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At the memorable battle of Alexandria, on the 21st of March, in which the noble and brave General Abercromby, the Commander-in-
Chief of the expedition, was fatally wounded, the 92nd was not much engaged, owing to their reduced condition. But the other
Highland regiments were encouraged by General Abercromby, who called out to them—"My brave Highlanders, remember your
country, remember your forefathers!":-
When smoke of cartridge filled the air,
And cannons loud did shake the plain,
Many a hero brave fell there,
That never will come back again.
The battle was won, though the loss of the British in killed and wounded was heavy. In September the French, numbering 27,000
men, capitulated and re-embarked for France.
On leaving Egypt the 92nd sailed for Ireland, and landed at Cork on the 13th of January, 1802. Shortly after they were removed to
Glasgow, where they stayed till the renewal of the war in 1803. Then they were marched to Leith, and embarked for the camp at
Woeley. The regiment formed a part of the expedition against Copenhagen, which sailed in 1807, and they served in Sir Arthur
Wellesley’s brigade. In this campaign, by a spirited charge with the bayonet, they drove back a greatly superior force.
In 1808 the Gordon Highlanders embarked for Sweden, and immediately after the return of the expedition, the troops employed
were ordered to Portugal, under the command of Sir John Moore. The 92nd accompanied all the movements of General Moore’s
army, and were engaged in the Battle of Corunna, in which their commanding officer, Colonel Napier, was killed. Sir John Moore fell
in the Battle of Corunna—one of the ablest and bravest generals that ever led a British army. [My father fought in the battle of
Corunna, also in the battles of Vimiera, Badajoz, Salamanca, and Vittoria, in which he lost the thumb of his left hand, which he
buried with the aid of his bayonet on the battlefield.] The Gordon Highlanders returned to England in the spring of 1809, and were
quartered at Woeley.
The regiment was next employed in the expedition to Walcherin, which sailed in the end of July, 1809. In this expedition the Marquis
of Huntly, being then a lieutenant-general, had command of a division of the force.
On the 21st of September, 1810, the Gordon Highlanders embarked for Portugal, and in October joined the British army under Lord
Wellington at the lines of Tones Vedras. On the service of the regiment in the Spanish Peninsula and the south of France I cannot
here enter, and it has only to be remarked that in all the battles in which they were engaged, they maintained their high character
and bravery in the hour of peril.
At Quatre Bras the 92nd fought heroically. Though their brave commander, Colonel Cameron, was killed, they drove back a strong
body of the enemy, and pursued them for a quarter of a mile.
The service rendered by the Gordon Highlanders at a critical moment in the battle of Waterloo was so important that it should be
narrated at some length.
On the day of the battle the Gordon Highlanders were commanded by Major Donald Macdonald. They were in the 9th Brigade, with
the Royal Scots, the 42nd Highlanders, and the 44th Regiment This brigade was placed on the left wing on the crest of an
eminence, forming one side of the low valley which separated the two hostile armies. A brigade of Belgians, another of Hanoverians,
and General Ponsonby’s Brigade of 1st Dragoons, Inniskillings, and the Scots Greys, were also posted on the left. About ten o’clock
in the morning Bonaparte opened a severe cannonade upon the whole line of the British and their allies, and made a determined
attack upon the post at Hougoumont. At two o’clock the enemy, covered by a strong fire of artillery, advanced in a close column of
infantry towards the position of the Belgians. The fire of the Belgians and a few cannon checked the advance of the column for
some time; but the troops of Nassau fell back and retired behind the crest of the eminence, leaving an open space to the enemy.
The third battalion of the Royal Scots and the second battalion of the 44th Regiment were ordered up to occupy the abandoned
ground; and there a severe conflict occurred, in which the two regiments lost many men and spent all their ammunition. The
enemy’s column still continuing to advance, General Park ordered up the Highlanders, calling out—"Ninety-second, now is your
chance. Charge!" This order was repeated by Major Macdonald, and the Highlanders gave a ringing shout. Though the regiment
then only numbered 250 men, they instantly formed two men deep and rushed forward to charge a column ten men deep and 3000
strong. The enemy seemed appalled at the daring and rapid advance of the Highlanders, stood a few moments motionless, then
panic seized the great column, and they fled in the utmost confusion, throwing away their arms. Swift as the Highlanders were, they
were unable to overtake them. But the cavalry pursued them at full speed, slew many, and took 1700 prisoners. It was on observing
this scene that Napoleon exclaimed—"Les braves Ecossais, qu’ils sont terribles ces chevaux gris!" when he saw a small body of
Highlanders causing one of his favourite columns to flee, and the Greys charging almost up to his line.
From the date of the embodiment of the Gordon Highlanders to the battle of Waterloo—a period of twenty-two years—the regiment
had fought in twenty-six battles. In this period they had 12 officers killed and 100 wounded, and 238 rank and file killed, and 1261
wounded—making a total loss of 1499.
Since the battle of Waterloo the Gordon Highlanders, on every battlefield where they have been engaged, have admirably upheld
their character of brave and faithful soldiers.
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GEORGE, FIFTH DUKE OF GORDON —APPOINTED LORD-LIEUTENANT OF ABEEDEENSHIRE—HIS DEATH
THE DUCHESS OF GORDON—RETURN TO HUNTLY LODGE — HER DEATH
DUKES OF RICHMOND AND GORDON AS LANDLORDS.
THE Fifth Duke of Gordon attained the rank of full General in the army. He was also Colonel of the Scots Fusilier Guards. In 1820
he received the honour of the Grand Cross of the Bath.
In 1813 he married Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of Alexander Brodie of Arnhall. Shortly afterwards he settled at Huntly
Lodge—a modern mansion which stands on a fine elevated site, near the edge of the forest of Binn, about a quarter of a mile from
the old Castle of Strathbogie, and on the opposite side of the river Deveron. In this mansion the Marquis and Marchioness of Huntly
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