in all situations, from Canton to " Nankin, in quarters and in the field, and they have " now returned triumphant, having won the warm ap- " proval of His Excellency Sir Hugh Gough, Bart, and '' G.C.B., by whom they were commanded. " The President of the Council of India in Council, " deeply sympathised in the sufferings and losses of " these corps from the effect of sickness, arising from " exposure and vicissitudes of climate upon the distant *' service on which they were employed ; and now that, " on their triumpliant return to Bengal they are re- " called to the United Kingdom, he begs thus publicly " to assure the officers, non-commissioned officers, and " soldiers, of both these distinguished regiments, that " they carry with them the marked approbation of the " Supreme Government. ' ' \ i, " The President of the Council of India in Council " would neglect a gratifying duty if he omitted to notice '' the report of the General in command upon the con- " duct of the officers of the general staff of ihe army in "China. - " To the heads of the departments struck off by " general orders of the 13th instant — Lieut.-Colonel " Mountain, C.B., Deputy Adjutant-General ; Lieut.- " Colonel Hawkins, C.B., Deputy Commissary-General; *' and Lieut.-Colonel Gough, C.B., Deputy Quarter- " Master General ; — the President of the Council of *' India in Council considers it due publicly to acknow- " ledge their valuable and unremitting exertions. " In thus taking leave of a body of men who, in " conjunction with the rest of the forces serving in 202 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1848. " China, liave rciKlered such signnl services to their " country, the President of the Council of India in " Council has the satisfaction of assuring them that " those services have been most highly appreciated, " not only by the Government of India, but by their ** Sovereign, wlio has been pleased to direct that mcdala " be granted to the officers and men of Her Majesty's " and the Kast India Company's Naval and Military " Forces, without distinction, who took part in the " more prominent events of the war, in commemoration " of the success of Her Majesty's arms in China, and in " token of Her Majesty's high approbation. "By order of the Honourable the President of the " Council of India in Council, " (Signed) W. M. N. Sturt, Major^ " ^ff9' ^^V' to the Govert, oflndia^ ^^ Military Department,'''' The first division sailed in the "Auckland," under Captain Piggott, on the 26th of February, and the head- quarters in the "Queen" on the 2nd of March. The third division, in the " Maria," under Brevet Major Paterson ; the fourth, in the " Bolton," under Major Strange ; the fifth, in the " John WicklifFc," under Lieut.-Colonel Pratt, C.B.; and the last in the " Burram- pooter," under Captain Ffrench, sailed a few days after- wards. The "Queen" outstripped them all, and the head- quarters landed at Gravesend on the 3rd of July. This ship touched at St. Helena, and the Lieut.-Colonel landed the men for Divine Service, marching them afterwards to Napoleon's tomb, which pleased the soldiers, and made a sensation in the town, being the first time that a regiment had proceeded in a body to visit .•rr.'i, OS CAHERONIAN REGIMENT. 203 this celebrated spot. 3Iost of the other vessels had long 1848. passages. The "Auckland" did not arrive until the 14th of August, and the " Bolton" not before the 23rd ; the former was in great danger off the Cape. The " Queen" had the good fortune to amve without the loss of a man. In he remaining fjfiips ^orty-four men died on the voyage of disease contracted in China. Before the landing of the hcad-quarter><, the 2Gth had been ordered to Deal, and a route furnished k ^.cordingly j but on the following morning they were met a couple of miles from Gravesend by a staff sergeant, the bearer of a counter order, to march into Chatham BaiTacks, which they reached with only one case of dmnkenness ; this was regarded in the garrison as a creditable fact. The cou.^ l;er order had been given under an impression of facilitating the invaliding of the men, the Regiment being erroneously supposed to have a great number unfit for further service. Edinburgh was fixed upon as the station of the Cameronians as soon as they should be assembled ; in the meanwhile the corps took its share of garrison duties. The band, which had suffered severely in China, was sent off parade by the Commandant at Chatham, Colonel Sir Thomas Willshire, Bart., K.C.B., and to redeem its credit the officers shortly afterwards engaged Mr. Wallace, Bandmaster of the 58th, then under orders for embu^' .ation. The first division proceeded to Edin- burgh on the 2nd of August, 1843, under Captain Mylius; the second followed on the 16th of that month under Major Paterson ; and the head-quarters on the 16th of Septem- ber in the "Dee" steamer. Major Hogarth, who joined at Edinburgh from - Calcutta on the 15th of October, 1843, had been pre- viously gazetted a Companion of the Order of the Bath. I i 204 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1844. During the winter the corps made weekly marches, genera! / taking dome gentleman's place, or remarkable spot, for its object. Arthur's Seat was one, and it was noticed at the time, that no regiment had been there for forty years. .■ ,;..>/; v- The health of the men was now entirely established, care being taken to clothe them Avarmly, and every exertion was made to re- organize tlie corps, while sojourning in the capital of their native country, the best quarters in the United Kingdom. • '' • There was, however, this drawback — several of the men, having plenty of money, and being within reach of friends, could not resist temptation ; and although there was no other serious crime, absence without leave and desertion prevailed to an extent hitherto unknown. This dereliction of duty was mainly confined to the young soldiers, who, after being hastily recruited, and half drilled on board ship, »vere turned into the ranks to meet the exigencies of the service ; these when brought home, after having endured much privation and confine- ment on board ship, had not sufficient moral training to withstand the surrounding allurements. This disposition to irregularity was further increased by the order to volunteer to the 53rd, then about to embark for India. Fifty-three men volunteered thereto during July, 1844. The greater portion of the old non-commissioned officers had been carried off by the mortality in China, and the young men necessarily brought forward to replace them, shared to a great degree in the general unsteadiness and love of pleasure, and were unavoidably reduced. To such an extent did irregularities prevail, that few of the officers could keep their servants, and it was difficult to find men willing to ^t in that capacity. By great exer- tion and continued attention, eventually a state of things ^ "• OR CAMEROKIAN REGIMENT. 205 more consonant mth the old name of tlie Cameronians, 1844. was restored. ...,,, On tlie 3rd of May, 1844, when the new colours, granted by Lord Seaton, were presented by Lady Douglas on Bruntsfield Lhiks, the Regiment turned out in a manner almost worthy of its former days, and the ceremony was thus noticed in the daily journals : — " Bruntsfield Links presented, on Friday last, a most *' interesting and animating spectacle, being the day *' appointed for the presentation of new colours to the " Cameronians, at present at the Castle. *' The circumstance of this gallant Corps having lately " returned from China, where they bore a prominent " part in the fatiguing and protracted warfare which has " now happily been brought to a temiination, and where '^ they lost many of tlieir brave companions, added addi- *' tional interest to this always attractive ceremony. " Accordingly, by 11 o'clock, the hour at which the " Regiment arrived at the Links, the most numerous " concourse of people had assembled that has been " witnessed on a similar occasion for a long time past, " comprising all ranks — pedestrians, equestrians, and " splendid equipages — and forming a living wall around " the Corps during the time they remained on the field. ** About 12 o'clock. Sir Neil Douglas, commanding the " forces in Scotland, appeared on the ground, surrounded *' by a brilliant staff, when the Regiment formed in line " and saluted him. They then marched past, first in " slow and again in quick time ; after which, again " forming line, the Regiment advanced and fired two " romids. Retiring again by files, they formed a square " as preparing to veceive cavalry, fired by files, and then " a volley. After some other minor evolutions, all of " which were executed with the utmost . ecision, and m if i 206 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1844. called forth repeated expressions of admiration from several military gentlemen present, the Regiment again formed in line, and executed a brilliant charge ; they again retired, formed in line, and the grenadier com- pany, commanded by Brevet-Major Paterson, stepping out and forming in front, the old colours, carried by Ensign Mountain and Ensign Cress well, were borne along the line, the Regiment saluting as they passed. The appearance of these war-worn colours, with all their stirring associations, their tattered fragments streaming in the wind, excited much interest in all present. When this imposing ceremony was com- pleted, the Regiment again closed their ranks and formed three sides of a square, the drums placed in the centre; within the area of the square, Sir Neil Douglas, his staff, Colonel Mountain, Principal Lee, and a number of the friends of the officers, were placed. Major Hogarth and Major Sirange brought forward the new colours, and consigned them to Sir Neil Douglas and Colonel Mountain, who placed them on the drums Principal Lee, then, proceeding to the ceremony of consecration, engaged in prayer. The General then raised tlie colours, and handed ihem to Lady Douglas, who addressed the Regiment as follows : — " * Colonel Mountain and Cameronians, — It is with no ' ordinary feelings of pride and satisfaction that I stand ' before you this day, selected, as I have been, the ' honoured instrument of presenting to you a new set ' of colours. I need not tell you how bravely, how ' gloriously, the Regiment has defended those which * are now about to be laid aside, and which, like * veteran warriors, have been borne and shattered in ^ their country's cause ; nor need I remind you of the / t -•' OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 207 ' gallant deeds achieved by the Regiment, in the old 1844. ' German wars especially, under the renowned Marl- * borough, and subsequently in America, Egypt, Spain, * India, and lastly China, where your arms so essen- ' tially contributed in subduing a mighty and almost ' unknown empire — thus establishing the valour and ' bravery of the Cameronians in the four quarters of ' the globe. And should you, brave soldiers! be called ^ upon to unfurl these banners in defence of your ' beloved Queen and countiy, O, remember I that the * God of Armies alone can render you invincible. To ' your keeping, then, do I commit these colours. Take ' them to your hearts ; defend, protect, and guard ' them — as I feel assured you will ever do — with that ' devoted zeal and steady valour which have at all * times characterized the Cameronian Regiment.' " At the conclusion of this address, her Ladyship handed the new colours tc Lieutenant Wallace and Ensign Wallace (brothers), who received them kneeling. Lieut.