Writing in his journal late in the month of November 1759, General Townshend unknowingly documented the empathy and personal character of each and every man of Fraser's Highlanders, regarding their collective generosity and monetary contributions to the British government.
JOURNAL ENTRY
GENERAL JAMES TOWNSHEND
Novr. 25, 1759
"Having Intelligence that the Merchants every greedy of gain to purchase Furs, had Transmitted a good deal of Cash to Montreal, where they were much in want of the Commodity, the Paper Money by Reason of the Ficklish Situation of the Colony being in utter disrepute, and their being by no means in the military Chest a Sufficency to Defray the Contingent expenses of the garrison, to procure what was wanted and Effectually to prevent a Commerce so destructive to us, I this day Published a kind of Proclamation, to encourage the Friends and well wishers of His Majesty to lend what they could afford, for which Col. Burton, the next officer in Command to me and I gave our Bills to be Repaid in Six Months with Intrest at 5 Per Cent. This in a short time procured us so considerable a sum at £8000 which without having recount to further Expedient, will enable us to await the Arrival of the ships and be it Remembered to the Honour of the Highland or 78th Regiment Commanded by Colonel Fraser, that the Non Commission Officers and Private Men of that Single Regiment contributed of that sum £2000."
[Gen. James Townshend]
Serjeant James Thompson of 78th Regiment further described the event of that cold winter day as follows:
"General Murray, being in want of funds to carry on his government during the winter, summoned all the officers and enquired if they had any money, and if their soldiers had any money that they could lend to the Governor until the supplies arrived from England in the spring. We were told of the wants of the Governor, and the next day we were paraded every man and told that we should receive our money back with interest, as soon as possible; and in order to prevent any mistake, every man received his receipt for his amount, and for fear he should lose it, the Adjutant went along the ranks, and entered in a book the name and sum opposite to every man; and, by the Lord Harry! When they came to count it up, they found that our regiment alone, Fraser’s Highlanders, had mustered six thousand guineas! It was not long after we had lent our money, that one morning a frigate was seen coming round Point Levi with supplies. We were soon afterwards mustered, and every man received back his money with twelve months interest, besides the thanks of the General.”
Serjeant James Thompson of 78th Regiment further described the event of that cold winter day as follows:
"General Murray, being in want of funds to carry on his government during the winter, summoned all the officers and enquired if they had any money, and if their soldiers had any money that they could lend to the Governor until the supplies arrived from England in the spring. We were told of the wants of the Governor, and the next day we were paraded every man and told that we should receive our money back with interest, as soon as possible; and in order to prevent any mistake, every man received his receipt for his amount, and for fear he should lose it, the Adjutant went along the ranks, and entered in a book the name and sum opposite to every man; and, by the Lord Harry! When they came to count it up, they found that our regiment alone, Fraser’s Highlanders, had mustered six thousand guineas! It was not long after we had lent our money, that one morning a frigate was seen coming round Point Levi with supplies. We were soon afterwards mustered, and every man received back his money with twelve months interest, besides the thanks of the General.”
Source:
General James Townshend, "Journal Commencing From The Surrender Of Quebec, November 25, 1759." LAC, Northcliffe Collection: General Townshend Papers, vol. 15, Microfilm C-369.
Campbell, Jeffrey A. His Majesty's Courageous Highlanders [Createspace Publishing, 2014].
© Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2018.
Campbell, Jeffrey A. His Majesty's Courageous Highlanders [Createspace Publishing, 2014].
© Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2018.
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