text:
Settlements of Scotch Highlanders in America
Chapter 11
First Highland Regiments in America
The conflict known as
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, which began in
1754, forced the English colonies
to join in a common cause. The time had come for the final struggle
between France and England for colonial supremacy in Ameria. The principal
cause for the war was brought on by the conflicting territorial claims of
the two nations. Mutual encroachments were made by both parties on the
other~ez_rsquo~s territory, in consequence of which both nations prepared for war.
The English ministry decided to make their chief efforts against the
French in that quarter where the aggressions took place, and for this
purpose dispatched thither two bodies of troops. The first division, of
which the 42nd High-landers formed a part, under the command of
Lieutenant-General Sir James Abercromby, set sail in March, 1756, and
landed in June following.
The Highland regiments that landed
in America and took part in the conflict were the 42nd or Royal Highland
Regiment, but better known as "The Black Watch" (Am Freiceadan Dubh),
the 77th or Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders, and the Old 78th, or Fraser~ez_rsquo~s
The Black Watch, so called from the
sombre appearance of their dress was embodied, as the 43rd Regiment, May,
1740, having been composed
largely of the independent companies raised in 1729. When Oglethorpe~ez_rsquo~s
regiment, the 42nd was reduced in 1749, the Black Watch received its
number, which ever since, it has retained. From 1749
to 1756 the regiment was stationed in
Ireland, and between them and the inhabitants of the districts, where
quartered, the utmost cordiality existed. Previous to the departure of the
regiment from Ireland to America, officers with parties had been sent to
Scotland for recruits. So successful were they that in the month of June,
seven hundred embarked at Greenock for America. The officers of the
regiment were as follows:
The regiment known as Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s
Highlanders (77th) took its name from its commander, Archibald Montgomery,
son of the earl of Eglinton. Being very popular among the Highlanders,
Montgomery very soon raised the requisite body of men, who were formed
into thirteen companies of one hundred and five rank and file each; making
in all fourteen hundred and sixty effective men, including sixty-five
sergeants and thirty pipers and drummers. The Colonel~ez_rsquo~s commission was
dated January 4, 1757,
and those of the other officers one day
later than his senior in rank. They are thus recorded:
Lieut.-Colonel commanding, Archibald
Montgomery; majors, James Grant of Ballindalloch and Alexander Campbell;
captains, John Sinclair, Hugh Mackenzie, John Gordon, Alexander Mackenzie,
William Macdonald, George Munro, Robert Mackenzie, Allan Maclean, James
Robertson, Allan Cameron; captain lieut., Alexander Mackintosh;
lieutenants, Charles Farquharson, Nichol Sutherland, Donald Macdonald,
William Mackenzie, Robert Mackenzie, Henry Munro, Archibald Robertson,
Duncan Bayne, James Duff, Colin Campbell, James Grant, Alexander
Macdonald, Joseph Grant, Robert Grant, Cosmo Martin, John Macnab, Hugh
Gordon, Alexander Macdonald, Donald Campbell, Hugh Montgomery, James
Maclean, Alexander Campbell, John Campbell, James Macpherson, Archibald
Macvicar; ensigns: Alexander Grant, William Haggart, Lewis Houston, Ronald
(Ranald?) Mackinnon, George Munro, Alexander Mackenzie, John Maclachlane, William
Maclean, James Grant, John Macdonald, Archibald Crawford, James Bain,
Allan Stewart; chaplain: Henry Munro; adjutant: Donald Stewart;
quarter-master: Alexander Montgomery; surgeon: Allan Stewart.
The regiment embarked at Greenock
for Halifax immediately on its organization.
Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders, or the 78th
Regiment was organized by Simon Fraser, son of the notorious lord Lovat
who was executed by the English government for the part he acted in the
Rising of the Forty-five. Although his estates had been seized by the
Crown, and not possessing a foot of land, so great was the influence of
clanship, that in a few weeks he raised eight hundred men, to whom were
added upwards of six hundred more by the gentlemen of the country and
those who had obtained commissions. In point of the number of companies
and men, the battalion was precisely the same as Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders.
The list of officers, whose commissions are dated January 5, 1757, is as
Lieut.-col. commandant: Simon
Fraser; majors: James Clephane and John Campbell of Dunoon; captains: John
Macpherson, brother of Cluny, John Campbell of Ballimore, Simon Fraser of
Inverallochy, Donald Macdonald, brother of Clanranald, John Macdonell of
Lochgarry, Alexander Cameron of Dungallon, Thomas Ross of Culrossie,
Thomas Fraser of Strui, Alexander Fraser of Culduthel, Sir Henry Seton of
Abercorn and Culbeg, James Fraser of Belladrum; capt.-Lieut.: Simon
Fraser; Lieutenants: Alexander Macleod, Hugh Cameron, Ronald Macdonell,
son of Keppoch, Charles Macdonell, from Glengarry, Roderick Macneil of
Barra, William Macdonell, Archibald Campbell, son of Gienlyon, John Fraser
of Balnain, Hector Macdonald, brother of Boisdale, Allan Stewart, son of
Innernaheil, John Fraser, Alexander Macdonald, son of Boisdale, Alexander
Fraser, Alexander Campbell of Aross, John Douglas, John Nairn, Arthur
Rose, Alexander Fraser, John Macdonell of Leeks, Cosmo Gordon, David
Baillie, Charles Stewart, Ewen Cameron, Allan Cameron, John Cuthbert,
Simon Fraser, Archibald Macallister, James Murray, Alexander Fraser,
Donald Cameron, son of Fassifern; ensigns: John Chisolm, Simon Fraser,
Malcolm Fraser, Hugh Fraser, Robert Menzies, John Fraser of Errogie, James
Mackenzie, Donald Macneil, Henry Munro, Alexander Gregorson, Ardtornish,
James Henderson, John Campbell; chaplain: Robert Macpherson; adjutant:
Hugh Fraser; quarter-master: John Fraser; surgeon: John Maclean.
"The uniform of the regiment was the
full Highland dress with musket and broad-sword, to which many of the
soldiers added the dirk at their own expense, and a purse of badger~ez_rsquo~s or
otter~ez_rsquo~s skin. The bonnet was raised or cocked on one side, with a slight
bend inclining down to the right ear, over which were suspended two or
more black feathers. Eagle~ez_rsquo~s or hawk~ez_rsquo~s feathers were usually worn by the
gentlemen, in the Highlands, while the bonnets of the common people were
ornamented with a bunch of the distinguishing mark of the clan or
district. The ostrich feathers in the bonnets of the soldiers were a
modern addition of that period. " [Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders,
Vol. II, p. 66.]
The regiment was quickly marched to
Greenock, where it embarked, in company with Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders, and
landed at Halifax in June 1757, where it remained till it formed a
junction with the expedition against Louisbourg. The regiment was
quartered between Canada and Nova Scotia till the conclusion of the war.
On all occasions they sustained a uniform character for unshaken firmness,
incorruptible probity and a strict regard to their duties. The men were
always anxious to conceal their misdemeanors from the Caipal Mohr,
as they called the chaplain, from his large size.
When The Black Watch landed in New
York they attracted much notice, particularly on the part of the Indians,
who, on the march of the regiment to Albany, flocked from all quarters to
see strangers, whom, from the somewhat similarity of dress, they believed
to be of the same extraction with themselves, and therefore considered
them to be brothers.
During the whole of 1756 the
regiment remained inactive in Albany. The winter and spring of 1757 they
were drilled and disciplined for bush-fighting and sharpshooting, a
species of warfare then necessary and for which they were well fitted,
being in general good marksmen, and expert in the management of their
the month of June, 1757, lord Loudon, who had been appointed
commander-in-chief of the army in North America, with the 22d, 42d,
44th, 48th, 2d and 4th battalions of the 6oth, together with six hundred
Rangers, making in all five thousand and three hundred men, embarked for
Halifax, where his force was increased to ten thousand and five hundred
men by the addition of five regiments lately arrived from England, which
included Fraser~ez_rsquo~s and Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders. When on the eve of his
departure for an attack on Louisburg, information was received that the
Brest fleet, consisting of seventeen sail of the line, besides frigates,
had arrived in the harbor of that fortress. Letters, which had been
captured in a vessel bound from Louisburg to France, revealed that the
force was too great to be encountered. Lord Loudon abandoned the
enterprise and soon after returned to New York taking with him the
Highlanders and four other regiments.
By the addition of three new companies and the junction
of seven hundred recruits "The Black ~ez_lsquo~Watch" or 42nd, was now augmented to
upwards of thirteen hundred men, all Highlanders, for at that period, none
others were admitted.
During the absence of lord Loudon, Montcalm, the French
commander, was very active, and collecting all his disposable forces,
including Indians, and a large train of artillery, amounting in all to
more than eight thousand men, laid seige to Fort William Henry, under the
command of Colonel Munro. Some six miles distant was Fort Edward,
garrisoned by four thousand men under General Webb. The seige was
conducted with great vigor and within six days Colonel Munro surrendered,
conditioned on not serving again for eighteen months, and allowed to march
out of the fort with their arms and two field pieces. As soon as they were
without the gate the Indians fell upon them and committed all sorts of
outrages and barbarities,~ez_mdash~the French being unable to restrain them.
Thus terminated the campaign of 1757 in America,
undistinguished by any act which might compensate for the loss of
territory or the sacrifice of lives. With an inferior force the French had
been successful at every point, and besides having obtained complete
control of Lakes George and Champlain, the destruction of Oswego gave the
dominion of those lakes, which are connected with the St. Lawrence, to the
Mississippi, thus opening a direct communication between Canada and the
Lord Loudon having been recalled, the command of the
army again devolved on General James Abercromby. Determined to wipe off
the disgrace of former campaigns, the new ministry, which had just come
into power, fitted out, in 1758, a great naval and military force
consisting of fifty-two thousand men. To the military staff were added
Major-General Amherst, and Brigadier General~ez_rsquo~s Wolfe, Townsend and Murray.
Three expeditions were proposed: the first to renew the attempt on
Louisburg; the second directed against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and
the third against Fort du Quesne.
General Abercromby took command, in person, of the
expedition against Ticonderoga, with a force of fifteen thousand three
hundred and ninety men, of whom over six thousand were regulars, the rest
being provincials, besides a train of artillery. Among the regulars must
be reckoned the 42d Highlanders. Ticonderoga, situated on a point of land
between Lake George and Lake Champlain is surrounded on three sides by
water, and on one-half of the fourth by a morass. The remaining part of
the fort was protected by high entrenchments, supported and flanked by
three batteries, and the whole front of that which was accessible
intersected by deep traverses, and blocked up with felled trees, with
their branches turned outwards, and their points sharpened.
