Government having determined to raise Fencible
regiments on a more extended scale of service than those embodied in
1793, Major Baillie of Dunean received Letters of Service to raise a
Fencible corps of 600 men, with the privilege of appointing one field
officer with permanent rank in the army.
The service of the men was to extend to England,
Ireland, and the British Isles. Major Gordon Gumming of Pitlurg was
appointed to the permanent step of lieutenant-colonel. The Letters of
Service were dated the 21st of November 1794, but the corps was not
completed till October 1795, when the whole was embodied at Inverness,
under the name of the Loyal Inverness Fencible Highlanders. Though the
uniform was the full Highland garb, there were not more than 350
Highlanders in the regiment. A considerable proportion of the men was
from the Lowlands of Aberdeenshire; a few from the South Lowlands; and
some from England; with about forty Welshmen, who appeared more partial
to the plaid than some of the Highlanders. To the Lowlanders of
Aberdeen, as well as Perthshire, it was more objectionable than to
either the English or Irish. When dislikes and jealousies subsist
between neighbouring countries or districts, the nearer they are, the
more bitter their animosities. The Spaniards and Portuguese hate one
another more cordially than they do any other people on earth. Not
seventy years ago, antipathies of this nature were very prevalent among
this now united people of the Lowland and Highland
borders of Angus, Perth, and Stirling; nor was there a town in Scotland
where prejudices ran stronger against the Mountaineers than in Perth.
Any anecdote favourable to character or conduct was received with a kind
of credulous contempt, or ascribed to that species of virtue sometimes
seen among savages. In no town in England, or in any other country
wholly strangers, could they be more ridiculed for their poverty, their
dress, and all their real or supposed characteristics of ferocity,
ignorance, indolence, and superstition, than by the people of that city,
in the daily view of the Grampians, and in constant communication with
the inhabitants. I know not if it was any remnant of this feeling that
made some of the Lowlanders assume the garb with some degree of sulky
dislike, while the young men of Wales wore it with great cheerfulness,
and seemed to be quite pleased with their own appearance when they put
it on.
Immediately after the final inspection, the corps was
ordered for Ireland, without waiting for clothing or arms, which were
delivered to them at Glasgow, as they marched through to embark.
Kilkenny was their first quarters in Ireland; but, in the course of a
few years, they traversed the greatest part of that country. Colonel
Baillie died in 1797, and Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon Cumming was
appointed Colonel. [Colonel Gordon offered
to raise a regiment at the same time as Colonel Baillie, but lest their
recruiting should interfere with each other, they united, and formed one
corps.]
The recital of the intestine commotions of distant
ages, with their characteristic incidents, and the chivalrous fidelity
of each party to the cause in which it had embarked, seldom fails to
command fixed attention, and to inspire a deep interest. Their
remoteness softens down the more unpleasant sensations ready to be
awakened at the idea of the mi-sery of a country in such a state, where
perhaps brother was arrayed against brother, and friend against friend:
And when we read of the battles between the houses of York and
Lancaster, of the feuds between the Borderers of England and Scotland,
of those of the Clans, and of the chivalrous exploits of Montrose and
others, in the different intestine commotions and feuds down to that of
1745; the interest with which the imagination views the heroism
displayed, outweighs the painful consideration of individual suffering,
and mitigates the regret, that talents and courage, which ought only to
be exerted against an enemy, and in support of the honour, liberty, and
independence of the country, should be wasted by intestine conflict.
The Rebellion in Ireland is too recent to be read
with any feeling but that of regret; nor does the recital of the
battles in America, however successful, cause any very agreeable
emotions. But on those occasions when the Americans behaved with more
than usual bravery, it affords a satisfaction to perceive, that the
descendants of our forefathers retain a part of their ancient character,
although transplanted to a distant region. The well known anecdote of
James II. at the battle of La Hogue, shows
that, however blinded by religious bigotry, he felt strongly for the
honour of his country's arms; and although so much depended on the
success of that battle, and in overpowering or scattering the English
fleet; yet, when he was informed that one of the English line of battle
had fled, he exclaimed, in a rage, that it was false, as an English
man of war never ran away.
The Inverness-shire Fencibles were actively employed
during the Rebellion, and on every occasion behaved with spirit. But,
actuated by the considerations I have just noticed, and from the
unpleasant feelings which many of the events of the late unhappy
insurrection creates, with so few circumstances to relieve them, I wish
to abstain from all the details of the particular duties of the
different corps employed on that occasion; and following the same rule
in this instance, I shall only add, that, when placed in what was called
free quarters, as in an enemy's country, the soldiers composing this
corps conducted themselves throughout with great and conciliating
moderation towards the misguided and unfortunate inhabitants.
After the suppression of the Rebellion, in compliment
to their good behaviour, the designation of the corps was changed to
"the Duke of York's Royal Inverness-shire Highlanders." The
establishment was increased, and blue facings were substituted for the
former, which were yellow. In 1801, the whole regiment made a voluntary
offer of their service for any part of the world. This spirited offer of
the corps is highly creditable to the discipline of Colonel Gordon and
his officers. Thus ready for the service of their country will British
soldiers always be found when they are properly treated, when their
feelings are consulted, and when the nature of their duty, and what may
be expected of them, are fully explained. In cases where this spirit has
failed in producing the proper effect, the fault has generally, if not
always, consisted in the want of address, of proper management, and of
proper attention to the soldiers on the part of those who had the
immediate command, or who had been specially intrusted with such orders
and instructions. In those instances of failure, or apparent want of
spirit in corps, which I have had occasion to notice, (in the course of
my attempt to give an account of the conduct, character, and service of
Highland regiments), it invariably proceeded from a want of previous
explanation, and a consequent misapprehension on the part of the
soldiers, or the misrepresentations of malicious and designing men. As I
will more fully explain afterwards;, no improper spirit would have been
displayed by the detachments of the 42d and 71st regiments, or by the
Athole Highlanders, Grant Fencibles, &c. had it not been for these
causes; and as they are so easily avoided, and as a proper British
spirit may be easily preserved among our regiments, these circumstances
have been more frequently alluded to, as a warning not unworthy the
attention of those who may henceforth be intrusted with the command of a
spirited, generous soldiery, emulous of glory, and jealous of the
character of their native country.
This voluntary offer of the Inverness-shire Fencibles,
on which the preceding reflections are founded, could not be accepted,
as the speedy termination of the war put an end to all active
operations, and the regiment had no opportunity of showing how far their
regular and approved conduct in quarters could be confirmed by their
courage, and success in the field.
In 1802, the regiment was removed from Ireland, and
reduced at Stirling in the month of March.
