The Royal Highlanders were stationed in Albany till the
summer of 1763, when they were sent to the relief of Fort Pitt, then besieged by the
Indians. The management of this enterprise was intrusted to Colonel Bouquet of the 60th
regiment, who, in addition to the 42d, had under his command a detachment of his own
regiment and another of Montgomery's Highlanders, amounting in all to 956 men. This body
reached Bushy Run about the end of July. When about
to enter a narrow pass beyond the
Run, the advanced guards were suddenly attacked by the Indians, who had planned an
ambuscade. The light infantry of the 42d regiment moved forward to the support of the
advanced guard, and driving the Indians from the ambuscade, pursued them a considerable
distance. The Indians returned and took possession of some neighboring heights. They were
again compelled to retire; but they soon re-appeared on another position, and continuing
to increase in numbers, they succeeded in surrounding the detachment, which they attacked
on every side. Night put an end to the combat; but it was renewed next morning with
increased vigor by the Indians, who kept up an incessant fire. They, however, avoided
coming to close action, and the troops could not venture to pursue them far, as they were
encumbered with a convoy of provisions, and were afraid to leave their wounded, lest they
might fall into the hands of the enemy. Recourse was, therefore, had to stratagem to bring
the Indians to closer action. Feigning a retreat, Colonel Bouquet ordered two companies
which were in advance to retire, and fall within a square which had been formed, which, as
if preparing to cover a retreat, opened its files. The stratagem succeeded. Assuring
themselves of victory, the Indians rushed forward with great impetuosity, and whilst they
were vigorously charged in front, two companies, moving suddenly round a hill which
concealed their approach, attacked them in flank. The assailants, in great consternation,
turned their backs and fled, and Colonel Bouquet was allowed to proceed to Fort Pitt
without further molestation. In this affair, the loss sustained by the Royal Highlanders
was as follows:- Lieutenants John Graham and James Mackintosh, 1 sergeant, and 26 rank and
file, killed; and Captain John Graham of Duchray, Lieutenant Duncan Campbell, 2 sergeants,
2 drummers, and 30 rank and file, wounded.
After passing the winter at Fort Pitt, eight companies of the Royal Highlanders were sent
on a new enterprise, in the summer of 1764, under Colonel Bouquet, now promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general. The object of this expedition was to repress the attacks of the
Indians on the back-settlers. After a harassing warfare among the woods, the Indians sued
for peace, which was granted, and the detachment returned to Fort Pitt in the month of
January, after an absence of six months. Notwithstanding the labors of a march of many
hundred miles among dense forests, during which they experienced the extremes of heat and
cold, the Highlanders did not lose a single man from fatigue or exhaustion.
The regiment passed the following year in Pennsylvania. Being ordered home, permission was
given to such of the men as were desirous of remaining in America to volunteer into other
regiments, and the result was, that a considerable number availed themselves of the offer.
The regiment, reduced almost to a skeleton, embarked at Philadelphia for Ireland in the
month of July 1767. The following extract from the Virginia Gazette of the 30th of that
month shows the estimation in which the Highlanders were held by the Americans:-
"Last Sunday evening the Royal Highland regiment embarked for Ireland, which
regiment, since its arrival in America, had been distinguished for having undergone most
amazing fatigues, made long and frequent marches through an inhospitable country, bearing
excessive heat and severe cold with alacrity and cheerfulness, frequently encamping in
deep snow, such as those that inhabit the interior parts of this province do not see, and
which only those who inhabit the northern part of Europe can have any idea of, continually
exposed in camp, and on their marches, to the alarms of a savage enemy, who, in all their
attempts, were forced to fly... In a particular manner, the freemen of this and the
neighboring provinces have most sincerely to thank them for that resolution and bravery
with which they, under Colonel Bouquet, and a small number of Royal Americans, defeated
the enemy, and insured to us peace and security from a savage foe; and, along with our
blessings for these benefits, they have our thanks for that decorum in behavior which they
maintained during their stay in this city, giving an example that the most amiable
behavior in civil life is no way inconsistent with the character of the good soldier; and
for their loyalty, fidelity, and orderly behaviour, they have every wish of the people for
health, honor, and a pleasant voyage.
With the exception of the unfortunate affair at Ticoneroga, the loss sustained by the 42d
in the field during this war was comparatively smaller than that of any other corps. The
moderate loss the Highlanders suffered was accounted for by several officers who served in
the corps, from the celerity of their attack and the use of the broadsword, which the
enemy could never withstand. "This likewise", says General Stewart, "was
the opinion of an old gentleman, one of the original soldiers of the Black Watch, in the
ranks of which, although a gentleman by birth and education, he served till the peace of
1748. He informed me that although it was believed at home that the regiment had been
nearly destroyed at Fontenoy, the thing was quite the reverse; and that it was the subject
of general observation in the army that their loss should have been so small, considering
how actively they were engaged in different parts of the field. 'On one occasion', said
the respectable veteran, who was animated with the subject, 'a brigade of Dutch were
ordered to attack a rising ground, on which were posted the troops called the King of
France's Own Guards. The Highlanders were to support them. The Dutch conducted their march
and attack as if they did not know the road, halting and firing, and halting every twenty
paces. The Highlanders, losing all patience with this kind of fighting, which gave the
enemy such time and opportunity to fire at their leisure, dashed forward, passed the
Dutch, and the first ranks giving their firelocks to the rear rank, they drew their
swords, and soon drove the French from their ground. When the attack was concluded, it was
found that of the Highlanders not above a dozen men were killed and wounded, while the
Dutch, who had not come up at all, lost more than five times that number'". |
