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NOT many months elapsed from
the time of their allocation to Perth before the Black Watch were again
called upon to engage in actual service. On the Gold Coast of Africa,
mischief had been brewing for many years, and during the course of 1873 the
conduct of Coffee Calcallee, king of the barbarous country of Ashantee, had
been such that unless a decisive blow were immediately struck, Britain would
be compelled to resign possession of her territory in that part of the
African coast. With the Dutch possessions on the Gold Coast, ceded in 1872,
English territory extended for many miles east and west of Cape Coast
Castle, the seat of government The Ashantee territory extends northwards
from the Gold Coast to a distance of about 300 miles, its middle being
traversed by the river Prah, which flows in the upper part of its course
from east to west, but turns at Prah-su towards the south, and reaches the
sea at Chamah, to the west of Cape Coast Castle. The capital of the Ashantee
territory is Coomassie, about 100 miles directly north from Cape Coast
Castle, and about half that distance north of Prah-su. The population of
Coomassie at the commencement of the campaign was probably between 20,000
and 30,000. Here the despotic King of Ashantee lived in great state, and in
the indulgence of the superstitious and terribly cruel practices known as
the Ashantee " Customs."
The measures hitherto taken
to keep the Ashantees in their place had been so inadequate, that their
kings had become intolerably bold and confident, and had indeed acquired an
utter contempt of the British power on the Gold Coast. King Coffee Calcallee
resolved, about the end of 1872, - to strike such a blow as would utterly
stamp out the British rule on that coast, and in January 1873 an army of
60,000 warriors—and the Ashantees, though cruel, are brave and warlike—was
in full march upon Cape Coast Castle. The whole force at the disposal of
Colonel Harley, in whom the administration was vested, was about 1000 men,
mainly West India troops and Houssa police, with some marines. It was
estimated that a contingent of about 60,000 would be raised from the
friendly tribes, but this number figured only on paper. By April the
Ashantees were within a few miles of Cape Coast Castle, and things were
getting desperate, when, in the beginning of June, a small force of marines,
under Lt.Col. Festing, arrived from England. With this and other small
reinforcements, the English managed to keep the barbarians at bay until the
arrival, on October 2d, with his staff, of Major-General Sir Garnet J.
Wolseley, who had been selected to command a force which was being organised
in England to sweep back the threatened horde. His arrival inspired the
troops with confidence, and by the end of November, after much hard
preliminary work, the Ashantee force was in full retreat on Coomassie, and
in another month General Wolseley, with his staff and 500 sailors and
marines, was at Prah-su.
Meantime the small force
which had been organising in England was on its way to the scene of
operations. The 42nd was the principal regiment of the line, as a large part
of the 23rd Welsh Fusileers had to re-embark, owing to the desertion of some
thousands of native carriers who had been engaged to carry the necessary
baggage. The Black Watch, accompanied by a considerable number of volunteers
from the 79th, left Portsmouth on the 4th of December 1873, and disembarked
on the 3d and 4th of January 1874. Besides the 23rd, 42nd, and 2d battalion
Rifle Brigade, there were detachments of Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers,
and Royal Marines, which, with the force already on the ground, formed the
army with which Sir Garnet Wolseley was to pierce into the very heart of the
Ashantee kingdom, through a country of marshes and matted forests, the
growth of centuries, and forming an almost impenetrable ambush for the
enemy. As Lord Derby remarked, this was to be "an engineers’ and
doctors’ war." The engineers worked admirably in the construction of
roads, bridges, telegraphs, and camps; and it became simply a question
whether the British soldiers would be able to hold out against the
pestiferous climate long enough to enable them to reach Coomassie and return
to the Gold Coast ere the heavy rains set in in the end of February. Happily
the energy, skill, and knowledge of General Wolseley were quite equal to the
emergency; and backed by an able and determined staff and his small force of
brave and willing soldiers, he accomplished his mission with complete
success.
The difficulty in procuring
native carriers caused some delay after the landing of the force at Mansu,
some distance to the north of Cape Coast Castle,—which delay, a 42nd
officer said with truth, "did more harm to our men than all the hard
work in Ashantee." To Europeans idleness in such a climate is utterly
prostrating. In the dearth of carriers, the 42nd men themselves, greatly to
their honour, volunteered to act as porters. On the 23d of January General
Wolseley with the advanced guard had crossed the Adansi Hills, and fixed his
headquarters at Fomannah, the palace of the Adansi king. On the 26th Colonel
M’Leod of the 42nd, who commanded the advanced guard, took Borborassie.
