SweatyShadowbs
Recruit
43rd Black Watch Highlander Regiment
Black Watch Soldiers From 1739-1751 (Number 6 is a Grenadier)
Source for picture: http://www.warandgamemsw.com/blog/513784-18th-century-british-government-highlander-regiments/
Source for picture: http://www.warandgamemsw.com/blog/513784-18th-century-british-government-highlander-regiments/
History
Early history
After the 1715 Jacobite Rising the British government did not have the resources or manpower to keep a standing army in the Scottish highlands. As a result, they were forced to keep order by recruiting men from local Highland clans that had been loyal to the Whigs. This proved to be unsuccessful in deterring crime, especially cattle rustling, so independent companies (of what would be known as the Black Watch) were raised as a militia in 1725 by George Wade to keep "watch" for crime. The militia was recruited from local clans, with one company coming from Clan Munro, one from Clan Fraser, one from Clan Grant and three from Clan Campbell. These companies were commonly known as the Am Freiceadan Dubh, or Black Watch, taking their name from their task and from the dark green government tartan they were issued[citation needed], and eventually recruited many young gentlemen from both Jacobite and Whig clans.
The Regiment of the Line was formed officially in 1739 as the 43rd Highland Regiment of Foot under John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford, and first mustered in 1740, at Aberfeldy. In May 1740, when the Independent companies were formed into the 43rd Highland regiment (later the 42nd Royal Highlanders), Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet of Foulis was appointed lieutenant-colonel, John Earl of Crawford and Lindsay being its colonel. Among the captains were his next brother, George Munro of Culcairn, and his cousin John Munro, 4th of Newmore promoted to be lieutenant-colonel in 1745. The surgeon of the regiment was his younger brother, Dr James Munro.
First action and Mutiny
The regiment's earliest days were inauspicious; ordered to London in 1743 for an inspection by King George II, rumours flew that they were to be shipped to the West Indies to fight in the War of Austrian Succession, and many left for Scotland. They were recaptured, three of the leaders shot in the Tower of London, and the remainder of the regiment shipped to Flanders.
The regiment's first full combat was the disastrous Battle of Fontenoy in Flanders in 1745, where they surprised the French with their ferocity, and greatly impressed their commander, the Duke of Cumberland. Allowed "their own way of fighting", each time they received the French fire Col. Sir Robert Munro ordered his men to "clap to the ground" while he himself, because of his corpulence, stood alone with the colours behind him. For the first time in a European battle they introduced a system of infantry tactics (alternatively firing and taking cover) that was not superseded. Springing up and closing with the enemy, they several times drove them back, and finished with a successful rear-guard action against French cavalry. Robert Munro's cousin John Munro, 4th of Newmore also fought bravely and was afterwards promoted to be a lieutenant-colonel.
When the 1745 Jacobite Rising broke out, the regiment returned to the south of Britain in anticipation of a possible French invasion. However one company of the regiment fought at the Battle of Culloden for the British under Dugald Campbell of Auchrossan, where they suffered no casualties. From 1747 to 1756 they were stationed in Ireland and then were sent to New York.
The Americas
During the French and Indian War, at the first battle of Ticonderoga, also known as the Battle of Carillon (175
, the regiment lost over half of its men in assault. At that time they were already officially recognized as a Royal regiment. The second battalion of the Black Watch was sent to the Caribbean but after the losses of Ticonderoga, the two battalions were consolidated in New York. The regiment was present at the second battle of Ticonderoga in 1759 and the surrender of Montreal in 1760. They were sent to the West Indies again where they saw action at Havana, Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Between 1758 and 1767 it served in America. In August 1763, the Black Watch fought in the Battle of Bushy Run while trying to relieve Fort Pitt, modern Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during Pontiac's Rebellion. The regiment went to Cork, Ireland in 1767 and returned to Scotland in 1775.
Jacobite Highlander tactics sometimes included the use of a screen of open order troops except notably at Culloden and Fort Carillon. They were perfectly capable of irregular skirmish tactics and that’s what the government highlanders were originally recruited for. Much of the reason for highlander mad charge tactics was down to circumstances.
Government Highlander Regiments were less inclined to charge headlong into the fray like their clansmen counterparts. I've not heard of any "highland style charges" documented in the Seven Years War and French and Indian War, but that's not to say it could never have happened in unreported Petite Guerre operations.
***Source of Information***
http://www.warandgamemsw.com/blog/513784-18th-century-british-government-highlander-regiments/
After the 1715 Jacobite Rising the British government did not have the resources or manpower to keep a standing army in the Scottish highlands. As a result, they were forced to keep order by recruiting men from local Highland clans that had been loyal to the Whigs. This proved to be unsuccessful in deterring crime, especially cattle rustling, so independent companies (of what would be known as the Black Watch) were raised as a militia in 1725 by George Wade to keep "watch" for crime. The militia was recruited from local clans, with one company coming from Clan Munro, one from Clan Fraser, one from Clan Grant and three from Clan Campbell. These companies were commonly known as the Am Freiceadan Dubh, or Black Watch, taking their name from their task and from the dark green government tartan they were issued[citation needed], and eventually recruited many young gentlemen from both Jacobite and Whig clans.
