After a short halt at Benares the detachments proceeded to

Allahabad, at which place a moveable column was being formed under

Brigadier-General Havelock to advance against the mutineers. On

arrival at that place it was found that the whole of the country

between it and Delhi was in the hands of the insurgents; that

Cawnpoor and Lucknow were in a state of siege; and a rumour, which

eventually proved to be too true, stated that the British garrison of

the former place had been induced to surrender, and had been basely

massacred.[506]

On the 7th of July General Havelock advanced from Allahabad with a

small force of about 1000 British and a few Sikhs, with six guns,

to endeavour to retake Cawnpoor and rescue Lucknow. His force

consisted of a light field battery, a portion of the 1st Madras

Fusiliers, the 64th Regiment, and 78th Highlanders; of the latter

were the grenadiers, Nos. 3, 6, and the light companies, numbering

305 men, besides 13 officers, under Colonel Walter Hamilton. The heat

was intense, and the monsoon having just set in, the rain fell in

torrents, rendering the entire country one large morass.

Major Renaud had been sent on with a small force as an advanced

guard, and on the 10th General Havelock set out after him, coming

up with him at moonlight, after a hard and long march. The united

forces continued their march to Khaga, five miles from Futtehpoor,

where Havelock commenced to encamp. His force now amounted to about

1400 Europeans and 400 natives, with 8 guns. While the camp was being

pitched, the enemy, numbering about 3500, with 12 guns, was observed

in the distance bearing down upon a reconnoitering party which had

been sent to the front under Colonel Tytler.

Futtehpoor constituted a strong position, and the enemy had

already occupied the many advantageous positions, both natural

and artificial. Among the rebel force was the 56th Bengal Native

Infantry, the regiment which Havelock led on at Maharajpoor.

After the General had disposed his troops the action was soon

decided. Captain Maude, pushing on his guns to point-blank range,

electrified the enemy with his fire. The Madras Fusiliers gained

possession of a hillock on the right, and struggled on through the

inundation; the 78th, in extension, wading knee-deep in mud and

water, kept up communication with the centre; the 64th gave strength

to the centre and left; while on the left the 84th and Sikhs of

Ferozepoor pressed back the enemy’s right.

As the British force pressed forward, the rebel guns continued to

fall into its hands; the rebels were driven by the skirmishers and

columns from every point, one after the other, of which they held

possession, into, through, and beyond the town, and were very soon

put to a final flight. General Havelock then taking up his position

in triumph, halted his weary men to breakfast, having marched 24

miles, and beaten the enemy so completely that all their ammunition,

baggage, and guns (11 in number) fell into his hands. The loss on

the British side was merely nominal; but the moral effect on the

mutineers of this their first reverse was immense.

[Illustration: The Suttee Chowra Ghât, or Landing-Place. Scene of the

Second Massacre, 27th June 1857.]

During the action the heat was excessive, and 12 men died from

exposure to the sun and fatigue. Next day General Havelock issued

a Field-force Order, highly and justly complimenting the force for

its conduct, which he attributed to the fire of British artillery,

to English rifles in British hands, to British pluck, “and to the

blessing of Almighty God on a most righteous cause.”

On the 14th the moveable column recommenced its march, and after

dislodging the rebels from a strong position at Aong, pushed on for

Pandoo Nuddee, at the bridge of which place the enemy had prepared

another strong position. Here, also, by the promptitude and admirable

tactics of General Havelock, the rebels were completely routed; both

on this occasion and at Aong they left behind them a number of heavy

guns and a quantity of ammunition. It was on hearing the intelligence

of the defeat of his troops at the Pandoo Nuddee that Nana Sahib put

the finishing stroke to the atrocious conduct which has rendered his

name an abhorrence to the whole civilized world, and which turned

this warfare on the part of the English into “a most righteous cause”

indeed. On the 15th of July this diabolical wretch filled up the

measure of his iniquities; for it was on hearing that the bridge over

the Pandoo Nuddee had been forced and his army driven back, that he

ordered the immediate massacre of all the English women and children

still in his possession.

Between four in the afternoon of the 15th, and nine in the morning of

the 16th of July, 206 persons, mostly women and children of gentle

birth, comprising the survivors of the massacre of 27th June and

the captured fugitives from Futteghur,--who had been confined for a

fortnight in a small building which has since been known in India as

the Beebeegur, or House of the Ladies, in England as the House of

the Massacre,--were butchered with the most barbarous atrocity, and

their bodies thrown into a dry well, situated behind some trees which

grew hard by. Our illustration, taken from a photograph, shows the

Mausoleum erected over the well, and part of the garden which covers

the site of the House of Massacre. Just within the doorway, at top of

the flight of steps, may be seen the carved pediment which closes the

mouth of the well. Around this pediment are carved the words:--

Sacred to the perpetual memory of a great

Company of Christian people, chiefly women

and children. XVI. day of July MDCCCLVII.

On the pediment has been erected, since our view was taken, an

emblematical figure of an angel in front of a tall cross, carved in

marble by Baron Marochetti.

At daybreak, on the 16th, Havelock’s column again moved on, the

troops being strongly in hope of being able to save the wives and

children of the murdered garrison of Cawnpoor, being ignorant of

their brutal massacre. After a march of 16 miles the army halted in a

mango grove at the village of Maharajpoor, to take refreshment and a

slight rest in the shade from the powerful sun, before engaging the

Nana, who was strongly posted about two miles off.

[Illustration: Action near Cawnpoor, on the Afternoon of the 16th of

July 1857.]

The camp and baggage being left here under proper escort, the column

again moved at 2 o’clock P.M. The Fusiliers led, followed by two

guns; then came the 78th Highlanders, in rear of whom was the central

battery under Captain Maude; the 64th and 84th had two guns more in

the rear, and the regiment of Ferozepoor closed the column.

Nana Sahib had taken up a strong position at the village of Aherwa,

where the grand trunk road joined that which led to Cawnpoor. His

entrenchments had cut and rendered impassable both roads, and his

heavy guns, seven in number, were disposed along his position,

which consisted of a series of villages. Behind these the infantry,

consisting of mutinous troops and his own armed followers, numbering

in all about 5000, was disposed for defence.

General Havelock resolved to take the position by a flank movement.

Accordingly, after a short advance along the road, the column moved

off to the right, and circled round the enemy’s left. As soon as the

Nana perceived Havelock’s intention, he pushed forward on his left

a large body of horse, and opened upon the British column a fire of

shot and shell from all his guns.

Havelock’s troops continued their progress until the enemy’s left

was entirely turned, and then forming line, the British guns opened

fire upon the rebels’ batteries, while the infantry advanced in

direct échelon of regiments from the right, covered by a wing of the

Fusiliers as skirmishers. “The opportunity had now arrived,” wrote

General Havelock in his despatch, “for which I have long anxiously

waited, of developing the prowess of the 78th Highlanders. Three

guns of the enemy were strongly posted behind a lofty hamlet, well

entrenched. I directed this regiment to advance, and never have I

witnessed conduct more admirable. They were led by Colonel Hamilton,

and followed him with surpassing steadiness and gallantry under a

heavy fire. As they approached the village they cheered and charged

with the bayonet, the pipers sounding the pibroch. Need I add, that

the enemy fled, the village was taken, and the guns captured.” Until

within a few hundred yards of the guns the line advanced in perfect

order and quietness, with sloped arms. Here for a few moments they

lay down to allow the fierce iron storm to pass over. At the word

from the General, “Rise up, advance,” they sprang to their feet, and

with a cheer rushed upon the battery. General Havelock followed close

in behind, and when the regiment was halted in rear of the village,

exclaimed, “Well done, 78th, you shall be my own regiment! Another

charge like that will win the day.”

Having halted here for a few minutes to take breath, the regiment

pushed on at the double march to a hamlet about 500 yards distant

still held by the enemy, who were quickly dislodged from it.

Meanwhile, the 64th and 84th regiments advanced on the left, and

captured two guns strongly posted on the enemy’s original right.

Nana Sahib having withdrawn his forces in the direction of Cawnpoor,

and taken up a new position in rear of his first, the British

infantry now changed line to the front and rear, while the guns were

brought up. This was a work of great difficulty, the ground being

very heavy and the bullocks worn out with fatigue. About this time

the Nana sent some of his numerous cavalry to the British flanks and

rear, which did some execution before they were repulsed. The rebel

infantry appeared to be in full retreat when a reserve 24-pounder

was opened on the Cawnpoor road which caused considerable loss to

the British force; and under cover of its fire, at the same time two

large bodies of cavalry riding insolently over the plain, and the

rebel infantry once more rallied. “The beating of their drums and

numerous mounted officers in front announced the definitive struggle

of the Nana for his usurped dominion.”

But the final crisis approached. The artillery cattle being tired out

could not bring up the guns to the assistance of the British, and the

Madras Fusiliers, 64th, 78th, and 84th formed in line were exposed to

a heavy fire from the 24-pounder on the road, and from the musketry

of the rebel skirmishers. Colonel Hamilton about this time had his

horse shot under him by a musket ball. The General now called upon

the infantry, who were lying down in line, to rise and make another

steady advance. “It was irresistible,” he wrote, “the enemy sent

round shot into our ranks until we were within 300 yards, and then

poured in grape with great precision.” The gun was more immediately

in front of the 64th, which regiment suffered severely by its fire;

but the line advancing steadily upon the gun, at length charged with

a cheer and captured it.

The enemy now lost all heart, and after a hurried fire of musketry

gave way in total rout. Four of the British guns coming up by the

road completed the discomfiture by a heavy cannonade; and as it grew

dark the roofless artillery barracks were dimly descried in advance,

and it was evident that Cawnpoor was once more in possession of the

British.

The entire loss from the action of the day was about 100 killed and

wounded--that of the 78th being 3 killed and 16 wounded. Many men

also died from the effects of the sun and extreme fatigue, the 78th

alone losing 5 men from this cause.

[Illustration: Sketch-Map to illustrate Brigadier-General Havelock’s

Military Operations during July and August 1857.

The numbers on the route are miles.]

An incident occurred about this time which is worth recording. By

some mistake a bugler sounded the “officers’ call” in rear of the

78th. The officers of the regiment immediately assembled near the

general--who was standing close by--imagining that he wished to see

them. On finding out the mistake, General Havelock addressed them as

follows:--“Gentlemen, I am glad of having this opportunity of saying

a few words to you which you may repeat to your men. I am now upwards

of sixty years old; I have been forty years in the service: I have

been engaged in action about seven-and-twenty times; but in the whole

of my career I have never seen any regiment behave better, nay more,

I have never seen any one behave so well, as the 78th Highlanders

this day. I am proud of you, and if ever I have the good luck to be

made a major-general, the first thing I shall do, will be to go to

the Duke of Cambridge and request that when my turn arrives for the

colonelcy of a regiment, I may have the 78th Highlanders. And this,

gentlemen, you hear from a man who is not in the habit of saying more

than he means. I am not a Highlander, but I wish I was one.”

The wounded were now gathered together and cared for, and the tired

troops lay down for the night, when a crash that shook the earth

woke them; Nana Sahib had blown up the great Cawnpoor magazine and

abandoned the place.

The next morning a few troops were sent into the town, which was

found to be entirely evacuated. The sight presented by the house of

murder, and the well into which were thrown the mangled bodies of

upwards of 200 women and children as yet scarcely cold, can never be

effaced from the memories of those who witnessed it, and who, though

fresh from the horrors of the battle-field, shuddered and wept at the

revolting scene.

[Illustration: Mausoleum over the Well at Cawnpoor.]

On the morning of the 17th, the force was joined by the camp and

baggage, and encamped on the Cawnpoor parade-ground (where the 78th

was last encamped in the year 1799), and on the 18th moved round

to the western side of Cawnpoor, where General Havelock issued a

stirring general order, his words burning with horror and righteous

indignation at what had taken place at Cawnpoor. “Your comrades at

Lucknow are in peril,” the order said, “Agra is besieged, Delhi still

the focus of mutiny and rebellion.... Highlanders! it was my earnest

desire to afford you the opportunity of showing how your predecessors

conquered at Maida. You have not degenerated. Assaye was not won by a

more silent, compact, and resolute charge than was the village near

Jansenvoor on the 16th instant.”

On the 20th of July, Brigadier General Neill arrived from Allahabad

with 270 men. Thus reinforced, Havelock began to cross the Ganges;

and on the 25th, with his band of 1500, commenced his first march to

relieve Lucknow, leaving General Neill to command at Cawnpoor. Though

the season was that of the monsoon, and the country in a deluge,

the troops took the field without tentage of any kind, getting such

shelter as could be afforded by the deserted and ruined hamlets.

The strength of the 78th was 16 officers and 293 men, being the

grenadiers, Nos. 3, 6, and light companies.

On the 26th, the force moved forward a few miles and took up its

quarters at the village of Mungulwar, about six miles from Cawnpoor.

On the morning of the 29th, it advanced to meet the rebels, who

were stationed in great strength at the town of Oonao, and a small

village close in front of it. The houses were surrounded by walled

enclosures, every wall being loopholed, and a deep swamp protected

the enemy’s right.

The 78th and the 1st Madras Fusiliers, with two guns, began

the attack. They drove the enemy from the gardens; but when

they approached the village, where every house was loopholed, a

destructive fire was opened upon them. From one house in particular

the line suffered a heavy musketry fire; Lieutenant Bogle with part

of No. 3 company was ordered to attack it. He gallantly led on the

men through a narrow and strongly defended doorway (the only means of

ingress), into a court filled with armed fanatics, but immediately

on entering he fell severely wounded, together with nearly all who

had entered with him. The defenders were ultimately overcome by

shells thrown into the house by the artillery. After an obstinate

resistance, the mutineers were driven beyond the town, where they

rallied, but were soon put to flight, and their guns taken.

