VI.

1859-1874.

Reception of the regiment in the Northern Counties--Banquet at Brahan Castle--Regiment fêted at Nairn and Inverness--Medals for Persia--Removed to Edinburgh--Officers and men fêted at Edinburgh and Hamilton--Abolition of Grenadiers and Light Companies--Medals for the Indian Mutiny--Removed to Aldershot--thence to Shorncliffe --thence to Dover--The Duke of Cambridge’s opinion of the 78th --Additional year’s service granted to Indian men--Inauguration of the Monument on the Castle Hill, Edinburgh--Presentation of Plate and Pipe-major’s Flag by the Countess of Ross and Cromarty--Lucknow Prize-money--Gibraltar--Retirement of Colonel M’Intyre--Retirement of Colonel Lockhart--His farewell Address--Canada--Presentation of Colours--Nova Scotia--Internal changes--Lieutenant-General Sir C. H. Doyle’s opinion of the 78th--Home--Belfast--Aids the civil power--Fort-George--Aldershot.

As we have devoted so much space to a narrative of the active service of this distinguished regiment, we shall be compelled to recount with brevity its remaining history; this, however, is the less to be regretted, as, like most regiments during a time of peace, the history of the Ross-shire Buffs since the Indian mutiny is comparatively uneventful.

On the 1st of June 1859 Colonel Walter Hamilton was appointed to be Inspecting Field Officer of a recruiting district, by which the command of the regiment fell to Colonel Stisted, who, on the 30th of the following September, exchanged to the 93rd Highlanders with Colonel J. A. Ewart, C.B., aide-de-camp to the Queen.

The regiment being once more assembled on the borders of Ross-shire (the county from which it received its name), after an absence of twenty years, was received on all sides with a most hearty and spontaneous and certainly thoroughly well-deserved welcome. The northern counties vied with each other in showing civility to the regiment by giving banquets to the men and balls to the officers. Into the details of these fêtes we cannot of course enter. One of the most characteristic of these entertainments was a banquet given at Brahan Castle, by the Honourable Mrs Stewart Mackenzie, daughter of the Earl of Seaforth who raised the regiment, when a large family gathering of the Mackenzies of Seaforth assembled to do honour to the corps raised by their ancestors, on its return from the Indian wars. The regiment as a body was fêted by the inhabitants of the town and county of Nairn, and by the noblemen and gentlemen of the northern countries and burgh of Inverness at the latter town. The freedom of the burgh of Nairn was also conferred on Lieutenant-Colonel M’Intyre, and in both cases addresses were presented to the regiment, showing a high and well-deserved appreciation of the noble work done by the “Saviours of India.” On entering Inverness, Colonel M’Intyre halted the regiment in front of the house of General John Mackenzie, the oldest officer then in the British army, and who originally raised the light company of the 78th Highlanders. The men gave three cheers for the gallant veteran before proceeding along the streets appointed for the procession to the banqueting hall.

In the month of November a large meeting was held at Dingwall, for the purpose of considering the propriety of presenting some lasting testimonial from all classes in the county of Ross to the Ross-shire Buffs. The result of the meeting will appear in the sequel.

Shortly after this, Nos. 11 and 12 companies were formed into a dépôt, numbering 4 officers and 96 men, who, under Captain M’Andrew, proceeded to Aberdeen to join the 23rd dépôt battalion at that place.

The medals for the Persian campaign were received in February 1860, and on the 18th of that month were issued to the regiment. Out of the 36 officers and 866 men who served in Persia in the early part of the year 1857, only 15 officers and 445 men at this time remained on the strength of the regiment.

The 78th left Fort-George in two detachments, on the 21st and 24th of February, for Edinburgh, where its reception was most enthusiastic. The streets were rendered almost impassable by the people that thronged in thousands to witness the arrival of the famous 78th. In Edinburgh, as when at Fort-George, the people showed their appreciation of the services of the regiment by fêting officers and men. On the 23rd of March the officers were entertained at banquet given by the Royal Company of Archers, Queen’s Body-Guard for Scotland; and on the 21st of April a grand banquet was given to the officers and men by the citizens of Edinburgh, in the Corn Exchange.

The 78th remained in Edinburgh till April 1861, furnishing detachments to Greenlaw and Hamilton. The detachment stationed at the latter place was duly banqueted, and the freedom of the borough conferred upon Lieutenant-Colonel M’Intyre, C.B.

While in Edinburgh, in accordance with a circular from the Horse-Guards, dated May 30th, 1860, directing that all distinction between flank and battalion companies be abolished, the grenadiers and light companies ceased to exist, as such; the green heckles, grenades, and bugles being done away with, together with all distinction as to the size of the men, &c. This step, though no doubt conducive to the greater efficiency of the service, was not a little grievous to old officers, who as a rule took considerable pride in the stalwart men of the grenadier companies.

On the 2nd of June, General Sir William Chalmers, K.C.B., died at Dundee, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment by Lieutenant-General Roderick M’Neil, formerly an officer of the 78th Highlanders.

On the 9th of August the medals granted for the suppression of the Indian mutiny were presented to the regiment by Lady Havelock (widow of the late Sir Henry Havelock), who happened to be in Edinburgh at the time. Out of about 900 of all ranks, who commenced the Indian campaign with the 78th in May 1857, only 350 remained at this time in the strength of the service companies, a few also being at the depôt at Aberdeen.

The 78th left Edinburgh for Aldershot in detachments between April 27th and May 8th, 1861, remaining in huts till the end of August, when it removed into the permanent barracks. After staying a year at Aldershot it was removed on the 15th of May 1862 to Shorncliffe, where it spent about another year, removing to Dover on the 26th of May 1863. Here it was quartered on the Western Heights, furnishing detachments regularly to the Castle Hill Fort, to be employed as engineer working parties. After staying in Dover until August 1864, the 78th embarked on the 5th of that month, under command of Colonel J. A. Ewart, C.B., for Ireland, disembarking at Kingstown on the 8th, and proceeding to Dublin. Here the regiment remained for another year, when it received the route for Gibraltar. During this period there is little to record in connection with the peaceful career of the 78th.

