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BEFORE concluding our history
of this, the oldest Highland regiment, we shall present a brief account of
the variations which have from time to time taken place in the dress of the
regiment, and wind up with short biographies of the regimental pets. For our
information on both these matters, as well as for the greater part of the
modern history of the regiment, we must again express our large indebtedness
to the manuscript memorials of Lieutenant-Colonel Wheatley.
It is a curious study to note
the many alterations that have taken place in the uniform of officers and
men since 1817. In 1817 the officers had a short-skirted coatee, elaborately
covered with rich gold lace, about nine bars on the breast over blue lappels,
hooked in the centre. It was also thickly covered with lace on the collar,
cuffs, and skirts. All ranks wore two heavy epaulets of rich bullion. The
field officers only wore scarves, which were their distinguishing mark of
rank. All the officers wore richly braided scarlet waistcoats, and frills
plaited very small, the shirt collar well exposed above the black silk
stock. Sky-blue cloth trousers, with a broad stripe of gold lace edged with
scarlet was the usual parade uniform; and parade invariably took place
morning and afternoon, every officer present, and in the above-mentioned
uniform, and with feathered bonnet. The gold-laced trousers were abolished
in 1823, and blue-gray substituted without lace, which was continued until
1829, when Sir Charles Gordon introduced the trews of regimental tartan,
which were fringed round the bottom, and up the outer seams. The fringe
system was continued for some years, when it was also done away with.
The undress in barracks was
in general a light gray long frock coat; but leaving the barracks, the
officers invariably appeared in the coatee and a tartan bonnet without
feathers, with a short red heckle in front, confined by a gold ring about
one-third up. This handy bonnet was also worn on the line of march with the
coatee. It was replaced in 1824 by a tartan shako, with black silk cord
ornaments and a heavy red ostrich plume, which again gave way to the regular
forage cap in 1826, first introduced with a broad top, and stiff in
appearance, with a small gold embroidered thistle in front. Before 1830,
when the single-breasted blue frock-coat, without any shoulder ornaments,
was introduced into the army, a richly braided blue frock-coat was worn; but
it was optional. White Cashmere trousers, narrow at the ankles with a gold
stripe edged with scarlet, silk socks, and long quartered shoes with
buckles, was also permitted for the evening (about 1819—20).
Before the adoption of the
tartan trousers, the officers’ dress was a strange mixture of Highland and
line. For instance, at the guard mounting parade in Dublin in 1819—20,
could anything, in the way of dress, be more absurd in a Highland regiment
than to see the officers for the Castle guards in full Highland dress, and
the five or six for other guards, the field officer, adjutant,
quarter-master, and medical officer, in white Cashmere pantaloons, and short
(under the knee) Hessian tassled boots, and that with a feathered bonnet?
