Part 9

On the 3rd of June the British brigades of the fifth division, to which the NINETY-SECOND belonged, were reviewed by Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, who expressed his entire approbation of their appearance, and his happiness at again seeing those that had served with such reputation in the Peninsula.

Napoleon left Paris on the 12th of June, and conformably to his usual plan of directing at once his whole force against some important point, he determined to attack the British and Prussian armies before the arrival of the Austrians and Russians, who were already in movement towards the frontiers. On the 15th, intelligence having been received that the French had entered the Netherlands, the NINETY-SECOND lay upon their arms during the night.

On the 16th of June, the division under Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Picton marched at daylight, and about two o’clock came within range of the enemy’s artillery in front of Genappe, at some farm-houses denominated _Les Quatre Bras_, where the main road from Charleroi to Brussels is crossed by another from Nivelles to Namur, and which served as the British communication with the Prussians on the left.

The NINETY-SECOND regiment was ordered to line a ditch in the front of this latter road, to the left of the farm-houses, and the Duke of Wellington took his station with it. The enemy poured a very hot fire of artillery on this post, and his cavalry charged it, but was received by a well-directed volley from the regiment, and forced to retire with great loss of men and horses. His cannonade still continued, and his cavalry again charged, and were repulsed as before. In the meantime the French infantry had been forming under cover of their cavalry attacks, assisted by their artillery, and now advanced upon the regiment, when the Duke of Wellington said, “NINETY-SECOND, you must charge these fellows!” These words were scarcely uttered, when every man of the regiment sprang over the ditch, and his orders were fully and literally obeyed. The enemy was not only driven from the houses and gardens about Quatre Bras, but chased for half a mile beyond it, until the regiment was recalled about nightfall, and the action ceased.

On this occasion the regiment had to lament the loss of its commanding officer, Colonel Cameron,[16] an officer who had led the NINETY-SECOND in many a sanguinary field. He fell as he had lived, with honor; and the Duke of Wellington thus expressed himself in his despatch to Earl Bathurst of the 29th of June, transmitting lists of the killed and wounded:—

“Your Lordship will see in the enclosed lists the names of some most valuable officers lost to His Majesty’s service. Among them I cannot avoid to mention Colonel Cameron, of the NINETY-SECOND, and Colonel Sir Henry Ellis, of the twenty-third regiments, to whose conduct I have frequently drawn your Lordship’s attention, and who at last fell distinguishing themselves at the head of the brave troops which they commanded.

“Notwithstanding the glory of the occasion, it is impossible not to lament such men, both on account of the public, and as friends.”

The Duke of Wellington particularly mentioned the twenty-eighth, forty-second, seventy-ninth, and NINETY-SECOND regiments in his account of the action at Quatre Bras.

The NINETY-SECOND regiment during the action was successively commanded by Colonel Cameron, Lieut.-Colonel James Mitchell, and Major Donald Macdonald. Colonel Cameron, Captain William Little, Lieutenant James John Chisholm, Ensigns Abel Becher, and John Ross McPherson were killed. Lieut.-Colonel James Mitchell, Captains George W. Holmes, Dugald Campbell, and William Charles Grant; Lieutenants Robert Winchester, Thomas Hobbs, Thomas McIntosh, James Ker Ross, Ronald McDonald, Hector Munro Innes, George Logan, John McKinlay, George Mackie, Alexander McPherson, Ewen Ross, Ensigns John Branwell, Robert Logan, Angus McDonald, Robert Hewitt, and assistant-surgeon John Stewart were wounded. Thirty-five rank and file were killed, and two hundred and forty-five were wounded.

The following is a copy of Major McDonald’s report of the action, written on the spot, to Major-General Sir Denis Pack, K.C.B.—

“SIR,

“Colonel Cameron and Lieut.-Colonel Mitchell having been both severely wounded, I have the honor to report, for your information, (not having been under your eye during the whole of the day,) that the NINETY-SECOND regiment repulsed repeated attacks of cavalry, and by a rapid movement charged a column of the enemy, and drove them to the extremity of the wood on our right.

“Our loss has been severe, as will be seen by the return of killed and wounded.

“I have, &c., (Signed) “DONALD MCDONALD, “_Major 92nd, Commanding_.

