Part 10

[Sidenote: 1823]

Major-General Sir John Keane, K.C.B., assumed the command of the troops in Jamaica, on the 1st of May, 1823, and in the early part of June visited the different stations of the regiment, when he approved highly of its discipline and appearance.

Lieut.-General the Honorable Alexander Duff was appointed colonel of the NINETY-SECOND on the 6th of September, 1823, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir John Hope, G.C.H., who was removed to the seventy-second regiment.

[Sidenote: 1824]

A detachment of thirty recruits joined on the 10th of February, 1824, and they were stationed at Fort Augusta.

The head-quarters of the regiment marched from Falmouth to Montego Bay on the 5th of April, where they arrived at daylight on the following morning; and on the 7th embarked in H. M. ship “Pyramus,” the other two divisions embarking about the same time. The regiment landed at Fort Augusta on the 10th, 12th, and 16th of April. Six companies and the head-quarters remained at Fort Augusta, and two companies were detached to Kingston Barracks.

During the two years the regiment was stationed on the north side, the men enjoyed a high state of health, considering the climate of Jamaica. Of their conduct in quarters, the best judgment may be formed from the following address presented to Lieut.-Colonel Williamson, by a committee of the magistrates and vestry of Trelawny appointed for that purpose:—

“Court House, Falmouth. “5th April, 1824.

“SIR,

“We, the magistrates and vestry of Trelawny, cannot permit the departure from this post, of the distinguished regiment under your command, without declaring our sense of the exemplary conduct of the officers and orderly demeanour of the men, during the time they have been stationed among us. In expressing our satisfaction at the cordiality that has prevailed between your regiment and the inhabitants of the district, we cannot but ascribe to you the excellent state of discipline which has led to this desirable result.

“We beg to offer our best wishes for the health of yourself and officers, in whatever part of the world your military duties may call you to.

(Signed) “HENRY GORDON. “_Magistrate Presiding._

“Lieut.-Colonel Williamson, Commanding NINETY-SECOND regiment.”

About the middle of April, the recruits which had lately joined were attacked by fever, which carried off one-third of their number.

On the 21st of June, the regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Williamson, was inspected by Major-General Sir John Keane, who expressed himself highly pleased with the movements, and the attention which the men appeared to have paid to the new system of drill, prescribed by the General Order of the 10th of March, 1824, according to the improvements introduced by Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, K.C.B., Adjutant-General of the Forces.

Symptoms of insurrection having appeared among the slaves on the north side of the island, four companies of the regiment were embarked on the 25th of June on board His Majesty’s ship “Hussar”; two of them were landed on the 28th at Savanna la Mar, and were stationed there; and on the 30th another was landed at Black River; while the fourth remained on board the frigate on its cruise round the island, and was again landed at Fort Augusta, where the detachments at Savanna la Mar, and Lacovia, joined the head-quarters on the 6th and 7th of August.

On the 13th of September, Major Andrew Robert Charlton assumed the command of the regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Williamson having obtained leave of absence to return to Europe.

[Sidenote: 1825]

The head-quarters and the six companies at Fort Augusta proceeded on the 13th of January, 1825, to Up-Park Camp, where the two companies stationed at Kingston joined on the following day, and the regiment became united, having been more or less detached since the 10th of March, 1820.

On the 14th of February, a detachment of twenty-four recruits arrived from England; and a detachment of two officers and sixteen recruits joined from England on the 25th of June.

In July orders were received fixing the establishment of the regiment at ten companies; six _service_ and four _depôt_ companies.

About the middle of July, the regiment was attacked with fever, which, in the course of two months, carried off Major Andrew Robert Charlton, Captain Andrew Donaldson, Lieutenant and Adjutant James Deans, and sixty men; the command then devolved on Captain Robert Winchester, who was subsequently promoted to the rank of major in the regiment.

[Sidenote: 1826]

On the 10th of February, 1826, Lieut.-Colonel Williamson and a detachment of three officers and sixty men arrived from England on board of His Majesty’s ship “Magnificent.”

Major-General Sir John Keane, K.C.B., on the 11th of March, inspected the head-quarters of the regiment, at Fort Augusta, under Major Winchester, he having been in command the greater part of the time since the last annual inspection, and expressed his entire satisfaction at the soldier-like appearance of the men, and their correct performance of the field exercises: the flourishing state of the regimental school attracted his particular notice amongst the various points of interior economy.

