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mmIi MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES 253 : MILITARY WELLINGTON'S HIGHLANDERS , , ,. I STC.\RT REID BRY:\~ FOSTE~ WELLINGTON'S HIGHLANDERS RAISING A • Publishedin 1992by Artist'sNote • OspreyPublishingLtd 59Gros\'cnorStreet,LondonW,X9D1\ Readersmaycaretonotethattheoriginal paintings REGIMENT ©Copyrighl '992OsprcyPublishingLtd from whichthecolourplatesinthisbook were preparedareavailablefor privatesale. All Allrighlsreservcd,Apanfromanyfairdealingforthe reproduction copyrightwhatsoeverisretained bythe purposeofprivatcstudy,research,criticismorreview,as permincdundcrtheCopyrightDesignsandPatcntsAn, publisher. Allenquiriesshould beaddressed to: On the outbreak ofwar with France on I February '988,nopanofthispublicalionmaybercproduccd, Bryan Fasten 1793, six of the British Army's 77 regiments of slOredinaretrie\'alsystem,ortransminedinanyfonnor 5RossClose infantry (excluding the Footguards) bore the desig byanymeans,electronic,electrical,chemical, mechanical,optical,photocopying,recordingor Nyetimber nation 'Highland';and within two years this number otherwise,withoutthepriorpermissionofthecopyright Nr. BognorRegis had risen toatemporary high of15,besidesanumber owner,EnquiriesshouldbeaddressedtothePublisher SussexP021 3JW ofregiments ofHighland Fencibles. Ironicallysome ISBN I855322560 Thepublishersregretthattheycan enterintono of the latter, raised originally as home defence correspondenceupon thismatter. PrimedthroughBookbuildersLtd,HongKong battalions,saw more action, in Ireland, than some of theshort-lived regular units. Dedication TothememoryofLiclitenanrJohnUrquhart,7Ist As afirst step to raisingaregiment aprospective Highlanders,diedNegapatam,Southern India,24 colonel had to obtain 'letters ofservice', authorising April 1794. him to nominate officers and beat up for recruits. Although there were variations, those for the looth Acknowledgements (Gordon) Highlanders, granted to the Duke of Iwould liketothank the51aft"oftheScottishUnited Gordon on 10 February 1794, may be taken as ServicesMuseum in Edinburgh Castlefor their typical: assistancein preparingthisstudy, TheSUS~ll 'MyLord, collectionsdeservetobe far betterknown. Iwouldalso 'I am commanded to acquaint you that His liketothankLt.CoL A. A. Fairrie,ofRHQtheQueen's Majesly approves of your Grace's offer of Own Highlanders, forhisadviceon thestatusof raising a Regiment of Foot to be completed pipers,although theconclusionspresented herearcmy wilhin Ihree months upon the following own. conditions:- Bibliography 'The Corps to consisl of one company of Anumberofmanuscriptand primed sourceswere Grenadiers, one of Lighl Infantr)', and eight consulted in thepreparation ofthisstudy,most BattalionCompanies. notably: DavidStewarrofGarth'sSketchesa/the 'The Grenadier Company is to consist of one HiglrlandmojSeallaml(Edinburgh 1822);DianaM. captain, three lieutenants, fOUf sergeants, five Henderson's The HighlandSoldier 1820-1920 corporals, two drummers, two fifers, and 95 (Edinburgh 1989)providesarathermoremature privates. assessmentofthecharacterofhighland regimentsthan 'The Light Infantry of one captain, three Dayeswatercolour,c.J79', possiblecharthesoldier JohnPrebble'spolemicalMutiny(London 1975); lieutenants, four sergeants, five corporals, two depictingasoldierofthe hasbeen 'gotup'{ora J. [VI. Bulloch's TerritorialSoldieringilltheNorth-East .pnd. Thesubject'srankis quarrerguard. Alsoof Foracatalogueofallpbloeoakssepwurbitleis[h0e:d byOspreyMilitary ojSeolland1759-1815(Aberdeen 1914)isquite 'dArundmmeaecrhs,Banadtta9l5iopnriCvaotmesp.any of one caplain, puuncrlsee",lrp:isthtoel,elbarbooardastweord sintotcekreinsgtas,reiddelnetikfnieicdeaeds invaluable. TheMarketingManager, anddirkallsuggesta suchbytheturned-over two lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, five COnStlll1erCatalogueDepartntent, sergeant, buttheredlinc topsandabsenceofa black OspreyPublishingLtd, corporals, twodrummers, and 95 privates; inchelaceloopsonthe edgingtothecheck. coatandcheabsenceof (Scottish UnitedServices M.ichelinHouse,S, FulhamRoad, 'Together with the usual staffofficers,and with epauleceesindicatea Museum) LondonSW36RB a sergeant major, and quartermaster sergeant, privateorcorporal.Itis 3 exclusive ofthe sergeants above specified. The 'The payoftheofficers istocommencefrom the contract the 'horrible drudgery' of recruiting" The captain lieutenant is [as usual] included in the dates oftheircommissions: and thatofthe non captains and field officers were almost iO\"ariabl)' numberoflieutenantsabove mentioned. commissioned officersand privatemen from the promoted from other regiments, or appointed from 'The corps is to have three field officers, each dates oftheirattestations. the Half Pay list, though in highland regiments with a company; their respective ranks to be 'Levy money will be allowed to Your Grace in efforts were always made to attract men with local determined bytherankoftheofficerwhom your aidofthislevyattherateoffiveguineasperman roots. Otherwise it was a matter ofcalling upon an Grace will recommend for the command for 1064men. extensive network of neighbours and tenants, who thereof. Ifthe person so recommended for the 'The recruits are to be engaged without limit could assist in recruitingand mightoccasionallyeven command is not at present in the army, he will ation as to theperiodor placeoftheirservice. take up commissions themselves. They could also be allowed temporary rank during the con 'None are to be enlisted under five feet four recommend deserving young members oftheir own tinuance of the regiment on the establishment inches, norunder 18yearsorabove35. Growing oracquaintances' families fo fill thejunior ,"acancies. but will not be entitled to half pay on its lads from 16 to 18, at five feet three inches will All of the original officers commissioned into the reduction. not be rejected. looth (Gordon)Highlanders were Scots,and mostof 'His Majesty leaves to your Grace the nomin 'The non-commissioned officers and privates them came from the areas north and west of ation of all the officers, being such as are well are tobe inspected byageneral officer, who will Aberdeen, where the regiment was primarily re affected to his Majesty, and most likely by their reject all such as are unfit for service, or not cruited. In marked contrast we may consider, for interest and connections to assist in raising the enlisted in conformity with the terms of this instance, the 106th (Norwich) Regiment, typical of corps without delay; who, ifthey meet with his Letter. the English units raised in J794, which had remark Royal approbation, may be assured they shall 'His Majesty consents that on a reduction the ably few! orfolk officers. A surprising number of have commissions as soon as the regiment is Regimentshall, ifit be desired, be disbanded in them - including an ancestor of the author - were completed. that partofthe country whereit was raised. Scots, with no local tiesorinfluence whatever. 