I am convinced from several things that have happened me since I
have been in the Regiment that my continuing to serve any longer
in it would be disagreeable to the whole corps of officers and
being likewise sensible of my own unfitness for a military life
I have resolved to quit the Army as soon as I can obtain leave
to resign my commission. But as I have nothing else in the world
to depend upon and finding myself at present at a distance from
my family and friends or anyone whom I can depend on for advice,
interest or assistance and having frequently experienced your
goodness and favor, I have made bold to apply to you that you
would be pleased to intercede with his Excellency the Earl of
Loudon, in my behalf that His Lordship in consideration of my
distressed situation and circumstances might be moved to give me
leave to resign in favor of some person that would be willing to
allow me wherewithal to support me till I can settle and apply to
some other way of life.
In doing me this favor you’ll forever oblige, Sir,
Your respectful and gratefully obed’t hum. serv’t,
George Maclagan, Ens.
P. S.--If it is agreeable to your Lordship I am willing to pay
fifty pound Sterling for Mr. Peter Grant Voluntier.
Francis Grant, Lt. Col. 42d. Regt.”
With these two dispatches from the British War Office as a clew I
have tried to learn more about the winter quarters of the Black
Watch and have looked through the Colonial manuscript in the New
York State Library,[9] the Records of the City of Albany and the
published works of the period but so far without success. I have
been unable to find any Schenectady records of this period. It
seems that a valuable collection of Glen-Sanders papers from the
old Mansion across the Mohawk from Schenectady was recently sold
and I have been told that in these there were several references
to officers of the Black Watch. As the Glens[10] were Scots
it would be quite likely that if this collection were not now
scattered to the four winds much information about the Highlanders
could be obtained. It is said that Schenectady was only a frontier
village in 1756 and not large enough to take care of a regiment
and it seems to be a fact from the reference given above that only
a part of the thousand men were stationed here as it states that
the Regiment was stretched along the Mohawk from Schenectady to
the German Flats, but that it was a station for troops is proven
by the list in the Public Record Office of the winter quarters for
the troops in America for 1758, which states that the Black Watch
was quartered in New York and Lt. General Murray’s at Schenectady.
There is in the Public Record Office no list of winter quarters of
the troops in America previous to 1758.[11]
It appears, however, from the Town Records of Stamford, Conn.,
that a committee representing that town made a claim on the
“General Court” of the Colony of Connecticut to reimburse them
for £369-13-4½ which the town had expended “in taking care of
the Highlanders from November 30, 1757, to March 30, 1758. The
soldiers numbered 250 officers and men and they had also belonging
to them 17 women and 9 children.” They were probably part of the
Black Watch. The only other Highland regiments of that time were
Montgomery’s and Fraser’s, both raised in 1757 and their arrival
at New York from Halifax is noted in the “Post Boy” of April 11,
1757. This town record also further illustrates the custom of that
time as previously stated and as an officer of the present Regiment
aptly puts it, “they took not only their mess plate but their wives
also, on service with them, and sometimes lost both.”
[Illustration: Copy of an old Engraving showing the method of
wearing the Belted Plaid
Drawn from the ... by Jn^n Sebastian Müller. Published Apr ... 1746.
Engraved by J. S. Müller.
An Highlander standing Centry, another walking,
both of them with their Cloaks gather’d ... the left Shoulder.
Two Highlanders with their Cloaks over their
Shoulders as in rainy weather.]
This 250 at Stamford would only be a quarter of the Regiment,
however, if Loudon had upwards of a thousand at or near Schenectady
the winter before and it is probable that the rest were quartered
at or near Schenectady as in 1756.
Another statement that I have tried to confirm is the account by
James Grant in his “Legends of the Black Watch” of the 50 chosen
men under orders of MacGillivray of Glen Arrow, who went to
reinforce Col. Munro at Fort William Henry. It is also said in a
foot note of Wilson’s Orderly Book that Capt. Gordon Graham was
at Fort William Henry at the time of the surrender, and this is
repeated in N. Y. Colonial Mss. by O’Callaghan, page 728, Vol. 10,
but I have not been able to find any other reference that would
substantiate these statements.
The only time the 42d emerges from the haze of mystery from June,
1756, to the spring of 1758, is that they were a part of Loudon’s
expedition against Louisbourg in 1757, and this was more a summer
vacation than an act of war.
If the English could have attacked Louisbourg in the spring
or early summer, success would have been certain but Loudon
couldn’t seem to get started. As a messenger from the Governor of
Pennsylvania, who had waited in vain for a reply to a message,
said about him he was like “St. George on a tavern sign, always on
horse back and never riding on.” The expedition did not start from
New York until June 20th and entered Halifax harbor the 30th. Even
after this delay he was there before Admiral Holbourne, who did not
arrive from England with his fleet of 15 ships-of-the-line and 3
frigates, with 5,000 troops until July 10th. Then there was more
delay, the 12,000 troops were landed and weeks spent in drilling
and planting vegetables for their refreshment. Lord Charles Hay was
put under arrest for saying that the “nation’s money was spent in
sham battles and raising cabbages.” The troops were embarked again,
but Aug. 4th a sloop came from Newfoundland bringing news of the
arrival of three French squadrons at Louisbourg and as an attack
after this reinforcement would be hopeless, the costly enterprise
was abandoned and Loudon and the troops sailed back to New York
where he arrived Aug. 31st. Delay was the ruin of the Louisbourg
expedition and drew off British forces from the frontier where they
were most needed.
