Straihspev Fencibles at Dumfries in 1795. 103 



Major did his utmost to beat down their bayonets on the left, 

 and Captain John Grant, jun., was near him on the rig^ht 

 equally exerting-. The mutineers like cowards were encour- 

 aging- one another to push on, and had inclosed the three 

 officers in a very narrow compass, when one of the most 

 violent approaching the Lieutenant-Colonel's breast, antl 

 threatening to be through him, he was under the necessity 

 of pulling out a pistol, and presenting it at his head. The 

 fellow immediately ducked, and the whole fell back, as if they 

 had received the word of command. Many of the officers 

 had by this time joined, and order was soon restored. They 

 were paraded at the Dock, the mutiny articles read, and a 

 forcible speech made to them by the Lieutenant-Collnell [sic]. 

 They were then ordered, as a mark of returning duty and 

 allegiance to face to the right and march under the colours, 

 which was immediately complied with. The ranks were then 

 opened and six of the ringleaders picked out, sent to the 

 guard-room under an escort, and the affair reported to the 

 Commander-in-Chief." Such is the officially inspired account. 

 The Editor of the Jouinial concludes : " It is but justice to 

 add, that (this only unlucky business excepted) no corps, ever 

 quartered in this place, behaved themselves with such pro- 

 priety of conduct and demeanour, and so entirely conciliated 

 the goodwill of the inhabitants — not a single complaint having- 

 yet been made against any individual of the regiment." This 

 testimony was not an afterthought, for only a week eyrlier, in 

 describing the ceremony at the presentation of their colours 

 to the Royal Dumfries \"olunteers, the Editor had remarked 

 that the First Regiments of Fencibles was " one of the best 

 corps we have ever seen," while William Grierson states, on 

 the departure of the regiment, " The whole regiment deserve 

 the highest praise for their beha\ iour ever since they came to 

 town, being a remarkably sober and steady set of men and 

 very handsome, well-looked young men." The regiment 

 received its marching orders immediately after the incident, 

 and four days later, on the 16th, was on its way to the 

 Military Camp at Musselburgh. 



Five of the men implicated were tried by court martial at 

 Musselburgh on July 6th. The trial lasted four days, Colonel 



