
Originally Posted by
Spañiard
I’m looking for the original copies, or transcripts of both letters of correspondence, without authors touch, word for word. The letters are misplaced,
and it’s clear many are not aware, considering “Old Daddy’s” account goes against the grain, of established history.
The status quo historical account on origin of the SCOTS & Canadian, Black Watch wearing a red feather, dates to Jan. 1795 for the regiment’s service
during the British retreat through the Flemish village of Gedermaisen, for their “heroic gallantry,” as the capture of abandoned guns. It’s historically fact,
the first “official” use, occurred when the 42nd Regiment at Royston Hertfordshire, paraded in celebrations for King George III, birthday, were issued
red vulture feathers, on June 4th 1795.
In Oct. 2014 I contacted the Regimental archives, at Balhousie Castle in Perth Scotland, the BW Association, and the Red Hackle Journal, concerning the
matter, responding: “We are not aware of letters etc, however looking into your request.” David Stewart of Garth, Sketches published in 1822, transcripts
and extracts of correspondence, accounts on the red feather, which were from an account that took place years before, supports part of Stirling’s foggy
recollections. However Garth’s Sketches are problematic, at time 3rd part recollections dating back decades, in contradiction on now known facts, which
paints a different picture. One must also take into consideration, that Gen, Garth’s body of work, was chopped up like taco meat, by plagiarist, taking his
accounts, rewriting and making it their own, while other Historians/Authors source Garth.
Maj. Proctor’s last comment holds water, as echoed by many throughout the decades, including Moi; “the most obvious of which was a recognition
mark when soldiers were fighting in close country, the unit commanders could identify the colour of feather which their soldiers wore In their bonnets.”
The Major’s comment on the Geldermaisen Jan 1795 account, on origin of “a red vulture feather,” rings true; “now widely accepted as not creatable and
should be discarded from Mother’s history.”
Academics, scholars, etc., immersed in the erudite study, on the genesis of the 42nd wearing the red feather, equivocate in their analyses. Some question
acquiring, red ostrich feathers, for circa 1000 men on the road to the capital, Philadelphia, as highly improbable, as for “stained their feathers red,” requires
a delicate touch. Problematic accounts, which have been critically scrutinised.
It’s to be considered; some claim correspondence from Dick and Stirling’s reply was submitted, prompting the decision by AHQ, however Dick wrote in,
“Sept. 8th. 1822 and Stirling’s replied after the fact. “For Officers commanding Highland Regiments.” Horse Guards 20th Aug. 1822, General Order,
“The Red Vulture feather prescribed by the recent regulations, for the Highland Regiments, is intended to be used exclusively by the Forty-Second Regiment:
Other Highland corps will be allowed to continue to wear the same description of feather that may have been hitherto in use.” “H. Torrens, Adjutant-General.”
Historians/authors concluded Garth’s Sketches and Stirling: “This tells us the 71st Highland Regiment of Foot, the re-raised Fraser Highlanders, Were the
first to wear a red feather while servicing in North America around 1776.”
In Dick’s letter asking for clarity: “I have always understood since I have been in the Regiment (1808), that the Red Feather was given them for taking or
defeating a regiment of Grenadiers and that the Lt Company of the 48th [sic] who were with them on that occasion, (the 48th?), got it at the same time,
but I cannot remember when I heard this took place...” Stirling further added, wasn’t until 1802, on their return to England, the King supposedly granted
official permission, however that award only surfaced in the 1840s. The correspondence wasn’t considered, later discarded by Mother’s as she established
history on origin of the red vulture feathers, while already safe guarded by Horse Guard, the letters were left in obscurity until conveniently brought to light
in 1967. In 1968, Howard Philip published the regiment’s history, concluding the battle of Brandywine Creek could be the Watch’s “famous and mysterious
Red Hackle,” or “an award for many years of service in North America.” In the SCOTS Black Watch Regimental Journal “The Red Hackle,” April 1982 issue,
the letters were reintroduced, concerning origin of the red feather with a possible connection to AWI, with the 71st in 1776, or 77 maybe 78, the article
was unsigned, not even, “un non de la plume.”
Gen. Stirling further added; “that’s when he arrived in New York with the 42nd in 1776 the 2nd LI Batt. were wearing a red feather while the 1st LI wore a green feather.”
Official BW History:
“In 1822, because of an erroneous direction in a book of dress for the guidance of the army, some of the other Highland regiments considered that they too
had a right to wear "a red vulture feather." The 42nd, however, remonstrated, and its representations to headquarter resulted in the following memorandum:”
Source: BW Record of an Historic Regiment, by A. Forbes 1896.
The General Regulations and Orders for the Army. Adj.-Gen’s Office, Horse-Guards, 1st, Jan. 1822. Caps of the Infantry p. 91, regulation feathers
can be worn, etc.
Sketches of the Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of The Highlanders of Scotland. Vol. II, By -Col. David Stewart (1822). Vol II.
The part where: “Fraser’s Highlanders wore the red feather after Colonel Maitland’s death, and continued to do so till the conclusion of the war, etc.”
Doesn’t appear in Vol II.
Sketches of the Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of The Highlanders of Scotland. Vol. II, By Maj.-Gen. David Stewart (1825).
Third Edition. p. 132-133.
Part IV. History of the Royal Highland Regiment. Vol. II. England, 1809 till Waterloo.
Fraser’s Highlanders, Or Seventy-First Regiment. 1775.
Lt.-Col. Maitland original a Marine transferred to the line, and appointed Major to Fraser’s Highlanders(?). His arrival at Savannah came at a critical moment,
during the skirmish warfare in Jerseys and Pennsylvania, in the year 1776 and 1777, he was particularly active. Ever on alert, and having his Highlanders always
ready, he attracted the particular notice of General Washington. Some communications having passed between them as old acquaintances, although then opposed
as enemies, Colonel Maitland sent intimation to the American commander, that in future his men would be distinguished by a red feather in their bonnets, so that
he could not mistake them, nor avoid doing justice to their exploits, in annoying his posts, and obstructing his convoys and detachments: adding, that General
Washington was too liberal not to acknowledge merit even in an enemy. Fraser’s Highlanders wore the red feather after Colonel Maitland’s death, and continued
to do so till the conclusion of the war. Such was the origin of the red feather subsequently worn in the Highland bonnet, about which some idle tales have been
repeated. In the year 1795, the red feather was assumed by the Royal Highland Regiment.
A pamphlet, compiled by MacKerlie, with access to the olden day’s record books: “An Account of the Scottish Regiments with the Statistics of Each, from
1808-1861.” Under the 42nd Regiment, concerning the red feather; “we cannot recollect our authority, but have always understood that the red feather worn
in their bonnets was given as a mark of distinction, for their gallantry in America.”
The irony, a similar account was also mentioned in a copy of Lt.-Col. Hubley’s letter dated year 1777: LETTER OF MAJOR J. H. T. CORNISH-BOWDEN,
THE DUKE OF CORNWALL'S LIGHT INFANTRY REGIMENT.—
The 46th Foot, now the 2d Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry:
“One thing is certain and that is that the 46th Regiment have worn a distinctive red mark in their head gear ever since memory can reach. Until Light Companies
were abolished (after the Crimean War) it was borne by the officers and men of that company only. I have found a letter authorizing it to be borne by the whole
unit in consideration of its interesting origin—details again not stated—on the occasion of the then reorganization. In one form and another the badge has been
sanctified by a vast amount of blood. Cannot you see how impossible it is for us to knock it down and trample upon it because it refuses to fit into a cold historical
niche? Yours sincerely, J. H. T. Cornish-Bowden.”
.
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