TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
A superscript is denoted by ^x or ^{xx}, for example M^cManus or
Esq^{re}.
Some minor changes are noted at the end of the book.
[Illustration:
BY COMMAND OF His late Majesty WILLIAM THE IV^{TH}.
_and under the Patronage of_
Her Majesty the Queen.
HISTORICAL RECORDS,
_OF THE_
British Army
_Comprising the
History of every Regiment
IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE_.
_By Richard Cannon Esq^{re}._
_Adjutant General's Office, Horse Guards._
London.
_Printed by Authority._]
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE SIXTEENTH,
OR,
THE BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT;
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT
IN 1688,
AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1848.
COMPILED BY
RICHARD CANNON, ESQ.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, HORSE GUARDS.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.
LONDON:
PARKER, FURNIVALL, & PARKER,
30 CHARING CROSS.
M DCCC XLVIII.
LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,
FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.
SIXTEENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
CONTENTS
OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD.
PAGE
YEAR INTRODUCTION
1688 Formation of the Regiment 1
---- Establishment and Uniform 2
---- Quartered at Stony Stratford -
1689 Embarked for Holland 3
---- Engaged at Walcourt -
---- Marched to Bruges 4
1690 Marched to Brussels -
1691 Joined the Army in South Brabant -
1692 Engaged at Steenkirk -
---- Colonel Hodges killed 5
1693 Engaged at Landen -
---- Quartered at Dendermond -
1694 Joined the Army in the Field 6
---- Returned to Dendermond -
1695 Joined in the Siege and Capture of Namur -
1696 Joined the Army of Brabant -
1697 Treaty of Peace concluded at Ryswick 7
---- Embarked for Ireland -
1701 Preparations for recommencing War with France -
---- Re-embarked for Holland -
---- Reviewed on Breda-Heath by King William III. -
1702 Proceeded to Rosendael -
---- Encamped at Cranenburg -
---- Siege of Kayserswerth -
---- Marched to Nimeguen -
---- War declared against France 8
---- Earl of Marlborough assumed the command of the Army -
---- Siege of Venloo -
---- -------- Ruremonde -
---- -------- Stevenswaert -
---- Capture of the Citadel of Liege -
---- Returned to Holland -
1703 Marched towards Maestricht -
---- Siege and Capture of Huy -
---- -------------------- Limburg -
---- Returned to Holland -
1704 Accompanied the Army to Germany 9
---- Battle of Schellenberg -
---- Crossed the Danube -
---- Battle of Blenheim -
---- Marshal Tallard, and many officers and soldiers,
made prisoners -
---- Returned to Holland 10
1705 Attacks on Helixem and Neer-Hespen --
1706 Battle of Ramilies 11
---- Surrender of principal towns of Brabant --
---- Marched into quarters at Ghent --
1708 Returned to England to repel invasion by the Pretender --
---- Returned to Flanders --
---- Proceeded to Ghent --
---- Battle of Oudenarde --
---- Siege of Lisle 12
---- Surrender of the Citadel of Lisle --
1709 Siege and Capture of Tournay 13
1709 Battle of Malplaquet --
---- Siege and Surrender of Mons 14
---- Marched into winter quarters at Ghent --
1710 Engaged in forcing the French Lines at Pont-à-Vendin --
---- Siege and Surrender of Douay --
---- ---------------------- Bethune --
---- ---------------------- Aire and St. Venant --
---- Returned to Ghent --
1711 Engaged in forcing the French Lines at Arleux --
---- Siege of Bouchain --
1712 Joined the Army at Tournay 15
---- Encamped at Cateau-Cambresis --
---- Surrender of Quesnoy --
---- Suspension of hostilities --
---- Detached to Dunkirk --
1714 Embarked for Scotland --
1739 War declared against Spain 16
1740 Encamped near Newbury under Lieutenant-General Wade 17
---- Embarked as Marines --
---- Re-landed at Portsmouth --
---- A detachment embarked for the West Indies on
an Expedition under General Lord Cathcart --
1741 Expedition arrived at Jamaica --
---- Employed at Carthagena, in South America --
---- Detachment nearly annihilated by disease --
1742 War of the Austrian Succession commenced --
1745 Arrival in Scotland of Charles Edward, eldest
son of the Pretender --
1746 Regiment embarked for Scotland 18
1748 Termination of the War on the Continent --
1749 Embarked for Ireland --
1751 Royal Warrant issued on 1st July for regulating
the Clothing, Colours, &c. of Regiments --
1755 War re-commenced with France 19
1763 Peace of Fontainebleau took place --
1767 Embarked for Florida in South America 20
1775 War commenced with North America --
1778 War commenced with France, Spain, and Holland 21
1779 Regiment withdrew to Baton Rouge, and made
prisoners of war by the Spanish Governor of
Louisiana --
---- Engaged with French and American forces at
Savannah and the State of Georgia --
1781 Defended Pensacola against a Spanish force 22
1782 Returned to England from South America 23
---- Authorized to assume the County Title of _Buckinghamshire_
Regiment --
---- Termination of the American War --
1784 Embarked for Ireland --
1790 Embarked for Nova Scotia 24
1791 Removed to Jamaica --
1793 Revolution broke out in France --
---- Republican principles extended to the French
West India Settlements --
---- Detachment embarked from Jamaica for St. Domingo --
1795 Engaged in the Maroon War in Jamaica --
1796 Maroons reduced to submission, and removed from Jamaica 25
---- Regiment returned to England --
1797 Embarked for Scotland --
1799 Returned to England 26
1800 Embarked for Ireland --
1802 Peace of Amiens concluded --
1803 War with France re-commenced --
1804 Embarked for the West Indies --
---- Employed on an Expedition against Surinam 27
1806 Attacked by a large force of predatory Negroes at Surinam --
1809 The County Title exchanged to the _Bedfordshire_
instead of the Buckinghamshire Regiment 28
1811 Returned to England --
1813 Embarked for Scotland --
---- Proceeded to Ireland --
1814 War took place with the United States of America 29
---- Embarked for Canada --
1815 Returned to England, proceeded to Ostend, and
marched to Paris --
---- Returned to England --
1816 Embarked for Ireland 30
1819 Embarked for Ceylon --
1828 Embarked for Bengal 31
1841 Embarked for England 32
1843 Proceeded to Ireland 33
1846 Six Service Companies embarked for Gibraltar 34
1847 Six Service Companies embarked for Corfu --
1848 Four Depôt Companies embarked from Cork for Guernsey --
---- The Conclusion --
PLATES.