On July 5th the army struck their tents at daybreak,
and in nine hundred small boats and one hundred and thirty-five
whale-boats, with artillery mounted on rafts, embarked on Lake George. The
fleet in stately procession, bright with banners and cheered by martial
music, moved down the beautiful lake, beaming with hope and pride. The
solemn forests were broken by the echoes of the happy soldiery. There was
no one to molest them, and victors was their one desire. Over the broader
expanse they passed to the first narrows, witnessing the mountains rising
from the water~ez_rsquo~s edge, the dark forest, and the picturesque loveliness of
the scene. Long afterwards General John Stark recounted that when they had
halted at Sabbath day Point at twilight, lord Howe, reclining in his tent
on a bearskin, and bent on winning a hero~ez_rsquo~s name, questioned him closely
as to the position of Ticonderoga and the fittest modes of attack.
After remaining five hours at their resting place, the
army, an hour before midnight, moved once more down the lake, and by nine
the next morning, disembarked on the west side, in a cove sheltered by a
point which still keeps the name of Lord Howe. The troops were formed into
two parallel columns and marched on the enemy~ez_rsquo~s advanced posts, which were
abandoned without a shot. The march was continued in the same order, but
the guides proving ignorant, the columns came in contact, and were thrown
into confusion. A detachment of the enemy which had also become bewildered
in the woods, fell in with the right column, at the head of which was lord
Howe, and during the skirmish which ensued, Howe was killed. Abercromby
ordered the army to march back to the landing place.
Montcalm, ever alert, was ready to receive the English
army. On July 6th he called in all his parties, and when united amounted
to two thousand eight hundred French and four hundred and fifty Canadians.
On the 7th the whole army toiled in-credibly in strengthening their
defenses. On the same evening De Levi returned from the projected
expedition against the Mo-hawks, bringing with him four hundred chosen
men. On the morning of the 8th, the drums of the French beat to arms, that
the troops, now thirty-six hundred and fifty in number, might know their
stations and resume their work.
The strongest regiment in the army of Abercrombie was
the 42nd Highlanders, fully equipped, in their native dress. The officers
wore a narrow gold braiding round their tunics, all other lace being laid
aside to make them less conspicuous to the French and Canadian riflemen.
The sergeants wore silver lace on their coats, and carried the Lochaber
axe, the head of which was fitted for hewing, hooking or spearing an
enemy, or such other work as might be found before the ramparts of
Ticonderoga. Many of the men had been out in the Rising of the Forty-five.
When Abercrombie received in formation from some
prisoners that De Levi was about to reinforce Montcalm, he determined, if
possible to strike a blow before a junction could be effected. Report also
having reached him that the entrenchments were still unfinished, and might
be assaulted with prospects of success, he immediately made the necessary
dispositions for attack. The British commander, remaining far behind
during the action, put the army in motion, on the 8th, the regulars
advancing through the openings of the provincials, and taking the lead.
The pickets were followed by the grenadiers, supported by the battalions
and reserve, which last consisted of the Highlanders and 55th regiment,
advanced with great alacrity towards the entrenchments, which they found
much more formidable than they expected. As the British advanced,
Montcalm, who stood just within the trenches, threw off his coat for the
sunny work of the July afternoon, and forbade a musket to be fired until
he had given the order. When the British drew very near, in three
principal columns, to attack simultaneously the left, the center, and the
right, they became entangled among the rubbish and broken into disorder by
clambering over logs and projecting limbs. The quick eye of Montcalm saw
the most effective moment had come, and giving the word of command, a
sudden and incessant fire of swivels and small arms mowed down brave
officers and men by hundreds. The intrepidity of the English made the
carnage terrible. With the greatest vivacity the attacks were continued
all the afternoon. Wherever the French appeared to be weak, Montcalm
immediately strengthened them. Regiment after regiment was hurled against
the beseiged, only to be hurled back with the loss of half their number.
The Scottish Highlanders, held in the reserve, from the
very first were impatient of the restraint; but when they saw the column
fall back, unable longer to control themselves, and emulous of sharing the
danger, broke away and pushed forward to the front, and with their
broadswords and Lochaber axes endeavored to cut through the abattis and
chevaux-de-frize. For three hours the Highlanders struggled without the
least appearance of discouragement. After a long and deadly struggle they
penetrated the exterior defences and reached the breastwork; having no
scaling ladders, they attempted to gain the summit by mounting on each
others shoulders and partly by fixing their feet in holes they made with
their swords, axes and bayonets in the face of the work, but no sooner did
a man appear on top than he was hurled down by the defending troops.
Captain John Campbell, with a few men, at length forced their way over the
breastwork, but were immediately dispatched with the bayonet.
While the Highlanders and grenadiers were fighting
without faltering and without confusion on the French left, the columns
which had attacked the center and right, at about five o~ez_rsquo~clock,
concentrated themselves at a point between the two; but De Levi advanced
from the right and Montcalm brought up the reserve. At six the two parties
nearest the water turned desperately against the center, and being
repulsed, made a last effort on the left, where, becoming bewildered, the
English fired on an advanced party of their own, producing hopeless
The British general, during the confusion of battle
cowered safely at the saw-mills, and when his presence was needed to rally
the fugitives, was nowhere to be found. The second in command, unable to
seize the opportunity, gave no commands. The Highlanders persevered in
their undertaking and did not relinquish their labors until they received
the third order to retreat, when they withdrew, unmolested, and carrying
with them the whole of their wounded.
The loss sustained by the 42nd was as follows: eight
officers, nine sergeants and two hundred and ninety-seven men killed; and
seventeen officers, ten sergeants and three hundred and six soldiers
wounded. The officers killed were Major Duncan Campbell of Inveraw,
Captain John Campbell, Lieutenants George Farquharson, Hugh MacPherson,
William Baillie, and John Sutherland; Ensigns Patrick Stewart of Bonskied
and George Rattray. The wounded were Captains Gordon Graham, Thomas Graham
of Duchray, John Campbell of Strachur, James Stewart of Urrad, James
Murray; Lieutenants James Grant, Robert Gray, John Campbell of Melford,
William Grant, John Graham, brother of Duchray, Alexander Campbell,
Alexander Mackintosh, Archibald Campbell, David Miller, Patrick Balneaves;
and Ensigns John Smith and Peter Grant.
The intrepid conduct of the Highlanders, in the
storming of Ticonderoga, was made the topic of universal panegyric
throughout the whole of Great Britain, the public prints teeming with
honorable mention of, and testimonies to their bravery. Among these
General Stewart copies [Sketches of the Highlanders, Vol. I, p. 289.] the
two following:
"With a mixture of esteem, grief and envy (says an
officer of the 55th, lord Howe~ez_rsquo~s regiment), I consider the great loss and
immortal glory acquired by the Scots Highlanders in the late bloody
affair. Impatient for orders, they rushed forward to the entrenchments,
which many of them actually mounted. They appeared like lions, breaking
from their chains. Their intrepidity was rather animated than damped by
seeing their comrades fall on every side. I have only to say of them, that
they seemed more anxious to revenge the cause of their deceased friends,
than careful to avoid the same fate. By their assistance, we expect soon
to give a good account of the enemy and of ourselves. There is much
harmony and friendship between us." "The attack (says Lieutenant William
Grant of the 42nd) began a little past one in the afternoon, and, about
two, the fire became general on both sides, which was exceedingly heavy,
and without any intermission, insomuch that the oldest soldier present
never saw so furious and incessant a fire. The affair at Fontenoy was
nothing to it. I saw both. We labored under insurmountable difficulties.
The enemy~ez_rsquo~s breastwork was about nine or ten feet high, upon the top of
which they had plenty of wall pieces fixed, and which was well lined in
the inside with small arms. But the difficult access to their lines was
what gave them the fatal advantage over us. They took care to cut down
monstrous large oak trees, which covered all the ground from the foot of
their breastwork about the distance of a cannon shot every way in their
front. This not only broke our ranks, and made it impossible for us to
keep our order, but put it entirely out of our power to advance till we
cut our way through. I have seen men behave with courage and resolution
before now, but so much determined bravery can hardly be equalled in any
part of the history of ancient Rome. Even those that were mortally wounded
cried aloud to their companions, not to mind or lose a thought upon them,
but to follow their officers, and to mind the honor of their country. Nay,
their ardor was such, that it was difficult to bring them off. They paid
dearly for their intrepidity. The remains of the regiment had the honor to
cover the retreat of the army, and brought off the wounded, as we did at
Fontenoy. When shall we have so fine a regiment again? I hope we shall be
allowed to recruit."
The English outnumbered the French four-fold, and with
their artillery, which was near at hand, could have forced a passage. "Had
I to besiege Ticonderoga," said Montcalm, "I would ask for but six mortars
and two pieces of artillery." But Abercrombie, that evening, hurried the
army to the landing place, with such precipitancy, that but for the
alertness of Colonel Bradstreet, it would at once have rushed in a mass
into the boats. On the morning of the 9th the army embarked and
Abercrombie did not rest until he had placed the lake between himself and
Montcalm, and even then he sent the artillery and ammunition to Albany for
The expedition against Louisburg, under Major-General
Jeffrey Amherst, set sail from Halifax on May 28, 1758. It was joined by
the fleet under Admiral Boscawen. The formidable armament consisted of
twenty-five sail of the line, eighteen frigates, and a number of bomb and
fire ships, with the Royals, 15th, 17th,
22nd, 28th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 47th, 48th,
58th, the 2d and 3d battalions of the 60th, 78th Highlanders, and New
England Rangers,~ez_mdash~in all, thirteen thousand and nine men. On June 2nd the
vessels anchored in Garbarus Bay, seven miles from Louisburg. The
garrison, under the Chevalier Ducour, consisted of twenty-five hundred
regulars, six hundred militia, and four hundred Canadians and Indians. The
harbor was protected by six ships of the line and five frigates, three of
the latter being sunk at its mouth. The English ships were six days on the
coast before a landing could be attempted, on account of a heavy surf
continually rolling with such violence, that no boat could approach the
shore. The violence of the surf having somewhat abated, a landing was
effected on June 8th. The troops were disposed for landing in three di
visions. That on the left, which was destined for the real attack,
commanded by Brigadier General Wolfe, was composed of the grenadiers and
light infantry, and the 78th, or Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders. While the boats
containing this division were being rowed ashore, the other two divisions
on the right and center, commanded by Brigadier Generals Whitmore and
Lawrence, made a show of landing, in order to divide and distract the
enemy. The landing place was occupied by two thousand men entrenched
behind a battery of eight pieces of cannon and swivels. The
enemy wisely reserved their fire till the boats were close to the shore,
and then directed their discharge of cannon and musketry with considerable
execution. The surf aided the fire. Many of the boats were upset or dashed
to pieces on the rocks, and numbers of the men were killed or drowned
before land was reached. Captain Baillie and Lieutenant Cuthbert of the
Highlanders, Lieutenant Nicholson of Amherts, and thirty-eight men were
killed. Notwithstanding the great disadvantages, nothing could stop the
troops when led by such a general as Wolfe. Some of the light infantry and
Highlanders were first ashore, and drove all before them. The rest
followed, and soon pursued the enemy to a distance of two miles, when they
were checked by the canonading from the town.