'The officers, iftaken from the halfpay, are to 'In Ihe execution ofthis service, I take leave to Highland regiments were frequently raised by servein their presentranks; iffull pay, with one assureYourGraceofeveryassistance which my chieftains, but they were not by any means elall step of promotion. The gentlemen named for office can afford. regiments. Sir James Grant's 97th Highlanders had ensigncies are not to be under sixteen years of some 14officers (just under half) named Grant on its age. Thequartermasterisnottobeproposed for SirGeorgeYonge' original establishment, but this appears to have been LieutenantAeneas dicing,possiblya2ndBn. Sutherland,2/78ch distinction;abuglehorn anyothercommission. exceptional, and most of them were in any case Highlanders, whowa.o;' badgeontheepaulccces; 'In case the corps shall be reduced after it has TheOfficers subalterns. More typical were the Gordons: onl), five commissioned27M:Jrch and,oddly,sil,'crlace 1794.Nocechebuffsquare regimentswithbuff been established, the officers will be entitled to I-laving thus secured his letters ofservice, a colonel officers, including the colonel) bore that surname, attheintersectionofthe facingswerenormally halfpay. had next to find the officers to whom he would sub- and this seems to have been the usual proportion. redcheckson thebonnet unlaced.(5U5M) Both battalionsofthe 78th, raised in 1793 and 1794, had fiveMcKenziesapiece;and only fourofthe79th, unsustainable. Moretypical wasthesortofassistance raised in 1793, were named Cameron. given to officers beating up for the Gordons. On 28 April 1794 the Aberdeen }olll'll/ll reported that the Governmentor'Black Enlistment Duke's tenants in Kirkmichael and Strathdon had Watch'tartan. Thissett hasabluebaseolTerlaid In order to qualify for the commissions for which metand agreed to find an additional bounty ofthree withabroadgreencheck they were recommended the officers had in turn to guineas for any man from the area enlisting in the borderedbymixed black/bluechecksand enlist the required number of men. Naturally they regiment. Similarly the Earl of Aberdeen and Mr. dividedbyablack sought todoso close to home, where they were 'weel SkeneofSkenewerereported in thefollowing month overstripe. Thisblack oversrripeW.ISreplaced;n kenn'd' and where they could command some in to be encouraging men from their estates to enlist somereginlentsbyared, fluence. While an officer might reasonably expect to with the rival 109thHighlanders, and the former also white, bufforyellowone. find afew recruits amongst thesons ofhis tenants (if providedlargequantitiesofthewhiskeypunchwhich The bluebaseis additionallyoverlaidwith he possessed any), most recruits were to be found at seems to have been so essential for successful lineblackJinesandi.nthe local markets, or were encouraged to enlist by the recruiting. (Captain Finlason, the Gordons' agent in c..lseofthefttfcKenziesett, usedbythe71S{and78th, officers' friends and relations. Aberdeen, complainedon 24June thathis house was anadditionalred The 93rd, it is true, were substantially raised on likean alehouseorgin shop.) overstripeishJidthrough altern:JCebluesquares. the Sutherlandestates bya'form ofconscription, but In the north ofScotland 'going for a soldier' had (Author) this was evidently exceptional and in the long term none ofthestigma which attached to it in Englandat 4 5 bettertand when its two battalions were consolidated better than usual. The Light Company of the 93rd in June 1796 they mustered 970 highlanders, 129 wasreputed nottohave hadasingle man punished in lowland Scots, with 14. English and Irish. The 78th 20years.Thisisnottosaythatcrimewasunknown in appear to have had a prejudiceagainst Irish recruits, highland regiments-asoldierwhodoesn'tplunderis and inJanuary 1820hadonlytwoIrishmenoutof640 acontradiction in terms- but by and large memoirs rank and file. refer to individuals misbehaving rather than to any Problems did arise, on the other hand, when endemic problem. There were, of course, lapses. regiments had to be virtually rebuilt after service Over the winter of1810-18", for example, the 7'St overseas. In 1799the79th,raisedafreshafterdrafting and 92nd were billeted in the Convent ofAlcantaria, in Martinique,had only268Scotsintheranks,notall and predictablysoon toredown thescreensand other ofthem byanymeans highlanders, and no fewer than woodworkfor theirfires. The71stapparentlytook to 273 Englishmen, 54 Irishmen and seven assorted thiswithsomeglee,andanofficeroftheGordonswas foreigners. Under threat of losing their cherished astonished onenighttofind them tossingimagesinto High/alld distinction the balance was rapidly re the fire with cheerfulcries of'NoPopery!' dressed;butitissignificantthatmostoftheregiments which did losetheirkilts in 1809 werein similarcase, havingspentupwardsof20years in India. StrachspeyFencibles arered. Theother drum; varnishedwood equipmentin thephoto Thecharacteroftheregiments sheJ/withalighccream belongedtothe97th panelbearingacrownand Highlanders; theknapsack Highland regiments were therefore much more aredshieldwithgold isyellowochrewitha homogenous than comparable English ones, such as letteringandfoliace greenringbearingthetitle decoration.Althoughnone 'INVERNESS-SHIRE the 106th, and local initiativessuch as those reported cooclearontheprincthe REGT.'in whiceletters in the Aberdeell ]ollfllal clearly encouraged the shieldhasalarge'GR' andblack97in thecentre cypherover (seePlateDr).Notetheflat enlistmentofmen ofgood character, from particular 'STRATHSPEY sectionoftheearlyp~Jttern districts. Their behaviour was consequently rather FENCIBLES'. Thehoops carcouchebox.