84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants): Difference between revisions
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==== Battle of Bunker Hill, Boston ==== |
==== Battle of Bunker Hill, Boston ==== |
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Major John Small was engaged to establish the Royal Highland Emmigrants on 13 June 1775. Five days later, on June 17, before recruits could be found, Small and a number of other officers of the 84th Regiment were in the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]].<ref>Also participating in the Battle were other officers of the newly raised Royal Highland Emigrants (A.K.A.Young Royal Highlanders). With him were Captain Ranald MacDonald, Captain Alexander Campbell, Captain Donald McLeod (who was recovering from wounds taken at Lexington), Volunteer William Walker, Sergeant Allan MacArthur, and a small contingent of men. </ref> |
Major John Small was engaged to establish the Royal Highland Emmigrants on 13 June 1775. Five days later, on June 17, before recruits could be found, Small and a number of other officers of the 84th Regiment were in the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]].<ref>Also participating in the Battle were other officers of the newly raised Royal Highland Emigrants (A.K.A.Young Royal Highlanders). With him were Captain Ranald MacDonald, Captain Alexander Campbell, Captain Donald McLeod (who was recovering from wounds taken at Lexington), Volunteer William Walker, Sergeant Allan MacArthur, and a small contingent of men. </ref> Small was a central figure in the famous battle.<ref>Major Small lead the 38th and 43rd Regiments in storming the hill.</ref> Along with three other members of the 84th Regiment who were wounded, Small was also wounded in the arm by canon fire. He relayed his experience to John Trumbull, who then painted his famous painting [[The Battle of Bunker Hill]], in which Major Small is the center figure in the painting. While Small won the battle, it was very costly: 226 were killed and 828 were wounded. |
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Boston was evacuated in March 1776 and Major Small and the first wave of American Loylists arrived in Halifax with his newly formed Highland Regiment. A few months later on June 11, 1776, Small and some of his Highlanders left for New York. |
Boston was evacuated in March 1776 and Major Small and the first wave of American Loylists arrived in Halifax with his newly formed Highland Regiment. A few months later on June 11, 1776, Small and some of his Highlanders left for New York. |
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Revision as of 15:40, 25 January 2010
| 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1775-1784 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | Loyalist (American Revolution) |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Line Infantry |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Regiment of two battalions |
| Nickname(s) | Royal Highland Emigrants (1st Battalion), Young Highlanders (2nd Battalion) |
| Motto(s) | Quicquid aut facere aut patri |
| Colors | dark blue facings; the buttonhole lace was white, with red outer/blue middle/red inner worms; the colours were made up when the regiment was intended to be designated "77th Foot" and bore that number (the regimental colour still survives and, until recently at least, was in a private collection in Scotland). |
| Engagements | First Battalion:
|
| Commanders | |
| First Colonel of the Regiment | Lt-Gen. Sir Henry Clinton |
| Second (and final) Colonel of the Regiment | Gen. Sir Guy (Carleton) |
| Notable commanders | Allan Maclean (1st Battalion), John Small (2nd Battalion) |
The 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) was a British regiment in the American Revolution that was raised to defend present day Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada from the constant land and sea attacks by American Revolutionaries.[1] The 84th Regiment was also involved in offensive action in the Thirteen Colonies, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Maine, as well as raids upon Lake Champlain and the Mohawk Valley. The regiment consisted of 2000 men in twenty companies who were clothed, armed and accoutred as the Black Watch, with Lieutenant Colonel Allan Maclean commanding the first battalion and Major General John Small of Strath Ardle commanding the second.[2] The two Battalions operated independently of each other and saw little action together.
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Lt Colonel Allan MacLean, Commander, 1st Battalion -
Major General John Small, Commander, 2nd Battalion
First Battalion
Historical context - Quebec and Ontario
Quebec and Ontario were attacked on numerous occassions such as the Siege of Fort St. Jean and the Battle of Quebec.