-Colonel Mountain then addressed Lady Douglas as follows : — *' ' Lady Douglas, in the name of the Cameronians, ' officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, permit ' me to offer you our warmest thanks. We thank you ' for the honour you have conferred upon us in pre- ' senting our new colours ; we thank you for the * kindness with which you have spoken of the Regi- * ment ; we thank you for the confidence which you * have expressed in our devotion to our duty. " ' It is my pleasing task, also, to offer the thanks of ' the Regiment to Principal Lee for the eloquent and ' impressive manner in Avliich he has perfonned the ' office of consecration, and invoked upon our banners * that blessing upon which all human success depends. lii >l^^H 1 I^^H t jlHl : ini^^H ^' I^B^H ^^H i^H i ^1 1 iH Jn^^^l H; nfil^^l i ^bI 1 n \\ fi^^H i hh 208 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1844. ' * These colours, granted to us by our most gracious Majesty the Queen, presented by your Ladyship, the wife of our General — a General so proudly distin- tinguished by arduous and gallant services amid the unequalled triumphs of the Peninsula — and sanctified by the prayers of so eminent a minister of the Church of Scotland ; these colours are committed to our keeping with all +h Lieut.-General Sir Edward Blakeney,K.C.B., reviewed the 26th in the Phoenix Park on the 18th of September, and expressed his satisfaction with the appearance and steadiness of the men, and particularly with their style f skirmishing. • .. Major-General Henry Wyndham made the half-yearly inspection on the 19th of October, and desired the Colonel to notify to the corps his satisfaction, but expressed regret at the number of courts-martial. 1847. In January, 1847, the Regiment came under the eye of Prince George of Cambridge in the Royal Barracks, and had the good fortune to receive at different times the approbation of his Royal Highness, which was renewed u]ion the Prince's half-yearly inspection on the 11th of May following. It was anticipated that in Dublin at least, the Came- ronians would remain together for a year j but owing to . the call for troops, consequent upon their scarcity, the first detachment proceeded to Enfield for canal escort duty in January, and in February pushed on to MuUingar ; in the middle of March the Regiment was ordered to take the detachment of the 68th, and furnish others, the liead-quarters being removed to Ship Street Barracks. OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 215 Major Paterson went to Newbridge ; Captain P^dgar to 1847. Trim ; Captain Johnstone to Athy ; Captain Rodgera to Robertstown ; Ca])tain Frend to Oldcastle ; Captain Nicholson to Rathangan ; Lieutenant Wallace to Kells ; Lieutenant Roberts to Maryborough ; and Lieutenant Thomas William Andrews to Navan. Some of these detachments were subsequently reinforced, and another was sent out to TuUow under Lieutenant Thomas Andrews. ' . , On the 15th of February, 1847, the Regiment received orders to recruit to one thousand rank and file, and to send out six additional recruiting parties; a like number being already so employed, each under a sergeant. Non- commissioned officers being very much required with the detachments for escort duty, it became exceedingly difficult to furnish all the duties required of the 26th, but this was accomplished. Meanwhile, tlie recruiting progressed rapidly, and before the 8th of April the Regiment was above the ncAV establishment. The order for general recruiting was a third blow to the nationality of the corps, and was a matter of much regret ; but the standard of the Regiment was in a groat degree redeemed by the last recruiting, the fresh comers being generally of good appearance. Some difficulty arose in drilling the mass of recruits thus hastily collected, the larger portion having been forwarded to Newbridge, a part sent to Portobello, and the remainder continued with the head-quarters at Ship Street Barracks. The commanding officer hoped to have his recruits and the Regiment together in Dublin, but on the 6tli of July orders were received to move to Buttevant. Captain Frend's company marched from Oldcastle, about one hundred and seventy miles, to BrufF; Captain Cameron to Hospital ; Major Whittingham, with the iS I'll' 216 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1847. grenadiers, marched to BalHngarry ; and the remaining detachments to Buttevant ; tlie head-quarters proceeding hy steam vid Cork. Tliis march, with so many recruits wlio hud never seen their companies and from so many detachments, to furtlier outlying stations, was a great trial for the Regiment. Colonel Mountain issued an order, appealing to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, to assist him in this emergency — each by attention in his own sphere — and they did not disappoint their commanding officer. The Regiment was called upon for further detachments immediately after its arrival at Buttevant ; Captain Edgar's company marched to Charleville ; Brevet-Major Mylius's, to Mallow ; Lieutenant Park, with No. 1 company, to Kanturk ; Captain Rodgers to Killarncy ; and Lieutenant Clerke, Avith a detachment, to Cahir- civeen. The grenadier company rejoined head-quarters at Buttevant in August ; and the Cahircivcen detachment was in the following montli removed to Mill Street. Captains Freud's and Cameron's companies also rejoined at Buttevant in November ; during which month, a detachment c dod by Captain Johustone Avas ordered to A, about seven miles from ButtcA^ant, as disturl ^ Avere apprehended in the neighbourhood. Nothing hoAvever occurred, and it returned to head- quarters in the course of a month, as no satisfactory accommodation could be procured for the men, who had been in most miserable billets. Shortly after this, the Charleville detachment was ordered to be increased to one hundred of all ranks, on account of the state of the country ; and Major Whittingham, who had just been promoted upon the retirement of Major Davonport, was ordered to take command there. OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 217 In September, 1847, Colonel Mountain, O.B., quitted 1847. the 26tli, to accompany tlic Earl of Dalliousie to Calcutta aa his military secretary ; that nobleman having just received the appointment of Governor-General of India, and the command of the Regiment devolved upon Major Hogarth. . . i The Regiment was inspected at Buttevant on tho 8th of October, 1847, by Major-General Charles Turner, who expressed himself much pleased both with its ajDpcarance and steadiness. '• • The "Disarming Act" having come into force in 1848, January, 1848, another detachment under Captain Nicholson was ordered to Drumclogher, thirteen miles distant from Buttevant, there to be billeted and assist the police in their search for anns. This duty was only of a temporary nature, and it rejoined after a few days' absence. In the beginning of 1848, there was a general relief of detachments — Captain Frend proceeding to Killarney ; the grenadier company, under Captain Carey, to Charlc- ville ; and a detachment, under Lieutenant Park, to Kanturk ; Captains Rodgcrs, Edgar, and Wallace, rejoining head-quarters with their respective companies. Towards the end of March, Captain Johnstone relieved Major Mylius at JMallow, and Captain Cameron with his company proceeded to ]\lill Street, replacing the detach- ment at that station under Lieutenant Gierke. The Regiment was also called upon about this time to furnish an additional detachment at Mitchelstown, of which Captain Nicholson took command. In April, the head-quarters received a route for Cork, and marched in two divisions, on the 10th and 11th of that month. Upon arrival there, another detachment was ordered out to Middle ton, of which Lieu^" "^nt 218 HISTORICAL RECOED OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1 848. Blackett took charge ; this was subsequently reinforced, and the head quarters of No. 1 company, under Captain Wallace, proceeded thither. On the 22nd of May, Major-General Turner made his spring inspection of the Oameronians, and again expressed his satisfaction, remarking, that he was persuaded they had us^^d their time at Buttevant to the best advantage, and t..., fm- India, liad succeeded to the command of the Second Infantry Brigade at Dublin, made liis half-yearly inspection of the Cameronians. The head-(]^uarters and six companies marched from Ship Street to Beggar's Bush Barracks on the 14th of June, into Avhich the companies at the Linen Hall had moved the day before. On the 20th of the same month, the Regiment marched from Beggar's Bush Barracks to Naas, en route to the CuiTagh, there to be encamped till further orders, and on the 21st it proceeded from Naas and arrived at its destination the same day ; but in con- * sequence of the Inclemency of the weather, the men were placed temporarily in huts until the 26th, when they went under canvas ; the weather, however, continued very unsettled till the end of June. On the 11th of July the Regiment removed into the huts vacated by the Louth Rifles, and on the 30th of that month, it marched to Maryborough Heatli and encamped under canvas until the 1 st of August, when it returned to the Curragh. It again went under canvas on the 6th, to make room for the o6th Foot, which, on that day, arrived in camp from England. The Cameronians remained under canvas till the SOtli of August, when, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather, it became necessary to move them again into huts. 232 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1860. In Illay, the Enfield Rifles which had been supplied to the Regiment in 1856, were returned into store, and a superior weapon issued, named the interchangeable rifle. During the summer the whole of the men were completed with new accoutrements. On the 28th of September, the Regiment marched from the Curragh to Naas, en route to Dublin, there to be stationed till further orders, and on the 29th it proceeded from Naas and arrived the same dey at Beggar's Busli Barracks, Dublin. Major-General Bloomfield made his lialf-yearly in- spection of the Regiment on the 11th of October, and on the 24th of that month, Major-General the Honourable A. A. Dalzell, who had succeeded Lieut.