Second Highland Battalion Recruiting Efforts

Two concerned mothers in the Scottish Highlands discuss their recent encounter with a civilian recruiting officer regarding their sons enlisting in the British Army, to serve in Major James Clephane's Company of the Second Highland Battalion. Raised in early 1757 for service in North America, this mostly...

Letter of General James Murray to Colonel Simon Fraser, July 1760

The magnificent Louisbourg Lighthouse, built in the 18th century, towers over Nova Scotia's early morning sky. In 1758, British forces captured the area in seven weeks after attacking with more than 13,000 soldiers aboard more than 150 ships. The British destroyed the fortress walls because they...

Recruiting Progress in North Britain, Feb. 1757

An 18th-century downtown Caithness, Scotland, bathed in the soft, golden light of early morning. Cobblestone streets, still glistening from the night's dew, meander between neatly lined stone buildings with thatched roofs. The quaint architecture, with its white-washed exteriors and dark wooden beams,...

Embarkation of Troops to the St. Lawrence River, 1759

A serene 18th-century landscape along the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. A flotilla of wooden sailboats, their sails billowing in the brisk wind, navigates the vast expanse of water, which stretches out to the distant horizon where the river meets the sky. The shoreline is adorned...

Searching for a Commission

The majestic silhouette of an 18th-century European castle standing tall against a fiery backdrop of an 18th-century sunset in Ireland. The castle's ancient stones, kissed by the warm glow of the sinking sun, are bathed in a rich tapestry of oranges and reds, which contrast sharply with the deep blue...

Bon Voyage: Libera nos Domine!

The ancient city of Cork, Ireland, emerging from the tender embrace of dawn during the 18th century. The sun, a fiery globe of burgeoning light, peeks over the distant horizon, casting a soft golden hue across the cobblestone streets and historic buildings. The cityscape is a tapestry of red-brick structures,...

Lieutenant John Murray's Letter Home, Oct. 1757

My Dearest Sir, About six weeks ago I wrote from Boston By Capt. Noble bound for Clyde, I was sent from Halifax to boston To provide Quarters for Coll: Frasers Regt. who I believe my Lord Loudon intended should winter there, but he has since ordered them Here where I expect them Dayly & I believe they will winter either at Philadelphia or this place I long vastly to to see Coll: Fraser both...

78th Regiment at Isle of Orleans

General James Wolfe, ill with dysentery and suffering from rheumatism, commanded the expedition to capture the city of Quebec. By late June 1759, his entire convoy had passed up the St. Lawrence River and had reached the Island of Orleans, which lay opposite Quebec along the river. At the end of that month, he and his brigadiers agreed on a plan to land troops across the river a short distance upstream...

Letter to Major James Clephane at New York, 1759

Dear Sir I was extremely sorry to Hear by Capt. Crawford, that you have been in a bad State of Health for Sometime past, I hope by this time you have got the Better of your Illness which will give you one great Satisfaction; as you Intend to sell out I wish you a good market & a safe Return to your native country. By Letters from England in the spring I was informed of your Brother the Doctor’s...

Major Abercrombie's Letter to Earl of Loudoun, Sep. 1763

Transcription of a letter giving details of military affairs in America at the end of the French and Indian war, sent to Earl of Loudoun as former commander in America. Parson Robert Macpherson returned home in September [prior to the mutiny at Quebec], having obtained leave from General Murray, while the main body of the 78th Regiment departed Quebec in early October, arriving at Glasgow...

Lt. Hugh Fraser Transfers to the 78th Regiment, Oct. 1761

Writing from Staten Island in the fall of 1761, General Jeffrey Amherst informs the Honorable Governor James Murray regarding the recent commission sold to Lieutenant Hugh Fraser, 27th Inniskilling Regiment, and his impending transfer to the 78th Regiment. Military transfers of this nature were often necessary to maintain the proper distribution of troop levels across the regiments during the campaign. Staten...

General Forbes' Letter to Colonel Simon Fraser, Sep. 1757

New York Septr. 16th 1757.~ Sir, I am commanded by the Earl of Loudoun, to acquaint you, that as your Regiment is ordered directly to New York, that you will order Returns to be made out, to be deliver'd in upon your Arrival there. - 1st: A General Return of the Battalion, with the Numbers of your Supernumeraries. - 2d: A Copy of your Recruiting Accounts, stating the Time from Whence the Pay...

Letter from Colonel Simon Fraser to General Forbes, Feb. 1758

The following letter, dated 10 February 1758, is from Lt.-Col. Simon Fraser, Second Highland Battalion [78th Regiment], to Colonel John Forbes, Adjutant General. The main body of the letter focuses on the pending litigation against Serjeant Fraser for his involvement in the death of Corporal Mackay [an indictment laid for murder] in Connecticut, both men of the regiment. The colonel appears...

Letter from Colonel Simon Fraser to General Forbes, Jan. 1758

Dear Sir I had the pleasure of your letter Saturday, & acording to your directions have sent the ten drafts with a carefull Serjeant, they are clear by our Regiment to the 25th decr. I did not at all grudge the trouble of making up the controut & only mention'd it as an apology for it being so long unsent. The people here at present fancy themselves oblig'd to furnish our Officers...

Unlucky Accident in Connecticut Involving Soldiers of the 78th Regiment of Foot, Dec. 1757

Dr. Sir         I have just heard of an unlucky accident that happened today at Stratford, a Sergt. & Corporal of our grenadier Company having quarrel'd (both I'm afraid drunk) the Corporal was killed, the account I have had is very imperfect but from it the deceased seems to have been the Aggressor, how soon I can have it properly enquired into I take the Opportunity of...

Colonel Simon Fraser's Letters to Lord Murray, 1757

The Scottish Highlanders who served in North America were recruited by a variety of methods, but records do indicate most were volunteers. Economic depression swarmed their homelands, and the thoughts of prosperity and securing a better livelihood in the new world certainly would have contributed to each man's decision to enlist. Recruiters scoured the countryside, some concentrating their efforts...

Letter from Major Clephane, Second Highland Battalion, to the Doctor, 1757

Kilraick, April 8, 1757 My dear Johnie, No doubt that you will be much surprised that, till now, you have had no letter from me ever since I came to this place, which is not 20 days, but I’m persuaded you’ll give great allowance for my silence, when I tell you that till yesterday I have not been 24 hours at one time here; sometimes one day at Inverness, next day return here, and a third day...