Lieutenant Colonel Allan Maclean, Commander, 1st Battalion
The distinguished war hero Lieutenant-Colonel Allan Maclean (1725-83) was authorized by General Thomas Gage to raise a regiment from Scottish communities in Canada, New York and the Carolinas. The 84th Highland Regiment was the first to be raised from American Loyalists. The soldiers were drawn from those who had served Britain in the Seven Years War - the 42nd Regiment of Foot (Black Watch), 77th Regiment of Foot (Montgomerie's Highlanders), and 78th Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders).
The prospect of raising regiments in the 13 Colonies was a dangerous mission. Only two battalions of the five originally requested were raised because of the difficulty recruiting. When Maclean arrived in New York he was warned not to disembark in his uniform for fear of attack. As a result, when travelling alone he dressed as a doctor.[3] The dangers of recruiting American Loyalists became even clearer with the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina.
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, North Carolina
Col MacLean and 84th Highland Regiment were in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, North Carolina (1776). On 27 February, 1776, the 84th Regiment, with a number of new recruits, was marching to the port of Wilmington, North Carolina. There they were to emback on a convy and sail north to join the Regiment in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The 84th Regiment, numbering 1300 American Loyalists, met up with a 9000 American Patriots. The American Loyalists were able to push back the Patriots on two occasions, forcing them to withdraw to Moore's Creek Bridge. Captain McLeod, who had survived the Battle of Bunker Hill, was killed leading the charge at Moore's Creek Bridge. Half of the Regiment was captured and thirty were killed; with ninety six officers and men taken prisoner.[4] The majority of the Carolinian recruits were never able to join the regiment, being scattered at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge.
Lt. Col. Donald MacDonald helped with the recruiting in North Carolina and fought in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge.[5] Both MacLean and Macdonald were taken prisoner.
Fort Niagara, Headquarters, 1st Battalion
Allan MacLean was made commander of Fort Niagara (1777), headquarters of the 84th Battalion, 1st Battalion.[6]
Military operations - Quebec and Ontario
Under McLean's command, the First Battalion acted primarily to defend Quebec from American Patriot forces. The 84th Regiment tried to repel Brigadier General Richard Montgomery's invasion in the Siege of Fort St. Jean, Quebec. During Montgomery's invasion, the 84th Regiment made two attempts to relieve St Johns, but was forced to return to Quebec, where the Regiment helped to stiffen the resolve of the civil population until Carleton's return from Montreal.
The 84th Regiment was also involved in the Battle of Quebec (1775). Montgomery's and Benedict Arnold's combined invasion in the Battle of Quebec (1775). Col Allan MacLean lead 230 of the 84th Regiment and others repelled the American Patriots in the milled of a severe snowstorm (Craig, p.52)
Military operations - Thirteen Colonies
Later in the war, they took part in raids upon Lake Champlain in 1778 and into the Mohawk Valley in 1780, 1781, and 1782.
Second Battalion
Historical context - Atlantic Canada
During the American Revolution, the 84th Regiment was tasked with defending Atlantic Canada from American Revolutionary attacks by land and sea. Throughout the war, American Privateers devestated the Atlantic Canada economy by pillaging and raiding many of the Coastal communities. There were constant attacks by American Privateers,[7] such as the Sack of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (1782), the numerous Raids on Liverpool, Nova Scotia (October 1776, March 1777, September, 1777, May 1778, September 1780) and the Raid on Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia (1781).[8] There was also a raid on Sydney, Nova Scotia near Spanish River, Cape Breton (1781).[9]
On Nov 17, 1775, Washington's Marblehead Regiment aboard Hancock and Franklin made an unopposed landing at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on 17 November 1775. Three days later, they expedited to Nova Scotia and raided Canso, Nova Scotia. Again in 1779 American Privateers returned to Canso and destroyed the fisheries, worth 50000 a year to England.[10]
To guard against such attacks, the 84th Regiment was garrisoned at forts around Atlantic Canada. One such fort was Fort Howe[11], at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy at St. John, New Brunswick. As soon as the Fort was built, it was immediately pillaged and burned by American Privateers (August, 1775).[12] St. John, New Brunwick was raided three more times in the span of two months (1777) before the 84th Regiment was able to rebuild Fort Howe.