Since the return of the regiment from India, it had, of course, been regularly inspected, the inspecting officers, as was naturally to be expected, having nothing but praise to bestow upon its appearance, discipline, and interior economy. Shortly after the arrival of the 78th at Aldershot, it was inspected by H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, who spoke of it in terms of the highest praise; “it was a noble regiment and admirably drilled,” the Duke said.

On the 19th of November 1861, an authority was received for an additional year’s service to be granted to those officers and soldiers of the 78th Highlanders who formed part of the column that entered Lucknow under Sir Henry Havelock; and on the 6th of March, in the same year, a similar reward was granted to those who were left by Sir Henry Havelock in defence of the Alum Bagh post on the 25th of September 1857.

[Illustration: Monument on the Castle-Hill, Edinburgh.

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND PRIVATE SOLDIERS OF THE LXXVIII REGIMENT WHO FELL IN THE SUPPRESSION OF THE MUTINY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF INDIA IN THE YEARS MDCCCLVII AND MDCCCLVIII, THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT BY THEIR SURVIVING BROTHER OFFICERS AND COMRADES, AND BY MANY OFFICERS WHO FORMERLY BELONGED TO THE REGIMENT.--ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLXI.]

On the 15th of April 1862, a monument to the memory of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the 78th Highlanders, who fell in India during the suppression of the mutiny in 1857-58, and which had been erected on the Castle Esplanade at Edinburgh by the officers and men of the regiment, and others who had formerly served in the Ross-shire Buffs, was publicly inaugurated by Major-General Walker, C.B., commanding the troops in Scotland, in presence of the Scots Greys, the 26th Cameronians, and the Royal Artillery. The monument is in the form of a handsome and tasteful large Runic cross, an illustration of which we are glad to be able to give on the preceding page.

We mentioned above that a meeting had been held at Dingwall, to consider the propriety of presenting some testimonial to the Ross-shire Buffs from the county which gives the regiment its distinctive name. The outcome of the meeting was that, while the regiment was at Shorncliffe, on the 26th of June 1862, two magnificent pieces of plate, subscribed for by the inhabitants of the counties of Ross and Cromarty, were presented to the 78th by a deputation consisting of Keith Stewart Mackenzie (a descendant of Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, who raised and equipped the regiment), Macleod of Cadbol, Major F. Fraser, and Lord Ashburton. The plate consists of a Centre Piece for the officers’ mess, and a cup for the sergeants’ mess, and bears the following inscription:--

Presented by the Counties of Ross and Cromarty to the 78th Highlanders or Ross-shire Buffs, in admiration of the gallantry of the regiment and of its uniform devotion to the service of the country.--1859.

A very handsome flag for the pipe-major was also presented by Keith Stewart Mackenzie of Seaforth to the regiment, which has six pipers.

While at Dover, on the 17th of October 1863, the first issue of the Lucknow prize-money was made, a private’s share amounting to £1, 14s.; that of the various other ranks, from a corporal upwards, increasing in regular proportion, up to the Lieutenant-Colonel, who received 17 shares, amounting to £28, 18s.

On the 22nd of this month died the colonel of the 78th, General Roderick Macneil (of Barra), to whom succeeded Lieutenant-General Sir Patrick Grant, G.C.B.[507] In October of the following year, Lieutenant-Colonel Ewart, who had had command of the regiment for five years, retired on half-pay, and was succeeded by Major and Brevet-Colonel Colin Campbell M’Intyre, C.B.

It may be interesting to note here, that in compliance with a circular memorandum, dated Horse-Guards, 10th June 1865, the companies of the regiment, from July 17th, were designated by letters from A to M (excluding J), for all purposes of interior economy, instead of by numbers as hitherto.

The 78th had been at home for nearly six years, when on the 2nd of August 1865, it embarked at Kingstown for Gibraltar, the whole strength of the regiment at the time being 33 officers, 713 men, 74 women, and 95 children. Asiatic cholera was prevalent at Gibraltar at the time of the regiment’s arrival, and it therefore encamped on Windmill Hill until the 18th of October. The loss of the regiment from cholera was only 5 men, 1 woman, and 1 child.

During the two years that the 78th remained at Gibraltar, in performance of the tedious routine duties incident to that station, the only event worthy of record here is the retirement on full pay, in October 1866, of Colonel M’Intyre, who had been so long connected with the regiment, and who, as we have seen, performed such distinguished service in India. He was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Lockhart, C.B., who, in assuming the command of the regiment, paid, in a regimental order, a high and just compliment to his predecessor.

On the 6th of July 1867 the 78th embarked at Gibraltar for Canada. Previous to embarkation the regiment paraded on the Alameda, where his Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Airey, G.C.B., Governor of Gibraltar, bade the 78th “good-bye” in a short address highly complimentary to the regiment, and especially to Colonel Lockhart, who also, before his old regiment sailed, had to say farewell to it. Colonel Lockhart, after being connected with the 78th for thirty years, was about to retire on full pay, and therefore on the morning of the 8th, before the vessel quitted the bay, he handed over the command of the regiment to Major Mackenzie; and on the evening of that day his farewell regimental order was issued, in which he exhibited the deepest feeling at having to bid farewell to his dear old regiment, as well as intense anxiety for the highest welfare of the men. The address is, indeed, very impressive, and we are sorry that space does not permit us to quote it here. “If any 78th man meets me in Scotland,” the colonel said, “where, by God’s permission, I hope to spend many happy days, I shall expect he will not pass me by; I shall not him.”

[Illustration: Centre Piece of Plate for the Officers’ Mess.]

After being transhipped at Quebec on board a river steamer, the regiment landed at Montreal on the 23rd of July. The regular routine of garrison duty at Montreal was relieved by a course of musketry instruction at Chambly, and by a sojourn in camp at Point Levis, on the fortification of which place the regiment was for some time engaged.

