As several corps have, at successive periods, within the last century, been borne on the establishment of the Army, and numbered Seventy-second regiment, it is considered necessary to prefix to the Historical Record of the services of the Regiment, which at present bears the title of the “Seventy-second Highlanders,” the following explanatory details, in order to prevent the blending, or misconception, of the merits and services of corps which, although bearing the same numerical title, have been totally distinct and unconnected.
1.—In April, 1758, the Second Battalions of fifteen regiments of infantry, from the 3rd to the 37th, were directed to be formed into distinct regiments, and to be numbered from the 61st to the 75th successively, as shown in the following list, viz.:—
| 2nd Batt. 3rd Foot, constituted | 2nd Batt. 19th Foot, constituted | ||||
| as 61st | Regiment. | as 66th | Regiment. | ||
| ” 4th as 62nd | ” | ” 20th as 67th | ” | ||
| ” 8th as 63rd | ” | ” 23rd as 68th | ” | ||
| ” 11th as 64th | ” | ” 24th as 69th | ” | ||
| ” 12th as 65th | ” | ” 31st as 70th | ” | ||
| The Second Battalion of the 32nd was constituted the 71st Regiment. | |||
| ” ” | 33rd | ” ” | the 72nd ” |
| ” ” | 34th | ” ” | the 73rd ” |
| ” ” | 36th | ” ” | the 74th ” |
| ” ” | 37th | ” ” | the 75th ” |
The above 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, and 75th regiments were disbanded in the year 1763, after the peace of Fontainebleau.
The Seventy-second Regiment, formed in 1758, was constituted, as above shown, from the Second Battalion of the Thirty-third regiment, and Major-General the Duke of Richmond was appointed the colonel. It was disbanded on the 29th of August, 1763.
2.—On the commencement of the American war in 1775, additional forces were raised, and the number of the regular regiments of infantry, which had been reduced in 1763 to Seventy, was increased to One Hundred and Five, exclusive of 11 unnumbered regiments, and 36 independent companies of invalids.