The Seaforth Highlanders-Regimental District No.72-consists of the 72nd and 78th Foot. The former date from 1778, when they were raised by the then lord Seaforth in recognition of the graceful act of the Government in restoring to him the forfeited title of his ancestors. By a somewhat strange coincidence the first number borne by the Regiment was that of their present 2nd battalion, 78. The first years of the regiment were somewhat tempestuous; the relations between England and the Scottish Highlanders were still somewhat strained, and each side was only too eager to allege bad faith on the part of the other. From this feeling originated the affair of “the wild Macraes,” a sept or small clan who had enlisted under Lord Seaforth. They refused to embark for Foreign Service, and with colours flying and pipes playing betook themselves to Arthur’s Seat, where they continued for some days in a state of ingressive mutiny. But this was got over by a little tact,and before long the brave Highlanders marched back to their regiment with their colonel and other officers at their head. They then set sail for India, but on the voyage out lost their Colonel-Seaforth-from illness, an occurrence that exercised a most depressing and fatal effect on his men, many of whom sickened and died. On arriving in India they joined Stuart’s force and marched against Cuddalore, and at that place, as at Palghantchery, Savendroog and Outra Durgum, proved how valuable an acquisition the Seaforth Highlanders were to the British Army. Palghantchery and Outra Durgum may indeed be said to have owed their capture chiefly to the “heroic ardour” of the 72nd. At Seringapatam they were in the third column, to which was entrusted the storming of the Pagoda hill, under Colonel Maxwell, and not a little of the credit of the day is due to the dashing manner in which he carried out his plan. They also served at Ponicherry, and in Ceylon; after which, in 1798, they returned home.