All officers for guard ought to have been in the full dress of the regiment,
but it was put on by them with the greatest reluctance, and so seldom, that
the officers could not dress themselves, and their remarks reached the
barrack rooms, through their servants, which caused the dislike to the dress
to descend to the men, and for years had the direct effect of causing the
men to rail much against it. Since 1843, officers and men alike wear it on
duty and on parade, which ought always to have been the case. In 1823—24
the officers all wore wings, rich and heavy, which were discontinued in
1830, by order, and epaulets, with bullion according to rank (for the first
time) substituted; and. it is a singular fact that the men were authorised
to wear wings, by regulation, the same year; and still more singular, until
the epaulets were abolished 25 years afterwards, the non-commissioned
officers and men wore wings, and the officers epaulets. The laced lappels
and braided waistcoats disappeared in 1830, when lace was generally done
away with on the breast of the coat in the army. When the regiment returned
from the Peninsula in 1814, from being so long in the field, the feathers
had disappeared from the bonnet, and a little red feather on the front, the
same as on a shako, had been adopted. When the bonnets were renewed, the
rank and file were not allowed to have foxtails, under the impression that
it caused an unsteady appearance in the ranks. Why not the officers and
sergeants cause an unsteady appearance? Be that as it may, to the disgust of
the men, and a source of amusement to all the other Highland regiments, was
our "craw’s wing," a wirework 8 inches above the cloth, covered
with flats (almost free of anything like ostrich feathers) having a large
unmeaning open gap at the right side, famous for catching the wind, which
was ornamented with a large loose worsted tuft of white for the grenadiers,
green for the light company, and red for the others. Yet this hideous thing
was continued until the summer of 1821, when most willingly the men paid
about thirty shillings each to have the addition of "foxtails;"
yet these were a draw back, as the tails were not to hang lower than the top
of the dice of the tartan. The grand point was, however, gained in getting
rid of the frightful craw’s wing, and by degrees the tails descended to a
proper length. At this time there were a variety of heckles worn in the
bonnet, another piece of bad taste—white for the grenadiers, green for the
light company, the band white, and the drummers yellow, with each of them
two inches of red at the top, and the other eight companies (called
battalion companies) red. On going to Dublin in 1825, from Buttevant, the
colonel of the regiment, Sir George Murray, was the commander of the forces,
and at the first garrison parade, noticing the extraordinary variety of
heckles, asked an explanation as to the reason of any heckle being worn in
the regiment other than the red, it being "a special mark of
distinction," and desired that all other colours should disappear. The
next day every officer and man was in possession of a red heckle.
The white jacket was first
worn with the kilt in 1821, which was considered at first to be very odd. Up
to 1819, it was sometimes served out without sleeves; and when sleeves
became general, the soldiers were charged is. 3d. for them," for the
colonel’s credit." Until 1821 it was used as a waistcoat, or for
barrack-room wear. It is still in use in the Guards and Highland regiments,
notwithstanding its being a most useless article to the soldier. Instead of
being used, it has to be carefully put up ready for the next parade.
Moreover, why were the Guards and Highlanders left to suffer under it, when
the reason for doing away with it in 1830 was—"It having been
represented to the general commanding-in-chief that the frequent use
of dry pipe-clay, in the cleaning of the white jacket, is prejudicial to the
health of the soldiers." Surely the lungs of the Guards and Highlanders
were as vulnerable as those of the rest of the army, and their health and
lives equally precious. Many a time it was brought to notice; but "to
be like the Guards" was sufficient to continue it. Yet there is no
doubt the honour would be willingly dispensed with, and the getting rid of
it would be much to the men’s comfort. Let us hope it will soon disappear,
as well as the white coats of the band, still in use for all the army in
1873.
Until about 1840, never more
than 4 yards of tartan were put into the kilt, and until lately, it never
exceeded 4 to 5. The plaid up to 1830 contained about 2½ yards, for no use
or purpose but to be pushed up under the waist of the coat, taking from the
figure of the man.
Until 1822, to have trousers
was optional, even on guard at night. Many men were without them, and cloth
of all colours, and fustian, was to be seen. From soon after the return of
the regiment to Edinburgh after Waterloo, long-quartered shoes and buckles
were worn on all occasions. The shoes were deserving of the name given to
them —" toe cases." To such a ridiculous extent was the use of
shoes and buckles carried, that after a matching order parade, the spats had
to be taken off, and buckles put on before being permitted to leave the
barracks. The red and white hose cloth up to 1819 was of a warm, woolly,
genial stuff; but, for appearance, a hard cold thin article was encouraged,
and soon became so general, that it was finally adopted, and the warm
articles put out of use. At this time the regiment was in Richmond Barracks,
Dublin (1819—20), and, consequently had to go to the Royal Barracks for
guard mounting, and often from a mile or two farther to the guard, in the
shoe already described. In rainy weather, it was quite a common occurrence
to see men reach the guard almost shoeless, with the hose entirely spoiled,
and no change for twenty-four hours; yet, bad as this was, it had its
consolation, that "it was better than breeches and leggings," the
guard and review dress for the infantry at this time. Had gaiters been taken
into use, even in winter, and the strong shoe, it would have added much to
the comfort of the men. The hose being made out of the piece, with coarse
seams, were also badly adapted for the march, and not a man in twenty had
half hose and socks. The soldier in general is thoughtless, and at this time
no consideration for his comfort was taken by those whose duty it was do so,
either in eating or clothing. As a proof of it, we have seen that no
breakfast mess was established until 1819.