“Major-General Sir Denis Pack, K.C.B.”

The Prussians had been attacked on the 16th of June at Ligny, and were forced to retreat to Wavre, and the Duke of Wellington made a corresponding movement to keep up his communication with them. In the course of the morning of the 17th of June, the troops were withdrawn from Quatre Bras, and the regiment was directed to form the rear-guard of the infantry, until it occupied its position in front of _Waterloo_, at a place named Mont St. Jean, where it arrived without being molested by the enemy.

At the beginning of the memorable battle of Waterloo, which commenced about ten o’clock in the morning of the 18th of June, the NINETY-SECOND regiment, under the command of Major McDonald, with the rest of Sir Denis Pack’s brigade, was placed in support of some Belgian troops on the left of the main road to Brussels, and throughout the day was exposed to the fire of the enemy’s artillery and sharpshooters.

The allied troops to the right having repulsed the repeated attacks in that quarter, the enemy directed his attention in a more particular manner to this part of the British line; and after having succeeded in carrying the farm-house of _La Haye Sainte_, under a most tremendous fire of artillery, he drove the Belgians from their post, and established himself in that part of the position. The moment the Belgians were seen running past the regiment to the rear, the third battalion of the Royals, and the second battalion of the forty-fourth regiment on its right in brigade, moved to the point which had thus been abandoned, and for some time maintained their ground in a manner becoming British soldiers, although ultimately obliged to give way. The NINETY-SECOND at this time was reduced to less than three hundred men. A column of three thousand French was formed in the position in front of the regiment, which was concealed by the nature of the ground. The French Commander having possessed himself of so advantageous a post, and seeing the troops give way, considered everything gained, and ordered arms.

This was the state of affairs, when Major-General Sir Denis Pack galloped up to the regiment, and called out “NINETY-SECOND, you must charge, for all the troops to your right and left have given way.” Three cheers from the regiment expressed the devoted readiness of every individual in its ranks.

The French column did not show a large front. The regiment formed four deep, and in that compact order advanced, until within twenty paces, when it fired a volley, and instantly darted into the heart of the French column, in which it became almost invisible, in the midst of the mass opposed to it.

While the regiment was in the act of charging, and the instant before it came in contact with the enemy, the Scots Greys (second dragoons) came trotting up in rear of its flanks, when both corps shouted “_Scotland for ever!_” the column was instantaneously broken, and in its flight the cavalry rode over it. The result of this dash, which only occupied a few minutes, was a loss to the enemy of two Eagles, and two thousand prisoners, those that escaped doing so without arms or knapsacks.

After this brilliant affair, Sir Denis Pack rode up to the regiment, and said, “You have saved the day Highlanders, but you must return to your position; there is more work to be done!”

It would be superfluous to detail every part that the regiment had to act on this eventful day; how it stood in square, in line, and in column, never yielding an inch to enemies who considered themselves invincible when fighting, as in the present instance, under the direction and in the presence of their Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who frequently expressed his astonishment and admiration at the manner in which the British fought, particularly “_Les Braves Ecossais_,” as he termed them.

Towards evening two Prussian officers rode past the regiment inquiring for the Duke of Wellington, and their columns began to appear moving upon the enemy’s right, by the road from Wavre. At this time the French made a last effort by a general attack throughout the whole line, and the moment they were repulsed, the allied troops advanced, drove them from every position, and forced them to seek safety in flight, leaving their artillery, and everything that constitutes an army in the field.

The regiment was directed to desist from the pursuit, and return to its original ground, after giving three British cheers to the Prussian army. In this manner was achieved the Battle of Waterloo, the importance of which may be best estimated by the lengthened peace which has ensued; and the memory of this eventful victory will ever survive as a proud monument of the national glory of the British army.

On the 18th of June, the NINETY-SECOND regiment had Captains Peter Wilkie and Archibald Ferrier, Lieutenants Robert Winchester, Donald McDonald, James Ker Ross, and James Hope wounded. Fourteen rank and file were killed, and ninety-six wounded.