After a halt of three hours the column moved on, and in the afternoon

came in sight of Buseerutgunge, where the rebels again made a stand.

This town was walled, surrounded by deep ditches, and had been

strengthened by earthworks. The gate in front was defended by a round

tower, mounting four heavy guns. Behind the town was a wide nullah

full of water, crossed by a narrow causeway and bridge.

The troops immediately deployed, the 64th being ordered to turn the

town on the left, and penetrate between the bridge and the enemy.

The 78th and the Fusiliers advancing on the front face, carried the

earthworks and drove out the enemy, capturing their guns. It was now

6 P.M., and too dark, without cavalry, to pursue the enemy through

the swamps beyond the causeway, over which the rebels succeeded in

escaping.

These two actions had cost the little force 12 killed and 76 wounded,

and cholera had, moreover, broken out. To send the sick and wounded,

numbering nearly 300, back to Cawnpoor would have required an escort

which could not be spared, and Lucknow was still 36 miles away.

Without reinforcements General Havelock found the relief impossible,

he therefore fell back to Mungulwar, which he reached on the morning

of the 31st. Here he remained entrenched awaiting reinforcements from

Cawnpoor, whither all the sick and wounded were sent.

Brigadier-General Neill having thrown up a strong entrenchment at

Cawnpoor, sent over all the men whom he could spare to Havelock, who,

with his force thus again increased to about 1400 men, commenced

on the 4th of August his second march to relieve Lucknow. The enemy

were found on the following day occupying their old position at

Buseerutgunge. They were driven from the town in confusion and with

severe loss, by Maude’s battery, the 78th, and the Sikhs, and also

from a position which they had taken up across the nullah. Their loss

was supposed to be about 300, that of the British being 2 killed and

23 wounded; Colonel Hamilton’s charger was killed under him.

The British force being again diminished by sickness and the sword,

General Havelock was compelled to retire upon his old position at

Mungulwar. It was the only course he could pursue, as to advance

to Lucknow with the small force at his command was to court

annihilation, and as a consequence the certain destruction of the

British garrison at Lucknow. Preparations were therefore made to

recross the river to Cawnpoor, which was now threatened on all sides

by the Dinapoor mutineers, the Gwalior contingent, and Nana Sahib at

Bithoor. Perceiving Havelock’s intention a large force of the enemy

assembled at Oonao, with the design of attacking the British position

at Mungulwar, or of annoying the force during its passage of the

Ganges. To obviate this the general moved out to meet the mutineers

in the morning of the 11th of August, after sending his force, now

reduced to about 1000 men, and all his baggage and stores across the

river. On Havelock’s force reaching Oonao, the enemy’s advanced posts

fell back, and it bivouacked during the night near the town.

On advancing the next day (July 29th) the enemy were descried

drawn up at the village of Boorbeek Chowkey, about a mile from

Buseerutgunge. Their centre rested on the village, and their guns

were conveniently placed behind a series of high mounds, forming

strong natural defences, which they had scarped and otherwise

artificially improved. The British troops deployed, and, covered

by artillery fire and skirmishers, advanced in direct échelon of

battalions from the right, receiving, as they came within range of

the enemy’s batteries, a deadly fire of shell, grape, and round

shot, which was aimed with greater precision than had hitherto been

manifested by their artillerymen anywhere. The British guns on the

right having sufficiently advanced to get a flanking fire on the

enemy’s line, the 78th charged a battery of three guns on the enemy’s

left, captured two of the guns, and turning them on the retreating

hosts, pounded them with their own shell and grape, putting them

completely to rout. At the same time the Madras Fusiliers repulsed a

strong demonstration made by the enemy’s cavalry on the right. The

loss of the British in the action was 140 killed and wounded.

Having rested for two hours on the field, the column slowly retired

to Mungulwar, and on the following morning, August 13th, recrossed

the Ganges to Cawnpoor, having been in the field, in an Indian

monsoon, without tents, for twenty-three days, during which it had

four times met and defeated the enemy.

In these four engagements the 78th lost 6 men killed and 2 officers,

Lieutenant and Adjutant Macpherson and Lieutenant Bogle, and 6 men

wounded. To Lieutenant Crowe of the 78th the Victoria Cross was

subsequently awarded, as having been the first man to enter the

battery at Boorbeek Chowkey, where the two guns were captured.

The regiment was joined at Cawnpoor by Colonel Stisted, Captain

Archer, and No. 4 Company.

Early on the morning of the 16th of August the movable column marched

against Bithoor, the residence of Nana Sahib, about 14 miles from

Cawnpoor. About noon the column came in sight of the enemy, numbering

in all, infantry and cavalry, about 4000, strongly posted. General

Havelock called it “one of the strongest positions in India.” The

plain in front of the enemy’s position was covered with thick

sugar-cane plantations, which reached high above the heads of the

men, and their batteries were defended by thick ramparts flanked by

entrenched quadrangles. The whole position was again flanked by other

villages and comprehended the town of Bithoor.

The enemy having opened upon the advancing British force a continued

shower of shot and shell, and as the British guns made no impression

upon them, it was resolved to have recourse to the bayonet, and a

simultaneous advance of the line was ordered. While the Fusiliers

moved upon the flanking villages, the 78th advanced upon the

batteries, alternately lying down and moving on, as the volleys of

grape issued from the enemy’s guns. The rebels awaited the approach

of the advancing men until the foremost entered the works, when they

fled in confusion. The British troops pursued the enemy into and

through the town, but being completely knocked up by exposure to the

fierce sun, and by the great fatigue they had undergone, could follow

the retreating rebels no further, and bivouacked on the ground they

had won.

The 78th had in this affair only Captain Mackenzie and 10 men

wounded, though several men died of cholera, which had again broken

out.

The next morning the force returned to Cawnpoor, and took up a

position on the plain of Subada, where General Havelock issued a

commendatory and stirring note, in which he told the small force that

it “would be acknowledged to have been the prop and stay of British

India in the time of her severest trial.”

During the next month the force rested at Cawnpoor, while

reinforcements gradually arrived. Immediately on crossing the Ganges

cholera broke out, and carried off a great number of the little

band. The headquarters of the 78th lost from this cause alone 1

officer, Captain Campbell, and 43 men. The strength of the regiment

was still further reduced by the departure of 1 officer and 56 men,

sick and wounded, to Allahabad. At the end of the month, however, the

five companies that had been left behind, and the detachment that

came from Chinsurah by the steamer route, joined headquarters from

Allahabad.

In the middle of September the regiment was supplied with Enfield

rifles, but there was little time left for giving the men any

instruction in the use of that weapon.

The force despatched from England to assist in the Chinese war (the

23rd, 82nd, 90th, and 93rd Regiments) had been stopped at Singapore

and brought to Calcutta. The 37th Regiment also arrived from Ceylon,

and the 5th from Mauritius. Of these regiments, the 5th and 90th were

immediately on arrival sent up the country, and reached Cawnpoor in

the beginning of September. Sir James Outram also arrived at this

time, having been appointed to the military command of the Cawnpoor

and Dinapoor divisions.

A bridge of boats was thrown across the Ganges, and every preparation

made for another attempt to relieve Lucknow, the garrison of which

was still successfully and heroically holding out. On the 16th of

September, Sir James Outram issued a division order, in which he

generously resigned to Major-General Havelock the honour of leading

on the force intended to make a second attempt to relieve Lucknow.

This Sir James did “in gratitude for, and in admiration of the

brilliant deeds in arms achieved by General Havelock and his gallant

troops.” Sir James was to accompany the force as a volunteer, and on

the relief of Lucknow would resume his position at the head of the

forces.

The army of relief was divided into two brigades of infantry and

one of artillery, as follows:--First brigade of infantry, under

Brigadier-General Neill, consisted of the 5th Fusiliers, 84th

Regiment, 1st Madras Fusiliers, and 100 men of the 64th Regiment.

Second brigade of infantry, under Colonel Walter Hamilton of the

78th, consisted of the 78th Highlanders under Colonel Stisted, 90th

light infantry, and the Sikh regiment of Ferozepoor. The Artillery

brigade, under Major Cooper, B.A., consisted of the batteries of

Captain Maude, Captain Olphert, and Brevet-Major Eyre. The volunteer

cavalry, a few irregulars, under Captain Barrow, and a small body

of Engineers, accompanied the forces. The entire force was under

the command of Brigadier-General Havelock, accompanied, as we have

stated, by Major-General Outram as a volunteer.

The entrenchment at Cawnpoor having been completed was garrisoned by

the 64th regiment under Colonel Wilson.

On the 18th of September an advance party, consisting of No. 8 and

the Light Company of the 78th, the Sikh regiment, and four guns

under Major McIntyre of the 78th, was pushed across the river to

form a _tête-de-pont_ to enable the bridge to be completed on the

enemy’s side of the river. The men were exposed during the day to a

skirmishing fire from the enemy, who also opened a few guns upon

them from a distance, but with little effect. During the day these

companies were relieved by Nos. 6 and 7 of the 78th, and Major

Haliburton took command of the advanced party. Before daybreak on the

19th, this party, which was stationed all night on a dry sandbank

in the middle of the Ganges, pushed quietly across the intervening

islands to the mainland, in order to cover the advance of the force,

which crossed with little opposition, the rebel army, after a slight

show of resistance, retiring on their entrenched position about three

miles off, towards Mungulwar.

The strength of the force amounted to about 3000, that of the

78th being 26 officers and 523 men; Colonel Walter Hamilton being

Brigadier, Colonel Stisted commanded the regiment.

On the morning of September 21st, the advance on Lucknow commenced,

and the enemy’s position was soon reached near Mungulwar, which for

some weeks they had been busily employed in fortifying. The position,

however, was soon carried, the enemy rapidly pursued, and many of

them cut up by the British cavalry; four guns and a colour were

captured. The British loss was merely nominal.

Rain now commenced to pour in monsoon torrents, and hardly ceased

for three days. Through it the force pushed in column of route over

the well-known scenes of their former struggles, by Buseerutgunge

and the village of Bunnee, when, about 2 o’clock in the afternoon

of the 23rd, the enemy were descried in a strong position in the

neighbourhood of Lucknow. The head of the column at first suffered

from the fire of the enemy’s guns as it was compelled to pass along

the trunk road between morasses; but these passed, the force quickly

deployed into line, and the 2nd brigade advancing through a sheet

of water drove back the right of the mutinous army, while the 1st

Brigade attacked it in front. Victory soon declared for the British

force, which captured five guns. The enemy’s cavalry, however, 1500

strong, creeping through lofty cultivation, made a sudden irruption

on the baggage in the rear of the relieving force, inflicting some

loss on the detachment of the 90th that was guarding it. In this

engagement the 78th lost 1 man killed and 6 wounded.

The British passed the night of the 23rd on the ground they had

won, exposed, however, to a cannonade from the enemy’s guns. On the

morning of the 24th, their fire inflicted such loss on the British

force, especially the 78th, which had 4 men killed and 11 wounded by

it, that the General, having determined to halt this day to obtain

rest previous to the attack on the city, found it necessary to retire

the left brigade out of reach of the guns.

The 24th was spent in removing all the baggage and tents,

camp-followers, sick and wounded, into the Alum Bagh, which, on the

advance being made next day, was left in charge of Major M’Intyre of

the 78th, with a detachment of 280 Europeans, some Sikhs, and 4 guns.

Of these, Major M’Intyre, Lieutenant Walsh, and 71 non-commissioned

officers and men, besides 34 sick and wounded, belonged to the 78th.

A short description of the desperate position of those whom Havelock

hoped to rescue may not be out of place here.

In the month of June (1857), most of the native regiments at Lucknow,

as elsewhere, having broken out into open mutiny, the Residency and

a strong fort in the city called Muchee Bhorwan, were put in a state

of defence for the protection of the Europeans. On the 30th of June,

the garrison, consisting of 300 of H.M.’s 32nd Regiment, and a few

Native infantry, cavalry, and artillery, marched out to Chinhut to

meet a rebel army which was marching upon Lucknow; but the native

gunners proved traitors, overturned the guns, cut the traces, and

then deserted to the enemy. The remainder of the force thus exposed

to a vastly superior fire, and completely outflanked, was compelled

to make a disastrous retreat, with the loss of 3 guns and a great

number killed and wounded.

The force being thus diminished the Muchee Bhorwan had to be

evacuated. On the night of the 1st of July it was blown up, and the

troops marched into the Residency, the investment of which the enemy

now completed; and for three months the brave garrison had to undergo

a siege regarding which the Governor-General of India justly writes,

“There does not stand in the annals of war an achievement more truly

heroic than the defence of the Residency of Lucknow.”

This brave handful had heard through spies of the frightful tragedy

of Cawnpoor; the dangers multiplied; the provisions were failing;

more than 300 of the men had been killed, and many more had succumbed

to disease, when the joyful sound of the British guns at the Alum

Bagh, on the 23d of September, announced to them that relief was at

hand.

And now came the rescue. On the morning of the 25th of September,

General Havelock’s force advanced from the Alum Bagh.

The enemy had taken up an exceedingly strong position at the village

of Char Bagh, on the city side of the canal, the bridge over which

was defended by several guns in position; they also occupied in force

numerous gardens and walled enclosures on one side of the canal, from

which they poured a most destructive musketry fire on the advancing

troops.