After this service the 23rd Fusileers, 42nd, Rifle Brigade, the 2nd West
India Regiment, and the Naval Brigade, which by this time had reached
Prah-su, were brought forward, resting on Insarfu. They encamped on the
night of the 30th about that place, and about two miles north of it, towards
the enemy’s main position at AmoafuL The advanced guard, under Colonel M’Leod,
was at Quarman, within a mile or two of the enemy’s position.
The entire country hereabout
is one dense mass of brush, penetrated by a few narrow lanes, "where
the ground, hollowed by rains, is so uneven and steep at the sides as to
give scanty footing. A passenger," to quote the London News’ narrative,
"between the two wails of foliage, may wander for hours before he finds
that he has mistaken his path. To cross the country from one narrow clearing
to another, axes or knives must be used at every step. There is no looking
over the hedge in this oppressive and bewildering maze. Such was the
battlefield of January 31st. The enemy’s army was never seen, but its
numbers are reported by Ashantees to have been 15,000 or 20,000. Its chief
commander was Amanquatia, the Ashantee general. The Ashantees were generally
armed with muskets, firing slugs; but some had rifles. As they were entirely
concealed in the bush, while our countrymen stood in the lane or in the
newly-cut spaces, precision of aim was no advantage to our side."
The main body of the enemy
was encamped on the hill rising towards the town of Amoaful; but thousands
of them also must have been skulking in the bush through which the small
British force had to march before reaching the encampment. At early dawn on
the 31st the British force moved upon the village of Egginassie, where the
first shots were fired from an Ashantee ambush. The force was carefully
arranged to suit the nature of the ground, with a front column, a left
column, a right column, and a rear column, all so disposed that when they
closed up they would form a square, the columns taking in spaces to the
right and left of the central line of advance, so as to prevent any attack
on the advancing front centre.
The front column was
commanded by Brigadier-General Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., C.B. It
consisted of the 42nd, under Major Baird, Major Duncan Macpherson, and Major
Scott, a detachment of the 23rd Fusileers, Captain Rait’s Artillery,
manned by Houssas, and a detachment of the Royal Engineers. The left column
was commanded by Brigadier-Colonel M’Leod of the 42nd, and the right
column by Lt.-Col. Evelyn Wood, 90th Light Infantry; part of the right
column consisted of miscellaneous native African levies, under Captain Furze
of the 42nd. The paths through the jungle were cut for each column of troops
by large parties of native labourers.
Thus clearing their way
through the jungle, and often scarcely able to obtain foothold from the
slippery state of the marshy ground, the force advanced against the enemy.
When the front of the small force had got a few hundred yards beyond the
village of Egginassie, it was assailed by a tremendous fire of musketry from
an unseen foe, very trying to the nerves even of an experienced and
well-trained soldier. By this time five companies of the 42nd were in
skirmishing order. The slugs were dropping thick and fast; had they been
bullets, scarcely a man of the Black Watch would have lived to tell the
tale. As it was, there were few of the officers who did not receive a
scratch, and nearly 100 of the men were wounded. Major Macpherson was shot
in the leg, but limped on with a stick, and kept the command for some time,
when he was compelled to give it up to Major Scott. It was at this critical
moment that Capt. Rait’s gun—there was no room for two —came into
action at 50 yards from the enemy, on the direct line of advance. It soon
forced the enemy to clear the road. In a moment they gave way upon their own
left, and, pressed by the 42nd, began to yield ground.
This manoeuvre was repeated,
until Sir Archibald Alison, seeing that the moment had come, and observing
the high spirits of the men, ordered the pipers to play and the regiment to
charge. Forward they sprang, with a ringing cheer, straight at the concealed
foe, who, immediately giving way, scrambled pell mell down the hill and up
to the village of Amoaful on the opposite side. By half-past eleven the
village was in the hands of the British force. It was not, however, till
after two that the fighting was over, as the flank parties, commanded by the
Colonel of the 42nd, had much more trouble and numerous casualties in
fighting and clearing their way through the bush. Of the 42nd Bt.-Major
Baird was severely wounded, from which he died at Sierra Leone on the 6th of
March. Major Macpherson, Captains Creagh and Whitehead, Lts. Berwick,
Stevenson, Cumberland, and Mowbray, and 104 men wounded.
