Further testimony to the high character of the Gordon Highlanders is given in the "History of the Rebellion." After describing the devastation and plundering sustained by the inhabitants, without distinction of loyalist or "croppy," the author continues: On the arrival of the Marquis of Huntly, however, with his regiment of Scottish Highlanders, the scene was totally altered; its behaviour was such as, if it were universal among soldiers, would render a military government amiable. To the astonishment of the (until then miserably harassed) peasantry, not the smallest trifle would any of these Highlanders accept, without payment of at least. the full value."

July 29th. The regiment marched and encamped in the Glen of Emall, where fifty men were discharged. On August 10th, the lieut.-colonel and 300 men marched to Torbay and encamped; on August 24th, the regiment marched to Blessington.

R.O., Blessington, August 24th, 1798.-The long roll will beat to-morrow morning at three o'clock, when the tents will be immediately struck and the carts loaded. At half-past three the pipes will go along the line, when the battalion will fall in.

The French Directory having undertaken to support the Rebellion with men and arms, General Humbert with about 1200 troops, all experienced soldiers, landed at Killala, bringing arms and uniforms for the rebels, whom they expected to join them. They behaved with great moderation and civility to the loyal inhabitants, but were disappointed in the number and quality of the Irish volunteers. Comparatively few joined their standard, but with them they marched to Castlebar, where they defeated the British troops opposed to them.

The Gordon Highlanders were kept constantly on the move, every precaution being taken on the march to preserve discipline and to keep the men in condition. On one occasion the regiment marched ninety-six Irish miles in three successive days, with arms, ammunition, and knapsacks.† The officers of

* "History of the Rebellion in Ireland in the year 1798." 2nd Edition. + Stewart's "Highlanders of Scotland.”—Forty English miles a day seems almost beyond the power of even a body of picked men; at the same time,

companies were never to be all out of camp together, soldiers not without a pass after 10 a.m. The Orders are dated at Ballinamoin, Ballinahinn, Carrick-on-Shannon, Crophill, etc., moving every day till September 16th, when they camped at Moat.

Meanwhile, the united French and rebel forces, after routing the British troops under General Hutchinson at Castlebar, had been defeated by Lieut.-General Lord Lake, on the 8th September at Ballinamuck, where the French troops surrendered as prisoners of war. A week later the Hoche, ship of the line, with eight frigates and 3000 troops sailed from Brest, but was intercepted off Lough Swilly, and all but two frigates were taken by the British. A third French expedition succeeded in reaching Ireland, but, learning the fate of its predecessors, returned without landing its troops, and the famous Irish Rebellion was practically at an end.

The regiment was not engaged against the French at Castlebar or Ballinamuck, and their different affairs in pursuit of the rebels are too various to be given in detail; but their conduct and discipline were so remarkable that Major-General John Moore, in Orders of September 25th, 1798, after rebuking the irregularities committed by the troops generally, added:-"The major-general must, in justice to the 100th Regiment, state that hitherto he has had no complaint of any one of them, nor has he ever met them in town after the retreat beating."*

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were given to the troops "for their meritorious exertions on the present important crisis."

A.-G. Office, Dublin, September 21st, 1798.-Ensign Dougald

Sir J. Sinclair, in his "Observations on the Military System of Great Britain" (1793), says that in Highland regiments the men are so peculiarly active and fit for encountering the hardships of war, and overcoming the difficulties of marching in a mountainous country, that they ought, perhaps, to be formed into light infantry battalions. He also mentions that they are inclined to deprive themselves in order to send money to their parents.

* This was the beginning of the mutual respect between General Moore and the Gordon Highlanders, which lasted till he fell at Corunna.

Campbell,* of the North Fencibles, is appointed to do duty as adjutant of the 100th Regiment till His Majesty's pleasure is known, and to be obeyed as such.

In the Orders of October 11th, the coats were ordered to be buttoned down to the waist; till this period they had been open, showing the waistcoat. The men's white waistcoats seem after this to have been used with sleeves as fatigue jackets, though still worn under the coat in cold weather.

While the regiment was at Moat, the then 91st, 92nd, 93rd, 94th, 95th, 96th, 97th, and 99th Regiments were disbanded, the 98th or Argyllshire Highlanders became the 91st, and the Gordon Highlanders became the 92nd, "under which number they have often distinguished themselves, and on twenty-six occasions on which they met the enemy, from 1799 to 1815, the latter invariably gave way before them. This fact has, in a very particular manner, attracted the notice of the brave and experienced enemy to whom this country was so long opposed." †

A.-G. Office, Dublin, October 16th, 1798.-It is His Majesty's pleasure that the 100th Regiment shall in future be numbered the 92nd, and that it be placed on the same establishment with regard to field officers as other regiments of the line.