Costume of the Regiment to face 1
Colours of the Regiment " 34
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF THE
SIXTEENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
YEAR PAGE
1688 Archibald Douglas 35
---- Robert Hodges 36
1692 _Hon._ James Stanley, afterwards Earl of Derby --
1705 Francis Godfrey 37
1711 Henry Durell 38
1713 Hans Hamilton --
1715 Richard _Viscount_ Irwin --
1717 James Cholmeley 39
1724 Henry Earl of Deloraine, K.B. --
1730 Roger Handasyd 40
1763 _Hon._ Robert Brudenell --
1765 Sir William Draper, K.B. --
1766 James Gisborne 41
1778 James Robertson --
1788 _Hon._ Thomas Bruce 42
1797 Henry Bowyer --
1808 Sir Charles Green, Bart. 43
1814 Sir George Prevost, Bart. 44
1816 Hugh Mackay Gordon 45
1823 William Carr, _Viscount_ Beresford, G.C.B. and G.C.H. --
GENERAL ORDERS.
_HORSE-GUARDS_,
_1st January, 1836_.
His Majesty has been pleased to command that, with the view of
doing the fullest justice to Regiments, as well as to Individuals
who have distinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action with
the Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regiment in the
British Army shall be published under the superintendence and
direction of the Adjutant-General; and that this Account shall
contain the following particulars, viz.:--
---- The Period and Circumstances of the Original Formation of
the Regiment; The Stations at which it has been from time to time
employed; The Battles, Sieges, and other Military Operations
in which it has been engaged, particularly specifying any
Achievement it may have performed, and the Colours, Trophies,
&c., it may have captured from the Enemy.
---- The Names of the Officers, and the number of
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates Killed or Wounded by the
Enemy, specifying the place and Date of the Action.
---- The Names of those Officers who, in consideration of their
Gallant Services and Meritorious Conduct in Engagements with the
Enemy, have been distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other
Marks of His Majesty's gracious favour.
---- The Names of all such Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers,
and Privates, as may have specially signalized themselves in
Action.
And,
---- The Badges and Devices which the Regiment may have been
permitted to bear, and the Causes on account of which such Badges
or Devices, or any other Marks of Distinction, have been granted.
By Command of the Right Honorable
GENERAL LORD HILL,
_Commanding-in-Chief_.
JOHN MACDONALD,
_Adjutant-General_.
PREFACE.
The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly depend
upon the zeal and ardour by which all who enter into its service
are animated, and consequently it is of the highest importance that
any measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation, by which
alone great and gallant actions are achieved, should be adopted.
Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this desirable
object than a full display of the noble deeds with which the
Military History of our country abounds. To hold forth these bright
examples to the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to
incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those who have
preceded him in their honorable career, are among the motives that
have given rise to the present publication.
The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced in the
"London Gazette," from whence they are transferred into the public
prints: the achievements of our armies are thus made known at the
time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute of praise and
admiration to which they are entitled. On extraordinary occasions,
the Houses of Parliament have been in the habit of conferring on
the Commanders, and the Officers and Troops acting under their
orders, expressions of approbation and of thanks for their skill
and bravery; and these testimonials, confirmed by the high honour
of their Sovereign's approbation, constitute the reward which the
soldier most highly prizes.
It has not, however, until late years, been the practice (which
appears to have long prevailed in some of the Continental armies)
for British Regiments to keep regular records of their services
and achievements. Hence some difficulty has been experienced in
obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments, an authentic
account of their origin and subsequent services.
This defect will now be remedied, in consequence of His Majesty
having been pleased to command that every Regiment shall, in
future, keep a full and ample record of its services at home and
abroad.