On Feb. 1st, the day after
this signal victory, the adjacent village of Becqueh was captured and
destroyed by Col. M’Leod, with the naval brigade and several detachments,
supported by portions of the 42nd and 23rd. On the 2d, the army was at
Agemanu, six miles beyond Amoaful, every inch of the ground between the two
places being disputed by the enemy. On this day Lt. Wauchope of the 42nd was
slightly wounded. On the 3d, Sir Garnet moved by the westerly road,
branching off to the left from Agemanu, through Adwabin and Detchiasa to the
river Dah or Ordah, the enemy again opposing the advance and hanging round
the flanks of the force. King Coffee Calcallee had tried to stop the advance
of the British by offering to pay an indemnity, but in vain, as no reliance
whatever could be put in any of his promises; the King therefore resolved to
dispute the passage of the river. The battle of Ordah-su, as it is called,
was fought on Feb. 4th, and lasted seven hours. The troops reached the Dah
on the evening of the 3d. The engineers worked through the night at the
bridge, and in the morning the advanced guard, the Rifle Brigade, and some
native troops under Col. M‘Leod, crossed over. Sir Garnet Wolseley, in his
despatch dated Coomassie, Feb. 5th, thus describes the subsequent action:-
"The advanced guard,
under the command of Col. M’Leod, 42nd Highlanders, was brought to a
standstill shortly after the advance began; and a general action soon
developed itself, lasting for more than six hours. The enemy did not,
however, fight with the same courage as at Amoaful; for although their
resistance was most determined, their fire was wild, and they did not
generally attack us at such close quarters as in the former action.
 "The
village of Ordah-su having been carried by the Rifle Brigade at nine o’clock,
I massed all my force there, having previously passed all the reserve
ammunition, field hospitals, and supplies through the troops, who held the
road between the river and the village, a distance of about a mile. The
enemy then attacked the village with large numbers from all sides, and for
some hours we could make no progress, but steadily held our ground. The 42nd
Highlanders being then sent to the front, advanced with pipes playing, and
carried the enemy’s position to the north of the village in the most
gallant style; Captain Rait’s artillery doing most effective service in
covering the attack, which was led by Col. M’Leod.
"After some further
fighting on the front line, a panic seems to have seized the enemy, who fled
along the road to Coomassie in cornplete rout. Although the columns they had
detailed to assault our flanks and rear continued for some time afterwards
to make partial attacks upon the village, we followed close upon the enemy’s
heels into Coomassie. The town was still occupied by large numbers of armed
men, who did not attempt to resist. The King had fled no one knew whither.
Our troops had undergone a most fatiguing day’s work, no water fit for
drinking having been obtained during the action or the subsequent advance,
and the previous night’s rest having been broken by a tornado, which
drenched our bivouac. It was nearly six o’clock when the troops formed up
in the main street of Coomassie, and gave three cheers for the Queen."
Mr H. M. Stanley, the
well-known correspondent of the New York Herald, in describing the
advance on Coomassie, wrote as follows of the bravery of the Black Watch:-
"The conduct of the 42nd
Highlanders on many fields has been considerably belauded, but mere
laudation is not enough for the gallantry which has distinguished this
regiment when in action. Its bearing has been beyond praise as a model
regiment, exceedingly disciplined, and individually nothing could surpass
the standing and gallantry which distinguished each member of the 42nd or
the Black Watch. They proceeded along the well-ambushed road as if on
parade, by twos. ‘The forty-second will fire by companies, front rank to
the right, rear rank to the left,’ shouted Col. M’Leod. ‘A company,
front rank fire! rear rank fire!’ and so on; and thus vomiting out two
score of bullets to the right and two score to the left, the companies
volleyed and thundered as they marched past the ambuscades, the bagpipes
playing, the cheers rising from the throats of the lusty Scots, until the
forest rang again with discordant medley of musketry, bagpipe music, and
vocal sounds. It was the audacious spirit and true military bearing on the
part of the Highlanders, as they moved down the road toward Coomassie, which
challenged admiration this day. Very many were borne back frightfully
disfigured and seriously wounded, but the regiment never halted nor wavered;
on it went, until the Ashantees, perceiving it useless to fight against men
who would advance heedless of ambuscades, rose from their coverts, and fled
panic-stricken towards Coomassie, being perforated by balls whenever they
showed themselves to the hawk-eyed Scots. Indeed, I only wish I had enough
time given me to frame in fit words the unqualified admiration which the
conduct of the 42nd kindled in all who saw or heard of it. One man exhibited
himself eminently brave among brave men. His name was Thomas Adams. It is
said that he led the way to Coomassie, and kept himself about ten yards
ahead of his regiment, the target for many hundred guns; but that, despite
the annoying noise of iron and leaden slugs, the man bounded on the road
like a well-trained hound on a hot scent. This example, together with the
cool, calm commands of Col. M’Leod, had a marvellous effect upon the
Highland battalion."
