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THE Marquis of Huntly,
whilst a captain in the 3rd Foot Guards, having offered to raise a
regiment for general service, letters were granted to him for this
purpose on the 10th of February 1794. In his zeal for the service the
marquis was backed by his father and mother, the Duke and Duchess of
Gordon, both of whom, along with the marquis himself, took an active
share in the recruiting. It is quite a true story that the beautiful
Duchess of Gordon recruited in person on horseback at markets, wearing a
regimental jacket and bonnet, and offering for recruits the irresistible
bounty of a kiss and a guinea. The result was, that, within the short
space of four months, the requisite number of men was raised, and on the
24th of June the corps was inspected at Aberdeen by Major-General Sir
Hector Munro, and embodied under the denomination of the "Gordon
Highlanders."
["Here the Lochaber
men (raised by Captain Cameron) showed at once the influence of that
clan-feeling under which they had consented to go to war. When it was
proposed to draft them into the separate divisions of grenadiers and
light troops, they at once declared that they would neither be separated
from each other, nor serve under any captain except Cameron, that they
had followed him as their leader, and him only they would serve. It
required all his persuasion to induce them to submit to the rules of the
service; but, assisted by his relative, Major Campbell of Auch,—a man
of weight and experience,—and promising that he himself would always
watch over their interests in whatever division they were ranked, he
prevailed on them to submit; and as we shall subsequently see, none of
them ever had cause to reproach him with forgetting his pledge."
Memoir of Colonel Cameron, by Rev. A. Clerk—When Huntly first resolved
to raise the regiment, he called on old Fassifern, and offered to his
son John a captain’s commission in it. Fassifern, however, declined
the gratifying offer on the ground that he was unable to raise the
number of men necessary to entitle his son to such a rank; whereupon the
marquis offered the captaincy without any stipulation or condition,
saying he would be glad to have John Cameron as a captain in his
regiment, though he brought not a single recruit.]
The officers appointed
were
Lieutenant-Colonel
Commandant
George, Marquis of Huntly.
Majors
Charles Erskine of Cadross, killed in Egypt in 1801.
Donald Macdonald of Boisdsle, died in 1795.
Captains
Alexander Napier of Blackstone, killed
at Coruuna in 1809.
John Cameron of Fassifern, killed at
Quatre Bras, 16th June, 1815.
Honourable John Bamsay, son of Lord Dalhousie.
Andrew Paton.
William Mackintosh of Aberarder, killed in Holland in 1799.
Alexander Gordon, son of Lord Rockville, killed at Talaverain 1808,
Lieutenant-Colonel 83rd regiment.
Simon Macdonald of Morar.
Captain-Lieutenant
John Gordon, retired as Major.
Lieutenants
Peter Grant, died in 1817, Major on
half-pay
Archibald Macdonell, died in 1813, Lieutenant-Colonel of veterans.
Alexander Stewart.
Sir John Maclean, Major-General, K.C. B., 1825.
Peter Gordon, died 1806.
Thomas Forbes, killed at Toulouse in 1814, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 45th
regiment.
Ewan Macpherson.
George H. Gordon.
Ensigns
Charles Dowle, died of wounds in
Egypt in 1801.
George Davidson, killed at Quatre Bras in 1815, then C~ptain in the 42nd
regiment.
Archibald Macdonald.
Alexander Fraser, killed 2nd October 1799.
William Tod.
James Mitchell, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1815, retired in 1819.
Staff
Chaplain - William Gordon.
Adjutant.—James Henderson, died in 1796.
Quarter-master.—Peter Wilkie,
died in 1806.
Surgeon.—William Findlay, died in Egypt in 1801.
It is apt to be supposed
that because the Gordon estates now lie only in Aberdeen and Banff, and
because the regiment was first collected at Aberdeen, that it belongs
particularly to that district; but this is quite a mistake. The 92nd was
raised principally in the highland districts of the Gordon estates, and
from the estates of the officers or their relations; but it should be
remembered that these estates then extended, or the Duke had seignorities
over the lands, as far west as Ballachulish and Lochiel, taking in
Strathspey, and Lochaber, and it was from these highland districts, of
which Fort William is the centre, that it was mostly raised and for a long
time after recruited. It also drew very many of its men from Argyll and
the Western Isles. The 92nd along with the 79th should be classed with the
Inverness-shire, &c., Militia, and, in conjunction with the 91st and
74th, along with the Argyllshire; the 92nd being connected with North
Argyll and Isles, the 91st with Loin, and the 74th with Cowal and Kintyre.
