78th Highlander kit 1806

[ErikGarrett]

A bit unrelated, my father trained with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, historically the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, back in the late '70s. He was Third US Inf Div at the time and of the 7th "Cotton Balers" Infantry Regiment. He told me a story of some kilted lads who took great offense to his and two other "Yanks" singing "The Battle of New Orleans" while drunk, his regimental song. Turns out the Kilted Highlander's unit lineage came from the 93rd who's forefathers were the ones who had "ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go." He claims he owes his life and subsequently mine to a Scottish Sergeant Major who showed up just in time.

[macwilkin]

A bit unrelated, my father trained with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, historically the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, back in the late '70s. He was Third US Inf Div at the time and of the 7th "Cotton Balers" Infantry Regiment. He told me a story of some kilted lads who took great offense to his and two other "Yanks" singing "The Battle of New Orleans" while drunk, his regimental song. Turns out the Kilted Highlander's unit lineage came from the 93rd who's forefathers were the ones who had "ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go." He claims he owes his life and subsequently mine to a Scottish Sergeant Major who showed up just in time.

Ironically, the 7th US Infantry living history organization has worked with officers of the Argylls to commemorate the regiment's participation in the Battle of Chalmette. The site is one of a handfull where the flag of a combatant force flies on American soil. The 93rd living history group has some pictures of modern-day Argyll officers laying a wreath at Chalmette.

The 93rd, btw, did manage to break Line Jackson and briefly capture an American redoubt before being forced to retreat. Had they been reinforced, it would have been Jackson's dirtyshirts running through the bushes.

I didn't realize the Cottonbalers had adopted the Jimmy Driftwood song; I know "The Girl I Left Behind Me" is the regimental march.

T.