In acknowledgment of the services which the army performed in the battle of Waterloo, and the actions immediately preceding it, each subaltern officer and soldier present was permitted to count two years additional service, and silver medals were conferred on all ranks, bearing on the one side an impression of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and on the reverse the figure of Victory, holding the palm in the right hand, and the olive branch in the left, with the word “WELLINGTON,” over its head, and “WATERLOO,” 18th June, 1815, at its feet.

Lieut.-Colonel James Mitchell, who succeeded to the command of the regiment at Quatre Bras, was appointed a companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, and had the Order of St. Anne of Russia conferred upon him. Major Donald McDonald, who commanded the regiment during the whole of the battle of Waterloo, was promoted to the brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel, appointed a companion of the Bath, and received the order of St. Wladimir of Russia.

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were voted to the army with the greatest enthusiasm “for its distinguished valour at Waterloo;” and the NINETY-SECOND, and other regiments engaged, were permitted to bear the word “WATERLOO” on their colours and appointments.

The Highland Society of Scotland unanimously passed a vote of thanks “for the determined valour and exertions displayed by the regiment, and for the credit which it did its country in the memorable battles of the 16th and 18th of June, 1815.”

On the 19th of June, the allied army resumed its triumphant pursuit of the French towards Paris, in the neighbourhood of which city the regiment encamped on the 3rd of July, without having been employed on any affair of consequence during the march.

The following General Order was issued by the Duke of Wellington, on the 4th of July:—

“The Field Marshal has great satisfaction in announcing to the troops under his command, that he has, in concert with Field Marshal Prince Blucher, concluded a military convention with the Commander-in-Chief of the French army near Paris, by which the enemy is to evacuate St. Denis, St. Ouen, Clichy, and Neuilly, this day at noon, the heights of Monte Martre to-morrow at noon, and Paris next day.

“The Field Marshal congratulates the army upon this result of their glorious victory. He desires that the troops may employ the leisure of this day and to-morrow, to clean their arms, clothes, and appointments, as it is his intention that they should pass him in review.”

Louis XVIII. entered Paris on the 8th of July, and was once more reinstated on the throne of France. Napoleon Bonaparte having fled to the south of France surrendered himself a prisoner on the 15th of July to Captain Maitland, commanding the “Bellerophon” British ship of war, and the island of St. Helena was afterwards appointed for his residence.

While in camp near Paris, the British army was reviewed by the Emperors of Austria and Russia, and other Sovereigns in alliance with Great Britain, who paid very high compliments to the regiment, and greatly admired its Highland costume.

On the 28th of October, the regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Mitchell, broke up from its encampment, and marched to St. Germains; on the 30th to Montain Ville; and on the 2nd of November to Neuf le Vieux.

The regiment marched on the 10th of November to occupy the following villages—Monfort, Neuf de Vieux, Creçy, Mareile, and Mere.

The Brigade orders of the 29th of November, directed the regiment to proceed en route to Boulogne, and Major-General Sir Denis Pack, after alluding to the orderly and soldier-like conduct of the regiment both in camp and quarters, and expressing his regret at losing it from under his command, concluded as follows:—

“The services rendered by the NINETY-SECOND regiment in the Duke of Wellington’s campaigns in the Peninsula, and His Grace’s late short and triumphant one in Belgium, are so generally and so highly appreciated, as to make praise from him almost idle; nevertheless, he cannot help adding his tribute of applause.”

On the 30th of November, the regiment marched to Meulan, and arrived on the 15th of December at St. Leonard, near Boulogne; on the 17th it arrived at Calais, and embarked the same day for England.

The effective strength of the regiment consisted of thirty-six serjeants, sixteen drummers, and four hundred and forty-nine rank and file.

On the 19th of December, the regiment landed at Margate; on the 20th marched to Deal; on the 21st to Dover; and on the 22nd to Braebournlees Barracks, from whence it proceeded _en route_ to Colchester on the 28th of December.

[Sidenote: 1816]

The regiment arrived at Colchester on the 1st of January, 1816, where an authority was received to reduce its establishment to eight hundred rank and file.

On the 19th of February, the regiment marched from Colchester _en route_ to Hull, where it arrived on the 2nd of March. On the 22nd of August, the regiment proceeded to Berwick-upon-Tweed,—from whence it marched to Edinburgh on the 7th of September, and on the 12th went into quarters in Edinburgh Castle, being the second visit to its native country since the original formation of the regiment.

The Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia, having expressed a wish to see the NINETY-SECOND regiment, it was paraded on the 22nd of December accordingly, and His Imperial Highness expressed his admiration of the corps.

[Sidenote: 1817]

On the 7th of April, 1817, the regiment commenced its march by divisions to Port Patrick, there to embark for Ireland. It arrived at Belfast on the 24th of April, and on the 26th, detachments were sent to occupy barracks at Carrickfergus, Downpatrick, Crumlin, Ballimony, Newton Glens, Castle Dawson, Ballycastle, and Randalstown.

[Sidenote: 1818]

Major-General Sir Sidney Beckwith inspected the NINETY-SECOND regiment on the 28th of April, 1818, who issued a very complimentary order regarding its appearance.

On the 17th of June, the regiment commenced its march in two divisions for Castlebar, where the head-quarters arrived on the 28th, having about twenty detachments in various places.

The regiment was inspected on the 14th of October by Major-General Buller, who expressed his approbation of its appearance.

On the 4th of November, orders were received for the regiment to be held in readiness for embarkation at Cork, for Jamaica.

[Sidenote: 1819]

The regiment marched on the 8th of January, 1819, for Fermoy, where it arrived on the 20th of that month. On the 12th of April, it marched from Fermoy to Middleton barracks, and on the following day it embarked, at the Cove of Cork, on board the “Chapman,” “Nautilus,” and “Ocean” transports. The effective strength consisted of thirty-one serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and six hundred and three rank and file.

On the 14th of April, Major-General Benjamin Gordon expressed “his marked approbation of the steadiness and very soldier-like appearance of the regiment, and the regularity with which its embarkation was conducted yesterday.”

The regiment sailed on the 16th of April, and arrived at Jamaica on the 2nd of June. It disembarked at Kingston on the 4th of that month, and proceeded to Up-Park Camp, followed by the whole population of the town and its vicinity, who crowded from all quarters to witness so novel a sight as a Highland regiment in Jamaica.

Shortly after its arrival in Jamaica, the regiment was attacked by yellow fever in its most virulent form, and three companies, under the command of Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Blainey, marched, on the 5th of July, to Stony Hill barracks.

Such was the mortality and sickness in the regiment, that it was, in August, in a manner ordered to be dispersed. Another company marched on the 26th of August to Stony Hill, and a part of one to the Apostles’ battery. On the 28th of August a strong detachment, chiefly composed of convalescents, embarked on board the “Serapis” guard-ship, then at anchor off Port Royal.

Major Archibald Ferrier died at Up-Park Camp on the 22nd of September, and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Blainey having died on the 28th of August at Stony Hill, Brevet-Major Peter Wilkie assumed the command of the regiment, and on the 23rd of September removed with the head-quarters on board the “Serapis.” Nothing can depict the state of the regiment better than the following letter from Brevet-Major Wilkie to Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, Assistant Adjutant-General at Jamaica:—

“H. M. Ship Serapis, “25th September, 1819. “SIR,

“From the very peculiar situation of the NINETY-SECOND at the present moment, I am much afraid it will not be in my power to send in the returns required by the different public offices before Tuesday or Wednesday next, as having unfortunately lost the Adjutant, and every one acquainted with the important duty of the orderly room, in the course of the present month, I have consequently been necessitated to take into it any one that could write. Under these circumstances, I trust you will grant me all the time you can, to enable me to give them in with some degree of accuracy.

“I have, &c., (Signed) “PETER WILKIE, “_Captain 92nd regiment_.

“Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, Assistant Adjutant-General, Jamaica.”

The head-quarters were removed on the 9th of November from on board the “Serapis,” and returned to Up-Park Camp, where the several detachments joined, and the regiment was again assembled. It was remarked that the men who had been on board ship continued perfectly healthy after their return, whereas those who had been stationed at Stony Hill and the Apostles’ Battery, suffered considerably.

The total loss sustained by the regiment from the 25th of June to the 24th of December, 1819, consisted of ten officers,—namely, Majors Archibald Ferrier, and John Blainey (Brevet Lieut.-Colonel), Lieutenants Andrew Will, Thomas Gordon, Hector Innes, George Logan, Richard McDonnell, and George Mackie (Adjutant), Ensign Francis Reynolds, and Assistant Surgeon David Thomas; thirteen serjeants, eight drummers, and two hundred and fifty-four rank and file.