The only notable incident that happened during the stay of the regiment in Canada was the presentation to it of new colours, the old ones being sadly tattered and riddled, and stained with the life-blood of many a gallant officer. The new colours were presented to the regiment by Lady Windham, in the Champ de Mars, on the 30th of May 1868, amid a concourse of nearly ten thousand spectators. After the usual ceremony with regard to the old colours, and a prayer for God’s blessing on the new by the Rev. Joshua Fraser, Lady Windham, in a few neat, brief, and forcible words, presented the new colours to Ensigns Waugh and Fordyce. Lieutenant-General C. A. Windham, the commander-in-chief, also addressed the regiment in highly complimentary terms. “Though he had not a drop of Scotch blood in his veins,” he said, “he had exceedingly strong Scottish sympathies. It was under Scotchmen that he got his first military start in life, and under succeeding Scotchmen he had made his earlier way in the service.... The 78th Highlanders had always conducted themselves bravely and with unsullied loyalty.” At the déjeuner which followed, General Windham said that in the whole course of his service he had never seen a regiment which pulled together so well as the 78th, and among whom there were so few differences. All the toasts were, of course, drunk with Highland honours, and all went off most harmoniously down to the toast of the “Ladies,” to which Lieutenant Colin Mackenzie had the honour to reply, advising his young brothers in arms to lose no time in coming under the sway of the “dashing white sergeant.”

The old colours of the Ross-shire Buffs were sent to Dingwall, in Ross-shire, there to be deposited in the County Buildings or the Parish Church.

On the 8th of May 1869 the regiment left Montreal; and, after being transhipped at Quebec, proceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where it arrived on the 14th of May. Previous to the regiment’s leaving Montreal, a very warm and affectionate address was presented to it by the St Andrew’s Society.

The regiment remained in Nova Scotia till November 1871, furnishing detachments regularly to St John’s, New Brunswick. On several occasions since its return from India, the strength of the regiment had been reduced; and while at Halifax, on the 21st of April 1870, a general order was received, notifying a further reduction, and the division of the regiment into two depôts and eight service companies, consisting in all of 34 officers, 49 sergeants, 21 drummers, 6 pipers, and 600 rank and file. This involved a redistribution of the men of some of the companies; and, moreover, depôt battalions having been broken up on the 1st of April, the depôt companies of the 78th Highlanders were attached to the 93rd Highlanders.

Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle, K.C.M.G., commanding the forces in British North America, inspected the regiment on the 11th of October 1870, a day or two after which the following very gratifying letter was received by Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie, C.B., from Brigade-Major Wilsome Black:--“The general desires me to say that he is not in the habit of making flourishing speeches at half-yearly inspections of Queen’s troops (although he does so to militia and volunteers), because her Majesty expects that all corps shall be in perfect order. When they are not, they are sure to hear from him, and a report made accordingly to the Horse Guards; but when nothing is said, a commanding officer will naturally take for granted that his regiment is in good order. The general, however, cannot refrain from saying to you, and begs you will communicate to the officers and men of the regiment under your command, that he was perfectly satisfied with everything that came under his observation at his inspection of your regiment on Tuesday last.”

In compliance with orders received, the 78th, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Mackenzie, C.B., embarked on board H.M.’s troop-ship “Orontes,” on the 25th of November 1871, and arrived at Queenstown, Ireland, on the 17th of December, where the regiment was transhipped and conveyed to Belfast, arriving in Belfast Lough on the 20th, and disembarking next day.

The strength of the regiment on its arrival in the United Kingdom was 32 officers and 472 non-commissioned officers and men, which on the 22nd of December was augmented by the arrival of the depôt battalion from Edinburgh, consisting of 2 officers and 45 non-commissioned officers and men. Shortly afterwards the strength of the regiment was augmented to 33 officers and 592 non-commissioned officers and privates; and in accordance with the Royal Warrant, dated October 30th, 1871, all the ensigns of the regiment were raised to the rank of lieutenant, the rank of ensign having been abolished in the army.

During its stay at Belfast the 78th regularly furnished detachments to Londonderry; and on several occasions it had the very unpleasant and delicate duty to perform of aiding the civil power in the suppression of riots caused by the rancour existing between Orangemen and Roman Catholics in the North of Ireland. This trying duty the regiment performed on both occasions to the entire satisfaction of the Irish authorities as well as of the War Office authorities, receiving from both quarters high and well-deserved praise for its prudent conduct, which was the means of preventing greatly the destruction of life and property.

Under the new system of localisation of regiments, it was notified in a Horse Guards General Order, that the 71st Highland Light Infantry and the 78th Highlanders would form the line portion of the 55th infantry sub-district, and be associated for the purposes of enlistment and service. The counties included in this sub-district are Orkney and Shetland, Sutherland, Caithness, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness, Nairn, and Elgin, and the station assigned to the brigade depôt is Fort George. In accordance with this scheme, Major Feilden, with a small detachment, proceeded to Fort-George on the 9th of April, to form part of the brigade depôt.

The 78th embarked at Belfast on the 3rd of May 1873, under command of Colonel Mackenzie, C.B. The streets were densely crowded, and the people gave vent to their good feeling by cheering repeatedly as the regiment marched from the barracks to the quay. The regiment was transferred to the “Himalaya,” which sailed on the 4th round the west and north coast of Scotland, and anchored in Cromarty Bay on the evening of the 7th, headquarters and six companies disembarking opposite Fort George next day. Two companies remained on board and proceeded to Aberdeen, there to be stationed. A detachment of the companies at Aberdeen proceeded to Ballater on the 15th of May, as a guard of honour to her Majesty the Queen, and again on the 14th of August.

The regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir John Douglas, K.C.B., on the 19th of May, the report of the inspection being considered by H.R.H. the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief as most satisfactory.