In this engagement the French lost seventeen pieces of
cannon, two mortars, and fourteen swivels, besides seventy-three
prisoners. The cannonading from the town enabled Wolfe to prove the range
of the enemy~ez_rsquo~s guns, and to judge of the exact distance at which he might
make his camp for investing the town. The regiments then took post at the
positions assigned them. For some days operations went on slowly. The sea
was so rough that the landing of stores from the fleet was much retarded;
and it was not until the 11th that the six pounder field pieces
were landed. Six days later a squadron was fairly blown out to sea by the
tempest. By the 24th the chief engineer had thirteen twenty-four pounders
in position against the place. The first operation was to secure a point
called Lighthouse Battery, the guns from which could play upon the ships
and on the batteries on the opposite side of the harbor. On the 12th this
point was captured by Wolfe at the head of his gallant Fraser~ez_rsquo~s and flank
companies, with but little loss. On the 25th, the fire from this post
silenced the island battery immediately opposite. An incessant fire,
however, was kept up from the other batteries and shipping of the enemy.
On July 9th the enemy made a sortie on General Lawrence~ez_rsquo~s brigade, but
were quickly repulsed. In this affair, the earl of Dundonald was killed.
There were twenty other casualities. The French captain who led the
attack, with seventeen of his men, was also killed.
On the 16th, Wolfe pushed forward some grenadiers and
High-landers, and took possession of the hills in front of the Lighthouse
battery, where a lodgement was made under a fire from the town and the
ships. On the 21st one of the French ships was set
on fire by a bombshell and blew up, and the fire being communicated to two
others, they were burned to the water~ez_rsquo~s edge. The fate of the town was now
almost decided, the enemy~ez_rsquo~s fire nearly silenced and the fortifications
shattered to the ground. All that now remained in the reduction was to get
possession of the harbor, by taking or burning the two ships of the line
which remained. For this purpose the admiral, on the night of July
25th sent six hundred seamen in boats, with orders to take,
or burn, the two ships of the line that remained in the harbor, resolving
if they succeeded to send in some of his larger vessels to bombard the
town. This enterprise was successfully executed by the seamen under
Captains Laforey and Balfour, in the face of a terrible fire of cannon and
musketry. One of the ships was set on fire and the other towed off. On the
26th the town surrendered; the garrison and seamen amounted to five
thousand six hundred and thirty-seven, besides one hundred and twenty
pieces of cannon, eighteen mortars, seven thousand five hundred stand of
arms, eleven colors, and eleven ships of war. The total loss of the
English army and fleet, during the siege amounted to five hundred and
twenty-five. Besides Captain Baillie and Lieutenant Cuthbert the
Highlanders lost Lieutenant J. Alexander Fraser and
James Murray, killed; Captain Donald MacDonald, Lieutenant Alexander
Campbell (Barcaldine) and John MacDonald, wounded; and sixty-seven rank
and file killed and wounded.
The third expedition was against Fort du Quesne,
undertaken by Brigadier General John Forbes.
Although the point of attack was less formidable and the enemy inferior in
numbers to those at either Ticonderoga or Louisburg, yet the difficulties
were greater, owing to the great extent of country to be traversed,
through woods without roads, over mountains and through almost
impassable morasses. The army consisted of six thousand two
hundred and thirty-eight men, composed of Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders, twelve
hundred and eighty-four strong, five hundred and fifty-five of the Royal
Americans, and four thousand four hundred provincials. Among the latter
were the two Virginia regiments, nineteen hundred strong, under the
command of Washington. Yet vast as were the preparations of the army,
Forbes never would have seen the Ohio had it not been for the genius of
Washington, although then but twenty-six years of age.
The army took up its line of march from Philadelphia in
July, and did not reach Raystown until the month of September, when they
were still ninety miles distant from Fort du Quesne. It was Washington~ez_rsquo~s
earnest advice that the army should advance with celerity along Braddock~ez_rsquo~s
road; but other advice prevailed, and the army commemorated its march by
moving slowly and constructing a new route to the Ohio. Thus the summer
was frittered away. While Washington~ez_rsquo~s forces joined the main army, Boquet
was detached with two thousand men to take post at Loyal Hanna, fifty
miles in advance. Here intelligence was received that the French garrison
consisted of but eight hundred men, of whom three hundred were Indians.
The vainglory of Boquet, without the consent or knowledge of his superior
officer urged him to send forward a party of four hundred Highlanders and
a company of Virginians under Major James Grant to reconnoitre. Major
Grant divided his troops, and when near the fort, advanced with pipes
playing and drums beating, as if he was on a visit to a friendly town. The
enemy did not wait to be attacked, but instantly marched out of their
works and invited the conflict. The Highlanders threw off their coats and
charged sword in hand. At first the French gave way, but rallied and
surrounded the detachment on all sides. Being concealed in the thick
foliage, their heavy and destructive fire could not be returned with any
effect. Major Grant was taken in an attempt to force into the woods, where
he observed the thickest of the fire. On losing their commander, and so
many officers killed and wounded, the Highlanders dispersed, and were only
saved from utter ruin by the provincials. Only one hundred and fifty of
the Highlanders succeeded in making their way back to Loyal Hanna.
In this battle, fought September 14, 1758, two hundred
and thirty-one Highlander~ez_rsquo~s were killed and wounded. The officers killed
were Captain William Macdonald and George Munro; Lieutenants Alexander
Mackenzie, William Mackenzie, Robert Mackenzie, Colin Campbell, and
Alexander Macdonald; and the wounded were Captain Hugh Mackenzie,
Lieutenants Alexander Macdonald, Archibald Robertson, Henry Munro, and
Ensigns John Macdonald and Alexander Grant.
General Forbes did not reach Loyal Hanna until November
5th and there a council of war determined that no farther advance should
be made for that season. But Washington had plead that owing to his long
intimacy with these woods, and his familiarity with the difficulties and
all the passes should be allowed the responsibility of commanding the
first party. This having been denied him, he prevailed on the commander to
be allowed to make a second advance. His brigade was of provincials, and
they toiled cheerfully by his side, infusing his own spirit into the men
he commanded. Over the hills white with snow, his troops poorly fed and
poorly clothed toiled onward. His movements were rapid: on November 15th
he was at Chestnut Ridge; and the 17th at Bushy Run. As he drew near Fort
du Quesne, the disheartened garrison, about five hundred in number, set
fire to the fort, and by the light of the conflagration, descended the
Ohio. On the 25th Washington could point out to the army the junction of
the rivers, and entering the fortress, they planted the British colors on
the deserted ruins. As the banner of England floated over the Ohio, the
place was with one voice named Pittsburg, in honor of the great English
premier William Pitt.
The troops under Washington were accompanied by a body
of Highlanders. On the morning of November 25th, the army advanced with
the provincials in the front. They entered upon an Indian path, "Upon each
side of which a number of stakes, with the bark peeled off, were stuck
into the earth, and upon each stake was fixed the head and kilt of a
Highlander who had been killed or taken prisoner at Grant~ez_rsquo~s defeat. The
provincials, being front, obtained the first view of these horrible
spectacles, which it may readily be believed, excited no kindly feelings
in their breasts.
They passed along, however, without any manifestation
of their violent wrath. But as soon as the Highlanders came in sight of
the remains of their countrymen, a slight buzz was heard in their ranks,
which rapidly swelled and grew louder and louder. Exasperated not only by
the barbarous outrages upon the persons of their unfortunate fellow
soldiers who had fallen only a few days before, but maddened by the insult
which was conveyed by the exhibition of their kilts, and which they well
understood, as they had long been nicknamed the ~ez_lsquo~petticoat warriors~ez_rsquo~ by
the Indians, their wrath knew no hounds. Directly a rapid and violent
tramping was heard, and immediately the whole corps of the Highlanders,
with their muskets abandoned, and broad swords drawn, rushed by the
provincials, foaming with rage, and resembling, as Captain Craighead
coarsely expressed it, ~ez_lsquo~mad boars engaged in battle,~ez_rsquo~ swearing vengeance
and extermination upon the French troops who had permitted such outrages.
Their march was now hastened~ez_mdash~the whole army moved forward after the
Highlanders, and when they arrived somewhere about where the canal now
passes, the Fort was discovered to be in flames, and the last of the
boats, with the flying Frenchmen, were seen passing down the Ohio by Smoky
Island. Great was the disappointment of the exasperated Highlanders at the
escape of the French, and their wrath subsided into a sullen and
relentless desire for vengeance." [The Olden
Time, Vol. I, p. 181.]
The Highlanders passed the winter of 1758 in Pittsburg,
and in May following marched to the assistance of General Amherst in his
proceedings at Ticonderoga, Crown Point and the Lakes.
Before the heroic action of The Black Watch at
Ticonderoga was known in England, a warrant was issued conferring upon the
regiment the title of Royal, so that it became known also by the name of
42d Royal Highland Regiment, and letters were issued to raise a second
battalion. So successful were the recruiting officers that within three
months, seven companies, each one hundred and twenty men strong were
embodied at Perth in October 1758. Although Highlanders only were
admitted, yet two officers, anxious to obtain commissions, enlisted
eighteen Irishmen, several of whom were O~ez_rsquo~Donnels, O~ez_rsquo~Lachlans, O~ez_rsquo~Briens,
&c. The O was changed to Mac, and the Milesians passed muster as true
Macdonels, Maclachlans, and Macbriars, without being questioned.
