History of the Scottish Regiments in the British Army

by Archibald K. Murray

“The out-posts being frequently alarmed by parties of the enemy firing at the sentries in the night, a serjeant and twelve Highlanders, under Lieutenant David Stewart, penetrated the woods at nine o’clock in the evening, with short swords to cut their way through the underwood, to discover the post or camp from whence these nightly alarms came. After traversing the woods all night, an open spot, with a sentry, was discovered; this man fired his musket at a dog which accompanied the soldiers, and then plunged into the wood, as the Serjeant rushed forward to cut him down. The soldiers were on the edge of a perpendicular precipice of great depth, at the bottom of which was seen a small valley crowded with huts, from whence issued swarms of people on hearing the report of their sentry’s musket. Having made this discovery, the soldiers commenced their journey back; but, when about half way, they were assailed by a fire of musketry on both flanks, and in the rear. The Caribbees were expert climbers; every tree appeared to be manned in an instant; the wood was in a blaze, but not a man could be seen—the enemy being concealed by the thick and luxuriant foliage. As the Highlanders retreated, firing from time to time at the spot from whence the enemy’s fire proceeded, the Caribbees followed with as much rapidity as if they had sprung from tree to tree like monkeys. In this manner the retreat was continued, until the men got clear of the woods.”

The reduction of the island being at length completed, the five companies of the Forty-second were employed in an ineffectual attack upon Porto Rico. In 1797, from Martinique the companies returned home, and, on reaching Portsmouth, presented a clean bill of health—somewhat extraordinary in the circumstances, yet silently but unmistakeably testifying to the good conduct of the corps, and the completeness of its economy. In 1798 the several companies were united at Gibraltar, whence the regiment proceeded, with other troops, under Lieut.-General the Honourable Sir Charles Stewart, against the Spanish island of Minorca, which, with its capital, Ciudadella, was speedily surrendered, although the defending force exceeded in number the attacking force; the Spaniards, by the admirable dispositions of the British, being deceived as to our actual strength. This achievement was but the presage to a more glorious enterprise. The ambition of Napoleon had pictured for himself an Eastern Empire; and to work out the realisation of his dream, he had transported the veterans of Italy into Egypt, as the basis of his operations. Already had the burning sands of the dreary desert wasted the strength of this “Army of the East,” and his conquering legions been arrested in their triumphal career by the stern decrees of Nature’s God, when our island-might dared to challenge the boasted “Invincibles” of France. The Forty-second was included in the expedition which, under Sir Ralph Abercromby, was so long detained and tossed upon the treacherous waves of the Mediterranean, the slave of a cruel uncertainty as to its destination. At length the fleet cast anchor in Aboukir Bay, and despite the proud array of horse, foot, and artillery which lined the beach and manned the hills environing the bay—each of which contributed its deadliest thunder to daunt or destroy our gallant army—the British successfully effected a landing in March, 1801, gained a victory which, apart from the honour accruing to our arms, served to revive the fainting spirit of Europe, and gave a glimpse of hope to the enthralled who had been crushed by the military tyranny of France.

SIR RALPH ABERCROMBY.