In Newfoundland, the American Privateers sacked numerous ports such as Chateau Bay (1778) and Twillingate (1779). Off the coast of Newfoundland, the 84th Regiment were the first to defeat an American Privateer vessel in the Battle of the Newcastle Jane (1776). Major Small also had companies from the 84th Regiment stationed in Fort Frederick, Placentia, Newfoundland.
The 84th Regiment also defended Nova Scotia at sea, such as attacking an American Privateer ship off of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (1775). The 84th was lead by Captain John MacDonald. They boarded the warship when part its crew were ashore seeking plunder. they captured the crew, hoisted sail and sailed her into Halifax.[13]
There were also American Patriot attacks on Nova Scotia by land, such as the Battle of Fort Cumberland (i.e., the Eddie Rebellion) (1775). There was the constant threat that American Patriots would attack Halifax, Nova Scotia by land. The threat involved American Patriots landing in Windsor and marching to Halifax. As a result, in the summer of 1778, Major John Small moved the headquarters of the 84th Regiment from Halifax to Fort Edward (Nova Scotia) in Windsor.
Major General John Small, Commander, 2nd Battalion
When Col. Allan Maclean landed in America, he discovered that Major General John Small, had slready mobilizing American Loyalists together from the 13 Colonies as well as present day Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada to create a Highland Regiment.[14] Along with getting soldiers who fought in the 77th Regiment of Foot (Montgomerie's Highlanders) and 78th Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders), Small was recruiting soldiers from the 42nd Regiment of Foot (Black Watch), the same regiment he served in during the Seven Years War. The regiment was known as the "Young Royal Highlanders" until it turned into the 84th Regiment.
Small was involved with also recruiting new immigrants as they arrived off transports from the British Isles. On one occasion, the transport George arrived in New York which was filled with 172 Immigrant Highlanders. Major Small went aboard and explained the situation and pressed the men into service. Small gave them assurance their families would be well taken care of by the Regiment. The same situation happend again on October 3, 1775, with Scottish immigrants arriving in New York on the ship Glasgow. On that occasion, there were 255 immigrants (men and their families). Upon Smal redirecting the immgrants to Halifax, the officer in command in Halifax reported their amount of luggage was enough to "fill St. Paul's Church."[15]
Battle of Bunker Hill, Boston
Major John Small was engaged to establish the Royal Highland Emmigrants on 13 June 1775. Five days later, on June 17, before recruits could be found, Small and a number of other officers of the 84th Regiment were in the Battle of Bunker Hill.[16] Small was a central figure in the famous battle.[17] Along with three other members of the 84th Regiment who were wounded, Small was also wounded in the arm by canon fire. He relayed his experience to John Trumbull, who then painted his famous painting The Battle of Bunker Hill, in which Major Small is the center figure in the painting. While Small won the battle, it was very costly: 226 were killed and 828 were wounded.
Boston was evacuated in March 1776 and Major Small and the first wave of American Loylists arrived in Halifax with his newly formed Highland Regiment. A few months later on June 11, 1776, Small and some of his Highlanders left for New York.
Fort Edward, Headquarters, 2nd Battalion
Fort Edward (Nova Scotia) in Windsor was the Headquarters for the 84th Regiment in Atlantic Canada.
Initially, the headquarters for the 84th Regiment was in Halifax. During the nine years of the war, members of the Battalion served on Detachments around Halifax: the Redoubt & Fort Needham (Halifax), Fort Sackville (Bedford), Ft. Clarence (George's Island), Eastern Battery (Dartmouth).