The second battalion immediately embarked at Greenock
for the West Indies, under the convoy of the Ludlow Castle; and after the
reduction of Guadaloupe, it was transferred to New York, and in July,
1759, was combined with the first battalion, in order to engage in the
operations then projected against the French settlernents in Canada.
General Wolfe was to proceed up the St. Lawrence and besiege Quebec.
General Amherst, who had succeeded Ahercromby as commander-in-chief, was
to attempt the reduction of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and then effect a
junction with General Wolfe before Quebec. Brigadier General John Prideaux
was to proceed against the French fort near the falls of Niagara, the most
important post of all French America.
The army first put in motion was that under Amherst,
which assembled at Fort Edward on June 19th. It included the 42nd and
Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders, and when afterwards joined by the second
battalion of the 42nd, numbered fourteen thousand five hundred men. On the
21st, preceded by The Black Watch the army moved forward and encamped on
Lake George, where, during the previous year, the army rested prior to the
attack on Ticonderoga. Considerable time was spent in preparations for
assaulting this formidable post, but on seeing the preparations made by
the English generals for a siege, the French set fire to the magazines and
buildings, and retired to Crown Point.
The plan of campaign on the part of the French appeared
to have been to embarrass Amherst by retarding the advance of his army,
but not to hazard any considerable engagement, nor to allow themselves to
be so completely invested as to cut off all retreat. The main object of
their tactics was so to delay the advance of the English that the season
for action on the Lakes would pass away without showing any decisive
advantage on the part of the invaders, whilst their own forces could be
gradually concentrated, and thus arrest the progress of Amherst down the
St. Lawrence.
On taking possession of Ticonderoga, which effectually
covered the frontiers of New York, General Amherst proceeded to repair the
fortifications and, while superintending this work, was indefatigable in
preparing batteaux and other vessels for conveying his troops, and
obtaining the superiority on the Lakes.
Meanwhile the French
abandoned Crown Point and retired to Isle aux Noix, on the northern
extremity of Lake Champlain. General Amherst moved forward and took
possession of the fort which the French had abandoned, and the second
battalion of the 42nd was ordered up. Having gained a naval superiority on
Lake Champlain the army went into winter quarters at Crown Point.
The main undertaking of the
campaign was the reduction of Quebec, by far the most difficult operation,
where General Wolfe was expected to perform an important part with not
more than seven thousand effective men. The movement commenced at Sandy
Hook, Tuesday May 8, 1759 when the expedition set sail for Louisburg,
under convoy of the Nightingale, the fleet consisting of about
twenty-eight sail, the greater part of which was to take in the troops
from Nova Scotia, and the rest having on board Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders. They
arrived at Louisburg on the 17th. and there remained until June 4th, when
the fleet again set sail, consisting of one hundred and fifty vessels,
twenty-two of which were ships of the line. They entered the St. Lawrence
on the 13th, and on the 23rd anchored near Isle aux Coudres. On the
26th, the whole armament
arrived off the Isle of Orleans, and the next day disembarked. Montcalm
depended largely on the natural position of the city of Quebec for
defence, although he neglected nothing for his security. Every
landing-place was in-trenched and protected. At midnight on the 28th a
fleet of fire-ships came down the tide, but was grappled by the British
soldiers and towed them free of the shipping. Point Levi, on the night of
the 29th was occupied, and batteries constructed, from which red-hot balls
were discharged, demolishing the lower town of Quebec and injuring the
upper. But the citadel and every avenue from the river to the cliff were
too strongly entrenched for an assault.
General Wolfe,
enterprising, daring, was eager for battle. Perceiving that the eastern
bank of the Montmorenci was higher than the position of Montcalm, on July
9th he crossed the north channel and encamped there; but not a spot on the
line of the Montmorenci was left unprotected by the vigilant Montcalm.
General Wolfe planned that
two brigades should ford the Montmorenci at the proper time of the tide,
while Monckton~ez_rsquo~s regirnents should cross the St. Lawrence in boats from
Point Levi. The signal was given and the advance made in the face of shot
and shell. Those who got first on shore, not waiting for support, ran
hastily towards the entrenchments, and were repulsed in such disorder that
they could not again come into line. Wolfe was compelled to order a
retreat. Intrepidity and discipline could not overcome the heavy fire of a
well protected enemy. In that assault, which occurred on July 31st, Wolfe
lost four hundred in killed.
General Murray was next
sent with twelve hundred men, above the town, to destroy the French ships
and open communication with General Amherst. They learned that Niagara had
surrendered and that Ticonderoga and Crown Point had been abandoned. But
General Wolfe looked in vain for General Amherst. The commander-in-chief,
opposed by no more than three thousand men, was loitering at Crown Point;
nor was even a messenger received from him. The heroic Wolfe was left to
struggle alone against odds and difficulties which every hour made more
appalling. Every one able to bear arms was in the field fighting for their
homes, their language, and their religion. Old men of seventy and boys of
fifteen fired at the English detachments from the edges of the woods.
The feeble frame of General
Wolfe, disabled by fever, began to sink under the fearful strain. He laid
before his chief officers three desperate methods of attacking Montcalm,
all of which they opposed, but proposed to convey five thousand men above
the town, and thus draw Montcalm from his intrenchments. General Wolfe
acquiesced and prepared to carry it into effect. On the 5th and 6th of
September he marched the army from Point Levi, and embarked in transports,
resolving to land at the point that ever since has borne his name, and
take the enemy by surprise. Every officer knew his appointed duty, when at
one o~ez_rsquo~clock on the morning of the 13th, about half the army glided down
with the tide. When the cove was reached, General Wolfe and the troops
with him leaped ashore, and clambered up the steep hill, holding by the
roots and boughs of the maple, spruce and ash trees, that covered the
declivity, and with but little difficulty dispersed the picket which
guarded the height. At daybreak General Wolfe, with his battalions, stood
on the plains of Abraham. When the news was carried to Montcalm, he said,
"They have at last got to the weak side of this miserable garrison; we
must give battle, and crush them before mid-day." Before ten o~ez_rsquo~clock the
two opposing armies were ranged in each other~ez_rsquo~s presence. The English,
five thousand strong, were all regulars, perfect in discipline, terrible
in their fearless enthusiasm, and commanded by a man whom they obeyed with
confidence and admiration. Mont-calm had but five weak battalions of two
thousand men, mingled with disorderly peasantry. The French with three and
the English with two small pieces of artillery cannonaded each other for
nearly an hour.
Montcalm led the French
army impetuously to the attack. The ill-disciplined companies broke by
their precipitation and the unevenness of the ground, fired by platoons
without unity. The English received the shock with calmness, reserving
their fire until the enemy were within forty yards, when they began a
regular, rapid firing. Montcalm was everywhere, braving dangers, though
wounded, cheered others by his example. The Canadians flinching from the
hot fire, gave way when General Wolfe placing himself at the head of two
regiments, charged with bayonets. General Wolfe was wounded three times,
the third time mortally. "Support me," he cried to an officer near him;
"let not my brave fellows see me drop." He was carried to the rear. "They
run, they run," cried the officer on whom he leaned. "Who run?" asked
Wolfe, as his life was fast ebbing. "The French," replied the officer,
"give way everywhere." "What," cried the dying hero, "do they run already?
Go, one of you, to Colonel Burton; bid him march Webb~ez_rsquo~s regiment with all
speed to Charles River to cut off the fugitives." "Now, God he praised, I
die happy," were the last words he uttered. The heroic Montcalm, struck by
a musket ball, continued in the engagement, till attempting to rally a
body of fugitive Canadians, was mortally wounded, On September 17th, the
city surrendered.
The rapid sketch thus given
does not represent the part taken by Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders. Fortunately
Lieutenant Malcolm Fraser kept a journal, and from it the following is
gleaned: June 30th, the Highlanders with Kennedy~ez_rsquo~s or the 43rd, crossed
the river and joined the 15th, or Amhersts~ez_rsquo~, with some Rangers, marched to
Point Levi, having numerous skirmishes on the way. Captain Campbell posted
his company in St. Joseph~ez_rsquo~s church, and there fired a volley upon an
assaulting party. On Sunday, July 1st, the regiment was cannonaded by some
floating batteries, losing four killed and eight wounded. On the 9th,
before daylight, the Highlanders struck tents at Point Levi, and marched
out of sight of the town. On the 11th three men were wounded by the fire
of the great guns from the city. On the 21st, it was reported that
fourteen privates of Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders were wounded by the Royal
Americans, having, in the dark, mistaken them for the enemy. On the night
of July 24th, Colonel Fraser, with a detachment of about three hundred and
fifty men of his regiment, marched down the river, in order to take up
such prisoners and cattle as might be found. Lieutenant Alexander Fraser,
Jr., returned to the camp with the information that Colonel Fraser had
been wounded by a shot from some Canadians in ambush; and the same shot
wounded Captain MacPherson; both of whom returned that day to camp. On the
27th the detachment returned bringing three women and one man prisoners,
and almost two hundred cattle. July 31st Fraser~ez_rsquo~s and Amherst~ez_rsquo~s regiments
embarked in boats at Point Levi and landed on the Montmorenci, where, on
that day, General Wolfe fought the battle of Beauport Flats, in which he
lost seven hundred killed and wounded. His retreat was covered by the
Highlanders, without receiving any hurt, although exposed to a battery of
two cannons which kept a very brisk fire upon them. The regiment went to
the island of Orleans, and on August 1st to Point Levi. On Wednesday,
August 15th, Captain John MacDonell, seven subalterns, eight sergeants,
eight corporals and one hundred and forty-four men of
Fraser~ez_rsquo~s regiment, crossed from Point Levi to
the Island of Orleans and lodged in the church of St. Peter~ez_rsquo~s, and the
next day marched to the east end of the island, and on the
17th crossed to St. Joachim, where they met
with slight resistance. They fortified the Priest~ez_rsquo~s house, and were not
reinforced until the 23rd, and then all marched to attack the village,
which was captured, with "a few prisoners taken, all of whom the barbarous
Captain Montgomery, who commanded us, ordered to be butchered in a most
inhuman and cruel manner. . . . After this skirmish we set about burning
the houses with great success, setting all in flames till we came to the
church of St. Anne~ez_rsquo~s, where we put up for this night, and were joined by
Captain Ross, with about one hundred and twenty men of his company." The
work of devastation continued the following day, until the forces reached
Ange Gardien. August 28, Captain MacDonell with Captain Ross took
post at Chateau Richer. September 1st, Chateau Richer was burned, and the
force marched to Montmorenci, burning all the houses on the way. On the
2nd the Highlanders returned to their camp at Point Levi. Captain
Alexander Cameron of Dungallon died on the 3rd. On the 4th Captain
Alexander Fraser of Culduthell arrived with a fourteenth company to the
regiment. On the 6th a detachment of six hundred Highlanders with the 15th
and 43rd regiments, marched five miles above Point Levi and then crossed
the river in crowded vessels, but for several days remained mostly on
board the ships. On September 17th, the Highlanders landed at Wolfe~ez_rsquo~s
Cove, with the rest of the army, and were soon on the plains of Abraham.