(SU5M) Main Gace,FortGeorge, oranothermosthighland Ardersier. Thislargeforc reginlencswereinspected fully illustrated by a surviving recruiting banner for andbarrackcomplex, orgarrisonedthere. the 2/78th which bears little more than the words completedin 1769,could (Auchor) acconlmodatecwo 'SIXTEENGUINEAS BOUNTY. baccalions;andaConetime Notwithstanding the high bounties it was always necessary to enlist at least some men from further this time. The highlands were badly over-populated afield to make up the required numbers, though the andenlistmentin thearmy was widelyregarded asan proportions varied from regiment to regiment ac entirely respectable alternative to emigration, parti cording to circumstances. Generally speaking this cularly since the unusually high bounties on ofter involved the recruiting oflowland Scots, rather than meantthatsomemeasureofprovision could bemade the Irishmen who were the usual standby in English for those relatives left behind. The bounties were units. Irishmen in fact only accounted for about 6% highnotbecauseitwashardtopersuadementoenlist of the strength of highland regiments, in marked ( in the first place, but rather because they were contrast to the 30% or more frequently found in necessary to encourage a man to enlist in, saYt the English ones. 100th ratherthan the 109th. Consequently recruiters Of the 894 men originally recruited into the were constantly frustrated by the fact that the men Gordons in 1794 whose origins are known, only 390 they sought were inclined at first to hang back, not were highlanders; another 407 were lowland Scots through any unwillingness to enlist or because, as is reflecting the high proportion of lowland officers ;/ sometimes suggested, they were turning against a while 5I .were Irish, I I were English or Welsh, and ( vestigial clan system; but rather because they not there wasasolitaryGerman musician, Carl Augustus unnaturally looked around for thebestofferavailable Roehling, from Hesse Cassell. The 78th, almost / before committing themselves. The point is cheer- entirel)' staffed with highland officers, did rather 6 7 OR'sbreastplate, camp, and instead ofacquiring practical knowledge a Light Infantry regiment, and actually spent some StrathspeyFencibles. The himself [Colonel Macara of the 42ndj, even his months at Shorncliffe. Before their training was ollicers'pattern was similarbutofratherbetter regimentwaslosingpartofthat which ithad perhaps complete, however, they had to be posted with the quality. (.4.uthor) previously possessed; thirdly, draughts of undisci 1/42nd to Gibraltar and thereafter served as line plined recruits were occasionally joining and mixing infantry, the light infantry role eventually being in the ranks, and being unaccustomed to field taken up by the 7lst. movements, occasioned asort ofawkwardness in the performanceofthem. Even afterour return from the continent, when the regiment was quartered in HIGHLAND Ireland, many obstacles started up unfavourable to field practice, namely oldsoldiers and limitedservice UNIFORM men being discharged, the second battalion joining, Highlanders have also been represented, quite the principal part of which were recruits, and men unjustly, as being prone to mutiny in protest against who had been years in French prisons; the detached Thekilt, the most distinctive part ofhighland dress, cynical exploitation by unscrupulous officers. Inci state ofthe regiment, after all these had been squad comprises a single strip of tartan material with a dents, occasionally violent, certainly occurred in drilled, left but fewsoldiersatheadquarterstoenable central pleated section. Itcan be tailored by varying some of the Fencible regiments in the early 1790s, the commanding officer to practise with. In this thenumberofpleats,althoughmodern practicetends and there had earlier been some trouble during the manner we continued until the battle of Waterloo. towards a standard number, varying from regiment American War; but it is important that such out ... We had the name of a crack corps, but toregiment. The kilt is worn with the pleatedsection Regimcntalcolour, LinlithgolVon2Iklarch breaks should not be considered in isolation. The certainly it was not then in that state of discipline at the rear while the two flat ends are folded oneover SrrachspeyFencibles: 1794 wasmarredbya commonest cause of mutiny in the 18th century which itcould justlyboastofafew yearsafterwards.' the other, the left hand one uppermost, to form a green wichgoldwreachand mutinywhcnsomeofche thistle, thetirlein soldierswronglyassumed British Army was drafting or some similar real or When thefirst highland regiments were raised in doubleapron atthe front. gold/blackleteeringona chat checeremony imagined breachofaregiment's termsofservice;and the mid-I8thcentury they wereregarded asaspecies Plaidingistraditionally woven ina27 inch width, redscroll. The presagedtheirbeingsent presentationofchese overseas.(Author) in such circumstances English and Irish regiments oflight infantry, and frequent comparison was made and since the kiltis soarranged that the bottom edge colourstotheregimentat mutinied equally readily and frequently more viol with Pandours and otherirregulars; but by the 1790S hangs an inch off the floor when kneeling, at this ently. A number ofthe English and Irish regiments they were simply used as line infantry. Nevertheless period the top edge usually came rather high up the time was placed upon pins (indeed, theBlack Watch involved in the great drafting of August 1795 the tradition ofself-sufficiency died hard. Battalion body,providingexcellentprotectionfor theabdomen continued to fasten their kilts with three pins down mutinied, but none of the five highland regiments companies were sometimes ordered out with the and kidneysincold weather. either side of the apron until about 1914). This alsoordered tobe drafted at thattime misbehaved. Light Company, to thicken the skirmish line. The Surviving 18th century documentation relating method did, however, have its drawbacks. There are Ultimately, regiments are judged by their beha practice was not unknown in English regiments; but to the provision ofmaterial for kilts indicates that 3t occasional references to higWanders losing their kilts viour in battle; and highlanders, whether recruited highlanders also maintained the system ofselecting yards was considered sufficient for a soldier and 4 while forcing their way through hedges, abattis or in Lochaber or the lowlands of Aberdeenshire, individuals from the Battalion companies who were yards for a sergeant. In contrast a modern kilt anythingelse which mightcatch them. Sgt. Anton of havealways had areputation as 'stormers', exempli good shots, to serve as