THE business of "raising" the regiment was now (1793-94) to commence in
real earnest, and as it was the Major's desire that the complement
should be made up of as many as he could induce to join from his own and
the adjacent districts, his officers and himself visited every part
round about, and with so much success that, between Lochaber, Appin,
Mull, and Morven, 750 men were collected at Fort-William, within a
period of less than two months; at any rate the official accounts record
that number to have been inspected and approved by General Leslie on the
3d January (1794).[C] General Stewart states, "in the instance of the
embodiment of the 79th no bounty was allowed by Government, and the men
were therefore recruited at the solo expense of Mr Cameron and his
officers; nevertheless the measure of the success will be understood by
the early date of their inspection at Stirling, where they received the
denomination of the 79th Cameron Highlanders." The Major was now
desirous to repair as quickly as possible to the place appointed for
inspection, that he might get his corps numbered, and with that
determination, ordered every man to be in readiness for the journey
southwards. Great was the excitement in the little village adjoining the
garrison of Fort-William, on that winter's morning, when Cameron and his
followers collected on its parade-ground, to have the roll called by
"old Archie Maclean" (their first Adjutant), preparatory to bidding
farewell to Lochaber--a last farewell by the greater part of them.
The nearest and dearest must part, and such was the case with the
Lochabermen and their friends, now that "they promised to help King
George." With Alan at their head, this devoted band filed off in well
regulated order, marching with steady step through the village, the
pipers leading, playing the well-known march--"_Gabhaidh sinn an rathad
mor_" (We'll keep the high road), while large numbers of the country
people convoyed them on their route a considerable distance, reluctant
to give the final farewell; deferring it till they were reminded that
they had now a long way to go back. Their affection probably laid them
under a spell that "farewell was such sweet sorrow, they could not say
farewell till to-morrow." A string of horses preceded them, to different
stages, with their creels well provided with creature comforts desirable
for their long journey, along indifferent paths, and over bleak
mountains, to Stirling. At that season of the year, the weather was very
severe, and the absence of any habitations on the way did not admit of
any halting; therefore it was decided to continue their onward course
without interruption, except the short intervals necessary for
refreshments. This decision enabled them to reach the rendezvous at noon
of the third day, when after a day or two's rest, drilling was resumed
without intermission, in consequence of which persistency, the corps
were in a fair state of order by the time the inspecting officer
arrived. "The Cameron Highlanders" underwent this ordeal of military and
medical inspection to the General's entire satisfaction, and he duly
reported the result to the War Office, and, being the first to be so
reported the corps received the first and subsequent number of 79th (the
78th, Mackenzie's Ross-shire regiment, had been completed in the month
of March of the previous year). Meanwhile the exigencies of the service
becoming pressing, the "Office" was induced to dispatch urgent orders to
Cameron to augment the regiment with the necessary 250 men to raise it
to a total strength of 1000 rank and file. In obedience to this summons,
he, with others of his officers, lost no time in returning to the
districts of the Highlands from whence they came. If further proof were
needed of the popularity of Cameron, the fact that he collected the 250
recruits wanted, and reported them at the same place (Stirling), in the
short space of five and twenty days, will be sufficiently convincing.
When the 1000 men were completed on the 30th January (1794), Alan was
advanced to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the regiment![D] This marvellous
rapidity may be contrasted with the fact, that when Mr Cameron of
Fassifern was offered a company in the corps being raised by the Marquis
of Huntly in the following month of February, he was obliged to have
recourse to the assistance of his brother-in-law, Macneil of Barra, to
complete the number of 100 men. He could only secure nineteen men in his
own district of Lochaber, notwithstanding that he was aided by the
personal influence of his cousin Lochiel. Alan Cameron did not seek, nor
did he receive the slightest favour from the Chief of his clan, for
reasons which may be subsequently referred to.[E]