In August the regiment received orders to be in readiness for embarkation for England upon being relieved by the eighty-fourth regiment.

The two companies at Kingston, marched, on the 23rd of December, to Up-Park Camp; two companies from Fort Augusta replaced them; and, on the 24th, the other two companies proceeded to Kingston Barracks, where the head-quarters were established, leaving the sick and hospital establishment at Fort Augusta, a station which had been found an excellent convalescent post.

Sickness prevailed to a considerable extent at Kingston, and therefore changes continually took place between the three stations, Fort Augusta, Kingston, and Up-Park Camp.

[Sidenote: 1827]

The first division of the eighty-fourth regiment having arrived at Fort Augusta on the 3rd of February, 1827, the convalescents of the NINETY-SECOND were removed to Up-Park Camp, to await their embarkation for Europe.

On the 19th of February, the head-quarters of the regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Williamson, embarked, at Kingston, on board the “Arab” transport, and sailed on the 24th, arriving at Spithead on the 25th of April.

The head-quarter division was transshipped from the “Arab” to the “Amphitrite” and “Zephyr” transports, in Portsmouth harbour, and sailed for Leith Roads. It landed at Leith on the 10th of May, and marched to Edinburgh Castle, where the four depôt companies, from Glasgow, joined on the 23rd of that month, and were consolidated with the regiment.

The three companies which had been left at Up-Park Camp, under the command of Major Winchester, embarked at Kingston on the 30th of March, sailed on the 3rd of April, landed at Portsmouth on the 21st of May, and were quartered in Forton Barracks, re-embarked on the 25th of May, and on the 31st, joined the head-quarters at Edinburgh Castle, where the regiment was assembled.

On the 27th of June, the regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Williamson, was inspected by Major-General Sir Robert W. O’Callaghan, K.C.B., commanding in North Britain. Its strength consisted of thirty-seven serjeants, eleven drummers, and six hundred and thirty-one rank and file.

[Sidenote: 1828]

Four companies, under the command of Major Winchester, marched on the 25th of February, 1828, for Glasgow Barracks.

The six companies at head-quarters in Edinburgh Castle, were inspected by Major-General Sir Robert O’Callaghan on the 3rd of April; on the 23rd, two companies marched for Glasgow, and on the 24th were followed by the other two companies with the head-quarters. Two companies being left at Edinburgh Castle, joined the head-quarters at Glasgow on the 30th of April.

Lieut.-Colonel Williamson having, on the 26th of May, obtained leave of absence until further orders, the command of the regiment devolved on Major Winchester.

The regiment embarked on the 29th of July, and two following days, on board the “Eclipse,” “Sheffield,” and “Frolic” steam-boats, arriving at Belfast on the 30th of July, and the two following days, where the regiment was billeted.

On the 3rd of August, the regiment embarked at Belfast, and landed on the following day at Dublin.

The regiment, commanded by Major Winchester, was inspected on the 5th of August, in the Phœnix Park, by Lieut.-General Sir John Byng, K.C.B., commanding the forces in Ireland, and on the 6th and 7th of that month marched for Fermoy, where the divisions arrived on the 15th and 16th of August.

[Sidenote: 1829]

On the 19th of January, 1829, Lieut.-Colonel John McDonald,[17] joined and assumed the command of the NINETY-SECOND, he having been appointed to the regiment from the half-pay on the 21st of November of the previous year.

Orders having been received directing that steel-mounted swords should be adopted by Highland regiments, the officers of the NINETY-SECOND, immediately supplied themselves with “_Claidheamh mor_,” similar to those originally used in the regiment.

[Sidenote: 1830]

A letter, dated 13th of April, 1830, was at this period received from the Adjutant-General of the Forces, authorising the adoption of regimental tartan trousers for all occasions when the kilt is not worn.

On the 11th of May, the first division of the regiment marched for Kilkenny, and was followed next day by the head-quarters, at which place they arrived on the 14th and 15th of May; detaching a company to each of the following places—Carlow, Athy, and Maryborough. On the 8th of June, another company marched from head-quarters for New Ross.

The regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel John McDonald, was reviewed on the 5th November, by Lieut.-General Sir John Byng, K.C.B., commanding the forces in Ireland, who directed the commanding officer to make known

“the gratification which he felt at witnessing their soldier-like appearance, and the correctness of their movements, as well as the excellent style and cleanliness in which their barracks are kept.

“That from their former services together, he considers them to be old friends, and was therefore the more pleased to find the NINETY-SECOND greatly improved since he last saw them, and in a state, which, in their best days, they never surpassed; and that immediately on his return to Dublin, he would make a point of reporting the very high state of discipline in which he found the regiment, and which, he was sure, would also afford to General Lord Hill, a pleasure the most sincere.”

The head-quarter division, consisting of three companies, marched, on the 26th of May, _en route_ to Birr, and the remaining three companies, under the command of Major Winchester, marched next day for the same place, detaching one company to Nenagh.

The head-quarters arrived at Birr on the 29th of May, and the second division on the 31st of that month; the companies from Maryborough, Carlow, Athy, and Wexford arrived about the same period.

The following is an extract from the regimental orders, of the 9th of June, relative to the receipt of an address from the magistrates of Queen’s County:—

“The commanding officer directs the following address from the magistrates of Queen’s County may be entered in the orderly books, and is confident that every soldier will feel proud at the high estimation in which the regiment is held by the inhabitants of every quarter where it has been stationed, and that the approbation[18] so lately expressed by His Majesty’s representative, and the Commander of the forces in this country, will act upon their minds as a strong stimulus to persevere in the same steady and unerring line of conduct.”

“SIR, Maryborough, June 7, 1830.

“We, the undersigned magistrates of Maryborough district, at petty sessions assembled, avail ourselves of this, the earliest opportunity of expressing our high approbation of the conduct of the different detachments of the NINETY-SECOND Highlanders, quartered in the town of Maryborough for the last twelve months. In justice to the excellent character of the men, we feel called upon to testify, that not a single complaint was made by the inhabitants against any of them, and that their conduct was uniformly correct and exemplary.

“The general zeal and intelligence of the officers, supported by the steadiness and discipline of the men, when co-operating with the civil power, particularly during the last winter (in suppressing outrages of a _white-boy_ nature, which unhappily extended to our hitherto peaceable county), demand our cordial thanks; and we beg that you, Sir, will be pleased to make known to the officers and men these our sentiments, and to assure them that their services will long be gratefully remembered by every respectable inhabitant of this town and vicinity.

“We have, &c., (Signed) “W. PERCEVAL, J. P. “D. O’DONOGHUE, J. P. “MATT. CASSAN, J. P.

“Lieut.-Colonel McDonald, Commanding NINETY-SECOND Highlanders, &c. &c. &c.”

On the 18th of June, the regiment was reviewed by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B., commanding the Western District. It being the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, the regiments performed a variety of movements, as executed on that memorable day; the NINETY-SECOND afterwards went through the sword exercise, &c., and the Major-General was pleased to express his approbation of the splendid appearance which the regiment made on that occasion.

On the 8th of October, the head-quarter division, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel McDonald, and, on the following day, the second division, under Major Winchester, marched from Birr _en route_ to Dublin, arriving there on the 13th and 14th October respectively, and were quartered in the Royal Barracks.

The regiment was inspected on the 30th of October by Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney, K.C.B., who expressed his unqualified approbation of its appearance and interior arrangements.

At this period an address was received from the magistrates of Nenagh, (Lord Dunally in the chair,) relative to the good conduct of the detachment of the regiment, under Captain William Prittie Bayly, lately stationed at that place.

On the 13th of December, the regiment was formed in the Palatine Square to receive His Excellency Lieut.-General the Right Honorable Sir John Byng, K.C.B., commanding the forces in Ireland. A new stand of colours (the gift of the officers) was escorted by the grenadier company from the Lieut.-Colonel’s quarters. His Excellency then made a most appropriate and flattering speech, in which he alluded to the anniversary of that day (the battle of the Nive), and the brilliant and distinguished conduct of the NINETY-SECOND on the occasion, as well as on many others of which he himself was an eye-witness. After receiving the colours from the officers of the grenadiers, and remarking how delighted he was to see the names of so many well-earned battles emblazoned on them, he placed them in the hands of the ensigns, and the regiment saluted.

