regiment was
inspected by Major-General Sir James Stewart, and reported complete.
The regiment was immediately removed to Guernsey, and, in 1796, was
reduced to 500 men—orders being issued to discharge all above that
number. In consequence of this measure the regiment was benefited by the
dismissal of some indifferent characters recruited in Glasgow and other
adjacent towns; so that, although reduced in numbers, it gained in
character. It was now an efficient body of men, and in 1797 was removed
to Ireland. At this period Lieutenant-Colonel Maclaine of Lochbuy was
removed to the Argyle Fencibles, and Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, an
officer of much experience, succeeded him.
During the Irish rebellion, this corps was actively
occupied ; and, after this unpleasant service, was employed as a Light
infantry corps in the mountains, under Sir John Moore, who kept it
constantly near his person. It was a gratifying compliment to a young
corps to be thus noticed by so correct a judge of military merit, under
whom they might expect to be kept in constant activity while action was
necessary, and their military experience and habits improved both by
precept and example. By the recommendation of General Moore, a
detachment of the regiment was ordered as a guard to 400 rebel prisoners
sent to Prussia, with directions that "the detachment should consist
entirely of Highland-ers, as the service required confidential,
trust-worthy men." [For a similar reason, a party of this regiment,
under Captain Alexander Graham, then quartered in Dublin, was chosen to
accompany the Magistrates when Lord Edward Fitzgerald was apprehended.]
After the party had performed this duty, and delivered their prisoners,
instead of being landed at Leith, as originally directed, they were sent
to Deal, on their return from the Continent, and disembarked in Kent,
without either money or necessaries. In this state they marched to
Holyhead, and crossed over to Ireland, the officer commanding drawing
subsistence at the different military stations as he marched along. He
joined his regiment with his party complete, and without a complaint
against any individual during this long march.
The regiment remained in Ireland till 1802, when they
crossed over to Scotland, and were reduced. In testimony of the
character of this regiment, I give the opinion of a respectable officer
and good judge, the late Colonel Scott of Horseleyhill. "In my long
service, I knew not more sober trust-worthy soldiers than those of the
Dumbarton regiment, and if at any time any unpleasant circumstance
occurred, the men enlisted in the country were exempted."
Thus every concurring testimony, the experience of
every officer of observation, and the unerring evidence of time and of
innumerable examples in our army, tend to prove that it is to the
agricultural population we must look for the best soldiers, and best
defenders of the country. They will not only fight with courage in the
field, but will raise and preserve the National character by their
conduct in quarters, and in no small degree contribute to the safety of
the State; for no State is more safe or free from foreign invasion, or
in less danger of attack, than when rival or neighbouring nations look
on her soldiers with a respect not unmixed with fear. Encroachments and
all causes of offence will be avoided and guarded against; and our
garrisons may be less numerous, and less expensive, and our military
establishments reduced. Such could not be the case, if our troops were
of dissolute habits, and of courage as unsteady as their principles.
Thus, by employing a proper description of men, the character of the
nation is maintained with honour, its defence is supported at less
expense, and a smaller number of men will be drawn from the productive
labour of the country. It has often happened that our colonial conquests
have been retaken, owing to the sickness, mortality, and disorganized
discipline of those left to defend them, originating in a great measure
from intemperance and immoral habits. The cheapness of spirituous
liquors in the colonies admitting of an intemperate use of them,
dissipation has frequently occasioned mortal diseases, aggravated by the
deleterious nature of the spirits, (being generally, hot,
fiery, and fresh from the still, as these are the cheapest and readiest
to be obtained), to such an extent as not only to weaken the garrison by
sickness and death, but to inspire with hope an enemy incapable of
resisting our attacks while temperance and discipline were preserved.
After the conquest of Guadaloupe in 1794, General Thomas Dundas was left
in the command of the island. His talents, zeal, and animated example,
preserved order and discipline in his garrison; but when he died,
disorganization followed, and the inhabitants who had been friendly, and
invited Sir Charles Grey to make a descent on the island, were now
irritated by the conduct of the troops. They rose, and with the
assistance of Victor Hugues, and a small body of men arrived from
France, attacked and defeated the troops in detail, and retook the
colony.
[The enemy were fully sensible of the talents of
General Dundas, of which they saw proof in the spirit with which he made
his attacks when the island was taken; but, instead of respecting, like
a generous liberal enemy, the memory of a gallant soldier, they showed
so different a feeling, that, with the revengeful and savage ferocity of
the revolutionary and republican school, they disinterred his body when
they got possession of the island, and, after burning it publicly)
scattered the ashes in the air; thus paying a greater compliment to this
brave and chivalrous soldier, whom the grave could not shelter from
their revenge, than if they had raised a monument of brass to prove,
that he " was wise, yet unassuming,—brave, mild, and generous. " (Mr
Secretary Dundas's Speech, 5th June 1795, on a motion to erect a
monument to General Dundas in St Paul's.)
