which they had made with their swords and bayonets in the face of the work, while the defenders were so well prepared that the instant a man reached the top, he was thrown down. At length, after great exertions, Captain John Campbell, • with a few men, forced their way over the breast-works, but were instantly dispatched with the bayonet. After persevering for four hours under such disadvantageous and disheartening circumstances, the General, despairing of success, gave orders for a retreat; but the soldiers had become so exasperated by the unexpected check which they had received, and the loss of so many of their comrades, that they could with difficulty be recalled. The Highlanders in particular were so obstinate, that it was not till after the third order from the General that the commanding officer, Colonel Grant, was able to prevail upon them to retreat, leaving on the field more than one-half of the men, and two-thirds of the officers, either killed or desperately wounded.

This impetuosity of Highland soldiers, and the difficulty of controlling them, in the most important part of a soldier's duty, has been frequently noticed and reprobated. To forget necessary discretion, and break loose from command, is certainly an unmilitary characteristic ; but, as it proceeds from a very honourable principle, it deserves serious consideration, how far any attempt to allay this ardour may be prudent, or advantageous to the service. An officer of judgment and feeling, acquainted with the character of his soldiers, and disposed to allow this chivalrous spirit full play, will never be at a loss for a sufficient check. It is easier to restrain than to animate. It has also been observed, that the modern Highland corps display less of that chivalrous spirit which marked the earlier corps from the mountains. If there be any good ground for this observation, it may probably be attributed to this, that these corps do not consist wholly of native Highlanders. If strangers

This officer has been already mentioned as one of the two soldiers presented to George II. in the year 1745.

are introduced among them, even admitting them to be the best of soldiers, still they are not Highlanders. The charm is broken,-the conduct of such a corps must be divided, and cannot be called purely national. The motive which made the Highlanders, when united, fight for the honour of their name, their clan, and district, is by this mixture lost. Officers, also, who are strangers to their language, their habits, and peculiar modes of thinking, cannot be expected to understand their character, their feelings, and their prejudices, which, under judicious management, have so frequently stimulated to honourable conduct, although they have sometimes served to excite the ridicule of those who knew not the dispositions and cast of character on which they were founded. But if Highland soldiers are judiciously commanded in quarters, treated with kindness and confidence by their officers, and led into action with spirit, it cannot on any good grounds be alleged that there is any deficiency of that firmness and courage which formerly distinguished them, although it may be readily allowed that much of the romance of the character is lowered. The change of manners in their native country will sufficiently account for this. But, even if their former sentiments and ancient habits had still been cherished in their native glens, the young soldier could not easily retain them, if mixed with other soldiers, strangers to his language, his country, poetry, traditions of battles and of acts of prowess.

• The recent statistical changes in the Highlands have set to flight poetry, chivalry, and all remembrance of warlike achievements. These have now given way to stories of squabbles with excise officers, the feats of smugglers, with the adroitness of speculators and bankrupts, seasoned by the cant of pretended inspirations of the gospel; by political and religious tracts, of which they do not comprehend the scope or object; by complaints of the harshness of landlords, and discussions on the legality of distraining for rent, or rouping out. These are the subjects which modern civilization and improvements have provided for the present generation of Highland soldiers, in which they are to form their education, and a military, chivalrous spirit.

These companions would be more disposed to jeer and deride, than to listen to what they did not understand.

In the earlier part of the service of the 42d regiment, and when the ancient habits of the people remained unchanged, the soldiers retained much of these habits in their camps and quarters. They had their bards for reciting ancient poems and tales, and composing laments, elegies, and panegyrics on departed friends. These, as they were generally appropriate, so they were highly useful, when none were present to hear them but Highlanders, who understood them, and whom they could warm and inspire. Another cause has contributed to change the character of the Highland soldier. This is the reserved haughty and distant etiquette of modern manners and military discipline. When many of the officers were natives of the mountains, they spoke in their own language to the men, who, in their turn, addressed the officers with that easy but respectful familiarity and confidence which subsisted between the Highland people and their superiors. Another privilege of a Highlander of the old school was that of remonstrating and counselling where the case seemed to him to require it.*