It was at Gibraltar, in the
beginning of 1826, that the gaiters were taken into daily wear and for
guard; and the frill, the pest of the men (because of the care that had to
be taken of it), and the soldiers’ wives who did the washing. There were
individuals who rejoiced in these frills, and to excel, paid from 2s. 6d. to
4s. for them. White leather pipeclayed gloves were also part of the soldier’s
dress at all parades, and "gloves off" became a regular word of
command before "the manual and platoon." In short, what with shoes
and buckles, frills, a stock up to the ears, about six yards of garters on
each leg, muskets with clear locks (burnished in many cases), and well
bees-waxed stocks and barrels, they were a roost singularly equipped set of
soldiers. Yet such was the force of habit, and what the eye had been
accustomed to, when the frills and buckles disappeared, many (officers)
considered it as an unwarrantable innovation; but not so the soldiers, who
derived more comfort from the change than can well be imagined.
In 1820, shoulder tufts,
about four inches, were substituted for the smaller ones hitherto worn by
the battalion companies. The following year they became a little longer. In
1824, though still short of a regular wing, a shell was added, but without
lace, stiffened with pasteboard. In 1827 a little lace was added, and in
1830 the ambition of having wings was consummated, as it became regulation
for the non-commissioned officers and men of Highland regiments to wear
wings, although, as already mentioned, the officers continued to wear
epaulets.
Patent leather chin straps
were first used in 1822. Before that a few only had narrow tape, which was
not always approved of~ it resting upon the whim of the officers or
sergeant-major.
Until about 1840, the lace on
the coats of both cavalry and infantry was of great variety, a few corps
having it all white, but, in general with a "worm" of one or two
colours of from one-fifth to one-third of the breadth of the lace. The 42d
wore white lace, with a red "worm" three-fourths of the white on
one side of the red, and one-fourth on the other. The 73d had the same lace,
continued from the time it was the 2d battalion of the regiment.
The breast, cuffs, collars,
and skirts were covered with lace, the cause of much dry pipeclaying. Some
corps had it with square bars, others in "frogs." The 42d had the
latter. The abolishing (about 1830) of the silver-lace worn by the sergeants
was regretted by many because it was an old-established custom, since 1769,
and also as it added much to the appearance of the sergeants’ uniform; but
when it came to be worn at a cost of from six to seven pounds for lace and
fringe, it was, without doubt, a hardship, and Sir Charles Gordon did well
in abolishing. [We omitted to notice the death of this excellent officer in
the proper place. It occurred while the regiment was at Vido in 1835. Sir
Charles had gone on leave to Switzerland, with unaccountable reluctance it
is said, though he was in apparently perfect health, and died at Geneva,
after a short illness, on 30th September. His loss was deeply lamented by
all ranks. The announcement of his unexpected death cast a gloom over the
regiment, which was long felt. His gentlemanly bearing and kindly
disposition made him universally loved and respected both by officers and
men. The regiment was fortunate in his successor—Major William Middleton,
who had served in the corps from 1803]
All the staff-sergeants wore
the turned-back blue lappels, barred with square lace, and hooked in the
middle, which was particularly handsome, and much admired. They ceased to
wear the silver at the same time as the others, more to their regret, as a
coat served many of them for years. The sergeant-major and quarter-sergeant
only continued it, being furnished to them, with handsome bullion wings,
along with their clothing.
