60th Foot
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Origin and History
A royal warrant established a new regiment in the American colonies on December 25 1755 as the "62nd (Royal American) Regiment of Foot". A special act of the British Parliament confirmed the creation of the regiment on March 4 1756. Exceptionally, it counted 4 battalions. Soldiers were recruited in Germany (including prisoners of war) and Ireland; and among the Swiss and German settlers of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland.
By July 1756, only one battalion was already raised.
When the original 50th Foot and 51st Foot were disbanded on December 27 1757, the regiment became the "60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot".
During the Seven Years's War, the regiment was commanded by:
- from December 25, 1755: John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudon
- from December 27, 1757: James Abercromby
- from September 20, 1758 to September 21, 1768: Lord Jeffrey Amherst
During the same period, the colonels of each battalion were:
- 1st Battalion:
- from January 1, 1756: John Stanwix
- around 1758: Henri Bouquet (as effective commander)
- from October 28, 1761 to January 11, 1776: Jacques Prevost
- 2nd Battalion:
- from January 2, 1756: Joseph Dusseaux
- from December 20, 1757: Robert Monckton
- from October 24, 1759 to December 16, 1767: James Murray
- 3rd Battalion:
- from January 3, 1756: Charles Jeffereys
- from February 25, 1757: George Augustus Howe, 3rd Viscount Howe
- from September 28, 1757 to December 9, 1760: Charles Lawrence
- 4th Battalion:
- from January 2, 1756: Jacques Prevost (from 1758 to 1761, effectively led by Lieutenant-Colonel Fredrick Haldimand of the II./60th Foot; Prevost was absent to protest his not being given the rank of brigadier-general and may never had led the 4th Battalion in any battle; theater commanders were more than happy to leave the extraordinarily difficult Prevost behind)
- from November 11, 1761 to 1763: Marcus Smith
Service during the War
1st Battalion
In April 1758, part of Bouquet's battalion was assigned to the expedition against Fort Duquesne (present-day Pittsburgh) under Brigadier John Forbes. In May, part the battalion received rifled-carbines. Bouquet, the colonel of the battalion, trained his men as light infantry. By the end of June, Forbes' army was on the march from Philadelphia, slowly progressing towards Fort Duquesne by Raystown, Shippensburg and Loyalhannon. In September, a detachment of the battalion took part in a raid on Fort Duquesne but the affair was mismanaged and the British were counter-ambushed by the French and their Indian allies. At the end of November, Forbes' Army marched on the fort which was destroyed by the French before retiring. Meanwhile, in July, a detachment of the battalion took part in the expedition against Carillon (present-day Ticonderoga). On July 5, they were embarked at the head of Lake George. On July 6, at daybreak, the British flotilla reached the narrow channel leading into Lake Champlain near Fort Carillon and disembarkation began at 9:00 a.m. On July 8, they fought in the disastrous Battle of Carillon. At daybreak on July 9, the British army re-embarked and retreated to the head of the lake where it reoccupied the camp it had left a few days before. By November 1, Fort Edward was garrisoned only by 1 battalion of the Royal American regiment and 4 companies of Rogers' Rangers.
In September 1760, a detachment of the battalion was present for the French surrender of Montréal.
In 1761, the battalion lay idle in North America.
2nd Battalion
In the Spring of 1757, the 2nd Battalion was selected for the planned campaign against Louisbourg or Québec. In early June, the transport fleet carrying the battalion sailed from New York, arriving at Halifax on June 30. However, three French Naval Squadrons reinforced Louisbourg that summer and the expedition was cancelled. Lack of winter-quarters at Halifax forced the relocation of the 2nd Battalion back to the Mid-Atlantic Colonies.
In the Spring of 1758, the 2nd Battalion embarked from Philadelphia and returned to Halifax. On May 28, the British Fleet departed Halifax for the expedition against the Fortress of Louisbourg. On June 8, when Amherst's Army landed near Louisbourg, the battalion was part of the centre brigade under Wolfe. In May and July, the battalion took part in the Siege of Louisbourg which surrendered on July 27. After the capture of the fortress, the battalion was assigned to a detachment under Lord Rollo who submitted Isle Saint-Jean (present-day Prince Edward Island) and tried to remove the inhabitants, with small success; for out of more than 4,000, they could catch but 700.
