“He, in the firmament of honour, stands
Like a star, fixed, not moved with any thunder
Of popular applause, or sudden lightning
Of self-opinion; he hath saved his country,
And thinks ’twas but his duty.”
1794–1862—GIBRALTAR—MINORCA—EGYPT—WEST INDIES—CRIMEA—INDIAN MUTINY.
From the wilds of Perthshire have hailed many of the best and bravest
soldiers, whose deeds grace our military annals, and whose lives have
been the embodiment of all that truly ennobles character and makes the
man. Of these there is none perhaps more justly celebrated than Thomas
Graham, Lord Lynedoch, whose abilities early marked him to be the leader
of the patriotism of his native county, which, in 1794, found its
expression in the enrolment of the Ninetieth Regiment of Foot, or
Perthshire Volunteers. Shortly after its formation, the corps was
included in the army under Lord Moira; and in 1795, from the Isle Dieu,
proceeded to reinforce the garrison of Gibraltar. With the
Twenty-eighth, the Forty-second, and the Fifty-eighth regiments, the
Ninetieth formed the force which, under Lieutenant-General Sir Charles
Stuart, in 1798, assailed and captured the island of Minorca from the
Spaniards. A more important service, and more serious encounter with the
enemy, awaited the arms of the Ninetieth, as part of the expedition of
Sir Ralph Abercromby, which, in 1801, was destined to drive the French
out of Egypt. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, afterwards Viscount
Hill, it was brigaded with the Eighth, the Thirteenth, and the
Eighteenth regiments. At this period the regiment wore helmets, giving
it the appearance of a body of dismounted cavalry. At Mandora, believing
it to be such, and supposing, in consequence, that being thus out of its
own element, the regiment should lack the wonted steadiness of British
infantry, the French cavalry charged fiercely and repeatedly upon the
Ninetieth, yet always fruitlessly. The phalanx of our Perthshire men
remained firm, whilst many a saddle was emptied by its murderous fire.
It was on this occasion that Sir Ralph Abercromby, separated from his
staff, having his horse shot under him, was on the point of being
captured, when a soldier of the Ninetieth afforded such prompt
assistance, and by heroically exposing his own life in defence of his
commander, accomplished his rescue. At the same battle, Colonel Hill,
who, as the associate of Wellington, afterwards shared the glory of the
Peninsular campaigns, had his life saved by the fortunate circumstance
of the helmet he wore. “A musket ball struck it on the brass rim with
such force, that he was thrown from his horse to the ground, and the
brass completely indented. Without this safeguard, the ball would have
passed through his head.” The conspicuous bravery of the Ninetieth and
Ninety-second regiments on this occasion was rewarded by the honourable
distinction of “Mandora,” in addition to the “Sphinx” and “Egypt,” borne
by other corps engaged in the expedition.
Whilst the British were accomplishing glorious results on the plains of
Spain, the Ninetieth was employed, in 1809–10, with the Seventh, Eighth,
Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth (flank companies),
Sixtieth, Sixty-third, and First West Indian Regiments, in the reduction
of the valuable island of Martinique. This success was soon afterwards
followed by the capture of Guadaloupe, in which the Ninetieth bore a
conspicuous part. The five and thirty years which intervene betwixt this
and the next active service in which the regiment was engaged, although
a blank so far as mere fighting is concerned, displayed in its soldiers
excellences not less to be admired than those which manifest a mere
physical might or brute courage. From the “Account of the Scottish
Regiments”—to which we have already referred—we find that in 1812 the
composition of the regiment in its several battalions was as
follows:—English, 1097; Scots, 538; Irish, 486; Foreigners, 24. Total,
2144.
In 1846 the Kaffirs of South Africa attempted to recover their ancient
territory from British dominion, and accompanied these attempts with a
series of predatory incursions upon our settlements, especially in the
neighbourhood of Graham’s Town. It became necessary, for the defence of
the colony, to assemble a British army of some strength. Ere this could
be accomplished, much valuable property became the prey of these
savages, and many lives were sacrificed on the altar of their vengeance.
At first the disparity in numbers was very great—so great as to preclude
a decisive result in our favour—the whole British force scarcely
amounting to 700 men, whilst the enemy possessed 60,000 sable warriors.