The only changes of late
years have been the Highland jacket and dark hose, both for the better, and
the bonnet much reduced in size, also a decided improvement, all introduced
after the Crimean war. The kilt is also more ample, and better made, adding
to the better figure and appearance of the men, who are in all better
dressed at present (1873) than at any previous period. May they always
continue to be the pattern, as they ought to be, to all the Highland
regiments, and that not only in dress, but also in all the qualities of good
soldiers.
Out of the many pets of the
regiment, we present our readers with the lives of these three, as being on
the whole most worthy of record,—the dog "Pincher,"
"Donald" the Deer, and the "Grenadiers’ Cat."
"Pincher" was a
small smooth-skinned terrier that attached himself to the regiment on the
march in Ireland, at some stage near to Naas, its destination on coming home
after the Peninsular war in 1814. Pincher was truly a regimental dog. If he
had any partiality, it was slightly towards the light company. He marched to
Kilkenny with the regiment, back from Naas, remained with it during the
winter, and embarked for Flanders in the spring; went into action with it at
Quatre Bras, and was wounded somewhat severely in the neck and shoulder,
but, like a good soldier, would not quit the field. He was again in action
at Waterloo, accompanied his regiment to Paris, and, amidst armies of all
nations, Pincher never lost himself, came home, kept to his post, and went
over to his native country in 1817. Late in that year, or early in 1818, he
went with some men going on furlough to Scotland, who were landed at Irvine.
Poor Pincher ran after some rabbits in an open warren, and was shot by a
keeper, to the general grief of the regiment, when the intelligence reached
it, which was not until one the men returned from Scotland to join. In the
meantime, Pincher had hardly been missed. There was some wonder at Armagh,
and remarks made that Pincher was long on his rounds, but no anxiety
regarding him, because it was well known, that from the time of his joining
the regiment in 1814, it mattered not how many detachments were out from
headquarters, in turn he visited them all ; and it was often a matter of
wonder how he arrived, and by what instinct he found them out. Poor Pincher
was a good and faithful soldier’s dog, and, like many a good soldier, died
an inglorious death. His memory was respected while his generation existed
in the regiment.
"Donald" the Deer
was with the depot which awaited the regiment when it went into Edinburgh
Castle in September 1836 after landing at Granton from Corfu. He was a youth
at the time, and not so formidable as to cause his antlers to be cut, which
had to be done afterwards. He marched the three days to Glasgow in June
1837. He was some what mischievous that year, sometimes stopping the way
when he chose to make his lair, or with the meddlers and intruders on the
Green when the regiment was out at exercise. But it was in Dublin, in the
summer of 1838, that Donald came out. Without any training, he took his
place at the head of the regiment alongside of the sergeant-major. Whether
marching to and from the Phoenix Park for exercise, marching out in winter,
or at guard mounting on the day the 42d furnished the band and staff, Donald
was never absent. He accompanied the regiment to all garrison field-days,
went to feed until the time came for going home, was often a mile from them,
but always at his post when the time came. With one exception, about the
third-field day, the 79th were there for the first time, and Donald trotted
up to them when marching off. He somehow discovered his mistake, and became
uneasy and bumptious, and on reaching Island Bridge, when the 79th had to
turn off to Richmond Barracks, declined to accompany his new friends any
farther. Colonel Ferguson desired half a dozen men to hand over their
muskets to their comrades, and to drive Donald towards the Royal Barracks.
He went willingly, and happened to rejoin his own corps at the Park gate,
evidently delighted. He never committed a similar mistake. When the regiment
had the duty, he invariably went with the guard to the Castle; and whether
going or coming, the crowd was always dense, although a daily occurrence,
but Donald made his way, and kept it clear too, and the roughs knew better
than to attempt to annoy him. Indeed, he has been known to single out an
individual who did so, and give chase after him through the crowd. There was
never any concern about him, as he could well defend himself. The Greys were
in the Royal Barracks with the 42d, and permitted Donald to make his bed,
even by tossing down their litter, fed him with oats daily, &c. But
early in 1839 the Greys left, and the Bays’ succeeded them. It was very
soon evident that Donald and the new comers did not understand each other.