The 78th remained at Fort George for only one year, embarking on the 11th of May 1874, under command of Colonel Mackenzie, C.B., for conveyance to Portsmouth, _en route_ to Aldershot. The regiment disembarked at Portsmouth on the 15th of May, and proceeded by special train to Farnborough, marching thence to Aldershot. A period of exactly twelve years had elapsed since the 78th was last at this camp.

On the 19th of May the 78th was brigaded with the 42nd, 79th, and 93rd Highlanders, at a review which took place in the presence of the Czar of Russia; and it is worthy of note that these four kilted regiments are those that represented Scotland at the siege and fall of Lucknow. It is also a curious coincidence that Colonels Macleod, Mackenzie, M’Bean, and Miller all served with the regiments they led on this occasion before the Czar.

Major-General William Parke, C.B., commanding the 1st brigade, inspected the regiment on the 21st of May, and expressed himself highly pleased with the appearance and drill of the Ross-shire Buffs.

At the time we write, the establishment of this most distinguished regiment consists of 27 officers, 64 non-commissioned officers, drummers, and pipers, 40 corporals, and 480 privates,--the total of all ranks thus being 611.

We have the gratification of being able to present our readers with two authentic portraits on steel of two of the most eminent colonels of the Ross-shire Buffs. That of the first colonel, Francis Humberstone Mackenzie, Lord Seaforth, is from the original painting in the possession of Colonel Mackenzie-Fraser, of Castle-Fraser; and that of Sir Patrick Grant, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., is from a photograph by Bassano, kindly sent to us by Sir Patrick himself.

SUCCESSION LIST OF COLONELS AND FIELD OFFICERS OF THE 78th HIGHLANDERS.