-General Gascoigne in the command of the Dublin Division, inspected the Caraeronians ; these inspections proved satisfactory to both officers. On the 15th of November, 1860, detachments from the depot, consisting of forty men, joined the service 18GI. companies, and on the 13th of February, 1861, another draft of thirty-five men joined from the depdt; but notwithstanding the arrival of these reinforcements the fiervice companies, on the 31st of March, were still under their establishment, owing principally to the great number who obtained their discharge with pension at their own request, their twenty-one years' service having expired. The Regiment, on the 21st of March, underwent its spring half-yearly inspection by Major-General Bloom- field, who expressed himself highly pleased with its condition and appearance. Major-General Charles William Ridley, C.B., who had succeeded Major-General Hon. A. A. Dalzell in com- mand of the Dublin division, inspected the Cameronians i ^mmmmmmmm^mmimim mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ■ ,) ixl a: o W — ' s = W ' CQ _ ■r. >■ — Q r I <: . I >- »=• CQ CO CM s - w - C/5 o u 4iM^ OR nAMEaONlA.?* EBfUMEXT. 233 on the 16th of April, \ e c^nfinned the praise 1861. bestowed by his pre^l'»cesi?or. Ou.thc 18th of April itisiractions -w^m i-eceived to hold the K<;giraf!iit in readineaa t;w proceed to Glasgow, en route to Ediuhiirgii. The Oameronians accotximgly embarked ia two di\iftion« M ihii North Wall, I>ublin, ort the IJnd aad <3t}i of May ; anived at Ola,«gow on the 3rd and 7th, nnil proceeded by rail the same days to Edinburgh Castle, cletarhin^ .'!?n'nt ou Uit I4xk Hi May ii* ike Quoeii.s j'uik; Kd ., w'li','n he rt'.i|uedreor\ the*e b«ing concludexl, it sk-jt^mn formed liu* ol ,.ac wtme ground as before. Tlte cere- mony of prerier.tittg the colours then commenced; the ■^•. \ I % *■ ■ » t'.)|r»:WJW»»^|W V a. ■ii ■^. .\ ''i s: ■ CZi 'ii ac 1 e "f \ or OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 233 on the 15th of April, when he coniirmecl the praise 1861. bestowed bj his predecessor. On the 18th of April instructions were received to hold the Regiment in readiness to proceed to Glasgow, en route to Edinburgh. The Cameronians accordingly embarked in two divisions at the North Wall, Dublin, on the 2nd and 6th of May ; arrived at Glasgow on the 3rd and 7th, and proceeded by rail the same days to Edinburgh Castle, detaching two companies as a guard over the military prison at Greenlaw. Major-General Edward W. F. Walker, C.B., com- manding the troops in North Britain, inspected the Regiment on the 14th of May in the Queen's Park, Edinburgh, when he requested the commanding officer (Lieut.-Colonel Carey) to inform the men that he was highly pleased with all he had seen, and more especially with their soldierlike appearance when walking in the streets. The autumn half-yearly inspection took place on the 8th of October. On the 21st of April, 1862, new colours were pre- 1862. sented to the Cameronians by Lady Belhaven, on the parade ground in the Queen's Park, in presence of the other troops in garrison, namely, the 2nd Dragoons or Scots Greys, and a battery of the Royal Artillery. The Regiment was drawn up in line under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Carey, on the north side of the ground facing St. Anthony's Chapel, and received Major-General Walker, commanding in North Britain, Avho arrived at two o'clock, with the usual honours. After he had in- spected the corps a number of field evolutions were performed, and upon these being concluded, it again formed line on the same ground as before. The cere- mony of presenting the colours then commenced j the I 234 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 18G2. old colours were trooped, and afterwards took up posi- tion on the right of tlic line. The latter was then formed into three sides of a square, in tlic centre of which a pile of drums was raised, against which the new colours wore laid. Lady Belhaven, accompanied by Lord Belhaven, Major-General Walker, and his staff, then advanced to them, and the Reverend James Miller, garrison Chaplain, having consecrated the colours, her Ladyship, on pre- senting them to Ensigns Buchanan and Eden, spoke as . follows: — "I am proud of having the honour of presenting ^' new colours to the brave Cameronians, and 1 feel more ^' proud in consequence of my husband having served ■ " therein, it being the first Regiment in which he bore " a commission. In delivering these colours into your " hands, I feel that I am delivering them into the '' guardianship of men who will nobly do their duty to " their Queen and country." Lieut. - Colonel Carey then returned thanks to Lady Belhaven, in the name of the officers and men, for the . ,. honour she had done them. This' concluded the ceremony. The 2Gth afterwards marched past in slow and quick time, and then returned home. The weather throughout was very fine, and the border of the parade ground was lined with a number of spectators, the heights overlooking it being also thickly covered. On the 7t.h of May, orders were received for the Regiment to be held in readiness to proceed to Aldershot, and on the following day IMajor-General Walker made his half-yearly inspection. Previous to its departure from Edinburgh, he issued the following order : — " In expressing his sincere regret at the departure of " the 26tli Regiment from Edinburgh (a feeling which *' he is assured is participated in by a large mass of the OU CAMERONIAN KEaiMENT. 235 '' inhabitants of this city), Major-General Walker, in 1802. " simple justice to Colonel Carey, the officers, non-com- " missioned ofHccrs and men of the Cameronians, wishes " to convey to them his best thanks for their admirable " conduct during the period he has had the pleasure to " have them under his command, and his sense of their '•• high state of efficiency, reiiecting as it does, great credit " on all ranks of that distinguished corps, and he now " takes leave of the Cameronians with every good ish " for their welfare and prosperity." Thellegiment proceeded from Leith to Aldershot in four divisions, by steamers, to London, on the 14th, 17th 21st, and 24tli of May, and on their arrival were quartered in the West Block of the Permanent Barracks. Bri- gadier-General Brown, commanding the Second Infantry Brigade, to which it was attached, inspected the corps on the 29th of May. Lieut.-General vSir John Pennefather, K.C.B., commanding at Aldershot, also inspected the Begiment on the 2nd of June, and both were much pleased with its appearance and movements. On the 6th of June, an official memorandum was received requesting to know whether any authority had been received for men being em])loyed as Pipers in the Cameronians, and the result was that three Avere authorized.* The Regiment, on the 1st of August, formed part of a flying column which marched from Aldershot to Ascot on that day, and encamped there. On +he following morning a review took place, in Avliich several Volunteer Corps participated. This column remained at Ascot until the 4th of August, when it returned to Alder- Vide Correspondence, Appendix 11. 236 HISTORICAL RECORD OP THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1862. shot. The autumn half-yearly inspection was made on the 2nd of October. Major-Geueral George Henry Mackinnon, C.B., was appointed colonel of the 26th on the 21st of December, in succession to General Sir Philip Bainbrigge, K.C.B,, deceased. ' 1863. In January, 1863, the new pattern great coat was issued to the greater portion of the Kegiment, and in April the new chakos were commenced to be worn. The spring half-yearly inspection took place on the 5th of May, when Brigadier -General Bates, C.B., commanding the Second Infantry Brigade at Aldershot, inspected the Regiment. On the 20th of May, the 26tli were placed under orders to proceed to the under-mentioned places on the 27th of that month. : — the head-quarters and three com- panies to Fort Grange, Gosportj three companies to Portland ; one company to Weymouth ; one company to Tipner, near Portsmouth j one company to Marchwood, near Southampton ; and one company to Haslar. They accordingly left Aldershot on the day named. The head- quarters and Nos. 6, 8, and 9 companies proceeded to Fort Grange ; Nos. 3, 7, and 10 companies to Portland ; No. 1 to Weymouth, No. 5 to Tipner, No. 2 to March- wood, and No. 4 company to Haslar. There being no room at Fort Grange for a number of the men, women, and children belonging to the head-quarter companies, they were also sent to Haslar. The head-quarter companies and the detachment at Haslar were inspected on the 19th of June by Major- Gc-^ral Lord William Paulet, C.B., commanding the South- Western District. The autumn half-yearly in- spection took place on the 6th of October, 1863, on which day his Lordship inspected the head-quarter com- OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 237 panies at Fort Grange and the detachment at Haslar 1863. Barracks. Lord William Paulet had previously seen those at Portland, Weymouth, and Marchwood, and ex- pressed himself much pleased with everything. On the 13th of November, the head-quarters and Haslar detachment marched into the Clarence Barracks, at Portsmouth; and, on the 16th and 17th, the detach- ments from Tipner, Marchwood, Portland, and Wey- mouth, were relieved by the 64th Kegiment, when they rejoined the head-quarters. Major General Lord William Paulet, C.B., made 1864. the usual spring half-yearly inspection on the 11th of May, 18G4, and tlie autumnal one on the 6th of October following. In February, 1865, the dep6t companies were removed 1865. from Belfast to Preston, in Lancashire. A letter of readiness was received on the 30th of April, for the Pegiment to proceed to Bombay, to relieve the 72nd Highlanders; and on the 1st of May, the 26th were inspected by Major-General Lord William Paulet, K.C.B., on Southsea Common. The following order was received shortly before the Regiment embarked for India, from the General Officer commanding the South- Western District: — , '•^Assistant Adjutant- OeneraVs Office^ Portsmouth^ ''2d,rdJulyj 1865. ^^ District Ordei\ " The Lieutenant-General commanding cannot allow " the 26th Cameronians to embark for India, without " expressing his great satisfaction at the good conduct, " orderly behaviour, and soldierlike appearance of this " distinguished Corps, whilst in his command. *' The Lieut.-General having only recently assumed li 1 1\ 238 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1865. <' the charge of this district,* speaks not ho much from " liis own experience, as from tlie opinion of his '' predecessor. Major- General Lord William Paiilet, ^'K.C.B. " The greatest credit is due to Colonel Carey, Major " Hcnning, and the Officers and >^on-Conimissioned " Officers, for the high state ui discipline in whicli *' the Regiment now is; and the Lieut-General feels " tliat he cannot convey a hetter wish to the 2()tii, " when parting from them, than that they may continue •'• ■ "to picserve the unstained reputation with wliich tliey " now depart on foreign service. " By order, " A. Alison, Lieut. -Cvhnel, ' ' "^.-J. General " The Officer Commanding *^ 2Qth Regiment, Portsmouth.''^ On Monday the 24th of July, Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10 companies, under Captain Charles Eowland Berkeley Caleott, in command; and Captains George Edmund ^ Phipps Trent, James Armstrong, George John Hamilton, and Thomas William Lawson ; Lieutenants Lewis Cubitt, and William Blakeway Burton; Ensigns George Henry Wilson, Livingstone Clarke, Frederick Samuel Alexander, James Bond Clarke, and John Macfarlane; and Assistant-Surgeon Joseph Johnston, M.D. ; thir- teen sergeants, thirteen drummers, fifteen corporals, and * Lieut.