At the period of their arrival in Ireland the uniform of the
regiment had a very somber appearance. "The jackets were of a dull rusty-colored red,
and no part of the accoutrements was of a light color. Economy was strictly observed in
the article of clothing. The old jacket, after being worn a year, was converted into a
waistcoat, and the plaid, at the end of two years, was reduced to the philibeg. The hose
supplied were of so bad a quality that the men advanced an additional sum to the
government price, in order to supply themselves with a better sort. Instead of feathers
for their bonnets, they were allowed only a piece of black bear-skin; but the men supplied
themselves with ostrich feathers in the modern fashion, and spared no expense in fitting
up their bonnets handsomely. The sword-belts were of black leather, two inches and a half
in breadth; and a small cartouche-box, fitted only for thirty-two rounds of cartridges,
was worn in front above the purse, and fixed round the loins with a thick belt, in which
hung the bayonet. In these heavy colors and dark-blue facings the regiment had a far less
splendid appearance at a short distance than English regiments with white breeches and
belts; but on closer view the line was imposing and warlike. The men possessed what an
ingenious author calls 'the attractive beauties of a soldier; sun burnt complexions, a
hardy weather-beaten visage, with a penetrating eye, and firm expressive countenance,
sinewy and elastic limbs, traces of muscles strongly impressed, indicating capacity in
action, and marking experience of service". The personal appearance of the men has,
no doubt, varied according as attention was paid to a proper selection of recruits. The
appointments have also been different. The first alteration in this respect was made in
the year 1769, when the regiment removed to Dublin. At this period the men received white
cloth waistcoats, and the colonel supplied them with white goat-skin and buff leather
purses, which were deemed an improvement on the vests of red cloth, and the purses made of
badgers' skins.
"The officers also improved their dress, by having their jackets embroidered. During
the was, however, they wore only a narrow edging of gold-lace round the borders of the
facings, and very often no lace at all, epaulettes and all glittering ornaments being laid
aside, to render them less conspicuous to the Indians, who always aimed particularly at
the officers. During their stay in Ireland the dress of the men underwent very little
alteration. The officers had only one suit of embroidery; this fashion being found too
expensive was given up, and gold-lace substituted in its stead. Upon ordinary occasions
they wore light hangers, using the basket-hilted broadsword only in full dress. They also
carried fusils. The sergeants were furnished with carbines instead of the Lochaber axe or
halbert, which they formerly carried. The soldiers were provided with new arms when on
Dublin duty in 1774. The sergeants had silver-lace on their coats, which they furnished,
however, at their own expense".
The regiment remained in Ireland after its return from North America about eight years, in
the course of which it was occasionally occupied in different parts of that country in aid
of the civil powers, a service in which, from there conciliatory disposition, they were
found very useful. While in Ireland, a new company was added, as was the case with all the
other regiments on the Irish establishment. Captain James Macpherson, Lieutenant Campbell,
and Ensign John Grant, were in consequence appointed to the 42d.
In 1775 the regiment embarked at Donaghadee, and landed at Port Patrick, after an absence
from Scotland of thirty-two years. Impelled by characteristic attachment to the country of
their birth, many of the old soldiers leaped on shore with enthusiasm, and kissed the
earth, which they help up in handfuls. From Port Patrick the regiment marched to Glasgow.
The conduct of the regiment and its mode of discipline while in Ireland is depicted by an
intelligent officer who served in it at that time, and for many years both before and
after that period, in a communication to General Stewart. He describes the regiment as
still possessing the character which it had acquired in Germany and America, although
there were not more than eighty of the men remaining who had served in America, and only a
few individuals of those who had served in Germany previously to the year 1748. Their
attachment to their native dress, and their peculiarity of language, habits, and manners
contributed to preserve them a race of men separate from others of the same profession,
and to give to their system of regimental discipline a distinctive and peculiar character.
Their messes were managed by the non-commissioned officers, or old soldiers, who had
charge of the barrack-room; and these messes were always so arranged that in each room the
men were in friendship or intimacy with each other, or belonged to the same glen or
district, or were connected by some similar tie. By these means every barrack-room was
like a family establishment. After the weekly allowances for breakfast, dinner, and small
necessaries had been provided, the surplus pay was deposited in a stock purse, each member
of the mess drawing for it in his turn. The stock this acquired was soon found worth
preserving, and instead of hoarding, they lent it out to the inhabitants, who seemed
greatly surprised at seeing a soldier save money. Their accounts with their officers were
settled once in three months, and, with the exception of a few careless spendthrifts, all
the men purchases their own necessaries, with which they were always abundantly provided.
At every settlement of accounts they enjoyed themselves very heartily, but with a strict
observance of propriety and good humor; and as the members of each mess considered
themselves in a manner answerable for one another's conduct, they animadverted on any
impropriety with such severity as to render the interference of further authority
unnecessary.
Shortly after the arrival of the regiment in Glasgow two companies were added, and the
establishment of the whole regiment augmented to 100 rank and file each company. The
battalion, when complete, amounted to 1075 men, including sergeants and drummers. Little
inducement was required to fill the ranks, as men were always to be found ready to join a
corps in such high estimation. At this time the bounty was a guinea and a crown. It was
afterwards increased to three guineas; but this advance had little effect in the north
where the esprit de corps ad greater influence than gold.
Hitherto the officers had been entirely Highland and Scotch; but the lord-lieutenant of
Ireland, contrary to the remonstrance's of Lord John Murray, who saw the advantage of
officering the regiment with natives of Scotland, prevailed with the government to admit
two English officers into the regiment. His excellency even went so far as to get two
lieutenants' commissions in favor of Scotchmen cancelled, although they had been gazetted.
In consequence of hostilities with America, the regiment was order to embark for that
country. Before its departure the recruits were taught the use of the firelock, and, from
the shortness of the time allowed, were drilled even by candle-light. New arms and
accoutrements were supplied to the men by the government, and the colonel furnished them
with broadswords and pistols, iron-stocked, at his own expense. The regiment was reviewed
on the 10th of April 1776 by General Sir Adolphus Oughton, and being reported quite
complete and unexceptional, embarked on the 14th at Greenock, along with Fraser's
Highlanders. |