additional skirmishers or normallyrequireS?or8yardsofmaterial,thoughthis the 42nd recounts an amusing instance ofthis which fied by the impetuous charge of the Gordons at Flankers. This was last done byEnglish regiments at is largely swallowed up in the deep folds of knife alsoanswers theperennialquestion: Waterloo, intermingled with the Scots Greys. This Maida and was positively forbidden by Sir John pleating. Two surviving ORs kilts worn by the 'Thecolonel ... strodehastily forward toenforce reputation probably resulted at least in part from an Mooreshortlyafterwards, sinceheconsidered that it Gordons in the 1790s, however, are box-pleated. obedience; Doury was the first to observe him, fled unusually close bonding between officers and men, unduly weakened the firing line. The 79th, at least, Sinceboxpleatsarenomorethan squared-offgathers past his companion, dropping the sticks at his feet and an assumption that highlanders were natural appear to have ignored him, and according to Lt. very much less material is required, and the 3tyards and escaped. Not so Henderson; he fell over the soldiers, possessed ofan impetuous spirit and tem AlexanderForbesofNo.I Coy. theLightCompanies quoted are entirely adequate. No lining was bundle dropped at his feet with his face pressed peramentally more inclined to use the bayonet. of Kempt's Brigade were reinforced by 'the 8th provided. againstthesoftmiryfield; thecolonelovertookhimas Whether justified or not this image was in large Company and marksmen of the 79th Regiment' at Officers,ofcourse, werenotsorestrictedas tothe herecovered,seized him bythekilt, thepinsofwhich measure self-perpetuating, since exactness in drill Q!1atreBras. quantity of material used, and knife-pleating was yielded to the tug, and left his naked posteriors to seems sometimes to have been neglected as being Inthelightofthisitisperhapsnotsurprisingthat certainly in use by the 1820S if not rather earlier. some meritedchastisement. I unnecessary,asSgt. Anton relates: four out ofthe 13 regiments providing personnel for While the two methods ofpleatingare quite dissim The Gordons kilt in the SUSM, on the other 'First, the ruggedness of the mountains pre the Experimental Rifle Corps in 1800 were 'High ilar, the difference cannot be discerned at any great hand, is fastened with twosmallflat brass buttonsset ventedprecisionofmovements;secondly,theweather land': 7lst,72nd,79th and92nd. In 1805 the process distance. into the very top at eitherside ofthe apron. There is had become so unfavourable that every fair day was was carried a stage further when the newly raised In place of the modern arrangement of three some evidence ofdamage to the material caused by dedicated to some other necessary purposeabout the 2178thwasselected bySirJohnMoore for trainingas straps and buckles fastening the kilt, reliance at this the prolonged use of pins, and the buttons seem to 8 9 have been an expedient intended to avoid further backupacross thebody before beingthrownover the beenmorepopular,andmostofthe I/93rdworetartan damage. left shoulder. When worn in this manner the plaid rather than grey trousersatNewOrleans in 1815. The kilt had originally been used as a fatigue almost completelyobscured and sometimes replaced With the leg covered only to the knee bv the kilt, garment, but for all practical purposes itreplaced the the crimson silk nct sash which was also worn over hose formed an important partofhighland uniform. old belted plaid by the 1790s, though theappearance the left shoulder, rather than tied around the waistas Traditionally they were white with asimple pink/red ofthe latter was still preserved on thc parade ground in the restofthe army_ check set diagonally (edged in black for the 42nd, by the feile or 'Ill" plaid (little plaid). Comprising Breeches were worn surprisingly frequently, 73rd and 78th), although the Dumbarton Fencibles that part ofthe soldier's allowance oftartan material often in undress, though field officers, ineluding the had agrey/black check, matehing their black facings. (6 yards every two years) left over after his kilt had adjutant, wore them as amatter ofcourse since their Originally they were fiIshioned out of woven cloth; beenmade, itwasfastened from behind byonecorner duties required them to be mounted. During the but correspondence from the suppliers, William to the left shoulder strap button and otherwise left Peninsular War company officers were also en Wilson & Sons ofBannockburn, reveals that knitted hanging free. eouraged to ride upon themarch,and since the kilt is hose were in use by the early 1800s, and some Officersappearto havecontinued to wear the full ill-suited to riding this effectively led to its falling illusn-ations show them worn much earlier. Knitted belted plaid, albeit with pre-sewn pleats, for formal completely intodisuse on active service. Blueorgrey hose can be easily identified in portraits and other parades at least until the early 1800s. Atother times, overalls became the preferred wear, frequently with contemporary illustrations byall-pink feet, a rurned particularly when wearing breeches, they too worc a red stripes down the outside leg, but web pantaloons over top, and, in the case ofthe 42nd, an absence of slightly longer version of the Ill' plaid known as a and half boots are also shown or recorded as being the blackedging tothecheck. 'highlandscarr. This was fastened behind to the left worn in the 71stand 92nd. The introduction of canvas half-gaiters for shoulder strap button as before, but instead of In the 1790S both officers and men of some marchingin 1800alsoled totheunofficialadoptionof OR'sbreasrplare, Re.J.Y letteringaremouldedin hanging free it was passed under the right arm and regiments wore tartan pantaloons, or trews as Sir moggansor footless hose, described bySgt. Anton: Fcnciblcs. Thc rcIiefratherchanincised. John Sinclair insisted on calling them. Strictly '... theseare hose from which the feet have been constructionisinteresting (Author) in tharthebadgeand speaking, beingfootless theywerenothingofthesort, cut, the spats cover this deficiency, and the legs but the name has stuck. During the Peninsular War appear as ifthe under parts werecomplete. This was they re-appeared, sometimes at a regimental level, an excellent method for hardening the feet so as to 'This was an improvement in the English uni but more usually informally. In 18'4 the ever accustom them to bad shoes and bad roads ... very form, as