[Sidenote: 1820]

Lieut.-General John Hope was appointed colonel of the NINETY-SECOND on the 29th of January, 1820, in succession to General the Earl of Hopetoun, G.C.B., who was removed to the Forty-second, Royal Highland regiment.

The regiment was inspected on the 16th of February by Major-General Henry Conran, who expressed himself much pleased with the appearance and steadiness of the men under arms.

On the 10th of March, the head-quarters and five companies were removed from Up-Park Camp to Fort Augusta; and on the 14th of that month the other five companies proceeded to Port Royal. In both places the regiment enjoyed comparatively good health.

A detachment of fifty-five rank and file joined the regiment from Scotland on the 24th of May.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin, K.C.B., who was promoted from the twenty-eighth to the NINETY-SECOND regiment on the 2nd of September of the previous year, in succession to Lieut.-Colonel James Mitchell, who retired from the service, joined at Jamaica on the 24th of October 1820.

The regimental orders of the 30th of October directed that the dress, on parades and duties, should be white trousers, and that no other dress would be permitted.

On the 21st of December, two companies of the regiment marched from Fort Augusta to Spanish Town.

[Sidenote: 1821]

The head-quarters and three companies at Fort Augusta marched on the 3rd of January, 1821, to Spanish Town, and on the 4th, the five companies at Port Royal were removed to Fort Augusta: one of them was shortly afterwards ordered to join the head-quarters at Spanish Town.

A detachment of one hundred and eighty-five rank and file joined at Jamaica from the regimental depôt on the 13th of January, and on the 5th of February another detachment of twenty-nine joined, making a total of two hundred and fourteen men.

On the 8th of March, the regiment was again inspected by Major-General Henry Conran, commanding the forces at Jamaica, who expressed his approbation of the correct field movements and interior regularity of all its departments.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin, having on the 21st of June obtained leave of absence to return to England, Major Peter Wilkie assumed the command of the regiment. On the 18th of August one of the four companies stationed at Fort Augusta marched to join the head-quarters at Spanish Town; and on the 17th of October, the three companies at Fort Augusta, were removed to Port Royal.

On the 24th of October, orders were received from the Secretary at War to reduce the regiment to an establishment of eight companies, consisting of twenty-nine serjeants, twelve drummers, and five hundred and seventy-six rank and file. In consequence of this order, the regiment was formed into eight companies, six being stationed at head-quarters in Spanish Town, and two at Port Royal.

On the 10th of November, a detachment of the regiment, consisting of two subalterns, two serjeants, one drummer, and thirty-two rank and file, embarked for New Providence.

The fifty-eighth and sixty-first regiments being about to return to Europe, a general order was issued on the 28th of November, permitting the men to volunteer to other corps serving in Jamaica; consequently, thirty-three men from the fifty-eighth, and forty-seven from the sixty-first, joined the NINETY-SECOND regiment.

[Sidenote: 1822]

On the 15th of February, 1822, the two companies of the regiment stationed at Port Royal embarked for Port Antonio, where they were detached. On the 19th of February, the head-quarters and three companies marched from Spanish Town, embarked on the same day at Port Henderson, and landed at Falmouth on the 24th of that month; the other three companies embarked shortly afterwards for Montego Bay.

In March the regiment was stationed as follows: head-quarters and two companies at Falmouth, two companies at Port Antonio, two companies at Lucca, and two companies at Maroon Town.

Lieut.-Colonel David Williamson joined at Falmouth, in Jamaica, on the 10th of April, and assumed the command of the NINETY-SECOND, to which he had been appointed from half-pay of the fourth regiment, on the 4th of October of the previous year.

A detachment of recruits, consisting of sixty-nine rank and file, joined on the 25th of April. At this period the officers of the NINETY-SECOND were directed to wear wings, instead of two bullion epaulets for all ranks as heretofore.

One of the two companies stationed at Lucea marched on the 23rd of August to Montego Bay, and on the 27th of November was moved from thence to Maroon Town.