In 1759, the battalion was part of the expedition against Québec, being attached to Brigadier-General Townsend's Brigade. On June 27, the army landed on Isle-d'Orléans and were drawn up on the beach near the village of Saint-Laurent. On July 9, a skirmish occurred near the Montmorency Fall. One battalion (II. or III.) of the 60th Foot was attacked by a party of Canadians and Ottawa Indians who was in turn repulsed by the grenadiers of the 28th Foot. The 60th Royal American lost 14 men killed and several wounded. The Canadians lost 4 killed and 1 wounded, the Indians 3 killed and 4 wounded. On July 31, the grenadiers of the second battalion as well as 2 other companies (II. or III.) took part in the failed attack on the shores of Beauport where they were part of the first wave with the Louisbourg Grenadiers. The assault failed and these companies suffered heavy losses. On September 13, the battalion took part in the victorious Battle on the Plains of Abraham near Québec. It was initially kept in reserve but was later sent to reinforce the left flank. On September 18, Québec finally surrendered. At the end of October, when Vice-Admiral Saunders left with his fleet for Great Britain, the battalion remained as garrison in Québec along with 9 other battalions.
On April 28, 1760, at the defeat of Sainte-Foy, the battalion was in Burton's Brigade on the right wing. In September, a detachment of the battalion was present for the French surrender of Montréal.
In 1761, the battalion lay idle in North America.
3rd Battalion
In 1758, the 3rd Battalion was selected for the planned expedition against the Fortress of Louisbourg. On April 23, it sailed from Boston and arrived at Halifax by mid-May. On May 28, the British Fleet departed Halifax. On June 8, when Amherst's Army landed near Louisbourg, the battalion was part of the right brigade under Whitmore. In May and July, the battalion took part in the Siege of Louisbourg which surrendered on July 27. After the capture of the fortress, the battalion was assigned to a detachment under Lord Rollo who submitted Isle Saint-Jean (present-day Prince Edward Island) and tried to remove the inhabitants, with small success; for out of more than 4,000, they could catch but 700.
In 1759, the battalions was part of the expedition against Québec, being attached to Colonel Murray's Brigade. On June 27, the army landed on Isle-d'Orléans and were drawn up on the beach near the village of Saint-Laurent. On July 9, a skirmish occurred near the Montmorency Fall. One battalion (II. or III.) of the 60th Foot was attacked by a party of Canadians and Ottawa Indians who was in turn repulsed by the grenadiers of the 28th Foot. The 60th Royal American lost 14 men killed and several wounded. The Canadians lost 4 killed and 1 wounded, the Indians 3 killed and 4 wounded. On July 31, the grenadiers of the second battalion as well as 2 other companies of the regiment (II. or III.) took part in the failed attack on the shores of Beauport. where they were part of the first wave with the Louisbourg Grenadiers. The assault failed and these companies suffered heavy losses. On September 13, during the victorious Battle on the Plains of Abraham near Québec, the battalion was initially drawn up en potence fronting the Saint-Charles to prevent French light troops from outflanking Wolfe's Army. On September 18, Québec finally surrendered. At the end of October, when Vice-Admiral Saunders left with his fleet for Great Britain, the battalion remained as garrison in Québec along with 9 other battalions.
On April 28, 1760, at the defeat of Sainte-Foy, the battalion was kept in reserve in rear of the centre. In September, a detachment of the battalion was present for the French surrender of Montréal.
In 1761, the battalion lay idle in North America for most of the year. By the end of the year, the battalion was sent to the West Indies where it arrived in Carlisle Bay in Barbados on December 24.
In January and February 1762, the battalion took part in the expedition against Martinique and in the siege of Fort Royal. Then from March to August, it participated in the siege and capture of Havanna, suffering heavy losses from sickness during the following months.