It has always been particular in its recruiting; even after giving nearly
all its men as volunteers to regiments going to the Crimea, and stress
being laid upon it to fill up quickly, the commanding officers determined
to enlist, as usual, only Scotchmen, and hence the great popularity of the
corps in Scotland. Although the men (with the exception of volunteers from
other regiments), are still all Scotch, they are not so entirely from the
Highlands as formerly; yet the regiment is quite an example in spirit and
feeling of the old Highland clan, and M’Donald is still the most common
name in its ranks. Several Gaelic poets or "bards" have worn its
tartan, the most distinguished being Corporal Alexander M’Kinnon, a
native of Arasaig, in Inverness-shire, whose descriptions of the battles
of Bergen-op-Zoom and the war in Egypt are among the most spirited modern
Gaelic poems. The officers have all along been mostly taken from among
good Scottish families; and so highly were its non-commissioned officers
thought of in the army, that it was, and is, no uncommon thing for them to
be promoted as sergeant-majors and as adjutants into other corps, and to
be selected as adjutants of militia and volunteers.
The regiment embarked at
Fort-George on the 9th of July 1794, and joined the camp on Netley Common
in August, when it was put on the list of numbered corps as the 100th
regiment. The first five years of its service were spent at Gibraltar,
Corsica, Elba, and Ireland, in which latter place it had most arduous and
trying duties to perform; these, however, it performed with the best
results to the country.
The Gordon Highlanders left
Ireland in June 1799 for England, to join an armament then preparing for
the coast of Holland. The number of the regiment was changed about this
time to the 92nd, the former regiment of that number, and others, having
been reduced.
The first division of the army, of which
the 92nd formed part, landed on the Dutch coast, near the Helder, on the
morning of the 27th of August, without opposition; but the troops had
scarcely formed on a ridge of sand hills, at a little distance from the
beach, when they were attacked by the enemy, who were however driven back,
after a sharp contest of some hours’ duration. The 92nd, which formed a
part of General Moore’s brigade, was not engaged in this affair; but in
the battle which took place between Bergen and Egmont on the 2nd of
October it took a very distinguished share. General Moore was so well
pleased with the heroic conduct of the corps on this occasion, that, when
he was made a knight of the Bath, and obtained a grant of supporters for
his armorial bearings, he took a soldier of the Gordon Highlanders in full
uniform as one of them.
In the action alluded to,
the 92nd had Captain William Mackintosh, Lts. Alexander Fraser, Gordon M’Hardy,
3 sergeants, and 54 rank and file, killed; and Colonel, the Marquis of
Huntly, Captains John Cameron, Alexander Gordon, Peter Grant, John Maclean,
Lieutenants George Fraser, Charles Chadd, Norman Macleod, Donald
Macdonald, Ensigns Charles Cameron, John Macpherson, James Bent, G. W.
Holmes, 6 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 175 rank and file, wounded.
After returning to England,
the regiment again embarked on the 27th of May 1800, and sailed for the
coast of France; but no landing took place, and the fleet proceeded to
Minorca, where the 92nd disembarked on the 20th of July. It formed part of
the expedition against Egypt, details of which will be found in the
account of the service of the 42nd regiment. The Gordon Highlanders
particularly distinguished themselves in the battle of the 13th of March
1801. The British army moved forward to the attack in three columns of
regiments; the 90th, or Perthshire regiment, led the advance of the first
or centre column, and the Gordon Highlanders that of the second or left,
the reserve marching on the right, covering the movements of the first
line, and running parallel with the other two columns. The enemy were
strongly fortified on a rising ground, and well appointed with cavalry and
artillery. As soon as the regiments in advance had cleared some palm and
date trees they began to deploy into line; but before the whole army had
formed the enemy opened a heavy fire of cannon and musketry, and descended
from the heights to attack the 92nd, which had by this time formed in
line. The fire was quickly returned by the Gordon Highlanders, who not
only firmly maintained their ground singly against the attacks of the
enemy supported by a powerful artillery, but drove them back with loss. In
this action the 92nd had 19 rank and file killed; and Lt-Col. Charles
Erskine (who afterwards died of his wounds), Captains the Honourable John
Ramsay, Archibald Macdonald, Lts. Norman Macleod, Charles Dowle (both of
whom also died of their wounds), Donald Macdonald, Tomlin Campbell,
Alexander Clarke (the two last died of their wounds), Ronald Macdonald,
Alexander Cameron, Ensign Peter Wilson, 10 sergeants, and 100 rank and
file wounded.
The regiment had suffered much from
sickness during the voyage from Minorca to Egypt, and with this and its
recent loss in battle it was so reduced in numbers that General Abercromby
ordered it to the rear on the night of the 20th of March, in order to take
post upon the shore at Aboukir. Major Napier, on whom the command of the
92nd had devolved in consequence of the death of Col. Erskine, did not,
however, remain long in this position, but hurried back as soon as he
heard the firing, and assumed his former place in the line. The regiment
lost 3 rank and file killed, and Captain John Cameron, Lt. Stewart
Matheson, and 37 rank and file wounded.
At the battle of
Alexandria, Corporal M’Kinnon, the Gaelic poet already alluded to, was
severely wounded, and was nearly buried for dead, when his friend,
Sergeant M’Lean, saved him. He composed a Gaelic poem, full of spirit,
on the battle, part of which we give in a translation by the Rev. Dr
Maclauchlan...
