The Highland brigade having been kept in reserve during the war, had few casualties in proportion to other regiments. The Seventy-first had only 2 men killed, 6 wounded, and 1 taken prisoner. Major K. Hunter, Lieut. Northey, Assistant-Surgeon Gilborne, and about 100 non-commissioned officers and men died of sickness. The regiment whilst stationed at Malta occupied the Floriana, Ricasoli, and Verdala Barracks.
1857.
On the 1st of January, 1857, the following was the strength and composition of the regiment:—
| Nationality. | English. | Irish. | Scotch. | Total. |
| Head-quarters | 32 | 47 | 795 | 874 |
| Depôt at Perth | 25 | 37 | 290 | 352 |
| Total | 57 | 84 | 1,085 | 1,226 |
of which, 1,043 Presbyterians, 67 Church of England, and 116 Church of Rome.
On the 26th of November, a draft of 2 officers and 41 men joined the head-quarters from the depôt.
1858.
On the evening of the 2nd of January, 1858, the regiment received orders by telegram to proceed overland to India. The head-quarters and six companies, under Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, embarked on board the line-of-battle ship “Princess Royal,” on the 4th, 36 hours later, and disembarked at Alexandria on the 18th. Two companies, under Major Hope, which proceeded in Her Majesty’s ship “Vulture,” disembarked there a few days previously. The regiment then proceeded in two divisions, by railway, to a place half way between Cairo and Suez, where they were mounted on donkeys, and proceeded to Suez, a distance of about 20 or 25 miles. Owing to the smallness of the donkeys, and the size of many of the men, most of them preferred marching to riding. The head-quarters and right wing, under command of Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, arrived at Bombay on the 6th of February, and proceeded to Mhow by bullock train in several detachments, the last of which arrived on the 17th of March. The whole marched from Mhow on the 30th of March, to join the Central India Field Force, under Major-General Sir Hugh Rose, K.C.B. They joined the second brigade at Moti on the 3rd of May, were present at the action of Koonch on the 7th of May, the actions at Muttra and Deapoora on the 16th and 17th of May, action at Golowlee on the 22nd of May, occupation of Calpee on the 23rd of May. This wing was also present at the action of Morar on the 16th of June, on which occasion Lieut. Wyndham Neave, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and 2 privates were killed and 8 privates wounded. Private George Rodgers was granted the Victoria Cross for distinguished conduct and courage on this occasion. Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, Major Rich, and Lieut. Scott were especially mentioned.
On the 19th and 20th the whole force, in conjunction with Brigadier Smith’s column, took possession of Gwalior. Great sufferings from the excessive heat were undergone by the Central India Force, all the actions having taken place in the two hottest months of an Indian summer. To avoid the excessive power of the sun, the marches were always, when practicable, conducted at night, but owing to the heat and the plague of flies, but little rest could be got in the daytime, the thermometer in the tents generally standing at 120°. About 50 men of the regiment died of sunstroke on the march, and many died soon after arrival at Morar from utter exhaustion and weakness.
After the capture of Gwalior the regiment returned to Morar, where it was stationed till the 12th of August, when it returned to Gwalior, and was stationed at the Lashkar and Phaol Bagh, and returned again to Morar on the 6th1859. of June, 1859. On the 11th of November a small field force, under Lieut.-Colonel Rich, Seventy-first, including a detachment of the Seventy-first, went out into the jungle to look for the rebel forces, and defeated them at Ranode and at Nainwass, on which last occasion 3 privates were killed. This detachment returned to Gwalior on the 27th of May, 1859.