The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-03-22
Cur @liu.
THE BLACK WATCH.
History OF the Celebrated Highland Reg
iment Now Serving with Graham.

The st. Louis Globe Democrat says
The "Black Watch" is known in the British
army list as the Forty-second regiment,
Royal Highlanders. Famous in Scottish
song and story, its organization originated
in those troubles which accompanied the
transfer of Scottish allegiance from the
Stuart to the Hanoverian dynasty, and
which for many years made the Highlands
the theatre of fierce and bloody rebellion.
About 1870 six companies were formed,
chiefly from the Wing or loyal clans
Campbells, Grants, Munros and others
and stationed in various parts of the disaf-
fected region for the purpose of preserving
order and reducing the inhabitants to proper
subjection. Acting independently of each
other, they were called 'the Independent
Companies of the Black Watch black, y
because of the dark-colored tartans of their
uniforms; swatch, " because of theirpeculiar
duties as guards. Three of them contained
one hundred men each, commanded by a
captain, and three seventy men each, COM
manded by captain-lieutenant. In 1873,
when peace was apparently established in
the Highlands, the six companies were
consolidated into the Forty-second regi-
ment, under command of the Earl of Craw-
ford, and four years later ordered to active
service in Germany. Their removal not
only facilitated the outbreak of the rebel
lion of I745-the last struggle of the Stu
arts for a lost crown-but produced the
only mutiny which stains the fame of the
regiment. The men believed that, by the
term of enlistment, they could not be taken
out of Scotland, but were finally persuaded
to 90 to London for review by the King.
Reaching London they found that the
King had gone to the continent, which was
regarded as deliberate slight put upon
them. However, they were reviewed by
General Wade on Finchley Common, May
IA, 743, presenting splendid appearance,
and provoking the warmest admiration by
their drill and discipline Considering
their military contract now cancelled, about
$50 of them started back to Scotland next
morning under the leadership of corporal
named Samuel Macpherson, who seems to
have had in him the stuff of a general
The homeward march of the deserters was
conducted in most perfect order, no out
RACES of any sort being committed; but
near bundle, in Northamptonshire, the
desperate attempt came to an end by sur
render to the pursuing force. Macpherson
and his brother, also corporal, and a
private named Shaw, were tried by court
martial and shot, though popular sympathy
was strongly on their side, and every effort
maGeto obtain a Communication of punishment.
The regiment soon afterward crossed the
channel, and at Fontenoy covered itself
with glory-"bravest where all were brave y
One private, Campbell by name, killed nine
Frenchmen with his broadsword, and when
aiming blow at the tenth had his arm
struck off by cannon ball. The Duke of
Cumberland gave him ieutenant's COM
mission on the field, and his engraved por-
trait ornamented half the cottages in Great
Britain.
The bright record begun at Fontenoy
has continued without break or blemish
from that day till this. In every important
war England has waged during the last 40
years the "Black Watch has played a
conspicuous part In every quarter of the
globe where British arms have penetrated
that historic regiment has helped to swell
the wave of victory or stem the tide of de-
feat. In Europe, in Asia, in Africa, in
America, its bagpipes have been heard in
the front of battle, and its familiar tartans
seen in the rush of the charge. From
Fontenoy, May, 1745, to Teb, March,
1884, the brilliant story runs, to end, prob
ably, only when the military power of Eng
land has vanished forever.