The 1st brigade led, accompanied by Captain Maude’s battery, and

after a desperate resistance, in which one-third of the British

artillerymen fell, they succeeded in storming the bridge of Char Bagh

and capturing the guns, supported by the 2nd brigade, which now moved

to the front, and occupying the houses on both sides of the street,

bayoneted the defenders, throwing the slain in heaps on the roadside.

From this point the direct road to the Residency through the city

was something less than two miles; but it was known to have been cut

by trenches and crossed by barricades at short intervals, all the

houses, moreover, being loopholed. Progress in this direction was

impossible; so, the 78th Highlanders being left to hold the position

until the entire force, with ammunition, stores, &c., had passed,

the united column pushed on, detouring to the right along a narrow

road which skirted the left bank of the canal. The advance was not

seriously impeded until the force came opposite the Kaiser Bagh,

or King’s Palace, where two guns and a body of mercenary troops

were entrenched, who opened a heavy fire of grape and musketry. The

artillery with the column had to pass a bridge exposed to this fire,

but they were then shrouded by the buildings adjacent to the palace

of the Furrah Buksh.

[Illustration: Plan illustrative of the Operations for the Relief of

Lucknow in September and November 1857.]

In the meantime the 78th was engaged in a hot conflict. As soon

as the enemy perceived the deviation made by the main body, and

that only a small force was left at the bridge of the Char Bagh,

they returned in countless numbers to annoy the Highlanders. Two

companies, Nos. 7 and 8, under Captains Hay and Hastings, were sent

to occupy the more advanced buildings of the village; four companies

were sent out as skirmishers in the surrounding gardens; and the

remainder, in reserve, were posted in the buildings near the bridge.

The lane out of which the force had marched was very narrow and much

cut up by the passage of the heavy guns, so that it was a work of

great difficulty to convey the line of commissariat carts and cattle

along it, and in a few hours the 78th was separated from the main

body by a distance of some miles. The enemy now brought down two

guns to within 500 yards of the position of the 78th, and opened a

very destructive fire of shot and shell upon the advanced companies,

while the whole regiment was exposed to a heavy musketry fire. This

becoming insupportable, it was determined to capture the guns at the

point of the bayonet. The two advanced companies, under Captains

Hay and Hastings, and Lieutenants Webster and Swanson, formed upon

the road, and by a gallant charge up the street captured the first

gun, which, being sent to the rear was hurled into the canal. In the

meantime the skirmishing companies had been called in, and they,

together with the reserve, advanced to the support of Nos. 7 and

8. The united regiment now pushed on towards the second gun, which

was still annoying it from a more retired position. A second charge

resulted in its capture, but as there was some difficulty in bringing

it away, and it being necessary to retire immediately on the bridge

to keep open the communications, which were being threatened by the

hosts who surrounded the regiment, the gun was spiked, and the 78th

fell back upon the bridge, carrying with them numbers of wounded, and

leaving many dead on the road. In the charge Lieutenant Swanson was

severely wounded.

The entire line of carts, &c., having now passed, the regiment

evacuated the position and bridge of the Char Bagh, and forming the

rear-guard of the force, proceeded along the narrow lane taken by

the column on the left bank of the canal. The rebels immediately

seized the bridge, crossed it, and lined the right bank of the canal,

where they were protected by a wall, from behind which they poured a

galling musketry fire, and placing a gun upon the bridge, enfiladed

the road along which the route of the 78th lay; thus the regiment was

almost completely surrounded, and had to stand and protect its rear

at every step. Captain Hastings was severely wounded, while making a

brave stand with No. 8 company against the advancing mass of rebels;

Captain Lockhart and a large number of men were also wounded here.

A report having been sent to the general that the 78th was hard

pressed, the volunteer cavalry and a company of the 90th Regiment

were sent back to its assistance; the lane, however, was too narrow

for cavalry to work in, and they suffered severely. At length a point

was reached, near Major Banks’s house, where four roads meet; the

78th had no guide, the main body was far out of sight, and all that

could be ascertained regarding the locality was that the turning to

the left, which evidently led into the city, was the direct road to

the Residency. The force therefore followed that route, which led

through a street of fine houses loopholed and occupied by the rebels;

to the gate of the Kaiser Bagh, or King’s Palace, where it came in

reverse upon the battery which was firing upon the main body near the

Motee Mahul. After spiking the guns, the force pushed on under the

walls of the Kaiser Bagh, and after being exposed to another shower

of musketry from its entire length, the little column, consisting of

the 78th and cavalry, about four o’clock in the afternoon, joined the

main body near the entrance to the Furrah Buksh, where for a short

time it obtained rest.

From this point the Residency was about half a mile distant, and as

darkness was coming on, it was deemed most important to reach the

Residency that night.

The 78th Highlanders and the regiment of Ferozepore were now directed

to advance. “This column,” wrote General Havelock in his despatch,

“pushed on with a desperate gallantry, led by Sir James Outram and

myself and staff, through streets of flat-roofed, loopholed houses,

from which a perpetual fire was kept up, and overcoming every

obstacle, established itself within the enclosure of the Residency.

The joy of the garrison may be more easily conceived than described.

But it was not till the next evening that the whole of my troops,

guns, tumbrils, and sick and wounded, continually exposed to the

attacks of the enemy, could be brought step by step within the

_enceinte_ and the adjacent palace of the Furrah Buksh. To form an

adequate idea of the obstacles overcome, reference must be made

to the events that are known to have occurred at Buenos Ayres and

Saragossa.”

Lieutenant Kirby was mortally wounded in this advance, while

gallantly waving the Queen’s colour which he had carried

throughout the action. On his fall, Sergeant Reid of the grenadier

company seized the colour and carried it for some distance, when

assistant-surgeon M’Master took it from him, and carried it up to

near the Residency gate, where he handed it over to Colour-sergeant

Christie, by whom it was brought into the Residency. The regimental

colour was carried throughout the day by Ensign Tweedie, 4th Bengal

Native Infantry, who was attached to the regiment. Lieutenant

Webster was killed within 200 yards of the gate; Lieutenant Crowe

and Lieutenant and Adjutant Macpherson were wounded, and 2 officers

attached to the regiment--Lieutenant Joly of the 32nd Regiment, and

Lieutenant Grant of the Bengal army--were also wounded, the former

mortally.

Early the next morning a party was sent out under Captain R. Bogle,

of the 78th, to assist in bringing in the wounded, who had been left

with the 90th Regiment and heavy guns in the Motee Mahul. While

performing this duty Captain Bogle received a severe wound, of which

he died two months afterwards.

A request for reinforcements having been sent by Major Haliburton

of the 78th, who now commanded the troops at the Motee Mahul (his

two seniors having fallen), the 5th regiment and part of the Sikhs

were sent to assist him. In the forenoon another party was sent,

consisting of 50 men of the 78th, under Captain Lockhart and

Lieutenant Barker, who occupied the house called “Martin’s House,”

on the bank of the Goomtee, which secured the communication between

the palaces and the Motee Mahul. Here they were exposed during the

whole day to a hot cannonade, until towards evening the house was a

complete ruin.

In the meantime the wounded men were conveyed from the Motee Mahul

under charge of their medical officers, Surgeons Jee of the 78th,

and Home of the 90th, who had gallantly remained with them under the

heavy fire to which they had been exposed for many hours. Some of

them, with the former officer, reached the Residency in safety, but

those under charge of Surgeon Home were misled by a civilian, who

had kindly volunteered to show the way. The enemy surrounded them;

the doolie bearers fled, and the small escort, with a few wounded

officers and men, took refuge in a neighbouring house, where during

the whole day and night they were closely besieged by a large body of

rebels, numbering from 500 to 1000, against whom the escort defended

themselves and their wounded comrades in a most heroic manner. Those

of the wounded, however, who were unable to leave their doolie, fell

into the hands of the enemy, and were put to death with horrible

tortures, some of them being burned alive. Lieutenant Swanson was

one of the wounded of the 78th who were saved, but not until he had

received two fresh wounds, one of which proved mortal. Privates

James Halliwell, Richard Baker, and William Peddington of the 78th,

were among those few gallant men who fought against such unequal

odds. The first-named was rewarded with the Victoria Cross, as were

also Surgeon Home of the 90th and two men of other regiments. The

party was most fortunately saved from this perilous situation on the

following morning, as will appear in the sequel.

After the wounded and commissariat stores had left the Motee Mahul

by the river bank, it was found impossible to take the heavy guns by

that way, and the only practicable route for them being the high road

which ran through the enemy’s position to the Furrah Buksh palace, it

was resolved to attempt to bring them in by that route under cover of

the night. The remainder of the 78th, under Colonel Stisted, was sent

out from the Residency about sunset on the 26th to assist in this

operation, together with two guns under Captain Olpherts, and some

irregular cavalry. The 5th, and part of the Sikh Regiment had already

been sent there in the early part of the day.

At three o’clock on the morning of the 27th the column was formed

in perfect silence, the 78th leading, and the remainder following,

with heavy guns and ammunition in the centre; the Sikhs covered each

flank. Thus formed, the whole force proceeded undiscovered up to the

enemy’s posts. The leading division had nearly reached the palace

when the alarm was given by the enemy’s sentries, bugles sounded the

“assembly,” and confusion reigned in the rebel camp. The British

soldiers now raised a cheer, and rushed on the opposing force into

their own line of works, losing only 1 officer and 2 men killed, and

1 officer and 9 men wounded--2 of the latter belonging to the 78th.

The route of this little force fortunately lay through the square

where, as above mentioned, a few men were heroically defending their

wounded comrades in a most critical situation, and they were thus

saved at a most opportune moment.

The relief of the Lucknow garrison having been thus gloriously

accomplished, Sir James Outram resumed his position as the commander

of the troops, and in an Order (dated the 26th of September 1857)

he bears just and high testimony to the bravery and heroism of the

troops and their leader, who thus accomplished a feat unsurpassed in

history. Among the regiments specially mentioned in the Order is “the

78th Highlanders, who led the advance on the Residency, headed by

their brave commander, Colonel Stisted.”

In effecting the relief the army lost 535 in killed, wounded, and

missing. The loss fell heaviest on the 78th, which throughout the

day was exposed to more fighting than the rest of the force. This

regiment alone lost 122 killed and wounded; 2 officers and 39 men

being killed, and 8 officers and 73 men wounded, out of 18 officers

and 428 men who left the Alum Bagh on the 25th. Besides the officers

already named, Lieutenant Crowe was wounded.

The Victoria Cross was subsequently awarded to Lieutenant and

Adjutant Macpherson, for “distinguished conduct in setting an example

of heroic gallantry to the men of the regiment at the period of the

action in which they captured two brass 9-pounders at the point of

the bayonet.”

The Victoria Cross was also conferred upon the regiment as a body,

which was required to nominate one individual to wear it as its

representative. On a vote being taken, it was almost unanimously

agreed that it should be given to Assistant-Surgeon M’Master, upon

whom accordingly it was conferred, “for the intrepidity with which

he exposed himself to the fire of the enemy in bringing in and

attending to the wounded on the 25th of September at Lucknow.”

In addition to these, a Victoria Cross was conferred upon

Colour-sergeant Stewart Macpherson and Private Henry Ward of the

light company.

On the 26th the enemy were cleared away from the rear of the

position, and on the 27th the palace, extending along the line of the

river from the Residency to near the Kaiser Bagh, was also cleared

and taken possession of for the accommodation of the troops.

At daylight on the 29th three columns, aggregating 700 men, attacked

the enemy’s works at three different points, destroyed the guns, and

blew up the houses which afforded positions to the enemy for musketry

fire. One of the columns was composed of 20 men of the 32nd Regiment,

140 men of the 78th (under Captains Lockhart and Hay, and Lieutenants

Cassidy and Barker), and the 1st Madras Fusiliers.

The column fell in and filed out of the breach in the Sikh Square at

daybreak, the advance consisting of the 32nd and the 78th, the Madras

Fusiliers being in reserve. They formed silently under cover of some

broken ground, and made a sudden dash upon the first gun, which

was taken by the 32nd with a cheer, and burst by an artilleryman.

The 78th, led by Captain Lockhart, who was slightly wounded, then

charged a gun up a street leading to the right; the covering party

of the first gun and a considerable body of the enemy rallied round

this gun, which was twice fired as the regiment advanced up the

lane. Sergeant James Young, of the 78th, the first man at the gun,

bayonetted one of the enemy’s gunners while reloading for the third

discharge, and was severely wounded by a sword-cut. The rest of the

gunners were shot or cut down, and some who had taken refuge in an

adjoining house were destroyed by means of hand-grenades thrown

in by the windows. Proceeding further, the regiment captured a

small gun and some wall-pieces, which were brought in, the large

gun being blown up. The position was retained while the engineers

made preparations for blowing up the houses which it was deemed

advisable to destroy; these being ready, the columns retired into the

entrenchment, and the explosions took place. The loss of the 78th on

this day was 1 man killed, and 1 officer and 8 men wounded.

Brigadier-General Neill having been killed on the 25th of September

1857, Colonel Stisted was appointed brigadier of the 1st brigade, and

Major Haliburton assumed command of the regiment.

After the heavy loss sustained by the relieving force in pushing its

way through the enemy, it was clearly impossible to carry off the

sick, wounded, women, and children (amounting to not fewer than 1500)

through five miles of disputed suburb; the want of carriage alone

rendering it an impossibility. It was therefore necessary for the now

considerably increased garrison to maintain itself in its present

position on reduced rations until reinforcements should advance to

its relief. Brigadier Inglis retained command of the old Lucknow

garrison, reinforced by the volunteer cavalry, Madras Fusiliers, and

a detachment of the 78th; while General Havelock commanded the field

force that occupied the palaces and outposts.