When the main body of the French commenced to retreat "our regiment were
then ordered by Brigadier General Murray to draw their swords and pursue
them; which I dare say increased their panic but saved many of their
lives. * * * In advancing we passed over a great many dead and wounded
(French regulars mostly) lying in the front of our regiment, who,~ez_mdash~~ez_rsquo~ mean
the Highlanders~ez_mdash~to do them justice behaved extremely well all day, as did
the whole of the army. After pursuing
the French to the very gates of the town, our regiment was ordered to form
fronting the town, on the ground whereon the French formed first. At this
time the rest of the army came up in good order. General Murray having
then put himself at the head of our regiment ordered them to face to the
left and march thro~ez_rsquo~ the bush of wood, towards the General Hospital when
they got a great gun or two to play
upon us from the town which however did no damage, but we had a few men
killed and officers wounded by some skulking fellows, with small arms,
from the bushes and behind the houses in the suburbs of St. Louis and St.
John~ez_rsquo~s. After marching a short way through the bush, Brigadier Murray
thought proper to order us to return again to the high road leading from
Porte St. Louis, to the heights of Abraham, where the battle was fought,
and after marching till we got clear of the bushes, we were ordered to
turn to the right, and go along the edge of them towards the bank at the
descent between us and the General Hospital, under which we understood
there was a body of the enemy who, no sooner saw us, than they began
firing on us from the bushes and from the bank: we soon dispossessed them
from the bushes, and from thence kept firing for about a quarter of an
hour on those under cover of the bank; but, as they exceeded us greatly in
numbers, they killed and wounded a great many of our men, and killed two
officers, which obliged us to retire a little, and form again, when the
58th Regiment with the 2nd Battalion of Royal Americans having come up to
our assistance, all three making about five hundred men, advanced against
the enemy and drove them first down to the great meadow between the
hospital and town and afterwards over the river St. Charles. It was at
this time and while in the bushes that our regiment suffered most;
Lieutenant Roderick, McNeill of Barra, and Alexander McDonell, and John
McDonell, and John McPherson, volunteer, with many of our men, were killed
before we were reinforced; and Captain Thomas Ross having gone down with
about one hundred men of the 3rd Regiment to the meadow, after the enemy,
when they were out of reach, ordered me up to desire those on the height
would wait till he would come up and join them, which I did, but before
Mr. Ross could get up, he unfortunately was mortally wounded. * * *
We had of our regiment three officers
killed and ten wounded, one of whom Captain Simon Fraser, afterwards died.
Lieutenant Archibald Campbell was thought to have been mortally wounded,
but to the surprise of most people recovered, Captain John McDonell thro~ez_rsquo~
both thighs; Lieut. Ronald McDonell thro~ez_rsquo~ the knee; Lieutenant Alexander
Campbell thro~ez_rsquo~ the leg: Lieutenant Douglas thro~ez_rsquo~ the arm, who died of this
wound soon afterwards : Ensign Gregorson. Ensign McKenzie and Lieutenant
Alexander Fraser, all slightly, I received a contusion in the right
shoulder or rather breast, before the action become general, which pained
me a good deal, but it did not disable me from my duty then or afterwards.
The detachment of our regiment consisted, at our
marching from Point Levi, of six hundred men, besides commissioned and non
commissioned officers; but of these, two officers and about sixty men were
left on board for want of boats, and an officer and about thirty men left
at the landing place; besides a few left sick on board, so that we had
about five hundred men in the action. We suffered in men and officers more
than any three regiments in the field. We were commanded by Captain John
Campbell; the Colonel and Captain McPherson having been unfortunately
wounded on the 25th July, of which they were not yet fully recovered. We
lay on our arms all the night of the 13th September."
On the 14th the Highlanders pitched
their tents on the battlefield, within reach of the guns of the town. On
the following day they were ordered to camp near the wood, at a greater
distance from the town. Here, within five hundred yards of the town, they
commenced to make redoubts. After the surrender of Quebec the Highlanders
marched into the city and there took up their quarters. On February 13,
1760, in an engagement with the French at Point Levi, Lieutenant McNeil
was killed, and some of the soldiers wounded. March 18th Captain Donald
McDonald, with some detachments, in all five hundred men, attacked the
French posts at St. Augustin, and without loss took eighty prisoners, and
that night returned to Quebec.
Scurvy, occasioned by salt
provisions and cold, made fierce work in the garrison, and in the army
scarce a man was free from it. On April 30th a return of Fraser~ez_rsquo~s
Highlanders, in the garrison at Quebec, showed three hundred and fourteen
fit for duty, five hundred and eighty sick, and one hundred and six dead
since September 18, 1759.
April 27th, the French under De
Levi, in strong force advanced against the English, the latter being
forced to withdraw within the walls of Quebec. Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders was
one of the detachments sent to cover the retreat of the army, which was
effected without loss. At half-past six, the next morning General Murray
marched out and formed his army on the heights of Abraham. The left wing
was under Colonel Simon Fraser composed of the Highlanders, the 43rd, and
the 23rd Welsh Fusiliers. The Highlanders were exposed to a galling fire
from the bushes in front and flank and were forced to fall back; and every
regiment made the best of its way into the city. The British loss was two
hundred and fifty-seven killed and seven hundred and sixty-one wounded.
The Highlanders had about four
hundred men in the field, nearly one-half of whom had that day, of their
own accord, come out of the hospital. Among the killed were Captain Donald
Macdonald, Lieutenant Cosmo Gordon and fifty-five non-commissioned
officers, pipers and privates; their wounded were Colonel Fraser, Captains
John Campbell of Dunoon, Alexander Fraser, Alexander MacLeod, Charles
Macdonell; Lieutenants Archibald Campbell, son of Glenlyon, Charles
Stewart, Hector Macdonald, John Macbean, Alexander Fraser, senior,
Alexander Campbell, John Nairn, Arthur Rose, Alexander Fraser, junior,
Simon Fraser, senior, Archibald McAlister, Alexander Fraser, John
Chisholm, Simon Fraser, junior, Malcolm Fraser, and Donald McNeil; Ensigns
Henry Munro, Robert Menzies, Duncan Cameron, of Fassifern, William
Robertson, Alexander Gregorson and Malcolm Fraser, and one hundred and
twenty-nine non-commissioned officers and privates.
Lieutenant Charles Stewart, engaged
in the Rising of the Forty-Five, in Stewart of Appin~ez_rsquo~s regiment, was
severely wounded at Culloden. As he lay in his quarters after the battle
on the heights of Abraham, speaking to some brother officers on the recent
actions, he exclaimed, "From April battles, and Murray generals, good Lord
deliver me !" alluding to his wound at Culloden, where the vanquished
blamed lord George Murray for fighting on the best field in the country
for regular troops, cavalry and artillery; and likewise alluding to his
present wound, and to General Murray~ez_rsquo~s conduct in marching out of a
garrison to attack an enemy, more than treble his numbers, in an open
field, where their whole strength could be brought to act. No time was
lost in repeating to the general what the wounded officer had said; but
Murray, who was a man of humor and of a generous mind, on the following
morning called on his subordinate, and heartily wished him better
deliverance in the next battle, when he hoped to give him occasion to pray
in a different manner.
On the night of the battle De Levi
opened trenches within six hundred yards of the walls of the city, and
proceeded to besiege the city, while General Murray made preparations for
defence. On May 1st the largest of the English blockhouses accidentally
blew up, injuring Captain Cameron. On the 17th the French suddenly
abandoned their entrenchments. Lord Murray pursued but was unable to
overtake them. He formed a junction, in September with General Amherst.
General Amherst had been notified of
the intended siege of Quebec by De Levi; but only persevered in the tardy
plans which he had formed. Canada now presented no difficulties only such
as General Amherst might create. The country was suffering from four years
of scarcity, a disheartened, starving peasantry, and the feeble remains of
five or six battalions wasted by incredible hardships. Colonel Haviland
proceeded from Crown Point and took the deserted fort at Isle aux Noix.
Colonel Haldimand, with the grenadiers, light infantry and a battalion of
The Black Watch, took post at the bottom of the lake. General Amherst led
the main body of ten thousand men by way of Oswego; why, no one can tell.
The labor of going there was much greater than going direct to Montreal.
After toiling to Oswego, he proceeded cautiously down the St. Lawrence,
treating the people humanely, and without the loss of life, save while
passing the rapids, he met, on September 7th, the army of lord Murray
before Montreal, the latter on his way up from Quebec, intimidated the
people and amused himself by burning villages and harrying Canadians. On
the 8th Colonel Haviland joined the forces. Thus the three armies came
together in overwhelming strength, to take an open town of a few hundred
inhabitants who were ready to surrender on the first appearance of the
The Black Watch, or Royal
Highlanders remained in America until the close of the year 1761. The
officers were Lieutenant Colonel Francis Grant; Majors, Gordon Graham and
John Reid; Captains, John McNeil, Allan Campbell, Thomas Graeme, James
Stewart, James Murray, Thomas Stirling, William Murray, John Stuart,
Alexander Reid, William Grant, David Haldane, Archibald Campbell, John
Campbell, Kenneth Tolmie, William Cockburne; Captain-Lieutenant, James
Grant; Lieutenants, John Graham, Alexander Turnbull, Alexander McIntosh,
James Gray, John Small, Archibald Campbell, James Campbell, Archibald La~ez_mdash~
mont, David Mills, Simon Blair, David Barclay, Alexander Mackay, Robert
Menzies, Patrick Balneaves, John Campbell, senior, John Robertson, John
Grant, George Leslie, Duncan Campbell, Adam Stuart, George Grant, James
McIntosh, John Smith, Peter Grant, Simon Fraser, Alexander Farquharson,
John Campbell, junior, William Brown, Thomas Fletcher, Elbert Herring,
John Leith, Archibald Campbell, Alexander Donaldson, Archibald Campbell,
Patrick Sinclair, John Gregor, Lewis Grant, Archibald Campbell, John
Graham, Allan Grant, Archibald McNab; Ensigns, Charles Menzies, John
Charles St. Clair, Neil McLean, Thomas Cunison, Alexander Gregor, William
Grant, George Campbell, Nathaniel McCulloch, Daniel Robertson, John
Sutherland, Charles Grant, Samuel Stull, James Douglass, Thomas Scott,
Charles Graham, James Robertson, Patrick Murray, Lewis Grant; Chaplain,
Lauchlan Johnston; Adjutants, Alexander Donaldson, John Gregor;
Quarter-Masters, John Graham, Adam Stewart; Surgeons, David Hepburn,
Robert Drummond.
