Warrants

Royal Warrant, 25th October, 1739

To Colonel John Earl of Crawford and Lindsay

George R.
WHEREAS we have thought fit that a regiment of foot be forthwith formed under your command, and conisit of ten companies, each to contain one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, three serjeants, three corporals, two drummers, and one hundred effective private men; which said regiment shall be partly formed out of six independent companies of foot in the Highlands of North Britain, three of which are now commanded by captains, and three by captain-lieutenants. Our will and pleasure therefore is, that one serjeant, one corporal, and fifty private men, be forthwith taken out of the three companies commanded by captains, and ten men from each of the three companies commanded by captain-lieutenants, making one hundred and eighty men, who are to be equally distributed into the four companies hereby ordrered to be raised, and the three serjeants and three corporals drafted as aforesaid, to be placed to such of the four companies as you shall judge prroper, and the remainder of the non-commissioned officers and private men, wanting to complete them to the above number, to be raised in the Highlands with all possible speed; the men to be natives of that country, and none other to be taken.

The regiment shall commence and take place according to the establishment thereof. And of these our orders and commands, you, and the said three captains and three captain-lieutenants commanding at present the six independant Highland companies, and all others concerned, are to take notice, and yield obedience thereto accordingly.

Given, &c., (Signed) Wm. Yonge

Royal Warrant, 22 July, 1758

GEORGE R.
We being desirous to distinguish our Forty-Second Regiment of Foot, with some mark of Our Royal favour, Our Will and Pleasure therefore is, and we do hereby direct, that from henceforth Our said regiment be called, and distinguished by the title and name of Our 'Forty-Second, or Royal Highland Regiment of Foot', in all commissions, orders, and writings, that shall hereafter be made out, or issued for and concerning the said regiment.

Given at Our Court at Kensington this 22nd day of July 1758, in the thirty-second year of Our reign.

By His Majesty's command, (Signed) Barrington

Head-Quarters, New York, Jan. 5, 1764

HIS Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify to the commander in chief, his royal approbation of the conduct and bravery of Col. BOUQUET, and the officers and troops under his command, in the two actions of the 5th and 6th of August; in which, notwithstanding the many circumstances of difficulty and distress they laboured under, and the unusual spirit and resolution of the Indians, they repelled and defeated the repeated attacks of the Savages, and conducted their convoy safe to Fort-Pitt.

(Signed) Moncreif, Major of Brigade.

To Colonel BOUQUET, or officer commanding at Fort-Pitt.

Inspection Returns

State of the R^t Hon^bleLord Sempill's Highland Reg^t of Foot as Review'd by General Wade on Finchley Common, the 14 of May 1743..

Companys Serjeants Drummers Rank and File Sick On Party Total of Effectives Wanting to compleat Officers and Soldiers who have serv'd in His Majesty's Armys or Garrisons abroad

Colonel's - Lord Sempill's 3 2 66 2 - 68 5 Field Officers 3

Lt Col's - Sr Rob't Munro 3 2 63 4 - 67 6 Captains 4

Major Geo Grant's 3 2 68 2 - 70 3 Lieutenants 5

Capt Colin Campbell's 3 2 65 1 - 66 7 Ensigns -

Capt Jas Colquhoun's 3 2 64 3 - 67 6 Staff Officers -

Capt Jn Capbells's 3 2 64 1 - 65 8 Serjeants 1

Capt Geo. Munro's 3 2 69 - - 69 4 Corporals -

Capt Dug. Campbell's 3 2 64 - - 64 9 Drummers -

Camt Jn Munro's 3 2 69 - - 69 4 Private Soldiers 3

Capt Jn McNeil's 3 2 67 - - 67 6 - -

Total ... .... 30 20 659 13 - 672 58 Total 16

Absent Officers

Capt Colin Campbell, Aid-de-Camp to Gen^l Clayton
Ensign Jn McNeil, by the Col^s leave; for his education, being but 14 yrs old.
Chaplain Gideon Murray, with Ld Stair's
Adjustant Jn Lindsay - by leave of L^d Crawford since his Lord^p was made colonel of this Regiment - said to be a minor of about 10 years of age.

Observations

The Regiment are a good size; perform their manuall exersise, march and fire extremely well.

Their old cloaths are much worn, but the new cloathing is said to be at sea, and daily expected in the river.

The fire arms are compleat and in good order, as also the accoutrements; but above 400 broad swords are wanting, which the Colonell certifies are making, and will soon be brought to the Regiment.

The tents and camp equipage are compleat and in good order.

There are three Leivtenants who by age and infirmitys are rendered incapable of serving with the Regiment, who are ordered to the Highlands to raise 60 men to compleat the several companys; but these officers being unable to conduct them to the Regiment when raised, others must be appointed to that service.

