Post by Sgt. Duncan Munro on Oct 4, 2003 12:34:15 GMT -5
The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, also known as 'The Black Watch', were first embodied as a regiment of the line in the British Army in 1740. Made of the old independant companies which policed the Scottish Highlands, their baptism of fire was to be on the European Continent at the Battle of Fontenoy on 9 May 1745. After the battle, the men of the 42nd (43rd, before being re-numbered in 1749) earned the reputation as steady, cool and professional soldiers of the king.
With hostilities breaking out again between England and France, the 42nd was shipped to North America in 1756. Initially posted in the Hudson River Valley, the 42nd distinguished itself again for its conduct during the poorly planned attack at Ticonderoga in July 1758. Later that year, the 42nd recieved a Royal Warrant renaming the senior highland regiment as The Royal Highland Regiment, this was in recognition for faithful service and not the action at Ticonderoga, as some may believe. After Crown Point was taken in late 1759, the 42nd then was dispatched to campaign against both French and Spanish possessions in the Carribean. Actions at Martinique and Cuba served only to reinforce the reputation of the Royal Highland Regiment.
Returning to New York in December of 1762, worn with battle losses and rife with tropical illness, the boys of the 'forty-twa' had little time to rest. During the late spring of 1763, a well coordinated offensive by several Native American Nations caused the fall of all but two British Forts in the Ohio Country. Those two remaining forts, Ft. Detroit and Ft. Pitt, were both under a very disciplined siege. The 42nd was again called to service.
Assigned as part of Col. Bouquet's Relief Expedition, along with elements of the 77th Highlanders and the 60th Royal Americans, the 42nd had its work cut out for them. After a forced march along the Forbes Military Road, the field force encountered an ambush within a mile of Bushy Run Station (a watering and cantonment waypoint). After almost 24 hours of exposure to thirst, hunger and very effective sniper fire, Col. Bouquet enacted a plan to save is besieged 'relief force'. After a sucessful ruse, followed by a flanking action, the Native Forces began to take heavy casualties and were forced to withdraw. The siege against Fort Pitt was later raised by the besiegers, and the post was relieved by the field force a few days later.
The 42nd was then detailed to take part in the Muskingum Expedition of 1764. A campaign carried out sucessfully without a shot being fired in anger, or casualtiy sustained. The 42nd was later returned to Fort Pitt, where it assumed constabulary duties with the 60th, and to enforce the Proclimation Line of 1763 (which prohibited illegal settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains). After 1764, the 42nd had to handle these functions alone as well as secure the Forbes Military Road, with the removal of the 60th to eastern seaboard posts. This was actually a very wise decision, since the highlanders could be guarenteed to treat native peoples fairly, as well as to ensure that their 'young men' do not behave illegally. The highlanders would also keep a watchful eye on the behavior and movements of white colonists, ensuring that they conduct themselves within the law as well.
While headquarted at Fort Pitt, the duties of the 42nd required them to range far into the Ohio Country. In 1765, a company was detatched to secure Fort Chartres (Illinois Country) from the remaining French Forces present. This detatchment remained until 1766, when they were formally relieved by two companies of the 34th Regiment of Foote (The Border Regiment).
Disposition of the 42nd Royal Highlanders during this period was as follows:
Fort Pitt:
Three Battalion Companies
One Grenadier Company
One Light Infantry Company
Fort Ligonier:
One Battalion Company
Fort Bedford:
One Battalion Company
Fort Loudon:
One-Half Battalion Company
Fort Cumberland:
One-Half Battalion Company
Fort Chartres:
One Battalion Company (Relieved 1766)
Philadelphia:
Administrative Detatchment
Processing/Training Cadre
Ft. Chartres Detatchment after 1766
The 42nd had to work hard to maintain an uneasy peace after the 1763 uprising. They had to walk a fine line, and show impariality in dealings with both native and colonial subject. The men of the Royal Highland Regiment completed their mission in the same professional manner of which they were known for. In 1767, the last of the 42nd RHR Companies pulled out of the Ohio Country destined for Ireland. They were relieved by elements 34th and 18th Regiments of Foote, who would prove not to be as worthy for the task of 'Frontier Peacekeeper'.
