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GENERAL SIR ALAN CAMERON, K.C.B.,

COLONEL 79th CAMERON HIGHLANDERS.

[Continued.]

Chapter IX.

The first duty which Major Cameron had now (1794) imposed on him by his "Letter of Service" was to recommend the officers from the "half-pay list" to be associated with him in raising the regiment. In the disposition of these he was to a certain extent under the guidance of his own inclination to have as many as he could, of his old American brother-officers, with him in the undertaking. After the selection was made, the names were submitted to the War Office and approved. Reference to the list of officers selected will prove that Major Cameron was not unmindful of his brother-officers of the "Royal Emigrant Regiment," his choice consisting of five officers of the Clan M'Lean, while two only belonged to his own. The reason of the numerical difference will be understood to be, in consequence of the above stated restrictions. When the "half-pay list" was exhausted, by distribution among the numerous corps being embodied, and Major Cameron was released from the War Office regulations, the commissions in the regiment were always given to his Lochaber relatives, as the army list of subsequent years will testify.

Although Major Cameron had been, by this time, absent from Lochaber a number of years, yet he was not an entire stranger, for he was from time to time heard of. He had been advised by his brother that the rage and irritation occasioned by the result of the duel had greatly subsided, if not, indeed, entirely disappeared, and that his arrival in the country was not at all likely to revive them. On receipt of this intelligence Major Cameron, with politic calculation, arranged that he should arrive in his native place on one of the first days of November, which arrangement would give him the opportunity of meeting the greater part of the country people of all classes, this being the week of the winter market at Fort-William. The idea also struck him that, as he was to be engaged in "His Majesty's service," the Government might give him, for his own and his officers' accommodation, quarters in the garrison. His application to the Board of Ordnance, to this effect, proved successful, and the building known as "Government House" was placed at his disposal. His family, at this time, consisted of three sons, respectively named Philips, Donald, and Nathaniel; the first and last after their mother's father, and the other after his own father (he of the '45). The eldest two accompanied him to the Highlands, and remained there long enough to acquire some acquaintance with the Gaelic language, an acquisition which they often declared afterwards to have served them advantageously in their relationship with the soldiers of the 93d.

The day at last arrived when Alan, after an absence of twenty-one years, was to look again on his native hills, an event which, no doubt, gladdened and warmed his Highland heart. It is stated that he timed his first appearance to take place on the last day of the market, and he observed it punctually. This enabled the people, if so inclined, to meet him without interfering with their business affairs. His brother was most useful to him in making proper preparations for his reception. Quite a multitude went out to meet him and his companions, a mile or so, and accorded him a most enthusiastic reception. It has, indeed, been said, that the ovation and the escort of that day resembled more that usually awarded to an illustrious conqueror than that to a mere field-officer of the British army. Alan gave instructions to make that and subsequent days a carnival of hospitality—feasting and rejoicing without limit. After a reasonable time, however, festivities must terminate, and business commence. A writer of ripe experience, on Highland subjects, adverts to the anxious state of public feeling at this time[B]—"In 1793, and the succeeding years, the whole strength and resources of the United Kingdom were called into action. In the northern corner a full proportion was secured. A people struggling against the disadvantages of a boisterous climate and barren soil, could not be expected to contribute money. But the personal services of young and active men were ready when required for the defence of the liberty and independence of their country." Producing so many defenders of the State, as these glens have done, they ought to have been saved from a system which has changed the character of, if not altogether extirpated, their hardy inhabitants.

Chapter X.

The business of "raising" the regiment was now (1793-94) to commence in real earnest, and as it was the Major's desire that the complement should be made up of as many as he could induce to join from his own and the adjacent districts, his officers and himself visited every part round about, and with so much success that, between Lochaber, Appin, Mull, and Morven, 750 men were collected at Fort-William, within a period of less than two months; at any rate the official accounts record that number to have been inspected and approved by General Leslie on the 3d January (1794).[C] General Stewart states, "in the instance of the embodiment of the 79th no bounty was allowed by Government, and the men were therefore recruited at the solo expense of Mr Cameron and his officers; nevertheless the measure of the success will be understood by the early date of their inspection at Stirling, where they received the denomination of the 79th Cameron Highlanders." The Major was now desirous to repair as quickly as possible to the place appointed for inspection, that he might get his corps numbered, and with that determination, ordered every man to be in readiness for the journey southwards. Great was the excitement in the little village adjoining the garrison of Fort-William, on that winter's morning, when Cameron and his followers collected on its parade-ground, to have the roll called by "old Archie Maclean" (their first Adjutant), preparatory to bidding farewell to Lochaber—a last farewell by the greater part of them. The nearest and dearest must part, and such was the case with the Lochabermen and their friends, now that "they promised to help King George." With Alan at their head, this devoted band filed off in well regulated order, marching with steady step through the village, the pipers leading, playing the well-known march—"Gabhaidh sinn an rathad mor" (We'll keep the high road), while large numbers of the country people convoyed them on