One of the enemy’s batteries, known as Phillip’s Battery, still

remained in a strong position close to the Residency, and continued

to annoy the garrison by its fire; its capture, therefore, became

necessary, and a force, consisting in all of 568 men, of which the

78th formed a part, was placed at the disposal of Colonel Napier,

of the Bengal Engineers, on the 1st of October. On the afternoon of

that day the column formed on the road leading to the Pyne Bagh, and

advancing to some houses near the Jail, drove the enemy away from

them and from a barricade, under a sharp musketry fire. The column

having to work its way through strongly barricaded houses, it was

late before a point was reached from which the enemy’s position could

be commanded. This having been obtained, and it being found, on

reconnoitring, that the battery was in a high position, scarped, and

quite inaccessible without ladders, it was determined to defer the

assault till daylight. The position gained having been duly secured

and loopholed, the men occupied the buildings for the night, and were

subjected to a heavy fire from the battery.

On the morning of the 2nd the troops advanced, covered by a fire

of artillery from the Residency entrenchment. A severe fire was

opened from a barricade which flanked the battery on the right; but

this being turned, the troops advanced and drove the enemy from

the battery, capturing the guns, which had been withdrawn to some

distance, and driving off the enemy, who defended them with musketry

and grape. The guns having been destroyed, and Phillip’s house blown

up, the troops withdrew to their position of the previous night, the

78th having lost 1 man killed and 3 wounded.

The command of this sallying party now fell to Major Haliburton of

the 78th, who, under instructions from the general, commenced on

the 3rd of October to work from house to house with crowbar and

pickaxe, with a view to the possibility of adapting the Cawnpoor

road as the line of communication with the Alum Bagh. On the 4th,

Major Haliburton was mortally wounded and his successor disabled. On

the 6th the proceedings were relinquished, and the troops gradually

withdrew to the post at the junction of the Cawnpoor road and Main

Street, which was occupied by the 78th Highlanders, and retained by

that regiment as a permanent outpost during the two months’ blockade

which ensued.

The regiment being greatly reduced, both in officers and men, the ten

companies were told off into four divisions, each under the command

of an officer--Captain Hay, Lieutenants Cassidy, Finlay, and Barker.

The position was divided into three different posts, each defended

by one of these divisions, the fourth being in reserve. By this

arrangement, each man was on guard for three days and nights out of

four, and on the fourth day was generally employed on a working party

in erecting the defences.

Everything was now done by the garrison to strengthen its position;

barricades were erected at all available points, the defences of the

Residency were improved, and all the palaces and buildings occupied

by the field force were put into a state of defence. One of the

greatest dangers that the besieged had to apprehend was from the

enemy’s mines, which threatened the position of the British from

every possible quarter, thus requiring the garrison to be continually

on the alert, and to be constantly employed in countermining. In

this the garrison was very successful, the underground attempts of

the besiegers being outwitted on almost every hand, and many of their

mines frequently destroyed. The outpost of the 78th, under Captain

Lockhart (who on the death of Major Haliburton took command of the

regiment, and held it during the rest of the siege), was vigorously

assailed by these means by the enemy; but they were completely

outwitted by some of the soldiers of the 78th (who volunteered for

this work, for which they received extra pay at the rate of 10s. per

diem), directed by Lieutenant Hutchinson, of the Bengal Engineers,

and Lieutenant Tulloch, Acting Engineer.

The enemy kept so persistently sinking shafts and driving galleries

towards the position occupied by the 78th, that in order to

countermine them five shafts were sunk at several angles of the

position, from each of which numerous galleries were driven, of a

total length of 600 feet. Indeed, in regard to the mining operations

in connection with the siege of Lucknow, Sir James Outram wrote, “I

am aware of no parallel to our series of mines in modern war; 21

shafts, aggregating 200 feet in depth, and 3291 feet of gallery, have

been erected. The enemy advanced 20 mines against the palace and

outposts.”

The post of the 78th was all this time exposed by day and night to

a ceaseless fire of shot, shell, and musketry, and scarcely a day

passed in which some casualty did not occur. The outer walls of

the houses forming the post were reduced to ruins by round shot,

and sharp-shooters occupied the houses around to within 50 yards,

watching for their prey. All the other regiments were similarly

situated during the two months’ blockade.

The rations had now for some time been reduced to one-half, and the

troops, having left everything behind them at the Alum Bagh, had

nothing to wear but the clothes they wore on entering. At length,

however, tidings of relief arrived.

Sir Colin Campbell arrived at the Alum Bagh on the 12th of November

with about 700 cavalry, 2700 infantry, and some artillery (being

chiefly troops which had been engaged in the siege of Delhi), after

having a smart skirmish at Buntera, where Captain Mackenzie of the

78th was a second time wounded; that officer, with Lieutenant-Colonel

Hamilton, Captain Archer, and several men of the 78th, having

accompanied the relieving force. Changing the garrison of the Alum

Bagh, where the 75th Regiment was left, Sir Colin Campbell formed

a battalion of detachments of the 7th Fusiliers, the 64th and 78th

Regiments, numbering in all about 400 men, of whom 118 belonged to

the 78th, with Lieutenant-Colonel M’Intyre, Captain Archer, and

Lieutenant Walsh, the battalion being commanded by Lieut.-Colonel

Henry Hamilton of the 78th.

The commander-in-chief being further joined by a reinforcement of

about 700 men (of the 23rd Fusiliers and 82nd Regiment), advanced

from the Alum Bagh in the direction of Dilkhoosha Park, and after

a running fight of about two hours, the enemy were driven through

the park of the Martinière beyond the canal. The Dilkhoosha and

Martinière were both occupied, and all baggage being left at the

former place in charge of the regiment, the advance on Secundur Bagh

commenced early on the 16th. This place, as well as the Shah Nujeef,

was taken in the most gallant manner, the 93rd Highlanders forming

part of the attacking force.

In the meantime Havelock’s force had been employed in digging

trenches and erecting batteries in a large garden held by the 90th

Regiment; these were concealed by a lofty wall, under which several

mines were driven for the purpose of blowing it down when the moment

for action should arrive. It was determined by the general, that as

soon as the commander-in-chief should reach Secundur Bagh, this wall

should be blown in by the miners, and that the batteries should open

on the insurgent defences in front, when the troops were to storm the

three buildings known as the Hera Khanah, or Deer House, the Steam

Engine House, and the King’s Stables.

On the morning of the 16th, all the troops that could be spared from

the defences were formed in the square of the Chuttur Munzil; at 11

A.M. the mines under the wall were sprung, and the batteries opened

an overwhelming fire, which lasted for three hours, on the buildings

beyond. When the breaches were declared practicable, the troops were

brought up to the front through the trenches, and lay down before the

batteries until the firing should cease, and the signal be given to

advance. The storming parties were five in number, with nearly 800

men in all, each accompanied by an engineer officer and a working

party. A reserve of 200 men, part of whom belonged to the 78th, under

Major Hay of that regiment, remained in the palace square. The 78th

storming party, 150 strong, was commanded by Captain Lockhart, and

the working party by Lieutenant Barker, accompanied by an engineer

officer.

The guns having ceased firing at half-past three in the afternoon,

the bugle sounded the advance. “It is impossible,” wrote General

Havelock, “to describe the enthusiasm with which the signal was

received by the troops. Pent up, inactive, for upwards of six weeks,

and subjected to constant attacks, they felt that the hour of

retribution and glorious exertion had returned. Their cheers echoed

through the courts of the palace, responsive to the bugle sound, and

on they rushed to assured victory. The enemy could nowhere withstand

them. In a few minutes the whole of their buildings were in our

possession.”

Guns were mounted on the newly-occupied post, and the force retired

to its quarters. On the following day the newly-erected batteries

opened fire upon the Tara Kotee (or Observatory) and the Mess House,

while Sir Colin Campbell’s artillery battered them from the opposite

direction. In the afternoon these and the intermediate buildings

were occupied by the relieving force, and the relief of the besieged

garrison was accomplished.

All arrangements having been made for the silent and orderly

evacuation of the Residency and palaces hitherto occupied by General

Havelock’s troops, the retreat commenced at midnight on the 22nd,

and was carried out most successfully in perfect silence, the 78th

Highlanders forming the rear-guard. When the 78th reached the last

palace square, Sir James Outram, who was riding with it, halted the

regiment for a few moments, and in a low but clear voice addressed to

them a few words, saying that he had selected the 78th for the honour

of covering the retirement of the force, as they had had the post

of honour, in advance, on entering to relieve the garrison, and none

were more worthy of the post of honour in leaving it. The evacuation

was so successfully accomplished, and the enemy were so completely

deceived by the movements of the British force, that they did not

attempt to follow, but, on the contrary, kept firing on the old

position many hours after its evacuation.

The entire force reached the Dilkhoosha Park at four o’clock on the

morning of the 23rd. Here the army sustained a great loss by the

death of the brave and noble-minded Sir Henry Havelock, K.C.B., who

died of dysentery brought on by the severe privations of the campaign.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton’s battalion of detachments was broken up,

and that part of it belonging to the 78th joined the headquarters of

the regiment, that officer assuming the command. For their services

in Sir Colin Campbell’s force, Lieutenants-Colonel H. Hamilton and

M’Intyre received the thanks of the Governor-General, and were

afterwards created Companions of the Bath.

Between the 26th of September and the 22nd of November, the 78th lost

in the defence of Lucknow 9 men killed, and 5 officers and 42 men

wounded; the names of the officers were, Major Haliburton, Captain

Bogle, Assistant-Surgeon M’Master, Captain Lockhart, Lieutenant

Swanson, and Lieutenant Barker. The two first mentioned and

Lieutenant Swanson, besides 27 men, died of their wounds during these

two months.

As might be expected, Sir James Outram in his despatches spoke in

the very highest terms of the conduct of the troops during this

trying period, and the Governor-General in Council offered his hearty

thanks to Brigadiers Hamilton and Stisted, and Captains Bouverie

and Lockhart of the 78th, for their efficient co-operation. General

Havelock’s force was rewarded by a donation of twelve months’ batta,

which reward was also conferred on the original garrison of Lucknow.

Colonel Walter Hamilton and Surgeon Jee of the 78th were made C.B.’s,

the former receiving the distinguished service pension of L.100 per

annum, and the latter the Victoria Cross; Captain Lockhart was made

a Brevet-Major.

Mention should be made of the occupation and defence of the post at

the Alum Bagh under Lieutenant-Colonel M’Intyre of the 78th, from the

25th of September until the arrival of Sir Colin Campbell’s force.

That officer, it may be remembered, was appointed to the command of

the Alum Bagh, with detachments of regiments of about 200 Europeans,

with some Sikhs, and foreigners. In it were placed the sick and

wounded of the force, amounting to 128 (of whom 64 were wounded), the

baggage, commissariat and ordnance stores. The native followers left

them amounted to nearly 5000, and there was an enormous number of

cattle of various descriptions. Though closely besieged by the enemy,

and suffering greatly at first from scarcity of provisions, the small

force held gallantly out until relieved, with a loss of only one

European killed and two wounded during the 49 days’ siege. For this

service Lieutenant-Colonel M’Intyre received the special thanks of

the Government.

On the afternoon of the 25th of November the whole force under Sir

Colin Campbell encamped in the plain to the south of the Alum Bagh.

On the 27th, the commander-in-chief moved off with General Grant’s

division in the direction of Cawnpoor, which was threatened by

the Gwalior contingent, leaving Sir James Outram’s division, now

numbering 4000 men of all arms, to retain a defensive position at

the Alum Bagh, with a view of keeping in check the masses of Lucknow

rebels. Sir James took up a strong position, fortifications being

erected at every possible point, and the force at his command being

disposed in the most advantageous manner. The circuit of the entire

position was nearly ten miles, and here the force remained for the

next three months (December, January, and February), while Sir Colin

Campbell, after retaking Cawnpoor, was engaged in recovering the

Doab, and making preparations for a final assault upon the city of

Lucknow. The numbers of the enemy daily increased in front of Sir

James Outram’s position, until they amounted to little less than

100,000. The unceasing activity of the enemy kept Outram’s force

continually on the alert.

Towards the end of December, Sir James learned that the enemy

contemplated surrounding his position and cutting off supplies, and

with that object had despatched to Guilee a force which took up a

position between that village and Budroop, which places are about a

mile distant from each other, and were about three miles to the right

front of the British position. This force, on the evening of December

21st, amounted to about 4000 infantry, 400 cavalry, and 4 field guns.

Sir James moved out at 5 o’clock on the morning of the 22nd, with a

force composed of 6 guns, 190 cavalry, 1227 infantry under Colonel

Stisted of the 78th, including 156 of the 78th under Captain

Lockhart. Notwithstanding the very unequal odds, the enemy were

completely and brilliantly repulsed on all hands, 4 guns, and 12

waggons filled with ammunition being captured. In his Division Order

of the next day Sir James Outram said, “The right column, under

command of Lieutenant-Colonel Purnell, 90th Regiment, consisting of

detachments of the 78th and 90th Regiments and Sikhs, excited his

admiration by the gallant way in which, with a cheer, they dashed at

a strong position held by the enemy, and from which they were met

by a heavy fire, regardless of the overwhelming numbers, and 6 guns

reported to be posted there. The suddenness of the attack, and the

spirited way in which it was executed, resulted in the immediate

flight of the enemy, with hardly a casualty on our side.” In the

same order. Sir James thanked Lieutenant-Colonel H. Hamilton for the

manner in which he commanded the reserve, and Brigadiers Hamilton

(78th) and Eyre, who had charge of the camp, for the way in which

they kept the enemy in check.