Your Most Humble Servant,
With hostilities breaking out again between England and France, the 42nd was shipped to North America in 1756. Initially posted in the Hudson River Valley, the 42nd distinguished itself again for its conduct during the poorly planned attack at Ticonderoga in July 1758. Later that year, the 42nd recieved a Royal Warrant renaming the senior highland regiment as The Royal Highland Regiment, this was in recognition for faithful service and not the action at Ticonderoga, as some may believe. After Crown Point was taken in late 1759, the 42nd then was dispatched to campaign against both French and Spanish possessions in the Carribean. Actions at Martinique and Cuba served only to reinforce the reputation of the Royal Highland Regiment.
Returning to New York in December of 1762, worn with battle losses and rife with tropical illness, the boys of the 'forty-twa' had little time to rest. During the late spring of 1763, a well coordinated offensive by several Native American Nations caused the fall of all but two British Forts in the Ohio Country. Those two remaining forts, Ft. Detroit and Ft. Pitt, were both under a very disciplined siege. The 42nd was again called to service.
Assigned as part of Col. Bouquet's Relief Expedition, along with elements of the 77th Highlanders and the 60th Royal Americans, the 42nd had its work cut out for them. After a forced march along the Forbes Military Road, the field force encountered an ambush within a mile of Bushy Run Station (a watering and cantonment waypoint). After almost 24 hours of exposure to thirst, hunger and very effective sniper fire, Col. Bouquet enacted a plan to save is besieged 'relief force'. After a sucessful ruse, followed by a flanking action, the Native Forces began to take heavy casualties and were forced to withdraw. The siege against Fort Pitt was later raised by the besiegers, and the post was relieved by the field force a few days later.
The 42nd was then detailed to take part in the Muskingum Expedition of 1764. A campaign carried out sucessfully without a shot being fired in anger, or casualtiy sustained. The 42nd was later returned to Fort Pitt, where it assumed constabulary duties with the 60th, and to enforce the Proclimation Line of 1763 (which prohibited illegal settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains). After 1764, the 42nd had to handle these functions alone as well as secure the Forbes Military Road, with the removal of the 60th to eastern seaboard posts. This was actually a very wise decision, since the highlanders could be guarenteed to treat native peoples fairly, as well as to ensure that their 'young men' do not behave illegally. The highlanders would also keep a watchful eye on the behavior and movements of white colonists, ensuring that they conduct themselves within the law as well.
While headquarted at Fort Pitt, the duties of the 42nd required them to range far into the Ohio Country. In 1765, a company was detatched to secure Fort Chartres (Illinois Country) from the remaining French Forces present. This detatchment remained until 1766, when they were formally relieved by two companies of the 34th Regiment of Foote (The Border Regiment).
Disposition of the 42nd Royal Highlanders during this period was as follows:
Fort Pitt:
Three Battalion Companies
One Grenadier Company
One Light Infantry Company
Fort Ligonier:
One Battalion Company
Fort Bedford:
One Battalion Company
Fort Loudon:
One-Half Battalion Company
Fort Cumberland:
One-Half Battalion Company
Fort Chartres:
One Battalion Company (Relieved 1766)
Philadelphia:
Administrative Detatchment
Processing/Training Cadre
Ft. Chartres Detatchment after 1766
The 42nd had to work hard to maintain an uneasy peace after the 1763 uprising. They had to walk a fine line, and show impariality in dealings with both native and colonial subject. The men of the Royal Highland Regiment completed their mission in the same professional manner of which they were known for. In 1767, the last of the 42nd RHR Companies pulled out of the Ohio Country destined for Ireland. They were relieved by elements 34th and 18th Regiments of Foote, who would prove not to be as worthy for the task of 'Frontier Peacekeeper'.
Your Most Humble Servant,