THE BLACK WATCH.
(ROYAL HIGHLANDERS.)
The following will prove to my readers that the gallant 42nd, or Black
Watch, have often been foremost in our ranks on many a hard contested
field. Their loyalty is undoubted, and their patriotism unconquerable.
There are none more brave and none more reckless in danger than these
loyal children of the snow-capped mountains of Scotland, bred among
crags and peaks, and accustomed from children to endure, to struggle,
and dare. They have all the impetuosity of the Celt and the courage of
the Saxon. They have a thousand glorious memories, which would fire the
blood of the dullest with a joyous ardour which could not be subdued.
Shoulder to shoulder they will advance with levelled steel; shoulder to
shoulder they will stand and face shot and shell; and shoulder to
shoulder they will die where they stand, overpowered, but not defeated.
They may be broken and crushed, but never subdued. Happy the nation that
can boast such devout sons. In tracing the history of these hardy
Highlanders, we must say a few words upon the Scots Greys, the 71st
Highland Light Infantry, the 72nd Highlanders, 78th Highlanders, 79th
Cameron Highlanders, 92nd Gordon Highlanders, 91st, and the 93rd
Sutherland Highlanders.
We find that in all ages the Highlander has been a soldier. The keen
music of the pibroch has had an irresistible influence upon him. The
Highlanders formed the famous body guard of the Kings of France, and
their fidelity was never mistrusted. More than once they turned the tide
of victory in favour of the _Fleur de lis_. The French monarchs lavished
honours upon them, and every private had conferred on him the rank and
dignity of a gentleman. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries they
composed the "Scotch Brigade" of the United Provinces, and often
wresting victory from the best soldiers of Europe, the Highlanders were
among the _elite_ of the conquering armies of the "Lion of the North;"
and on the bloody field of Lutzen they routed the enemy. They displayed
their prowess too in the great campaigns of Louis XIV. There have been
Highland companies in the service of the House of Hanover, but it was
William Pitt who first constituted the Highlanders part of our regular
military establishment. The first Highland regiment was embodied as the
"Black Watch" in 1729. They then had but six companies. War breaking out
with Spain in 1739, they were augmented to ten. Each had one captain,
one lieutenant, one ensign, three sergeants, three corporals, two
drummers, and one hundred privates. We find from their records that
John, Earl of Crawford, was their first colonel. The old "Black Watch"
embarked for Flanders in 1743, and joined King George II.'s army at
Hanan, just too late for the battle of Dettingen. They first confronted
the enemy in covering a reconnoitering party in front of Fontenoy.
Courage had done its best, but it was a defeat for us. The retreat was
covered by the remains of the Guards and Highlanders, so that they were
the first on the field and last off. The Duke of Cumberland made special
acknowledgment of their chivalrous devotion. Their loss was 136. Shortly
afterwards the 42nd returned to England, and were quartered on the coast
of Kent, to assist in repelling a threatened French invasion. The next
time the Black Watch were employed was under Major-General James
Abercromby against a strong French fort, named Ticanderoga. The
fortification was of immense strength. The general, without waiting for
reinforcements, began to attack with his gallant Highlanders, who sprang
forward sweeping all before them with their claymores. But the fire from
the fortress mowed them down whole companies at a time, and with
reluctance their noble commander withdrew them. In this desperate fray
the 42nd lost 647 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. In 1758
the Black Watch received the distinction of the "Royal Highland Regiment
of Foot," and a second battalion of ten companies numbering 120 men each
was raised. A portion of the regiment were at the storming of
Martinique, and at the capture of Guadaloupe; and no troops, says
Beatson, could have behaved with more courage. We shortly after find the
two battalions in North America, under General Amherst, at the capture
of Montreal, and the reduction of Canada in 1760. The British soldier
had need be made of tough material, for he often has the two extremes to
bear, of the cold Canadian winters and the tropical heats of the East or
West Indian summers. We next trace the Highlanders to Cuba, where they
greatly distinguished themselves, and later in the attack upon Havanna
their conduct was all that could be desired. The Black Watch had much
rough fighting, and with not much honour, against the wild and restless
Indian tribes. It is not my intention to chronicle every movement of the
Black Watch; suffice it to say that they took part in the whole of the
war of American Independence. This was brought about by sheer
mismanagement, for had our forefathers treated the Americans with
justice they would have been now part and parcel of our glorious empire.