A SONG ON THE BATTLE IN
EGYPT
It was not heard in the
course of history,
In the conflict or strife of arms,
That fifteen thousand men so famous as you
Drew swords under their King.
Glorious was the Scottish champion
Who had that matter entrusted to him;
They were not clowns who were chosen with him,
To bring their deeds of arms to an issue.
* * * * *
The brave heroes were drawn
Into a heavy, fierce body;
Powerful, strong were the hands,
The fine spark going off;
Seeking a place where they might kneel,
If any enemy were to meet them,
The ground would be left bloody
With steel that pierces men’s bodies.
There were hearty, vigorous lads there,
Who never yielded in fear,
Following them as best they might.
Fifty horse were turned by their exploits.
It was a vain thought for the horsemen
That they could not find men to contend with them;
And the heroes, who could not be shaken,
Chasing them out on the hill.
* * * * *
We were ready on our legs,
To pursue with all speed,
On the thirteenth morning which they fixed,
With our noble fearless commander.
The two youngest of our regiments—
The Grahams and the Gordons—
Running swiftly to meet them
Pouring down from the hill.
* * * * *
Heavy was the flight for them,
Hard as ever was heard of;
Abercromby was up with them,
With his men who were ready at hand.
Were it not for the town which they reached
With cannon all surrounded,
More of them were in their graves,
And had got cold upon the hill.
In a short time the regiment recovered its
health, and shared in all the movements of the army in Egypt till the
termination of hostilities, when it embarked for Ireland, and landed at
Cork on the 30th of January 1802.
For their services in
Egypt, King George III. conferred upon the 92nd and other regiments the
honour of bearing on their colours and appointments the
"Sphinx," and the word "Egypt." The Grand Seignior
established the order of the Knighthood of the Crescent, of which the
general officers were made members; and gold medals were presented to the
field-officers, captains, and subalterns.
The regiment was removed
from Ireland to Glasgow, where it arrived on June 6th, and remained until
the renewal of hostilities in 1803, when it was marched to Leith, and
embarked for the camp which was then forming at Weeley. At this time was
embodied a second battalion of 1000 men, raised under the Army of Reserve
Act, in the counties of Nairn, Inverness, Moray, Banff, and Aberdeen. This
corps served as a nursery for the regiment during the war.
In January 1806
Major-General the Honourable John Hope was made colonel, in room of the
Marquis of Huntly removed to the 42nd.
The regiment formed part of
the expedition sent against Copenhagen in 1807, and served in Sir Arthur
Wellesley’s brigade. The only instance which offered on this occasion to
the regiment to distinguish itself was a spirited and successful charge
with the bayonet, when it drove back a greatly superior number of the
enemy.
In the year 1808 the
regiment embarked for Sweden under Sir John Moore, but its services were
not made use of; and immediately upon the return of the expedition to
England the troops employed were ordered to Portugal under the same
commander, landing on the 27th of August. The 92nd accompanied all the
movements of General Moore’s army, and had the misfortune to lose its
commanding officer, Col Napier of Blackstone, who was killed at Corunna,
where the first battalion was posted towards the left of the army on the
road leading to Betanzos, "and throughout the day supported its
former reputation." Col. Napier was adored by the regiment, to which
he was more like a father than a commanding officer. The regiment had only
3 rank and file killed, and 12 wounded; among the latter was Lt. Archibald
Macdonald, who afterwards died of his wounds.
On its return to England
the regiment was quartered at Weeley, where it received a reinforcement of
recruits, which increased the strength of the corps to rather more than
1000 men. This number was, however, greatly reduced in the Walcheren
expedition, only 300 out of the 1000 returning fit for duty; but the loss
was speedily supplied by recruits from the second battalion. The regiment
embarked for Portugal on the 21st of September 1810, and joined the
British army under Lord Wellington at the lines of Torres Vedras, in the
following month.
The service of the 92nd in
the Spanish Peninsu]a and the south of France is so blended with the
operations of Lord Wellington’s army that, to give a complete idea of
it, it would be necessary to enter into details which the limited space
allotted to this division of the history will not admit of and the most
important of which have been given in our notices of the other Highland
regiments, especially the 42nd and 71st. In all the actions in which they
were engaged, the Gordon Highlanders upheld the high military reputation
which they had acquired in Egypt, and supported the honour of their native
country in a manner worthy of Highlanders.