When Guadaloupe was taken by General Beckwith and
Admiral Cochrane in 1810, I commanded a brigade of Light infantry, and
being anxious to show a mark of respect to an
officer whom military men might take as their model, and under whom I
served early in the war in Flanders, 1 proposed a subscription among the
officers, who united in similar sentiments, to erect a monument to his
memory. A sufficient sum was quickly obtained, the General and Admiral
warmly joining in this tribute, and an elegant marble monument, executed
by an eminent artist in London, was sent out; but as the cession of
Guadaloupe at the peace was contemplated, the monument was put up in
Trinidad, a colony permanently established as a part of the British
dominions.]
Unfortunately, such instances are not
singular.
To such an excess was drunkenness carried in the
garrison of Gibraltar, before the government of the Duke of Kent, (by
whose exertions that vice was greatly checked), that it greatly
diminished, if not destroyed, the high respect the Spaniards formerly
entertained for the British troops; and it was not till after the
experience of more than one campaign under the Duke of Wellington, that
the conduct of the army restored the confidence of that jealous nation.
That the character of British troops should be lowered in the esteem of
the world by the prevalence of a vice which may be said to be the root
and principal cause of immorality, crime, and unmilitary conduct,
whenever such has happened in our army, is a subject of deep importance,
and greatly to be deplored. When temperance prevails among the troops,
the men are orderly, quiet, and exemplary; crimes, misdemeanours, and
unmilitary conduct, rarely occur; and, as the vice generally originates,
and is encouraged by a comparatively small proportion, it is certainly
an object of vital importance to prevent as much as possible the
introduction into our military ranks of such men as not only vitiate the
principles, but, by their example, promote such habits as destroy the
health and constitution of our troops. On a reference to the conduct and
habits of the Highland regiments included in the preceding notices of
military Service, it will be found, that, without an exception, their
original habits were so temperate, and free from any tendency to excess
in the use of liquor, or otherwise, as to attract general observation ;
that this sobriety withstood many years of example and temptation; that
many corps, whose career of service was short, never changed to the
last; and that others preserved the same line of conduct till the
introduction of men of different characters, the force of example, and
the influence of climate, caused a relaxation, It was not till after
many years' service in India that climate so changed the habits of the
78th regiment, that directions to drink their own allowance of spirits,
and not to dispose of it to other soldiers, or to the inhabitants, was
no longer necessary.
The same moderation in the use of liquor prevailed in
the 42d during the American War, when their allowance was served out
twice a week; whereas to the other troops it was done daily, with an
officer present to direct the proper delivery and proper use of it; and
it was not till the recruits from Chatham, and the draft from the 21st
and 26lh regiments, were received, that any change took place.
Therefore, as there can be but one opinion as to the propriety of
preserving temperance among our troops, it is certainly of high
importance that so desirable an object should be accomplished. In the
Highlands many of the people are deplorably vitiated by smuggling, and
the operations of the Excise laws, with their train of false swearing,
hatred, jealousy, and revenge against informers; by fradulent habits,
bad payments, lying and deception, forced upon them, as they say, by
these laws; by the demands of landlords; and by the new customs and
manners now getting into fashion. Yet, notwithstanding these appalling
appearances, and the approach of a new order of things, ("the
encouraging and reviving pro-sped of Highland civilization," as the
changes are termed by some reporters of the state of religion and moral
improvements in the North), the evil may be checked, and pure religion,
morality, and fair dealing between man and man, may yet be preserved, if
a warning be taken from the fearful state of Ireland, where, as in the
Highlands, politics form no part of the complaints of the people. The
example of the peasantry of Ireland shows, in too strong colours, that
no increase of revenue to the Government, no increase of rent to the
landlord, can be equivalents for the disaffection, demoralization, and
despair of subjects and tenants, who contemplate relief only from the
destruction of those who, they think, cause their distress. It is a
calculation worthy of notice, what proportion of high revenue or high
rents is lost, or how much they are lessened in their value, when
collected, as in Ireland, under the protection of the bayonet, and when
tenants cannot take new farms without the risk of being shot at their
own doors. The Highlanders are yet far from this state; but the
approach, however distant, should be guarded against. We have still much
honourable principle and moral feeling. These may be destroyed, but they
may also be preserved ; so that, when a regiment is raised in the
Highlands, a party of them may be selected for important duties, (as in
the case of the Dumbartonshire), because "the nature of the service
requires confidential, trustworthy men."