The troops were started immediately up the Hudson as soon as
they were landed at New York but Fort William Henry had already
been captured Aug. 9th and the French forces had fallen back to
Ticonderoga.
The spring of 1758 opened up with bright prospects. Lord Loudon had
been recalled and General Abercrombie, with the able assistance
of Lord Howe, was in command. Admiral Boscowen was appointed to
command the fleet and Major-General Amherst and Brigadier-Generals
Wolfe, Townsend and Murray were added to the military staff. Three
expeditions were proposed for this year, Louisbourg, Ticonderoga
and Crown Point, and Fort DuQuesne. The army in America had
been largely reinforced during the winter and spring. Of these
reinforcements the 42d was strengthened by three additional
companies and recruits bringing the Regiment up to about 1,300 men.
As we have considerable information about these three companies
through the Atholl Records, it will be interesting to turn back
and follow them from the start to the beginning of the Ticonderoga
campaign. The first item and one of interest because it shows
the method of raising companies in those days, is a letter from
the Duke of Argyll to the Duke of Atholl, dated London, July 9,
1757.[12]
“My Lord:--This is to acquaint your Grace that there is to be
3 additional Companies raised for Lord John Murray’s Regiment.
I believe the nomination of the officers will be left to me
and consequently to Your Grace; there will be 3 captains, 6
lieutenants and 3 ensigns and 100 men each company. The raising
the men will be the merit of those who shall desire to be
officers and if any can be found who have served in Holland, so
much the better. Your Grace will have your thought on this but
don’t promise anybody till you let me hear from you. I shall
speak to Lord John but I will bid him consult you and will
plainly tell him that the commissions must all be given gratis.
The other two Highland Regiments will likewise have the same
addition made to them.
I am with the greatest truth and respect, My Lord, Yr Gr’s most
faithful and obt. h’ble Servant, Argyll.”
By the Duke of Atholl’s recommendation the three companies were
given to James Stewart of Urrard; James Murray, nephew of the Duke
of Atholl and son of Lord George Murray; and Thomas Stirling of
Ardoch. Three of the new subalterns were from the Atholl estate,
namely Lieut. Alexander Menzies and Ensigns Duncan Stewart, son
of Derculich, and George Rattray, son of Dalralzion. The three
companies were mustered in October and marched from Perth to
Glasgow, where they remained until November 15, when they marched
to Greenock and embarked December 1st in transports for Cork en
route to America.
April 22, 1758, Capt. James Murray wrote from New York to Mr.
Murray of Strowan announcing his safe arrival after a voyage
of eleven weeks from Cork. The joys of a voyage in those times
when it could take ten days to sail from Scotland to Ireland, is
illustrated by a letter from Capt. Murray, dated Youghall, 11 Dec.,
1757.[13]
My dear Brother:--This is to let you know that I am just now
in good health and safely arrived here with my company. My
transport, together with the other five, set sail on the 1st
cur’t in the evening along with the Convoy; we had a fair wind
and good weather until Sunday, early in the morning (when we
were past Waterfort in our way to Corck) about eight, there came
on one of the most prodigeous storms that the sailors said they
had never seen the like before. About two in the afternoon we
lost sight of the Convoy and all the transports and have not yet
any sure accounts whether they have got all safe into harbours
or not. But since I came here I hear that there was five or six
ships lost on the Coast that day. The storm abated somewhat
Monday morning but it continued bad weather until Friday evening,
during which time we were often in risk of our lives especially
twice, once being within two yards of a great rock and the other
time when we were on two fathom water going on a sandbank.
During all that time we were near several harbours, such as
Doublin, Waterfort, Corck and others but all without success.
Saturday and this day we had good weather by which means we got
into harbour.
Your most aff’te brother,
James Murray.
From November until April seems a long voyage from Scotland to
America even in those days of primitive navigation, but another of
the three additional companies was blown into Antigua and did not
arrive at New York until June.
With the activities of the preparations for the Ticonderoga
campaign a number of dispatches were sent to the Home Government
and it is possible to follow more closely the fortunes of the Black
Watch.
The addition of these three companies raised the Regiment to 1,300
men, and we find among the official documents a petition from Capt.
Gordon Graham, endorsed by Lt. Col. Grant and General Abercrombie,
asking to be made Major in addition to Major Duncan Campbell, as
follows:[14]
To His Excellency James Abercromby, Esq., General and Commander
in Chief of all His Majesty’s forces in North America, etc.,
etc., etc.
The Memorial of Gordon Graham, eldest Captain in His Majesty’s
42nd Regiment of Foot in North America.