From the materials thus collected, the country will henceforth
derive information as to the difficulties and privations which
chequer the career of those who embrace the military profession. In
Great Britain, where so large a number of persons are devoted to
the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and
where these pursuits have, for so long a period, being undisturbed
by the _presence of war_, which few other countries have escaped,
comparatively little is known of the vicissitudes of active service
and of the casualties of climate, to which, even during peace, the
British Troops are exposed in every part of the globe, with little
or no interval of repose.
In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the country
derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agriculturist
and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be supposed not often to
reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor,--on
their sufferings,--and on the sacrifice of valuable life, by which
so many national benefits are obtained and preserved.
The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endurance,
have shone conspicuously under great and trying difficulties; and
their character has been established in Continental warfare by the
irresistible spirit with which they have effected debarkations in
spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the gallantry and
steadiness with which they have maintained their advantages against
superior numbers.
In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders, ample
justice has generally been done to the gallant exertions of the
Corps employed; but the details of their services and of acts of
individual bravery can only be fully given in the Annals of the
various Regiments.
These Records are now preparing for publication, under his
Majesty's special authority, by Mr. RICHARD CANNON, Principal Clerk
of the Adjutant General's Office; and while the perusal of them
cannot fail to be useful and interesting to military men of every
rank, it is considered that they will also afford entertainment and
information to the general reader, particularly to those who may
have served in the Army, or who have relatives in the Service.
There exists in the breasts of most of those who have served, or
are serving, in the Army, an _Esprit de Corps_--an attachment
to everything belonging to their Regiment; to such persons a
narrative of the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove
interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions of the great, the
valiant, the loyal, have always been of paramount interest with
a brave and civilized people. Great Britain has produced a race
of heroes who, in moments of danger and terror, have stood "firm
as the rocks of their native shore:" and when half the world has
been arrayed against them, they have fought the battles of their
Country with unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of
achievements in war,--victories so complete and surprising, gained
by our countrymen, our brothers, our fellow citizens in arms,--a
record which revives the memory of the brave, and brings their
gallant deeds before us, will certainly prove acceptable to the
public.
Biographical memoirs of the Colonels and other distinguished
Officers will be introduced in the Records of their respective
Regiments, and the Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to
time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testifying the value
and importance of its services, will be faithfully set forth.
As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record of each Regiment
will be printed in a distinct number, so that when the whole shall
be completed, the Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.
INTRODUCTION
TO
THE INFANTRY.
The natives of Britain have, at all periods, been celebrated for
innate courage and unshaken firmness, and the national superiority
of the British troops over those of other countries has been
evinced in the midst of the most imminent perils. History contains
so many proofs of extraordinary acts of bravery, that no doubts can
be raised upon the facts which are recorded. It must therefore be
admitted, that the distinguishing feature of the British soldier is
INTREPIDITY. This quality was evinced by the inhabitants of England
when their country was invaded by Julius Cæsar with a Roman army,
on which occasion the undaunted Britons rushed into the sea to
attack the Roman soldiers as they descended from their ships; and,
although their discipline and arms were inferior to those of their
adversaries, yet their fierce and dauntless bearing intimidated
the flower of the Roman troops, including Cæsar's favourite tenth
legion. Their arms consisted of spears, short swords, and other
weapons of rude construction. They had chariots, to the axles of
which were fastened sharp pieces of iron resembling scythe-blades,
and infantry in long chariots resembling waggons, who alighted
and fought on foot, and for change of ground, pursuit or retreat,
sprang into the chariot and drove off with the speed of cavalry.
These inventions were, however, unavailing against Cæsar's
legions: in the course of time a military system, with discipline
and subordination, was introduced, and British courage, being
thus regulated, was exerted to the greatest advantage; a full
development of the national character followed, and it shone forth
in all its native brilliancy.
The military force of the Anglo Saxons consisted principally of
infantry: Thanes, and other men of property, however, fought on
horseback. The infantry were of two classes, heavy and light. The
former carried large shields armed with spikes, long broad swords
and spears; and the latter were armed with swords or spears only.
They had also men armed with clubs, others with battle-axes and
javelins.
The feudal troops established by William the Conqueror consisted
(as already stated in the Introduction to the Cavalry) almost
entirely of horse; but when the warlike barons and knights, with
their trains of tenants and vassals, took the field, a proportion
of men appeared on foot, and, although these were of inferior
degree, they proved stout-hearted Britons of stanch fidelity. When
stipendiary troops were employed, infantry always constituted a
considerable portion of the military force; and this _arme_ has
since acquired, in every quarter of the globe, a celebrity never
exceeded by the armies of any nation at any period.
The weapons carried by the infantry, during the several reigns
succeeding the Conquest, were bows and arrows, half-pikes, lances,
halberds, various kinds of battle-axes, swords, and daggers. Armour
was worn on the head and body, and in course of time the practice
became general for military men to be so completely cased in steel,
that it was almost impossible to slay them.
