that degrading punishments be inflicted only on men who have already lost their character, and on whose obdurate feelings no other motive than simple pain is capable of acting with sufficient force. The foundation of a system, calculated to surmount this difficulty, and to establish modes of punishment sufficient to operate as a check on the depraved, without annihilating their sense of shame, is a subject equally important, difficult, and desirable. Much will depend upon officers capable of understanding the feelings, and making due allowance for the casual infirmities of human nature, and possessing the firmness and decision necessary to control and overawe the turbulent and incorrigible. Many good soldiers have been ruined by the infliction of infamous punishments, while to men of such bold spirits and depraved minds, as frequently enter our army, the terror, and often the infliction of severe punishments are absolutely necessary. JOHNSTONE'S HIGHLANDERS, OR ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST REGIMENT. 1760. In the year 1760 commissions to raise Independent Companies in the Highlands, to consist of 5 serjeants and 105 rank and file each, were given to the following gentlemen, viz. Captains, Colin Graham of Drainie, James Cuthbert of Milncraigs, Peter Gordon of Knockespick, Ludovick Grant of the family of Rothiemurchus, and Robert Campbell of Ballivolin. These officers were to recruit in their own counties of Argyle, Ross, and Inverness. As observed by a respectable veteran, who served as a lieutenant in one of those companies, "It was not necessary, in those days, to go to manufacturing towns to bribe with whisky and high bounties, the idle and the profligate; we got plenty of young men in the country." The companies were soon completed. Having assembled at Perth, they were marched to Newcastle, and remained there till towards the end of 1761, when the whole were ordered to Germany to reinforce Keith's and Campbell's Highlanders. * After the men had embarked, the officers were ordered back again to the Highlands to recruit. On this service they were very successful in a few months 600 men were assembled at Perth, and were there formed into a regiment of six companies of 5 serjeants and 105 rank and file each. The regiment was numbered the 101st, and the command given to Major, afterwards Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall, with the rank of Major Commandant. Except Major Johnstone, Adjutant Macveah, and Serjeant-Major Coxwell, every officer and soldier, both in the Independent Companies and in the 101st regiment, were Highlanders. Although Major Johnstone was not himself a Highlander, he had every qualification for the command of a High * While these companies lay at Newcastle, they received orders to be in readiness to march to Durham, as the pitmen in that part of the country had shown a disposition to riot, some collieries having struck work, and proceeded to acts of violence. When this order was received, every cutler's shop in the town was crowded with the soldiers, sharpening their swords, and preparing their arms, to the great surprise of the inhabitants, who had formed a very favourable opinion of the Highlanders, and who could not reconcile this apparent ferocity with their regular and orderly conduct, and their ordinarily quiet and obliging disposition. These preparations were the subject of much observation, and being reported to the discontented, the circumstance may have had some influence on their minds in producing that return to tranquillity which rendered active measures against them unnecessary. land regiment. An excellent judgment enabled him to perceive the advantages of availing himself of the peculiar habits of the men, and of commanding them rather by influencing their minds, than by the fear of corporal punishments. He entered on his functions with the spirit of a knight of former times, and while he made himself agreeable to his men by wearing their favourite garb, and by humouring and indulging them in the exercise of their characteristic habits and customs, so far as they did not interfere with their duty, he secured their attachment, while he possessed their respect, by the spirit and energy he displayed. When reviewed at Perth in 1762 by Lieutenant-General Lord George Beauclerk, the regiment received his public commendation, and he declared that he had not seen a body of men in a more "efficient state, and better fitted to meet the enemy." But, however capable they were in this respect, they had no opportunity of being put to the proof. A detachment of the regiment was ordered to Portugal, under Lieutenant-General the Earl of Loudon, but while waiting for orders to sail from Portsmouth, they were countermanded in consequence of the negotiations for peace, and ordered back to Perth, where the regiment was reduced in August 1763. The character and conduct of the five Independent Companies which had been drafted and sent to Germany, and that of the regiment afterwards recruited by the same officers, were exemplary. Major Johnstone's mode of discipline was admirably calculated for the subjects he had to work upon, and produced the happiest effects, so far as regarded conduct in quarters; and, as a man of good character, and of religious and moral habits in quarters, is invariably the best and most trust-worthy soldier in the field, it may be admitted, that, if these men had been tried in the face of an enemy, they would have afforded an additional proof how a Highland soldier of the old school would perform his duty when called upon to fight the enemies of his country under the auspices of those whom he esteemed and loved, and who established their claim to his fidelity and steadiness in the hour of trial, by personal kindness, by a condescending attention to his feelings and welfare, and, above all, by showing an example of true courage and spi rit: FRASER'S HIGHLANDERS, OR SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 1775. THE rapidity with which the ranks of Colonel Fraser's regiment of 1757 were completed, its honourable and important services, and the character it upheld, were known and acknowledged; and by none more than by his late Majesty, who, with enlightened views of the firm and incorruptible fidelity, and mistaken but generous loyalty of many of his northern subjects, omitted no opportunity of exhibiting towards them the greatest indulgence, of directing their loyalty into the proper channel, and of securing their affections to his person, family, and government, from which they had been long unconstitutionally and unfortunately alienated. Those principles which had withstood so many years of absence and exile, formed the best security for that loyalty which was now in its proper place; and, as this was fully proved by the services of Colonel Fraser and his regiment in the former war, he was by his Majesty, in the year 1774, rewarded with a free grant of his family estate, forfeited to the Crown in 1746. In 1775 he was farther countenanced by receiving letters of service for raising in the Highlands another regiment of two battalions. posses By the restoration of his property, he was now in sion of all the power which wealth and territorial influence could command; but his present purpose had less relation to the influence of wealth, than to the preservation of respect and attachment to his person and family. Relying on the latter alone, when in poverty, and without the means to reward, his influence had experienced no diminution, for in a few weeks he had found himself at the head of 1,250 men. So much having been done in 1757 without the aid of property or estate, no difficulty was to be expected, now that the case was the reverse. Nor did he find any; for, with equal ease and expedition, two battalions of 2,340 Highlanders were marched up to Stirling, and thence to Glasgow, in April 1776. The completion of this numerous corps must, no doubt, have been accelerated by the exertions of his officers, of whom six besides himself were chiefs of clans, and all of respectable families, or sons of gentlemen tacksmen, as will be seen by the following nominal list: FIRST BATTALION. Colonel, The Honourable Simon Fraser of Lovat, died in 1782, a lieutenant-general. Lieutenant-Colonel, Sir William Erskine of Torry, died in 1795, a lieutenant-general. Majors. John Macdonell of Lochgarry, died in 1789, colonel. Duncan Macpherson of Cluny, retired from the foot guards in 1791, died in 1820. Captains. Simon Fraser, died lieutenant-general, 1807. Donald Chisholm of Chisholm. Colin Mackenzie, died general in the army, 1818. Francis Skelly, died in India, lieutenant-colonel of the 94th regiment. Hamilton Maxwell of Monreith, died in India, lieutenant-colonel of the 74th regiment, 1794. John Campbell, son of Lord Stonefield, died lieutenant-colonel of the Charles Cameron of Lochiel, died 1776. |