4th Battalion
In the Spring of 1757, the 4th Battalion was selected for the planned |campaign against Louisbourg or Québec. In early June, the transport fleet carrying the battalion sailed from New York, arriving at Halifax on June 30. However, three French Naval Squadrons reinforced Louisbourg that summer and the expedition was cancelled. Lack of winter-quarters at Halifax forced the relocation of the 4th Battalion back to the Mid-Atlantic Colonies.
In July 1758, the battalion took part in the expedition against Carillon (present-day Ticonderoga) under James Abercromby. On July 5, they were embarked at the head of Lake George. On July 6, at daybreak, the British flotilla reached the narrow channel leading into Lake Champlain near Fort Carillon and disembarkation began at 9:00 a.m.. On July 8, they fought in the disastrous Battle of Carillon. At daybreak on July 9, the British army re-embarked and retreated to the head of the lake where it reoccupied the camp it had left a few days before. By November 1, Fort Edward was garrisoned only by 1 battalion of the Royal American regiment and 4 companies of Rogers' Rangers.
From June to July 1759, the battalion was part of Brigadier Prideaux's force (5,000 men) sent in an expedition against Fort Niagara who soon surrendered.
In September 1760, a detachment of the battalion was present for the French surrender of Montréal.
In 1761, the battalion lay idle in North America.
Uniform
Privates
| Headgear |
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| Neckstock | white | ||||||||||||
| Coat | brick red lined blue without lace with 3 white buttonholes under the lapels
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| Waistcoat | brick red without lace | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | blue (leather breeches were also worn during campaigns) | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | white with black buttons brown canvas during campaigns | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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Troopers were armed with with a "Brown Bess" muskets, a bayonet and a sword. They also carried a dark brown haversack with a metal canteen on the left hip.
N.B.: on campaign swords were replaced with hatchets, and coats and hats would be cut down for ease of movement on the North American frontier.
Officers
Officers of the regiment wore the same uniforms as the private soldiers but with the following differences
- silver gorget around the neck
- an aiguilette on the right shoulder
- silver lace on the coat, lapels, cuffs, buttonholes, waistcoat
- a crimson sash
Officers wore the same headgear as the private soldiers under their command; however, officers of the grenadier company wore a more decorated mitre cap.
Officers generally carried a spontoon, however, in battle some carried muskets instead.
Musicians
According to the Royal Clothing Warrant of 1751:
- The drummers of the regiment wore the royal livery. They were clothed in red, lined, faced, and lapelled on the breast with blue, and laced with the royal lace (golden braid with two thin purple central stripes).
- The front or fore part of the drums was painted blue, with the regimental badge (king's cypher within the circle of St. Andrew and a crown over it), and the number “LX” under it. The rims were red.
Colours
King's Colour: Union with its centre decorated the regimental badge (king's cypher within the garter and a crown over it). The regiment number "LX" in Roman gold numerals in the upper left corner.
Regimental Colour: blue field; centre device consisting the regimental badge (king's cypher within the garter and a crown over it); the Union in the upper left corner; the crowned royal cipher in the 3 other corners. The regiment number "LX" in Roman gold numerals superposed to the Union in the upper left corner.
N.B.: since this regiment exceptionally counted 4 battalions, the colours of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th battalion were respectively distinguished by 1, 2 and 3 flaming rays superposed to the upper left branch of the saltire of the King's colour. The same distinctions existed for the regimental colours with the rays issuing from the Union in the upperl left corner.
References
Aylor, Ron: British Regimental Drums and Colours
Boscawen, Hugh: The Capture of Louisbourg, 1758, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 2011
Fortescue, J. W.: A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899
Funcken, Liliane and Fred: Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle
George II: The Royal Clothing Warrant, 1751
Lawson, Cecil C. P.: A History of the Uniforms of the British Army - from the Beginnings to 1760, vol. II, p. 90-103
May R. and Embleton G. A.: Wolfe's Army, Osprey Publishing, London, 1974
Mills, T. F., Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth through the Way Back Machine
Wikipedia 60th Foot
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
