18th Century - British and Provincial

1st Royal Regiment of Foot (Royal Scots)
 

French and Indian War

The 2nd Battalion was sent to America in 1757. Detachments served on the frontier fighting Indians and protecting the British settlers from raids. The main force of the battalion was at the French surrender of Montreal in 1760. The battalion minus two companies were sent to the Caribbean. The two detached companies then served in St. Johns, Newfoundland. The Regiment was sent home in 1763. Also in War of 1812.

3rd (Scots) Regiment of Foot Guards

American Rebellion

Selected elements served as part of a composite guards battalion which arrived in New York in July, 1776. The Guards fought at Long Island and Fort Washington and served in the Philadelphia and New Jersey campaigns in 1777 and fought with distinction at Brandywine and later at Monmouth in 1778. The Guards were placed in brown trousers and sent to the Grand Army for the attack on Charleston in 1779. They fought at Cowan's Ford, Guildford Court House and Green Spring in 1781 and were taken at Yorktown in 1782.

21st Regiment of Foot (Royal North British Fusiliers)

American Rebellion

The 21st arrived for the relief of Quebec 1776. They served in the drive down Lake Champlain (NY) and were captured at Saratoga, 1777. Some of the men escaped the Army of Convention and joined other regiments to continue the fight.

26th Regiment of Foot (Cameronians)

American Rebellion

The 26th arrived in New Jersey in 1767 and served in various garrisons along the coast. In 1775, the Cameronians wee sent to Canada and served by companies at Montreal, Three Rivers, Chambly, St. Johns, Ticonderoga, and Crown Point. The 26th served poorly and the garrison at Chambly surrendered without a shot being fired or a gun being spiked. This act of incredibly poor leadership was responsible for the American successes that nearly conquered Canada. The Regiment was sent to New York in the spring of 1777. Honour was regained by the soldiers during the New Jersey campaign and at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. The decimated and exhausted companies were broken up and the fit men sent to augment other regiments 1779. The officer corps was sent home.

42nd Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Regiment)

French and Indian War

The Black Watch reached New York in 1756. The regiment sat idle until the attack on Louisbourg (Nova Scotia) in 1757, which failed. In 1758, the Black Watch was part of the failed attempt to take Fort Ticonderoga which cost the Regiment half of its men as casualties. Come 1759, the 2nd battalion joins from the Caribbean for the renewed attack on Fort Ticonderoga, which succeeded. The Regiment was present at the surrender of Montreal in 1760 and was then sent to the Caribbean in 1762, where tropical disease wiped out half there numbers. The depleted companies were reformed into one battalion and sent to New York later that year. The Black Watch then policed the frontier for the next 4 years and fought in Pontiacs rebellion and winning the noted battle at Bush Run (PA). Many of these veteran soldiers took land grants in America, some of whom, would later join the Royal Highland Emigrants. The Regiment returned to America in the troubled times of 1776.

American Rebellion

The First Battalion, 42nd Regiment, arrived in New York in 1776, fighting at Long Island, Harlem Heights, and Fort Washington. They next served in the Jersey and Philadelphia campaigns fighting at Brandywine, Paoli, Billingsport, and Whitemarsh in 1777. In 1778, the Black Watch fought at Monmouth, Newport (RI), and were sent to East Florida. The fought in the fore on the attach on Charlestown in 1779, and Portsmouth, 1780. They were sent to Halifax in 1783 and served in garrison for a number of years before being sent back to Britain.

78th Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders)

French and Indian War

The Frasers were raised in Inverness for service against the French in North America in 1757. The Frasers arrived to winter over in Connecticut in 1757-58 and shipped for the assault on Louisbourg (Nova Scotia). After the siege, the 78th was sent to assault Fort Ticonderoga (NY). They next joined General Wolfe's Quebec expedition in the spring of 1759 and were the only Highland troops on the Plain of Abraham. In 1760, the Frasers were on the way to Montreal. From 1760 to 1763, the Frasers were sent to garrison Montreal, Quebec, and Halifax. The Regiment was disbanded in America in 1763 and the men offered land grants. Many of these men, in the next war, would join the Royal Highland Emigrants and other Provincial regiments.

71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders)

American Rebellion

Raised in Stirling and Glasgow in 1775 in two battalions. A third battalion was raised in 1777. The 71st arrived in New York in 1776 and fought at Long Island and Fort Washington. A detachment fought at Forts Clinton and Montgomery. The Frasers then served in the Jersey and Philadelphia campaigns with battle at Brandywine. The Second Battalion was sent to Wilmington in 1777 and returned to NY later that year and fought at Little Egg Harbour, New Jersey in 1778. The grenadier company captured Stone Point, New York in 1779. All three battalions served in the South with the Grand Army. Much of the Regiment was taken at Yorktown in 1782. The 71st was disbanded in Scotland 1783.

74th Regiment of Foot (Argyll Highlanders)

American Rebellion

The 74th was raised in Scotland in 1777 and arrive in New York in 1779 and were immediately sent to Halifax to counter the threat from the French Fleet. Half the companies rushed to the garrison at Penobscot (MA) in time to help destroy the Massachusetts Navy and amphibious assault along with elements of the 82d and 84th regiments in July, 1779. Served in garrison in the Maritime and returned to Scotland and disbanded 1783.