-Gcncral Sh- George Bullcr, K.C.B., succeeded Major- General Lord William Taiilct, K.C.B., in the comniaud of the South-Wcsteni District, on the latter being appointed Adjutant- General to the Forces, 1st July, 1865. OR CAMERON IAN REGIJIENT. 239 three hundred and seven privates, three officers' wives 1865. and two children, thirty-four soldiers' wives and forty- six children, cmharked on board the *'Cospatrick," which sailed from Spithead on the following morning. The command of the Cameronians was, on the 25th of July, taken over hy Lieut.-Colonel Shurlock Henning, who was promoted in succession to Colonel Carey, retired on half-pa}'. Captain C. R. B. Calcott succeeded to the vacant majority. The head-quarters, consisting of Nos. 1, 4, and 6 companies, with Major Mosse in command, and Captains William Henry Salwey and Thomas Turner ; Ijieu- tenants Oswald Crcsswell, Henry C. Sharp, AVilliam ]5arton Wade, Archibald Duffield Eden, and C^harles H. Dougherty ; Ensigns Henry FitJcJohn Townsend ' and Edward M. Dougherty ; Lieutenant and Adjutant Howard Molyneux Edward Brunker, and Surgeon- Major Bichard Gamble ; one officer's wife, twenty-two sergeants, fifteen corporals, two drummers, two hundred and eighty-nine privates, forty-eight soldiers' wives, and forty-six children, embarked on board the " Dilawur," which sailed on the 29th of July. The remainder of the Begiment, consisting of Captain Edwai.. Archibald Collins, in command, with Captain William Beers, Lieutenants Philip Conway Story, Hercy P. Wolfcr- stan, and James Boss Gray Buchanan, Ensign Charles William Hemphill, and Assistant-Surgeon William Carpenter, M.D., one officer's wife, nine sergeants, eight corporals, three drummers, one hundred and fifty-two privates, twenty-two soldiers' wives, and twenty-three children, embarked on the 9th of August on board the '' Edwin Fox," which sailed on the 10th of that month. The several ships arrived in Bombay harbour in the following order :— The " Dilawur," with head-quarters, 1 * 240 HISTOKICAL ItECOKD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH, 1866. on the 26th of October; the "Cospatrick" on the 28th of that month, and the "Edwin Fox" on tlic 9th of December. Two men and several children died on the passage out. « . On arrival at Bombay, it was found that the Regi- ment was ordered to Belgaum. The head-quarters and detachment which had proceeded in the "Cospatrick" were embarked on board coasting steamers, and landed at Vingorla, where they remained encamped until the 8th of November, on which day the march up country commenced, and this portion of the 26th reached Bel- gaum on the IStli of that month. The detachment, which had proceeded from England to Bombay in the " Edwin Fox," marched into Belgaum 1866. on the Ist of January, 1866. Tlio strength of the Regi- ment on that day was — forty officers, forty-seven ser- geants, forty corporals, nineteen drummers, and seven hundred and forty privates. Brigadier-General A. T. Heyland, C.B., commanding the Belgaum brigade, made the half-yearly spring in- spection of the Camcronians on the 15th, IGth, and I7th of March. He expressed his approbation in the following terms : — " I find the Regiment in exceeding good order " and very well drilled, and I shall have much pleasure " in making a most favoiyable report of them." The autumnal inspection of the 26th was made at Camp Belgaum on the 20th, 22nd, and 23rd of October^ by Brigadier-General Heyland, C.B., who again ex- • . pressed himself pleased with the appearance, drill, disci- pline, and interior economy of the Regiment. 1867. At the conclusion of this Record, the service compa- nies of the 26th Regiment continued at Camp Belgaum, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Henning, and the dep6t remained at Preston. SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS Of " THE TWENTY-SIXTH CAMERONIAN REaiME:ST. lliKliCftt , . , Date of Flmt Itaiik In the llcmovcd, Unf OS of Mamci. ComniiHMiuii in tho or thrAriny rioniotcrt, Ueniovol, Died in Iho llcuiuicnt. (• (loiiutes the 1ft tier or Exchanged. &t. ilcgimcnt, &c. Kauk). Kabl or Akqus .. Colonel, 19 Apr. 16H9 Colonel •• •• Killed at Stein- kirk, 3 Aug., Clei.and Lt.-Ccl., 11 ■ Lt.-Col. • • • " Killed at Dun. kcld. 1089 {vide Kecord, p. 10). ACLAND It ti !• llalf-pny 1690 IIendersox Mf^or, 11 Major n 11 Died of wounds received at Dun- keld,2IAug.lC8<) KeR or KEB3LAND Captain, ti 11 •• •• Mortallywounded at Stcinkirk. SIoNno t» 1* Captain Half-pay 1690 Roy Campbell .. M It Hay l» It Dhu Campbell .. n 11 John Bosthwick II tt Colonel •• 1 Jan. 1706 Killed at RamlU lies, 23 May, 1706 KUME 11 11 '' iAIOMOOR t» II Captain Half-pay 1690 Kalden It II J , . • 1 Harbis II 11 1 ■ Lindsay 11 11 Steil 11 11 5 *''■■*' Gilchrist It tt 11 II It Mathison It 11 „ «t 1» Caldwell ti It _ •• Died of wounds received at Dun- kcld. Stephenson ti n Captain Half-pay 1600 OUNN It tl *f II It WAL8H Capt.-Lt. 11 Capt.-Lt. If 11 GiLCIIBIST Lieut., ti Lieut. Stuart II 11 ,. • . ,, Killed atDunkeld Olipiiant tt It Dalzell »i It 11 Half-pay 1690 IICTCniXSON t* II II II ,1 Forrester tt tl tl II 11 Catucaht II II >i II II R ll 242 SUCCESSION OF OFPICEfiS OP Highest Rank in tht Date of First Reglnient or the Armj (• denotes the latter Removed, Datcr, of Died in the Regiment, &c. Names. Commluion in the Regiment. Promoted, or Exchanged Removal, Rank), Johnstone Lieut., 19 Apr. 1G8S « Win. Campbell .. If It Veitch n II Tate »> If Ballantise 11 II Blackader IJ tl Lt-Col. •• •• Viile Record, pp. 73 and 81. Calder tf II Clabke ft II Lieut Half-pay 1690 IIarkness ti II tl ft tf Stewart 19 II AlKEMAN .. II t9 It 11 11 Fairbokn If II Cranston EnsigDi II Prinole tf 91 BOVD »t ff Ensign II ff Ferguson »» 19 Campbell t? II 11 tl It J. Campuell • I ft Nesmyih It t» Lano It It Cleohorn It 91 II 99 tl Dennisto.t ft II Wilson ff 1» It It II Eirkland ti tl Wilson If f) ' HiSLOP II 99 jrCCLLOCK tt II 19 It Hay ti ff •' KilledatBlenheim 13 Aug., 1704. Stephenson 19 ft Ensign Half-pay 1690 youNO »• . 1689 91 II f 1 Fullarton Lt,.Col., 1G90 • • KiUeil at Stein- kirk. Or:sen Lieut., « FsRonsoN It 11 Halden 19 It SIathews"" ,. ,. If It Gilchrist Ensign, II And. Monro Colonel, I Aug. 1C9S Culonel • • •• Died in the Camp it Ilalle, Aug., 1G93. ■ J"*. Ferguson .. Lt.-Col.i II ft »., ", Half-pay 25 Aug. 1693iDied in Brabant. ■ •Br.-Gcn- ,, 1 Jan. 1704 13 Sept. 1706. ■ Livingstone ti 1704 ■ A. Caupbeij. Captain, II •• •• •• Killed at Bleu- 1 lieitn. 1 Smart »» n Lawson f9 II Blajor ^B A. Douglas Lieut., II ,, • f .. KiUedatBlenhoim 1 G. Seaton fi II 4 , ■ • ^ , MONCRIEFFS .. ,.j It 11 . • • • ,, ^H .Tas. Hay .. Ensign, II ^B Barnard ft If ^K M'Lean It II ^^B Ooilvy II 11 ■ V.ow II •1 ^m D, lrymple It II ^m Oliphant i It 11 ^m Marshall.. ..! It It ^B Earl of Stair .. ..[ Colonel, 1 Jan. nC6 Colonel •Lt.-Gen. and Drs. 1 Jane,I7(Ai ■ Denno.. Captain, 1706 Captain • • • t Killed at Hamil- 1 Uei. ■ Loi Stti FBI |«««*»i t '-,.• THE TWENTY-SIXTH OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 243 Xamcs. G. Pkeston Cbanston .. I-ord FoRnEsTEE SUAW Fbbston . . CoCKBDsN , Inolis Burnet Philip Anstruthee .Tohn Preston Kd. Saxdford Rob. Hastinqs .. John Scott William ANSTRnTiiEE L. DALnCNTBT .. \Y. B. Borough .. Duncan Campbell Dudley Teuplab . . Chas. PREST9II . . J. Leslie .. J, Stkomo . . W. Delaplace Kd. Thompson P. MONRBIEFFB .. Win. HicHARDsoN George C'jppaidoe Arch. Campbell .. Wm. Smibekt Rob. Thomas John Hat . . James Gordon ., Francis Stewart . . J. Livingston D. M' Donald Row. Swan I>ord Adam Gordon W. Drakefobd . . E.P. WiLLINOTON Prlns. HswETsoN.. TIlO. BoLTON Ale.x. Walker .. D. Anstrutueb . . John M'DoNALD .. Arch. Wadman . . Lord Lindoreb . . J. Dbummond Wra. Dacres P. Johnston B. Whitelock Hon. Charles Stuakt And. GoBLON DateofFlnt CommlMlon in the Hegimcut. Colonel, 24 Aug. 1706 Lt.-Col., 1709 n II Captain, „ II 11 Lieut., Ensign, Colontl, 3 May, 1720 Chapln., 23 Feb. Colonel, 26 Nov. Ensign, 8 Dec. Colonel, M Jan. Captain, 1 „ Lieut, 18 Feb. ,. 1 Apr. 1742 17'"-0 1763 1706 Qr.-Mas.,13 July, 1707 Lt.-Col., 7 Sept. 1768 Major, Ensifrn, Captain, 31 „ 25 Lieut., 2 „ 31 „ 25 ., 20 „ Ensign, 12 Jan. „ 2 Mar. „ 31 Oct. Oct. 1770 Dec. „ Mnr. ,, 1,1 II Oct. „ Dec. ,, Captain, 27 Jan. 1772 Lieut., IG Nov. „ CapUin, II May, 1774 Colonel ,17 Sept. 1775 Captain, 17 Aug. „ Lieut., 19 June, „ „ 17 Aug. „ Ensign, 19 June, „ „ 14 Aug. „ II ^5 ,, „ Captain, 21 Feb. 1776 Lieut., Easign, 22 23 I, 24 „ „ 31 Oct. Lt.-Co:.,2G „ Mi^c, 18 Jan. 1777 IliKhrst Unnk ill tli( llc|{hiiciit or the Army (" dciiotcM the Intter lUink). Colonel ♦Lt.-Gen, Lt.-C^l. II Captain •I Ensign Colonel ♦Lt.-Gen, •M.-Gen. Captain Lt.-Col. •Colonel Cap.*P..51 ♦Captain Lt.-Col. Major Captain Lieut. Captain ♦Major I, Lieut. Captain Lieut. II Ensign Lieut. Ensign Captain Lt.-Col. »M.-(!en. Ensign Lieut. Colonel •Lt.-Gen. Colonel ♦Lt-Gen. Removed, Promoted, or Exchanged R'^tired Sold out Retired 43rd r.Chi 17fliRegt Retired Retired II Retired 71st Regt. II Indep. Co. 3 1st Regt. Indep. Co. 77th Regt lOlstRegt. Datfso' Removal, &c. Died 111 the Regiment, & 1777 1805 1777 24 Apr. 1779 16 July. , 1779 1777 1779 1777 10 Oct 177f^ 14 Feb. 178'.; 28 Dec 177S 2 Feb. 1790 1 Slny, 1783 29 July, 1784 r^t -Governor of Edinburgh Cas- tle. Died 7 July, 1748, aged 88. Killed at Malpla- quet. Died of wounds received at Pres- tou,12Kov.l715. Killed at Malpla- quet, 1 1 ijcipt. 1709. 11N07. 1760. Died Dec. 1778. Died, 1806. KilledatFortCJin- ton, America, Oct. 1777. Died in 1801. 17 Apr. 1806. E 2 ■t !« 244 SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS OF IliKhost Rank in the Datcofllrst Itcffiniont Removed, Dates of Namet. Commission in the 01- tho Army rroniotc('., RemoTnl, Died In the Hcgiment. \* denotes the latter Ranli). or Kxchungcd. &c. Regiment, &c. John ANDBEt Captain, Jan. 181777 Captain 44th I?egt. 9 Sept. 1779;Exccuted in •Major America, 2 Oct. 1780. Wm. Myehs ., 19 1'eb. „ ♦Lt.-Gen. 15th Regt. 25 ,, 1803 Died 29July, 1805. Wm. DuFFE „ 9 Apr. „ Mil j or Retired 1783 J. Peltham Capt-Lt,, 7 Oct. „ Captain f) ) t Jas. FiTZOERAtD . . Lieut., „ Lieut. Wm. Keeling Ensign, 5 June, „ Ensign — MlLLAB Surg., 21 May, 1777 Surgeon Chas. GoBDON Captain, 8 Jan. 177» Captain Geo. Inmax Lieut., 29 June ,, Lieut. Half-pay 1787 Wm. Pemble „ 2 Nov. „ t* I04fhReKt. G May, 1 782 Henry Gage Captain, 24 Apr. 1779 Captain 99th Itegt. 17 Jan. 1783 Sir W. Andbe, Bt. „ G Sept. „ }i Retired 1783 Geo. DcKE » 10 „ „ «Lt.-Col. 65th Regt. Chas. Martin 11 14 ,, ,, Captain 99(h Regt, 8 Aug. 1782 Sir Jas. Affleck, Bt. .. 11 15 1, 11 ♦General IGthDrs. 6 June, ,, Pat Stuart Lieut., 1 Aug. ,, Lieut, Half-pay 1788 — Gbeen „ 1 Sept. .. Captain *Lt.