After this successful repulse the enemy did not again attempt to

surround the position, but continued day after day to make attacks

upon it from their position in front. Want of space forbids us to

give details of these attacks, every one of which, notwithstanding

the overwhelming numbers of the rebels, was most brilliantly repulsed

with but little loss to the British.

“Thus was this position before Lucknow held for three months by Sir

James Outram’s division, his troops being continually called on to

repel threatened attacks, and frequently employed in defending the

numerous picquets and outposts, all of which were exposed to the fire

of the enemy’s batteries.”

The casualties of the 78th during this defence were only 8 men

wounded.

On the 26th of January 1858, the 2nd brigade was paraded to witness

the presentation of six good-conduct medals to men of the 78th

Highlanders, on which occasion Sir James Outram addressed the

regiment in terms in which, probably, no other regiment in the

British army was ever addressed. Indeed, the Ross-shire Buffs may

well be proud of the high opinion formed of them by Generals Havelock

and Outram, neither of whom were given to speaking anything but the

severe truth. So extremely complimentary were the terms in which Sir

James Outram addressed the 78th, that he thought it advisable to

record the substance of his address in writing, lest the 78th should

attribute anything to the excitement of the moment. In a letter

addressed to Brigadier Hamilton he wrote,--“What I did say is what

_I really feel_, and what I am sure must be the sentiment of every

Englishman who knows what the 78th have done during the past year,

and I had fully weighed what I should say before I went to parade.”

We must give a few extracts from the address as Sir James wrote it:--

“Your exemplary conduct, 78th, in every respect, throughout the past

eventful year, I can truly say, and _I do most emphatically declare_,

has never been surpassed by any troops of any nation, in any age,

whether for indomitable valour in the field or steady discipline

in the camp, under an amount of fighting, hardship, and privation

such as British troops have seldom, if ever, heretofore been exposed

to. The cheerfulness with which you have gone through all this has

excited my admiration as much as the undaunted pluck with which you

always close with the enemy whenever you can get at him, no matter

what his odds against you, or what the advantage of his position....

I am sure that you, 78th, who will have borne the brunt of the war so

gloriously from first to last, when you return to old England, will

be hailed and rewarded by your grateful and admiring countrymen as

the band of heroes, as which you so well deserve to be regarded.”

In the meantime Sir Colin Campbell having relieved Cawnpoor and

retaken the Doab, and having received large reinforcements from

England, had assembled a large army for the capture of the city of

Lucknow. This army was composed of an artillery division, an engineer

brigade, a cavalry division, and four infantry divisions. The 78th

Highlanders, consisting of 18 officers and 501 men, under Colonel

Stisted, formed with the 90th Light Infantry, and the regiment of

Ferozepore, the 2nd Brigade, under Brigadier Wanklin of the 84th

Regiment, of the 1st Division under Major-General Sir James Outram,

G.C.B. In the 2nd Division were the 42nd and 93rd Highlanders, and in

the 3rd Division, the 79th Highlanders. The whole army amounted to

1957 artillery, 2002 engineers, 4156 cavalry, and 17,549 infantry,

or a grand total of 25,664 effective men, to which was added during

the course of the siege the Ghoorka army, under the Maharajah Jung

Bahadoor, numbering about 9000 men and 24 guns.

We need not enter into the details of the siege of Lucknow,

especially as the 78th was not engaged in the aggressive operations,

particulars of which will be found in our histories of the 42nd,

79th, and 93rd. After nineteen days’ incessant fighting, the city

was taken complete possession of by the British, and the enemy put

to utter rout. During the siege operations the 78th was in position

at the Alum Bagh, where the regiment sustained little more than the

usual annoyance from the enemy, until the 16th, when the front and

left of the position were threatened by large forces of the enemy’s

infantry and cavalry. Brigadier Wanklin had hardly time to dispose

his troops in the best positions for supporting the outposts, when a

determined advance of the enemy’s line took place, their cavalry in

myriads making a most brilliant charge on the front left picquets. A

heavy fire from these, however, aided by that of the field artillery,

who were detached to the left, caused them to turn and flee

precipitately.

The 78th being thus not actively engaged during the siege, sustained

a loss of only 1 officer, Captain Macpherson, and 2 men wounded.

The officers of the regiment honourably mentioned in the despatches

were Colonel Stisted, C.B., Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel H.

Hamilton, C.B., Brevet-Major Bouverie, on whom the brevet rank of

Lieutenant-Colonel was conferred, Captain Macpherson, on whom the

brevet rank of Major was conferred, and Lieutenant Barker. The brevet

rank of Major was also conferred on Captain Mackenzie.

On the 29th of March 1858 the divisions of the army were broken

up, and three new forces of all arms combined were formed as

follows:--the Azimgurh Field Force under General Lugard, the Lucknow

Field Force under General Sir Hope Grant, and the Rohilcund Field

Force under Brigadier-General Walpole.

After going to Cawnpoor the 78th joined, on the 26th of April, the

Rohilcund Field Force, among the regiments composing which were

the 42nd, 79th, and 93rd Highlanders. On the same day Sir Colin

Campbell arrived and took the command, moving on the following day to

Bareilly, the enemy everywhere retiring before the advancing forces.

Early on the morning of the 5th of May a movement was made upon

Bareilly from Furreedpoor; but into the details of the hot work that

took place here we need not enter: they will be found elsewhere. On

the forenoon of the 7th, the 78th was sent to protect the heavy guns

which were detached to the front for the purpose of shelling some

large buildings intervening between the British force and the town,

and which were supposed to be undermined.

On the morning of the 7th the town of Bareilly was finally reduced,

and the Mussulman portion of it, where there were still detached

parties of Ghazees remaining with the intention of selling their

lives as dearly as possible, was cleared. In these affairs the 78th

lost only 1 man killed and 1 officer, Lieutenant Walsh, and 1 man

wounded.

The 42nd, 78th, and 93rd Highlanders were now left to garrison

Bareilly, where the 78th remained till February 20th, 1859, having

in the meantime received orders to prepare for embarkation to

England; previous to which 176 of the men volunteered to join other

corps remaining in India. Before leaving Bareilly, an order highly

complimentary to the corps was issued by Brigadier-General (now Sir

Robert) Walpole, K.C.B. We regret that space does not permit us to

reproduce the order here, and for a similar reason we must pass

over with as great brevity as possible the remaining history of the

regiment; we have devoted considerable space to its periods of active

service.

The regiment left Bareilly on the 20th of February, and on the 4th

of March reached Agra, where a farewell order was received from the

commander-in-chief to the regiment leaving India, in which he, as was

to be expected, spoke in high terms of the 78th. The whole of the

regiment was collected at Mhow on the 30th of March 1859, and here a

banquet was given by the inhabitants of the station to the officers

of the 64th and 78th, to welcome back to the Presidency of Bombay

these two regiments which had been so distinguished in the late

struggle.

On the 26th of March another complimentary order was received from

Sir Henry Somerset, commander-in-chief of the Bombay army.

Finally, on the 28th of April, the whole regiment, which had been

travelling in detachments, assembled at Bombay, and in honour of its

arrival Commodore Wellesley, commander-in-chief of the Indian navy,

ordered all H.M.’s ships to be dressed “rainbow-fashion.”

On the evening of this day a grand entertainment was given to the

78th by the European inhabitants of Bombay, in the form of a banquet,

to which were invited the non-commissioned officers, privates,

women, and children of the regiment. A magnificent suite of tents

was pitched on the glacis of the fort, and many days had been spent

in preparing illuminations, transparencies, and other decorations,

to add lustre to the scene. At half-past 7 o’clock P.M. the regiment

entered the triumphal arch which led to the tents, where the men

were received with the utmost enthusiasm by their hosts, who from

the highest in rank to the lowest had assembled to do them honour.

After a magnificent and tasteful banquet, speeches followed, in which

the men of the ROSS-SHIRE BUFFS were addressed in a style sufficient

to turn the heads of men of less solid calibre. The entertainment

was described in a local paper as “one of the most successful

demonstrations ever witnessed in Western India.”

The depôt had a few days previous to this arrived from Poonah, and

joined the regiment after a separation of two years and four months.

Finally, the regiment embarked on the morning of the 18th in two

ships, under the distinguished honour of a royal salute from the

battery. The two ships arrived at Gravesend about the middle of

September, and the regiment having been transhipped, proceeded to

Fort-George, where it once more rested from its hard labours, after

an absence of seventeen years from home. The strength of the regiment

on leaving India was 21 officers, 44 sergeants, 30 corporals, 11

drummers, 424 privates, 30 women, and 67 children; 59 men only being

left of those who came out with the regiment in 1842.

We may mention here, that during this year an alteration was made in

the clothing of the pipers, the colour of whose uniform was changed

from buff to a dark green.

VI.

1859-1874.

Reception of the regiment in the Northern Counties--Banquet at

Brahan Castle--Regiment fêted at Nairn and Inverness--Medals for

Persia--Removed to Edinburgh--Officers and men fêted at Edinburgh

and Hamilton--Abolition of Grenadiers and Light Companies--Medals

for the Indian Mutiny--Removed to Aldershot--thence to Shorncliffe

--thence to Dover--The Duke of Cambridge’s opinion of the 78th

--Additional year’s service granted to Indian men--Inauguration

of the Monument on the Castle Hill, Edinburgh--Presentation of Plate

and Pipe-major’s Flag by the Countess of Ross and Cromarty--Lucknow

Prize-money--Gibraltar--Retirement of Colonel M’Intyre--Retirement

of Colonel Lockhart--His farewell Address--Canada--Presentation

of Colours--Nova Scotia--Internal changes--Lieutenant-General Sir

C. H. Doyle’s opinion of the 78th--Home--Belfast--Aids the civil

power--Fort-George--Aldershot.

As we have devoted so much space to a narrative of the active service

of this distinguished regiment, we shall be compelled to recount

with brevity its remaining history; this, however, is the less

to be regretted, as, like most regiments during a time of peace,

the history of the Ross-shire Buffs since the Indian mutiny is

comparatively uneventful.

On the 1st of June 1859 Colonel Walter Hamilton was appointed to

be Inspecting Field Officer of a recruiting district, by which the

command of the regiment fell to Colonel Stisted, who, on the 30th

of the following September, exchanged to the 93rd Highlanders with

Colonel J. A. Ewart, C.B., aide-de-camp to the Queen.

The regiment being once more assembled on the borders of Ross-shire

(the county from which it received its name), after an absence of

twenty years, was received on all sides with a most hearty and

spontaneous and certainly thoroughly well-deserved welcome. The

northern counties vied with each other in showing civility to the

regiment by giving banquets to the men and balls to the officers.

Into the details of these fêtes we cannot of course enter. One of

the most characteristic of these entertainments was a banquet given

at Brahan Castle, by the Honourable Mrs Stewart Mackenzie, daughter

of the Earl of Seaforth who raised the regiment, when a large family

gathering of the Mackenzies of Seaforth assembled to do honour to the

corps raised by their ancestors, on its return from the Indian wars.

The regiment as a body was fêted by the inhabitants of the town and

county of Nairn, and by the noblemen and gentlemen of the northern

countries and burgh of Inverness at the latter town. The freedom of

the burgh of Nairn was also conferred on Lieutenant-Colonel M’Intyre,

and in both cases addresses were presented to the regiment, showing

a high and well-deserved appreciation of the noble work done by the

“Saviours of India.” On entering Inverness, Colonel M’Intyre halted

the regiment in front of the house of General John Mackenzie, the

oldest officer then in the British army, and who originally raised

the light company of the 78th Highlanders. The men gave three cheers

for the gallant veteran before proceeding along the streets appointed

for the procession to the banqueting hall.

In the month of November a large meeting was held at Dingwall, for

the purpose of considering the propriety of presenting some lasting

testimonial from all classes in the county of Ross to the Ross-shire

Buffs. The result of the meeting will appear in the sequel.

Shortly after this, Nos. 11 and 12 companies were formed into a

dépôt, numbering 4 officers and 96 men, who, under Captain M’Andrew,

proceeded to Aberdeen to join the 23rd dépôt battalion at that place.

The medals for the Persian campaign were received in February 1860,

and on the 18th of that month were issued to the regiment. Out of the

36 officers and 866 men who served in Persia in the early part of the

year 1857, only 15 officers and 445 men at this time remained on the

strength of the regiment.

The 78th left Fort-George in two detachments, on the 21st and 24th of

February, for Edinburgh, where its reception was most enthusiastic.

The streets were rendered almost impassable by the people that

thronged in thousands to witness the arrival of the famous 78th.

In Edinburgh, as when at Fort-George, the people showed their

appreciation of the services of the regiment by fêting officers and

men. On the 23rd of March the officers were entertained at banquet

given by the Royal Company of Archers, Queen’s Body-Guard for

Scotland; and on the 21st of April a grand banquet was given to the

officers and men by the citizens of Edinburgh, in the Corn Exchange.

The 78th remained in Edinburgh till April 1861, furnishing

detachments to Greenlaw and Hamilton. The detachment stationed at

the latter place was duly banqueted, and the freedom of the borough

conferred upon Lieutenant-Colonel M’Intyre, C.B.

While in Edinburgh, in accordance with a circular from the

Horse-Guards, dated May 30th, 1860, directing that all distinction

between flank and battalion companies be abolished, the grenadiers

and light companies ceased to exist, as such; the green heckles,

grenades, and bugles being done away with, together with all

distinction as to the size of the men, &c. This step, though no doubt

conducive to the greater efficiency of the service, was not a little

grievous to old officers, who as a rule took considerable pride in

the stalwart men of the grenadier companies.