it gave additional warmth to the back and observant Sgt. Anton noted that the 42nd, 'the only few of the men wore any other kind, although they bowels; but when it was adopted by Highland corps, corpsin thebrigade[I/42nd, 1179th& 9'St]thatwore had completeones in their possession.' thenatureofthegarbwasoverlooked. Thenumerous the kilt was beginning to lose it by degrees; men The hose, ofwhatever kind, were tied below the plaits and folds ofthe belted plaid and little kilt form falling sick and left in the rear frequently got the kilt knee with scarlet worsted garters, generally with an so thick a covering, that when the coat is added, the madeintotrowsers,andonjoiningtheregimentagain elaborate knot, although some illustrations show warmthissogreat,thatonamarchitdebilitatesthose no plaid could be furnished to supply the loss; thus a rosettes. Ifknitted hose were worn the turned-over parts of the body, whereas the former cut of the great wantofuniformity prevailed.. ..' top covered thegarter. jacket, with the skirts thrown back, and the breast The practice of having kilts made into trousers In the early 1790S all highlanders wore cropped open, left them uncovered....' whilein rearareasseemstohavebeenalongstanding light infantry style jackets with ten loops of regi The new highland jacket, therefore, while other one, although grey trousers were officiallyallowed as mentallaceoneachlapel, verticalfalsepocketl1apson wiseconformingtothelinepattern,wasmadeshorter a comfortable fatigue dress until about 1825, when the skirts, and only the front corners of the skirts and had onlyeightinstead often buttonsatthe front. officially replaeed by trews. In late October or early turned back. The lapels served to display the regi There should also have been only three buttons on November 1813'T.S.'ofthe7'Stnotedtharthe92nd mental facing colour and, except by means ofhooks the false pockets, but illustrations and surviving had grey trousers served out to them since the and eyes immediately below the throat, the jacket examplesreveal fourbuttonsason theold jacket.The weatherwassocold. The79th mayalsohavereceived could notbeclosedoverthe frontofthebody; instead white waistcoat could still be worn underneath the greytrousers atthis time, sinceAnton is positivethat it wascutawaysharply toexposethe whitewaistcoat. jaeketfor additional warmth in cold weather, burwas they were no longer wearing the kilt in 1814. Tartan Although elegant this style was rather impractical, now given sleeves and a plain white stand-up collar, trousersappear,however, forobviousreasonstohave and after a brief experiment with closing the jacket effectively converting it into an undress 'stable down to the waist the army adopted a short single jacket'. Broadswordhilt, bearingrheregimencal breastedjacketin 1797,similartothatalreadyused as .Officers' jackets were originally similar to those BreadalbaneFencibles. badge, forthe116rh slop clothing for recruits or for troops serving in the worn by the rank and file, though obviously of Thisunusualscylewasalso Highlanders. (SUSM) Indies. This new jacket was notan unmixed blessing superior quality and bearing gold or silver bulLion employed withan1inor alceracionjcothecartouche for highlanders, as StewartofGarth comments: epaulettes on each shoulder. When the single- 10 II whitesquares ofI'he 'Sutherland' dicing, The rear of Internalandcxternalviews oftheso-called'em"e/ope' this band had adeep 'Y'-shaped slit and the bottom knapsack,asuscdby[he rim ofthe bonnet, below the band, was doubled over StrathspeyFcnciblcsc. '793. Esscnti<Jllyit toencloseatighteningtapeorribbon, tied atthe rear comprisestn'olarge with a large bow. When the ribbon was untied the pocketswidJasmallerone, forblackballsandocher bonnet could, according to Stewart of Garth, be dirtyicenls,accessedfrom pulled down like anightcap, and this wassufficiently thecentralslit.Internal stitchingisindicatedby comfortable and popular to attract complaints in chalklines. Theoutside standing orders. In 1796, for example, officers ofthe faceofcheknapsackisa close/}·n·ovencanl'as Gordonswererathersniffilyinstructed toensurethat waterproofedwichgreen their men's bonnets had black ribbons at the rear so paine(thefacingcolour) that they could be worn 'properly, and not down on whileinternallyalightcr n-calrcofmaterialisused. their heads like a nightcap'. l'e"ertheless photo morelikeacoarselinen. graphs taken ofmembersoftheregimentin 1845still Dimensionswhenf..'1scened are'9inby17in. The6in show the bonnet pulled down. diametercentralblack In the centre ofthe crown, which tended to sag, discbearsthefigures'IF' for 1StFenciblesand';\"0.5' there was a tufted woollen ball or 'Tourie': white for toidentifythccompany. grenadiers,red for battalioncompaniesand green for Theinch-wide...houlder light infantry, On the left side wasacircularcockade strapsaresewntopand Regimcntalcolour, 97th forhighlandregiments bottomandadjustedfor Highlanders:green with andquiteunlikechatofche aboutthree inches in diameter. The ecockades were rightnessbymeansofche rcddisc,edgedgold, black SrrathspeyFencibles.also normallyblack butthegrenadiersofthe42nd had red breaststrap.Allbuckles lerceringandnatural raiscdbySirJamesGrant. are'D'shaped, withouta embj'oideredwre.Jth. This (Auchor) onesandthelightinfantrygreen,edged red, whilethe looptoholddownthefree isaratherunusualdesign Gordons' light company had red cockades. Inicially endofthescrap.Norethe thinnessofr.hesidescraps. they were secured in the centre by a regimental Blankers,ifcarried, would breasted jacket was introduced officers adopted button, but after 1801 other devices such as sphinx befoldedinsidethe knapsackmrherthan instead a double-breasted one which could be pro badges, grenadesand buglehornsalsoappeared. rolledontop. perly buttoned over, or worn open to display the For most duties Kilmarnock bonnets were sup (Reconstruction b.l"auchor) lapelsand sometimes thewaistcoatas well. posed to be 'mounted' with black ostrich feathers Officers and men wore Kilmarnock bonnets, so fastened in the left side by the cockade and falling named ITom their principal place of manufacture, overthecrOwn. Aregimental orderofthe92nd dated These were not made up from piecesofcloth like an 7 March 1799 specified one large and six small English forage cap but were instead heavily knitted, feathers. This was not invariably the case, however. felted and padded, drum-shaped blue woollen caps In 1794 Col. Lewis McKenzie of