In the action on the 4th,
Capt. Moore and Lts. Grogan and Wauchope of the 42nd were wounded, the
latter severely this time; 14 men were also wounded.
Thus, in the space of about a
month, by the decision and energy of the leader of the expedition, and the
willingness of his officers and troops, was the great object of the campaign
accomplished in the most masterly manner, and the Ashantees humbled as they
had never been before, and taught a lesson they are not likely soon to
forget. As during the 5th there seemed no hope of the treacherous king
coming to terms, and as it was absolutely necessary for the health of the
troops that the return march should be immediately commenced, Sir Garnet
resolved to destroy Coomassie, and set out at once. Having, therefore, sent
off all the wounded, he issued orders for an advance on the morning of the
6th. Early on that morning the homeward movements commenced, headed by the
naval brigade, and covered by a rear guard of the 42nd, which did not retire
till the town had been set on fire in every quarter, and the mines which had
been placed under the palace fired. A tornado had raged during the previous
night, but the destruction of the town by fire was complete.
Thus the campaign was
virtually at an end, and Gen. Wolseley made all possible haste to bring his
little army back to Cape Coast, Castle, which, notwithstanding the swollen
state of the rivers, he accomplished by February 19th. While on his way
back, Gen. Wolseley received the unqualified submission of the humbled king.
No time was lost in getting the troops out of the influence of the deadly
climate. Without delay, therefore, the embarkation took place. The 42nd
embarked in the "Nebraska" on the 23d, and sailed on the 27th in
the "Sarmatian," arriving at Portsmouth on March 23d. Here the
troops, who had all suffered more or less from the effects of the climate,
were received with the greatest enthusiasm.
Among the officers specially
mentioned by Sir Garnet Wolseley for having performed prominent services
during the campaign were Col. M’Leod, C.B., who was afterwards made a
K.C.B.; Majors Macpherson and Scott; Capts. Farquharson, V.C., Furze, and
Kidston; and Lt. Wauchope. The special thanks of Parliament were awarded to
the troops, and honours were showered upon the Commander by the Queen and
country. Majors Macpherson and Scott were made Lieutenant-Colonels and C.B.,
and had the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel conferred on them. Captains Bayly,
Farquharson, V.C. (who died shortly afterwards), and Furze were made
Bt.-Majors. The Victoria Cross was conferred on Sergt. Samuel M’Gaw. The
non-commissioned officers and men selected to have medals "for
distinguished conduct in the field" at the hand of the Sovereign—and
had them presented by Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle on the 16th of
May 1874, in presence of Colonel Sir John M’Leod, K.C.B., commanding the
regiment, were—Wm. Street, sergt.-instructor of musketry; Sergt. Henry
Barton; Privates John White, George Ritchie, George Cameron, and William
Bell; Piper James Wetherspoon; Privates Henry Jones, Wm. Nichol, and Thomas
Adams. Also, Sergeant-Major Barclay was awarded the medal for
"meritorious services" for distinguished conduct during the
campaign.
The regiment remained at
Portsmouth until Nov. 15th, when it embarked for Malta under the command of
Colonel Sir John M’Leod. Its strength on embarkation was 26 officers, 43
sergeants, 21 drummers and pipers, and 630 rank and file. It arrived at
Malta, after calling at Queenstown, on the 27th, and, after being a few days
under canvas, went into Isola barracks, the same that was occupied by the
regiment in 1832, and again in 1844.
The preparation and distribution of the
Ashantee medals was not completed until 1875, when the following Regimental
Order was issued:-
"MALTA. 24th May 1875.
"Sir John M’Leod
believes the Ashantee War medals now received in full and issued to the
regiment, will be worn with satisfaction by the men. He thinks, though the
expedition for which it is granted was only a little war, that the medal may
take its place, not unworthily, beside the other decorations on the breast.