Again, we find the 42nd brought face to face with our old hereditary
enemy at New Vigo. It was here that the Black Watch captured four
redoubts situated one above or one commanding the other. A remarkable
incident occurred here which is worth recording. Capt. Stuart,
afterwards Major-General, directed one of his men to remain behind to
look after the men's knapsacks. He obeyed, but his wife pushed forward
to the assault. The enemy had been driven from the third redoubt and the
captain was giving directions to push on to the fourth and last, when he
(the captain) was tapped on the shoulder by this Amazon, who was
standing with her clothes tucked up to her knees. She cried out, "Weel
din, ma Heiland lads, weel din! See how they scamper!" "Come," added
she, "let us drive them from yonder hill." She had been in the hottest
fire, cheering and animating the men, and when the action was over was
as active as any of the surgeons in attending upon the wounded. We would
here remark that so long as Britain can produce such heroic mothers her
sons will ever uphold her flag.
We next find the Black Watch, together with other Highland regiments,
under their old and much respected commander, Sir Ralph Abercrombie,
forcing a landing in Napoleon's teeth, notwithstanding that he was
backed up by his so-called "Invincible" legions. The Black Watch was one
of the regiments under Sir John Moore. Sir John, with five thousand men,
effected a landing. As this noble band neared the shore a storm of shot,
shell, grape, and musketry crashed through them, but these gallant
fellows landed, and formed into line. They then swept the sandy beach,
and Napoleon's pets were lifted from the field with the bayonet, and
were scattered like chaff before the wind. Then the cavalry, clad in
glittering steel, came down upon these brave men; but they were coolly
met with shot and steel, and driven from the field. The intrepidity here
displayed was worthy of their fame. The enemy fled in confusion to
Alexandria. The remainder of our army then landed. The enemy took up a
strong position on this now historic ground, and the armies of two
greatest nations of modern times stood face to face to contend for the
laurels of victory. It is not my intention to attempt to describe the
terrible battle of Alexandria. Sir Ralph Abercrombie fell in the hour of
victory. He had aroused the enthusiasm of the troops by a pithy address.
"My brave Highlanders," he said, "remember your country; remember your
forefathers!" Like an arrow from a bow the line swept forward. The Black
Watch with deadly steel broke through the masses of Napoleon's chosen
"Invincibles," and swept them from the field. The old "Forty Twa's"
taught the enemy a terrible lesson, and largely helped to nail victory
to our glorious old standard. Their loss was heavy, being 15 officers, 6
sergeants, and 295 men. The next engagement of importance in which the
Black Watch takes a conspicuous part is that of Corunna, and right well
they upheld their reputation. My readers must remember that this battle
was fought under great disadvantage. The army under Sir John Moore had
just halted, after a long retreat, enduring hardships which destroyed
half the army. But the lion was now at bay, a battle must be fought and
won, and although the whole army was in a state of utter destitution,
they again proved to the boasting enemy, who were exulting in their
strength, that the sons of Britain had not degenerated since the days of
Blenheim. The enemy advanced in all the glory of war, but the sons of
Albion stood immoveable and undaunted until they received the order to
advance. Sir John Moore might well say, "Well done 50th." Turning to the
Black Watch, that noble hero exclaimed, "Highlanders, remember Egypt."
It was enough. They swept the pride of France from the field. But Sir
John met a soldier's death. He was struck by a cannon ball in the
breast. Like Nelson, he lived long enough to know that he had gained a
glorious victory. In his last moments he asked if the French were
beaten. Being answered in the affirmative, he said he hoped the people
of England would be satisfied, adding, "I hope my country will do me
justice; say to my mother"--here his voice quite failed. "A brave man
and a loving son." After enquiring about friends who had been in the
thick of the fight, he spoke kindly to all around him, and then gently
passed away. Such was the termination of Sir John Moore's career. It was
indeed a "death of honour." He has left a name which will always be
gratefully remembered by England, and an example which her defenders
will do well to imitate. Although their beloved chief was struck down,
it did not damp the spirits of our noble-hearted soldiers. No; but woe
to the enemy their steel could reach. After Sir John fell, the old 42nd
sprang upon the foe with a wild shriek, and smote them with a terrible
slaughter, and fully vindicated their reputation for heroic prowess. The
victory here gained enabled the British army to embark without being
further molested, so thoroughly had the terrible repulses of the
preceding day inspired the French with respect for British valour. But
the hero, Sir John Moore, was left alone in his glory. Not a word was
spoken as they laid him in his grave, by torch-light, wrapped in his
military cloak.
Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
As his corpse to the rampart we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot,
O'er the grave where our hero was buried!
We buried him darkly at the dead of night,
The sods with our bayonets turning,
By the struggling moonbeam's misty light,
And the lantern dimly burning.