The 84th Regiment was also stationed at four locations around the Bay of Fundy: Ft. Edward (Windsor), Ft. Anne (Annapolis), Ft. Cumberland (Amherst), Ft. Howe (Saint John). There were also Forts that the 84th were stationed at on Cape Sable, Sydney Mines Battery (Spanish River, Sydney)[18], Fort Frederick (Placentia, Nfld.).
As well the 84th Regiment was at Forts in the 13 Colonies: Ft. Hughes, Brooklyn Heights and Ft. Augusta in America.[19]
Because of the threat of a land assault on Halifax via American Patriots landing in Windsor, Small moved the headquarters for the 84th Highland Regiment from Halifax to Fort Edward, Windsor (1778). The 84th worked at land and sea. In June 1779, for example, the 84th Regiment at Fort Edward had taken twelve American Privateers prisoner, who had plundered many small vessels and neighbouring inhabitants on the Bay of Fundy. The prisoners were wounded. The prisoners were almost rescued by another American Privateer vessel the Statagem, from Marblehead which had nine American Privateers on board. Upon seeing the fate of the prisoners, however, they abandoned the rescue mission for fear of sharing the same fate. One report stated, "It is to be hoped that if they dare return they will fare no better."[20] (Stacy, p. 31)
Small assigned Captain Allan McDonald, husband of the famous Scottish heroine Flora MacDonald (Scottish Jacobite), to be the commander of Fort Edward for fives years.
Flora MacDonald
Captain McDonald had fought in the Battle of Bridge in North Carolina. He was taken prisoner by the American Patriots for two years. Captian Allan McDonald was a prisoner for two years until a prisoner exchange happend in 1777 and he was sent to New York and then on the Fort Edward in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Major Small gave him the command of the 84th Regiment, Second Battalion at Fort Edward (Nova Scotia).
In 1750, at the age of 28, Flora married Captain Allan MacDonald of Kingsburgh, and in 1773 together they emigrated to Montgomery County (formerly Anson), North Carolina. Flora actively participated in recruiting the men for the 84th Highland Regiment, displaying once more her resolute courage. She exhorted the 84th Regiment at Cross Creek, North Carolina (present-day Fayetteville) before the went off to fight in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge.
After Flora's husband was taken prisoner, Flora remained in hiding while the American Patriots ravaged her family plantation and lost all her possessions. When her husband was released from prison she travalled with out of out of North Carolina to New York and then to Fort Edward in Windsor, Nova Scotia in the fall of 1778.
Flora only stayed in Nova Scotia for one year at Fort Edward, Windsor. In 1779 Flora returned home to Dunvegan Castle in Isle of Skye, Scotland. After the war, in 1784, Allan followed her.
There is a plaque at Fort Edward which reads:
"Flora MacDonald: A name that will be mtioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtures, mentioned with honour" - Samuel Johnson
The preserve of Bonnie Prince Charlie spent the winter of 1779 here with er husband, Captain Alan Macdonald of the Royal Hignland Emigrants, when returning to her old home in Skye. After exile from her home in North Carolina. Her loyalty and devotion in the midst of troubled days have lonbeen told in Scottish song and story.
Military operations - Atlantic Canada
Battle of the Newcastle Jane, Newfoundland
On October 23, 1776, under the Captain Murdock MacLaine, the 84th Regiment was in the Battle of the Newcastle Jane.[21] This battle was the first in which a merchant British vessel defeated an American Privateer vessel. The 84th Regiment was on the transport ship Newcastle Jane off the coast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. On board the ship was 20, 000 pounds sterling and 3000 sets of uniforms, much of which was for the 84tt Regiment. On October 23rd at 4:00 am American privateer came within 30 yards of the Newcastle Jane. The American Privateer had ten carriage guns and twelve swivel guns and the Jane had only 6 three-pound carraige guns and a few swivels. The ships opened fire on each other. After a 24 hour stand off, the 84th Regiment had out manouved the American Privateers, leaving them with many wounded and a damaged vessel. By the time the battle was over, the Newcastle Jane only had two rounds of shot left. (Stacy, p. 22-23)
Lachlan Macquarie
One of the crew in the Battle of the Newcastle Jane was a young recruit Lachlan Macquarie, who eventually became known as "the Father of Australia."[22] Macquarie began his military career in 1776 at the age of fourteen when he sailed from Scotland to the New World. The attackers were successfully repelled and six months later on 9 April 1777 he obtained an ensigncy in the 84th Regiment. He did garrison duty, first in Nova Scotia, and then in New York and Charleston. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the 71st Regiment in January 1781. In 1784 he returned to Scotland from his posting in Jamaica, and was reduced to half-pay.
