Alan Cameron of Erracht
Encyclopedia
Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht (1753 – 9 March 1828) was a British soldier who, at his own expense in 1793, raised the 79th Cameron Highlanders
regiment, which remains as part of The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
.
. He returned to Scotland in 1784.
After war was declared with revolutionary France in 1793 Cameron raised the 79th Foot (later known as the Cameron Highlanders) and was accepted as it's Colonel (although his army rank still appears to be no more than Major at this point). He commanded the regiment when it joined the forces of the Duke of York
in the Flanders Campaign
1794, and during the retreat through Holland 1795. From 1795-1797 the regiment was in the West Indies and served at Martinique. Cameron was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1796. Devastated by fever the 79th was eventually withdrawn from the West Indies and rebuilt in Guernsey 1798. Cameron again served under York in the Helder Campaign
in 1799. The 79th was in garrison in Houat in 1800, then joined Abercromby
's expedition to Egypt & Minorca 1801. A 2nd battalion was raised in 1804. Cameron was confirmed as Colonel 79th Foot on 1 January 1805. In 1807 he led his regiment in the expedition against Copenhagen
under Cathcart
.
Cameron joined the army in the Peninsular in late 1808, as a Brigadier-General commanding the 2nd Brigade of Rowland Hill
’s 3rd Division in Portugal, collecting stragglers from Moore’s army. Under Wellesley
from 1809, his brigade saw action at Oporto 12th May, then became the 2nd Brigade of Sherbrooke
’s 1st Division, fighting at Talavera 28th July, and at Busaco 27th September 1810. He was promoted Major-General on 25th July 1810 & invalided home.
Cameron was noted for his outspoken eccentricity. When asked his opinion on the idea of replacing kilt
s with ‘trews
’ in the Highland regiments he responded famously and at length against it . When the 95th Rifles were added to make up his brigade in late 1808 “On hearing that our four companies were to be put under his command, this gallant but eccentric old chieftain declared, ‘he did not want a parcel of riflemen, as he already had a thousand Highlanders, who would face the devil.’ Had our corps been raised northward of the Tweed, it is more probable that our brigadier would have set a higher value on us; but we were moved to another brigade before he had an opportunity of judging of the merits or demerits of the Southerners in the field”
Cameron became a Knight of the Bath in 1815 and lieutenant-general in 1819.
Cameron Highlanders
Cameron Highlanders may mean:* The Highlanders , infantry regiment in the Scottish Division of the British Army* The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces...
regiment, which remains as part of The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Prior to 28 March 2006, the Highlanders was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Highlanders , part of the Scottish Division...
.
Military career
Cameron joined the army as a volunteer and served in North America. At the beginning of the American War of Independence Cameron was captured by American colonists in 1775 and imprisoned for two years in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. He returned to Scotland in 1784.
After war was declared with revolutionary France in 1793 Cameron raised the 79th Foot (later known as the Cameron Highlanders) and was accepted as it's Colonel (although his army rank still appears to be no more than Major at this point). He commanded the regiment when it joined the forces of the Duke of York
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany was a member of the Hanoverian and British Royal Family, the second eldest child, and second son, of King George III...
in the Flanders Campaign
Flanders Campaign
This feature refers to the conflict that took place during the Wars of the French Revolution 1792–1801.For the Low Countries campaigns of the War of the Grand Alliance 1688–97 see Nine Years' War...
1794, and during the retreat through Holland 1795. From 1795-1797 the regiment was in the West Indies and served at Martinique. Cameron was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1796. Devastated by fever the 79th was eventually withdrawn from the West Indies and rebuilt in Guernsey 1798. Cameron again served under York in the Helder Campaign
Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland
The Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland refers to the campaign of 27 August to 19 November 1799 during the War of the Second Coalition, in which an expeditionary force of British and Russian troops invaded the North-Holland peninsula in the Batavian Republic...
in 1799. The 79th was in garrison in Houat in 1800, then joined Abercromby
Ralph Abercromby
Sir Ralph Abercromby was a Scottish soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.He twice served as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire, and was...
's expedition to Egypt & Minorca 1801. A 2nd battalion was raised in 1804. Cameron was confirmed as Colonel 79th Foot on 1 January 1805. In 1807 he led his regiment in the expedition against Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1807)
The Second Battle of Copenhagen was a British preemptive attack on Copenhagen, targeting the civilian population in order to seize the Dano-Norwegian fleet and in turn originate the term to Copenhagenize.-Background:Despite the defeat and loss of many ships in the first Battle of Copenhagen in...
under Cathcart
William Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart
General William Schaw Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart KT, PC, PC , Scottish soldier and diplomatist, was born at Petersham, and educated at Eton.-Military career:...
.
Cameron joined the army in the Peninsular in late 1808, as a Brigadier-General commanding the 2nd Brigade of Rowland Hill
Rowland Hill
Rowland Hill may refer to:* Rowland Hill , English Member of Parliament for the City of London* Sir Rowland Hill, 1st Baronet Hill of Hawkstone , built Hawkstone Park follies...
’s 3rd Division in Portugal, collecting stragglers from Moore’s army. Under Wellesley
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
from 1809, his brigade saw action at Oporto 12th May, then became the 2nd Brigade of Sherbrooke
John Coape Sherbrooke
Sir John Coape Sherbrooke was a British soldier and colonial administrator. After serving in the British army in Nova Scotia, the Netherlands, India, the Mediterranean , and Spain, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia in 1811.His active defense of the colony during the War of 1812...
’s 1st Division, fighting at Talavera 28th July, and at Busaco 27th September 1810. He was promoted Major-General on 25th July 1810 & invalided home.
Cameron was noted for his outspoken eccentricity. When asked his opinion on the idea of replacing kilt
Kilt
The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. Since the 19th century it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic heritage even more broadly...
s with ‘trews
Trews
Trews are men's clothing for the legs and lower abdomen, a traditional form of tartan trousers from Scottish apparel...
’ in the Highland regiments he responded famously and at length against it . When the 95th Rifles were added to make up his brigade in late 1808 “On hearing that our four companies were to be put under his command, this gallant but eccentric old chieftain declared, ‘he did not want a parcel of riflemen, as he already had a thousand Highlanders, who would face the devil.’ Had our corps been raised northward of the Tweed, it is more probable that our brigadier would have set a higher value on us; but we were moved to another brigade before he had an opportunity of judging of the merits or demerits of the Southerners in the field”
Cameron became a Knight of the Bath in 1815 and lieutenant-general in 1819.