Moreover, the peculiarity of the warfare in “the bush” served somewhat
to advantage the foe, and negative the superiority we might otherwise
enjoy, from troops better armed and disciplined. The assembled British,
augmented by reinforcements from home, comprised, besides Royal
Artillery and Engineers, the Seventh Dragoon Guards, the Sixth,
Twenty-seventh, Forty-fifth, Seventy-third, Ninetieth, and Ninety-first
regiments, the first battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and the Cape
Mounted Riflemen. This army, advancing in two divisions, after
undergoing the most harassing service, exposed continually to the attack
of an unseen and treacherous enemy, at length so hunted down the
guerilla bands which infested the country, that the Kaffirs were glad to
purchase peace by the surrender, as hostages, of their chief Sandilli,
together with his brother and eighty of his principal followers. “During
this long and protracted desultory warfare great fatigue and exertions
had been undergone with the characteristic heroism of the British
soldier; and the humanity and forbearance displayed by him towards the
fickle, treacherous, and revengeful enemy, were as conspicuous as his
bravery.”
The Ninetieth joined the “army of the Crimea” before Sebastopol early in
December, 1854, and served during that fatal winter when so many brave
men fell the victims of disease, induced by the hardships to which they
were exposed, and which so abundantly displayed the unmurmuring firmness
of the British soldier, so graciously cheered by the sympathy of our
beloved Queen, who thus beautifully expressing her feelings, has
unwittingly rewarded the heroic endurance of our soldiers, by
conferring, in these words, a well-merited tribute to their bravery,
which must ever be treasured by our country:—
“Would you tell Mrs Herbert that I begged she would let me see
frequently the accounts she receives from Miss Nightingale or Mrs
Bracebridge, as I hear no details of the wounded, though I see so many
from officers, etc., about the battlefield, and naturally the former
must interest me more than any one. Let Mrs Herbert also know that I
wish Miss Nightingale and the ladies would tell these poor noble
wounded and sick men that no one takes a warmer interest, or feels more
for their sufferings, or admires their courage and heroism more than
their Queen. Day and night she thinks of her beloved troops; so does
the Prince. Beg Mrs Herbert to communicate these my words to those
ladies, as I know that our sympathy is much valued by these noble
fellows.
VICTORIA.”
It was during the third bombardment of Sebastopol, and in the assault
and defence of the fortifications known as the Quarries, that the
Ninetieth first seriously encountered the Russians. In this attack,
which took place on the 7th June, 1855, the regiment was gallantly led
by Lieut.-Colonel Robert Campbell, who fell severely wounded. Belonging
to the Light Division, it afterwards formed part of the assailing force
which so heroically yet unsuccessfully attempted to carry the powerful
defences of the Redan. Fearing the result of a second assault, sustained
by the same impetuous valour, and incited by the resolve to wipe out the
seeming stain of the previous repulse, the Russians declining the
contest, beat a timely retreat, evacuating that portion of the
fortifications deemed no longer tenable, and by a series of masterly
movements successfully effecting an escape to the other side of the
harbour, from whence the Governor negotiated the surrender of the entire
city. These good tidings, received with joy by all classes at home,
elicited from the Throne the following expression of our nation’s
gratitude to the heroes of the “Crimean Army:”—
“The Queen has received with deep emotion the welcome intelligence of
the fall of Sebastopol. Penetrated with profound gratitude to the
Almighty, who has vouchsafed this triumph to the allied army, Her
Majesty has commanded me to express to yourself, and through you to her
army, the pride with which she regards this fresh instance of their
heroism. The Queen congratulates her troops on the triumphant issue of
their protracted siege, and thanks them for the cheerfulness and
fortitude with which they have encountered its toils, and the valour
which has led to its termination. The Queen deeply laments that this
success is not without its alloy, in the heavy losses that have been
sustained; and while she rejoices in the victory, Her Majesty deeply
sympathizes with the noble sufferers in their country’s cause.”
[Illustration: LUCKNOW.]
It remains for us now simply to record the memorable services of the
Ninetieth in that dark period of our country’s history—the Indian
Mutiny. Brigaded with our Highlanders, “Havelock’s Seventy-eighth—the
Saints,” the regiment was advanced, under Generals Outram and Havelock,
for the relief of Lucknow. Whilst guarding the baggage near the
Alumbagh, the Ninetieth was fiercely attacked by a strong column of the
rebel cavalry, and it was only after a desperate fight and much loss
that the mutineers were repulsed and dispersed. The further relief of
Lucknow being accomplished by Sir Colin Campbell, now Lord Clyde, the
regiment was thereafter engaged with the Forty-second and Fifty-third
storming the position of the mutineers at the Martinière. The numerous
acts of individual bravery which marked the conduct of so many of our
Perthshire Volunteers have received, as the reward of distinguished
merit, the decoration of the “Victoria Cross;” whilst Perthshire may
well indulge a becoming pride as she reviews the famous achievements of
her soldier sons.
“Courage, therefore, brother-men.
Cry ‘God!’ and to the fight again.”
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THE NINETY-FIRST FOOT;
OR,
ARGYLLSHIRE, ORIGINALLY HIGHLANDERS.
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