Battle of Fort Howe, St. John, New Brunswick
Machias, Maine was used as a base for privateering against Nova Scotia and as a staging and supply point for American Patriot attacks on Fort Howe, St. John and Fort Cumberland. In 1776, American Privateers from Machias had burned Fort Howe at St. John to the ground. In 1777, the American Privateers controlled St. John. In response, Major John Small personally took charge repel the Americans.
The 84th Regiment landed at St. John on June 30, 1777, the American Patriots retreated to the woods. The 84th marched through the woods and were ambushed by the American Patriots. Twelve Americans and one member of the Regiment were killed. Weeks later, on July 13, 1777, American privateers attacked St. John again and were successfully repelled by the 84th regiment. In August 1777, American Privateers attacked again and were successful, carrying off 21 boatloads of plunder.[23] The 84th immediately began to rebuild Fort Howe. Fort Howe became instrumental in curtailing privateer action and was used as an assembly point for attacks on the 13 Colonies.
Battle of Cape Sable, Nova Scotia
On September 4, 1778, the 84th Regiment, under the commmand of Ronald MacKinnon, was in the Battle of Cape Sable. American Privateers were threatening Cape Sable Island when the 84th arrived they surprised the ship in the night and destroyed it. For his aggressive action, McKinnon praised highly by General Eyre Massey. In response, one of his freinds Captian MacDonald, wrote to Major John Small, "McKinnon was embarrassed by the praise of the General and requested it not be inserted in the record since he only did his duty." (Stacy, p. 29) Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia.
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Captain Ronald MacKinnon -
General Eyre Massey by Robert Hunter
Battle of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
On October 2, 1778, the 84th Regiment, under the command of Captain MacDonald, was involved in the Battle of Annapolis Royal. Captain MacDonald on a voyage to Annapolis arrived to find a Privateer ship raiding the port. He destroyed the large Privatter vessl, which was mounting ten carriage guns. Captain MacDonald also caught the attention of General Massey who rote that he "highly approved" of his conduct. (Stacy, p. 29).
Captian Campbell of the 84th Regiment in December 1778 took seven men with him to retrieve a American Privateer ship that was abondoned on Partridge Island, New Brunswick. They returned the ship safely to Annopolis Royal. (Stacy, p. 31)
Another Raid of 1781. In 1781, John was captured at Annapolis Royal by the crew of an American privateer and later released on parole and promise of exchange for an American prisoner at Halifax.
Military operations - Thirteen Colonies
Battle of Penobscot, Maine
The 84th Regiment was involved in successfully defeating the great Penobscot Expedition in Maine. This defeat was the biggest defeat for the American Navy prior to Pearl Harbour.
In November of 1777, the 84th Regiment was involved in the Raid of Castine, Maine, a Privateer port, which was a community with a Fort at the mouth of the Penobscot River, Maine. In the spring of 1779, the Massachusetts navy assembled 19 armed ships and 17 hired ships and 40 coastal sloops for transports. The vessels were had approximately 4000 sailors and militia.
The victory of the British force saw 34 American Patriots killed, 33 wounded and the Mashachsetts fleet destroyed.