The introduction of the use of gunpowder in the destructive
purposes of war, in the early part of the fourteenth
century, produced a change in the arms and equipment of the
infantry-soldier. Bows and arrows gave place to various kinds of
fire-arms, but British archers continued formidable adversaries;
and owing to the inconvenient construction and imperfect bore of
the fire-arms when first introduced, a body of men, well trained
in the use of the bow from their youth, was considered a valuable
acquisition to every army, even as late as the sixteenth century.
During a great part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth each company
of infantry usually consisted of men armed five different ways; in
every hundred men forty were "_men-at-arms_," and sixty "_shot_;"
the "men-at-arms" were ten halberdiers, or battle-axe men, and
thirty pikemen; and the "shot" were twenty archers, twenty
musketeers, and twenty harquebusiers, and each man carried, besides
his principal weapon, a sword and dagger.
Companies of infantry varied at this period in numbers from 150
to 300 men; each company had a colour or ensign, and the mode of
formation recommended by an English military writer (Sir John
Smithe) in 1590 was:--the colour in the centre of the company
guarded by the halberdiers; the pikemen in equal proportions, on
each flank of the halberdiers: half the musketeers on each flank
of the pikes; half the archers on each flank of the musketeers,
and the harquebusiers (whose arms were much lighter than the
muskets then in use) in equal proportions on each flank of the
company for skirmishing.[1] It was customary to unite a number
of companies into one body, called a REGIMENT, which frequently
amounted to three thousand men: but each company continued to carry
a colour. Numerous improvements were eventually introduced in the
construction of fire-arms, and, it having been found impossible to
make armour proof against the muskets then in use (which carried
a very heavy ball) without its being too weighty for the soldier,
armour was gradually laid aside by the infantry in the seventeenth
century: bows and arrows also fell into disuse, and the infantry
were reduced to two classes, viz.: _musketeers_, armed with
matchlock muskets, swords, and daggers; and _pikemen_, armed with
pikes from fourteen to eighteen feet long, and swords.
In the early part of the seventeenth century Gustavus Adolphus,
King of Sweden, reduced the strength of regiments to 1000 men. He
caused the gunpowder, which had heretofore been carried in flasks,
or in small wooden bandoliers, each containing a charge, to be
made up into cartridges, and carried in pouches; and he formed
each regiment into two wings of musketeers, and a centre division
of pikemen. He also adopted the practice of forming four regiments
into a brigade; and the number of colours was afterwards reduced to
three in each regiment. He formed his columns so compactly that his
infantry could resist the charge of the celebrated Polish horsemen
and Austrian cuirassiers; and his armies became the admiration of
other nations. His mode of formation was copied by the English,
French, and other European states; but so great was the prejudice
in favour of ancient customs, that all his improvements were not
adopted until near a century afterwards.
In 1664 King Charles II. raised a corps for sea-service, styled
the Admiral's regiment. In 1678 each company of 100 men usually
consisted of 30 pikemen, 60 musketeers, and 10 men armed with light
firelocks. In this year the King added a company of men armed with
hand-grenades to each of the old British regiments, which was
designated the "grenadier company." Daggers were so contrived as to
fit in the muzzles of the muskets, and bayonets similar to those
at present in use were adopted about twenty years afterwards.
An Ordnance regiment was raised in 1685, by order of King James
II., to guard the artillery, and was designated the Royal Fusiliers
(now 7th Foot). This corps, and the companies of grenadiers, did
not carry pikes.
King William III. incorporated the Admiral's regiment in the second
Foot Guards, and raised two Marine regiments for sea-service.
During the war in this reign, each company of infantry (excepting
the fusiliers and grenadiers) consisted of 14 pikemen and 46
musketeers; the captains carried pikes; lieutenants, partisans;
ensigns, half-pikes; and serjeants, halberds. After the peace in
1697 the Marine regiments were disbanded, but were again formed on
the breaking out of the war in 1702.[2]
During the reign of Queen Anne the pikes were laid aside, and every
infantry soldier was armed with a musket, bayonet, and sword; the
grenadiers ceased, about the same period, to carry hand grenades;
and the regiments were directed to lay aside their third colour:
the corps of Royal Artillery was first added to the Army in this
reign.
About the year 1745, the men of the battalion companies of infantry
ceased to carry swords; during the reign of George II. light
companies were added to infantry regiments; and in 1764 a Board of
General Officers recommended that the grenadiers should lay aside
their swords, as that weapon had never been used during the seven
years' war. Since that period the arms of the infantry soldier have
been limited to the musket and bayonet.
The arms and equipment of the British troops have seldom differed
materially, since the Conquest, from those of other European
states; and in some respects the arming has, at certain periods,
been allowed to be inferior to that of the nations with whom they
have had to contend; yet, under this disadvantage, the bravery and
superiority of the British infantry have been evinced on very many
and most trying occasions, and splendid victories have been gained
over very superior numbers.