the 2178th issued about six incheshigh. Most were produced byJames imitation feathers in worsted. He reasoned that they MacLean of Kilmarnock and supplied as usual could thus bemadeto lookuniform insizeand shape: throughWilliam Wilson& SonsofBannockburn, the 'Everyone knows who is acquainted with the 42nd principal outfitters of highland regiments. In 1813 Regiment that their bonnets are the least uniformly officers' bonnets cost 36 shillings a dozen and dressed, and the worst part of their clothing and sergeants' 28s., while ORs' cost only 2IS. (in today's appointments.' It may be no coincidence that an In undress, and in practice for much ofthe time tache,whichinlargemeasureitresembled), becomea oncampaign,'hummel'- plain,featherless-Kilmar largely decorati"e part of the soldier's uniform and currency, £1.80, £t.40and £1.05). inspection report on the 42nd, of q May 1790, had Bonnetsweresometimesplain blue, butnormally complained that the bonnets were 'entirely disfig nock bonnetswerewornbymostregiments. (lVlodern wasrarely, ife"er,wornoncampaign,exceptperhaps had a three-inch-deep diced band featuring a red ured, theyaresocovered with lofty feathers thatthey references to 'feathered hummel bonnets' are a byofficersor pipers. In itsearlr form the pursewasa checkon awhiteground. The origin ofthis band has appear like high Grenadier caps of black bearskin, contradiction in terms.) At least three regiments, simpledrawstringleatherbag,butbythe '790Sithad been the subject ofconsiderable discussion but the and arc by that means expensive to the men'. Dayes' however - the 72nd, 9,st and 92nd - wore flat acquired a large hairy cover at the front. This was likeliestexplanation isthat it wassimply adecorative watercolour painted in the following year shows bonnetsin undress. generally ofgoatskin for ORs and spotredsealskinor addition, mirroring the diced hose. It normally had relacively few feathers, perhaps in response to the Strictly speaking the purse, or sporran, was an badger for officers. The drawstrings too became green squares at the intersection of the red checks, previous year's report, but their arrangement cer accoutrement; but while originally a functional item dccorati,-e, and about six became the norm, though although variations are recorded, most notably the tainlyappearsless thanelegant. it had, over the rears (like the cavalryman's sabre- some units had more, generallyarranged in two rows 13 12 over their effectives to regiments remaining in India, perl' (as some mongrel Highlanders would h"'e it), may neyer have been in any serious danger oflosing they had to be rebuilt around a cadre ofofficers and sticking wet and dirty to the skin, is not easily pulled their kilts, otherwise Erracht might not have been NCOs; but found themselves competing for recruits off~and less so to get on again in case ofalarm orany consulted ina'private'capacity; butin 1809all five of notonly with thoseregiments raised in the 1790S but other hurry, and all thistimeabsorbingboth wetand the'Indian' regiments, and the91st besides,notonly also with the second battalions authorised in 1803. dirt, followed by rheumatism and fevers, which lost their kilts but were indeed 'stuffed in breeches' Not surprisingly, finding sufficient recruits in the alternatively make great havoc in hot and cold and their highland 'distinctiOI' abolished, by the highlands was difficult; and the kilt was, rightly or climates; while it consists with knowledge, that the Adjutant General'sMemorandum of7 April: wrongly, identified by Horse Guards (the contem Highlander in his native garb always appeared more 'AsthepopulationoftheHighlandsofScotlandis porary term for the army's administrative head cleanlyand maintained betterhealth in bothclimates, found insufficient to supply recruits for the whole of quarters) as an impediment to widening catchment than those who wore even the thick cloth the Highland Corps on the establishment of His areas. The first solution proposed, therefore, was pantaloons. I feel well founded in saying that if to replacc the kilt with tartan pantaloons, or trews anything was wanted to aid the rack-renting High as they were now being called. There were useful land landlord in destroying that source which has precedents for this: the 97th Foot had worn pan hitherto proved so fruitful in keeping up Highland taloonsduringitsbriefexistenceinthe 1790s,ashada corps, it will be that ofabolishing their native garb, number ofFencible regiments, includingatleasttwo which His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief lowland units. Allan Cameron ofErracht, Colonel of and the Adjutant may rest assured will prove a the 79th, was accordingly consulted upon the matter complete death warrant to the recruiting service in by the Adjutant General's secretary on 13 October thatrespect; butI sincerelyhopeHisRoyal Highness 1804: will never acquiesce in so painful and degrading an Regimentalcolour,78rh reginlenralnunlberare Highlanders:lightbuff green whilethemorto 'Iamdirectedtorequestthatyou willstatefor the idea (come from whatever quarter it may) as to strip withaunitedphrnr- nota ;lppearsingoldleererson:1 information of the Adjutant General, your private us of our native garb (admitted hitherto our regi wrearh- innatural redscroll.(Author) opinion as to the expediency ofabolishing the kilt in mental uniform), and stuff us in a harlequin tartan colours. Thecypherand Highland regiments and substituting in lieu thereof pantaloon, which, composed ofthe usual qualitythat the tartan trews, which have been reported to the continuesasatpresentworn, usefuland becomingfor and terminating in large tassels known from their Commander in Chief, from respectable authority, as twelvemonths, will notenduresix weeks' fair wearas shapeas 'bells'. an article now become acceptable to your country a pantaloon, and when patched makes a horrible Pattern and size varied from regiment to regi men, easier to be provided, and both calculated to appearance; besidcs that, the necessary quantity to ment,asdid thechoiceofskin. Mostregimentsopted preserve the health, and promote the comfort ofthe serve decently throughout the year would become for abrownish white goatskin, which contrasted well men on service.' extremely expensivc, but above all, take away com with theirdark kilts; butsome regiments, for thesake Erracht replied, famously and at length, on 27 pletely the appearance and conceit of a Highland ofdistinction, opted for black, in