No useless coffin enclosed his breast,
Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him;
But he lay like a warrior taking his rest,
With his martial cloak around him.
Few and short were the prayers we said,
And we spoke not a word of sorrow;
But we steadfastly gazed on the face that was dead,
And we bitterly thought of the morrow.
Slowly and sadly we laid him down,
From the field of his fame fresh and gory;
We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone,
But left him alone in his glory.
But our gallant and generous enemy erected a tomb with the following
inscription:--
JOHN MOORE,
LEADER OF THE ENGLISH ARMIES,
Slain in battle, 1809.
But to return. At "grim Busaco" the old Black Watch fully maintained
their reputation for intrepidity, handling the pets of Napoleon very
roughly. But at Fuentes de Oñoro the Highlanders came out in their true
colours. On this field they were as firm as the rocks of the mountains
they hailed from. It was the 71st and 79th who particularly
distinguished themselves. Side by side the 88th, Connaught Rangers,
crossed bayonets with the Imperial Guards. The conquerors of Wagram,
Jena, and Friedland had to bow before them, for they laid them on the
ground with the rush of cold steel. An incident occurred here worth
mentioning. The officer who carried the colours of the 79th fell dead. A
sergeant at once called out with a loud voice, "An officer to bear the
colours of the 79th." One at once sprang forward, and was immediately
shot down. "An officer to bear the colours" again shouted the sergeant.
Another hero at once seized them, and was also killed. A third and
fourth time the gallant sergeant called out, and as fast as the colours
were raised the bearer fell dead or fatally wounded. The adjutant then
rushed up, exclaiming, "The 79th shall never want one to carry its
colours while I can stand," and he carried them in safety throughout the
glorious day. The fighting was of a terrible character, the bayonet
being the chief weapon of combat. But the boasting enemy found out who
were the best hands at using it. No quarter was given or taken, and the
field remained in the hands of the sons of Albion. Among the rocks of
the mountains of the Pyrenees the conduct of the Highlanders was
sublime, and the heroism displayed by the 92nd was the object of
admiration of all who could see them. Napier says the 92nd Highlanders
were composed principally of Irishmen at this time, but with all due
respect to him, we believe the gallant colonel has made a mistake, for
from authentic records handed down to us we find at the time of their
heroic deeds at the Pass of Puerta-de-Mary this noble regiment was
composed as follows:--
Country. Sergts. Corporals. Drummers. Privates. Total.
Scotland 56 47 8 784 895
England 0 0 2 34 36
Ireland 0 2 1 58 62
Foreigners 1 3 3 14 21
N.B.--Nearly all the officers were Scotch.
Soult, the veteran Marshal of France, had been out-generalled and beaten
at all points. In rage he called his countrymen cowards. "Cowards,"
cried this noble veteran, "where are you flying to; you call yourselves
Frenchmen; halt, and face the foe in the name of heaven." Stung to the
quick, they halted and formed, but melted like snow under the rays of a
summer's sun from a rush of Highland bayonets. All regiments engaged had
freely used the bayonet, and the enemy appeared to have a wholesale
dread of the once despised sons of Albion, and the heroic sons of the
Green Isle.
We pass on to note that on the bloody fields of Neville, Nive, Orthes,
and Toulouse the old "Forty Twa's" nobly upheld the reputation acquired
by their forefathers, and taught the French to respect our flag. Their
conduct at Toulouse was beyond all praise, for if the enemy had
forgotten His Majesty King George III., the 42nd Highlanders reminded
them at Mont Blanc that they were still fighting under the flag they
loved so well. The fight was a close one, but the Highlanders captured
redoubt after redoubt, chasing the quailing enemy from the field in
grand style. It was a good wind up to a long and bloody struggle, and
the old 42nd were never once beaten.
The war being now over, the Highlanders returned home, covered with
honours. Napoleon had been crushed by combined Europe, and was sent to
the isle of Elba. He still retained his title of Emperor. His stay here
was of short duration. He burst from his narrow prison, landed in the
Gulf of St. Juan, near Frejus, in triumph, and set Europe once more in a
blaze. It was well ordained by an all-wise Providence, for matters had
come to such a pitch in the General Congress at Vienna, that the whole
of Europe was just about to fly at one another's throats squabbling over
the spoil. The news that Napoleon had broken his pledge and had secretly
left Elba re-united the disputants. An army was at once got together and
placed under the command of the Duke of Wellington, and as fast as the
regiments could be embarked they were sent off to the Netherlands. A
portion of the troops was not at home but in America. The following
Highland regiments particularly distinguished themselves on the fields
of Quatre Bras and Waterloo: the Scots Grays, the Scots Fusilier Guards,
the 1st Royals (now called the Lothian Regiment), 2nd battalion 42nd
(Black Watch), 71st, 79th, and 92nd (Gordon Highlanders). They all nobly
did their duty, as their losses will testify. Napoleon had not been
idle; he knew well that he would have to combat the whole of Europe, and
he quickly collected around his standard a strong army of grim veterans.