COLONELS

+-------------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+ | NAMES. | Date of | Remarks. | | | Appointment. | | +-------------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+ |Francis Humberstone |March 7, 1793 |Resigned command of the | | Mackenzie, afterwards | | regiment, retaining his | | Lord Seaforth | | rank. Died, 11th January | | | | 1815. | |Alex. Mackenzie of |May 3, 1796 |Died a Lieutenant-General, | | Belmaduthy, took the | | September 1809, from | | name of Fraser of | | fever contracted in the | | Castle Fraser | | Walcheren expedition. | |Sir James Henry Craig, |September 15, 1809 |Died, 1812. | | K.C.B. | | | |Sir Samuel Auchmuty, |January 13, 1812 |Died, 1822. | | G.C.B. | | | |Sir Edward Barnes, G.C.B.|August 25, 1822 |Appointed to 31st Foot, | | | | 10th October 1834. | |Sir L. Smith, Bart., |October 10, 1834 |Appointed to the 40th Foot,| | K.C.B., G.C.H. | | 9th February 1837. | |Paul Anderson, C.B., K.C.|February 9, 1837 |Died, 28th December 1851. | |Sir Neil Douglas, K.C.B.,|December 28, 1851 |From Colonel 72nd. Died, | | K.C.H. | | 30th Sept. 1853. | |Sir W. Chalmers, C.B., |September 30, 1853 |Died, 2d June 1860. | | K.C.H. | | | |Roderick Macneil |June 3, 1860 |Died, 22d October 1863. | |Sir Patrick Grant, |October 23, 1863 |Governor of Chelsea | | G.C.B., G.C.M.G. | | Hospital (1874). | | | | LIEUTENANT-COLONELS. | | | |Alex. Mackenzie of |July 24, 1793 |Promoted Colonel-Commandant| | Belmaduthy | | 27th Feb. 1796. | |Alex. Mackenzie of |February 10, 1794 |2nd Battalion of 1794. To | | Fairburn | | 36th Regiment, 1797. | |John Randoll Mackenzie of|February 27, 1796 |A Col. in the army in 1794;| | Suddie | | he became a Major-General,| | | | and was killed at | | | | Talavera, 1809. | |Alexander Malcolm | 1795 |Died, 1798. | |John Mackenzie, Gairloch | 1795 |Placed on Half-pay, | | | | 1799.[508] | |John Mackenzie, junior | 1795 |Placed on Half-pay, 1795. | |Hay Macdowall |May 22, 1797 |Col. in the army in 1795, | | | | Major-General in 1798, | | | | and was promoted to 40th | | | | Regiment, 1802. Lost on | | | | passage from India, 1809.| |Alexander Adams |April 7, 1802 |Promoted Major-General, | | | | 1814. | |Patrick Macleod, Geanies |April 17, 1804 |2nd Bat. 1804; Killed at | | | | El-Hamet, 21st Ap. 1807. | |Hercules Scott, Benholm |July 23, 1807 |To 103rd, 1808. Killed in | | | | Canada, 1814. | |John Macleod, C.B. |May 12, 1808 |2nd Battalion of 1804. | | | | Major-General, 1819. | |James Macdonell, |September 7, 1809 |Exchanged to Coldstream | | Glengarry | | Guards, 1810. | |Sir Edward Michael Ryan, |February 21, 1811 |Died in 1812. | |James Fraser |May 1, 1812 |Killed at Probolingo in | | | | Java, 1813. | |Martin Lindsay, C.B. |November 25, 1813 |Succeeded Colonel John | | | | Macleod in command, 12th | | | | Aug. 1819, and retired | | | | 27th April 1837. | |David Forbes |July 28, 1814 |Reduced on Half-pay, 1816. | |Henry N. Douglas |April 28, 1837 |Died, 1st October 1849. | |Martin G. T. Lindsay |April 8, 1842 |Exchanged, 15th April 1842.| |Roderick Macneil |April 15, 1842 |Colonel in the army June | | | | 17, 1828, and was | | | | promoted Major-General, | | | | 9th November 1846. | |Jonathan Forbes |November 9, 1846 |Retired, 10th December | | | | 1847. | |E. Twopeny |December 10, 1847 |Exchanged to 10th Foot. | |Walter Hamilton, C.B. |October 2, 1849 |Appointed Inspecting Field | | | | Officer, 1st June 1859. | |Henry W. Stisted, C.B. |April 19, 1850 |Exchanged to 93d | | | | Highlanders, 30th Sept. | | | | 1859. | |John Alexander Ewart, |September 30, 1859 |Retired on Half-pay, 28th | | C.B. | | October 1864. | |Colin Campbell M’Intyre, |October 28, 1864 |Retired on Full-pay, 2d | | C.B. | | October 1866. | |Græme A. Lockhart, C.B. |October 2, 1866 |Retired on Full-pay, 13th | | | | July 1867. | |Alexander Mackenzie, C.B.|July 13, 1867 | | | | | MAJORS. | | | |Alex. Mackenzie, |March 8, 1793 |Promoted Colonel- | | Belmaduthy | | Commandant, 27th Feb. | | | | 1796. | |George, Earl of Errol |July 24, 1793 |To 1st Regiment Foot | | | | Guards, 1794. Died, 1799.| |Alex. Mackenzie of |July 24, 1793 |To command of 2nd | | Fairburn | | Battalion, 10th Feb. 1794.| |John Randoll Mackenzie of|February 10, 1794 |Promoted, 1794. | | Suddie | | | |Michael Monypenny |October 28, 1794 |Promoted to 73rd Regiment, | | | | 1798. Died, 1808. | |Alexander Malcolm |May 2, 1794 |Promoted, 1795. | |John Mackenzie, Gairloch |May 3, 1794 |Promoted, 1795. | |John Mackenzie, junior | 1794 |Promoted, 1795. | |Alexander Grant | 1795 |Retired, 1798. Died, 1807. | |William Montgomery | 1795 |Promoted to 64th Regiment. | | | | Died 1800. | |Alexander Adams |August 30, 1798 |Promoted, 1802. | |Hercules Scott, Benholm |May 9, 1800 |Promoted, 1807. | |Patrick Macleod, Geanies |November 18, 1802 |To command of 2nd | | | | Battalion, 17th April | | | | 1804. | |David Stewart, Garth |April 17, 1804 |Promoted to Royal West | | | | Indian Rangers, 1808. | | | | Author of the _Sketches_.| |James Macdonell, |April 17, 1804 |Promoted, 1809. | | Glengarry | | | |William Campbell |December 13, 1804 |Killed at taking Fort | | | | Cornelis, in Java, 1810. | |James Fraser |July 23, 1807 |Promoted, 1813. | |Robert Hamilton |April 21, 1808 |Retired, 1810. | |Martin Lindsay |January 4, 1810 |Promoted, 1813. | |David Forbes |August 29, 1811 |Promoted, 1814. | |Duncan Macpherson |November 7, 1811 |Major of the regiment in | | | | 1820. | |James Macbean |December 14, 1811 |Major of the regiment in | | | | 1820. | |Duncan Macgregor |November 25, 1813 |Reduced on Half-pay in | | | | 1816. | |Colin Campbell Mackay, |August 11, 1814 |Reduced on Half-pay in | | Bighouse | | 1816. | |Joseph Bethune |June 14, 1821 | | |C. G. Falconer |June 26, 1823 | | |Henry N. Douglas |October 22, 1825 |Promoted, 28th April 1837. | |James Mill |April 8, 1826 | | |Benjamin Adams |May 7, 1829 |Retired, 17th May 1838. | |Martin G. T. Lindsay |April 28, 1837 |Promoted, 8th April 1842. | |Jonathan Forbes |May 18, 1838 |Promoted, 9th November | | | | 1846. | |E. Twopeny |April 8, 1842 |Promoted, 10th December | | | | 1847. | |R. J. P. Vassall |November 9, 1846 |Exchanged to Half-pay. | |Walter Hamilton |December 10, 1847 |Promoted, 2d October 1849. | |J. Burns |May 23, 1848 |Exchanged to 2nd Foot. | |Henry W. Stisted |May 26, 1848 |Promoted, 19th April 1850. | |T. J. Taylor |October 2, 1849 |Died, 18th June 1850. | |Henry Hamilton, C.B. |April 19, 1850 |Appointed to the Staff, 1st| | | | July 1862. | |Colin Campbell M’Intyre, |June 19, 1850 |Promoted, 28th October | | C.B. | | 1864. | |Græme A. Lockhart, C.B. |July 1, 1862 |Promoted, 2d October 1866. | |Alexander Mackenzie |October 28, 1864 |Promoted, 13th July 1867. | |Oswald B. Feilden |October 2, 1866 | | |Augustus E. Warren |July 13, 1867 | | | | | ADJUTANTS. | | | |James Fraser |March 8, 1793 |Retired, 1794. | |James Hanson |February 10, 1794 |2nd Battalion of 1794. | | | | Became Adjutant of the | | | | consolidated Battalion in| | | | 1796. Retired. | |Donald Fraser |October 1, 1794 | | |Alexander Wishart |October 20, 1797 |Promoted. | |John Hay |December 30, 1800 |Died in India, 1803. | |Joseph Bethune |June 25, 1803 |Promoted. | |William Mackenzie |April 17, 1804 |2nd Battalion of 1804. | | | | Promoted. | |Thomas Hamilton |September 26, 1805 |Deceased. | |John Cooper |October 15, 1807 |Adjutant of the regiment | | | | till succeeded by Bull. | |James Fraser |June 15, 1810 | | |William Smith |June 24, 1813 |Adjutant of the 2nd | | | | Battalion when reduced. | |J. E. N. Bull |May 4, 1826 |Promoted, 19th October | | | | 1838. | |S. M. Edington |October 19, 1838 |Resigned, 31st August 1839.| |C. Pattison |August 31, 1839 |Promoted in Newfoundland | | | | Companies. | |Hamilton Douglas Gordon |June 16, 1848 |Promoted, 10th October | | | | 1850. | |Laurence Pleydell |October 10, 1850 |Promoted, 22nd December | | Bouverie | | 1854. | |Herbert T. Macpherson, |December 22, 1854 |Promoted, 6th October 1857.| | V.C. | | | |Andrew C. Bogle, V.C. |October 6, 1857 |Promoted, 5th November | | | | 1858. | |G. D. Barker |November 5, 1858 |Promoted, 2nd April 1861. | |Thomas Mackenzie |April 2, 1861 |Resigned, 16th May 1862. | |Richard P. Butler |May 16, 1862 |Retired, 21st November | | | | 1865. | |George E. Lecky |November 21, 1865 |Resigned, 27th February | | | | 1867. | |Robert Lockhart Dalglish |February 27, 1867 |Retired, 20th July 1867. | |E. P. Stewart |July 20, 1867 |Promoted, 7th July 1869. | |C. E. Croker-King |July 7, 1869 |Promoted, 17th July 1872. | |Arthur Dingwall Fordyce |August 21, 1872 | | | | | PAYMASTERS. | | | |Alexander Bannerman |February 25, 1804 | | |James Ferguson |March 21, 1805 |2nd Battalion of 1804. | | | | Deceased. | |John Chisholm |December 11, 1817 |Retired. Succeeded by | | | | Paymaster Taylor. | |M. G. Taylor |August 26, 1836 |Exchanged to 45th Foot. | |E. Evans |July 7, 1846 |Retired, 22nd April 1853. | |Joseph Webster |April 22, 1853 |Retired, 1st April 1864. | |Charles Skrine |April 1, 1864 | | | | | QUARTER-MASTERS. | | | |Archibald Macdougal |March 8, 1793 |Retired. | |Alexander Wishart |February 10, 1794 |2nd Battalion of 1794. | | | | Establishment reduced. | |Duncan Macrae |January 23, 1801 |To 76th Foot as Ensign. | |John Leavoch |February 11, 1804 |Promoted from Paymaster’s | | | | Clerk. He carried the | | | | Queen’s colour at Assaye | | | | and Argaum. | |John Macpherson |April 17, 1804 |2nd Battalion of 1804. | | | | Retired. | |Alexander Waters |June 30, 1808 | | |William Smith |April 19, 1810 | | |William Gunn |August 6, 1812 |Paymaster in Cape Mounted | | | | Rifles, May 31, 1839. | |Joseph Webster |May 31, 1839 |Promoted Paymaster, 22nd | | | | April 1853. | |Patrick Carroll |April 22, 1853 |Retired on Full-pay, 12th | | | | September 1856. | |Charles Skrine |September 12, 1856 |Promoted Paymaster, 1st | | | | April 1864. | |Alexander Weir |April 26, 1864 | | | | | SURGEONS. | | | |Thomas Baillie |March 8, 1793 |Died in India, 1802. | |William Kennedy | 1794 |2nd Battalion of 1794. | |John Macandie |November 17, 1802 | | |Thomas Draper |April 17, 1804 |2nd Battalion of 1804. | | | | Promoted Deputy | | | | Inspector-General. | |Neil Currie |September 1, 1808 | | |William Munro |June 3, 1813 |To Half-pay. | |John M’Roberts, M.D. |November 13, 1817 | | |Robert Henry Bolton, M.D.|October 30, 1823 | | |Duncan Henderson |March 23, 1826 |Exchanged to 14th Foot. | |John M’Andrew |February 15, 1833 |Appointed to 40th Foot. | |James Burt |July 29, 1836 |Appointed to 16th Dragoons.| |Archibald Alexander |October 3, 1845 |Exchanged to 50th Foot. | |Arthur C. Webster |March 23, 1849 |Transferred to 10th | | | | Hussars. | |Joseph Jee, V.C. & C.B. |June 23, 1854 |Exchanged to 1st Dragoons, | | | | 20th Sept. 1864. | |L. C. Stewart |September 20, 1864 |Promoted, 17th March 1867. | |J. Meane |March 8, 1867 |Appointed to the Staff, 6th| | | | March 1869. | |V. M. M’Master, V.C. |March 6, 1869 |Died, 22nd January 1872. | |A. W. Beveridge, M.D. |February 17, 1872 | | +-------------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+