76th Regiment of Foot (MacDonald’s Highlanders)

American Rebellion

The 76th was raised in the West Highlands and western isles of Scotland in 1777 and arrived in New York in 1779. They were sent to the Grand Army in the South in the spring of 1781. A major part of the regiment was mounted for a short campaign then gladly returned to their infantry role. The 76th was captured at Yorktown in 1782 and were disbanded in Scotland 1784.

77th Regiment of Foot (Montgomerie's Highlanders)

French and Indian War

The 77th was raised for service in America at Stirling in 1757 and landed in New York in 1758. They were part of the campaign to take Fort du Quesne in 1758. They were disbanded and the men offered land grants in America in 1763. Many of these veteran soldiers who spent years flighting and then settling the wild frontiers were to join the Royal Highland Emigrants in 1775.

80th Regiment of Foot (Royal Edinburgh Volunteers)

American Rebellion

The 80th was raised in Edinburgh in 1778 and arrived in New York in the fall of 1779. They fought in the South with the Grand Army and were taken at Yorktown in 1782. They were disbanded in 1784.

82nd Regiment of Foot (The Hamilton Regiment)

American Rebellion

The 82nd was raised in Lanarkshire in 1778 and arrived in New York in 1779. They were sent to Halifax to deter the french Fleet and half of the companies were sent to Penobscot and with the 74th and 84th, were responsible for the defeat of the Massachusetts Navy and assault forces. Five of the companies were sent to the Grand Army (initial brigaded with 5 companies of the 84th) and elements were taken at Yorktown. The remnants from the south went north to rejoin the regiment and arrived in Halifax in 1783 and disbanded in 1784.

83rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Glasgow Volunteers)

American Rebellion

The 83rd was raised in Glasgow in 1778 and sent to the Jersey Islands in 1781. They were finally sent to New York in 1783 only to be returned home in 1784 and disbanded.

84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)

American Rebellion

The 84th was the first Highland regiment raised in North America, mainly from veterans and their sons of the Highland regiments who settled after the French and Indian War. Two battalions were formed in 1775. The First Battalion was known as the Royal Highland Emigrants and the Second Battalion was commonly known as the Young Royal Highlanders. The First Battalion was responsible for saving Quebec and then garrisoned the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, making many raids into New York. The Second Battalion served in the Maritime in garrison and as marines. Five of the companies were sent to the South with the Grand Army and fought with distinction as independent companies in many small desperate fights. The RHE fought at Eutaw Springs and was not at Yorktown. The 84th was disbanded in Canada in 1784. The 84th was the only Highland regiment to keep and use its traditional highland uniform; plaids and swords, for the duration of the war. After 1779, only one third of the enlisted men were Scots. The rest being in equal parts, English, Irish, American, with some French Canadians and Germans.

Provincial

American Rebellion

North Carolina Highlanders (North Carolina Volunteers)

A large body served with Governor Joseph Martin and were defeated at the attack on Moore's Creek Bridge (NC) in 1776. This 1400 man force of Highlanders and Lowlanders armed with musket, pike, sword and shield, were commanded by officers of the Royal Highland Emigrants who were offered dual commissions by Martin. They were then dispersed and some eventually joined the North Carolina Highlanders (North Carolina Volunteers) which reformed after the successful invasion of the south in 1780 and served in blue coats and government plaids and bonnets. Others walked to New York and joined the 84th Regiment. They were issued the plaids of the 71st.

Highland Company of the Queen's Rangers

The Queen’s Rangers raised a Highland company which served in green coats, bonnets and government plaids. These men were mainly from the Mohawk Valley of New York and many were veterans of the French and Indian War. This company was commanded by Captain Shaw and served with distinction through out the war. The Queen's Rangers were to become the 1st American Regiment in Canada and is today named the Queen's York Rangers.

Royal North British Volunteers

The RNBV were raised during the siege of Boston (1775) from some North British merchants who had offered their services in defense of the city. They wore blue bonnets with a St. Andrews cross upon it. The company was armed and drilled and took duty by mounting guard. They served for the duration until the city was evacuated. They possibly went to Halifax and were most likely disbanded shortly thereafter.

Notes

A great many Scots served in the Provincial regiments. In particular, a great many Scots from New York joined the King's Royal Regiment of New York and served with distinction. Some independent companies of Highlanders were raised but were short lived and very little is known of them. They most likely were absorbed as levies into standing regiments. The rebels tried to raise independent companies of Highlanders off of the emigrant ships but were mostly unsuccessful. Some of the Scots were indeed pressed into the rebel army. Many deserted and joined their kin in the British Army.

Some of the men of the disbanded 77th (Atholl Highlanders) may have seen service in America as replacement levies with other regiments.

Uniforms : Most of the Highland regiments, with the exception of the 84th (Royal Highland Emigrants) stored their broadswords, plaids, kilts, for trousers. The only distinguishing uniform features were the Highland short coat and bonnet.

Composite Light Infantry and Grenadier Battalions : Most of the flank companies were detached from their parent regiment and formed into highly trained composite battalions. These composite battalions were used as shock troops and the skilled companies sent on independent assignments. These flank companies usually saw more combat time than the line companies.