At the close of the year 1761 The
Black Watch, with ten other regiments, among which was Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s
Highlanders, embarked for Barbadoes, there to join an armament against
Martinique and Havanna. After the surrender of Havanna, the first
battalion of the 42nd, and Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders embarked for New York,
which they reached in the end of October, 1762. Before leaving
Cuba, all the men of the second battalion of the 42nd fit for service were
consolidated with the first, and the remainder shipped to Scotland, where
they were reduced the following year.
The 42nd, or The Black Watch
was stationed at Albany till the summer of 1763 when they, with a
detachment of Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders and another of the 60th, under
command of Colonel Henry Boquet, were sent to the relief of Fort Pitt,
then beseiged by the Indians. This expedition consisting of nine hundred
and fifty-six men, with its convoy, reached Fort Bedford, July 25
1763. The whole country in that region was aroused by the depredations of
the Indians. On the 28th Boquet moved his army out of Fort Bedford and
marched to Fort Ligonier, where he left his train, and proceeded with
pack-horses. Before them lay a dangerous defile, several miles in length,
commanded the whole distance by high and craggy hills. On August 5th, when
within half a mile of Bushy-Run, about one o~ez_rsquo~clock in the afternoon, after
a harrassing march of seventeen miles, they were suddenly attacked by the
Indians; but two companies of the 42nd Highlanders drove them from their
ambuscade. When the pursuit ceased, the savages returned. These savages
fought like men contending for their homes, and their hunting grounds. To
them it was a crisis which they were forced to meet. Again the Highlanders
charged them with fixed bayonets; but as soon as they were driven from one
post they appeared at another, and at last entirely surrounded the
English, and would have entirely cut them off had it not been for the cool
behavior of the troops and the good manoeuvering of the commander. Night
came on, and the English remainded on a ridge of land, commodious for a
camp, except for the total want of water. The next morning the army found
itself still in a critical position. If they advanced to give battle, then
their convoy and wounded would fall a prey to the enemy; if they remained
quiet, they would be picked off one by one, and thus miserably perish.
Boquet took advantage of the resolute intrepidity of the savages by
feigning a retreat. The red men hurried to the charge, when two companies
concealed for the purpose fell upon their flank; others turned and met
them in front; and the Indians yielding to the irresistible shock, were
utterly routed.
The victory was dearly bought, for
Colonel Boquet, in killed and wounded, in the two days action, lost about
one-fourth of his men, and almost all his horses. He was obliged to
destroy his stores, and was hardly able to carry his wounded. That night
the English encamped at Bushy Run, and four days later were at Fort Pitt.
In the skirmishing and fighting, during the march, the 42nd or The Black
Watch, lost Lieutenants John Graham and James Mackintosh, one sergeant and
twenty-six rank and file killed; and Captain John Graham of Duchray,
Lieutenant Duncan Campbell, two serjeants, two drummers, and thirty rank
and file, wounded. Of Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders one drummer and five
privates were killed; and Lieutenant Donald Campbell and volunteer John
Peebles, three serjeants and seven privates wounded.
The 42nd regiment passed the winter
at Fort Pitt, and during the summer of 1764, eight companies were sent
with the army of Boquet against the Ohio Indians. After a harrassing
warfare the Indians sued for peace. Notwithstanding the labors of a march
of many hundred miles among dense forests, during which they experienced
the extremes of heat and cold, the Highlanders did not lose a single man
from fatigue or exhaustion. The army returned to Fort Pitt in January,
1765, during very severe weather. Three men died of sickness, and on their
arrival at Fort Pitt only nineteen men were under the surgeon~ez_rsquo~s charge.
The regiment was now in better quarters than it had been for years. It was
greatly reduced in numbers, from its long service, the nature and variety
of its hardships, amidst the torrid heat of the West Indies the rigorous
winters of New York and Ohio, and the fatalities or the field of battle.
The regiment remained in
Pennsylvania until the month of July, 1767, when it embarked at
Philadelphia for Ireland. Such of the men who preferred to remain in
America were permitted to join other regiments. These volunteers were so
numerous, that, along with those who had been previously sent home
disabled, and others discharged and settled in America, the regiment that
returned was very small in proportion of that which had left Scotland.
The 42nd Royal Highlanders, or The
Black Watch, made a very favorable impression in America. The Virginia
Gazette, July 30, 1767, published an article from which the following
extracts have been taken:
"Last Sunday evening, the Royal
Highland Regiment embarked for Ireland, which regiment, since its arrival
in America, has been distinguished for having undergone most amazing
fatigues, made long and frequent marches through an unhospitable country,
bearing excessive heat and severe cold with alacrity and cheerfulness,
frequently encamping in deep snow, such as those that inhabit the interior
parts of this province do not see, and which only those who inhabit the
most northern parts of Europe can have any idea of, continually exposed in
camp and on their marches to the alarms of a savage enemy, who, in all
their attempts, were forced to fly. * * * And, in a particular manner, the
freemen of this and the neighboring provinces have most sincerely to thank
them for that resolution and bravery with which they, under Colonel Boquet,
and a small number of Royal Americans, defeated the enemy, and ensured to
us peace and security from a savage foe; and, along with our blessings for
these benefits, they have our thanks for that decorum in behavior which
they maintained during their stay in this city, giving an example that the
most amiable behavior in civil life is no way inconsistent with the
character of the good soldier: and for their loyalty, fidelity, and
orderly behavior, they have every wish of the people for health, honor,
and a pleasant voyage."
The loss sustained by the regiment
during the seven years it was employed in America and the West Indies was
as follows:
Comparing the loss sustained by the
42nd in the field with that of other corps, it has generally been less
than theirs, except at the defeat at Ticonderoga. The officers who served
in the corps attributed the comparative loss to the celerity of their
attack and the use of the broadsword, which the enemy could never
Of the officers who were in the
regiment in 1759 seven rose to be general officers, viz., Francis Grant of
Grant, John Reid of Strathloch, Allan Campbell of Glenure, James Murray,
son of lord George Murray, John Campbell of Strachur, Thomas Stirling of
Ardoch, and John Small. Those who became field officers were, Gordon
Graham, Duncan Campbell of Inneraw, Thomas Graham of Duchray, John Graham
his brother, William Murray of Lintrose, William Grant, James Abercromby
of Glassa, James Abercromby junior, Robert Grant, James Grant, Alexander
Turn-bull of Strathcathro, Alexander Donaldson, Thomas Fletcher of
Landertis, Donald Robertson, Duncan Campbell, Alexander Maclean and James
Eddington. A corp of officers, respectable in their persons, character and
rank in private society, was of itself sufficient to secure esteem and
lead a regiment where every man was a soldier.
It has already been noticed that in
the spring of 1760, the thought of General Amherst was wholly engrossed on
the conquest of Canada. He was appealed to for protection against the
Cherokees who were committing cruelties, in their renewed warfare against
the settlements. In April he detached, from the central army, that had
conquered Ohio, Colonel Montgomery with six hundred Highlanders of his own
regiment and six hundred Royal Americans to strike a blow at the Cherokees
and then return. The force embarked at New York, and by the end of April
was in Carolina. At Ninety-six, near the end of May, the army was joined
by many gentlemen of distinction, as volunteers, besides seven hundred
Carolina rangers, which constituted the principal strength of the country.
On June 1st, the army crossed Twelve-mile River; and leaving their tents
standing on advantageous ground, at eight in the evening moved onward
through the woods to surprise Estatoe, about twenty miles from the camp.
On the way Montgomery surprised Little Keowee and put every man to the
sword, sparing only women and children. Early the next morning they
reached Estatoe only to find it abandoned, except by a few who could not
escape. The place was reduced to ashes, as was Sugar Town, and every other
settlement in the lower nation destroyed. For years, the half-charred
rafters of their houses might be seen on the desolate hill-sides. "I could
not help pitying them a little," wrote Major Grant; "their villages were
agreeably situated; their houses neatly built; there were everywhere
astonishing magazines of corn, which were all consumed." The surprise in
every town was almost equal, for the whole was the work of only a few
hours; the Indians had no time to save what they valued most; but left for
the pillagers money and watches, wampum and furs. About sixty Cherokees
were killed; forty, chiefly women and children, were made prisoners; but
the warriors had generally escaped to the mountains.
Meanwhile Fort Prince George had
been closely invested, and Montgomery marched to its relief. From this
place he dispatched two friendly chiefs to the middle settlements, to
offer terms of peace, and orders were sent to Fort Loudon to bring about
accommodations for the upper towns. The Indians would not listen to any
overtures, so Montgomery was constrained to march against them. The most
difficult part of the service was now to be performed; for the country to
be passed through was covered by dark thickets, numerous deep ravines, and
high river banks; where a small number of men might distress and even wear
out the best appointed army.
Colonel Montgomery began his march
June 24, 1760, and at night encamped at the old town of Oconnee. The next
evening he arrived at the War-Woman~ez_rsquo~s Creek; and on the 26th, crossed the
Blue Mountains, and made his encampment at the deserted town of Stecoe.
The army trod the rugged defiles, which were as dangerous as men had ever
penetrated, with fearless alacrity, and the Highlanders were refreshed by
coming into the presence of the mountains. "What may be Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s fate
in the Cherokee country," wrote Washington, "I cannot so readily
determine. It seems he has made a prosperous beginning, having penetrated
into the heart of the country, and he is now advancing his troops in high
health and spirits to the relief of Fort Loudon. But let him be wary. He
has a crafty, subtle enemy to deal with, that may give him most trouble
when he least expects it." [Spark's Writings of Washington, Vol. II,p.
