Battle of St. John’s, Newfoundland, 1762: Montgomery’s Highlanders (77th) & Fraser’s Highlanders (78th)
Thanks goes to Deborah for this series of articles, which she generously donated to The Canadian Military Heritage Project and which is used here with consent. After years of warlike activity with France, England officially declared war on May 18, 1756, beginning the Seven Year’s War in Europe. But the focus of the war soon shifted away from the continent to the colonies. Echoeing the conflicts in Europe, the final struggle for the empire was to take place in North America and in the West Indies. British regulars and American militia joined forces against France and her Indian allies in a campaign commonly known as the French and Indian Wars. After suffering numerous defeats and disappointments, England and her colonies successfully reversed the course of events and conquered the Canadian and regular armies of France. Peace between Britain and France was proclaimed with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763; however, warfare against the Indians endured for sometime after. The following accounts of the French-Indian Wars focus mainly on the involvement of the Highland Regiments in the battles and expeditions listed below. However, a list of other regiments involved, and the field officers in general command during these battles, have been noted in order to facilitate further research.
After years of warlike activity with France, England officially declared war on May 18, 1756, beginning the Seven Year’s War in Europe. But the focus of the war soon shifted away from the continent to the colonies. Echoeing the conflicts in Europe, the final struggle for the empire was to take place in North America and in the West Indies. British regulars and American militia joined forces against France and her Indian allies in a campaign commonly known as the French and Indian Wars. After suffering numerous defeats and disappointments, England and her colonies successfully reversed the course of events and conquered the Canadian and regular armies of France. Peace between Britain and France was proclaimed with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763; however, warfare against the Indians endured for sometime after.
The following accounts of the French-Indian Wars focus mainly on the involvement of the Highland Regiments in the battles and expeditions listed below. However, a list of other regiments involved, and the field officers in general command during these battles, have been noted in order to facilitate further research.
Battle at St. John’s, Newfoundland, Sep 13-17, 1762
Source: “Sketches of the Character, Manners and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland; with details of The Military Service of The Highland Regiments”, by Major-General David Stewart, Vol I & II, (1825), Edinburgh.
Highland Regiments: Fraser’s Highlanders (78th) & 2 co.’s of Montgomery’s Highlanders (77th) Other Regiments: the Royals; and detachments of 45th and the Provincials. Battle Under General Command of: Colonel William Amherst; Commodore Lord Colville.
Abridged text: We must now return to Fraser’s Highlanders, who remained in America, and two companies of Montgomery’s, who did not return to New York from the expedition sent against the Indians in the autumn of 1761, in time to embark with the rest of the regiment for the West Indies. In the summer of 1762, a French armament appeared on the coast of Newfoundland, and, landing some troops, took possession of St. John’s. Commodore Lord Colville having received intelligence of the event, sailed immediately to blockade the harbour of St. John’s, and was soon followed by Colonel William Amherst, with a small force collected from New York, Halifax, and Louisbourg. Colonel Amherst landed on the 13th of September, seven miles to the northward of St. John’s, having experienced little opposition from the enemy; and, pushing forward, took possession of the strong post of Kitty Valley and two other fortified heights. On the 17th, a mortar battery being completed, and ready to open on the garrison, Count de Hausenville, the commander of the French troops, surrendered by capitulation. The enemy’s fleet, taking advantage of a heavy fog, had made their escape two nights before. The prisoners on this occasion were more numerous than the victors. The loss was Captain Macdonell of Fraser’s, and Captain Mackenzie of Montgomery’s, who died of their wounds. After the service at St. John’s, the detachments joined their respective regiments in New York and Louisbourg, where they passed the ensuing winter.
At the conclusion of the war, all the officers and men in Mongomery’s* and Fraser’s regiments who chose to settle in America were discharged, each receiving a grant of land in proportion to his rank; the rest were sent home and discharged in Scotland.
*NB: A small detachment of Montgomery’s Highlanders later fought at Bushy Run & Fort Pitt.
77th Highland Officers Killed (plus 4 soldiers):
Captain: Alexander Mackenzie
77th Highland Officers Wounded (only 2 soldiers):
Nil recorded
78th Highland Officers Killed (plus 3 soldiers):
Captain: Charles Macdonell
78th Highland Officers Wounded (only 7 soldiers):
Nil recorded
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