-Col. Sold out 1799 Jam. Setok IGOct. , Lieut. H.Scott Ensign, 30 July „ Captain Walter Little » 1 Aug. „ Lieut. R. Elsden 11 9 „ ,, Ensign 101st Regt. 25 Aug. 1781 t This unfortunate officer was appointed second lieutenant in the 2;tid Royal Welsh Fusiliers, on the 2nd of April, 1771 ; and was promoted lieutenant in tlic 7th Royal Fusiliers, on the 24th of September, following. lie served during the gallant but unsuccessful defence of St. John's, and became a prisoner of war with the garrison and Its brave commander, 5Iajor Preston of the Cameronians (vule Record, p. 8G), in which regiment he obtained a company, on the 18th of January, 1777. Captain Andrd next served as aide-de-camp to Major-General Sir Charles (Earl) Grey, and subsequently on tlic staff of General Sir Henry Clinton, by Avhose influence he was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces serving under his comman-.l in North America. On the 9th of September, 1779, he was removed to the 54th Regiment; and on the 5th of August, of the following year, whilst lioUling this important statl' situation, he received the brevet rank of Major. The American liencral Arnold, who commanded a large force at West Point, having agreed to violate his trust. Major Andrd was selected by Sir Henry to carry on the secret correspondence. The latter having had an interview with the traitor, was, on his return, taken, and the papers found on his person led to his trial as a spy, by a Court-Martini, of which the celebrated Maniuis La Fayette was one of the members, and the decision was that he must, according to the laws of war, be hanged. Washington ha? been ccnsuiod for directing this ignominious death, but can scarcely be condemned in th^ matter, although the amiable (|ualities of Major Andre occasioned great commiseration for his unhappy fate, which was shared in by the members of the Court, who wept while sentence vas being passed upon him. Forty-one years afterwards, his remains M-ere disinterred, brought to England, and buried in Westminster Abbey, where a marble monument lias been erected to liis memory. The figures were cut by Van Gclder. On a moulded panelled bijseand plinth st^md a sarcophagus, on the panel of which isinscrilied: — "Sacred to the memory " of Major Andrd, who, raised by his merits, at an early period cf his life, to the rank of Adjutant-Genenil " of the Briti.sh Forces in America, and employed in an important but lia/.nrdous enterprise, fell a " sacrifice to his ze.al for his King and countr on the 2iid October, 1780, aged twenty-nine, universally " beloved and esteemed by the army in which he served, and lanioiitcd even by his foe.s. His gracious " Sovereign, King George III., has caused this monument to be creeled ;"— and, on the plinth : — " The " remains of the said Major Andrd were deposited, on the 28tli of November, 1821, in a grave near his " monument." The sarcophagus has projecting figures; one of them (with a Aug of truce) presenting to General Washington a letter which AndriS had addressed to his Excellency the night previous to his execution, worded thus: — "Sir, buoyed above tlie terror of death, liy the consciousness of a life " devoted to honourable purposes, and stained with no action which can give nie rci.orse, I tru.it that " the request which I make to your ICxcellency at this serious jieriod, and which is to soften i.-iy laht " moments, will not be rejected ; .■sympathy towards a soldier will surely induce your Excellency, and a " military tribuo'. ', to adopt the mode of my deatli to tlie feelings of a man of honour ; let me hope, Sir, *' that if auglit in my clianicter impresses you with esteem townrds me— if aught in my misfc^rtunes " marks me. as the victim of policy, and not of re^ iitiiient, I shall cxpericce the o] oration of those " feelings in your brea>t, by being inf.ii-med I am not to die on a gibbet. I have the honour to be, your " Excellency, John Audro, Adjutant of British Forces in America," THE TWENTY-SIXTH OB CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 245 ' Hiit tt 11 AaronTozEtt „ 18 May, „ Ensign Sir W. CocKUURN, Bt. .. i» ^^ %i i> tt 1st Regt. 1 Oct. 1783 Jolin Tidy 13 Oct. „ Lieut. Thos. H. Tidy Cliaplain,lGMay, 1781 Geo. Berry Ensign, 1.5 Sept. ,, Ensign B. ford Bowes . . „ 25 Oct. „ Lieut. *M.-Gen. Gth Regt. 1783 Killed atSalaman< ca, 25June,1812. Sir \Vm. Ebskine, Bt. . . Colonel, 10 May, 1782 Colonel ♦Lt.-Gen. •• •• Died 21 Mar. 1795. W. A. Byobave , . Captain, 10 Feb. „ Captain ♦Lt.-Col. G5th Regt. 2 Sept. 1795 John Clunes Jas. OoiLviE Ensign, a Jan. „ 11 <3 ,, ,) Ensign ft l Retired 1783 J{icll. UlMINQTON.. „ 12 Mar. „ Lieut. Half-pay 1786 lloltM'KENZIE .. It 13 „ „ Ensign 97tli Regt. 19 Sept. 1794 Chris. Davidson .. 28 May, „ Major , , Drowned, 1803. Jolin Cuawford .. 15 Oct. „ Ensign Tlios, Dalzeli, . . 11 f1 tt 50th Regt. 7 Sept. 1785 M. E. Lindsay Captain, 31 Dec. 1784 Captain ♦Ensign Indep. Co. 20 Feb. 1790 Sanil. Crooke Ensign, 19 Jan. „ Ensign 22nd Regt. 31 May, 1791 Hump. FosTEtt .. 29 July, ,, 11 W. WllEELBB 1 Oct. „ 1, C. Stuart Campbell, C.B. Qr.-Ma.s.,25Dee. „ Lt.-Col. ♦M.-Gen. 1st Foot 24 Jan. 1829 Died 30 August, 1854. M. MONEYPENNT . . Ensign, 30 Sept. 1785 Captain 78th Regt. G Aug. 1794 Jos. WiaOLESWOBlU t1 i| ,^ Half-pay 178G John Daniel „ 4 Jan. 1780 Ensign n. n. MlTCUELL . . Lieut., 23 May „ Lt.-Col. ♦Colonel 51st Regt. 25 Mar. 1811 Jas. Balfoob Ensign, 10 Apr. „ 'J'llOS. BOYES Lieut., 5 Feb. 1787 P.M.&Cap. Half-pay 1809 John Bainbbidge Ensign, 31 Mar. ,, Lieut. Indep. Co. 13 Aug. 1793 Wm. EitsKiNE Lieut., G June, 1788 *Lt.-Gen. 7tli Regt. 9 Jan. „ Jas. Ebskinb Ensign, 20 Feb. „ Ensign ♦Lt.-Gen. 7th Regt. 20 Feb. 1791 Ersk. Hope Captain, 20 Apr. 1789 Lt.-Col. Sold out ,, Dec. ISCi. Geo. Leason Ensign, „ Ensign J. Tlios. Eybb ,, 5 June ,, Lieut. 101st Regt 11 Mar. 1794 Hon. ny.SAFTON.. „ 19 May, 1790 Ensign Indep. Co. G Sept. 1793 E. J. J. Byno .. „ 18 Aug. „ 11 7th Regt. llMay, 1791 . Fred. Jones 2 Mar. 1791 Miijor ♦Lt.-Col. Half-pay Sold out 29June,172C Geo. Jones Lieut., 31 May „ Lieut. Indep. Co. 14 „ 1793 Jas. F. Ebskine .. Ensign, 16 Mar. „ 11 Scot. Brig. 21 Oct. 1795 Thos, Bait „ 13 July, „ Captain , , ISOG. Jus. SIillar ,, 20 Nov. „ Ensign Jephson G. Forth „ 2 Apr. 1793 Captain , , , , March, 1809. Goo. Billinghurst „ 4 Sept. „ Ensign 7thLt.Drs. 11 Aug. 1794 Pat. M'Neight . . l» ^' It t» Lieut. 93rd Regt. 3 „ 1796 Jas. Lloyd ,. 8 Oct. „ Ensign U. M. Scott f, 10 1, ,« It Gth Regt. 7 Oct. 1794 Ed. 0. Eybe „ 1 Mar. 1794 Captain ♦Lt.-Col. H. Guards John MiDGT.ET „ 12 Nov. „ Ensign Hild. 0AKE8 Lt.-Col., 1 Sept. 1795 Lt.Col. •Lt.-Gen. •• •• Died9 Sept 1323. W. GlFFORD Captain, 30 Dec. „ Captain ♦Lt.-Col. 43rd Regt. • 1 . ' ' ' 246 SUCCES8I0N OF OFFICERS OF mK mm < Captain , , , , died Aug. 1809. O. H. DUNDAB (« It 11 Sold out J. Camtbili. Ueut, „ Ueut. ■• 1 • Drowned, 35 Dec. 1805. ' -WDAIHIL^'^^.Ai.:'^ THE TWENTY-SIXTH OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 247 lIlKhcst Ilank in the Namei. Date of First CommUsIon In the lletflnncnt. llcifiment or the Army (• dcnotoD the lutter Removed, Promoted, or Exchanged Dates of llcmovnl, &c. Died In tho llcglmeut, he. lliink). •T, ZOBEU Ueut., 9 July, 1803 Captain 66th Regt. July, 1811 — M'MaiiAa If If ,1 Sold out 7 Mar. 1814 C. li. Mabshau .. Lieut. ,^ Drowned, 25 Dec. James Crampton . . 90th Regt. 1808. Charles Ubant . . II t» Captain . * Died at Gibraltar, 23 Sept 1814. Edw. WniTTr « tt ♦Mijor Half-pay 12 June, 1826 Dled.lGDec.lsan, at Calcutta. Charles Addison . . It It Captain ♦Major Half-pay 1817 D. DOOLITTLE „ tl Lieut. H. Oalneavis 11 ft ,t 27th Regt. Sept 1804 W. UsowNB Lieut, 31 Dec. n II , , Drowned, 25 Dec. J. DUNDAS. . Ensign, 9 July, »i It 180.'). J. Chbistie If li. HAQOEBSTO^'E .. II II Captain 27th Regt. 25 Mar. 1810 — Hamilton It It Lieut. Gth Drags. 1805 J. ClARKE 11 tt It 93nl Uegt. 1800 Wm. Bygbave . . If II 11 81st Regt. 1805 Wm. Hopkins II 2.5 Aug. ti J. SCAULAB II 25 Oct. ft Wm. ClIAETBES . . If 22 Nov. i» Captain ♦Major Portg. Ser. 11 July, 1811 John Ogilvie 11 16 Feb. 1804 Captain P. PlM Captain , 15 June, • t It Half-pay 1810 • ' ' Ar. Abmstronq . . As.-Sur. , 14 May, 91 Burgeon tt 1814 F. Livingstone . . Ensign, 1 June, It Lieut. ♦Captain 90th Regt. 1800 R. Dawson As.-Sur. ,21 „ 11 As,-Sur. 3dGr.Batt. tt AV. Mayben ,. 11 )t 1) Half-pay 1814 Jas. Nasu II 14 May, 11 11 John CONNELL Qr.-Mas. t tt Qr.-Ma?. , , , , Died, 23 Aug. 1812 John Bbooks Ensign, 3 Aug. It Captain Sold out 1822 — Snow II 4 ,. tl Ensign 11 Joseph Smith 11 28 „ tt Captain iOth Regt. 1814 And. Lett ,1 5 Oct. • 1 It n. Vet. Ba. 1810 Sampson Fbitii . . Major, 27 Mar. tt Major ♦Colonel R. L. Paekeb Lieut, 14 May, »« Lieut. Creo. Ubbiot >f 6 July, II It ♦Captain Thos. L. '""K tf 6 ., It It Sold out Thos. Hv-'JJS .. _ .. P.'Mas., 29 Aug. It Pay-Mas. R. Ibeland . . ' . . 1, 22 Oct. 11 F. Sheabman Ensign, 14 May, tl Captain^ 11 Nov. 1817 Jas. Stedman II It tl Half-pay 1817 Joseph K CNN It 11 Lieut. , , . , Killed atConinna. Thos. Thomson' . , II a Apr. II It , , .. aOct 1813. Rob. Smith l» 4 n tl II IstFoot Half-pay 11 July, 1816 Diedl8.Scpt.180I L. Chevebs It lAug. 1805 11 •• Killed atCorunna, 16 Jan. 1809. Edw. Ddpbe It 2 „ It ft 9Gth Regt July, 1810 John Wkstlakb . . ti 12 Sept. i> Captain 50th Regt. 1828 Jas. Dunn It 8 Oct. n II Half-pay 1821 Thos. Mubbat II 10 „ It •1 M 1825 Hamilton Maxwell If 30 Jan. 1806 Lieut. 42nd Regt, 19 May, 1812 J. Shearman II 19 Feb. •> 11 02nd Regt. Nov. 1800 Jas. Hebvet H 20 „ It tt 22nd Regt. „ 1807 Thos. 0. Mabsbam 11 27 „ n tt 3 On. Batt 11 It John Law If 13 Mar. It It Sold out 1809 MaL Mole f f 3 Apr. It It 1st Rfgt Aug. 18<17 Geo. PiPON tt 17 „ tt Major 6 Dr. Gds. 7 Mar. 181'J H.McLatcuu .. It 19 Jnne, tl Captain 8Arr. 1825 Died at Jfeerut, 26 June, 183.3. John Elliot Qr.-Mas. ,20 Feb. It Qr.-Maa R. V. B. 1808 H. Mebsitbb 8arg., 10 Apr. '1 .. .. • • I8U9. I! 248 SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS OF Higheat Karnes. Date of First CuniniiKSlun iu the Uegiiucnt. Hank in the Itcginicnt or the Amiy (" denotes the hitter llemovtil, Promoted, or Kxehongcd. nates of llcmuvul, Died in tho UcKlmont, &c. Ituak). Henry JIaxweli . . Ensign, 19June,l80C Lieut. Died of wounds. Walcheron.Sept. 1809. J. E. Hunt Lieut, 3G Feb. It 11 7th Regt 1807 P. E8PT ., 27 „ If 19 , , , , Dismissed the Ar. Ulake 2 Apr. II 19 Superseded Service. Geo. Platt 9» 3 ,1 II f 1 Sold out 1813 AV. II. Veboo .. „ 9 Oct • * ♦Cap'tain GOth Itcgt 1810 H. C. E. V. GriAHAM .. Capt., C Mar. 11 "Lt-Col. GGth Regt. 18 Juno, 1811 Hugh Law Ensign, 20 Nov. M Lieut. , , September, 1809. Donald M'CoLMAN „ 4 Dec. 1* M Half-pay 1817 A.C.Hope „ 8 Jan. 1807 El sign Rifle Brig. 1808 Jesse Collins M 15 II |l Lie:'t J. Q. Short Surg., „ Surgeon ♦Dep.-Ins. F. C. IIeatlet . . Ensign, 18 Mar. II Lieut. •Captain 50th Regt. 8 Apr. 182.5 Rob, Robertson ., „ 19 ,. II Lieut. Ilalf-pay 1827 J. Maxwell 30 Oct. 19 ,1 .. , , 19 Sept 1823. A. V. Taylor Mnjor, 29 „ II Major Sold out 1810 Died at Gibraltar. Thos. Best Capt, 20 Nov. II Captain ,. , , GOct 1813. Colin Campbell , , Ensign, 17 Dec. 11 Lieut Hugh Pollock . . ., 31 „ It Pay- Mas. Thos. Archer ft 11 Ensign Hon. H. Mdrray . . Major, 26 Nov. II Major ♦Lt.-Col. 18 Lt Dra. 2 Aug. 1810 Thos. E. SCARISBEICKS . . Lieut., „ Lieut Sold 1807 W. Keaky Ensign, 11 Feb. 1808 ti ♦Captain 5 Dr. Gds. 25 Oct 1310 W. Lawrie ,, 18 „ 11 Lieut , , Taken alCorunna W. Johnstone . . „ 25 „ 11 Major •Lt-Col. •• 26 May, 1841 Died on passage from China, 19 Oct 1843. J. F. Ross .. 