(Signed) G. HEWITT, Adjutant-General.

Three field officers had companies, as appears fromR.O., October 21st.--Corporal Stronach of the colonel's to be sergeant in the same company. Corporal Cameron of the major's to be sergeant in Captain Cameron's company.

Cor

* This is the handsome sergeant-major mentioned in the account of the North Fencibles raised by the Duke of Gordon in 1793. Pryor Gordon, in his "Memoirs and Reminiscences," mentions that he was visiting at Gordon Castle when Dougald, deserting the forge to wield the claymore, came from Lochaber to enlist, and says that in his Highland dress he was a perfect model for a sculptor. His father was a dirk and pistol maker at FortWilliam, and also rented a farm of the Duke of Gordon. He soon rose to corporal, sergeant, sergeant-major, and ensign, and became a famous character in the 92nd, with which he served in all the campaigns till after Waterloo, retiring on full pay as brevet-major. He was celebrated in the regiment for his worship both of Bacchus and Mars.

+ Stewart's" Highlanders of Scotland."

poral M'Kinnon of the lieut.-colonel's to be attached to the major's.

On October 30th, the 92nd marched to Athlone, and were quartered partly in barracks and partly in billets, the pipes being ordered to play round the town half-an-hour before parade. General Moore was in command of the garrison.

October 24th.-Volunteer Charles Cameron, 92nd Foot, is appointed adjutant of the 4th Light Infantry Battalion.

At Athlone there was what Lieut.-Colonel Erskine calls "an amazing sick list," which he believes proceeds from drinking, particularly whisky, and cautions the men against

excess.

Gazette of October 11th.-Brevet Lieut.-Colonel James Robertson, from the 72nd Foot, to be lieut.-colonel in the 92nd Foot.*

The officers apparently still mount guard in the belted plaid, and one is ordered to fall in every day "till he knows how to march off a guard like an officer."

R.O.-The men's clothing being much worn by exposure in the late severe duty, officers are to get cloth to patch it, till the new coats and kilts are taken into wear.

Gazette, November 22nd.-Adjutant Donald MacDonald, from half-pay of the late 100th Regiment, to be adjutant 92nd Foot, vice Thomson, who exchanges.

December 10th.-Ensign Dougald Campbell to be adjutant in 92nd Regiment, vice MacDonald, whose appointment does not take place.

The Perthshire Highland Regiment (Fencibles) being disbanded at Limerick in February, but allowed to enlist in any other regiment with a bounty as for recruits, Captain MacLean†

This officer must have been on the Staff, as Lieut.-Colonel Erskine continues to command the regiment.

+ Captain MacLean had been in temporary command of the Grenadiers during Captain Ramsay's absence, and the commanding officer, in a later order, assures Captain MacLean that, on account of the great attention he had paid to that company, and the actions he had used in getting so many men from the Perthshire Fencibles, he shall be appointed to the Grenadiers, should they ever happen to be vacant while he commands. There were several Englishmen among these Perthshire Volunteers.

and a party were sent to enlist such as should volunteer for the 92nd, and returned with 64 men.

R.O., January 14th, 1799.-Lieut.-Colonel Erskine particularly desires that officers and N.-C. officers will pay the greatest attention to pointing out to those men of the Perthshire Fencibles who have just joined the duties that will be required of them, and that, until such time as they are perfectly acquainted with their characters, they will treat them with that kindness and lenity which every recruit and every man not acquainted with the system of the regiment is entitled to. They are all to receive enough of plaid tartan for a kilt, and of hose tartan for two pairs of hose. They, or the recruits lately joined from Scotland,* are not to be charged with the kilts and hose served out to them. They are also to be supplied with false tails, and have their hair cut in the regimental form.

Men were also received from the Reay Fencibles.

A number of men were at this time discharged unfit for service, being sent to Chatham; the commanding officer desires officers to see they have good coats to go away in.

Gazette. George Cumming,† of the Grenadier Company, was, on February 1st, 1799, promoted ensign in the North Fencible Highlanders.

The dislike entertained by Colonel Erskine and his officers to the infliction of corporal punishment is again evident. At Athlone several soldiers are sentenced to it by regimental court-martial, but it generally happened that, on "the strong application of his captain," or "on account of many recommendations in his favour," the corporal punishment was remitted. The lieut.-colonel, at the same time, took these opportunities to request officers not to induce him to refuse their requests, by applying in favour of any of their men who have been guilty of a serious breach of military discipline, and he generally ended with good advice to the men.

* There is no mention of a depôt all this time. Recruits seem to have remained with the parties, which were under officers, till sent direct to the regiment.

It does not appear that this man was a sergeant. He belonged to Kirkmichael, Banffshire.