Though little, the war had a magnitude and audacity about it to awaken the
interest of the civilised world, and to exhibit in a marked degree those
same qualities latent in you which sustained the corps of old in the
Savannah, in Flanders, and in other unhealthy places, where, be it
remembered, they were not cared for as you were on the Gold Coast by a
beneficent Government. Men who can act as you acted—and the bush has
terrors of its own—altogether, as though the honour of the regiment was
committed to each individual member of it, have given evidence of a standard
of character blending a perfect obedience with a just self-reliance. There
is no page in your regiment’s annals brighter than that which tells of
your encounter with your savage foe in the murky bottoms at Amoaful ; of the
valour and discipline which carried you into the gaping chasrn of the forest
at Ordah-su; through the fetid Soubang swamp, headed by Colour-Sergeant
Barton, who, though wounded at Amoaful, continued working hard, hardly
missing a shot, never halting until you had set your foot in the
market-place of Coomassie. And on this day it is fitting to remember the
distinguished conduct of Privates Alexander Hedge and John Arthur carrying
Major Baird, more desperately wounded than themselves, to a place of safety
; and the noble heroism of Private W. Thompson, one of the party,
sacrificing himself rather than see his captain fall into the hands of the
enemy, how Sergeant M’Gaw won the Victoria Cross ; the sustained gallantry
throughout of Privates Thomas Adams and George Ritchie ; the cheerful
disregard of personal danger of Sergeant-Instructor of Musketry Street,
though badly wounded in the thigh; of Quartermaster-Sergeant Patterson
running the gantlet of fire upon the road for a hammock to carry the
dangerously wounded Sergeant-Major to the rear, assisted by the
Paymaster-Sergeant Bateman ; of Pioneer-Sergeant Gairns’ look of scorn,
when, disabled in the right arm, he was advised to fall to the rear! How was
the flame of battle to be fed if he were at the rear and not there to serve
out the ammunition? How Sergeant Butters, shot through the leg at Amoaful,
marched with his company till again struck down in the gloomy Pass of
Ordah-su; of Sergeant Graham Gillies, and Privates Jones and John Grant of B
Company, and Private W. Nichol, always to the front; how wounded Piper
Wetherspoon, taking the rifle and place of dead Corporal Samuel, fought till
overpowered with wounds, of Sergeant Mime and Private Hector White, and
gallant Privates W. Bell, Imray, and M’Phail fighting with remarkable
bravery. But the space I would allow myself is more than filled ; and I have
before me Sergeant John Simpson, Colour-Sergeant Farqnharson, Privates
Calderwood, W. Armstrong, J. Miller, Peter Jeffrey, Colour-Sergeant Cooper,
and Piper Honeyman, ‘tangled in the bush,’ and lost to his company ;
Surgeon-Major Clutterbuek, your old doctor, using few hammocks, how he
marched all the way, his own recipe for surmounting all difficulties,
defended successfully his helpless wounded on the road side with his
revolver; and Hospital Orderly M‘Cudden—the hammock men hesitating to
follow the regiment into the dread Pass of Ordah-su—encouragingly he threw
aside his sword and revolver, placed himself at their head, led thus into
Coomassie; and Quartermaster Forbes —unsurpassed — how, in the hottest
of the fray, you had your ammunition always handy; your ration—sometimes
more—ready. The first to swim the Ordah on your return, few will forget
the hot tea he welcomed you with to your bivouac on that wet dreary night.
Private Johnston, the last to pass over, how he lost his clothes in the
dark, and was sandwiched by the doctor between two hammocks, faring not so
badly ; and others unmentioned, generous men, and remembered. Scattered as
you are at present over Cottonera, I regret I have been unable with my own
hand, and the fever on me, to give to each of you his well-earned medal. But
I address you, on this the Queen’s birthday, that you may be sure your
good conduct is not forgotten. Wear the medal, with its ribbon yellow and
black, significant colours to you. If any man ever makes away with it for
unworthy ends, it will be a double disgrace to him."
In 1876 Her Majesty directed
the word "Ashantee" to be added to the honorary distinctions on
the colours of the regiment.
The regiment remained intact
at Malta with little incident save an occasional change of quarters until
January 9th, 1878, when the right half Battalion was ordered to the adjacent
island of Gozo, consequent on the anticipated arrival of the Indian
Expeditionary Force, as well as the impending increase to the garrison of
troops from England, rendered necessary through the strained aspect of
affairs between England and Russia, this being the first time the island had
been occupied by troops for many years. Shortly after, on February 5th,
Headquarters and the left half Battalion moved to Fort Manoel from Pembroke
Camp. In September of the previous year Colonel M’Leod had retired, and
Colonel Macpherson was now in command.