2r. „ 1* Lieut Half-pay 19 Oct. 1818 P. J. Robertson . . 12 May II 19 J. Wright Lieut., 3 Aug. II 19 Sold out S. Lowcay »i 5 »» 91 91 •• • • Dismissed the Service. H. Roberts 7 ., •1 It , , • • 30 July, 1824. J. Ckotty 9 „ n II Superseded Ed. Jordan •. 10 „ 91 11 Half-pay Oct 1817 John Marshall . . »t « ' »l 91 Captain 2W.LReg. , , 12 March, 1829. Thos. Hay Ensign, 8 „ It Lieut. ♦Captain •• 2 June, 1814 J. Kirk i» 9 »» 11 Lieut Half-pay Geo. Bray 10 „ 91 ♦Captain 5 Dra. Gds. yOFeb. 1812 J. GniMSRAW .. II .. It Lieut. 103rd Regt 7 Mar. 1811 G. W. Charleton „ 29 Dec. II II •• •• Waleheren, 13 .Sept. 1809. E.J. White „ 30 Mar. 1809 •Captain 70th Regt 25 Mar. 1811 F.R. Masters .. ,, 25 Apr. «f Lieut. , , , , 29 Nov., 1814. Robt. ROBSON .. 26 „ 1) 11 •Captain Half-pay 30 Apr. 1826 A. Aenott ., 27 „ fi Lieut. II Pat Carroli. Surg., 11 May, i» Surgeon • ■ Of fever, Wa' ^he- ron, 25 Sept 1809 G. Anderson Ensign, 25 „ II Ensign . , 1811 Died in Portugal. J. Wilkinson „ 22 June ti Lieut. Sold out 1813 AV. Lafokest P.-Mas., 3 Aug. II Pay-Mas. Resigned ^ 11 Tlios. Taylor Ensign, 26 „ II Lieut. Half-pay 25 Oct 1814 J. B. Taylor Surgeon, 12 Oct. n Surgeon •• •• Died at Gibraltar, 1 Oct 1813. Tho. SuBrsBAAD ,. .. Captain, 9 Not. II Captain .. • • a „ 1814. THE TWENTY-S.XTH OK CAMEEONIAN REQIM; .NT. 249 IlifflieHt Uauk in the Kamei. Unto of First Comniiiuiion in the Ueglmciit. Kcginicnt or the Army (• denotes the liittir Uniik). Keniovcd, tromuted, or Exchanged. Dates of llenioval, «(C. Died In tho Ucglment, Uv, T.W. Botes Ensign, 16 Nov. 1809 Lieut. Paymaster 2 March, 1829. , \V. Qbaham „ 24 May, 1810 It IR.Vet.Bt. isis D. Br-ACK „ 26 July, „ It Half-pay 25 Oct. 1814 L. W. Otwat, Bart. Miijor, 2 Aug. „ MnJor ♦Colonel JaS. LOWEET Captain, 30 „ „ Captain 40th Regt. 14 Mar. 1811 r' M. roTNTON Adjutant, 4 Oct. „ Lieut. ♦Captain Retired Rob. VVrixon Lieut., 25 „ „ Lieut. Half- pay J. Kyle Ensign. 29 Nov. „ Captain .50tli Regt. 3 Sept. 1824 Lord BELnAVEN . , „ 24 Jan. 1811 Lieut. ♦Captain As.-Snr. 2LifeGd8. John Pebkins Aa-Sur.,U Mar. ,, Half-pay 25 Oct. 1814 , . •. James Bbadt „ 19 Dec. „ ♦Surgeon 2nd Foot 30 July, 1829 ' Wni. Ross Ensign, „ Lieut. Half-pay 25 Oct. 1814 B. Jackson „ 11 July, „ Ensign R. Stff.Cps. 23 Oct. 1811 J. M'Entaoekt .. Captain, 18 „ „ Captain Half-pay 1814 J. M. Edoab Lieut., 8 Aug. „ Lieut. M II Maurice Mahokt.. Ensign, 17 Oct. „ Ensign . 4 Died at Gibraltar, 30 Sept. 1813. Win. Ross, jun 11 31 II i> Lieut. •Captain R.A.Corps. 24 June, 1814 : ■.-..■■■.-. . . W. II. Scott Captain. 28 Nov. „ Captain Half-pay 25 Oct. 1814 Tlios. Cldbbe Ensign, ^3 Jan. 1812 Ensign •• 19 May, 1814 Died at Gibraltar, a Dec. 1813. Ed. Waener Mn'(v . »" „ Major ♦Lt.-Col. Ilalf-pny 25 Oct. 1814 •;..•'.' • ■ , ; J. FARQDHAnsON ,. ''' ' ■ ' II II MiOor , , , , May, 1820. AV. Beetham II ■" II ii Captain ♦Major Captain Half-pay 8 April, 182G , , J. HOGO 11 30 „ ,, It 24 „ 181(1 8erJ. Buchanan .. Qr.-Mas., C Feb. ,, Qr.-Mas. ♦Knsign 2Vet.Batt. 1821 M. M'DONOUQH .. Ensign, 13 „ „ Lieut. Half-pay * • : ,, ' t ■ L Wm. Clakke II 7 May, „ »i II — TORBENS „ 4 June, ,» Ensign Portg. Ser. 25 Oct. 1814 i .4 " . ; ' Flem. Smith II II liieut. Half-pay »i r ■■ • - ■ ■ , Hon. H. R. Pakenham .. Lt.-Col., 3 Sept. „ Lt.-Col. 3rd Ft.Gds. 25 July, 1814 ; ■ ■ . ■ ' ' ■ ► J. Laidlaw Ensign, 24 „ „ Lieut. Half-pay 27 Sept. 1833 J. W. Geaham .. 12 Nov. „ \\ 2Vet.Batt. Al. Caldee „ 3 Dec. „ ♦Captain Half-pay -. G. G. L'ESTEANOE Lt.-Col., 10 „ Lt.-Col. 31st Regt 8 June, 1815 Simon Neul Captain, 28 Jan. 1813 Captain 72nd Regt. — M JLLEE Qr.-Mas., 4 Feb. „ Qr.-Mas. , , , , 20 Feb., 1813. Chas. King Ensign, 25 „ „ insign — M'Gr.EGOE Qr.-Mas., 1 1 Mar. „ Qr.-Mas. , , 26 May, 1825. Clias. Babe Ensign, 8 April, ,, Knsign Jas. Ddnlop Ciiptain, 13 May, „ Captiiin , , • ■ IG June, 1814. Earl (if Daluousie Colonel, 21 „ „ Colonel ♦General •• •• 27 Mar. 1839. Robt. Maxwell .. Ensign, 6 Aug. „ Lieut. llLt.Drag. 24 Oct. 1821 j A. G. BoYEs 9 Dec. „ 11 64th Regt. — Jeffbey Captain, 25 Dec. „ • • Only temporary rank, and re- duced 25 Oct. 1814. A. CCMUINGS Ensign, 27 Jan. 1814 It Half-pay 25 Oct. 1814 . ■; 5!, T. S. Pbatt II 2 Feb. „ Lt.-Col. Dy.As.Gen. 6 Sept. 1843 Madnis H. Babinotoit .. II 3 ,« ,, Captain Half-pay •^v ■ .> -> R. Cabbotbers . , ,. 19 May „ Ensign 2nd Regt. 25 Jan. 1825 James Foot .. „ 11 Aug. „ II Half-pay 25 Feb. 18 lit W. Glennie , . H M II II „ 1817 J. C. Bbownb „ 9 Nov. „ M II 14 May, 1818 Thomas Tbipp .. Captain, 14 Sept. 1816 Captain Sold out 1822 260 SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS OF Hlsheit lUnL in the ' ' NamM. Date of First Commlialon In Uio Uegimcnt. UrKlmrnt or tliu Army * denotes he latter llank). llemoTed, Promoted, or Exchanged. Dales of llcmoval, Died In the Heglment, , „ Captain P.M.C4Rgt. ,: -.i J. Maulg „ SOSept. I81!» *MoJ."&Lt Col, Half-pay 12 July, 1826 fl 1 W. N. SiTW ELL .. Ensign, 20 Apr. 1820 Captain ft 23 Mar. 1832 .. ,. - ', J. Bkooksbank . . Captain. 20 Oct. „ It tl 24 Dec. 1825 W.E.Hat Ensign, 10 May. 1831 Ensign If 10 May, 1821 p. p. Bbbhaut .. „ ^88 Mar, 1822 Captain •• 20 Oct. 1825, on passage to Europe Geo. PiooT „ 25 Sept. „ Lieut 90th Regt, 13 Apr. 1826 n. E.Rich „ I'J Aug. 1824 ♦Captain Half-pay ' Lord JUiisAT „ 25 Jan. 1825 Lieut. •Captain D. Perston Surg,, 17 Feb. „ Lieut • • , , 27 Oct. 1832. Mat M'lNNES Lieut,, 8 Apr, „ Captain 4tliLtDra. IS Feb. 1839 i>... . Jos. Fbaser f« II It 1, 55th Regt. 20 Feb. 1835 Jas. PlQOOT II ° II It 1, StHel.Rgt. 15 Mar. 1844 D. C. Campbell . . Ensign, 8 „ „ Ensign •• ■• Reslgned,20Juno, 1825. JohnMADLK II " II II Lieut, Geo. SlNCLAIB . . Lieut, „ „ It Half-pay 24 Nov. 1825 R. M'DONALD Ensign, 7 „ „ Ensign 3rd Regt. 20 June, „ ;.-•! •« ..A\ \V. Hodoebs Qr.-Mas., 18 May, „ Qr.-Mas, Half-pay 1 May, 1828 I J. R. Yebnon Ensign, 30 June, „ Lieut C9th Regt. O It M -k; ■■•I'- ' ■' ' T. J. Campbell . . „ 21 July, ,„ Ensign •Lieut 46th Regt. 1 „ 1830 > ■ ■ . '.'. / * W. Haqabt 17 Sept. ,„ , , Half-pay 13 July, 1826 »■;< .',' i 'J J, Guthrie It 29 Oct. „ Lieut. II 9 July, 1829 An. M' Donald .. Lieut, 24 Not. ,„ II 11 t, if .1 1 '*7 A. D. Collet Ensign, 11 Feb. 18 26 Lieut. •Captain Ex.llFoftt 26 „ 1828 0. P. Bowles Captain, 8 Apr. ,, It Half-pay 29 June, 1826 C. W. Thomas . . Lieut, 13 „ „ Lieut. tl 30 Aug. „ Geo. HOOAHTH Captain, 18 May, ,, Major •Lt.-Col. • • Died at Quebec, 25 July, 1854. W. Stewakt „ 8 June, „ Captain 71st Regt. 31 Aug. 1826 J. Pbinqlb Major, 29 „ Major Half-pay 29 „ „ Thomas Si:;cco: I .. 2G ., Ensign, 26 „ » 26 >. .. 24 .. Qr.-Mas., 1 May, Lieut., 8 ,, Ensign, 19 Aug. Lieut., 3 Dec. ,, 24 Jan. 1829 Ensign, 31 „ „ 1 Feb. „ Lt.-Col., 24 Jan. „ Ensign, 13 Mar. „ „ 23 Jan. „ Major, 25 Dec. 1828 Ensign, 10 Oct 1829 „ 25 Jane, „ Lieut., 29 Oct. „ Ensign, 13 Mar. „ Lieut, 19 Nov. „ Ensign, 15 June, 1830 Captain, 10 Mar. „ Lieut, 13 .„ ,, I May „ „ 14 Oct „ Ensign, 30 June, 1831 „ 26 Apr. 1832 As.-Sur., „ „ 26 0'?t 1830 ,. 3 Deo. 1830 Ensign, 10 ,t Surgeon, 13 Mar. Lieut, 9 Dec. Ensign, 20 Jan. Captain, 23 Mar. Ensign, 5 May, 1831 1831 1832 Lieut n A8.-Surg. Lieut. Captain „ Lieut. Captain Lieut. Ensign Pay.-Mas. Captain Lieut Captain Ensign Lt-Col. •Colonel Lieut. Lt.-Col. ♦Colonel Ensign Lieut Lieut. Captain Ensign •Lieut. Captain Lieut. Ensign As.-Sur. Lieut. Surgeon Pay ilas. Ensign Captain Ensign Ilcmoved, Promutcd, or Kzchanged, Half-pay AdJ.TGUex. l3Lt.Drug. Retired Ilalf-pay 1st Royal 21st Regt Half-pay Capt.Unatt 88th Foot 38 th Regt. 51st Rogt. 96th Foot Half-pay 1 5 Lt Drag. 29th Regt. Half-pay Unattachd, 39th Regt. 2W.I.Regt 62nd Regt 63rd Regt, t6th Regt 3rd Regt The Staff ULtDrag 4 Lt. Drag. Staff Surg, Half-pay 63rd Regt, 41st Foot 15 Feb. 1830 26 „ 1828 26 Oct 1830 15 Sept 1832 18 Mar. 25 Apr. 29 Oct 1 1 Sept. 24 Mar. 19 Aug. 7 Oct. 12 Sept Uat08 of IlemoTRl, So. 1830 1845 1829 183.5 1837 1828 1830 1843 22 May, 1846 13 Feb. 1835 15 June, 1849 8 Mar. 1848 4 Sept 1843 15 Feb. 1839 5 May, 1832 24 July, 1835 19 Aug. 1842 27 Nov. 1835 1833 II Jan. 1838 24 Mar. 1837 7 June, 1844 18 Aug. 1843 J20 Sept 1833 12? Oct. 1833 Died in the Ilcglment, Sc. Cashiered, Nov. 1830. Madras Road, 24 Feb. 1837. 9 Dec. 1844, at Restward. On passage from China, 14 June, 1841. Appointment cancelled. Appointment cancelled. Appointment cancelled. Appointment cancelled. Died at Urrool, 16 Oct. 1833. 3 Oct 1833. Appointment cancelled. Appointment cancelled. Exchanged to the 11th Lt.Drag., cancelled 2 Feb. 1838. To 45th Regt. 23d Nov. 1838. 12 April, 1835, at Landour. 252 V' SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS OP Namot. R. C. Hamond A. H. Dernabd .. William Sknuouse Christopher Savage A. F. Evans Thomas Trice John W, Johnstone ChllleyPiNB Henry Edoab n. U. S. Hutchison William Caine . . James Patebson . . John M 'Daniel .. Edmund P. Gilbert Charles Cameron.. Walter B. Park . . Marcus Beresford Dobson YouNO . . William L. Uobson Hon. W. G. Osborne W. E. F. Barnes . . Donald Robertson Joseph Goodfellow William T. Setts .. Wm. H. James . . William Maule .. George Sweeney . . John RoDOERa Edw. B. Pabkeb . . John Miller Chas. S. Teale . . James W. Grtles Wm. Postlethwaite Arthur Wood, M.D. John CuMMiNO . . Sir John Colborne George Mtlius . . Eyre Ltnch Richard Palmer Sharp Alfred Rob. Mabqabt Henry B. Phipps . . Wm. G. Dace, M.D. Fred. IIotemde.; , . nntc of First CummiHalun in tlie Uegimoiit. orlficArmyl I'roinotcl, Kiuik in the UcifimeMt llcniovcd. (• dunutcs tlip Inttcr llanlt). or I'xcliangod. Lieut., 28 Sept. 183'i Ensign, 13 Nov. „ Captain, 15 Feb. 1833 Ensign, 19 Apr. , „ 10 May, , „ 21 May, , ,. 31 Mar. , As.-Sur.,30 Aug. , Ensign, 27 Sept. , Lieut, 23 Oct. , Captain, 27 „ , ,, 31 Dec. „ Ensign, 14 Feb. „ Lieut, 28 Mar. 1834 Ensign, IG May , „ 26 Dtc. , Lt.-Col., 13 Feb. 1835 Captain, 20 Feb. 1835 Ensign, 24 July, , 11 Sep. , Lieut., 24 July, , UDec. , Qr.-Mas., 25 Sept. , Ensign, 24 Nov. , „ 25 Doc. , Lieut., 12 Oct. I83G Ensign, 25 Nov. , „ 31 Mar. 1837 „ 1 July, „ Lieut., 24 Mar. „ „ 30 June, „ ., 7 July „ Ensign, 1 1 Aug. ,. A8.-Sur., U Jan. 1838 Ensign, 23 Sept. 1837 Colonel, 28 Mar. 1838 Captain, 2 July, , Lieut., II May, , Ensign, 18 „ , „ 26 June, , „ 17 Aug. , As.-Sur., 23 Nov. , Captain, 15 Feb. 1839 Lieut. Ensign Captain Ensign Lieut. En:iign Captain As.-Sur. •Surgeon Captain Lieut. Bt.-MaJ. ♦.Mulor Major Lieut. Lieut. Captain Lieut. *Captain Lt.-Col. Captain Lieut. Qr.-Mas. M^or Ensign Lieut. Captiun Ensign Lieut. A8.-'sur. Lieut. Colonel Lieut. ,, Ensign •Lieut. Lieut. As.-Sur. Captain •Major C7th Foot 12th Foot Sold out 58th Regt. Sold out 3ist Foot Unattachd 04th Regt. Sold out Unattachd. 3rd Regt. 2gth Regt. Retired 3rdLt.Dra, Retired 10th Regt, 88th Foot Dates of lU'Uioval, 29 Oct. 1833 31 Dec. 1833 1839 15 Nov. 1838 1833 12 Dec. 1843 21 Jan. 1855 12 Oct. 183b 29 Nov. 1844 30 Apr. 1847 28 Apr. 1854 iSJune, 1849 25 Dec. 1835 17 Apr. 1843 27 Sept. 1842 30 June, 1837 27 Feb.' 1243 5 Nov. 1861 Died In the Ilcglment, tic. 3 July, 1834, a Mccrut. Died at Montreal, C.E.7July,l8ft8. GGth Foot 4th „ Sold out 4th Foot 2 Life Gds. Town Maj. • 'in.H.. , anat. Retired 72nd Regt. 54tli Regt, 8Gth Foot Retired 30 June, 1837 7 July „ 27 Dec. 1838 2 Feb. 1844 24 Mar. 1854 At Chusan, 27 Nov. 1840. At Shigapcre, on board the "De- flanco,"23dMay, 1840. Promotion can- celled, 11 Aug. 1837. Never joined. At Fort William, 22 Jan. 1838. 