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...

Payroll Account of Thomas Russell, 1758

Much like today, accounting books were used in the eighteenth century for documenting military pay and other related expenses accrued over periods of time. The payroll account of Private Thomas Russell, 78th Regiment, covers the period of July 5, 1757, through April 24, 1758.  Note: Category headers and bracketed script have been added for clarification and do not appear in the original...

Payroll Account of Serjeant John McGrigor, 1758

Much like today, accounting books were used in the eighteenth century for documenting military pay and other related expenses accrued over periods of time. The payroll account of Serjeant John McGrigor, 78th Regiment, covers the period of July 5, 1757, through April 24, 1758.  Note: Category headers and bracketed script have been added for clarification and do not appear in the original...

Court-martial of Corporal Angus McDonald, 78th Regiment of Foot, 1761

In his Sketches, Stewart of Garth maintained that the high moral code of the early Highlanders meant that misconduct was virtually unknown within their regiments. Although it is true that Highlanders feature far less frequently in the General Courts-martial records than miscreants from other battalions, it would be wrong to go to the other extreme and suggest that their ranks were filled with plaster...