During the short peace the prisons on the continent, and ours also, had
been thrown open, and all prisoners of war released. Napoleon's name had
such a charm that the bravest of the brave ranged themselves under his
standard. Marshals Ney, Soult, and Grouchy, and a number of others less
known but not less brave; Count D'Erton, Count Rolle, Count Vandamme,
Count Gerrard, Count Loban, Count Pagob, Excelmans, Kellerman, and
Milhand--threw in their lots with this usurper, determined to conquer or
die. We say again that the army that was routed from the field of
Waterloo was composed of veterans who hardly knew what defeat was,
except a portion which had confronted us in the Peninsula campaigns. The
heroes of Marengo, Friedland, Austerlitz, Jena, Wagram, Borodino,
Dresden, Bantzen, with some that had witnessed the conflagration of
Moscow, and the rout from the field of Leipsic, all were bound in one
common tie. Napoleon might well say of such a host, led by such leaders
as the heroic Ney, "For every Frenchman who has a heart the moment has
arrived to conquer or die." His Imperial Guards mustered 12,870
infantry; they had conquered on almost every field on which Napoleon had
fought. But the gauntlet was about to be thrown down at the feet of one
who proved more than a match for these spoilt "Invincibles." Meanwhile
the British Government were straining every nerve to meet the coming
conflict. Our forefathers stood nobly forth in this death-struggle, for,
in addition to an enormous expenditure, all the continental nations had
we to assist, or not a company, so to speak, could any of them put into
the field to combat the terror of the world. All were nearly bankrupt.
Russia received as a loan close upon £3,500,000, Austria nearly
£2,000,000, Prussia nearly £2,500,000, and the smaller states, such as
Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Holland, the Netherlands, and Hanover,
received assistance from us to the tune of £2,800,000. Ireland was in
great distress at the time, and we assisted her with the nice round sum
of £7,277,000, at 1 per cent, interest; and my young readers must
remember all this took place after we had continued a war with France,
which was for very existence, for about twenty-one years.
The two great commanders who had vanquished every other antagonist were
now for the first time to be brought into collision. The "conqueror of
Europe" was now to measure swords with the "deliverer of Spain." Mark
the difference in these two great men. Napoleon was covetous of glory;
Wellington was impressed with duty; Napoleon was reckless of slaughter,
so long as he gained his purpose; Wellington was sparing of blood. He
has been known to completely break down as he rode over a field of
carnage. Napoleon was careless of his word, and anything but truthful
when a deliberate falsehood would suit his purpose. Wellington was
inviolate in faith. Napoleon's wasting warfare converted allies into
enemies; Wellington's protecting discipline changed enemies into
friends. The former fell because all Europe rose against him; the latter
triumphed because all Europe joined to place itself under his guidance.
There is not a proclamation of Napoleon to his army in which glory is
not mentioned, or one in which duty is alluded to. There is not an order
of Wellington's to his troops in which duty is not inculcated, nor one
in which glory is mentioned. Such were the two commanders who had
centred upon the attention of the civilised world, and who decided the
fate of Europe on the field of Waterloo.[37]
The 42nd, 79th, and 92nd Highlanders formed a part of Sir Thomas
Picton's division. Sir Thomas arrived on the field, after a long, hot,
and exciting march, for Marshal Ney had attacked the Brunswickers and
Belgians. The former fought well, but numbers already prevailed. The key
of the position was in the possession of the enemy, the Marshal of
France. The fire-eating Picton could see that they were in a terrible
plight, but as soon as he caught sight of their huge columns the old
veteran called out, "There are your enemies, men, beat them," His
division was composed of the following regiments: the 28th, 32nd, 42nd,
44th, 79th, 92nd, 95th, 1st and 3rd battalions--total, about 5000,
including officers. The honour of old England was in their keeping, it
was "do or die!" a handful against a host, for Marshal Ney had under his
command 46,786 men and 116 guns. The terrible Cuirassiers, who had
ridden over Russians, Austrians, Prussians, Spaniards, and Portuguese,
came down like a whirlwind upon these devoted regiments, shaking their
sabres in the air, confident of victory, and shouting with all their
might, "Down with the English." But our soldiers stood immovable as if
rivetted to the earth. The French horsemen dashed headlong at our
squares, but no opening could they find or force, and were compelled to
retire with their ranks shattered. The key of the position must be won.