Great Britain has produced a race of lion-like champions who have
dared to confront a host of foes, and have proved themselves
valiant with any arms. At _Crecy_ King Edward III., at the head of
about 30,000 men, defeated, on the 26th of August, 1346, Philip
King of France, whose army is said to have amounted to 100,000
men; here British valour encountered veterans of renown:--the
King of Bohemia, the King of Majorca, and many princes and nobles
were slain, and the French army was routed and cut to pieces. Ten
years afterwards, Edward Prince of Wales, who was designated the
Black Prince, defeated, at _Poictiers_, with 14,000 men, a French
army of 60,000 horse, besides infantry, and took John I., King of
France, and his son Philip, prisoners. On the 25th of October,
1415, King Henry V., with an army of about 13,000 men, although
greatly exhausted by marches, privations, and sickness, defeated,
at _Agincourt_, the Constable of France, at the head of the flower
of the French nobility and an army said to amount to 60,000 men,
and gained a complete victory.
During the seventy years' war between the United Provinces of the
Netherlands and the Spanish monarchy, which commenced in 1578 and
terminated in 1648, the British infantry in the service of the
States-General were celebrated for their unconquerable spirit and
firmness;[3] and in the thirty years' war between the Protestant
Princes and the Emperor of Germany, the British troops in the
service of Sweden and other states were celebrated for deeds of
heroism.[4] In the wars of Queen Anne, the fame of the British
army under the great MARLBOROUGH was spread throughout the world;
and if we glance at the achievements performed within the memory
of persons now living, there is abundant proof that the Britons
of the present age are not inferior to their ancestors in the
qualities which constitute good soldiers. Witness the deeds of
the brave men, of whom there are many now surviving, who fought in
Egypt in 1801, under the brave Abercromby, and compelled the French
army, which had been vainly styled _Invincible_, to evacuate that
country; also the services of the gallant Troops during the arduous
campaigns in the Peninsula, under the immortal WELLINGTON; and
the determined stand made by the British Army at Waterloo, where
Napoleon Bonaparte, who had long been the inveterate enemy of Great
Britain, and had sought and planned her destruction by every means
he could devise, was compelled to leave his vanquished legions to
their fate, and to place himself at the disposal of the British
Government. These achievements, with others of recent dates in the
distant climes of India, prove that the same valour and constancy
which glowed in the breasts of the heroes of Crecy, Poictiers,
Agincourt, Blenheim, and Ramilies, continue to animate the Britons
of the nineteenth century.
The British Soldier is distinguished for a robust and muscular
frame,--intrepidity which no danger can appal,--unconquerable
spirit and resolution,--patience in fatigue and privation, and
cheerful obedience to his superiors. These qualities, united with
an excellent system of order and discipline to regulate and give
a skilful direction to the energies and adventurous spirit of
the hero, and a wise selection of officers of superior talent to
command, whose presence inspires confidence,--have been the leading
causes of the splendid victories gained by the British arms.[5]
The fame of the deeds of the past and present generations in the
various battle-fields where the robust sons of Albion have fought
and conquered, surrounds the British arms with a halo of glory;
these achievements will live in the page of history to the end of
time.
The records of the several regiments will be found to contain a
detail of facts of an interesting character, connected with the
hardships, sufferings, and gallant exploits of British soldiers in
the various parts of the world, where the calls of their Country
and the commands of their Sovereign have required them to proceed
in the execution of their duty, whether in active continental
operations, or in maintaining colonial territories in distant and
unfavourable climes.
The superiority of the British infantry has been pre-eminently set
forth in the wars of six centuries, and admitted by the greatest
commanders which Europe has produced. The formations and movements
of this _arme_, as at present practised, while they are adapted
to every species of warfare, and to all probable situations
and circumstances of service, are calculated to show forth the
brilliancy of military tactics calculated upon mathematical and
scientific principles. Although the movements and evolutions have
been copied from the continental armies, yet various improvements
have from time to time been introduced, to insure that simplicity
and celerity by which the superiority of the national military
character is maintained. The rank and influence which Great Britain
has attained among the nations of the world, have in a great
measure been purchased by the valour of the Army, and to persons
who have the welfare of their country at heart, the records of the
several regiments cannot fail to prove interesting.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] A company of 200 men would appear thus:--
__|
| |
|__|
|
20 20 20 30 2|0 30 20 20 20
Harquebuses. Muskets. Halberds. Muskets. Harquebuses.
Archers. Pikes. Pikes. Archers.
The musket carried a ball which weighed 1/10th of a pound; and the
harquebus a ball which weighed 1/25th of a pound.
[2] The 30th, 31st, and 32nd Regiments were formed as Marine corps
in 1702, and were employed as such during the wars in the reign
of Queen Anne. The Marine corps were embarked in the Fleet under
Admiral Sir George Rooke, and were at the taking of Gibraltar, and
in its subsequent defence in 1704; they were afterwards employed at
the siege of Barcelona in 1705.
[3] The brave Sir Roger Williams, in his Discourse on War, printed
in 1590, observes:--"I persuade myself ten thousand of our nation
would beat thirty thousand of theirs (the Spaniards) out of the
field, let them be chosen where they list." Yet at this time the
Spanish infantry was allowed to be the best disciplined in Europe.
For instances of valour displayed by the British Infantry during
the Seventy Years' War, see the Historical Record of the Third
Foot, or Buffs.
[4] Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of
Foot.