The morning of the 27th found the
whole army early on the march to the town of Etchowee, the nearest of the
Cherokee settlements, and eighteen miles distant. When within five miles
of the town, the army was attacked in a most advantageous position for the
Indians. It was a low valley, in which the bushes were so thick that the
soldiers could see scarcely three yards before them; and through this
valley flowed a muddy river, with steep clay banks. Captain Morrison, in
command of a company of rangers, was in the advance. When he entered the
ravine, the Indians emerged from their ambush, and, raising the war-whoop,
darted from covert to covert, at the same time firing at the whites.
Captain. Morrison was immediately shot down, and his men closely engaged.
The Highlanders and provincials drove the enemy from their lurking~ez_mdash~places,
and, returning to their yells three huzzas and three waves of their
bonnets and hats, they chased them from height and hollow. The army passed
the river at the ford; and, protected by it on their right, and by a
flanking party on the left, treading a path, at times so narrow as to be
obliged to march in Indian file, fired upon from both front and rear, they
were not collected at Etchowee until midnight; after a loss of twenty
killed and seventy-six wounded, Of these, the Highlanders had one serjeant,
and six privates killed, and Captain Sutherland, Lieutenants Macmaster and
Mackinnon, and Assistant-Surgeon Munro, and one serjeant, one piper, and
twenty-four rank and file wounded.
"Several soldiers of this
(Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s) and other regiments fell into the hands of the Indians,
being taken in an ambush. Allan Macpherson, one of these soldiers,
witnessing the miserable fate of several of his fellow-prisoners, who had
been tortured to death by the Indians, and seeing them preparing to
commence the same operations upon himself, made signs that he had
something to communicate. An interpreter was brought. Macpherson told
them, that, provided his life was spared for a few minutes, he would
communicate the secret of an extraordinary medicine, which, if applied to
the skin, would cause it to resist the strongest blow of a tomahawk, or
sword, and that, if they would allow him to go to the woods with a guard,
to collect the plants proper for this medicine, he would prepare it, and
allow the experiment to be tried on his own neck by the strongest and most
expert warrior among them. This story easily gained upon the
superstititious credulity of the Indians, and the request of the
Highlander was instantly complied with. Being sent into the woods, he soon
returned with such plants as he chose to pick up. Having boiled these
herbs, he rubbed his neck with their juice, and laying his head upon a log
of wood, desired the strongest man among them to strike at his neck with
his tomahawk, when he would find he could not make the smallest
impression. An Indian, levelling a blow with all his might, cut with such
force, that the head flew off to a distance of several yards. The Indians
were fixed in amazement at their own credulity, and the address with which
the prisoner had escaped the lingering death prepared for him; but,
instead of being enraged at this escape of their victim, they were so
pleased with his ingenuity that they refrained from inflicting farther
cruelties on the remaining prisoners." [Stewart's Sketches of the
Highlanders, Vol. II, p. 61.]
Only for one day did Colonel
Montgomery rest in the heart of the Alleghanies. On the following night,
deceiving the Indians by kindling lights at Etchowee, the army retreated,
and, marching twenty-five miles, never halted, till it came to War-Woman~ez_rsquo~s
Creek. On the 30th, it crossed the Oconnee Mountain, and on July 1st
reached Fort Prince George, and soon after returned to New York.
The retreat of Colonel Montgomery
was the knell of the famished Fort Loudon, situated on the borders of the
Cherokee country. The garrison was forced to capitulate to the Indians,
who agreed to escort the men in safety to another fort. They were,
however, made the victims of treachery; for the day after their departure
a body of savages waylaid them, killed some, and captured others, whom
they took back to Fort London.
The expedition of Montgomery but
served to inflame the Indians. July 11th the General Assembly represented
their inability to prevent the ravages made by the savages on the back
settlements, and by unanimous vote entreated the lieutenant governor "to
use the most pressing instances with Colonel Montgomery not to depart with
the king~ez_rsquo~s troops, as it might be attended with the most pernicious
consequences." Montgornery, warned that he was but giving the Cherokees
room to boast among the other tribes, of their having obliged the English
army to retreat, not only from the mountains, but also from the province,
shunned the path of duty, and leaving four companies of the Royal Scots,
sailed for Halifax by way of New York, coldly writing "I cannot help the
people~ez_rsquo~s fears." Afterwards, in the House of Commons, he acted as one who
thought the Americans factious in peace and feeble in war.
In 1761 the Montgomery Highlanders
were in the expedition against Dominique, and the following year against
Martinique and Havanna. At the end of October were again in New York.
Before the return of the six companies to New York, the two companies that
had been sent against the Indians in 1761, were sent, with a small force,
to retake St. John~ez_rsquo~s, New Foundland, which was occupied by a French force.
The English army consisted of the flank companies of the Royals, a
detachment of the 45th, two companies of Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders, a small
party of provincials, besides Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s. The army landed on September
12, 1762, seven miles northward of St. Johns. On the 17th the French
surrendered. Of Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders, Captain Mackenzie and four
privates were killed, and two privates wounded. After this service the two
companies joined the regiment at New York and there passed the winter. As
already noticed a detachment was with Colonel Boquet to the relief of Fort
Pitt in 1763. After the termination of hostilities an offer was made to
the officers and men either to settle in America, or return to their own
country. Those who remained obtained a grant of land in accordance to
their rank. [See Appendix, Note L.]
The following table shows the number
of killed and wounded of Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders during the war:
After the surrender of Montreal,
Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders were not called into action, until the fall of 1762,
when the two companies were with the expedition under Colonel William
Amherst, against St. John~ez_rsquo~s, Newfoundland. In this service Captain
Macdonell was mortally wounded, three rank and file killed, and seven
wounded. At the conclusion of the war, a number of the officers and men
having expressed a desire to remain in America, had their wishes granted,
and an allowance of land granted them. The rest returned to Scotland and
were discharged.
The following is a return of the
killed and wounded of Fraser~ez_rsquo~s Highlanders during the war from 1756 to
Whatever may be said of the 42nd,
or The Black Watch, concerning its soldierly bearing may also be
applied to both Montgomery~ez_rsquo~s and Fraser~ez_rsquo~s regiments. Both officers and men
were from the same people, having the same manners, customs, language and
aspirations. The officers were from among the best families, and the
soldiers respected and loved those who commanded them.
For three years after the fall of
Montreal the war between France and England lingered on the ocean. The
Treaty of Paris was signed February 10, 1763, which gave to England all
the French possessions in America eastward of the Mississippi from its
source to the river Iberville, and thence through Lakes Maurepas and
Pontchartrain to the Gulf of Mexico. Spain, with whom England had been at
war, at the same time ceded East and West Florida to the English Crown.
France was obliged to cede to Spain all that vast territory west of the
Mississippi, known as the province of Louisiana. The Treaty deprived
France of all her possessions in North America. To the genius of William
Pitt must be ascribed the conquest of Canada and the deprivation of France
of her possessions in the New World.
The acquisition of Canada, by keen
sighted observers, was regarded as a source of danger to England. As early
as the year 1748, the Swedish traveller Kalm, having described in vivid
language the commercial oppression under which the colonists were
suffering, added these remarkable words:
"I have been told, not only by
native Americans, but by English emigrants publicly, that within thirty or
fifty years the English colonies in North America may constitute a
separate state entirely independent of England. But as this whole country
towards the sea is unguarded, and on the frontier is kept uneasy by the
French, these dangerous neighbors are the reason why the love of these
colonies for their metropolis does not utterly decline. The English
government has, therefore, reason to regard the French in North America as
the chief power which urges their colonies to submission." [Pinkerton~ez_rsquo~s
Travels, Vol. XIII.]
On the definite surrender of Canada,
Choiseul said to those around him, "We have caught them at last"; his
eager hopes anticipating an early struggle of America for independence.
The French ministers consoled themselves for the Peace of Paris by the
reflection that the loss of Canada was a sure prelude to the independence
of the colonies. Vergennes, the sagacious and experienced ambassador, then
at Constantinople, a grave, laborious man, remarkable for a calm temper
and moderation of character, predicted to an English traveller, with
striking accuracy, the events that would occur. "England," he said, "will
soon repent of having removed the only check that could keep her colonies
in awe. They stand no longer in need of her protection. She will call on
them to contribute towards supporting the burdens they have helped to
bring on her, and they will answer by striking off all dependence."
It is not to be presumed that
Englishmen were wholly blind to this danger. There were advocates who
maintained that it would be wiser to restore Canada and retain Guadaloupe,
with perhaps Martinico and St. Lucia. This view was supported with
distinguished ability in an anonymous paper, said to have been written by
William Burke, the friend and kinsman of the great orator. The views
therein set forth were said to have been countenanced by lord Hardwicke.
The tide of English opinion was, however, very strongly in the opposite
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text:
- BSSM Title: 1st Year Revival Group Pastor
Angela is from London, England where she was a commercial manager and buyer for fifteen years. She was also a volunteer youth pastor before she committed herself into full-time ministry as a youth director. Angela and her husband came to the USA in 2008 with their three beautiful daughters to attend BSSM. Angela went on to complete all three years of school before coming on staff as a revival group pastor. In her role she activates, empowers, equips, and sends out healing revivalists all over the world. Angela carries an anointing for breakthrough and her desire is to display the raw love, power and glory of God!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Travel Updates
Naples Zoo will run out of food in two days
- From: news.com.au
- January 23, 2013
NAPLES Zoo has a big problem. In 48 hours they will run out of food to feed the animals.
Three hundred animals including tigers, giraffes, elephants and snow leopards face starvation unless more food supplies can be found.
The southern Italian zoo declared bankruptcy in 2011.
Administrators stepped in to keep the zoo running until a buyer could be found. That tenure runs out this month.
While there have been some offers, no buyers have met the strict criteria for purchasing a zoo. So it has come down to the wire.
Keepers told the Italian news agency ANSA they were down to the last scraps of food.
"There are only a few days left for both us and the animals. We would like to know why it has got to this point and mostly, what is going to be done."
Have your say
- Skip to:
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- Add comments
Add your comment on this story
Comments on this story
Rik of Australia Posted at 7:03 AM January 23, 2013
Maybe they should clean up the city first. Its filthy and littered with rubbish.
Comment 1 of 26
Megan of Adelaide Posted at 8:38 AM January 23, 2013
can donations be made? what is the government doing to support them?