On the 2nd of June, General Sir William Chalmers, K.C.B., died

at Dundee, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment by

Lieutenant-General Roderick M’Neil, formerly an officer of the 78th

Highlanders.

On the 9th of August the medals granted for the suppression of the

Indian mutiny were presented to the regiment by Lady Havelock (widow

of the late Sir Henry Havelock), who happened to be in Edinburgh at

the time. Out of about 900 of all ranks, who commenced the Indian

campaign with the 78th in May 1857, only 350 remained at this time in

the strength of the service companies, a few also being at the depôt

at Aberdeen.

The 78th left Edinburgh for Aldershot in detachments between April

27th and May 8th, 1861, remaining in huts till the end of August,

when it removed into the permanent barracks. After staying a year

at Aldershot it was removed on the 15th of May 1862 to Shorncliffe,

where it spent about another year, removing to Dover on the 26th of

May 1863. Here it was quartered on the Western Heights, furnishing

detachments regularly to the Castle Hill Fort, to be employed as

engineer working parties. After staying in Dover until August 1864,

the 78th embarked on the 5th of that month, under command of Colonel

J. A. Ewart, C.B., for Ireland, disembarking at Kingstown on the 8th,

and proceeding to Dublin. Here the regiment remained for another

year, when it received the route for Gibraltar. During this period

there is little to record in connection with the peaceful career of

the 78th.

Since the return of the regiment from India, it had, of course, been

regularly inspected, the inspecting officers, as was naturally to be

expected, having nothing but praise to bestow upon its appearance,

discipline, and interior economy. Shortly after the arrival of the

78th at Aldershot, it was inspected by H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge,

who spoke of it in terms of the highest praise; “it was a noble

regiment and admirably drilled,” the Duke said.

On the 19th of November 1861, an authority was received for an

additional year’s service to be granted to those officers and

soldiers of the 78th Highlanders who formed part of the column that

entered Lucknow under Sir Henry Havelock; and on the 6th of March, in

the same year, a similar reward was granted to those who were left by

Sir Henry Havelock in defence of the Alum Bagh post on the 25th of

September 1857.

[Illustration: Monument on the Castle-Hill, Edinburgh.

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND

PRIVATE SOLDIERS OF THE LXXVIII REGIMENT WHO FELL IN THE SUPPRESSION

OF THE MUTINY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF INDIA IN THE YEARS MDCCCLVII AND

MDCCCLVIII, THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT BY THEIR

SURVIVING BROTHER OFFICERS AND COMRADES, AND BY MANY OFFICERS WHO

FORMERLY BELONGED TO THE REGIMENT.--ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLXI.]

On the 15th of April 1862, a monument to the memory of the officers,

non-commissioned officers, and privates of the 78th Highlanders, who

fell in India during the suppression of the mutiny in 1857-58, and

which had been erected on the Castle Esplanade at Edinburgh by the

officers and men of the regiment, and others who had formerly served

in the Ross-shire Buffs, was publicly inaugurated by Major-General

Walker, C.B., commanding the troops in Scotland, in presence of

the Scots Greys, the 26th Cameronians, and the Royal Artillery.

The monument is in the form of a handsome and tasteful large Runic

cross, an illustration of which we are glad to be able to give on the

preceding page.

We mentioned above that a meeting had been held at Dingwall, to

consider the propriety of presenting some testimonial to the

Ross-shire Buffs from the county which gives the regiment its

distinctive name. The outcome of the meeting was that, while

the regiment was at Shorncliffe, on the 26th of June 1862, two

magnificent pieces of plate, subscribed for by the inhabitants of

the counties of Ross and Cromarty, were presented to the 78th by a

deputation consisting of Keith Stewart Mackenzie (a descendant of

Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, who raised and equipped the regiment),

Macleod of Cadbol, Major F. Fraser, and Lord Ashburton. The plate

consists of a Centre Piece for the officers’ mess, and a cup for the

sergeants’ mess, and bears the following inscription:--

Presented by the Counties of Ross and Cromarty to the 78th

Highlanders or Ross-shire Buffs, in admiration of the gallantry

of the regiment and of its uniform devotion to the service of the

country.--1859.

A very handsome flag for the pipe-major was also presented by Keith

Stewart Mackenzie of Seaforth to the regiment, which has six pipers.

While at Dover, on the 17th of October 1863, the first issue of the

Lucknow prize-money was made, a private’s share amounting to £1,

14s.; that of the various other ranks, from a corporal upwards,

increasing in regular proportion, up to the Lieutenant-Colonel, who

received 17 shares, amounting to £28, 18s.

On the 22nd of this month died the colonel of the 78th, General

Roderick Macneil (of Barra), to whom succeeded Lieutenant-General

Sir Patrick Grant, G.C.B.[507] In October of the following year,

Lieutenant-Colonel Ewart, who had had command of the regiment for

five years, retired on half-pay, and was succeeded by Major and

Brevet-Colonel Colin Campbell M’Intyre, C.B.

It may be interesting to note here, that in compliance with a

circular memorandum, dated Horse-Guards, 10th June 1865, the

companies of the regiment, from July 17th, were designated by letters

from A to M (excluding J), for all purposes of interior economy,

instead of by numbers as hitherto.

The 78th had been at home for nearly six years, when on the 2nd

of August 1865, it embarked at Kingstown for Gibraltar, the whole

strength of the regiment at the time being 33 officers, 713 men, 74

women, and 95 children. Asiatic cholera was prevalent at Gibraltar

at the time of the regiment’s arrival, and it therefore encamped on

Windmill Hill until the 18th of October. The loss of the regiment

from cholera was only 5 men, 1 woman, and 1 child.

During the two years that the 78th remained at Gibraltar, in

performance of the tedious routine duties incident to that

station, the only event worthy of record here is the retirement

on full pay, in October 1866, of Colonel M’Intyre, who had been

so long connected with the regiment, and who, as we have seen,

performed such distinguished service in India. He was succeeded by

Lieutenant-Colonel Lockhart, C.B., who, in assuming the command of

the regiment, paid, in a regimental order, a high and just compliment

to his predecessor.

On the 6th of July 1867 the 78th embarked at Gibraltar for Canada.

Previous to embarkation the regiment paraded on the Alameda, where

his Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Airey, G.C.B., Governor

of Gibraltar, bade the 78th “good-bye” in a short address highly

complimentary to the regiment, and especially to Colonel Lockhart,

who also, before his old regiment sailed, had to say farewell to it.

Colonel Lockhart, after being connected with the 78th for thirty

years, was about to retire on full pay, and therefore on the morning

of the 8th, before the vessel quitted the bay, he handed over the

command of the regiment to Major Mackenzie; and on the evening

of that day his farewell regimental order was issued, in which he

exhibited the deepest feeling at having to bid farewell to his dear

old regiment, as well as intense anxiety for the highest welfare of

the men. The address is, indeed, very impressive, and we are sorry

that space does not permit us to quote it here. “If any 78th man

meets me in Scotland,” the colonel said, “where, by God’s permission,

I hope to spend many happy days, I shall expect he will not pass me

by; I shall not him.”

[Illustration: Centre Piece of Plate for the Officers’ Mess.]

After being transhipped at Quebec on board a river steamer, the

regiment landed at Montreal on the 23rd of July. The regular routine

of garrison duty at Montreal was relieved by a course of musketry

instruction at Chambly, and by a sojourn in camp at Point Levis,

on the fortification of which place the regiment was for some time

engaged.

The only notable incident that happened during the stay of the

regiment in Canada was the presentation to it of new colours, the

old ones being sadly tattered and riddled, and stained with the

life-blood of many a gallant officer. The new colours were presented

to the regiment by Lady Windham, in the Champ de Mars, on the 30th

of May 1868, amid a concourse of nearly ten thousand spectators.

After the usual ceremony with regard to the old colours, and a

prayer for God’s blessing on the new by the Rev. Joshua Fraser,

Lady Windham, in a few neat, brief, and forcible words, presented

the new colours to Ensigns Waugh and Fordyce. Lieutenant-General

C. A. Windham, the commander-in-chief, also addressed the regiment

in highly complimentary terms. “Though he had not a drop of Scotch

blood in his veins,” he said, “he had exceedingly strong Scottish

sympathies. It was under Scotchmen that he got his first military

start in life, and under succeeding Scotchmen he had made his earlier

way in the service.... The 78th Highlanders had always conducted

themselves bravely and with unsullied loyalty.” At the déjeuner

which followed, General Windham said that in the whole course of his

service he had never seen a regiment which pulled together so well

as the 78th, and among whom there were so few differences. All the

toasts were, of course, drunk with Highland honours, and all went

off most harmoniously down to the toast of the “Ladies,” to which

Lieutenant Colin Mackenzie had the honour to reply, advising his

young brothers in arms to lose no time in coming under the sway of

the “dashing white sergeant.”

The old colours of the Ross-shire Buffs were sent to Dingwall, in

Ross-shire, there to be deposited in the County Buildings or the

Parish Church.

On the 8th of May 1869 the regiment left Montreal; and, after being

transhipped at Quebec, proceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where

it arrived on the 14th of May. Previous to the regiment’s leaving

Montreal, a very warm and affectionate address was presented to it by

the St Andrew’s Society.

The regiment remained in Nova Scotia till November 1871, furnishing

detachments regularly to St John’s, New Brunswick. On several

occasions since its return from India, the strength of the regiment

had been reduced; and while at Halifax, on the 21st of April 1870,

a general order was received, notifying a further reduction, and

the division of the regiment into two depôts and eight service

companies, consisting in all of 34 officers, 49 sergeants,

21 drummers, 6 pipers, and 600 rank and file. This involved a

redistribution of the men of some of the companies; and, moreover,

depôt battalions having been broken up on the 1st of April, the

depôt companies of the 78th Highlanders were attached to the 93rd

Highlanders.

Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle, K.C.M.G., commanding

the forces in British North America, inspected the regiment on the

11th of October 1870, a day or two after which the following very

gratifying letter was received by Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie,

C.B., from Brigade-Major Wilsome Black:--“The general desires me to

say that he is not in the habit of making flourishing speeches at

half-yearly inspections of Queen’s troops (although he does so to

militia and volunteers), because her Majesty expects that all corps

shall be in perfect order. When they are not, they are sure to hear

from him, and a report made accordingly to the Horse Guards; but

when nothing is said, a commanding officer will naturally take for

granted that his regiment is in good order. The general, however,

cannot refrain from saying to you, and begs you will communicate to

the officers and men of the regiment under your command, that he was

perfectly satisfied with everything that came under his observation

at his inspection of your regiment on Tuesday last.”

In compliance with orders received, the 78th, under the command of

Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Mackenzie, C.B., embarked on board

H.M.’s troop-ship “Orontes,” on the 25th of November 1871, and

arrived at Queenstown, Ireland, on the 17th of December, where the

regiment was transhipped and conveyed to Belfast, arriving in Belfast

Lough on the 20th, and disembarking next day.

The strength of the regiment on its arrival in the United Kingdom was

32 officers and 472 non-commissioned officers and men, which on the

22nd of December was augmented by the arrival of the depôt battalion

from Edinburgh, consisting of 2 officers and 45 non-commissioned

officers and men. Shortly afterwards the strength of the regiment

was augmented to 33 officers and 592 non-commissioned officers and

privates; and in accordance with the Royal Warrant, dated October

30th, 1871, all the ensigns of the regiment were raised to the rank

of lieutenant, the rank of ensign having been abolished in the army.

During its stay at Belfast the 78th regularly furnished detachments

to Londonderry; and on several occasions it had the very unpleasant

and delicate duty to perform of aiding the civil power in the

suppression of riots caused by the rancour existing between Orangemen

and Roman Catholics in the North of Ireland. This trying duty the

regiment performed on both occasions to the entire satisfaction of

the Irish authorities as well as of the War Office authorities,

receiving from both quarters high and well-deserved praise for its

prudent conduct, which was the means of preventing greatly the

destruction of life and property.

Under the new system of localisation of regiments, it was notified

in a Horse Guards General Order, that the 71st Highland Light

Infantry and the 78th Highlanders would form the line portion of the

55th infantry sub-district, and be associated for the purposes of

enlistment and service. The counties included in this sub-district

are Orkney and Shetland, Sutherland, Caithness, Ross and Cromarty,

Inverness, Nairn, and Elgin, and the station assigned to the brigade

depôt is Fort George. In accordance with this scheme, Major Feilden,

with a small detachment, proceeded to Fort-George on the 9th of

April, to form part of the brigade depôt.

The 78th embarked at Belfast on the 3rd of May 1873, under command

of Colonel Mackenzie, C.B. The streets were densely crowded, and

the people gave vent to their good feeling by cheering repeatedly

as the regiment marched from the barracks to the quay. The regiment

was transferred to the “Himalaya,” which sailed on the 4th round the

west and north coast of Scotland, and anchored in Cromarty Bay on

the evening of the 7th, headquarters and six companies disembarking

opposite Fort George next day. Two companies remained on board and

proceeded to Aberdeen, there to be stationed. A detachment of the

companies at Aberdeen proceeded to Ballater on the 15th of May, as

a guard of honour to her Majesty the Queen, and again on the 14th of

August.

The regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir John Douglas, K.C.B.,

on the 19th of May, the report of the inspection being considered by

H.R.H. the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief as most satisfactory.