[5] "Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes
the successes which have attended the exertions of his troops in
Egypt to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but
His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and forcibly impressed
on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a
strict observance of order, discipline, and military system, which
has given the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and
has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national
military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under
circumstances of peculiar difficulty."--_General Orders in 1801._
In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope
(afterwards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the
successful result of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January,
1809, it is stated:--"On no occasion has the undaunted valour of
British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a
severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority
which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired
the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be
encountered. These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the
troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever
advantages of position or of numbers he may possess, there is
inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows
not how to yield,--that no circumstances can appal,--and that will
ensure victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any
human means."
[Illustration: SIXTEENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
FOR CANNON'S MILITARY RECORDS
_Madeley del et lith 3 Wellington S^t Strand_]
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE SIXTEENTH,
OR THE
BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
[Sidenote: 1688]
In the autumn of 1688, when the pernicious counsellors of King
James II. had induced His Majesty to adopt measures which indicated
a design to overthrow the constitution and established religion
of the country, and many patriotic noblemen and gentlemen had
solicited the Prince of Orange to come to England with an army, to
preserve the liberties and religion of the people, the King then
became sensible of the dangerous position into which he had been
brought, and resolved to augment his army: and among the corps
embodied on that occasion was a regiment of pikemen and musketeers,
which has been retained in the service to the present time, and now
bears the title of "The SIXTEENTH, or the BEDFORDSHIRE Regiment of
Foot."
This corps was raised in the southern counties of England, and the
colonelcy was conferred on Lieut.-Colonel Archibald Douglas, from
the royal regiment of foot, by commission dated the 9th of October,
1688. Captain Robert Hodges, from the grenadier company of the
royal regiment, was appointed Lieut.-Colonel, and Murdock M'Kenzie
was nominated Major. The establishment was fixed at nine hundred
and twenty-seven officers and soldiers, including a grenadier
company, which was afterwards ordered to be added to the regiment.
The uniform was round hats, ornamented with _white_ ribands; _red_
coats, lined and faced with _white_; white waistcoats and breeches.
Five days after the warrants for the formation of the regiment were
issued, a number of men had enrolled themselves under the standards
of this corps,--principally from the county of Middlesex; and they
were ordered to march to Reading in Berkshire, where the several
enlisting parties were directed to assemble, and the formation of
the corps was completed.
Early in November, when the armament under the Prince of Orange
had passed Dover, the regiment was ordered to march to London, and
occupy quarters in the borough of Southwark; it was afterwards
directed to join the army: but the pernicious advice of the King's
counsellors proved fatal to his interests; his soldiers refused
to fight against the Prince of Orange; and some irregular orders
were issued which appeared to leave the officers and men at liberty
to quit their colours, when a number of corps were disbanded.
The Prince of Orange issued orders for the several corps to be
re-organised, and appointed quarters for every regiment;--the
SIXTEENTH were directed to occupy quarters at Stony Stratford, in
Buckinghamshire. King James afterwards fled to France.
Colonel Douglas adhered to the interest of King James, and the
Prince of Orange promoted Lieut.-Colonel Hodges to the colonelcy of
the regiment, by commission dated the 31st of December, 1688.
[Sidenote: 1689]
In the early part of 1689 the Prince and Princess of Orange were
elevated to the throne by the titles of King William the Third and
Queen Mary; and soon afterwards the SIXTEENTH regiment received
orders to proceed to Holland, to aid the Dutch in their war with
France. It embarked for the United Provinces in April, and served
the campaign of that year under Prince Waldeck; in August it was in
position in the province of Namur.
Early on the morning of the 25th of August, the musketeers of the
regiment, with the piquets of several other corps, commanded by
Colonel Hodges of the SIXTEENTH, advanced to cover the numerous
foraging parties sent to the villages and fields in front of the
army, and Colonel Hodges posted his men at, and in front of, the
village of Forgé. About nine o'clock the French army under Marshal
d'Humières was seen advancing to attack the confederate forces,
when three guns were fired to call in the foragers, and Colonel
Hodges prepared to resist the leading corps of the enemy to give
time for the several parties to withdraw. The Dutch and Danish
horse in front were speedily driven in; but the musketeers of the
SIXTEENTH and other corps under Colonel Hodges lined the hedges,
and held a force of very superior numbers in check nearly two
hours, when, the foraging parties having all returned to camp,
Colonel Hodges withdrew to a mill, and, posting his men behind
walls and out-buildings, he held the French army in check nearly an
hour, the shots of his marksmen smiting the leading companies of
the enemy with sure aim. At length he received orders to retire,
and withdrew fighting, until he came to the village of _Walcourt_,
where a regiment of Lunenburgers was posted. The French attempted
to carry the village by storm; but were repulsed, and were
eventually forced to retreat, with severe loss. Colonel Hodges'
party had Lieut.-Colonel Graham, Captain Davison, and thirty men,
killed.
In October the regiment marched to Bruges, where it was stationed
during the winter.
[Sidenote: 1690]
The regiment marched for Brussels in June, 1690, in order to join
the Dutch forces; but Prince Waldeck engaged the French at Fleurus,
without waiting for the arrival of the British troops, and his army
was nearly annihilated; which reduced the confederate forces to the
necessity of limiting their services to defensive operations during
the remainder of the campaign.
