Instructions for Draughting of Foot Guards, Jan. 1757

During the early recruitment of soldiers for both the newly established Highland Battalions [Colonel Montgomery's and Colonel Fraser's Regiments], leadership requested senior non-commissioned officers [serjeants and corporals] from those that were already established. Veteran soldiers were highly sought after for their ability to not only successfully train the new recruits, but it was also required they could speak the Scottish Gaelic Highland language, to be able to pass down orders from the senior officers. A transcription of Lord Barrington's letter to the field commanders addressing these requirements is as follows.

War Office 25 Janry 1757

Sir

          The King having been pleased to direct two Highland Battalions to be forthwith raised to serve in North America and Commanded by Lieut. Col. Montgomery and Lieut. Col. Fraser and it being requested by the said Lieut. Colonels that the Serjeants and Corporals for the said Battalions should be taken from Corps, where Men shall be found qualified for such Non Commiss Officers I am therefore to acquaint you it is His Majesty's Pleasure that you will cause Twenty five men to be draughted from the Regiments of Foot Guards under your Command who can speak the Highland Language Ten of whom are to be turned over to Lieut Col. Montgomery's Battalion and the remaining fifteen to Lieut. Col. Fraser's Battalion which Men are to be Draughted with their own consent and approved of by the said Lieut. Col.s of Officers appointed for that Service in order to their being Sergts. or Corporals as the said Lieut Colonels shall think proper For each of whom the sum of Five pounds is to be paid by the said Battalions receiving them, to your Regt., but care is to be taken that none above the degree of a Corporal is to be draughted.  I am

                                                               Sir     &c.

                                                                                          Barrington

Field Officer in Staff waiting

for the three Regts. of Foot Guards

                                    Guards . . . . 10 . . . . 15 . . . . 25

Like letters of the same date to the following Colonels or Officers Commanding their respective Regiments.

Earl of Homes

Montgomery's:  6

Frasers:  4

Total:  10

Genl. Anstruther's

Montgomery's:  4

Fraser's:  5

Total:  9

Genl. Holmes's

Montgomery's:  4

Fraser's:  -

Total:  4

Leighton's

Montgomery's:  4

Fraser's:  6

Total:  10

Lord Robert Manners's

Montgomery's:  4

Fraser's:  -

Total:  4

Lambton's

Montgomery's:  2

Fraser's:  6

Total:  8

Lord Charles Manners's

Montgomery's:  6

Fraser's:  -

Total:  6

Lord Loudouns

Montgomery's:  -

Fraser's:  4

Total:  4

Total:

Montgomery's:  40

Fraser's:  40

Editorial
The Newcastle Weekly Courant (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England)
Saturday, March 5, 1757
Tuesday 30 more Highlanders, Volunteers from the third Regiment of Foot Guards, passed through this town, in the Way to join Col. Frazier's Battalion at Inverness.

Note: In 1756, commanded by Earl of Rothes, the Third Regiment of Foot Guards were listed as 1468 strong (including 54 commissioned officers), and at a yearly cost of £36,001.3.4 in wages for the soldiers. They represented just one of 30 foot regiments assigned to the king's army at the time. [Journal of the House of Commons, Volume 27].

Be sure to visit our Editorials page for related events with the 78th Regiment of Foot.

Source:

War Office Records: Out Letters: Secretary at War. General Letters, Dec. 1756 - Apr. 1757. LAC, W.O. 4, vol. 53 (Selections), pp. 102-3.

©  Jeffrey Campbell, The 78th Regiment of Foot, 2019.