The 92nd was brigaded with
the 50th and 71st under the command of Sir William Erskine at Fuentes d’Onor,
May 5th, 1811. The first battalion of the 92nd was stationed to the right
of the town, covering a brigade of nine-pounders, and was exposed to a
very heavy cannonade. The regiment had 7 rank and file killed, and 2
officers, Major Peter Grant and Lt. Allan M’Nab, and 35 rank and file
wounded. Lt.-General Rowland Hill having driven the French from their post
at Caceres, the latter, on the approach of the British, retired, halting
at Arroyo de Molinos. After a very fatiguing march from Portalegre, the
first battalion of the 92nd arrived close to Arroyo on the 27th of October
1811, and next day took part in a well fought battle. The 92nd was placed
in the centre of its brigade, and was ordered to proceed to the
market-square, and, if possible, to the other side of the town. As the
regiment was proceeding along one of the streets, the French, taken by
surprise, came out to see what was the matter, and the Prince D’Aremberg
was taken prisoner in a half-naked state by a sergeant of the 92nd. The
French, however, soon assembled, threw themselves across the head of the
street, and commenced firing upon the advancing regiment, the shot taking
deadly effect, owing to the narrowness of the street. By this time great
confusion and uproar prevailed in the town. The 71st moved down to the
assistance of the 92nd, while the 50th secured all the passages to the
town, and captured the French artillery. The 92nd thus reinforced now
pushed its way through the suburbs, and cleared the town of the enemy. The
latter, however, afterwards formed in a field, and fired down a lane upon
the advancing regiment. The 92nd had 3 men killed, and Col. Cameron,
Brevet-Major Dunbar, and Captains M’Donald and M’Pherson, and 7 rank
and file wounded.
At Almaraz, on May 19th,
1812, the 92nd again did good service in assisting materially to destroy
the bridge and fortifications. This point was of great importance to the
enemy, as it secured the only direct communication between his two armies,
which were now in effect placed several days more distant. The 92nd had
only 2 rank and file wounded.
At Alba de Tormes, on
November 10th and 11th, the 92nd had 8 rank and file killed, and 1 officer
and 33 rank and file wounded.
At the battle of Vittoria,
fought on June 21st, 1813, the 92nd distinguished itself by seizing the
height occupied by the village of Puebla, holding it against a most
determined resistance, and, after a fierce struggle, put the enemy to
flight. Its casualties were 4 rank and file killed, and 16 wounded. A
medal was conferred on Lt.-Col. John Cameron of the 92nd.
In the various actions
connected with the passage of the Pyrenees the 92nd took a prominent part,
behaving itself in its usual valorous manner; in the words of Sir William
Napier, "the stern valour of the 92nd would have graced Thermopylae."
On the 25th of July 1813,
the 92nd was stationed in the Maya Pass, on the right of the road leading
from Urdax, and the 71st still farther to the left. The enemy collected a
force of about 15,000 men behind some rocky ground in front of the British
right, and with this overwhelming force drove in the light companies of
the second brigade, gaining the high rock on the right of the allied
position before the arrival of the second brigade from Maya, which was
therefore compelled to retrace its steps towards the village, instead of
falling back to its left on the first brigade. Lt.Col. Cameron detached
the 50th to the right the moment the action commenced. That regiment was
severely engaged, and was forced to retire along the ridge. The right wing
of the 92nd, under Major John M’Pherson, was sent to its support, and
for some time had to stand the whole brunt of the enemy’s column. The
right wing of the 71st regiment was also brought up, but such was the
advantage of the position the enemy had gained by separating the two
brigades, and in a manner descending upon the Pass of Maya, while a fresh
division was pushing up to it from the direction of Urdax, that the small
body of troops received orders to retire to a high rock on the left of the
position. This movement was covered by the left wings of the 71st and 92nd
regiments, which, relieving each other with the utmost order and
regularity, and disputing every inch of ground, left nothing for the enemy
to boast of. The brigade continued to hold the rock until the arrival of
Major-General Edward Barnes’ brigade, when a general charge was made,
and every inch of ground recovered as far as the Maya Pass.
On this occasion the 92nd
was ordered by Lt.-General the Honourable Sir William Stewart not to
charge, the battalion having been hotly engaged for ten successive hours,
and in want of ammunition. The 92nd, however, for the first time
disregarded an order, and not only charged, but led the charge.
The 92nd behaved with equal
bravery on July 30th and 31st and August 1st, its casualties altogether
during the passage of the Pyrenees being 53 rank and file killed, 26
officers and 363 rank and file wounded.
In the passage of the Nive
the 92nd had its full share of the fighting. On the 13th of December,
besides being exposed during the day to a continued fire
of musketry and artillery, the battalion made four distinct charges with
the bayonet, each time driving the enemy to his original position in
front of his entrenchments. At one time the 92nd while pressing onwards
was arrested by a fearful storm of artillery. Of one of these charges
Sergeant Robertson writes: —
"The order was given to charge with
the left wing of the 92nd, while the
right should act as riflemen in the fields to the left of the road. The
left wing went down the road in a dashing manner, led by Cal. Cameron, who
had his horse shot under him, and was obliged to walk on foot. As soon as
we came up to the French many of them called out for quarter, and were
made prisoners. After the enemy had maintained their ground for a short
time, they saw that it was impossible for them to stand against us. The
road was soon covered with the dead and dying. The French now broke offto
their own right, and got into the fields and between the hedges, where
they kept up the contest until night. Although the action ended thus in
our favour, we did not gain any new ground. After the battle was over, we
were formed on a piece of rising ground about a mile to our own rear, when
Lord Wellington came in person to thank the 92nd for their gallant conduct
and manly bearing during the action, and ordered a double allowance of
rum, and that we should go into quarters on the following day."