Addressing Lieut.-Colonel McDonald, His Excellency observed, “that he made no allusion to the necessity of defending those colours,—that any such remark would be out of place when addressing the NINETY-SECOND,—however, he could not give the young officers and soldiers better advice, than to follow the steps of those who preceded them.”

To which the Lieut.-Colonel replied, “That if anything could enhance the value attached to those colours by the regiment, it was their being placed in the hands of the ensigns by one who had that day seventeen years shown himself so very conspicuous in planting the colours of a regiment on the enemy’s redoubts,[19] and that he pledged himself in the name of his brother officers and soldiers for their honor and safety.”

On the 23rd of December, the troops in garrison at Dublin, were paraded in review-order to receive General the Marquis of Anglesey, K.G., on his arrival to assume the government of Ireland, and lined the streets through which the procession passed to the Castle.

[Sidenote: 1831]

A company of the regiment, in light marching order, under the command of Captain James McIntosh, proceeded on the 22nd of February, 1831, by forced marches to Drumcondra, in the county of Meath, which was in a state of disturbance, and where immense assemblages of the population were traversing the country.

The following letter was received from the Assistant Adjutant-General (Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Charles Fitzroy) on the 23rd of February:—

“Royal Barracks, Dublin, 23rd February, 1831.

“SIR,

“I have the honor to enclose an extract of a letter from the Adjutant-General of the Forces, that the same may be entered in your regimental order book, and read to the regiment; and moreover, to express the infinite satisfaction Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney feels in the good opinion, therein expressed, of the General Commanding in Chief, for your zeal and exertions in the command of the NINETY-SECOND regiment (Highlanders), and to congratulate the regiment on having so well merited this testimony.

“I have, &c. (Signed) “CHARLES FITZROY, _Lieut.-Colonel_, “_Assistant Adjutant-General_.

“Lieut.-Colonel McDonald, Commanding NINETY-SECOND Highlanders.”

Extract from a letter, dated 9th of February, 1831 (before alluded to), addressed by the Adjutant-General, to the Lieut.-General commanding in Ireland:—

“_9th February, 1831._

“The Report on the NINETY-SECOND regiment, so creditable throughout to the zeal and successful exertions of Lieut.-Colonel McDonald in the management of his command, is very satisfactory to His Lordship the General Commanding in Chief.”

(Signed) “JOHN MACDONALD, “_Adjutant-General_.”

The company which had been detached in the county of Meath returned to its quarters on the 22nd of March, and on the following day a letter was received, expressive of the entire approbation of the Lord Lieutenant of the services performed in the disturbed district by the troops employed.

The regiment was removed from the Royal Barracks on the 19th of April: the head-quarters, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel McDonald, consisting of four companies, with the recruits, were stationed in the New Barracks, and six companies, under Major Winchester, at George-street.

Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney, K.C.B., inspected the regiment on the 3rd of May, in the Phœnix Park, in the presence of His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and a great concourse of spectators, on which occasion its movements and appearance drew forth the admiration of its military superiors.

The head-quarters and four companies from the New Barracks, and four companies from George-street, marched, on the 18th of May, to Richmond Barracks, leaving two companies stationed in George-street, under the command of Major Hugh Henry Rose.

Lieut.-General Sir John Hamilton Dalrymple, Bart., (afterwards the Earl of Stair) was appointed by His Majesty King William IV., to be Colonel of the NINETY-SECOND on the 20th of July, in succession to Lieut.-General the Honorable Alexander Duff, removed to the thirty-seventh regiment.

Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney, K.C.B., again reviewed the regiment in the Phœnix Park, on the 10th of September, in heavy marching order, and addressing the officers and men, he said, “that they were all he could wish, and that their movements excelled everything he had ever seen.”

On the 26th of September, His Majesty conferred the honorary distinction of a Knight Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath on Lieut.-Colonel John McDonald, of the NINETY-SECOND regiment.

The first division, consisting of four companies, under the command of Brevet-Major Stephen Noel, embarked on the 13th of October, and proceeded by canal-conveyance to Killaloe: two companies followed on the 17th, and the head-quarters and remaining companies, on the 18th of October, under the command of Major Winchester, Lieut.-Colonel McDonald, having proceeded direct to the head-quarters at Clare Castle, where they were stationed on the 22nd of October, and the regiment was distributed at several places in the county of Clare.

