“The Adjutant-General of the Forces,
“Horse Guards London.”
“Horse Guards,
“12th April, 1810.
“Sir,
“Having submitted to the Commander-in-Chief your letter of the 4th instant, I am directed to state that there is no objection to the Seventy-first being denominated Highland Light Infantry Regiment, or to their retaining their pipes, and the Highland garb for the pipers, and that they will, of course, be permitted to wear caps according to the pattern which was lately approved and sealed by authority.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “William Wynward,
“Deputy Adjutant-General.
“Lieut.-Colonel Pack, Seventy-first
“Regiment.”
On the 8th of May, 1810, the first battalion marched to Deal Barracks, where every exertion was continued to render it fit for active service. Here the battalion was deprived of the services of Lieut.-Colonel Pack, who was appointed a brigadier in the Portuguese army under Marshal William Carr Beresford, afterwards General the Viscount Beresford.
Nothing of moment occurred until the early part of September, when the battalion received orders to hold six companies in readiness for foreign service. They were prepared accordingly by drafting into them, from the companies which were to remain at home, the most effective officers and men, several not having recovered from the Walcheren fever.
The following were the companies selected and completed for foreign service, namely:—