Battle of Rhode Island
In 1778, Small was brigade major to General Sir Robert Pigot, 2nd Baronet for the Battle for Rhode Island. The two men had fought together in the Battle of Bunker Hill. a detachment had been shipwrecked and captured off of Egg Harbor, New Jersey,
some were on board the ships with Governor TRYON at New York Harbor
Alexander MacDONALD's Letterbook, published as part of the Collections of the New-York Historical Society for 1882 Battle of Rhode Island
Capture of Savannah, Georgia
- December 29 1778 – Savannah Georgia (Craig, p. 54)
It was the opening move in the British "southern strategy" to regain control of the rebellious southern provinces by appealing to the strong Loyalist sentiment believed to be there. The British held Savannah for the duration of the war, which they used as a base to conduct coastal raids from Charleston, South Carolina to the Florida coast. In the fall of 1779, a combined French and American attempt to recapture Savannah failed with significant casualties. The British held Savannah through the remainder of the war and used the city as a staging ground for further attacks in the South, until the British evacuated on July 11, 1782
There were five companies of the Regiment that shipped South from Halifax in JUne 1776 to help in NewYork and theSourthern theatre. The 84th Regiment joined a group of 3500 in theBritish Army assembled in St. Lucia, sailed in the Chrsitmas season to Georgia. ON December 29, 1778, the rebels were overwhelmed and 450 prisoers were taken, and with 48 cannons and other supplie. (Creaig, p. 54)
1779 - 5 companies served at Fort Augusta under General Cornwallis in Carolina\/ - Georgia (Craig, p. 54)During the Revolution, the British on this spot erected Fort Cornwallis (replacing Fort Augusta), which was captured by the Americans by surprise September 14, 1780, but soon abandoned to the British. In May, 1781, an attack under General Andrew Pickens and Lieutenant Colonel " Light Horse Harry" Lee, and the use of a Mayham tower, forced surrender by the British Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Brown, capitulation taking place on June 5, 1781.
Lard Rawdon in Carleston (April 1781).
Duncanson, John (1989). Rawdon and Douglas: Two Loyalists Townships in Nova Scotia. Ontario: Mika Publishing Company, p. xvii
Siege of Ninety-Six, South Carolina
Ninety Six National Historic Site
John Bond
Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings
Battle of Eutaw Springs
Battle of Eutaw Springs – Sept. 8, 1781 – six soldiers skilled, 22 wounded, 2 missing – no prisoners; Casualities were Capt. Robert Cambell – wounded; 6 soldiers killed, 22 wonded, (Criag, p.13)
American Patiot attack at Orangeburg with 2600 troops. The 84th - working as grenadiers - were part of the British which had 2300. The 84th confronted the American Patriot attack at Eutaw S;rings.
Uniform and equipment
The 84th was the only Highland regiment to keep and use its traditional highland uniform; plaids and swords, for the duration of the war. General Gage specified that the new military unit would be "cloathed Armed and accoutred in like manner with His Majesty's Royal Highland Regiment", indicating that they would wear the Highland Scots military uniform, unlike the more conventional uniforms worn by other Provincial units.
The original uniform of the first battalion was the green Provincial uniform, consisting of a long, green coat, tri-cornered black hat, breeches, and gray hose. They were armed with surplus King's Long Land Muskets from the Seven Years' War.
In the second quarter of 1777, they received kilts, belted plaids (or perhaps both) in the government sett and wore these with their green Provincial coats (which were shortened) until these wore out, at which time they were replaced with the red coats of regulars.
The Second Battalion did not do as well, having to provide for their own uniforms until the local governor was formally ordered to clothe and arm them in the autumn of 1776.
Upon their incorporation into the Regular Establishment, their uniform was standardized to the short Highland style coat with dark blue facings and white turnbacks. The regimental lace is presumed to be white tape with one blue worm centered between two red, but this description is based on a later 84th regiment's practices, as no contemporary descriptions of the regimental lace have been discovered. Buttons had one of three variations, all of which incorporated "84th" with the customary Highland embellishment. Men were issued plaids or kilts of government sett. In addition, each man was issued two pairs of trews, one white and one blue.