Comment 2 of 26
prankking Posted at 10:07 AM January 23, 2013
Why dont they offer the animals to other Zoos? As long as the new taker will pay all costs.
Comment 3 of 26
It'sNoSurprise of In Denial Posted at 10:40 AM January 23, 2013
Mankind created this. We have a obligation to fix it. We have the intelligence to recognise the problem, the ability to rectify the problem, but also the arrogance to ignore the problem. Sad fact.
Comment 4 of 26
Nick of Melbourne Posted at 10:44 AM January 23, 2013
they won't run out of food - most of the animals ARE food!
Comment 5 of 26
Mark P of Perth NOR Posted at 12:09 PM January 23, 2013
As always animals are put last. Everything should be thrown at saving these precious animals. And why can't other zoos take some of them? What about appeals from charity? I am getting to be more ashamed each day to be a human being with what we are doing to habitat and wildlife in the world.
Comment 6 of 26
Cymek Posted at 12:20 PM January 23, 2013
prankking Posted at 10:07 AM Today You'd have thought that would have been the plan all along. It said they went bankrupt in 2011, plenty of time to try and arrange to give all the animals away to other zoos around the world. Private sponsership of individual animals by corporations perhaps and give them a tax concession to do so. Very poor form Naples zoo. Rik of Australia they have a reponsibility to these animals, they locked them up in cages and made the animals completely dependent on humans to care for them.
Comment 7 of 26
disgraced of human wasteland Posted at 12:24 PM January 23, 2013
Hmm... how 'bout... letting them go? Anyone thought of that idea? Maybe animals are 'supposed' to fend for themselves but because because we humans disregard the nature of things for our selfish reasons and emotional benefit, we now have depended animals who only act at the snap of our fingers or the crakk of the whip. All that money to feed animals and we can't even feed the homeless. Enjoy your Karma idiots!!
Comment 8 of 26
ellen entenzon Posted at 12:30 PM January 23, 2013
Can donations be made?
Comment 9 of 26
Kon Posted at 12:48 PM January 23, 2013
Let the animals go would be a nice thing to do. Imagine if the animals were running the show and they kept people behind bars. what would you say then?
Comment 10 of 26
Jake of Melbourne Posted at 12:48 PM January 23, 2013
Matt Damon to the rescue?
Comment 11 of 26
Kate Posted at 12:51 PM January 23, 2013
What are the requirements??
Comment 12 of 26
Amy of Brisbane Posted at 12:57 PM January 23, 2013
The responsible thing for them to do would have been to arrange rehoming with other zoos.
Comment 13 of 26
Roger of Nth Qld Posted at 1:14 PM January 23, 2013
I'll take a tiger . . it can chase the wild pigs on the farm A very sad story if the animals are left to starve
Comment 14 of 26
Nickson of melb Posted at 1:31 PM January 23, 2013
Matt Damon bought a Zoo... call him
Comment 15 of 26
John Cussie of Australia Posted at 2:20 PM January 23, 2013
What about the food chain. Put all the animals together in one big enclosure, then the circle of life can continue. As John Hammond once said "These creatures require our absence to survive, not our help. And if we could only step aside and trust in nature, life will find a way"
Comment 16 of 26
maxine Posted at 2:36 PM January 23, 2013
how can we help?
Comment 17 of 26
William of Sydney Posted at 2:41 PM January 23, 2013
Simple - feed animal a to animal b, etc, etc
Comment 18 of 26
Habib of Lakemba NSW Posted at 2:56 PM January 23, 2013
Maybe just feed the lesser animals to the bigger ones, it will create revenue.
Comment 19 of 26
Ben of Canberra Posted at 3:04 PM January 23, 2013
Oh Rik - some rubbish is more important than the lives of hundreds of animals, many of which are likely endangered?
Comment 20 of 26
Big D of Brisbane Posted at 3:08 PM January 23, 2013
id love to buy a zoo! ive got access to a couple of dollars..... Literally a couple :(
Comment 21 of 26
K Posted at 4:12 PM January 23, 2013
Maybe we all put in a share of money each and we can share the zoo and hirer someone to look after it. I would love to play with animals all day. To release them would be even more dangerous for the animals KON posted at 12.48, they would not have a clue how to find their own food and defend themselves from other animals
Comment 22 of 26
Grumpy Smurf of Australia Posted at 4:14 PM January 23, 2013
Put the giraffes in with the tigers and the elephants in with the snow leopards - problem solved (and higher ticket sales too)
Comment 23 of 26
Shaun of 5061 Posted at 4:38 PM January 23, 2013
If you release these animals into the wild, because they have been domesticated they will probably die or get eaten People are more important to animals
Comment 24 of 26
Antonio of Sydney Posted at 4:50 PM January 23, 2013
After the US occupation of Iraq the US army had the same problem at the Baghdad zoo. Not all the animals survived but the lions sure did and received, shall we say, a much bigger variety of meals than they would normally get.
Comment 25 of 26
Buggy of Melb Posted at 9:12 AM January 24, 2013
Give the animals to other zoo's around the globe. I think Aus has given enough aid to foreign countries thanks to the ALP we don't have enough for hospitals
Comment 26 of 26


text:
Terra Nova – TV's Next Big Hit
Quality epic TV shows are hard to come by. Of all the TV that produced in recent years, there have been only a handful of shows that, to me, really stand out as being both epic in scale AND well done. Among these are LOST, Battlestar Galactica, the new front-runner Game of Thrones, and of course The Wire. However, there are countless shows that attempt to be epic and end up falling flat on their faces. I'm looking at you, Heroes.
With the pilot debuting this coming Monday, we don't have to wait long to to find out which category Fox's highly hyped-up Terra Nova will fall into. I think this one has a lot going for it.
So what's it about? All we have to go on for this new show are what we can find on the interwebs and a few short preview videos, so most of my article is pure speculation. I'm going to look at five different aspects of the show, and based on what little information we know, try to persuade you that Terra Nova is going to be the show that everyone is talking about. But first, whet your palette with this video previewing the pilot.
1) Premise – The premise of Terra Nova seems to be a beautiful conglomeration of Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, and LOST. It begins in the year 2149, where humanity finds itself (and life on Earth as a whole) teetering on the verge of extinction. I'm not sure we'll be facing extinction as a species in a hundred and fifty years, but the scenario is plausible and quite intriguing to boot. What is a dwindling Earth going to look like? I am excited, and that's not even where the main story lies.
With the development of time machines, humans are able to ship people back in time to different 'colonies' that have been set up in prehistoric times – 85 million years ago. Not only do these colonies have to struggle to set up their new communities (navigating uncharted areas, and simply cohabiting with other members of the community), they also have to deal with – yeah, you've seen the previews – Dinosaurs. When the colony (called Terra Nova) that the Shannon family, the protagonists, call home fractures into two rival groups, tensions are bound to rise and survival becomes an even more challenging endeavor. In a perfect world, the characters themselves will dominate this show. Intense internal relationships and character development should be the focus, rather than scene after scene of Dinosaurs ransacking the community. All things considered, the premise is layered, intricate, and enticing – we'll see if the creators get it right.
2) Cast – Most of these faces are new. In a show like this, I tend to think this is a good thing. With long episodes and long seasons, there is a plethora of time to develop the characters. If the actors are already well known, it's more difficult to separate what they've done before from their complicated and intricate roles. This is one of many reasons, in my opinion, why viewers became so attached to the characters in LOST. So here is a glimpse at just a few of the actors that we can expect to see on Monday:
Steven Lang – Playing the leader of Terra Nova Commander Nathanial Taylor. He is our most familiar face of the bunch – you probably recognize him (sans the face scars) from Avatar, where he played the brutally intense antagonist Col. Miles Quaritch. With the leadership and organization of Terra Nova (which he founded himself), we can expect that the stress and danger of such a position has formed him into a hard, rough around the edges tough guy.
Jason O'Mara – O'Mara takes the the title role as Jim Shannon – father, husband, and former police officer. O'Mara has made small TV appearances in shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Band of Brothers, but will be a new face for the majority of viewers.
Shelly Conn – English actress Shelly Conn will play as Jim's wife, Elisabeth Shannon. With what would appear to be a successful career as a surgeon, her decision to start a new life in Terra Nova has to do with her devotion to her family. With an assorted spattering of small time roles, Conn is also a new face for most viewers.
Christine Adams – Adams will make her first major role debut as Mira, the strong-willed leader of the renegades. She has no love for Taylor or his leadership, and the opposition of her splinter colony provide yet another obstacle for any new members joining the Terra Nova commune.
3) Steven Spielberg – As soon as I saw that Spielberg was producing this show, most of my qualms were quelled, and my excitement intensified. Not only is Spielberg arguably the biggest name in television production, but he also sat at the helm of Jurassic Park. With the raging CGI success of that dinosaur film, I have no fear that the effects in this are going to be nothing to spit at. Spielberg, while known for epic action movies such as Saving Private Ryan and Raiders of the Lost Arc is also no stranger to character development and intensely human scenes – just remember that Schindlers List was his baby as well. With a resume longer than Pinocchio's nose (that lying little jerk!), Spielberg's presence as EP can pretty much assure that this show is going to rock.
4) Dinosaurs – While we may no longer sit on the floor in our jammies while conducting an epic battle between a rubber T-Rex and a Stegosaurus, I don't think that our fascination with the ginormous prehistoric lizards ever really goes away. Who doesn't love walking through a museum and standing in awe under the towering fossils of a building sized carnivore? Or sneaking up behind a friend and making the Velociraptor noise right in their ear? Yeah, that never really gets old. Terra Nova is claiming that their dinosaurs are going to be different than the common dinosaurs we all know – dinosaurs from a different era. Wait, NEW dinosaurs we have never seen before!? Yeah, I'm excited.
5) Fox – I know what you are thinking. Having the show on Fox is much more of a con than it is a pro. Believe me, I hear you. Like you, I was furious at the way they handled Firefly, was crushed that they canceled Arrested Development, and have generally had very little patience for Idol. BUT, while they have screwed up in the past, they have absolutely produced some amazing television – let's not forget that they are also behind 24, House, Fringe, The Simpsons, and Dollhouse. Is there a chance that they will screw this up? Yes. Is there also a chance that this is going to be one of Fox's greatest? Yes.
Tune in next week for a review of the pilot, which airs Monday, September 26th at 8pm Eastern time – and let's hope that all of our hype is worth it. We're counting on you, Spielberg. Please don't pull an Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on us here.