“WHEREAS we have thought fit to order a Highland regiment of foot to be forthwith raised under your command, to consist of ten companies, of five serjeants, five corporals, two drummers, and one hundred private men in each, with two pipers to the grenadier company, besides commissioned officers, these are to authorise you, by beat of drum or otherwise, to raise so many men in any county or part of our kingdom of Great Britain as shall be wanting to complete the said regiment to the above-mentioned numbers; and all magistrates, justices of the peace, constables, and other our civil officers, whom it may concern, are hereby required to be assisting unto you, in providing quarters, impressing carriages, and otherwise, as there shall be occasion.
“Given at our Court at St. James’s, this 19th of December 1777, in the eighteenth year of our reign.
“_To our trusty and well-beloved John Mackenzie, Esq., (commonly called John Lord Macleod), Colonel of a Highland Regiment of Foot to be forthwith raised, or to the Officer appointed by him to raise Men for our said Regiment._”
In February 1778 the Court of France concluded a treaty of defensive alliance with the American colonies, and Great Britain became involved in a war with France.
Lord Macleod’s efforts in raising the regiment were so successful that in April 1778 it was embodied at Elgin, under the denomination of “_Macleod’s Highlanders_,” and was numbered the “SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.”
In May the regiment, eleven hundred strong, embarked at Fort George, under the command of Colonel Lord Macleod, and proceeded to Guernsey and Jersey, in which islands it was stationed for six months. The regiment was subsequently removed to Portsmouth, and was cantoned during the remainder of the year in the neighbouring villages.
On the 24th of September, 1778, Colonel Lord Macleod received orders to raise a second battalion to the regiment. Each battalion was to consist of fifty serjeants, fifty corporals, twenty drummers and fifers, two pipers, and a thousand privates.
At this period the following officers had been appointed to the SEVENTY-THIRD HIGHLAND Regiment.
George Mackenzie. Alexander Gilchrist. John Shaw. Charles Dalrymple. Hugh Lamont. Hon. James Lindsay. David Baird.