ASSISTANT-SURGEONS.--John Macandie (1795), Alex. Young (1795), John Bowen (1803), Wm. Munro (1805), Alex. Leslie (1805), Walter Irwin (1810), John Hughes (1811), Wm. Macleod (1814), George Maclean (1814), Duncan Henderson, M.D. (1817), Alex Duncan (1826), James Thomson (1826), Arthur Wood, M.D. (1826), James Young (1826), Wm. Robertson (1832), W. H. Allman (1842), John Innes (1842), G. Archer, M.D. (1839), J. Mitchell, M.D. (1843), D. R. M’Kinnon (1844), W. Bowie, M.D. (1844), J. Leitch, M.D. (1846), J. M’Nab, M.D. (1847), A. S. Willocks (1852), E. K. O’Neill (1854), V. M. M’Master (1855), S. S. Skipton, M.D. (1857), A. W. Beveridge, M.D. (1857), P. Kilgour (1866), N. Wade (1867), W. Johnston, M.D. (1872).

DRESS OF THE 78TH HIGHLANDERS,

THE FULL HIGHLAND COSTUME.

_Officers._--Kilt and belted plaid of Mackenzie tartan; scarlet Highland doublet, trimmed with gold lace according to rank, buff facings (patrol jacket and trews for fatigue dress); bonnet of black ostrich plumes, with white vulture hackle; Menzies tartan hose, red garter knots, and white spatterdashes (shoes and gold buckles, and Mackenzie tartan hose and green garter knots for ball dress); sporran of white goat’s hair, with eight gold tassels (two long black tassels undress); buff leather shoulder-belt, with gilt breast plate; red morocco dirk belt, embroidered with gold thistles; dirk and skean-dhu, mounted in cairngorm and silver gilt; the claymore, with steel scabbard; round silver-gilt shoulder brooch, surmounted by a crown. The field officers wear trews, shoulder plaid, and waist belt. The Cabar Feidh on all appointments, with the Elephant, superscribed “Assaye.”