The Regiment of the Line was formed officially in 1739 as the 43rd Highland Regiment of Foot under John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford, and first mustered in 1740, at Aberfeldy. In May 1740, when the Independent companies were formed into the 43rd Highland regiment (later the 42nd Royal Highlanders), Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet of Foulis was appointed lieutenant-colonel, John Earl of Crawford and Lindsay being its colonel. Among the captains were his next brother, George Munro of Culcairn, and his cousin John Munro, 4th of Newmore promoted to be lieutenant-colonel in 1745. The surgeon of the regiment was his younger brother, Dr James Munro.
First action and Mutiny
The regiment's earliest days were inauspicious; ordered to London in 1743 for an inspection by King George II, rumours flew that they were to be shipped to the West Indies to fight in the War of Austrian Succession, and many left for Scotland. They were recaptured, three of the leaders shot in the Tower of London, and the remainder of the regiment shipped to Flanders.
The regiment's first full combat was the disastrous Battle of Fontenoy in Flanders in 1745, where they surprised the French with their ferocity, and greatly impressed their commander, the Duke of Cumberland. Allowed "their own way of fighting", each time they received the French fire Col. Sir Robert Munro ordered his men to "clap to the ground" while he himself, because of his corpulence, stood alone with the colours behind him. For the first time in a European battle they introduced a system of infantry tactics (alternatively firing and taking cover) that was not superseded. Springing up and closing with the enemy, they several times drove them back, and finished with a successful rear-guard action against French cavalry. Robert Munro's cousin John Munro, 4th of Newmore also fought bravely and was afterwards promoted to be a lieutenant-colonel.
When the 1745 Jacobite Rising broke out, the regiment returned to the south of Britain in anticipation of a possible French invasion. However one company of the regiment fought at the Battle of Culloden for the British under Dugald Campbell of Auchrossan, where they suffered no casualties. From 1747 to 1756 they were stationed in Ireland and then were sent to New York.
The Americas
During the French and Indian War, at the first battle of Ticonderoga, also known as the Battle of Carillon (175
, the regiment lost over half of its men in assault. At that time they were already officially recognized as a Royal regiment. The second battalion of the Black Watch was sent to the Caribbean but after the losses of Ticonderoga, the two battalions were consolidated in New York. The regiment was present at the second battle of Ticonderoga in 1759 and the surrender of Montreal in 1760. They were sent to the West Indies again where they saw action at Havana, Martinique and Guadeloupe.Between 1758 and 1767 it served in America. In August 1763, the Black Watch fought in the Battle of Bushy Run while trying to relieve Fort Pitt, modern Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during Pontiac's Rebellion. The regiment went to Cork, Ireland in 1767 and returned to Scotland in 1775.
Jacobite Highlander tactics sometimes included the use of a screen of open order troops except notably at Culloden and Fort Carillon. They were perfectly capable of irregular skirmish tactics and that’s what the government highlanders were originally recruited for. Much of the reason for highlander mad charge tactics was down to circumstances.
Government Highlander Regiments were less inclined to charge headlong into the fray like their clansmen counterparts. I've not heard of any "highland style charges" documented in the Seven Years War and French and Indian War, but that's not to say it could never have happened in unreported Petite Guerre operations.
***Source of Information***
http://www.warandgamemsw.com/blog/513784-18th-century-british-government-highlander-regiments/
Ranks
Recruit (Rct)
Private (Pvt)
Private First Class (Pfc)
Lance Corpral (LCpl)
Corpral (Cpl)
Sergent (Sgt)
Staff Sergent (SSgt)
Master Sergent (MSgt)
Sergent Major (SgtMaj)
Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt)
First Lieutenant (1st Lt)
Captan (Cpt)
Major (Maj)
Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)
Colonel (Col)
Private (Pvt)
Private First Class (Pfc)
Lance Corpral (LCpl)
Corpral (Cpl)
Sergent (Sgt)
Staff Sergent (SSgt)
Master Sergent (MSgt)
Sergent Major (SgtMaj)
Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt)
First Lieutenant (1st Lt)
Captan (Cpt)
Major (Maj)
Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)
Colonel (Col)
[size=16pt]Application
Add |42Cdo|Rec.SweatyShadowbs on steam and I will give you all the information on what else to do. Also, post a comment below saying that you want to join so I know who you are. We just recovered from a major blow to the regiment and are seriously in need of recruits, so if you want to join a close, American regiment, join the 43rd Black Watch Highlander Regiment.