On this occasion Lts.
Duncan M'Pherson, Thomas Mitchell, and Alan M’Donald were killed. Major
John M’Pherson (mortally), Captains George W. Holmes, Ronald M’Donald,
and Donald M’Pherson; Lts. John Catenaugh, Ronald M’Donald, James
John Chisholm, Robert Winchester, and George Mitchell, and Ensign William
Fraser were wounded. 28 rank and file were killed, and 143 wounded.
In commemoration of this
action an honorary badge was conferred by His Majesty on Lt.Col. Cameron,
bearing the word "Nive," and the senior captain of the regiment
(Captain James Seaton) was promoted to the brevet rank of major. The royal
authority was also granted for the 92nd to bear the word "Nive"
on its regimental colour and appointments.
On the morning of the 15th of Feb., the 92nd marched in pursuit of the enemy, who
was discovered late
in the evening, strongly posted on the heights in front of Garris, which
the division attacked and carried in gallant style. The French obstinately
disputed their ground, and made several attempts to recover it after dark,
but finding the British troops immovable, they retreated with considerable
loss through St Palais. On this occasion Major James Seaton was mortally
wounded, and expired on the 22nd of the following month. The other
casualties were 3 rank and file wounded.
During the night the enemy
destroyed the bridge at St Palais, and every exertion was made to repair
it. On the 16th of Feb., the 92nd crossed in the afternoon, and occupied a
position in advance.
On the 17th of Feb., the
enemy was discovered in the village of Arriverete, on the right bank of
the Gave de Mauléon, endeavouring to destroy the bridge over it. A ford
was discovered a little higher up, which the 92nd crossed under cover of
the British artillery, and immediately attacking the troops in the village
with its usual success, drove the enemy out of it, and secured the bridge
by which the troops were enabled to cross. The enemy retired across the
Gave d’Oléron, and the battalion, which had 10 rank and file wounded in
this enterprise, was cantoned in Arriverete and the neighbouring villages.
In honour of this occasion,
it was granted by royal warrant, that Lt.-Col. Cameron should bear for his
crest a Highlander of the 92nd regiment, up to the middle in water,
grasping in his right hand a broad sword, and in his left a banner
inscribed 92nd, within a wreath of laurel; and as a motto over it the word
"Arriverete."
At Orthes the 42nd, 79th,
and 92nd met for the first time in the Peninsula, and a joyful meeting it
was, as the men of the three regiments were almost all Scotchmen, many of
whom were old friends. Lord Wellington was so much pleased with the scene
at the meeting of these regiments that he ordered them to encamp beside
each other for the night.
In the affair at Aire there
were 3 rank and file killed, and 3 officers and 29 men wounded. His
Majesty granted permission to Lt.-Col Cameron to bear upon his shield a
view of the town, with the word "Aire." Both in Division and
General Orders the 92nd was specially mentioned, along with the 50th, as
deserving to have "the good fortune of yesterday’s action decidedly
attributed to it." Moreover, a special letter from the Mayor of Aire
warmly thanked Col Cameron for the conduct of his men, and for having
preserved the town from pillage and destruction. The losses of the
regiment in these actions were not great, being altogether, according to
General Stewart, 2 rank and file killed, and 5 officers and 55 rank and
file wounded.
On the 10th of April the
92nd advanced by the Muret road to the vicinity of Toulouse, and drove
Marshal Soult’s outposts into his entrenchments on that side. The
services of the battalion were not again required during this day; it
however witnessed the gallant conduct of its comrades on the opposite bank
of the river, driving the enemy from his redoubts above the town, and
gaining a complete victory.
During the 11th of April
nothing particular occurred beyond a skirmish, and confining the enemy to
the suburbs. The French evacuated Toulouse during the night, and the white
flag was hoisted. On the 12th of April the Marquis of Wellington entered
the city amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants. The 92nd followed the
enemy on the Villa Franche road, and encamped in advance of that town.
In the course of the
afternoon of the 12th of April, intelligence was received of the
abdication of Napoleon: had not the express been delayed on the journey by
the French police, the sacrifice of many valuable lives would have been
prevented.
A disbelief in the truth of
this intelligence occasioned much unnecessary bloodshed at Bayonne, the
garrison of which made a desperate sortie on the 14th of April, and
Lt.General Sir John Hope (afterwards Earl of Hopetoun), the colonel of the
92nd regiment, was taken prisoner. Major-General Andrew Hay was killed,
and Major-General Stopford was wounded. This was the last action of the
Peninsular war.