From April 1st, 1878, the
establishment of the regiment was increased to 1103 of all ranks,
preparatory to orders received on July 9th for the regiment to hold itself
in readiness to embark for service. This service, as it ultimately proved,
was to form part of the Expeditionary Force to occupy the island of Cyprus.
The force, consisting of 10,000 men, including the Indian Contingent, sailed
from Malta on the 18th and following days. The 42nd, along with half a
Battalion of the 101st Regiment, embarked on board H.M.S. "Himalaya,"
which also conveyed General Sir Garnet Wolseley, G.C.B., &c., Commanding
Force and Staff.
The "Himalaya"
arrived at Larnaca on the 22d, and the regiment disembarked on the 23d, and
marched to Chifflick Pasha Camp, about 7 miles distant, there to be
encamped. On landing, news was received of the sudden death of Sergeant M’Gaw,
V.C., who had accompanied an advance detachment on the previous day.
It soon became evident that
Chifflick Pasha was far from being a healthy part of the island, and by
August 17th the whole regiment had been removed to Kyrenia with the
exception of two companies who were to proceed to Paphos on August 20th.
Whilst stationed at Kyrenia
the men had the unpleasant duty of guarding two or three hundred Turkish
convicts, who were confined in the old Fort of Kyrenia. The regiment was now
reduced to an establishment of 693 of all ranks, and was engaged in building
huts, which were only just completed when, on November 9th, orders were
received for the regiment to be held in readiness for another move—to
Gibraltar.
The camps at Kyrenia and
Paphos were accordingly brought together to Larnaca by H.M.S.
"Humber," whence they embarked on board H.M.S. "Jumna,"
and by the 27th, after only a few hours’ stoppage at Malta, Gibraltar was
safely reached.
On June 10th, the "Himalaya"
arrived with the 79th on board, who landed on the 12th, so that there were
at one time no fewer than four Highland regiments on the Rock —the 42nd,
71st, 79th, 93rd.
On account of the health of
the men the regiment was now ordered for Home Service, and on the 14th
embarked on board H.M.S. "Himalaya," anchoring off Cowes early in
the morning of the 19th. Here they took up the quarters vacated by the 56th,
the establishment of the regiment being reduced by 4 officers and 120
privates.
The most noteworthy of the
official inspections at this time was that by the Queen (August 13th), who
expressed her great satisfaction at the general appearance of the regiment
after their return from foreign service.
The regiment was removed to
Aldershot on 21st June, and, on the formation of the Army Corps for the
Summer Drills, was brigaded with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards and 2d
Battalion Scots Guards, under the command of Colonel Gipps, Scots Guards,
forming 1st Brigade, 1st Division. Colonel Macpherson, C.B., having been
appointed to command the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, the command of the
regiment devolved on Major P. K. Bayly. The Army Corps marched from
Aldershot to Ascot on July 13th, and on the following day to Windsor Great
Park, where it was reviewed by Her Majesty the Queen. The march back to
Ascot commenced at 5 P.M., and was performed in splendid order during a
terrific storm of thunder and rain, camp being reached about 9.20 P.M.
On the occasion of the
inspection by Major-General Spurgin, C.B., C.S.I.,
on 1st and 2d September, H.R.H. the
Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief wrote
from the War Office expressing his
satisfaction at the favourable character of the
report.
The long absence of the
regiment from their native land was now at last to come to an end. On April
1st, 1881, the establishment was raised to 1047 of all ranks, and on the 6th
inst. orders were received for an immediate removal to Edinburgh for the
purpose of recruiting.
At 8 AM. on May 24th they
sailed on board the s.s. "Holland" from Portsmouth for Granton.
After experiencing much difficulty in passing up the Forth owing to the
dense fog, and at one time having narrowly escaped grounding, the vessel
arrived safely at Granton on the 26th.
Disembarking at 6 P.M., the
regiment met with a most enthusiastic reception, the streets and windows
being thronged with spectators, many of whom had waited patiently from an
early hour in the morning, as the "Holland" had been expected
about 7 AM. The Castle was reached at 7.30 P.M., when quarters were taken up
after an absence from Edinburgh of twelve years.
On the 1st July, by Royal
Warrant, regiments lost their numerical titles, and the 42nd, or Royal
Highland Regiment, "The Black Watch," became The Black Watch
(Royal Highlanders). The 73rd Perthshire regiment, which had originally been
the 2d Battalion of the regiment, now again became 2d Battalion.
During the great Volunteer
Review of 1881 the Black Watch were on the ground, and on that occasion Her
Majesty visited the Castle, her last visit there having been made in 1842.
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