Cameron of Erracht

The Highland Guard or 79th New York (originally known as the Highland Guard) was originally created as a "social club” militia unit in New York city in the fall of 1858, with the help of the St. Andrews and Caledonian societies of New York and wealthy financial backers like Samuel M. Elliot and James Cameron, the brother of Simon Cameron, Lincoln's Secretary of War.

(James was later KIA leading the regiment at Bull Run.) However, they had no connection to the original 79th Cameron Highlanders of Scotland other than their name and tartan.

Their original duty was to parade, train as heavy artillery, and also provided a guard for the Prince of Wales when he visited the United States and did the same for the Japanese ambassador.