On April 20, 1814, the 92nd
marched into Villa Franche; on the 24th to Beziège; and on the 25th
occupied quarters in Toulouse.
After peace had been
established between Britain and France, the 92nd returned home,
disembarking at Monkstown, Ireland, on the 29th of July, and proceeding to
Fermoy Barracks, at which the thanks of Parliament were communicated to
the regiment for "the meritorious and eminent services it had
rendered to the King and country during the course of the war."
On the 24th of October
1814, the second battalion was disbanded at Edinburgh, and 12 sergeants,
13 drummers, and 161 rank and file were transferred to the first
battalion.
The 92nd, however, had not
long to rest at home, being called again into active service, to take part
in the grand concluding act of the drama enacted by Napoleon for so many
years on the theatre of Europe. The regiment sailed from the Cove of Cork
on the 1st May 1815, and arrived at Ostend on the 9th. On the 11th the
regiment went to Ghent, where it stayed till the 28th, when it removed to
Brussels, the men being billeted throughout the city. Here they were
served with four days’ bread, and supplied with camp-kettles,
bill-hooks, and everything necessary for a campaign, which, according to
all accounts, was fast approaching. The inhabitants of Brussels like those
of Ghent treated the Highlanders with great kindness, the latter, by their
civility and good behaviour, making themselves great favourites.
On the evening of the 15th
of June the alarm was sounded in Brussels, and hasty preparations were
made to go out to meet the enemy. Col. Cameron, who had that day been
invested with the order of the Bath, and who was present at the famous
ball given by the Duke of Wellington when the alarm was given, was quickly
at the head of the regiment. The march was commenced at daybreak on the
16th by the Namur gate. Lt.-General Sir Thomas Picton’s division, to
which the 92nd belonged, came under fire about two o’clock in front of
Genappe, at Quatre Bras, where the main road from Charleroi to Brussels is
crossed by another from Nivelles to Namur, and which served as the British
communication with the Prussians on the left. The 92nd was formed in front
of Quatre Bras farm-house on the road, lining a ditch, with its rear to
the walls of the building and garden, its right resting on the crossroads,
and its left extending down the front. Shortly after the 92nd was thus
formed, the Duke of Wellington and his staff came and dismounted in the
rear of the centre of the regiment. The enemy poured a very hot fire of
artillery on this post, and his cavalry charged it, but was received by a
well-directed volley from the regiment, and forced to retire with great
loss of men and horses. Immediately after this the French infantry
attacked the position on the right and in front, and the Gordon
Highlanders, who had been standing impatiently eager for action, were now
ordered to charge the advancing enemy: "92nd, you must charge these
fellows," the Duke said, and with one bound the regiment was over the
ditch advancing at full speed, and making the French give way on all
sides. The 92nd continued to pursue the enemy, and was hotly engaged till
nightfall, when the action ceased. It was very much cut up both in
officers and men, as it was among the first to go into action, and, along
with the other Highland regiments, had for a long time to resist the
attack of the entire French army. Undoubtedly its greatest loss on this
hot day was the brave and high-minded Col. Cameron, concerning whom we
give a few details below.
[John Cameron was son of
Ewen Cameron of Fassifern, a nephew of the "Gentle Lochiel" As
we have seen, he entered the regiment at its formation, and took part in
most of its hard services. He was universally beloved and respected,
especially by the Highland soldiers, in each man of whom he took the
interest of a father, and felt himself responsible for their welfare and
good conduct. The following account of his death is taken from his
biography, written by the Rev. Dr Archibald Clerk of Kilmallie :—"
The regiment lined a ditch in front of the Namur road. The Duke of
Wellington happened to be stationed among them. Colonel Cameron seeing the
French advance asked permission to charge them. The Duke replied, ‘Have
patience, you will have plenty of work by and by.’ As they took
possession of the farm-house Cameron again asked leave to charge, which
was again refused. At length, as they began to push on the Charleroi road,
the Duke exclaimed, ‘Now, Cameron, is your time, take care of the road.’
He instantly gave the spur to his horse, the regiment cleared the ditch at
a bound, charged, and rapidly drove back the French; but, while doing so,
their leader was mortally wounded. A shot fired from the upper storey of
the farm-house passed through his body, and his horse, pierced by several
bullets, fell under him. His men raised a wild shout, rushed madly on the
fated house, and, according to all recounts, inflicted dread vengeance on
its doomed occupants. Ewen Macmillan (Cameron’s foster brother), who was
ever near his master and his friend, speedily gave such aid as he could.
Carrying him with the aid of another private beyond reach of the firing,
he procured a cart, whereon he laid him, carefully and tenderly propping
his head on a breast than which none was more faithful." He was
carried to the village of Waterloo, and laid in a deserted house by the
roadside, stretched upon the floor. "He anxiously inquired how the
day had gone, and how his beloved Highlanders had acquitted themselves.