Companies in the south were issued brown trousers instead of white or blue. Officers' uniforms used gold lace and buttons.
In winter, it was common for men to wear both trousers and plaids simultaneously. Members stationed in Canada were issued a wool waistcoat, a blanket coat, overshoes, a watch cape, mittens, ice creepers, and snow shoes. [24]
Disbanded
After the American Revolution, the American Loyalists defeated, the soldiers of the 84th Regiment, 2nd Battalion became part of the migration of the United Empire Loyalists to Nova Scotia. The 84th Regiment evacuated Charlotte, South Carolina and went to New York in April 1782 and then on to Halifax, arriving on October 24, 1782.[25] Major Small followd them, arriving on the frigate Jason on November 12.[26] Small arrived with a number of the settlers that the 84th Regiment had saved in the Siege of Ninety-Six. The settlers who arrived with Small settled in the Rawdon Township (currently, Rawdon, Nova Scotia and area).[27] After the 2nd Battalion was disbanded at Fort Edward (Nova Scotia) on October 10th, 1783, many of the 84th Regiment settled beside the Rawdon Township in the newly formed Douglas Township (Kennetcook, Nova Scotia and surrounding area).[28]
Major Small purchased Malachi Salter's grant (present day Selma, Nova Scotia) and built a manor house on an estate which he named "Selma", after which the community is named.[29] Small had hoped to establish the Feudal Barony of Straloch in Selma but his last will and testament was not honoured.[30]
The First battalion settled mainly in Ontario. A few took passage, instead, to Britain.
This unit, the "old 84th", was completely disbanded and has no direct descendants in the military of the modern United Kingdom. Later regiments to bear this number (84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot) have no historical nor traditional connection to it. However, the Canadian Army considers the 84th to be continued in the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders.
84th Regiment soldiers in Hants County, Nova Scotia
The following is a list of the soldiers from the 84th Regiment who settled in the Douglas Township in Hants County, Nova Scotia after the war:
- Abraham Blois, Gore, Nova Scotia
- Alexander Cameron, Minasville, Nova Scotia
- James Dalrymple, Kennetcook, Nova Scotia
- Lewis Ettinger, Kennetcook, Nova Scotia
- Christopher Hennigar, Kennetcook, Nova Scotia
- Thomas Laffin, Kennetcook, Nova Scotia
84th Regiment soldiers in Eastern, Ontario
- William Brannan, E. District
- Richard Campbell, Marysburgh Township, Ontario
- Donald Cameron, Charlottenb'g
- William Cameron, Cornwall
- James Chavassey, Marysburgh Township, Ontario
- Michael Conlon, Kingston
[1] - Link to site of all 84th Regiment in Eastern Ontario
References
- ^ The provinces of Ontario and New Brunwick were only created after the American Revolution by dividing Quebec and Nova Scotia respectively. Prior to the revolution Ontario was part of Quebec and New Brunwick was part of Nova Scotia.
- ^ Initially, Major John's Small's regiment was named the Young Royal Highlanders and Allan Maclean's was called the Royal Highland Immigrants. John Small's regiment was later amalgamated into Allan MacLeans, both taking on the name the Royal Highland Emigrants. In January 1779, all battalions of the regiment were moved from the Provincial to the Regular Establishment as the 84th Regiment of Foot. They served as part of the Regular Establishment until the end of the war.
- ^ Fryer, Mary Beacock, Allan Maclean, Jacobite General: The life of an eighteenth century career soldier, Dundurn Press, Toronto, 1987, p.123
- ^ Bruce, Bernard. The British Eighty-Fourth Regiment, (1775-1784. Nova Scotia Records and Archive Management. MG. 100., Vil. 137, No. 9G, pp. 4
- ^ MacDonald had also fought in The Battle of Bunker Hill with Major Small (The North Carolina Continentals By Hugh F. Rankin, p. 33)
- ^ White people, Indians, and Highlanders: tribal peoples and colonial ... By Colin Gordon Calloway,p. 108
- ^ Benjamin Franklin also engaged France in the war to fight against England, which meant that many of the Privateers were also from France.