which case badger October: soldier, in which case I would rather see him stuffed skin rather than sealskin was preferred for the '... thecolonelsthemselves(thoseadvocatingthe in breeches and abolish the distinction altogether.' officers' purses. i\1ost regimentsthowever, expressed adoptionoftrews)beinggenerallyunacquainted with Unfortunately, Horse Guards appear to have their individuality in the number, arrangement and the language and habits ofHighlanders, while preju taken him at his word. The 79th, ironically enough, style of the bells and - particularly in the case of diced in favour oftandaccustomed to wear, breeches, officers' purses- thedecoration and styleofthe clasp consequently adverse to that free congenial circul ColonelHugh theofficers,asshownin at the top. Heavy gilt clasps were in favour in the ation of that pure wholesome air (as an exhilarating Montgomerie(laternell rhisportraitanda early 1790s,as were theappropriateanimal masks on native bracer) which has hitherto so peculiarly EarlofEgJinton)byjohn caricaturebyjohnKay, SingletonCopley. The worefullhighlanddress. the top flap, but by the 1800s a rectangular leather benefitedtheHighlanderfor activityandall theother uniformcanbeidentified Inthe followingyear flap bearing regimental devices was popular. ORs' necessary qualities ofasoldier, whether for hardship asthato(LheWest !Wontgomeriealsoraised Lowla.ndFeneiblesbvthe theRoyalGlasgow purses tended, not surprisingly, to be plainer and upon scanty farc, readiness in accoutring, or making greenFacings,horizo"ntal Reginlenr(draftedintothe generally lacked decoration on the top. forced marches, - besides the exclusive advantage, pocketflapandaredhearr 44thFootinAugustE795), when halted,ofdrenchinghiskiltin thenextbrookas deviceon theturnback. thoughalitsinspection The lossofthekilt A.lt.houghNlonrgomerie breeches.mdhatswere well as washinghislimbsand dryingboth, as it were, nJisedthercgimenrin menrionedratherthan Between 1798 and 1806 the five highland regiments byconstant fanning, without injury to either, but, on Ayrshirein '793theran),; quasi-highlanddress. andfileworeGovernment (ScottishNationalPortT4Jit which had been serving in India at the outbreak of the contrary, feeling clean and comfortable; whilst tarranpantaloonsand Gallery) war straggled home. In every casc, having turned the buffoon tartan pantaloon, with its fringed frip- featheredbonners, while 14 15 Majesty's Army, and as some ofthese Corps, laying wear in future the dress by which his Majesty's Moreover, far from the trews being onlyatemporary weapon with an iron Glasgow-style hilt issued to aside their distinguishing dress, which is objection RegimentsofHighlandersaredistinguished;and that expedient, an 1809 inspection report found the 2nd ~COs and to the rank and file. Officers of course able to the natives ofSouth Britain, would in agreat theabo,·eCorpsshould nolongerbeconsideredason Battalion wearing them too. It is hard to escape the purchased their own, generally according to their measure tend to facilitating the completing of the thatestablishment.' conclusion thatCol. Pack was trying toanticipate the fancy, although the Breadalbane Fencibles and establishment, as it would be an inducement to the The order was variously received. The915t, with threatened 'de-kilting' by establishing the trews, I16thHighlanders,atleast, had aregimental pattern. men ofthe English Militia to extend their service in a very high proportion of highlanders in its ranks, which were apparently acceptable to Horse Guards, In 1798 a brass Glasgow-style hilt became the greater number to these regiments: it is in conse tried as far as possible to ignore it; the 1st Battalion as the regiment's uniform, rather than abandoning regulation pattern, until replaced bythe presentsteel quence most humbly submitted for the approbation went to Walcheren in trews, and the 2nd Battalion highland dressentirelvas thunderinglyadvocated by hilt in 1828. Examples ofthe 1828 pattern are found ofHis Majesty, that His Majesty's 72nd, 73rd, 74th, was reported later in the year still to have mcn Erracht. In the event he failed, since the 71St, o~ with the innerpartofthebasketcutawaytorenderit 75th,9Istand 9+th Regiments should discontinue to wearingkilts.The75thaccepted itwith theequanim being converted to light infantry early in ,809, ""as morecomfortable when riding, but in this period the ity to be expected from a regiment which, according ordered to adopt breeches. l\"e'·ertheless the NCOs normal practice was toreplace the broadsword witha to StewartofGarth, mustered fewer than a hundred and ORs retained their Kilmarnock bonnets, stif straight-bladedspadroon,orasabreofsomedescrip l men from north oftheTay.1tcannot, however, have fened to resembleshakos; and the pipers, though not tion. Grenadierofficerscarried the usual broadsword been received with other than sheer astonishment by without a struggle, were perntitted to retain full the 94th: originally raised in 1793 as the Scotch highland dress. Brigadeand largely recruited in the Edinburgh area, No sooner were the Napoleonic Wars over than they had never worn highland dress. It is possible theprocessbeganofrestoringatleastsomevestigesof that the confusion arose from the fact that they too highlanddresstotheseregiments. The72nd werethe had served in India; but it seems likelier that their first, acquiring feather bonnets and rather striking inclusion in the memorandum is a mistake for the Royal Stuart tartan trews in 1825; while the 7ISt youngest of the highland regiments - the 93rd regained their trews in 1834, the 73rd appear to have (Sutherland) Highlanders, raised as recently as 1799 adopted Murray ofAtholl trews at least in undress, and apparently ha,·ing difficulty in recruiting in its and the 74th received trews in 1846. The 91st had to home area. The mistake appears not to have been wait until 1864, but none ofthem got their kilts back pointed out. The 93rd certainly had no incentive to until 188I. do so, quite the reverse; and the 94th probably dismissed itas justanotherexampleofincompetence Weapons atHorse Guards. Ylembers ofthe early highland regiments and inde Tothesix regimentsnamed in thememorandum, pendent companies were, famously, armed with a ofcourse, should beadded the 71st, the oldest ofthe fearsome varietyofweapons: pistols, dirk and broad 'Indian' regiments. Following their return from the sword as well as the more conventional firelock and Argentinian