Monthly Return of Sep. 24, 1759

The monthly Army Returns reported on the strength of each regiment, including total numbers of men present, absent, sick, or on extra daily duty, as well as giving a report of officers and some categories of enlisted men. They were a very useful and effective planning tool in eighteenth-century combat operations and are still in practical use throughout today's armed forces.

Ten soldiers of the 78th Regiment were admitted to Royal Chelsea Hospital on July 20, 1759, nine of which are listed as having sustained injuries at Louisbourg. James Williamson; Roderick Mcniel; William Fraser Callum; James Cummings; John Gillis; William Cunnison; Alexander McTavish; Robert Thompson; John Fraser, John Macallum.

MONTHLY RETURN OF HIS MAJESTY’S FORCES IN THE RIVER ST. LAWRENCE, UNDER THE COMMAND OF BRIGR. GENL. ROBERT MONCKTON, SEPTR. 24TH 1759.
78TH REGIMENT: COLONEL FRASER’S
OFFICERS PRESENT
COMMISSION
Colonels	Lt. Colonels	Majors	Captains	Lieutenants	Ensigns
1			11	25	13
OFFICERS ABSENT
Major Clephane			Left sick at New York
Major Campbell			Never joyn’d His Majesty’s
Lieut. McTavish			Left with the sick at Louisbourg
NAMES OF VACANT OFFICERS
Capt. Ross			Killed Sepr. 13th
Lieut. Roderick McNeil			Killed Sepr. 13th
Lieut. Alexr. McDonell			Killed Sepr. 13th
STAFF
Chaplains	Adjutants	Qr. Masters	Surgeons	Mates
1	1	1	1	2
EFFECTIVES			RANK & FILE
Fit for Duty	Sick/Present	Sick/Hospital	Absent sick & on duty	Recruiting	On Furlow
744	245	241	66
TOTAL: 1296
WANTING TO COMPLEAT
Serjeants	Drummers	Rank & File
		149
SINCE LAST RETURN
Recruited	Dead	Discharged	Deserted	Killed	Wounded
	8	1		27	137
JOYN’D			INVALIDS
Serjeants	Drummers	Rank & File	Recommended to Chelsea and kept on Regiments pay
4	2	131	11
PRISONERS OR MISSING			---

Source:

Casgrain, P.-B. A few remarks on "The siege of Quebec" and the battle of the Plains of Abraham by A. Doughty in collaboration with G.W. Parmeles, and on The probable site of the battle of the Plains of Abraham, by A. Doughty. App. III, J. Hope, 1903. 

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