[Sidenote: 1691]
Leaving its winter quarters in March, 1691, the regiment joined the
army in South Brabant, and was formed in brigade with the Scots
foot guards, a battalion of the royals, and the Scots regiments
of Ramsay, Angus, and Mackay; but the confederate army was not
sufficiently numerous to prevent the French capturing Mons. During
the summer the regiment took part in various manœuvres; but no
general engagement occurred.
[Sidenote: 1692]
In the spring of 1692, when the French besieged Namur, the
SIXTEENTH were called from their winter quarters, and joined the
army under the command of King William III., who advanced to
relieve the besieged fortress, but was delayed by heavy rains, and
the garrison surrendered before the end of June.
After several movements King William resolved to attack the French
army, under Marshal Luxemburg, at its camp at _Steenkirk_, on the
3rd of August. The leading corps penetrated along difficult roads,
and attacked the French army with great gallantry; but the main
body of the confederate troops was too far in the rear to afford
timely support, and the King ordered a retreat. The SIXTEENTH were
brought into action on this occasion, and exposed to the enemy's
fire, when Colonel Hodges was killed at the head of the regiment by
a cannon-ball: his death was much regretted, he being a gallant and
intelligent officer, much esteemed and beloved by the soldiers.
King William conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on the
Honorable James Stanley, afterwards Earl of Derby, from Captain and
Lieut.-Colonel in the first foot guards.
Towards the end of August the regiment was detached, with other
troops, under Lieut.-General Talmash, who moved towards Bruges:
at the same time Furnes and Dixmude were taken possession of and
fortified.
[Sidenote: 1693]
The regiment served the campaign of 1693 in the brigade commanded
by Brigadier-General Erle. It took part in several movements, and
was in position when the confederate army was attacked at _Landen_,
on the 29th of July, by the French, under Marshal Luxemburg. The
enemy had a great superiority of numbers on this occasion, and the
confederate army was forced to retreat. It was stated in the London
Gazette, "the enemy had above eighty thousand effective men; we
were not more than forty-five thousand. * * * Our troops in general
behaved themselves extremely well, but the English did particularly
distinguish themselves." The regiment had Captain Cole and Ensign
Johnston killed, and Ensign Campion taken prisoner; it also lost
upwards of fifty men, killed, wounded, and taken prisoners.
At the end of the campaign the regiment was placed in garrison at
Dendermond.
[Sidenote: 1694]
Quitting its winter quarters in May, 1694, the regiment joined the
army, and served the campaign of this year in the brigade commanded
by Brigadier-General Collier: it afterwards returned to Dendermond.
[Sidenote: 1695]
In 1695 King William undertook the siege of _Namur_, and the
SIXTEENTH had the honor to take part in the capture of this
important fortress. They joined the besieging army, and were on
duty in the trenches on the 7th of July; and they were repeatedly
engaged in storming the outworks and exterior defences. On the 17th
of July Ensign Gardiner of the regiment was killed, and Ensign
Devreux wounded, at the attack on the counterscarp; and on the 2nd
of August, Captain Holiday of the grenadier company was wounded at
the extending of the lodgment on the covered way. On the following
day, when preparations were making for another assault, the
garrison hoisted a white flag and agreed to surrender the town.
The SIXTEENTH were selected to take part in the siege of the castle
of Namur, and were encamped at Maison Blanche; but, having lost
many men, they were relieved on the 11th of August, and joined the
covering army under the Prince of Vaudemont. They were encamped a
short time between Genappe and Waterloo; afterwards near Namur;
and the grenadier company took part in the attack on the castle,
which capitulated on the 2nd of September. The regiment afterwards
returned to Dendermond.
[Sidenote: 1696]
[Sidenote: 1697]
Leaving its winter quarters in the spring of 1696, the regiment
joined the army of Brabant under King William, and served
the campaign of that year in Brigadier-General Fitzpatrick's
brigade. It served the campaign of 1697 in the brigade under
Brigadier-General Ingoldsby; and in the autumn the British monarch
witnessed his efforts to preserve the reformed religion, and the
balance of power in Europe, attended with success. The treaty of
Ryswick gave peace to the nations of Europe; and the SIXTEENTH
regiment embarked for Ireland, where it was stationed until the
summer of 1701, reposing on the reputation which it had acquired on
the continent, where it had served seven campaigns.
[Sidenote: 1701]
In the meantime the French monarch had violated the liberties
of Europe, by procuring the accession of his grandson, the Duke
of Anjou, to the throne of Spain,--by seizing on the Spanish
Netherlands and detaining the Dutch garrisons in the barrier towns:
and the SIXTEENTH were called from their quarters in Ireland to
reinforce the Dutch army. The regiment embarked from Carrickfergus
on the 7th of June, and sailed to the island of Voorn, where it
was removed on board of Dutch vessels, and proceeded up the Maese
to the fortress of Huesden, where it remained two months, then
proceeded to Breda, and was reviewed on Breda heath by King William
on the 21st of September, afterwards returning to Huesden.