4 April, 1838, at Fort William. At sea, on passage to England, 11 July, 1841. Retired 14 Oct. 1851. At Fort William, 6 Aug. 1838. Appointmentcan- cclled by G. 0. of 27th June, 1838. 22 Feb. 18E0 18 May, 1838 16 Dec. 1840 18 Feb. 1842 22 Feb.* 1839 At Hwjg Kong. THE TWENTY-SIXTH OR CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 253 HiKhoit Rank In the ' DatcofFlntt UrRlnipnt Itcniovcd, Dates of Npme*. Commliiiilon In the or the Army rromuted, Kcmovnl, Ulcd In the Ilrgimcnt. / ilcnnlc* the latter .Uank). or F.xchangcd, &.-. UrglBicnt, Ac. Alex. a. MOORUEAD Lieut., IS Feb. 1839 Lieut. Adjt. Of a Recruiting district. 6 Feb. 1846 Alex. MlLLKB Ensign, 15 Mar. „ It 22nd Foot 17 Nov. 1843 Albany F. Wallace T) April, „ Captain 7th Foot 1 Oct. 1847 . - , Win. Lo Poor Fbench . . Lieut., 14 June, „ Retired i Maurice Cane Ensign, 14 „ „ ., Hob. C. Jones !) Aug. „ Lieut. 2and Regt. 23 Aug. 1844 Edward G. Wihttt „ 29 Nov. „ tl 25th Regt. 26 Apr. „ Oaskin Andeiison 8 May, 1840 .1 • . Henry L. Btrne .. ,, *" t» n . Clias. IF. UiiYS .. Ensign, 2G June, 1840 Lieut. .Sold out 19 May, 1840 Robert Svnqe 20 Oct. „ Ensign Half.pay 18 Oct. 1843 R K. De MoNTMOIiENCIB , . 17 Nov. „ ti 7lh R. Fus. 12 Jan. 1844 ■.' 11. 1). Williams .. Llout., 16 Dec. „ •_ Darth. O'Bhien . . 1* 11 Cliarles DoPEKiEB Ensign, 29 Dec. „ ff 80th Reg. 26 July, 1844 Win. W. Tt;RNEK .. „ 19 Feb. 1841 Half-pay 4 Sept. 1843 Horatio De Quinct „ 30 Apr. „ Fcrd. WllITTISGHAU Captain, 18 May, „ Major ♦Lt.-Col. Unatt. 29 Aug. 1856 John Piper Lieut., „ Lieut. Cashiered 14 Oct. 1843 John U. Brush .. As.-Sur., 8 June, „ As.-Sur. St.lIcl.Cps. 4 Aug. 1843 liob. M. Dickens , . Ensign, 18 „ „ Lieut. R.Can.Rtis. 26 „ 1853 . m Patrick Duff Lieut., 23 July, „ », Retired 12 Nov. 1847 Geo. N. Bredin . . Ensign, 6 Aug. „ Ensign 14th T.Reg. 30 Sept. 1843 y '_. C.S. J. Wallace.. 3 Dec. „ Lieut. 25th Reg. 3 Jan. 1845 ■ . G. W. JI. 1/OVETT . . Lieut., 18 Feb. 1842 »» Half-pay 26 Oct. 1843 Fran. J. Cresswell Ensign, 27 Sept. „ n Retired 19 Mar. 1H47 Jacob G. JIouNTAiN 2!> Oct. „ Lt. & Adjt. •• •• Died at Gibraltar, 17 June, 1850. Sir G. F. R. Walker, Bt 27 Dec. „ Ensign ColdNt.Gds. 28 Mar. 18H Chnrles Daines . . Qr.-Ma.s.,27 Feb. 1843 Qr.-Mas. Half-pay 2 Apr. 1847 .1 ' ' '. ■ . " Bernard G. Latard Captain, 17 Apr. „ Captnin Half-pay 15 Mar. 1830 ■ • ■ .1 Francis Carey , . „ 12 Sept. „ Lt.-Col. ♦Colonel n 25 July, 1865 ^ . rt liob. C. Cbaioie . . P. -Mas., 3 Nov. „ P.-Mas. To a Dis- trict 23 Oct. 1856 , - . Artiiur A. Longmork . . Lieut., 17 „ „ Captain Retired 11 May, 18.58 Kenneth Menzies As.-Sur ,12 Dec. „ As.-Sur. Resigned 23 Feb. 1844 Retired.lUhMay, 1855. W.M.Campbell.. Lieut., 2 Feb. 1844 Lieut. 2W.LReg. 9 Apr. 1847 Tliomas W. Andrews .. Ensign, »» Retired 15 Nov. 1850 William IIornb, M.D. . . As.-Sur., 23 Feb. „ As.-Sur. Staff Sur. 13 Nov. 1846 ; , • 2nd class Fred. N. Skinner Captain, 15 Mar. „ Captain Half-pay 55th Foot 4 Apr. 1845 Rich. W. Clebk Ensign, 12 Apr. „ Major •• •• Drowned at Fort Goraer, near Gos- , port, 3Apv. 1864 H. E. S. Rodterd Lieut, 26 „ „ Lieut. Retired 22 Dec. 1846 John Stewart . . Surgeon, 25 June, „ Surgeon Removed .13 July, 1847 to the Staff Charles E. Pbeston Ensign, 26 July, „ Lieut. Pay.-.AIas. ISthR.Irish > Thomas Andrews Lieut., 23 Aug. „ Ciiptain Retired 30 Mar. IShb ' ■ .■ , // A. E. G. Sinclair Ensign, 20 Dec. „ Lieut. 91.st Foot 29 nee. 1848 - ' Charles E. Blackett . . 21 Doc. „ »♦ 93rd Foot 4 May, 1849 Bertie M. Roberts Lieat., 3 Jan. 1845 Captain Rellrcd 30 Mar. 1855 t ' ■ .:■ I David II. Blair .. Ensign, 4 Apr. „ Lieut. 94 th Regt. 31 Dec. 1847 George Fbend Captain, 25 „ „ Captain ♦Major Retired 30 Oct. 1354 .1 t Willm. J. D'Ubban Major. 16 Dec. „ »» Half-pay 31 July, 1846 -. ■/:■.''■ A Wm. R. Bell En.sign, 19 May, 1846 Ensign Sold out 2 Mar. 1849 'i'-'- ^ ■»,-! . ;> -I Wm. S. Nicholson Captain, 22 „ „ Captain 7 Apr. 1854 fv-^-.jrit ".***^^jrv» Henry J. No\es .. Ensign, 26 June, „ Lieut. Retired 22 Nov. 1850 k Rodney Mtlics .. „ 14 Aug. „ n Sold out 26 Mar. 18521 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k / 7. % 1.0 I.I 11.25 lllll^ 2.0 ^ JA mil 1.6 V] «^ /2 A V >^ Q, & k X 254 SUCCESSION OF OFFICERS OF Highest Kamet. BateofFlnt OominlMion in the Rank In the UcKiracnt or the Army Hcmovcd, Promoted, Dates of Kemornl, Died in the Uegimeut. (• denotes the latter or Exchanged. Sic. Uegimeat,&c Hank). Dnncan MAciNTrmE As.-Sar.,27 0ct 1846 As.-Snr. Rtaflf 27 Oct 1848 Henry V. Stbwabi Ensign, 32 Dec. „ Ensign Sold out 15 „ 1847 Wm. E.Thomas .. „ 19 Mar. 1847 Lieut. )» 6 Dec. 1851 Cbas. Kent Qr.'Mas., 3 Apr. „ Qr.-Mas. Half-pay 3 Oct 1857 Chamb. HiMCHLim Ensign, 9 „ „ Lieut. C4th Rcgt. Retired 21 May, 1850 W. D. Davenpobt MnJor, 30 ., „ MiOor 30 Sept. 1847 James Johhstonb Surgeon, 13 July, „ Surgeon Resigned 3 Feb. 1848 W. E. Wallace .. Ensign, 1 Oct. „ • • 7th R. Fus. 9 Not. 1849 J. B. YocNo »i 15 „ n • • 85th Regt. 9 Feb. „ S. W. F. M. Wilson „ 13 Nov. „ Ensign 83rd Rcgt. 11 May, „ R. T. Hbabn Lieut., 31 Dec. „ Lieut. Appointed P.-Mas. 76th Rcgt. Resigned 30 Sept 1861 W. A. Heue, M.B. Surgeon, 4 Feb. 1848 Surgeon 18 Oct. 1849 A. T. Heuthux .. Lt.-Col., 8 Mar. „ Lt.-Col. •M.-Gen. Half-pay 29 June,1860 Died at Dublin, Mar. 30, I8G3, in command of tho Ist Infantry Bri- gade at the time of his decease. Appointed Brig- adler-General,29 June, 1860. Predk. Claxke .. A!«.-Sur.,17 0ct. „ As.-Sur. 23th Regt. 30 Mar. 1849 Wm. HopsoN Captain, 1 Dec. „ Major Retired 7 Jan. 18.^8 « Count Geo. Rivahola . . Lieut., 29 „ „ Lieut. »i 3 Aug. 1840 Fredk. TRisTLrrHWATTS Ensign, Feb. 1840 Ensign »♦ 15 Mar. 1850 K. C. Gbamville .. 2 Mai\ „ Captain Sold out 28 Jan. 1862 Fredk. Dodglas . . As.-Snr.,30 „ „ As.-Sur. Staff-Sur. 3nd Class 3 Oct 1857 W.T.H. Elliot .. Lieut., 4 May, „ Lieut Retired 7 June, 1849 •Vcver joined. John Stbatton .. Ensign, 11 „ „ i» 38th Foot Apr. 1852 Fredk. A. Cakkikoton .. „ 8 June, „ Ensign Retired 14 Mar. 1851 F. T. LiSTBB Lieut, 27 July, „ Lieut. Unattach. 30 July, 1862 William MossB .. Ensign, 31 Aug. „ Andrew Fxxodson, M.D. Surgeon, 19 Oct. „ Surgeon statr 14 Nov. 1861 Rich. Chctb Ensign, l.*) Jan. 1850 Captain Retired 2 June, 1859 W.B.Park Captain, 22 Feb. „ »» t* II Mar. 186A Clws. Lord LuBOAN Ensign, II Mnr. „ Ensign ♦ * 23 Jan. 1857 W. H. HcssEV .. Captain, 15 „ „ Captain Retired 17 Nov. 1854 John CoATES, M.D. As.-Snr., 3 Apr. „ As.-Sur. Statr 26 Jan. 185C Buck to Regt .from Staff Surgeon, 25 April, 1856. Wm. E. Wallace Lieut, 21 May, „ Captain Appd. AdJ. Dep6tBatt 3 Jan. 1859 W. F. Kebkich . . Ensign, 12 July, „ *i Retired 18 Sept. 18G3 C F. Elwes „ 22 Nor. „ Lieut. Sold out 28 Apr. 1854 E. H. P. Eldebtok 13 Dec. „ Captain f* 12 Juno,l8CO Henry Ohas. Hardinoe . . „ 14 Mar. 1851 •f Retired 21 Feb. „ WflU'm John Ndnn Lieut., Lieut Sold out 3 Oct 1855 TilOS. W. H. HUTCaiKSOM . . Ensign, 12 Dec. 1851 Captain 9thLt.Dra. 18 Jon. 1856 Killed in India. John COLLINQ >f 13 „ ,, ft • • • • Accidentally shot at the Curragh Camp, 18 May, Edw. Arch. Colliki „ S3 Jan. 1852 1860. Wm. Elliott LocEUABT . . „ 17 Aug. „ i> 74 Highlrs. 2 June, 1865 Estcourt Dat ., 22 Apr. 185.? •I Sold out 8 July, 1865 Matthew llolford Hale .. „ 13 May, „ G«0. Wm. NOBTHET „ 27 Sept. „ ft Adj. 18th Dep6tBatt. 18 Oct 1864 O. E. Phipps Tbekt „ 17 Mar. 1854 L. Sherwood Kwa .. 7 Apr. „ Ensign 56th Regt. 3 Aug. 1855 J. GiVIHS „ 6 June, „ Ueut Retired 23 Apr. 1858 James Armstromo .. i> 7 „ „ Georg«MKU>KOM., „ 11 Aug. „ •> »• ft Dled,Mar.29,l862, at Edinburgh, of rhennutic lertr. THE TWENTY-^IXTH OB CAMERONIAN REGIMENT. 255 Highest Ifamct. D»tc of Fint COmm iMion In the Rank in the Regimpnt or the Ann; Rcmored, Fromoted, Dates of RcmoTal, Died in tho Uegtment. (•donotea the latter Rank). or ExchaiiKfcu. 4kc. Regiment, lie. George W. ArPLXBT Lient, 18 Aug. 18«4 Captain 31st Foot Jan. 1865 Jowph Lowndes . . . . .. i* „ ., ft Sold out ft tf William Bnvt .. Ensign, 25 „ If George Hotjaxth . . ,. 13 Oct. • 1 Lieut. •■ • • Died, 28 Oct 1856, of yellow ferer, at Bermuda. Edward KEunoN ,. 27 „ • t Henry A. Bahton „ 10 Nor. rt • 1 Sold out 8 Oct 1861 Morris Robinson .. „ 1 Dec. 9* ft 96th Foot 36 „ 1860 C.R.B. Calcott.. Lieut, 13 Nor. 1852 MsJor • • 25 July, 1866 Exchanged to 28 Batt.27Ju1r,l866 Killed at the ex- C. H.Patntek .. Ensign, 38 Apr. 1854 Ensign • • ,, plosion at New- castle -on -Tyne. 6 Oct 1854. F. Da Bols LuKis . . „ 30 Mar. 1866 9» 64th Foot 28 Dec. 1855 W. McDonald Miu, Lleat., 28 Jon. t» Lieut. i;th Foot 30 Oct 1857 C. H. BiNDOH Ensign, 15 Dec. 1854 Ensign 78th Foot 25June,1858 O. W. II. WAEDKtl, Ensign, 3 Aug. 1855 Ensign 83rd Foot 23 Oct 1865 W. II. Salwex .. » 10 „ *> W. Feanklin „ U Sept. |> II 24th „ 16 Apr. 1858 A. Kebsbaw » * May, « II 1st Royals 23 June, 1865 H. GANbT „ 23 Oct. ff II 83rd Foot 18 Apr. 1866 J. E. Mabsden .. „ 7 Dec. ff II Resigned ^" If ff Thomas TiJBNBB .. » 38 „ tf W. W. W. HoMBUtr .. Captain, 18 Jan. 1856 Captain Half-pay 23 Oct 1867 J. A. COLEBROOKE ,. Ensign, 18 Apr. ft Lieut 83rd Foot 6 Mar. 1858 W. Hanjin .. .. i» 18 „ l» Ensign • • •• Died at Dublin, 16 Feb. 18U0. J. COATES Surgeon, 23 „ • > Surgeon 24th ,, 4 Aug. 1865 F. A. QCABTLET .. Lieut., 8 June, 1863 Captain f • • • Drowned 27 Jan. 1869, at Ber- muda. A. Hall Qr.-Mas., 2 Oct. 1857 Qr.-Mas. 76th „ 5 July, 1864 W. McDonald . . Captain, V3 „ »» Captain •Lt.-Col. 72nd „ 23 Oct 1860 James Bbidob . . Pmas., 24 „ 1856 , , 28th „ II July, 1865 W. F. Cullen .. As.-Sur., 1 Dec. 1854 As.-Sur. Staff 10 Sept. 1858 G. P. Fawkes Ensign, 8 July, 1856 Captain 83rd „ 13 „ 1865 P. C. Stobt „ 5 Sept. • f J. McLetohie As.>Sur., 38 „ 1857 A8.-Sur. • • • • Serrlces dispen- sed with, 16 Jon. 1863. L. A. Gbeqson .. Ensign, 18 Dec. f* Hon. W. H. B. OaiLVT . . „ IS Jan. 1858 Lieut. Sold out 26 Oct. I860 C. H. Wiu. 16 Mar. t) It tl 13 Jan. 1862 0. Crcmwell Ensign, 23 Apr. 1868 H. P. WOLFEBSTAN „ 25 June »f H. C. SlIABP 2 July, l» J. Davidqb As.>Snr., 10 Sept. »» A8.>Sur. Staff 34 May, 186i W. B. Wade £ne!» 28 „ II t» 33rd Regt. 24 Aug. 1864 Never Joined 26th Cameronlans. Fred. Samuel Alkxandeb „ 23 Aug. If Edward Lyster Gbebn .. Bt.-Maj.,110ct. 11 Captain •Major •• 23 Dec. 1864 Augustus R. Davibs Ensign, 30 Dec. »» Ensign 61st Foot • James Bond Clabbs „ 3 Jan. 1865 Geo. J. Hamilton Captain, 24 „ 1865 Charles H. DocancBTT . . Lieut, 11 Apr. II John Macfablane Ensign, 2 June 11 Thomas W. Lawson Captain, 2 „ 91 ' Edward M. Douohebtt . . Ensign, 2 „ fl Wm. Cabpenteb, M.D. . . As.-Sur., 9 ,, If Wm. HiGOENs Ensign, 4 July, It Henry A. Bebbt . . P..Maa.,ll „ tf • Rob. A. GrLCHBiST Ensign, 4 Aug. If Richard Gamble, H.D. . . Sur.MsJ., 4 „ It • • Half- pay 11 Jan. 1867 T. O. COOTB Captain, 1 2 Sept. • f S. Hackett Major, 27 July, IS66 Mtvjor • ■ 27 July, 1860 T. MOORHBAO, H.D. Surgeon, 1 1 Jan. 1867 APPENDIX. L Stationa and Out-Posts of the 26th Regiment, whilst in Ireland^ between October ^ 1822, and October ^ 1827. Consisting Head Period. Out Posts. Period. of Quiirters of the S S. c •a c 4 .; Regiment. From To From To O 1 Fermoy .. 25 Oct. 1822 6 Apr. 182S None. , ■Qaracloyne 8 Apr. 1823 16 Jan. 1824 25 Newgrovo 8 „ f» 16 „ „ 25 Cloyne . . 10 „ fl 10 May, 1823 - 8 Cork .. 7 Apr. 1823 15 Jan. 1824 < Fermount 8 May It 16 Jan. ,, 30 Gleiiville 15 „ t» 16 „ \, - 15 Watergrassliill .. 