Hearing that, as usual, they had been victorious, he said, ‘I die happy,
and I trust my dear country will believe that I have served her
faithfully.’ . . . . Thus he met with a warrior’s death, and more,
with a Highland warrior’s death. His remains were hastily interred in a
green alley—Alée verte—on the Ghent road, under the terrific
storm of the 17th." In the April of the following year his remains
were removed to Scotland, and from Leith conveyed in a King’s ship to
Lochaber, and committed to their final resting-place in the churchyard of
Kilmallie, where lie many chiefs of the Cameron clan. His age was only 44
years. In honour of Cameron’s distinguished service his father was
created Baronet of Fassifern. A handsome monument—an obelisk—was
afterwards erected to Cameron at Kilmallie, for which an inscription was
written by Sir Walter Scott, who seems to have had an intense admiration
for the brave and chivalrous Highland hero, and who, in his Dance of
Death, speaks of him thus:-
"Through battle, rout, and reel,
Through storm of shot, and hedge of steel,
Led the grandson of Lochiel,
The valiant Fassifern.
Through steel and shot he leads no more,
Low laid ‘mid friend’s and foemen’s
gore;
But long his native lake’s wild shore,
And Sunart rough, and wild Ardgour,
And
Morven long shall tell;
And proud Ben Nevis hear with awe,
How, at
the bloody Quatre Bras,
Brave Cameron heard the wild hurrah
Of conquest as he fell." ]
Besides their colonel, the
92nd lost in the action Captain William Little, Lt. J. J. Chisholm,
Ensigns Abel Becker and John M. R. Macpherson, 2 sergeants, and 33 rank
and file. The wounded officers were Major James Mitchell (afterwards
lieutenant-colonel); Captains G. W. Holmes, Dugald Campbell, W. C. Grant
(who died of his wounds); Lts. Thomas Hobbs, Thomas Mackintosh, Robert
Winchester, Ronald Macdonnell, James Kerr Ross, George Logan, John
Mackinlay, George Mackie, Alexander Macpherson, Ewen Ross, Hector M’Tnnes;
Ensigns John Barnwell, Robert Logan, Angus Macdonald, Robert Hewit, and
Assistant-Surgeon John Stewart; also 13 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 212 rank
and file. On the morning of the 17th Lord Wellington had collected the
whole of his army in the position of Waterloo, and was combining his
measures to attack the enemy; but having received information that Marshal
Blucher had been obliged, after
the battle of Ligny, to abandon his position at Sombref, and to fall
back upon Wavre, his lordship found it necessary to make a
corresponding movement. He accordingly retired upon Genappe, and
thence upon Waterloo. Although the march took place in the middle of
the day the enemy made no attempt to molest the rear, except by
following, with a large body of cavalry brought from his right, the
cavalry under the Earl of Uxbridge. On the former debouching from the
village of Genappe, the earl made a gallant charge with the Life
Guards, and repulsed the enemy’s cavalry.
Lord Wellington took up
a position in front of Waterloo. The rain fell in torrents during the
night, and the morning of the 18th was ushered in by a dreadful
thunder-storm; a prelude which superstition might have regarded as
ominous of the events of that memorable and decisive day. The allied
army was drawn up across the high roads from Charleroi and Nivelles,
with its right thrown back to a ravine near Merke Braine, which was occupied, and its left extended to a height
above the hamlet Ter-la-Haye, which was also occupied. In front of the
right centre, and near the Nivelles road, the allies occupied the house
and farm of Hougoumont, and in front of the left centre they possessed the
farm of La Haye Sainte. The Gordon Highlanders, who were commanded by
Major Donald Macdonald, in consequence of the wound of Lt.-Col. Mitchell,
who had succeeded Col. Cameron in the command, were in the ninth brigade
with the Royal Scots, the Royal Highlanders, and the 44th regiment. This
brigade was stationed on the left wing upon the crest of a small eminence,
forming one side of the hollow, or low valley, which divided the two
hostile armies. A hedge ran along this crest for nearly two-thirds its
whole length. A brigade of Belgians, another of Hanoverians, and General
Ponsonby’s brigade of the 1st or Royal Dragoons, Scotch Greys, and
Inniskillings, were posted in front of this hedge. Bonaparte drew up his
army on a range of heights in front of the allies, and about ten o’clock
in the morning he commenced a furious attack upon the post at Hougoumont.
This he accompanied with a very heavy cannonade upon the whole line of the
allies; but it was not till about two o’clock that the brigades already
mentioned were attacked. At that time the enemy, covered by a heavy fire
of artillery, advanced in a solid column of 3000 infantry
of the guard, with drums beating, and all the accompaniments of military
array, towards the position of the Belgians. The enemy received a
temporary check from the fire of the Belgians and from some artillery; but
the troops of Nassau gave way, and, retiring behind the crest of the
eminence, left a large space open to the enemy. To prevent the enemy from
entering by this gap, the third battalion of the Royal Scots, and the
second battalion of the 44th, were ordered up to occupy the ground so
abandoned; and here a warm conflict of some duration took place, in which
the two regiments lost many men and expended their ammunition. The enemy’s
columns continuing to press forward, General Pack ordered up the
Highlanders, calling out, "Ninetysecond, now is your time;
charge." This order being repeated by Major Macdonald, the soldiers
answered it by a shout. Though then reduced to less than 250 men, the
regiment instantly formed two men deep, and rushed to the front, against a
column ten or twelve men deep, and equal in length to their whole line.