_Mess Dress._--Scarlet shell jacket, with buff rolling collar and facings, and gold shoulder-knots; Mackenzie tartan vest, with cairngorm buttons.

_Sergeants._--Same as privates, with the exception of finer cloth and tartan. Staff sergeants wear the buff cross-belt and claymore, and shoulder plaid with brooch.

_Privates._--Kilt and fly of Mackenzie tartan; scarlet Highland doublet, buff facings (buff jacket and trews for fatigue dress); bonnet of black ostrich plumes, with white hackle; sporran of white goat’s hair, with two long black tassels; Menzies tartan hose, red garter knots, and white spatterdashes; the Cabar Feidh and the Elephant on the appointments.

_Band._--Same as privates, with the exception of red hackles, grey sporrans, buff waist-belts and dirks, and shoulder plaids and brooch.

_Pipers._--Same as privates, with the exception of green doublets, green hackles, Mackenzie tartan hose, green garter knots, grey sporrans, black shoulder and dirk belts, claymore, dirk, and skean-dhu, and shoulder plaids with round brooch.

FOOTNOTES:

[465] For this history of the 78th Highlanders up to the beginning of the Persian War, we are entirely indebted to Captain Colin Mackenzie, formerly an officer of the regiment, who is himself preparing a detailed history of the 78th.

[466] See page 238, vol. ii.

[467] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[468] The corporals were included in this number, which should therefore have appeared as “rank and file” instead of “private men.”--C.M.

[469] Private papers of the late Lord Seaforth.

[470] Extract from letter of service.

[471] “During six years’ residence in different cantonments in Bengal no material event occurred. The corps sustained throughout a character every way exemplary. The commanding officer’s system of discipline, and his substitution of censure for punishment, attracted much attention. The temperate habits of the soldiers, and Colonel Mackenzie’s mode of punishment, by a threat to inform his parents of the misconduct of a delinquent, or to send a bad character of him to his native country, attracted the notice of all India. Their sobriety was such that it was necessary to restrict them from selling or giving away the usual allowance of liquor to other soldiers.

“There were in this battalion nearly 300 men from Lord Seaforth’s estate in the Lewis. Several years elapsed before any of these men were charged with a crime deserving severe punishment. In 1799 a man was tried and punished. This so shocked his comrades that he was put out of their society as a degraded man, who brought shame on his kindred. The unfortunate outcast felt his own degradation so much that he became unhappy and desperate; and Colonel Mackenzie, to save him from destruction, applied and got him sent to England, where his disgrace would be unknown and unnoticed. It happened as Colonel Mackenzie had expected, for he quite recovered his character. By the humane consideration of his commander, a man was thus saved from that ruin which a repetition of severity would have rendered inevitable.”--Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[472] Cust’s _Wars_.

[473] “A Mahratta chief, residing in the British camp, gave the following account of the action in a letter to his friends at Poonah:--‘The English are a strange people, and their General a wonderful man. They came here in the morning, looked at the Pettah wall, walked over it, killed all the garrison, and then turned in to breakfast. Who can resist such men as these?’”--Cust’s _Wars_.

[474] Cust’s _Wars_.

[475] “It may not be known to the public, and perhaps not to the 78th Regiment itself, that the handsome black granite slab inserted in the Pettah wall of Ahmednuggur, bearing an inscription that on this spot fell, at the storming of the fort, Captain Thomas Mackenzie-Humberstone (son of Colonel Mackenzie-Humberstone, who was killed at the close of the Mahratta War, 1783), also to the memory of Captain Grant, Lieutenant Anderson, the non-commissioned officers, and privates of that Regiment who fell on that occasion, was placed here as a memorial by the Honourable Mrs Stewart-Mackenzie (then Lady Hood), eldest daughter of Lord Seaforth (brother of Colonel Humberstone), when she visited this spot on her way from Poonah to Hyderabad, in March 1813.”--_Memorandum found among the papers of the late Colonel C. Mackenzie-Fraser of Castle Fraser._

[476] Alison’s _History of Europe_.

[477] “It is now said that they had in their camp 128 guns.”--_General Wellesley to Major Shaw, 28th September 1803._

[478] See History of the 74th, vol. ii. p. 575.

[479] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[480] Alison’s _History of Europe_.

[481] Sir Samuel Auchmuty’s Despatch.

[482] Alison’s _History of Europe_.

[483] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[484] “On the 10th, the ‘Prince Blucher,’ Captain Weatherall, came in sight, and took on board Major Macpherson, Lieutenants Mackenzie and M’Crummin, with a considerable number of men and _all the women and children_. He would have taken the whole, but was driven off during the night by a severe gale, and obliged to proceed to Calcutta, leaving Captain M’Queen, Lieutenants M’Rae, Macleod, Brodie, Macqueen, and Smith, and 109 non-commissioned officers and privates on the island, which is barren and uninhabited.”--_Regimental Record._

[485] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[486] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[487] Records of 2nd Battalion.

[488] His portrait will be found on page 396, vol. ii.

[489] Before launching out into its history, it may be as well to state that the uniform of this battalion was formed on the exact model of the original dress of the first battalion, viz., a Highland jacket, neck and cuffs of light buff, edging and frogs trimmed with a narrow stripe of green, the button bearing the number of the regiment beneath a crown, the breastplate engraved with a G. R. circumscribed with the regimental motto, “Cuidich ’n Righ” (“Aids of the King”); and in all other respects the full Highland uniform as established by his Majesty’s regulations.

[490] Stewart’s _Sketches_. In relating the above interesting anecdote, it is generally understood that Stewart alludes to an incident in his own career.

[491] It is said that Sir John Stuart was greatly disappointed to find the second battalion of the 78th a “corps of boys,” he having expected the 42nd to be sent to his command, and calculated on their assistance in his projected descent on Calabria. However, this disappointment was of but short duration, as his order of the 6th of July, after the battle of Maida, will testify.