fiasco in 18071 wcaring a mixture of bayonet. Such a collection ofironmongery was SOon civilian clothing and worn-out uniforms, Col. Pack found tobeimpractical,andascarll'asMal' 1775Col. applied to the Adjutant General's office for per Stirling ofthe 42nd reported that his men's broad mission to adopt tartan pantaloons temporarily, as swordswereinstorebecausetheyhad been found too theycould besupplied morequickly. Agreement was much of an encumbrance. This sensible attitude forthcoming, and the 1stBattalion fought in them at prevailed and by 1793 swords, as in the rest of the Vimciro. infantry, were carried only by officers, sergeantsand There is, however, more to this than meets the musicians. Dirks and pistols were still displayed by eye. In thefirstplace, incontrasttoitsmodern, knife officers, butonly in full dress. pleated counterpart, a box-pleated kilt can be made Asurprisingvarietyofswords werecarried. Prior up remarkably quickly and easily, and Pack's argu to 1798theonlyregulation pattern wasarathercrude ment on these grounds therefore seems a little odd. Oflicerofunidcntincd overtopsofchestockings 1798patternbroadslInrd suitedtheirown fancyor I volunteerorFcncibleunit showchemtobeknitted. hilt. Thisdesign, inbruss, conformedtoaregimental withyellowfacingsand ThedarkbluesqU.1resin wasthefirstreglilationhi1r pattern. Itwassuperseded undifferencedGovernment thebonnerdicingare forhighlandregimencs. bvasteelhiltin1828. settkilt. Thereisa black unusual,a~;arethepartly Previouslyofficershad (SU5M) lineinthesilverlace, while openedlapels.(5U5M) purchasedhileswhich thepinkfeetandrurned- 16 17 Tinmagazinecoveredin leatherandholdingcwent» Buff facings, square end loops with red line on roundsofanununition. outside, officers unlaced with silver appointments. Thispanicularexampleis saidtobeassociatedwith Kilt: Government sett with buffand red overstripes theIndianA1utinyperiod, untIl c. 1798, then white and red. Tartan pantaloons butmayinfactbe11 survivingexampleofthe insteadofkilts 1808;brownish purse.De-kilted 1809, magazinesclippedonto butsergeantsandORsretained stiffened Kilmarnock bayonetbeIrsonactive bonnets. servicebeforethe introductionofrhclarge cartridgeboxin theearly 1/72nd 1800s.Somehighlandun;ts worethernasbe.llyboxes, R.I778as 78th but re-numbered 1786. In Madras at u$in1!thesporrnn belt. outbreak ofwar. s.Madras until 1797; Ireland 1800 (Queen'sOwnI-/(!!hlandcrs) 1805, CapeofGood Hope 1806-1821. 2!72nd R.1803,s.Ireland, disb.I816, Yellow facings, 'JewsHarp' bastion loops with green hneon outside,silverlace for officers. Kilt: undiffer enced Government sett; white purse. Flat blue bonnets in undress. De-kilted 1809. I/nrd Recruitingbanner,zl78th, andlettering.Bothcrown 1804:cream worsted andscrollsareheavily R.1780 as 2/42 but re-numbered 1786. In Madras at n13cerial,sflsinbySft. shaded. Theessential witha fairlycrudely attractionsofenl.istmcnt outbreak of war; s.Madras until 1805, ew South paintedcrownandgreen areboldlyspelledoutto Wales 1809-1816. but Light Company officers normally had sabres, ih combat, since the French musket was about the scrollswithyellowedge would-berecruits. (Author) 2!73rd either ofthe regulation pattern or with a regimental sameweigh~buthada44-inch barrel.ByWaterlooall R.1809, s,Germany and HolJand 18IJ-1814, Water half-basket hilt. There are, however, references to thehighlandregiments,withtheexceptionofthe71st 2/42nd loo 1815. disb.1816. highland Light Company officers carrying dirks who had the New L,wdPa,lIern, were equipped with R.1803, s.Peninsula 1810-1812, effectives drafted iru;tead ofswords during the American Revolution, India Patternfirelocks. into 1StBn. Disbanded (disb.) 1814. Dark green facings, 'Jews Harp' bastion loops with and this may very well have again been the case red line on inside, gold lace for officers, Kilt: during the apoleonicWars. Dark bluefacings, 'JewsHarp' bastion loopswithred Government sett with red overstripe; brown purse. The regulation lirelock in 1793 was the Shorl line on outside for ORs, white silk lace for sergeants De-kilted 1809. Land Pallem .75 calibre, with a 42-inch barrel. The and gold lace for officers. Kilt: Governmentsettwith 42nd were certainly equipped with them, and suffi 74th(Argyle) REGULAR red overstripe, at least until c. 1812; brownish white cient stocks were probably on hand to equip the purse,Plain blueKilmarnock bonnetin undress. Red R.1787 for service in India. s.Madras until 1805, newly raised 1/78th and 79th; but the live highland REGIMENTS hackle in mounted bonnet after 179-' Hamilton most notably at Assaye; Walcheren 1809, Peninsula regiments serving in India were already equipped Sml.th shows usual all white forgrenadie"rs, butother 1811-1814. with what would soon become known as the India sources give red over white, and red over green for Pallem; alsoof.75 calibre, its barrel was threeinches 1/42nd (Royal Highland) Light Coy. White facings, square end loops with red line on shorter and the whole weapon was nearly a pound Raised (R.) 1739 from Independent Companies. In outside, gold lace for officers. Kilt: Government sett lighter. OriginallydesignedbyStringerLawrencefor Scotland at outbreak ofwar. Served (s.) Low Coun 1!71St may have been undifferenced though ordered by theEastIndiaCompany's troops, itwaspurchased in tries 1793-1795; brought up to strength by drafts Adjutant General to be distinguished by white R.1777as 73rd but re-numbered 1786. In Madras at large numbers by the Government from 1793 on from 97th, II6th, 132nd and 133rd Highlanders and overstripe when permitted to resume highland uni Outbreak ofwar. s.Madras and Ceylon (Flank CO)'s) wards, and in 1797 production of the Short Land sent to West Indies 1796-1797; absorbed 79th'S form in 1846; whitepurse. De-kilted 1809, untIl 1797· Ireland 1800-1805, Cape ofGood Hope Pattern was discontinued in favour ofit. The India effectives before returning, and posted immediately and Argentina 1806, Peninsula 1808-1809, Wal 75th Pattern has beencompared unfavourably byfirearms to Gibraltar; Minorca 1798, Egypt 180I, Peninsula historians with its predecessor; butthe shorter barrel 1808-1809,Walcheren, Peninsula 1812-1814,Water 2c1h7e1r8e1n, Peninsula 1810-18'4,Waterloo 1815. R.1787forservicein India. s.Madrasuntil 1805,slow went along way to giving the British soldieran edge loo 1815. R.1803, no foreign service, disb.18'4, to recruit and did not go abroad again until 18I1 when senttoSicily,and to Corfu in 1814. 18 19