These troops made no movement in support of the garrison, but retreated immediately, with apparently unnecessary precipitation, abandoning all to the enemy. An account of this assault published at the Hague states, that "two battalions of the Scotch brigade have, as usual, done honour to their country, which is all we have to comfort us for the loss of such brave men, who from 1450 are now reduced to 330 men, and those have valiantly brought their colours with them, which the grenadiers twice recovered from the midst of the French at the point of the bayonet. The Swiss have also suffered, while others took a more speedy way to escape danger." Another account, in commemorating the loss in this assault, says, "It appears that more than 300 of the Scotch brigade fought their way through the enemy, and that they have had 19 officers killed, and 18 wounded. † Lieutenants Francis and Allan Maclean of the brigade were taken prisoners, and carried before General Lowendahl, who thus addressed them: Gentlemen, consider yourselves on parole. If all had conducted themselves as you and your brave corps have done, I should not now be master of Bergen-op-zoom.'"+

The fate of this strong and important place excited vehement suspicions of treachery on the part of the garrison. After holding out with so much firmness against the most vigorous assaults, it at last yielded with little resistance be

execution and final result of this bold and well arranged enterprise, so highly creditable to the commander, and which deserved a better fate, the troops of General Graham were not so fortunate as those of Count Lowendahl.

⚫ Hague Gazette.

+ History of the Siege.

Lieutenant Allan Maclean was son of Maclean of Torloisk. He left the Dutch and entered the British service. He was a captain in Montgomerie's Highlanders in 1757, raised the 114th Highland regiment in 1759, and, in 1775, raised a battalion of the 84th, a Highland Emigrant Regiment, and, by his unwearied zeal and abilities, was the principal cause of the defeat of the Americans at the attack on Quebec in 1775-6.

yond what was made by the Scotch brigade. So great was the anxiety of the people of the United Provinces for the safety of this garrison, that they supplied the soldiers with an additional allowance of provisions, and every necessary assistance; with nourishing food and cordials for the sick and wounded. Large sums of money were presented by individuals, and collected by general contribution, to encourage the soldiers to make a resolute defence. In Amsterdam L. 17,000 were collected in one day to be distributed among the soldiers if they compelled the enemy to raise the siege. During its continuance, every soldier who carried away a gabion from the enemy was paid a crown. Some of the Scotch soldiers gained ten crowns a-day by this kind of service. Those who performed more daring exploits, such as taking the burning fuse out of the bombs of the enemy, when they fell within the garrison, were rewarded with ten or twelve ducats. With such an anxious desire to preserve their garrison, the disappointment of the Dutch was deep and strong. They consequently gave ear the more readily to insinuations of treachery on the part of the commanders, who had so strong a force at their disposal. Whatever might have been the cause of the final result, the resolute defence made during the siege is proved from the loss of the enemy, which exceeded 22,000 men, an estimate which, great as it is, was believed and confessed by the French themselves to be correct, while that of the garrison, from their covered situation, and spirited resistance in all attacks except the last, did not exceed 4,000 men. No detailed account of casualties was published. *

After the loss of Bergen-op-zoom, the regiment joined the Duke of Cumberland's army, and at the peace of 1748

tr

Mrs Grant, in her " Superstitions of the Highlanders," gives the following anecdote of faithful attachment:-Captain Fraser of Culduthel, an officer of the Black Watch, was a volunteer at this celebrated siege, as was likewise his Colonel, Lord John Murray. Captain Fraser was accompanied by his servant, who was also his foster

was ordered to Scotland, and reduced at Perth in the month of June of that year.

brother. A party from the lines was ordered to attack and destroy a battery raised by the enemy. Captain Fraser accompanied this party, directing his servant to remain in the garrison. "The night was pitch dark, and the party had such difficulty in proceeding, that they were forced to halt for a short time. As they moved forward, Captain Fraser felt his path impeded, and putting down his hand to discover the cause, he caught hold of a plaid, and seized the owner, who seemed to grovel on the ground. He held the caitiff with one hand, and drew his dirk with the other, when he heard the imploring voice of his foster-brother. What the devil brought you here?' Just love of you, and care of your person.' 'Why so, when your love can do me no good, and why encumber yourself with a plaid?' Alas! how could I ever see my mother had you been killed or wounded, and I not been there to carry you to the surgeon, or to Christian burial; and how could I do either without my plaid to wrap you in?' Upon inquiry, it was found that the poor man had crawled out on his knees and hands between the sentinels, then followed the party at some distance, till he thought they were approaching the place of assault, and then again crept in the same manner on the ground beside his master, that he might be near him unobserved."

This faithful adherent had soon occasion to assist at the obsequies of his foster-brother, who was killed a few days afterwards by an accidental shot, as he was looking over the ramparts viewing the operations of the enemy.

When a son is born to the chief of a Highland family, there generally arises a contention among the tenants which of them shall have the fostering of the child when it is taken from the nursery. The happy man who succeeds in his suit is ever after called the foster-father; and his children the foster-brothers and sisters of the young laird." +

+ Letters from an English Officer in the Highlands to a Friend in London.

SEVENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT,

OR

MONTGOMERIE'S HIGHLANDERS.

1757.

As will be noticed, in speaking of the 78th regiment, when Government had determined to raise Highland corps, letters of service were issued to Major the Honourable Archibald Montgomerie, son of the Earl of Eglinton, to recruit a regiment in the north. From his connections and personal character, Major Montgomerie was peculiarly well qualified for the command of a Highland regiment. Having one sister, Lady Margaret, married to Sir Alexander Macdonald of Sleate, in the northern; and another, Lady Christian, married to the Laird of Abercairney, on the borders of the southern Highlands; he mixed much with the people, and being a high-spirited young man, with a considerable dash of romantic enthusiasm in his composition, and with manners cheerful and affable, he made himself highly acceptable to the Highlanders; and by the support which he met with, and the judicious selection of officers of influence in the north, he soon completed an excellent body of men, who were formed into a regiment of 13 companies, of 105 rank and file each, making in all, with 65 serjeants, and 80 pipers and drummers, 1,460 effective men. The corps was numbered the 77th regiment.

Colonel Montgomerie's commission was dated the 4th of January 1757, and those of all the other officers each a day later than his senior in the same rank.

Lieutenant-Colonel commanding.

The Honourable Archibald Montgomerie, (afterwards Earl of Eglinton,) died a General in the army, and Colonel of the Scotch Greys, in 1796.

Majors.

James Grant of Ballendalloch, died a General in the army in 1806. Alexander Campbell.

Captains.

Alexander Mackenzie, killed at St John's, 1761.

William Macdonald, killed at Fort du Quêsne, 1759.

Allan Maclean, from the Dutch Brigade, Colonel of the 84th Highland

Emigrants; died a Major-general, 1784.