• In my time, much of that which I have here described had disappeared. The men had acquired new habits from their being in camps and barracks. However, many old soldiers still retained their original manners, exhibiting much freedom and ease in their communications with the officers. I joined the regiment in 1789, a very young soldier. Colonel Graham, the commanding officer, gave me a steady old soldier, named William Fraser, as my servant,—perhaps as my adviser and director. I know not that he had received any instructions on that point, but Colonel Graham himself could not have been more frequent and attentive in his remonstrances, and cautious with regard to my conduct and duty, than my old soldier was, when he thought he had cause to disapprove. These admonitions he always gave me in Gaelic, calling me by my Christian name, with an allusion to the colour of my hair, which was fair, or bane, never prefixing Mr or Ensign, except when he spoke in English. However contrary to the common rules, and however it might surprise those unaccustomed to the manners of the people, to hear a soldier or a servant calling his master simply by his name, my honest old monitor was one of the most respectful, as he was one of the most faithful, of servants.

It frequently happened, also, that they would become sureties, on their own responsibility, for the good conduct of one another; and, as responsibility implies regularity of conduct and respectability of character, these suretyships had the most beneficial influence on the men. But things are now managed differently. The Highland soldier is brave, and will always prove so, if properly commanded; but the chivalry of the character has almost disappeared, and officers now may entertain less dread that their men will disobey orders, and persevere in a disastrous and hopeless conflict. But their character must be acted upon by some powerful cause indeed, unless they continue to be, what they have always been, and what they proved themselves to be at Ticonderoga,-first in the attack, and last in the retreat, which, after all, was made deliberately, and in good order.

The enemy appeared to be so well satisfied with the defence which they had made, that they kept within their lines, without attempting either to pursue or to annoy the wounded, who were all carried away. These amounted to 65 officers, 1178 non-commissioned officers and soldiers : 23 officers, and 567 rank and file, were killed. Of these the 42d regiment had 8 officers, 9 serjeants, and 297 men, killed; and 17 officers, 10 serjeants, and 306 soldiers, wounded. The officers were, Major Duncan Campbell of Inveraw, Captain John Campbell, Lieutenants George Farquharson, Hugh McPherson, William Baillie, and John Sutherland; Ensigns Patrick Stewart of Bonskied and George Rattray

• One of the lieutenants killed that day was remarked for great firm. ness of character and good sense. Yet he could not shake off a presentiment that seized him the morning of the action that he would be killed. He gave some directions about his family affairs to Captain Stewart of Urrard, and Lieutenant Farquharson. Captain Stewart endeavoured to remove this impression; but when he found that his arguments had no effect, he recommended to him to exchange his turn of duty; he answered, "I know you are my friend, otherwise I would consider your proposal an insult." He marched at the head of the grenadier company, and was shot through the breast by the first discharge.

-killed: Captains Gordon Graham, Thomas Graham of Duchray, John Campbell of Strachur, James Stewart of Urrard, James Murray, (afterwards General ;) Lieutenants James Grant, Robert Gray, John Campbell, William Grant, John Graham, brother of Duchray, Alexander Campbell, Alexander Mackintosh, Archibald Campbell, David Miller, Patrick Balneaves; and Ensigns John Smith and Peter Grant-wounded.

Severe as their loss was on this occasion, the regiment had the greatest gratification that soldiers 'could receive in such cases-the approbation of their country. No encomiums could be stronger than those bestowed on their conduct on that affair. The periodical publications of the time are full of anecdotes and panegyrics of the corps. I select, from a great number, the two following letters. The first is from an officer of the 55th, or Lord Howe's regiment: "With a mixture of esteem, grief, and envy, I consider the great loss and immortal glory acquired by the Scots Highlanders in the late bloody affair. Impatient for orders, they rushed forward to the intrenchments, which many of them actually mounted. They appeared like lions, breaking from their chains. Their intrepidity was rather animated than damped by seeing their comrades fall on every side. I have only to say of them, that they seemed more anxious to revenge the cause of their deceased friends, than careful to avoid the same fate. By their assistance, we expect soon to give a good account of the enemy and of ourselves. There is much harmony and friendship between us."* The next is an extract of a letter from an officer (Lieutenant William Grant) of the old Highland regiment,† not so enthusiastic as that of the English officer, but containing apparently a candid detail of circumstances: "The attack began a little past one in the afternoon, and, about two, the fire became general on both sides, which was ex

• St James's Chronicle.

By this name the original Highland corps was now called, in contradistinction to those raised in the Seven Years' War.