Lord Macleod’s efforts in raising the regiment were so successful that in April 1778 it was embodied at Elgin, under the denomination of “Macleod’s Highlanders,” and was numbered the “Seventy-third Regiment.”
In May the regiment, eleven hundred strong, embarked at Fort George, under the command of Colonel Lord Macleod, and proceeded to Guernsey and Jersey, in which islands it was stationed for six months. The regiment was subsequently removed to Portsmouth, and was cantoned during the remainder of the year in the neighbouring villages.
On the 24th of September, 1778, Colonel Lord Macleod received orders to raise a second battalion to the regiment. Each battalion was to consist of fifty serjeants, fifty corporals, twenty drummers and fifers, two pipers, and a thousand privates.
At this period the following officers had been appointed to the Seventy-third Highland Regiment.
First Battalion.
| Colonel, John Lord Macleod. | |
| Lieut.-Colonel, Duncan M‘Pherson. | |
| Majors. | |
| John Elphinston. | James Mackenzie. |
| Captains. | |
| George Mackenzie. | Hugh Lamont. |
| Alexander Gilchrist. | Hon. James Lindsay. |
| John Shaw. | David Baird. |
| Charles Dalrymple. | |
| Captain Lieutenant and Captain, David Campbell. | |
| Lieutenants. | |
| A. Geddes Mackenzie. | Simon Mackenzie. |
| Hon. John Lindsay. | Philip Melvill. |
| Abraham Mackenzie, Adjt. | John Mackenzie. |
| Alexander Mackenzie. | John Borthwick. |
| James Robertson. | William Gunn. |
| John Hamilton. | William Charles Gorrie. |
| John Hamilton. | Hugh Sibbald. |
| Lewis Urquhart. | David Rainnie. |
| George Ogilvie. | Charles Munro. |
| Innes Munro. | |
| Ensigns. | |
| James Duncan. | George Sutherland. |
| Simon Mackenzie. | James Thrail. |
| Alexander Mackenzie. | Hugh Dalrymple. |
| John Sinclair. | |
| Chaplain, Colin Mackenzie. | |
| Adjutant, Abraham Mackenzie. | |
| Quartermaster, John Lytrott. | |
| Surgeon, Alexander MacDougall. | |
Second Battalion.