[Sidenote: 1702]
In March, 1702, the regiment traversed the country to Rosendael,
where the British corps were assembled under Brigadier-General
Ingoldsby, and received information of the death of King William,
and the accession of Queen Anne, on the 8th of March. The regiment
afterwards marched across the country to the duchy of Cleves, and
encamped at Cranenburg, forming part of the covering army during
the siege of _Kayserswerth_ by the Germans. On the night of the
10th of June the covering army made a forced march to _Nimeguen_ to
avoid the loss of communication with that fortress, in consequence
of the movements of the enemy. On the following morning the
British corps in the rear-guard distinguished themselves in a sharp
skirmish with the leading columns of the French army.
Queen Anne declared war against France; additional troops were
sent to Holland, and the Earl of Marlborough assumed the command
of the allied army. The SIXTEENTH shared in the operations by
which the French army was forced to retire from the frontiers of
Holland; and they formed part of the covering army during the
sieges of _Venloo_, _Ruremonde_, and _Stevenswaert_; took part in
delivering the city of _Liege_ from the power of the enemy; and
their grenadier company distinguished itself in the capture of the
citadel by storm on the 23rd of October. The regiment afterwards
marched back to Holland for winter quarters.
[Sidenote: 1703]
Towards the end of April, 1703, the regiment commenced its march
towards Maestricht, and was in position near that city when the
French army approached in order of battle, but did not venture to
hazard a general engagement. The regiment shared in the operations
by which the French were afterwards forced to make a precipitate
retreat and take post behind their fortified lines. The services
of the regiment were also connected with the siege and capture of
the fortress of _Huy_, on the Maese river, above the city of Liege;
and with the siege of the city of _Limburg_, situate on a pleasant
eminence among woods near the banks of the Wesdet, which place
surrendered on the 28th of September. After these conquests the
SIXTEENTH returned to Holland.
[Sidenote: 1704]
During the winter six hundred men of the regiment joined the
garrison of Maestricht, while the Dutch soldiers were working at
the entrenchments on the heights of Petersberg: in May, 1704, the
remainder of the regiment marched towards the Rhine, and was
joined at Bedburg by the detachment from Maestricht.
The Duke of Marlborough led his army from Holland to the heart of
Germany, and, there encountering the legions of France and Bavaria,
he gained two important victories on the banks of the Danube,
and exalted the reputation of the British arms. The SIXTEENTH
had the honor to share in this splendid enterprise, and to take
a distinguished part in gaining the victory at _Schellenberg_
on the 2nd of July, when the regiment had Major Mordaunt,
Ensign Charleston, one serjeant, and nineteen soldiers killed;
Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton, Captain Coghlan, Ensign Key, one serjeant,
and thirty-four rank and file wounded.
After this victory the regiment crossed the Danube and marched to
the vicinity of the enemy's fortified camp at Augsburg, which was
found too strong to be attacked, and the army retired a few stages,
the Germans commencing the siege of Ingoldstadt. The enemy, being
reinforced from France, took up a position in the valley of the
Danube, near the village of _Blenheim_, which was occupied by a
considerable body of troops; and on the memorable 13th of August
a general engagement took place, in which the English general was
once more victorious; the French and Bavarian army sustaining a
decisive overthrow, with the loss of its artillery and baggage, and
many entire regiments being made prisoners; the French commander,
Marshal Tallard, being among the captives. The SIXTEENTH regiment
was one of the corps which sustained the brunt of the battle on
this occasion, and acquired great honor. The loss of the regiment
was very great: Captain Coghlan, Lieutenant Brown, Ensigns Sabine
and Hesketh, were among the killed; and Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton,
Captains Hesketh, Fleming, Lee, and Horne, Lieutenants Vicariage,
Jackson, Ayloffe, and Reddish, Ensigns Mackrich, Hook, and Gordon,
wounded.
From the banks of the Danube the regiment traversed the country to
Philipsburg, where it crossed the Rhine, and formed part of the
covering army encamped at Croon-Weissemberg, during the siege of
_Landau_ by the Germans. In the autumn the regiment embarked in
boats on the Rhine, and sailed to Holland.
[Sidenote: 1705]
The losses of the preceding campaigns were replaced in the spring
of 1705 by recruits from England, and, when the regiment took the
field to serve the campaign of 1705, its appearance and efficiency
were admired. It was employed in the expedition up the Moselle,
and, passing the Moselle and the Saar rivers on the 3rd of June,
advanced towards Syrk; but the designs of the British commander
were frustrated by the tardy movements of the Germans, and he
marched back to the Netherlands.
In May of this year the Earl of Derby retired from the service, and
was succeeded in the colonelcy by Lieut.-Colonel Francis Godfrey,
from the foot-guards.
A stupendous barrier of fortified lines, forts, and batteries
opposed the progress of the British commander; but by skilful
movements these works were passed at the slenderly-guarded posts of
_Helixem_ and _Neer-Hespen_ on the 18th of July. On this occasion
the SIXTEENTH formed part of Brigadier-General Fergusson's brigade
in the main body of the army, and did not sustain any loss. It
shared in the subsequent operations of the campaign, and passed the
winter in garrison in Holland.