[492] “Sergeant John Macrae, a young man, about twenty-two years of age, but of good size and strength of arm, showed that the broadsword, in a firm hand, is as good a weapon in close fighting as the bayonet. If the first push of the bayonet misses its aim, or happens to be parried, it is not easy to recover the weapon and repeat the thrust, when the enemy is bold enough to stand firm; but it is not so with the sword, which may be readily withdrawn from its blow, wielded with celerity, and directed to any part of the body,

## particularly to the head and arms, whilst its motions defend the

person using it. Macrae killed six men, cutting them down with his broadsword (of the kind usually worn by sergeants of Highland corps), when at last he made a dash out of the ranks on a Turk, whom he cut down; but as he was returning to the square he was killed by a blow from behind, his head being nearly split in two by the stroke of a sabre. Lieutenant Christopher Macrae, whom I have already mentioned as having brought eighteen men of his own name to the regiment as part of his quota of recruits, for an ensigncy, was killed in this affair, with six of his followers and namesakes, besides the sergeant. On the passage to Lisbon in October 1805, the same sergeant came to me one evening crying like a child, and complaining that the ship’s cook had called him English names, which he did not understand, and thrown some fat in his face. Thus a lad who, in 1805, was so soft and so childish, displayed in 1807 a courage and vigour worthy a hero of Ossian.”--Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[493] _Records, 2d Battalion._ He was succeeded in the command by Lieut.-Colonel John Macleod.

[494] _Records, 2d Battalion._

[495] The victor of Barossa, afterwards Lord Lynedoch.

[496] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[497] At these stations the regiment was inspected, and most favourably reported upon, by Major-General Hope.

[498] His portrait will be found on page 482, vol. ii.

[499] Journal of Captain Keogh, late 78th Highlanders.

[500] Captain Hunt’s (78th Highlanders) _Persian Campaign_.

[501] Captain Hunt’s _Persian Campaign_.

[502] This portrait is copied, by the permission of John Clark Marshman, Esq., and the Messrs Longman, from that in Marshman’s _Memoirs of Major-General Sir Henry Havelock, K.C.B._

[503] Captain Hunt, 78th Highlanders, “Persian Campaign.” We may remark that Captain Hunt’s conduct of the Ahwaz force was very highly praised. Sir James Outram says in his despatch to Sir Henry Somerset, “Great praise is also due to Captain Hunt, 78th Highlanders, who so successfully carried out the military operations,” and Sir Henry acknowledges this by alluding to Captain Hunt, “whose excellent disposition of his small force I have remarked with much satisfaction.” Captain Hunt also received the thanks of the Governor-General in Council. This very promising officer unfortunately fell a victim to cholera during the Mutiny, and thus, at an early age, terminated a career which must have done honour to himself and reflected credit upon his regiment.--C. M.

[504] “Of the 78th Highlanders Havelock had formed a very high estimate, and in his confidential report of that corps, made before leaving Persia, a copy of which was found among his papers, he had said:--‘There is a fine spirit in the ranks of this regiment. I am given to understand that it behaved remarkably well in the affair at Kooshab, near Busheer, which took place before I reached the army; and during the naval action on the Euphrates, and its landing here, its steadiness, zeal, and activity, under my own observation, were conspicuous. The men have been subjected in this service to a good deal of exposure, to extremes of climate, and have had heavy work to execute with their entrenching tools, in constructing redoubts and making roads. They have been, while I have had the opportunity of watching them, most cheerful; and have never seemed to regret or complain of anything but that they had no further chance of meeting the enemy. I am convinced the regiment would be second to none in the service if its high military qualities were drawn forth. It is proud of its colours, its tartan, and its former achievements.’”--Marshman’s _Memoirs of Havelock_.

[505] This account of the part taken by the regiment in the suppression of the Indian mutiny is compiled mainly from the admirable narrative contained in the Regimental Record Book.

[506] The garrison at Cawnpoor, under the command of Sir Hugh Wheeler, was induced to surrender, after a most heroic defence of three weeks, on promise of a safe conduct to Allahabad, and on condition that the force should march out under arms, with 60 rounds of ammunition to every man; that carriages should be provided for the conveyance of the wounded, the women, and the children; and that boats, victualled with a sufficiency of flour, should be in readiness, at the Suttee Chowra Ghât, or landing-place (on the Ganges), which lay about a mile from the British entrenchment. On the morning of the 27th of June 1857 the garrison, numbering, with women and children, nearly 800, was marched down to the landing-place; but before the embarkation was completed, a fire of grape and musketry was opened upon the boats, and a fearful massacre took place. Only 125 women and children were spared from that day’s massacre, and reserved for the more awful butchery of the 15th of July. Upwards of a hundred persons got away in a boat, but only four made good their escape, as within three days the boat was captured by the mutineers and taken back to Cawnpoor, where the sixty male occupants were shot, the women and children being put into custody with the 125 already mentioned.

Our illustration is from a photograph, and shows the Fisherman’s Temple. For full details of the Cawnpoor massacres, we may refer our readers to the volume entitled _Cawnpore_, by G. O. Trevelyan.

[507] See portrait on the steel plate of the Colonels of the 78th and 79th Regiments.

[508] “A General, and, at the time of his death, the oldest officer in the British army. He served with high distinction and without cessation from 1779 to 1814. He became a General (_full_) in 1837. So marked was his daring and personal valour, that he was known among his companions in arms as ‘Fighting Jack.’ General Mackenzie married Lilias, youngest daughter of Alexander Chisholm of Chisholm, and died 14th June 1860, aged 96.”--Burke’s _Peerage and Baronetage_. When the 78th Highlanders were received in Inverness with the utmost enthusiasm, on their return from the Indian Mutiny, General Mackenzie, verging on 100 years, appeared on his balcony to bid them welcome, and was warmly cheered by the successors of those he had so often led to victory.--C. M.

THE 79TH QUEEN’S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS.