Symptoms of insurrection having appeared among the slaves on the north side of the island, four companies of the regiment were embarked on the 25th of June on board His Majesty’s ship “Hussar”; two of them were landed on the 28th at Savanna la Mar, and were stationed there; and on the 30th another was landed at Black River; while the fourth remained on board the frigate on its cruise round the island, and was again landed at Fort Augusta, where the detachments at Savanna la Mar, and Lacovia, joined the head-quarters on the 6th and 7th of August.
On the 13th of September, Major Andrew Robert Charlton assumed the command of the regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Williamson having obtained leave of absence to return to Europe.
1825
The head-quarters and the six companies at Fort Augusta proceeded on the 13th of January, 1825, to Up-Park Camp, where the two companies stationed at Kingston joined on the following day, and the regiment became united, having been more or less detached since the 10th of March, 1820.
On the 14th of February, a detachment of twenty-four recruits arrived from England; and a detachment of two officers and sixteen recruits joined from England on the 25th of June.
In July orders were received fixing the establishment of the regiment at ten companies; six service and four depôt companies.
About the middle of July, the regiment was attacked with fever, which, in the course of two months, carried off Major Andrew Robert Charlton, Captain Andrew Donaldson, Lieutenant and Adjutant James Deans, and sixty men; the command then devolved on Captain Robert Winchester, who was subsequently promoted to the rank of major in the regiment.
1826
On the 10th of February, 1826, Lieut.-Colonel Williamson and a detachment of three officers and sixty men arrived from England on board of His Majesty’s ship “Magnificent.”
Major-General Sir John Keane, K.C.B., on the 11th of March, inspected the head-quarters of the regiment, at Fort Augusta, under Major Winchester, he having been in command the greater part of the time since the last annual inspection, and expressed his entire satisfaction at the soldier-like appearance of the men, and their correct performance of the field exercises: the flourishing state of the regimental school attracted his particular notice amongst the various points of interior economy.