Such was the mortality and sickness in the regiment, that it was, in August, in a manner ordered to be dispersed. Another company marched on the 26th of August to Stony Hill, and a part of one to the Apostles’ battery. On the 28th of August a strong detachment, chiefly composed of convalescents, embarked on board the “Serapis” guard-ship, then at anchor off Port Royal.
Major Archibald Ferrier died at Up-Park Camp on the 22nd of September, and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Blainey having died on the 28th of August at Stony Hill, Brevet-Major Peter Wilkie assumed the command of the regiment, and on the 23rd of September removed with the head-quarters on board the “Serapis.” Nothing can depict the state of the regiment better than the following letter from Brevet-Major Wilkie to Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, Assistant Adjutant-General at Jamaica:—
“H. M. Ship Serapis,
“25th September, 1819.
“Sir,
“From the very peculiar situation of the NINETY-SECOND at the present moment, I am much afraid it will not be in my power to send in the returns required by the different public offices before Tuesday or Wednesday next, as having unfortunately lost the Adjutant, and every one acquainted with the important duty of the orderly room, in the course of the present month, I have consequently been necessitated to take into it any one that could write. Under these circumstances, I trust you will grant me all the time you can, to enable me to give them in with some degree of accuracy.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “Peter Wilkie,
“Captain 92nd regiment.
“Lieut.-Colonel Campbell,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Jamaica.”
The head-quarters were removed on the 9th of November from on board the “Serapis,” and returned to Up-Park Camp, where the several detachments joined, and the regiment was again assembled. It was remarked that the men who had been on board ship continued perfectly healthy after their return, whereas those who had been stationed at Stony Hill and the Apostles’ Battery, suffered considerably.
The total loss sustained by the regiment from the 25th of June to the 24th of December, 1819, consisted of ten officers,—namely, Majors Archibald Ferrier, and John Blainey (Brevet Lieut.-Colonel), Lieutenants Andrew Will, Thomas Gordon, Hector Innes, George Logan, Richard McDonnell, and George Mackie (Adjutant), Ensign Francis Reynolds, and Assistant Surgeon David Thomas; thirteen serjeants, eight drummers, and two hundred and fifty-four rank and file.
1820