The Bays would not allow him to make his bed, nor did they give oats, and
Donald declared war against all Bays, when and wherever they came near him,
till at last a Bay man could hardly venture to cross the Royal square,
without looking out that Donald was out of the way. It gave rise to a clever
sketch made on the wall of the officers’ room at the Bank guard of the
"Stag at Bay," where Donald was represented as having one of them
up against a wall. In May 1839, he made nine days’ march to Limerick,
although very foot-sore and out of temper, and. woe to the ostlers in the
hotel-yard who interfered with him after a day’s march. Donald had another
failing, which his countrymen are accused of which was a great liking for
whisky or sherry. He suffered after a debauch, and it was forbidden to
indulge Donald in his liking in that way. At Limerick, as soon as the
officers’ dinner pip went, he made his way to the mess-room windows, which
were on the ground floor, to look for sherry, until a high fine had to be
made on any one who gave it to him. Donald afterwards marched to Templemore,
and finally to Cork. He had by this time become so formidable in his temper,
particularly to strangers, that it was clear he could not be taken on board
a ship to Corfu, even if the captain of the troopship would permit it; and,
to the regret of all, it was decided that Donald must be transferred to
strangers. Colonel Johnstone arranged with Lord Bandon, who promised that
Donald should have the run of his fine park at Bandon Castle while he lived,
and it was Donald’s own fault that it was not so. It was really an
effecting sight to see poor Donald thrown over and tied with ropes by those
he loved so well, and put into a cart to be carried off. His cries were
pitiful, and he actually shed tears, and so did some of his friends, for
Donald was a universal favourite. Thus the regiment parted with dear old
Donald, and nothing more was heard of him for many years.
In 1862, nearly 22 years
afterwards, Lieutenant-Colonel Wheatley being appointed to the Cork
district, soon after arriving at Cork, took steps to ascertain the
subsequent history of Donald. The reply was, "That from the day he was
set at liberty in the park, he declined having any intercourse with either
man or beast. That summer and winter he kept in out-of-the-way places to
which no one could approach; and that there had been so many complaints
against him, that about the end of two years his lordship reluctantly
sanctioned his being shot." Poor Donald ! the regiment and its ways was
the only home he ever knew, and his happiness left him when separated from
it. So has it been with many others besides Donald.
The "Grenadier’s
Cat" was picked up by the company in one of the encampments in
Bulgaria, probably in Gevrecklar, and was embarked at Varna for the Crimea.
Having seen it at the bivouac at Lake Touzla, Lieutenant-Colonel Wheatley
was induced, after the action at Alma had commenced, to ask what had become
of poor puss, when one of No. 1 company called, "It is here, sir,"
and opening his haversack, the animal looked out quite contented. It was
shut up again, and on making inquiry next morning, it was found that
"Bell" had escaped both death and wounds, and was amongst them in
the bivouac, well taken care of in so far as having an ample share of the
rations. It appears that the man who carried the cat and took care of it,
was exempted by the company from fatigue duties, or his turn of carrying the
cooking-kettles, &c. Like all the pets, it did not come to a peaceful
end. It finally became an inmate of the regimental hospital, being the only
quiet place to be found for it, got worried, and died at Balaclava. Such was
the end of Bulgarian "Bell," the only instance, probably, of a cat
going into action.
On 2d April 1872 took place
one of the most interesting events in connection with the history of the
Black Watch, viz., the unveiling in Dunkeld Cathedral of a magnificent
monument (a plate of which we give) to the memory of the officers,
non-commissioned officers, and men of the regiment, who fell in war from the
creation of the regiment to the close of the Indian mutiny. The monument,
which had been in preparation for several years, was subscribed for by the
officers of the regiment, and was executed by Mr John Steell, R.S.A., the
celebrated Scottish sculptor. It is placed in the vestibule of the
cathedral, at the east end of the choir, and is the largest and one of the
finest mural monuments ever erected in Scotland.