The 78th remained at Fort George for only one year, embarking on

the 11th of May 1874, under command of Colonel Mackenzie, C.B., for

conveyance to Portsmouth, _en route_ to Aldershot. The regiment

disembarked at Portsmouth on the 15th of May, and proceeded by

special train to Farnborough, marching thence to Aldershot. A period

of exactly twelve years had elapsed since the 78th was last at this

camp.

On the 19th of May the 78th was brigaded with the 42nd, 79th, and

93rd Highlanders, at a review which took place in the presence of

the Czar of Russia; and it is worthy of note that these four kilted

regiments are those that represented Scotland at the siege and fall

of Lucknow. It is also a curious coincidence that Colonels Macleod,

Mackenzie, M’Bean, and Miller all served with the regiments they led

on this occasion before the Czar.

Major-General William Parke, C.B., commanding the 1st brigade,

inspected the regiment on the 21st of May, and expressed himself

highly pleased with the appearance and drill of the Ross-shire Buffs.

At the time we write, the establishment of this most distinguished

regiment consists of 27 officers, 64 non-commissioned officers,

drummers, and pipers, 40 corporals, and 480 privates,--the total of

all ranks thus being 611.

We have the gratification of being able to present our readers

with two authentic portraits on steel of two of the most eminent

colonels of the Ross-shire Buffs. That of the first colonel, Francis

Humberstone Mackenzie, Lord Seaforth, is from the original painting

in the possession of Colonel Mackenzie-Fraser, of Castle-Fraser; and

that of Sir Patrick Grant, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., is from a photograph by

Bassano, kindly sent to us by Sir Patrick himself.

SUCCESSION LIST OF COLONELS AND FIELD OFFICERS OF THE 78th

HIGHLANDERS.