- ^ Roger Marsters (2004). Bold Privateers: Terror, Plunder and Profit on Canada's Atlantic Coast" , p. 87-89.
- ^ Thomas B. Akins. (1895) History of Halifax. Dartmouth: Brook House Press.p. 82
- ^ Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Hughes stated in a dispatch to Lord Germaine that "rebel cruisers" made the attack.
- ^ Fort Frederick was destroyed and rebuilt at Fort Howe.
- ^ Bold Privateers, p. 88
- ^ Craig, C. (1989). The Young Emigrants: Craigs of the Magaguadavic. p. 53
- ^ While it wore the Scottish Highland uniform and was known as a Highland Regiment, it consisted of no more than 25% Scottish membership, the rest made up of the other nationalities present in the English Colonies during the American Revolution.
- ^ Duncanson, John (1989) p. 64
- ^ Also participating in the Battle were other officers of the newly raised Royal Highland Emigrants (A.K.A.Young Royal Highlanders). With him were Captain Ranald MacDonald, Captain Alexander Campbell, Captain Donald McLeod (who was recovering from wounds taken at Lexington), Volunteer William Walker, Sergeant Allan MacArthur, and a small contingent of men.
- ^ Major Small lead the 38th and 43rd Regiments in storming the hill.
- ^ Coal Mine Battery (1759 - 1854), Sydney Mines. A British blockhouse and three earthwork batteries were built on the Spanish (Sydney) River near Indian Cove and Peck's Head. Also known as the Sydney Mines Battery. The blockhouse was rebuilt in 1778 with a four-gun battery.
- ^ Locations of the Forts are identified by Logan, G.M., Dr. Scottish Highlanders and the American Revolution, (1976), Halifax, NS., pp.80,81,99,110, 111
- ^ The Nova Scotia Gazette and the Weekly Chronicle, (Halifax), June 22, 1779.
- ^ EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MAJOR-GENERAL MASSEY, COMMANDING HIS MAJESTY' S TROOPS IN THE PROVINCE OF NOVA-SCOTIA, TO ALDERMAN BAKER, OF CORK. Halifax, November 5, 1776.
- ^ "Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain: together with members of the titled and non-titled contemporary establishment" By Peter Beauclerk Dewar, 2001, p. 923
- ^ Stacy, p. 26-27; Craig, p. 54.
- ^ For more on the the 84th Regiment uniform see Fryer Beacock, Mary, Allan Maclean, Jacobite General, Dundurn Press, Toronto, 1987, p.119
- ^ Two companies sent to Jamica for garrison duty from Charlestown, South Carolina on December 18, 1782. There was a battle between France and England raged on for ownership of the island (See the Battle of the Saintes). These men did not retrun to Nova Scotia until three weeks after the majority of the Regiment (Duncanson, p. 69).
- ^ Duncanson, p. 69
- ^ Duncanson, p. 14
- ^ Some chose to settle elsewhere, chiefly in Pictou, Halifax, and Colchester Counties, as well as along the South Shore.
- ^ Duncanson, John (1989). Rawdon and Douglas: Two Loyalists Townships in Nova Scotia. Ontario: Mika Publishing Company, p. xvi
- ^ Small's last will and testament was the responsibility of his cousin General Ried, who bequeathed Small's money to the University of Edinburgh (Duncanson, p.xiv, p. 71).
- Katcher, Philip, Encyclopaedia of British, Provincial, and German Army Units 1775-1783, 1973, ISBN 0811705420
- "The Royal Emigrants” by Jonas Howe, Acadiensis Vol. IV, No. 1, January 1904,
- G. Murray Logan, Scottish Highlanders and the American Revolution, McCurdy Printing Co. Ltd., Halifax, 1976
- Calvin Craig “The Young Emigrants and Craigs of Magaguadavic”