The monument, as we have
indicated, is a mural one, having for its principal feature a beautiful
piece of sculpture in alto relievo. As originally designed by the
artist, this composition was on a comparatively small scale. When, however,
the sketch came to be submitted to the officers of the regiment, they were
so much pleased with the idea embodied in it that they resolved to have the
figures executed of life size, and increased their contributions
accordingly. Standing out against a large pointed panel of white marble, the
sculptured group, which is worked out in the same material as the
background, represents an officer of the 42d visiting a battle-field at the
close of an engagment to look for some missing comrade. The point of time
selected is the moment in which the searcher, having just discovered the
body of his friend, stands with uncovered head, paying mute homage to
departed valour. The central figure of the composition is admirably modelled,
the expression of the soldier’s countenance being in fine keeping with the
calm and subdued tone which pervades the whole work. On the left, beneath
the remains of a shattered gun-carriage, lies the body of a young ensign,
his hand still grasping the flag he had stoutly defended, and his face
wearing a peaceful expression, as befitted a man who had died at his post.
Other accessories combine with those just mentioned to suggest the grim
realities of war; but the artist has so toned his composition that the mind
is insensibly led to dwell on that other aspect of the battlefield in which
it speaks of danger braved and duty nobly done. A slab underneath the
sculpture bears the following inscription:-
IN MEMORY OF
THE OFFICERS,
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS,
AND
PRIVATE SOLDIERS
OF THE
42d ROYAL HIGHLANDERS—THE
BLACK WATCH—
WHO FELL IN WAR
FROM
THE CREATION OF THE REGIMENT
TO
THE CLOSE OF THE INDIAN
MUTINY,
1859.
THE TEN INDEPENDENT
COMPANIES OF THE PREACADAN
DUCH, OR BLACK WATCH, WERE FORMED INTO A
REGIMENT ON THE 25TH OCTOBER
1739, AND THE
FIRST MUSTER TOOK PLACE IN MAY
1740,
IN A FIELD BETWEEN TAYBRIDGE
AND ABERFELDY.
Here, ‘mong the hills that
nursed each hardy Gael,
Our votive marble tells the
soldier’s tale;
Art’s magic power each
perished friend recalls,
And heroes haunt these old
Cathedral walls.
Erected by the Officers of the
Corp.
1872.
On either side of the above
inscription are recorded the names of the hard-fought fields in which the
regiment gained its enviable reputation. How many memories are recalled as
one reads the long roll of historic battlegrounds—" Fontenoy,
Flanders, Ticonderoga, Martinique, Guadaloupe, Havannah, Egypt, Corunna,
Fuentes D’Onor, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula,
Waterloo, Alma, Sebastopol, Lucknow !" The selection of a site for the
monument was determined by considerations connected with the history of the
regiment. The gallant 42d having been originally drawn chiefly from
Perthshire, it was felt to be appropriate that the memorial intended to
commemorate its fallen heroes should be erected in that county; and all will
concur in the propriety of the arrangement by which a shrine has been found
for it within the venerable Cathedral of Dunkeld.
For the following account of
the ceremony we are indebted to the Scotsman of 3d April :-1872
A detachment of the 42d,
under the command of Major Macpherson, had been sent down from Devonport to
perform the ceremony of handing over the monument to the custody of the Duke
of Athole, and also to place over it the colours under which the regiment
had fought on many a bloody field. In the vestibule of the cathedral were
the Duke and Duchess of Athole, the Duchess Dowager of Athole, and many
other distinguished persons.