[Sidenote: 1832]

On the 9th of February, 1832, the head-quarter division from Clare Castle marched into Limerick, and was quartered in the New Barracks, where it was joined by the several detachments in the course of February and March.

A company, under the command of Captain John Gilbert Ogilvie, proceeded, on the 22nd of March, to Mount Pleasant, near Askeaton, in the county of Limerick, for the protection of property: it rejoined at head-quarters on the 4th of April.

Major-General Sir George Bingham, K.C.B., made his inspection of the regiment on the 7th of May, and stated that he was particularly gratified by the manner in which the officers and men went through the whole of the sword and stick exercise, being the first time he had ever seen it performed by an entire regiment. The appearance, movements, and interior economy of the regiment drew forth his commendation.

On the 9th of May, the regiment marched from Limerick for Fermoy.

Lieut.-General the Right Honorable Sir Hussey Vivian, Bart., K.C.B., commanding the forces in Ireland, inspected the regiment on the 6th of August, and expressed himself highly pleased with its appearance.

The subaltern’s detachment, stationed at Galbally, in the county of Limerick, was, on the 21st of December, called upon to protect the persons of two magistrates whose lives were endangered by the attack of a mob, while proceeding from thence towards Tipperary; at a place called Knockballinamaloo-Cross, the party were assailed with stones, and a general assault made on the troops, to their imminent danger. The magistrates ordered them to fire, and the result was that two of the mob were killed and several wounded.

The regiment was frequently employed in aid of the civil power, in keeping the peace, and in enforcing the collection of tithes; and in every instance its conduct and discipline received unqualified approval.

[Sidenote: 1833]

On the 1st of August, 1833, the regiment was divided into six service and four depôt companies, preparatory to the embarkation of the former for Gibraltar.

The depôt companies marched from Fermoy to Cork, and embarked for Londonderry, where they arrived on the 17th of August.

The depôt companies embarked at Londonderry on the 28th of October, and arrived at Glasgow on the 29th of that month; on the 30th of November they marched for Greenlaw.

[Sidenote: 1834]

The service companies having marched from Fermoy to Middleton, were conveyed in boats to Cork Harbour, where they embarked on the 21st of February, 1834, and arrived at _Gibraltar_ on the 10th of March.

On the 1st of May, 1834, the depôt companies were removed to Fort George.

[Sidenote: 1835]

The depôt companies were stationed at Fort George during the first six months of the year 1835, and in June were removed to Perth.

[Sidenote: 1836]

In January, 1836, the service companies proceeded from Gibraltar to _Malta_, where they arrived in February.

The depôt companies were removed in July from Perth to Ireland, and were stationed at Londonderry.

[Sidenote: 1837]

During the year 1837, the NINETY-SECOND remained stationed at Malta.

The regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir Henry Bouverie, K.C.B., commanding at Malta, on the 28th of November, when he remarked “the singular intelligence and steadiness shown by all the officers and men;” and added, “that the field-day had the best effect of any he had ever witnessed.”

In May the depôt companies proceeded from Londonderry to Armagh, and in September following to Mullingar.

[Sidenote: 1838]

The depôt companies were removed from Mullingar to Nenagh in May, and in September proceeded to Limerick.

On the 12th of July, 1838, His Royal Highness the Prince Maximilian of Bavaria landed at Malta, and attended a parade of the garrison: on the day following he examined the barracks occupied by the NINETY-SECOND, and expressed himself much pleased with every part of the interior economy of the regiment.

On the 30th of November, 1838, the regiment lined the ramparts at St. Elmo, while the “Hastings” (seventy-four guns,) entered the harbour with Her Majesty the Queen Dowager on board. On the following day the regiment was formed as a Guard of Honor in the square in front of the palace to receive Her Majesty, who landed to examine the accommodation prepared for her, and returned again on board the “Hastings.”

On the 4th of December, the Queen Dowager landed amidst the rejoicings of the inhabitants, and occupied the palace. The field officers, and the heads of departments, were presented to Her Majesty by the Governor in the evening, and the town and public buildings were splendidly illuminated.