BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 2 i l
were then as far as Northampton, and had entered a place called Lady ?Vood,
between Brigstock and Deanthorp, about four miles from Ormdale. Here they
were surrounded by a strong force under General Blakenay, and after a good
deal of negotiation induced to surrender. They were then brought back to
London, and a court-martial having been held, three of them suffered capital
punishment, and two hundred were ordered to serve in different corps abroad.
We gladly turn from this unfortunate incident to a brighter page in the
annals of the regiment. Order having been speedily restored, the corps
embarked for Flanders, where it became distinguished no less for exemplary
behaviour in quarters than for gallantry in the field. By the uncommon daring
at Fontenoy, the soldiers showed that the late desertion had originated in
other motives than the fear of a foreign enemy. In the words of one of the
prisoners on the trial-“ They were willing to fight the French and Spaniards,
but not to go like rogues to the plantations.” Many interesting anecdotes are
told of the ‘‘ Black Watch” at this their first engagement, where, after a day
of hard and continued fighting, it had the honour of being ordered to cover
the retreat of the Allies, as the “only regiment that could be kept to their
duty’-a task which was performed with unprecedented success in the teeth
of a victorious enemy.
It is not our intention to enter into a minute detail of the subsequent
services of the “gallant Forty-twa.” In 1745, on the breaking out of the
Rebellion of that period, the regiment was recalled from Flanders, but fortunately
had no occasion to act offensively against the partisans of the house of Stuart.
After a variety of services in the three kingdoms, it embarked for North
America in 1756, and shared in all the harassing and sanguinary operations of
the first American war, At the siege of Ticonderago the exertions of the corps,
although unsuccessful, were distinguished by the most desperate valour ; and,
as a testimony of his Majesty’s satisfaction and approbation, the title of Royal
was conferred upon the regiment.
The Royal Highlanders returned to Ireland in 1768. While stationed
there, some slight alterations were made in the regimental dress. On marching
to Dublin the year following, the men received white cloth waistcoats, instead
of their old red ones j and were supplied by the Colonel (General Lord John
Murray) with white goat-skin purses, as an improvement upon those of badgerskin,
which they formerly wore. About this time also it is said the words of
“The Garb of Old Gaul,” originally in Gaelic, were composed by some one
of the regiment; but though the authorship has been attributed to three
individuals, it has never been satisfactorily ascertained. The words were set to
music, of his own composition, by Major Reid,’ who was one of the most
accomplished flute-players of the age.
Major Reid left at his death, in 1806, t52,000 (subject to the liferent of his daughter) to the
Univeraity of Edinburgh, for the purpose of instituting a Professorship of Muaic in the College.
The h t Professor, Mr. John Thomson, aon of Dr. Andrew Thomson, was appointed in 1839, but
only served about a year. He was succeeded by S i E R Bishop. .