Sutherland and the Reay country

THE REGIMENTS. 239'
tremendous fire of grape and musketry, when within ioo
yards of the breastwork they were ordered to a halt. In this
miserable position they had to stand, being neither allowed
to advance nor retire . . while they were being mowed
down by the murderous artillery and rifle balls." General
Lambert at last ordered the regiment to retire, but only a
fragment of the 93rd was left, for 6 officers and 120 men
had been killed (including those who died of their wounds
the following day) ; and 12 officers and 363 men wounded.
After this disastrous action it was decided to abandon any
further attempts on New Orleans. Colonel Groves, in his
History of the Regiment, says, " the splendid courage and
steadiness of the 93rd Highlanders on the 8th January, 1815,
elicited the admiration, not only of their fellow soldiers, but
of the enemy : indeed, had all the regiments exhibited
similar devotion and discipline, New Orleans might never
have been numbered among British defeats."*
Peace being established between Great Britain and the
United States, the troops were shortly afterwards ordered to
embark and sail for England. The fragment which was left
of the 93rd arrived at Spithead on the 15th May, 1815, but
* This great disaster was occasioned by the culpable neglect
of the Lieut-Colonel of the 44th regiment, to carry out instructions
which he had received on the previous night, to take his men
forward with scaling- ladders, for an assault which was intended
to be made on the enemy's works. The 93rd had been selected
for this perilous task. When advancing at daybreak, and near
the breast work, it was discovered that there were no ladders,
the regiment was called to a halt. This made their presence
known to the enemy, who poured merciless showers of grape and
rifle balls upon the almost defenceless Highlanders, and literally
mowed them down, as stated above.