The enemy, as if appalled by the advance of the Highlanders, stood
motionless, and upon a nearer approach they became panic-stricken, and,
wheeling to the rear, fled in the most disorderly manner, throwing away
their arms and every thing that incumbered them. So rapid was their
flight, that the Highlanders, notwithstanding their nimbleness of foot,
were unable to overtake them ; but General Ponsonby pursued them with the
cavalry at full speed, and cutting into the centre of the column, killed
numbers and took nearly 1800 prisoners. The animating sentiment,
"Scotland for ever I" received a mutual cheer as the Greys
galloped past the Highlanders, and the former felt the effect of the
appeal so powerfully, that, not content with the destruction or surrender
of the flying column, they passed it, and charged up to the line of the
French position. "Les braves Ecossais; qu’ils sent terribles ces
Chevaux Gris I" Napoleon is said to have exclaimed, when, in
succession, he saw the small body of Highlanders forcing one of his chosen
columns to fly, and the Greys charging almost into his very line.
During the remainder of the day the 92nd
regiment remained at the post assigned it, but no opportunity afterwards
occurred of giving another proof of its prowess. The important service
it rendered at a critical moment, by charging and routing the elite of
the French infantry, entitle the 92nd to share largely in the honours of
the victory.
"A column of such
strength, composed of veteran troops, filled with the usual confidence of
the soldiers of France, thus giving way to so inferior a force, and by
their retreat exposing themselves to certain destruction from the charges
of cavalry ready to pour in and overwhelm them, can only be accounted for
by the manner in which the attack was made, and is one of the numerous
advantages of that mode of attack I have had so often occasion to notice.
Had the Highlanders, with their inferior numbers, hesitated and remained
at a distance, exposed to the fire of the enemy, half an hour would have
been sufficient to annihilate them, whereas in their bold and rapid
advance they lost only four men. The two regiments, which for some
time resisted the attacks of the same column, were unable to force them
back. They remained stationary to receive the enemy, who were thus allowed
time and opportunity to take a cool and steady aim; encouraged by a
prospect of success, the latter doubled their efforts; indeed, so
confident were they, that when they reached the plain upon the summit of
the ascent, they ordered their arms, as if to rest after their victory.
But the handful of Highlanders soon proved on which side the victory lay.
Their bold and rapid charge struck their confident opponents with terror,
paralysed their sight and aim, and deprived both of point and object. The
consequence was, as it will always be in nine cases out of ten in similar
circumstances, that the loss of the 92nd regiment was, as I have just
stated, only 4 men, whilst the other corps in the stationary position lost
eight times that number."
At Waterloo the 92nd had 14
rank and file killed, and Captains Peter Wilkie and Archibald Ferrier, Lts.
Robert Winchester, Donald Macdonald, James Kerr Ross, and James Hope, 3
sergeants, and 96 rank and file wounded.
After Waterloo, the 92nd,
along with the rest of the army, proceeded to Paris, in the neighbourhood
of which it encamped on the 3rd of July. Shortly after leaving Waterloo,
while halting near a small village for the night, the Duke of Wellington
in person came up and thanked the 92nd for the manner in which the men had
conducted themselves during the engagement, and lavished upon them the
highest eulogiums for their exertions to uphold the reputation of the
British army. The Highland Society of Scotland unanimously passed a vote
of thanks "for the determined valour and exertions displayed by the
regiment, and for the credit which it did its country in the memorable
battles of the 16th and 18th of June 1815."
The 92nd stayed at Paris till the end of
November, when it was marched to Boulogne, and on December 17th it
embarked at Calais, landing at Margate on the 19th. After staying at
various places in England, it marched from Berwick-on-Tweed to Edinburgh
on the 7th of September 1816, and took up its quarters in Edinburgh Castle
on the 12th, this being the second visit to its native country since its
embodiment. Like the 42nd in similar circumstances, the men of the 92nd
were treated with the greatest kindness, and entertained with profuse
hospitality at almost every place on the way. On their entry into
Edinburgh, a vast crowd assembled in the roads and streets. The 42nd,
between which and the 92nd there has always been a friendly rivalry, had
been there shortly before, and a man of that regiment standing among the
crowd cried in banter to a passing company of the 92nd, "This is
nothing to what it was when we came home; we could hardly make our way
through the crowd." A 92nd man quickly retorted, "You should
have sent for us to clear the way for you, as we have often done
before."
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