Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-19

ems army. and Its commander General
wauchope. was killed at Magersfon-
tein while leading the charge which
cost 80 much Scottish blood. Taking n
favorable position at night thn high
landers dashed forward at daybreak,
hut soon ran into an ambush where
the slaughter was SO great that they
had to retreat Then their leader fell
At the time Of meeting the first fire
Of the Beers the highlanders were
within 200 yards OF the foe. but didn't
know It. Over 200 went down at the
FIRST volley. At 10 o'clock the Black
Watch, which had taken shelter and
reformed, made second effort to carry
the eastern spur Of the ridge where
the Beers lay. This effort was also
repulsed with fearful loss. Two well
aimed Boer shells shattered the head
Of column.
The Black Watch bears the distinc-
tion of having been the first killed
regiment In the British army. Origi-
nally an armed police force stationed in
the highlands to prevent cattle steal
ing, they made a record which led the
government to form the scattered and
independent companies into a regi.
ment. AS the men belonged to differ.
ent clans, 1t was necessary to adopt a
combination in order to give uniform.
ity to the dress. The one adopted was
chiefly black, and their color and occu-
patton caused them to be called by the
clansmen the BLACK Watch"
The first officers of the regiment be-
longed to the nobility, and the rank
and file were chosen from the higher
walks Of life. As the physical quallfl-
cations were high the Black Watch be-
came noted for its fine looking soldiers.
When first called upon to fight outside
of Scotland, the regiment refused and
was taken to London by ruse. The
matter was settled with some blood
shed, and in the first battle the high
landers wiped out whatever odium re-
mained. In fact, the whole affair was
more creditable to the regiment than
to the government, and the leaders Of
the mutiny who were executed were
afterward held in high honor,
After the mutiny the Black Watch
was sent to the continent and fought
their first pitched battle as regiment
at Fontenoy, where they opened the
famous attack, ordered by the Duke
Of Cumberland, upon the impregnable
position Of the French. Firing one vol
! ley from thier muskets the Scotsmen
threw aside the guns, drew their clay
mores and charged q regiment of
French guards.
Although veterans Of the wars, the
rushing tactics Of the highlanders
They fired a scattering volley, then
took up the bayonet, hoping to make
short work of the impetuous noun
tnineers. The result was that the bay
onet gave way before stout claymores
and. as the French refused to yield be
fore new troops. they were almost an
initiated. Through the blunders of the
English commander. who lacked the
ability to cope with Marshal SAKE, the
British were terribly beaten and forced
to retreat, with the Black Watch GOV
ering the rear.
After the campaign in Flanders the
Black Watch passed ten years garri
soning the American colonies, with head
quarters at Albany. In 1857 they Tough
the French at Cape Breton and abou
year later fought at Ticonderoga. II
this battle they impetuously rushed th'
Intrenchments. some Of them mounted
and gained immortal glory at the cos
of much heroic blood. In Napoleon!
wars the Black Watch served every
where, even in Egypt, and was recalled