Upon entering the vestibule,
Major Macpherson, younger of Cluny, placed the old colours of the regiment
over the monument. He then requested the Duchess-Dowager to unveil the
monument; which having been done, Major Macpherson said—May it please your
Grace, ladies, and gentlemen—We, a detachment of the 42d Royal
Highlanders, have come here to deposit the old colours of the regiment in
Dunkeld Cathedral—a place which has been selected by the regiment as the
most fitting receptacle for the colours of the 42d—a regiment which has
been essentially connected with Pertlishire. In the name of the officers of
the regiment, I have to express to his Grace the Duke of Athole our kindest
thanks for the great interest he has taken in this memorial, which I have
had the too great honour to ask the Duchess-Dowager to unveil; and if I may
be allowed, I would express to your Grace the kindest thanks of the regiment
for the great interest the late Duke of Athole took in this monument.
The Duke of Athole then said—You
have this day paid a great compliment to the county of Perth, and to this
district in particular. By the placing of this beautiful monument in our
cathedral you have enhanced its value, and by placing over it your time and
battle-worn colours. I can assure you we shall value the possession of this
monument excessively, and do our utmost to preserve it from all harm. I
trust that the cloud which is now hanging over the connection between the
42d and Perthshire will yet be dispelled, and that the old ties may not be
broken, and that we may yet see the ‘Freiceadan Dubh’ localised in
Perth. I need not allude to the services of the 42d—they are far too well
known to require comment on my part. One of the earliest colonels of the
regiment was one of my own family—Lord John Murray; and at different times
a great many men from Athole have served in your ranks. Members of almost
every large family in Athole have at one time or other been officers in the
corps. Many relatives and friends of my own have likewise served with the
regiment. His Grace concluded by asking Major Macpherson to convey to the
officers of the 42d the thanks of the county of Perth for the honour they
had done to the county.
At the close of the
proceedings a salute of 21 guns was fired from a battery placed on Stanley
Hill.
After the ceremony the
Duchess-Dowager entertained a select party at her residence to lunch. The
detachment of the 42d and the Athole Highlanders at the same time partook of
dinner in the Servants’ Hall. When the dinner had been concluded, the
Duchess-Dowager, the Duke and Duchess of Athole, and party, entered the
Servants’ Hall, where the Dowager-Duchess proposed the health of the 42d,
a detachment of which regiment had come such a long distance in order to
place their beautiful colours in the Cathedral of Dunkeld. Her Grace having
made a touching allusion to the various battles in which the colours had
been borne, remarked that there was no better place where the regiment could
lodge them than the old historical cathedral of the city where the corps was
chiefly raised. The colours had been given in charge to the Athole
Highlanders, and she was sure that they would be as proud to look upon them
hanging on the walls of the Cathedral as the 42nd themselves would be to see
them in the midst of battle, and she might assure the detachment that the
utmost care would be taken of them.
Major Macpherson returned
thanks on behalf of the officers and men of the 42nd. He stated that the
officers had taken a vote as to where the colours should be lodged, and the
majority were in favour of having them placed over this monument in Dunkeld
Cathedral, on the banks of the Tay, where the regiment was originally
formed. He begged, on behalf of the officers and men, to thank Her Grace for
the exceedingly kind reception which had been accorded to them during their
stay in Dunkeld, and concluded by calling upon the men to drink to the
health of the Duchess-Dowager of Athole. The original colours of the 42nd
are in the Tower of London.
The colours placed in Dunkeld
Cathedral were carried through the Crimean campaign and the Indian Mutiny.
In the autumnal maneuvres of
1871, the Black Watch, as might be surmised, performed their part
brilliantly, and to the satisfaction and gratification of all present, the
foreign officers especially awarding them the palm as models in every
respect of what soldiers ought to be; indeed, their praises were in the
mouths of all.
In September 1871, the
regiment went to Devonport; and in February 1873, in accordance with the
scheme for the establishment of military centres, they were allocated to
Perth in conjunction with the 79th.
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