GEORGE WADE

I do hereby certify that my Regiment's compleat cloathing is made, and is expected daily at London. My Regiment's arms and accoutrements are sufficient and in good order, as likewise the camp necessarys and utensils

There are 480 swonds wanting to compleat the Regiment; the contractor for making the swords having forfeited his contract since the 2^d of February last, but they are now making. Given under my hand the 14th of May, 1743

SEMPILL

I do hereby certify that Serj^tJ^as Grant of Cap^t James Colquhoun's Company, and private men that are absent, mark'd sick, of Lord Sempill's Regiment, are at present unfit for duty, and not able to appear in the field. Given under my hand at Finchley the 17th of May 1743

GEORGE MUNRO, Surgeon

(Macwilliam, p. 9)

26th May 1768. Inspection Return. 6 Fifers and 2 Pipers (as Drummers) - 9 Drums. Colours, 1768. 288 swords, 259 firelocks. Officers - plain scarlet short coat, lapelled to waist with dark blue; a small roud blue cuff; buttons numbered; white lining, white waistcoat, kilted plaids, blue bonnets with black ostrich feathers - white Highland hose, striped with red. Neither the Grenadiers nor Battalion men appeared with swords, but they had them in store.
(Strachan, p. 267)

Reviewed at Dublin 26th June, 1769. The Colonel furnishes plaids only in 2 years for the regiment. Officers-Scarlet frock with gold embroidered buttonholes and epaulettes. Lappeled to the waist with dark blue, small round sleeve with blue cuffs. Buttons numbered. White lining. Waistcoat white. Kilted plaids in place of breeches. Blue bonnets in place of hats with black ostrich feathers. Accoutrements - Of black leather, bad, but according to King's regulations. Cartidge boxes with black leather straps to fix them on.

Reviewed at Waterford 30 May 1775. Major General Cuninghames Observations on the Fortysecond Or Royal Highland Regiment of Foot reviewed By Him at Waterford on the 30th Day of May 1775.

14th January 1773. Treasury out letters. Ireland. Supplies to the 42nd Foot (WO 3/5).
[For Privates:] 720 yards of plaid, making 960 pairs of hose; 240 bonnets; 400 diced bonnets.
[For Serjeants:] 42 yards plaid, making 56 pairs of hose; 14 bonnets; 22 diced bonnets
75 3/4 [yards] white Privates' waistcoat cloth; 9 Corporals' epaulettes, 2 boxes of musical instruments.

3rd August 1774 Inspection Return 2 Pipers and a very good Band of Music

14th May 1774 Inspection Return Colours 1774. Officers - gold-laced button-holes and epaulettes.
(Strachan, p. 267)

Reviewed at Philadelphia, 30 Jan 1778 by Col. Stirling: (1st Bn) The arms in general not good order & wanting some reparis, the accoutrements bad. The necessities compleated to at least 4 good Shirts 2 pr. Shoes & all the small articles - the new Coats have veen on for sometime but not alter'd. - The Regt. to have white Breetches & long blue gaters, but they are not all made yet. The new Bonnets are cock'd & an, - The men wear Philabegs [Kilts] yet, made of their old Plaids.
(Capt. Peebles' Diary)

Letters of commendation

Brunswick, 1st March, 1777
EARL CORWALLIS'S ORDERS.
The General desires that an extraorinary day's rum may immediately be given to the Forty-Second Regiment, for its gallant conduct in repulsing and defeatings upwards of three thousand of the enemy, with considerable loss.

Brunswick, 14th May, 1777
EARL CORWALLIS'S ORDERS.
His Excellency the commander-in-cheif has requested Earl Cornwallis to communicate his thanks to the Forty-Second Regiment, for its spirited behaviour on the 10th instant, when it defeated a body of the enemy much superior to itself in numbers; and he his much pleased with the alertness with which the second brigade got under arms to support the Forty-Second Regiment.

Head Quarters, New York, 5th October, 1779
Sir,
The commander-in-chief requests you will signify to the Forty-Second Regiment his acknowledgments for the cheerfulness whith which they have persevered in their labours at your posts; he would wish to relieve them, but the arrangements, by which the whole army have their proportion of employment, will not permit it for the present. He therefore trusts that their wonted zeal will inspire them with patience for a little time, relying on his assurance that he will give them a respite as soon as possible. (Signed) John Andre, A.A.G.
To Major Graham

Charlestown, 20th May, 1780
MAJOR-GENERAL LESLIE'S ORDERS.
Major-General Leslie begs Major Graham will make it known to the Forty-Second Regiment, how much he holds himself indebted to them for their good conduct at so critical a period as the taking of Charlestown. He embraces this opportunity to return Major Graham and the regiment his sincerest thanks, for that regularity and soldierly behaviour which has ever distinguished the Royal Highlanders, and which has been so consipicuous on their occasion.

Philadelphia, 16th October, 1766
Captain Thomas Stirling, having presented a memorial to the Commander in Chief, of the officers and men of the Detachment under his command, for an allowance to be made for them, for their extraordinary trouble and fatigue in taking possession of the Illinois; which memorial His Excellency has transmitted to His Majesty but has not recieved any answer, however Captain Stirling has this day recieved a Letter from the Commander in Chief desiring him to return his thanks to the Officers and men of that Detachment for their Services on that Expedition and mentions that he is in hopes from the reasonableness of the request that some allowances be made them; the men of the detachment to be made acquainted with this order this evening at Retreat beating. in Chief

New York, June 15, 1766
sir:
A Detachment of the Royal Highland Regiment which took Possession of the Illinois Country, is just arrived in this Port from Pensacola, and as they will March on the 17 Inst^t for Philadelphia, I am to beg the favour of you to give Directions that they may be supplied with Quarters and Carriages when they shall enter the Province of Pennsylvania, according to the Act of Parliament made in that respect; and that they may be also provided with Quarters in Philadelphia, where the Detachment is to remain till further Orders. I have the honour to transmit you herewith a Return of their Numbers.

I am, with great Regard, Sir, Your most Obedient h'ble Servant,

Tho^s Gage.

Hon^l L1 Gov, Penn.
Return of a Detachment of the 42d Regiment, order'd to March to Philadelphia:
1 Captain, 3 Subalterns, 1 Mate, 5 Serjeants, 2 Drums, & 102 Rank and File.

Tho^s Gage.
New York, June 15, 1766.

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