24 Oct. 1* 16 .. 25 .Dripsey .. 4 Nov. 1» 16 „ „ — _ 7 ■Macromp ,. 16 Jan. 1824 6 Oct. 1824 31 IneliBKcela 10 „ i» ^ >» ,1 14 Ballyvoorney . . 16 „ f» 8 ,, 18 Bandon . . 16 „ II ^ *• „ 37 Dunmunway . . 16 „ ti ^ II i> 19 Bantry . . 16 „ II 17 „ „ 29 Cloghnakllty . , 16 July, 11 29 Aug, „ 21 Klasale .. 16 Jan. 1824 4 Oct. 1824 • Hosscavbery 16 „ 11 5 Oct, „ 17 Skibbereen 16 Jan. ti 19 » 18 Charles Fort . . 16 „ II 10 „ „ 51 Ballinliassig 20 „ II 16 Feb. „ 13 Bere Island 2 March,, 18 Oct. „ 29 Wlddy Island .. 2 „ II 18 „ 11 Camden Fort . . 28 Feb. M 29 Aug. „ 10 .Cork 4 Sept, )1 10 Oct. „ OS rKillamey 7 Oct. l> 31 July, 1825 20 Listowel . . 9 „ l« 24 Apr. „ 30 Tralee 8 Oct. „ 31 July, 1825 ^ Tarbert .. ■ .. Carrig Island . . 25 Apr. 25 „ 1825 It 2 Aug. „ ^ If |k 23 4 Tarbert Island .. 25 ,. II •2 ^11 II 13 .Castle Island . . 14 Jan. II 1 ' 11 II 30 'Drogheda 18 Oct. II 27 Mar. 1826 114 Trim .. 17 „ 11 3 Mny, „ 51 Garristown 19 „ II 27 Mar. „ 16 Wicklow 17 „ 11 9 Aug. „ 43 Kilcnck .. 15 „ 11 3 May, „ 44 Balring'ass 30 Mar. 1826 •^ M Jl 25 Uatliangan 30 „ 11 18 Apr. „ 11 Hobertstown . . 30 „ V) 20 May, „ 11 Nau 7 Oct. 1825 3 May, 182G ^ Atliy 29 „ II ^11 .11 2 41 Maryborough .. 30 „ II ^11 II 2 48 Carlow '. . 30 „ II ^ 11 l» 2 63 Glenmalure 1 1 Apr. II UAug. „ I 7 Leitriin .. n ,. •. 29 May. „ - _ 4 Glencree . . 11 ,. II 20 June, „ _ « 4 1 Aughriivanagh .. 11 .. II 29 May, „ - .. 4 Gold Mines 11 ,. II 8 Aug. „ - . 4 .Laragh . . 11 „ »t 10 „ _ « 4 Dublin . . 4 May, 1826 26 July, 1827 Wexford.. 27 July, 1827 27 Sept. 1827 3 4 78 ( Duncannon Fort 2 Aug. 11 '^4 ,. „ 2 1 38 Kilkenny 1 .. II 14 Aug „ 6 8 130 Waterford 2 Au^. 1827 24 Sept. „ CarrlcK-on-Suir 2 .. II 22 Sept. „ ] 1 26 Kilinackthomas 21 „ II 22 „ 1 1 24 VCallan .. 30 July, II 12 Aug. „ 1 1 20 Fermoy .. Cork .. 27 Sep. „ 9 Oct. „ 8 Oct. „ 84 „ }None. if 8 258 APPENDIX. n. Corresponctence regarding the PiPfiRS of the 26th or Cameronian Eegiment. Becruiting Diriment. Hone Guards^ 2iih September, 1839. Memoraitdum for the information of the Assistant Adjutant- General in North Britain. Under the circamstances stated in an application from the officer commanding the depot of the 26th Regiment, the General Commanding-in-Chief will approve of Cosmo Cameron, the lad alluded to, being enlisted for the above corps to be employed as a Piper, provided he is found on inspection to be surgically fit for the service. JOHN MACDONALD, A.'G. |1 1.1 \ h ! Bccrtiiting Department. ffarse Gttards, llth October, 1839. Memorakdum for the information of the Assistant Adjutant- General in North Britain. With reference to Lord Robert Kerr's letter of the 5th inst., the General Commanding-iu-Chief is pleased to confirm the enlistment of Cosmo Cameron into the 26th Regiment, and to approve of his receiving the full bounty under the circumstances stated. JOHN MACDONALD, j4.'G. APPENDIX 259 Copy of a Keply to a Memorandum received on the 6th Jvnet 1862, rrquesting to know whether any authority existed for men to be emplot/ed as PiPERS in the 26th or Cameroniak Regiment. Aldershotf June 6/A, 1862. Sir, — In reply to your memorandum of this day, referring to the Pipers of the Cnmerouians, I have the honour to state that the Regiment has had them for so many years that no trace of the original authority or date of their formation exists; the Band- Master of the Regiment who has been in it for five and thirty years, states that, at his enlistment, nothing was known of their origin, but about the year 1839, the casualties of Indian service appear to have reduced them so as to make it necessary to enlist men for the purpose as acting Pipers, and the fact of a man being below the standard, brought the matter before the General Com- manding-in-Chief, whose sanction was given, as shown in the correspondence annexed, which was attached to the attestation of an undersized Piper recently discharged. There has, since then, been no interruption to the existence of a body of Pipers, whose number has varied from three ioJivCf according to the number of men qualified; they have been retum'Kl as rank and file. I have, &c., F. CAREY, Lieut.'Colonely Commanding 26rA Cameroniant. The Brigade-Major, 2nd Brigade, Aldershot. Copy of Answer to the preceding Letter. Horse Guards, June 13M, 1862. Sis, — I have laid before the General Commanding-in -Chief your letter of the 7tb instant, with its enclosures, relative to three Pipers, who are borne as Privates by the 26th Regiment, and am 260 APPENDIX. directed by His Royal Highness to acquaint you that, under the circumstances therein stated, no alteration as to these Pipers is required. I have, &c., J. YORKE SCARLETT, A,-0. Lieut, 'General Sir John Pennefather, K.CB,, Sfc, Sfc, Aldershot. Copy of authority for employment of a Piper at the Dep6t of the 26/A or Cameronian Regiment. (26M Cameronians.) Horse Guards, S. IV., 1th Augttst, 1865. Sir, — I have the honour, by desire of the Field Marshal Com- mandiug-in-Chief, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo, and to acquaint you that His Royal Highness ap- proves of a Private of the Depot, 20th Regiment, being employed as a Piper, on the same conditions as those under which the Pipers of the service companies are employed. I have, &c. A. HORSFORD, D.-A,-G. Lieut.'Colonel Henning, Commanding 26^A Regiment, Portsmouth. APPENDIX. 261 III. Questions and Replies relating to the Epidemic Fever at Bermuda in 1856. {Addressed to the Military, Naval, and Convict Departmtnts.) 1. "What was the mean strength between the 1st June and the 31st December, 1856, of your Regiment, Corps or Establishment, including women and children, and distinguishing Natives from Europeans? 2. How many of your Corps, Regiment or Establishment, were attacked with yellow fever during the late epi- demic, and of those how many expired? 8. To what extent was your Regiment, Corps or Estab- lishment, increased between the 1st June and the 31st December, 1856? 4. Of the new arrivals in your Regiment, Corps or Estab- lishment, how many were attacked with yellow fever between the 1st June and . the 31st December, and of these how manv died? 1,052. No Native*. 35 attacked, including one officer. 2 died: one officer and one private. 113 officers, men, women, and children. 2, both of wh'i'n arrived in Jan- uary, 1856. Vo deaths. 262 APPENDIX. 5. How was yonr Regiment, Corps or Establishment, distributed I)etween the 1st June and the 31st Decem- ber, 1856? 6. What was the mean strength at each station during that period? 7. How many were attacked at each station during the same period, and of those how many died? 8. What sanitary and precau« tionary measures are ha- bitually adopted in your Begimcnt, Corps or Estab- lishment? Head-quarters at St. George's; Detachments at Hamilton, Gibbs' Hill, Mount Langton, Prospect Hill, Ireland and Boaz Islands, and Ferry Point. At Head-quarters, 685; Hamil- ton, 42; Gibbs' Hill, 4; Mount Langton, 12; Prospect Hill, 1; Ireland Island, 276; Boaz Is- land, 22; and Ferry Point, 10. Hamilton, 3 attacked, 1 died; Gibbs' Hill, 3 attacked, 1 died; Mount Langton, 1 attacked; Ireland Island, 26 attacked; Boaz Island 2 attacked. The Barracks are whitewashed annually,and there isa thorough cleaning of Barracks and the bedding taken out and well aired once a week. During the hot weather the drains, privies, &c., are sprinkled with lime twice a day, the men are not allowed to quit the BaiTacks till after the supper hour, viz., 5 p.m., nor are they even per- mitted to expose themselves to the sun or be employed on any fatigue duties between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Royal Barracks are, during the hot months, thinned, nearly half of the men usually occupy- ing the rooms, being encamped at the Naval Tanks. The Bar- racks at Ireland Island are thinned in like manner, and the men encamped on the Glacis. APPENDIX. 263 9. What special measares were resorted to on the first alarm and daring the progress of the epidemic of 1856, and with what apparent results? 10. Can you give any other in- formation relative to the special objects of this in- quiry, viz., the introduction or first appearance of the epidemic of 1856, and the manner of its diffusion in the Colony? ' The men of the Regiment were inspected daily by the Surgeon during the existence of the epidemic, and any cases having the slightest tendency to fever were immediately sent to Hos- pital. Disinfecting fluids were freely used for the deodoriza- tion of the privies and urinals; the results were favourable, no cases of the epidemic having occurred at the Head-quarters of the Regiment, and the cases of common continued fever which were treated in Hospital were, I am informed by the Surgeon, with one exception, of a mild nature. None. 164 APPENDIX. IV. Correspondence relative to the Plaid Forage Cap worn by the 26th or Cameronian Regiment. Horse Guards^ \hlh January y 1858. Sir, — ^With reference to a letter from the War Office, dated 13th instant, I have it in command to request that you will state, for the General Commanding-in-Chief s information, whether any written authority exists for any deviation from the established pattern Forage Cap for officers and men of the 26t!i Regiment. I have, &c,, T. TROUBRIDGE, The Officer Commanding Dep6t 26ih Regiment. St. George^Si Bermuda, 2ith February, 1858. Sir, — In acknowledging the receipt of a copy of your letter of the i5th ultimo, addressed to the Officer commanding the Dcp6t of the Regiment under my command, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the General Commanding-in-Chief, that there is no written authority with the Regiment for any deviation' from the established pattern Forage Cap for the Army being worn by the officers and men of the 26th Regiment; but the present Bandmaster (a man of the highest respectability) states that the officers and men wore the same pattern Forage Cap as they now do when he joined the " Cameronians," in the year 1827, and that there were men belonging to the Corps at that time, of 20 years' Bervico and upwards, who had n^ver worn any other kind APPENDIX. 265 of Cap; and I have no doubt the same pattern has been usetl by the Cauicronians ever since they were raised in the year 1 689, it being national, and denoting the origin of the Corps. There are no letters or general orders with the service companies of the liegiment of an older date than September, 1.843. Under these circumstances, I trust His Royal Highness the General Coramanding-in-Chief may be pleased to sanction the continuance of a Cap, the pattern of which has been of such very long standing in the Regiment. I have, &c., A. T. HEMPHH^L, Colwiel, Lt.-Col. Commanding 2Qth Cameronians. The Adjutant- General of the Forces, Horse Guards, London. Horse Guards, 31a/! March, 1858. Sib, — With reference to your letter of the 24th ultimo, I have it in command to intimate to you, that the General Commanding- in-Chief is pleased to sanction the continuance of the present pattern Forage Cap in the Regiment tmder your command. 1 have, &c., T. TROUBRIDGE, D.-A.-G. The Officer Commanding 26th Regiment, Bermuda. W. 0. Mitchell, Printer, 39, Charing Cross, S.W.