Passing over the action of Mandora, we arrive at the battle of Alexandria, wherein the valour of the Royal Highlanders, associated with the Twenty-eighth regiment, has never been excelled. Posted amid the ruins of an old Roman palace, and looking down upon the classic memorials of a by-gone age, the Forty-second, on the morning of the 21st March, 1801, awaited with portentous silence the approach of the foe, who, concealed by a thick mist, advanced, purposing to surprise our position. The assault was conducted with the wonted impetuosity of the French, and the defence maintained with characteristic firmness by the British. Amid the confusion of the fight, the uncertain light of the morning, and whilst our troops were hotly engaged at all points, the famed “Invincible Legion” of Napoleon crept silently and unnoticed to the rear of our Highlanders, cutting the wings of the regiment asunder. A desperate and deadly fight ensued, when these redoubtable troops discovered and encountered each other. The French, entering the ruins of the palace, displayed a valour worthy the title they bore, and which, in other circumstances, might have won that better success which such heroic bravery merited as its reward. Exhausted and overpowered, with 650 fallen, the relics of the “Invincibles,” of whom there remained but 250, surrendered to our Highlanders. Scarce had the regiment achieved this splendid result, ere it was anew assailed by a fresh and more powerful, but not braver column of the enemy. At length these repeated and resolute attacks of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, broke the array of the Forty-second. To all appearance flight seemed the only refuge, and prudence might have urged the same as being the better part of valour. The French cavalry at this critical moment charged the regiment, deeming an easy conquest at hand, but nothing daunted, grouped into small detached parties, the Highlanders faced about and fearlessly encountered the foe. Sir Ralph Abercromby, witnessing the gallant behaviour of his countrymen in such a crisis, unable to reinforce them with troops, hastened to the spot to encourage, by his presence, these brave men, exclaiming, with patriotic fervour, “My brave Highlanders, remember your country, remember your forefathers!” Thus nerved to resistance, and cheered to know that so beloved a commander beheld with pride and grateful affection their efforts, the result was soon gloriously evident in the retreat, flight, and ruin of the cavalry, who imagined they would have annihilated the broken, bleeding remnant. During the fight, Sir Ralph Abercromby was furiously assailed by two dragoons. “In this unequal conquest he received a blow on the breast; but with the vigour and strength of arm for which he was distinguished, he seized on the sabre of one of those who struggled with him, and forced it out of his hand. At this moment a corporal of the Forty-second, seeing his situation, ran up to his assistance, and shot one of the assailants, on which the other retired.

“The French cavalry charged en masse, and overwhelmed the Forty-second; yet, though broken, this gallant corps was not defeated; individually it resisted, and the conduct of each man exalted still more the high character of the regiment.”

Towards the close of the battle the Highlanders, having expended their last cartridge, were on the point of being annihilated—although still resolutely resisting with the bayonet—when the French, repulsed everywhere, relaxed their efforts, and gradually retired. The loss of the regiment, in killed and wounded, exceeded 300 men; but the most grievous loss of all, felt by every rank, was the fall and subsequent death of Sir Ralph Abercromby.

It is unnecessary here further to detail the various events which marked the progress of the British arms in Egypt—crowned in the conquest of its two capitals, Cairo and Alexandria, accomplishing the extinction of the French dominion in the land, and for ever dissipating the dream of Napoleon, which had promised an Eastern Empire—an idea early and fondly nurtured, but, like the toy of a child, as quickly cast away when it failed to please, and, by that despot, abandoned when circumstances presented an easier path and more glorious results to his ambition in the crown of France.

On the return of the Royal Highlanders, every compliment was lavished upon the regiment by a grateful country. Whilst at Edinburgh in 1802, Lieutenant-General Vyse, in presenting a new set of colours, thus closed his address to the regiment:—“Remember that the standards which you have this day received are not only revered by an admiring world, as the honourable monuments and trophies of your former heroism, but are likewise regarded by a grateful country as the sacred pledges of that security which, under the protection of heaven, it may expect from your future services.

“May you long, very long, live to enjoy that reputation and those honours which you have so highly and so justly merited; may you long participate and share in all the blessings of that tranquillity and peace which your labours and your arms have restored to your native country; but should the restless ambition of an envious and daring enemy again call you to the field, think then that you behold the spirit of those brave comrades who so nobly, in their country’s cause, fell upon the plains of Egypt, hovering round these standards—think that you see the venerable shade of the immortal Abercromby leading you again to action, and pointing to that presumptuous band whose arrogance has been humbled, and whose vanity has been compelled, by your intrepidity and courage, to confess that no human force has been ‘invincible’ against British valour, when directed by wisdom, conducted by discipline, and inspired by virtue.”