COLONELS

+-------------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+

| NAMES. | Date of | Remarks. |

| | Appointment. | |

+-------------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+

|Francis Humberstone |March 7, 1793 |Resigned command of the |

| Mackenzie, afterwards | | regiment, retaining his |

| Lord Seaforth | | rank. Died, 11th January |

| | | 1815. |

|Alex. Mackenzie of |May 3, 1796 |Died a Lieutenant-General, |

| Belmaduthy, took the | | September 1809, from |

| name of Fraser of | | fever contracted in the |

| Castle Fraser | | Walcheren expedition. |

|Sir James Henry Craig, |September 15, 1809 |Died, 1812. |

| K.C.B. | | |

|Sir Samuel Auchmuty, |January 13, 1812 |Died, 1822. |

| G.C.B. | | |

|Sir Edward Barnes, G.C.B.|August 25, 1822 |Appointed to 31st Foot, |

| | | 10th October 1834. |

|Sir L. Smith, Bart., |October 10, 1834 |Appointed to the 40th Foot,|

| K.C.B., G.C.H. | | 9th February 1837. |

|Paul Anderson, C.B., K.C.|February 9, 1837 |Died, 28th December 1851. |

|Sir Neil Douglas, K.C.B.,|December 28, 1851 |From Colonel 72nd. Died, |

| K.C.H. | | 30th Sept. 1853. |

|Sir W. Chalmers, C.B., |September 30, 1853 |Died, 2d June 1860. |

| K.C.H. | | |

|Roderick Macneil |June 3, 1860 |Died, 22d October 1863. |

|Sir Patrick Grant, |October 23, 1863 |Governor of Chelsea |

| G.C.B., G.C.M.G. | | Hospital (1874). |

| |

| LIEUTENANT-COLONELS. |

| |

|Alex. Mackenzie of |July 24, 1793 |Promoted Colonel-Commandant|

| Belmaduthy | | 27th Feb. 1796. |

|Alex. Mackenzie of |February 10, 1794 |2nd Battalion of 1794. To |

| Fairburn | | 36th Regiment, 1797. |

|John Randoll Mackenzie of|February 27, 1796 |A Col. in the army in 1794;|

| Suddie | | he became a Major-General,|

| | | and was killed at |

| | | Talavera, 1809. |

|Alexander Malcolm | 1795 |Died, 1798. |

|John Mackenzie, Gairloch | 1795 |Placed on Half-pay, |

| | | 1799.[508] |

|John Mackenzie, junior | 1795 |Placed on Half-pay, 1795. |

|Hay Macdowall |May 22, 1797 |Col. in the army in 1795, |

| | | Major-General in 1798, |

| | | and was promoted to 40th |

| | | Regiment, 1802. Lost on |

| | | passage from India, 1809.|

|Alexander Adams |April 7, 1802 |Promoted Major-General, |

| | | 1814. |

|Patrick Macleod, Geanies |April 17, 1804 |2nd Bat. 1804; Killed at |

| | | El-Hamet, 21st Ap. 1807. |

|Hercules Scott, Benholm |July 23, 1807 |To 103rd, 1808. Killed in |

| | | Canada, 1814. |

|John Macleod, C.B. |May 12, 1808 |2nd Battalion of 1804. |

| | | Major-General, 1819. |

|James Macdonell, |September 7, 1809 |Exchanged to Coldstream |

| Glengarry | | Guards, 1810. |

|Sir Edward Michael Ryan, |February 21, 1811 |Died in 1812. |

|James Fraser |May 1, 1812 |Killed at Probolingo in |

| | | Java, 1813. |

|Martin Lindsay, C.B. |November 25, 1813 |Succeeded Colonel John |

| | | Macleod in command, 12th |

| | | Aug. 1819, and retired |

| | | 27th April 1837. |

|David Forbes |July 28, 1814 |Reduced on Half-pay, 1816. |

|Henry N. Douglas |April 28, 1837 |Died, 1st October 1849. |

|Martin G. T. Lindsay |April 8, 1842 |Exchanged, 15th April 1842.|

|Roderick Macneil |April 15, 1842 |Colonel in the army June |

| | | 17, 1828, and was |

| | | promoted Major-General, |

| | | 9th November 1846. |

|Jonathan Forbes |November 9, 1846 |Retired, 10th December |

| | | 1847. |

|E. Twopeny |December 10, 1847 |Exchanged to 10th Foot. |

|Walter Hamilton, C.B. |October 2, 1849 |Appointed Inspecting Field |

| | | Officer, 1st June 1859. |

|Henry W. Stisted, C.B. |April 19, 1850 |Exchanged to 93d |

| | | Highlanders, 30th Sept. |

| | | 1859. |

|John Alexander Ewart, |September 30, 1859 |Retired on Half-pay, 28th |

| C.B. | | October 1864. |

|Colin Campbell M’Intyre, |October 28, 1864 |Retired on Full-pay, 2d |

| C.B. | | October 1866. |

|Græme A. Lockhart, C.B. |October 2, 1866 |Retired on Full-pay, 13th |

| | | July 1867. |

|Alexander Mackenzie, C.B.|July 13, 1867 | |

| |

| MAJORS. |

| |

|Alex. Mackenzie, |March 8, 1793 |Promoted Colonel- |

| Belmaduthy | | Commandant, 27th Feb. |

| | | 1796. |

|George, Earl of Errol |July 24, 1793 |To 1st Regiment Foot |

| | | Guards, 1794. Died, 1799.|

|Alex. Mackenzie of |July 24, 1793 |To command of 2nd |

| Fairburn | | Battalion, 10th Feb. 1794.|

|John Randoll Mackenzie of|February 10, 1794 |Promoted, 1794. |

| Suddie | | |

|Michael Monypenny |October 28, 1794 |Promoted to 73rd Regiment, |

| | | 1798. Died, 1808. |

|Alexander Malcolm |May 2, 1794 |Promoted, 1795. |

|John Mackenzie, Gairloch |May 3, 1794 |Promoted, 1795. |

|John Mackenzie, junior | 1794 |Promoted, 1795. |

|Alexander Grant | 1795 |Retired, 1798. Died, 1807. |

|William Montgomery | 1795 |Promoted to 64th Regiment. |

| | | Died 1800. |

|Alexander Adams |August 30, 1798 |Promoted, 1802. |

|Hercules Scott, Benholm |May 9, 1800 |Promoted, 1807. |

|Patrick Macleod, Geanies |November 18, 1802 |To command of 2nd |

| | | Battalion, 17th April |

| | | 1804. |

|David Stewart, Garth |April 17, 1804 |Promoted to Royal West |

| | | Indian Rangers, 1808. |

| | | Author of the _Sketches_.|

|James Macdonell, |April 17, 1804 |Promoted, 1809. |

| Glengarry | | |

|William Campbell |December 13, 1804 |Killed at taking Fort |

| | | Cornelis, in Java, 1810. |

|James Fraser |July 23, 1807 |Promoted, 1813. |

|Robert Hamilton |April 21, 1808 |Retired, 1810. |

|Martin Lindsay |January 4, 1810 |Promoted, 1813. |

|David Forbes |August 29, 1811 |Promoted, 1814. |

|Duncan Macpherson |November 7, 1811 |Major of the regiment in |

| | | 1820. |

|James Macbean |December 14, 1811 |Major of the regiment in |

| | | 1820. |

|Duncan Macgregor |November 25, 1813 |Reduced on Half-pay in |

| | | 1816. |

|Colin Campbell Mackay, |August 11, 1814 |Reduced on Half-pay in |

| Bighouse | | 1816. |

|Joseph Bethune |June 14, 1821 | |

|C. G. Falconer |June 26, 1823 | |

|Henry N. Douglas |October 22, 1825 |Promoted, 28th April 1837. |

|James Mill |April 8, 1826 | |

|Benjamin Adams |May 7, 1829 |Retired, 17th May 1838. |

|Martin G. T. Lindsay |April 28, 1837 |Promoted, 8th April 1842. |

|Jonathan Forbes |May 18, 1838 |Promoted, 9th November |

| | | 1846. |

|E. Twopeny |April 8, 1842 |Promoted, 10th December |

| | | 1847. |

|R. J. P. Vassall |November 9, 1846 |Exchanged to Half-pay. |

|Walter Hamilton |December 10, 1847 |Promoted, 2d October 1849. |

|J. Burns |May 23, 1848 |Exchanged to 2nd Foot. |

|Henry W. Stisted |May 26, 1848 |Promoted, 19th April 1850. |

|T. J. Taylor |October 2, 1849 |Died, 18th June 1850. |

|Henry Hamilton, C.B. |April 19, 1850 |Appointed to the Staff, 1st|

| | | July 1862. |

|Colin Campbell M’Intyre, |June 19, 1850 |Promoted, 28th October |

| C.B. | | 1864. |

|Græme A. Lockhart, C.B. |July 1, 1862 |Promoted, 2d October 1866. |

|Alexander Mackenzie |October 28, 1864 |Promoted, 13th July 1867. |

|Oswald B. Feilden |October 2, 1866 | |

|Augustus E. Warren |July 13, 1867 | |

| |

| ADJUTANTS. |

| |

|James Fraser |March 8, 1793 |Retired, 1794. |

|James Hanson |February 10, 1794 |2nd Battalion of 1794. |

| | | Became Adjutant of the |

| | | consolidated Battalion in|

| | | 1796. Retired. |

|Donald Fraser |October 1, 1794 | |

|Alexander Wishart |October 20, 1797 |Promoted. |

|John Hay |December 30, 1800 |Died in India, 1803. |

|Joseph Bethune |June 25, 1803 |Promoted. |

|William Mackenzie |April 17, 1804 |2nd Battalion of 1804. |

| | | Promoted. |

|Thomas Hamilton |September 26, 1805 |Deceased. |

|John Cooper |October 15, 1807 |Adjutant of the regiment |

| | | till succeeded by Bull. |

|James Fraser |June 15, 1810 | |

|William Smith |June 24, 1813 |Adjutant of the 2nd |

| | | Battalion when reduced. |

|J. E. N. Bull |May 4, 1826 |Promoted, 19th October |

| | | 1838. |

|S. M. Edington |October 19, 1838 |Resigned, 31st August 1839.|

|C. Pattison |August 31, 1839 |Promoted in Newfoundland |

| | | Companies. |

|Hamilton Douglas Gordon |June 16, 1848 |Promoted, 10th October |

| | | 1850. |

|Laurence Pleydell |October 10, 1850 |Promoted, 22nd December |

| Bouverie | | 1854. |

|Herbert T. Macpherson, |December 22, 1854 |Promoted, 6th October 1857.|

| V.C. | | |

|Andrew C. Bogle, V.C. |October 6, 1857 |Promoted, 5th November |

| | | 1858. |

|G. D. Barker |November 5, 1858 |Promoted, 2nd April 1861. |

|Thomas Mackenzie |April 2, 1861 |Resigned, 16th May 1862. |

|Richard P. Butler |May 16, 1862 |Retired, 21st November |

| | | 1865. |

|George E. Lecky |November 21, 1865 |Resigned, 27th February |

| | | 1867. |

|Robert Lockhart Dalglish |February 27, 1867 |Retired, 20th July 1867. |

|E. P. Stewart |July 20, 1867 |Promoted, 7th July 1869. |

|C. E. Croker-King |July 7, 1869 |Promoted, 17th July 1872. |

|Arthur Dingwall Fordyce |August 21, 1872 | |

| |

| PAYMASTERS. |

| |

|Alexander Bannerman |February 25, 1804 | |

|James Ferguson |March 21, 1805 |2nd Battalion of 1804. |

| | | Deceased. |

|John Chisholm |December 11, 1817 |Retired. Succeeded by |

| | | Paymaster Taylor. |

|M. G. Taylor |August 26, 1836 |Exchanged to 45th Foot. |

|E. Evans |July 7, 1846 |Retired, 22nd April 1853. |

|Joseph Webster |April 22, 1853 |Retired, 1st April 1864. |

|Charles Skrine |April 1, 1864 | |

| |

| QUARTER-MASTERS. |

| |

|Archibald Macdougal |March 8, 1793 |Retired. |

|Alexander Wishart |February 10, 1794 |2nd Battalion of 1794. |

| | | Establishment reduced. |

|Duncan Macrae |January 23, 1801 |To 76th Foot as Ensign. |

|John Leavoch |February 11, 1804 |Promoted from Paymaster’s |

| | | Clerk. He carried the |

| | | Queen’s colour at Assaye |

| | | and Argaum. |

|John Macpherson |April 17, 1804 |2nd Battalion of 1804. |

| | | Retired. |

|Alexander Waters |June 30, 1808 | |

|William Smith |April 19, 1810 | |

|William Gunn |August 6, 1812 |Paymaster in Cape Mounted |

| | | Rifles, May 31, 1839. |

|Joseph Webster |May 31, 1839 |Promoted Paymaster, 22nd |

| | | April 1853. |

|Patrick Carroll |April 22, 1853 |Retired on Full-pay, 12th |

| | | September 1856. |

|Charles Skrine |September 12, 1856 |Promoted Paymaster, 1st |

| | | April 1864. |

|Alexander Weir |April 26, 1864 | |

| |

| SURGEONS. |

| |

|Thomas Baillie |March 8, 1793 |Died in India, 1802. |

|William Kennedy | 1794 |2nd Battalion of 1794. |

|John Macandie |November 17, 1802 | |

|Thomas Draper |April 17, 1804 |2nd Battalion of 1804. |

| | | Promoted Deputy |

| | | Inspector-General. |

|Neil Currie |September 1, 1808 | |

|William Munro |June 3, 1813 |To Half-pay. |

|John M’Roberts, M.D. |November 13, 1817 | |

|Robert Henry Bolton, M.D.|October 30, 1823 | |

|Duncan Henderson |March 23, 1826 |Exchanged to 14th Foot. |

|John M’Andrew |February 15, 1833 |Appointed to 40th Foot. |

|James Burt |July 29, 1836 |Appointed to 16th Dragoons.|

|Archibald Alexander |October 3, 1845 |Exchanged to 50th Foot. |

|Arthur C. Webster |March 23, 1849 |Transferred to 10th |

| | | Hussars. |

|Joseph Jee, V.C. & C.B. |June 23, 1854 |Exchanged to 1st Dragoons, |

| | | 20th Sept. 1864. |

|L. C. Stewart |September 20, 1864 |Promoted, 17th March 1867. |

|J. Meane |March 8, 1867 |Appointed to the Staff, 6th|

| | | March 1869. |

|V. M. M’Master, V.C. |March 6, 1869 |Died, 22nd January 1872. |

|A. W. Beveridge, M.D. |February 17, 1872 | |

+-------------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+

ASSISTANT-SURGEONS.--John Macandie (1795), Alex. Young (1795), John

Bowen (1803), Wm. Munro (1805), Alex. Leslie (1805), Walter Irwin

(1810), John Hughes (1811), Wm. Macleod (1814), George Maclean

(1814), Duncan Henderson, M.D. (1817), Alex Duncan (1826), James

Thomson (1826), Arthur Wood, M.D. (1826), James Young (1826), Wm.

Robertson (1832), W. H. Allman (1842), John Innes (1842), G. Archer,

M.D. (1839), J. Mitchell, M.D. (1843), D. R. M’Kinnon (1844), W.

Bowie, M.D. (1844), J. Leitch, M.D. (1846), J. M’Nab, M.D. (1847),

A. S. Willocks (1852), E. K. O’Neill (1854), V. M. M’Master (1855),

S. S. Skipton, M.D. (1857), A. W. Beveridge, M.D. (1857), P. Kilgour

(1866), N. Wade (1867), W. Johnston, M.D. (1872).

DRESS OF THE 78TH HIGHLANDERS,

THE FULL HIGHLAND COSTUME.

_Officers._--Kilt and belted plaid of Mackenzie tartan; scarlet

Highland doublet, trimmed with gold lace according to rank, buff

facings (patrol jacket and trews for fatigue dress); bonnet of black

ostrich plumes, with white vulture hackle; Menzies tartan hose,

red garter knots, and white spatterdashes (shoes and gold buckles,

and Mackenzie tartan hose and green garter knots for ball dress);

sporran of white goat’s hair, with eight gold tassels (two long

black tassels undress); buff leather shoulder-belt, with gilt breast

plate; red morocco dirk belt, embroidered with gold thistles; dirk

and skean-dhu, mounted in cairngorm and silver gilt; the claymore,

with steel scabbard; round silver-gilt shoulder brooch, surmounted

by a crown. The field officers wear trews, shoulder plaid, and

waist belt. The Cabar Feidh on all appointments, with the Elephant,

superscribed “Assaye.”

_Mess Dress._--Scarlet shell jacket, with buff rolling collar and

facings, and gold shoulder-knots; Mackenzie tartan vest, with

cairngorm buttons.

_Sergeants._--Same as privates, with the exception of finer cloth

and tartan. Staff sergeants wear the buff cross-belt and claymore,

and shoulder plaid with brooch.

_Privates._--Kilt and fly of Mackenzie tartan; scarlet Highland

doublet, buff facings (buff jacket and trews for fatigue dress);

bonnet of black ostrich plumes, with white hackle; sporran of white

goat’s hair, with two long black tassels; Menzies tartan hose, red

garter knots, and white spatterdashes; the Cabar Feidh and the

Elephant on the appointments.

_Band._--Same as privates, with the exception of red hackles, grey

sporrans, buff waist-belts and dirks, and shoulder plaids and brooch.

_Pipers._--Same as privates, with the exception of green doublets,

green hackles, Mackenzie tartan hose, green garter knots, grey

sporrans, black shoulder and dirk belts, claymore, dirk, and

skean-dhu, and shoulder plaids with round brooch.

FOOTNOTES:

[465] For this history of the 78th Highlanders up to the beginning of

the Persian War, we are entirely indebted to Captain Colin Mackenzie,

formerly an officer of the regiment, who is himself preparing a

detailed history of the 78th.

[466] See page 238, vol. ii.

[467] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[468] The corporals were included in this number, which should

therefore have appeared as “rank and file” instead of “private

men.”--C.M.

[469] Private papers of the late Lord Seaforth.

[470] Extract from letter of service.

[471] “During six years’ residence in different cantonments in

Bengal no material event occurred. The corps sustained throughout a

character every way exemplary. The commanding officer’s system of

discipline, and his substitution of censure for punishment, attracted

much attention. The temperate habits of the soldiers, and Colonel

Mackenzie’s mode of punishment, by a threat to inform his parents of

the misconduct of a delinquent, or to send a bad character of him to

his native country, attracted the notice of all India. Their sobriety

was such that it was necessary to restrict them from selling or

giving away the usual allowance of liquor to other soldiers.

“There were in this battalion nearly 300 men from Lord Seaforth’s

estate in the Lewis. Several years elapsed before any of these men

were charged with a crime deserving severe punishment. In 1799 a

man was tried and punished. This so shocked his comrades that he

was put out of their society as a degraded man, who brought shame

on his kindred. The unfortunate outcast felt his own degradation so

much that he became unhappy and desperate; and Colonel Mackenzie,

to save him from destruction, applied and got him sent to England,

where his disgrace would be unknown and unnoticed. It happened as

Colonel Mackenzie had expected, for he quite recovered his character.

By the humane consideration of his commander, a man was thus saved

from that ruin which a repetition of severity would have rendered

inevitable.”--Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[472] Cust’s _Wars_.

[473] “A Mahratta chief, residing in the British camp, gave the

following account of the action in a letter to his friends at

Poonah:--‘The English are a strange people, and their General a

wonderful man. They came here in the morning, looked at the Pettah

wall, walked over it, killed all the garrison, and then turned in to

breakfast. Who can resist such men as these?’”--Cust’s _Wars_.

[474] Cust’s _Wars_.

[475] “It may not be known to the public, and perhaps not to the

78th Regiment itself, that the handsome black granite slab inserted

in the Pettah wall of Ahmednuggur, bearing an inscription that

on this spot fell, at the storming of the fort, Captain Thomas

Mackenzie-Humberstone (son of Colonel Mackenzie-Humberstone, who was

killed at the close of the Mahratta War, 1783), also to the memory of

Captain Grant, Lieutenant Anderson, the non-commissioned officers,

and privates of that Regiment who fell on that occasion, was placed

here as a memorial by the Honourable Mrs Stewart-Mackenzie (then

Lady Hood), eldest daughter of Lord Seaforth (brother of Colonel

Humberstone), when she visited this spot on her way from Poonah to

Hyderabad, in March 1813.”--_Memorandum found among the papers of the

late Colonel C. Mackenzie-Fraser of Castle Fraser._

[476] Alison’s _History of Europe_.

[477] “It is now said that they had in their camp 128

guns.”--_General Wellesley to Major Shaw, 28th September 1803._

[478] See History of the 74th, vol. ii. p. 575.

[479] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[480] Alison’s _History of Europe_.

[481] Sir Samuel Auchmuty’s Despatch.

[482] Alison’s _History of Europe_.

[483] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[484] “On the 10th, the ‘Prince Blucher,’ Captain Weatherall, came in

sight, and took on board Major Macpherson, Lieutenants Mackenzie and

M’Crummin, with a considerable number of men and _all the women and

children_. He would have taken the whole, but was driven off during

the night by a severe gale, and obliged to proceed to Calcutta,

leaving Captain M’Queen, Lieutenants M’Rae, Macleod, Brodie,

Macqueen, and Smith, and 109 non-commissioned officers and privates

on the island, which is barren and uninhabited.”--_Regimental Record._

[485] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[486] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[487] Records of 2nd Battalion.

[488] His portrait will be found on page 396, vol. ii.

[489] Before launching out into its history, it may be as well to

state that the uniform of this battalion was formed on the exact

model of the original dress of the first battalion, viz., a Highland

jacket, neck and cuffs of light buff, edging and frogs trimmed with a

narrow stripe of green, the button bearing the number of the regiment

beneath a crown, the breastplate engraved with a G. R. circumscribed

with the regimental motto, “Cuidich ’n Righ” (“Aids of the King”);

and in all other respects the full Highland uniform as established by

his Majesty’s regulations.

[490] Stewart’s _Sketches_. In relating the above interesting

anecdote, it is generally understood that Stewart alludes to an

incident in his own career.

[491] It is said that Sir John Stuart was greatly disappointed to

find the second battalion of the 78th a “corps of boys,” he having

expected the 42nd to be sent to his command, and calculated on their

assistance in his projected descent on Calabria. However, this

disappointment was of but short duration, as his order of the 6th of

July, after the battle of Maida, will testify.

[492] “Sergeant John Macrae, a young man, about twenty-two years

of age, but of good size and strength of arm, showed that the

broadsword, in a firm hand, is as good a weapon in close fighting

as the bayonet. If the first push of the bayonet misses its aim,

or happens to be parried, it is not easy to recover the weapon and

repeat the thrust, when the enemy is bold enough to stand firm; but

it is not so with the sword, which may be readily withdrawn from its

blow, wielded with celerity, and directed to any part of the body,

particularly to the head and arms, whilst its motions defend the

person using it. Macrae killed six men, cutting them down with his

broadsword (of the kind usually worn by sergeants of Highland corps),

when at last he made a dash out of the ranks on a Turk, whom he cut

down; but as he was returning to the square he was killed by a blow

from behind, his head being nearly split in two by the stroke of a

sabre. Lieutenant Christopher Macrae, whom I have already mentioned

as having brought eighteen men of his own name to the regiment

as part of his quota of recruits, for an ensigncy, was killed in

this affair, with six of his followers and namesakes, besides the

sergeant. On the passage to Lisbon in October 1805, the same sergeant

came to me one evening crying like a child, and complaining that

the ship’s cook had called him English names, which he did not

understand, and thrown some fat in his face. Thus a lad who, in 1805,

was so soft and so childish, displayed in 1807 a courage and vigour

worthy a hero of Ossian.”--Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[493] _Records, 2d Battalion._ He was succeeded in the command by

Lieut.-Colonel John Macleod.

[494] _Records, 2d Battalion._

[495] The victor of Barossa, afterwards Lord Lynedoch.

[496] Stewart’s _Sketches_.

[497] At these stations the regiment was inspected, and most

favourably reported upon, by Major-General Hope.

[498] His portrait will be found on page 482, vol. ii.

[499] Journal of Captain Keogh, late 78th Highlanders.

[500] Captain Hunt’s (78th Highlanders) _Persian Campaign_.

[501] Captain Hunt’s _Persian Campaign_.

[502] This portrait is copied, by the permission of John Clark

Marshman, Esq., and the Messrs Longman, from that in Marshman’s

_Memoirs of Major-General Sir Henry Havelock, K.C.B._

[503] Captain Hunt, 78th Highlanders, “Persian Campaign.” We

may remark that Captain Hunt’s conduct of the Ahwaz force was

very highly praised. Sir James Outram says in his despatch to

Sir Henry Somerset, “Great praise is also due to Captain Hunt,

78th Highlanders, who so successfully carried out the military

operations,” and Sir Henry acknowledges this by alluding to Captain

Hunt, “whose excellent disposition of his small force I have remarked

with much satisfaction.” Captain Hunt also received the thanks

of the Governor-General in Council. This very promising officer

unfortunately fell a victim to cholera during the Mutiny, and thus,

at an early age, terminated a career which must have done honour to

himself and reflected credit upon his regiment.--C. M.