War with the Indians

In 1763 took place the general and sudden rising of the Indians under Pontiac-a formidable conspiracy, bringing ruin and desolation to the settlers and even threatening the safety of the Colonies. By surprise and stratagem the Indians, in overwhelming numbers, attacked many of the scattered posts held by the 60th, murdering some of the slender garrisons and beleaguering others. But the important posts of Fort Detroit upon the straits joining Lake Erie and Lake Huron, and of Fort Pitt commanding the Ohio River valley, both garrisoned by the 60th under Major Gladwyn' and Captain S. Ecuyer respectively, were gallantly held. The relief of these two posts was of the greatest urgency, and every effort was made to collect sufficient troops for the purpose.

1st Bn. Bushey Run, 5th/6th August

It was at once decided that Fort Pitt on the Ohio, guarding the western frontier of the Colonies, must be saved at any cost, but owing to the reduction of the army in America after the great war it was with the utmost difficulty that at Carlisle, 150 miles west of Philadelphia, a small column was formed under Bouquet, consisting of barely 500 men of the 1st Battalion 60th Royal Americans and the 42nd Highlanders. This column marched almost as a forlorn hope to the relief of the garrison. Reaching, after a long and weary march, the dangerous defiles of Bushey Run, twenty miles from their objective and within view of the scene of Braddock's defeat, the little force was suddenly attacked by a vastly superior force of Indian braves. After two days of desperate battle Bouquet's genius as a leader achieved a brilliant victory. The fight becoming stagnant and his men showing signs of exhaustion, Bouquet adopted a ruse often practised by the Indians themselves of assuming a retreat and withdrawing a portion of the front, and thus inducing his opponents to attack. Bouquet then delivered a counter-attack upon the front and flanks simultaneously. The enemy was caught in the open and completely routed. This victory, pronounced by an American historian as "the best contested action ever fought between white men and Indians," was followed up in the coming year by a vigorous advance by Bradstreet upon Detroit by way of Lake Erie; and by Bouquet marching from Fort Pitt with a column consisting of his own battalion of the 60th, the 42nd and provincial troops, which he led into the heart of the enemy's country.

Bouquet's column was triumphant, and upon reaching the Indian settlements on the River Muskingum, deep in the forest, their leader's diplomatic skill and firm attitude completed the successful issue of the campaign. Bouquet had earned for himself and his men the credit of having finally broken the French influence and Red Indian power in the West, giving to the British Crown all the vast territories west of the Alleghany Mountains and south of the Great Lakes.

Thus were laid the foundations of the British Empire in North America. There is no period in its eventful history of which The King's Royal Rifle Corps may more justly be proud than the epoch from its birth in 1755 to the final overthrow of the French and Red Indian power in 1764.

The dominating influence in the Regiment at this period was undoubtedly Henri Bouquet. The reforms which he had introduced into the 60th Royal Americans in organization, drill, tactics and equipment came to be largely adopted later on by the whole Army.

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