It was won, and that in grand style. The bayonet was brought down, and
the pipers struck up "The Campbells are coming." They bade defiance to
the enemy. This unequal fight lasted for several hours. The Cuirassiers
and Lancers of the Guard repeatedly charged them with all the vehemence
of fanatics. Sometimes the little band were attacked on all sides at
once by the flower of the French cavalry; but it was unavailing.
Hundreds of the bravest of the French bit the dust, and the remainder
bolted like a well-greased "nigger." The 42nd lost four commanders in as
many minutes, viz., Col. Sir R. Macara, K.C.B., Lieut.-Colonel Dick,
C.B., Major Davidson, and Major Campbell; but these losses
notwithstanding, our soldiers nobly held their ground. The achievements
of this band of heroes will live in the pages of history to the end of
time. All honour to the brave!
"They were true to the last of their blood and their birth,
And like reapers advanced to the harvest of death."
Reinforcements were now coming up, and the eagle eye of Wellington was
now on the field. It was no longer the death-struggle it had been. The
Third Division and Guards soon put the finishing stroke upon Napoleon's
pets. The brunt of this desperate combat fell upon the Highlanders, as
their loss will testify. In the 42nd, 18 officers and 288 men fell; in
the 79th, 26 officers and 204 men; in the 92nd, 20 officers and 286 men;
and we say all honour to the two battalions of Guards. To rescue the
Highlanders from their critical position they fought as only Britons
will fight, and their loss was as follows: 2nd battalion Grenadiers, 8
officers and 285 men; 3rd battalion Grenadiers, 9 officers and 262 men.
Thus far we had acted principally upon the defensive, but with the
divisions that were now coming up the Duke turned the tables. He ordered
the whole line to advance, and he thus drove the impetuous Marshal Ney
and his boasting legions from the field, and the victorious "thin red
line" sank down amid dead and dying, friend and foe, for a few hours'
repose. Many of these veterans had marched close upon thirty miles,
heavily laden, and had then decided a doubtful field in favour of the
"flag that has braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze." Our
conquering commander knew well that he had yet to face the "terror of
Europe." But, reader, moral strength in war is to physical strength as
three to one. The fight that was just over was only a skirmish compared
to what was to follow. Napoleon had beaten Marshal Blücher at Ligny with
great slaughter, and in order to keep up communication with the Prussian
commander, Wellington retired to the memorable field of Waterloo. It is
not my intention to go into the oft-told tale of Waterloo, but to keep
as near my subject as possible. All did their duty nobly, and would
again should the honour of the flag that every true Briton loves ever
again be in danger. Unity is strength. Shoulder to shoulder we must
advance with levelled steel, shoulder to shoulder we must stand and
return flash for flash and shot for shot, and if Britons are true to
themselves, shoulder to shoulder they will die, but never yield.
The armies that confronted each other on the plains of Waterloo were as
different to each other as chalk is to cheese. The one all speaking the
same language, all bound by one common tie, they all looked up to their
great commander as invincible, and all exulting in their supposed
invincibility, except that portion which had so often confronted us
during the Peninsula campaigns. "Never," said Napoleon, "had my troops
been animated with such spirit; the earth seemed proud of being trodden
by such combatants." So confident of victory was this spoilt child of
fortune, that in exultation he exclaimed, "I have them, these
English."[38] The odds were heavy against us. They were 80,000 men, with
250 guns, against 67,000 and 156 guns, but the great difference
consisted in the quality of the troops. Wellington had over twenty
thousand under his standards, many of them being, shall I say, doubtful
friends-nay worse than that, they were traitors and cowards. The
Belgians would not face the foe, but bolted clean off the field as fast
as a dog with a tin kettle at his tail could go. It was a motley mass:
British, Germans, Hanoverians, Brunswickers, Dutch, and Belgians--all
speaking different languages. Marshal Soult respected the British, for
he said he knew that they were the very devil in the fight, particularly
in a close fight, and that they would die on the ground where they stood
rather than retreat. Up to that time never was a nobler spectacle
witnessed. The old veterans were struck with a feeling of awe as they
gazed at each other. Picton's heroes were soon called upon to hold the
post of honour. D'Erlon's men advanced bravely; they knew their beloved
Emperor's eyes were upon them, and, confident in their strength, they
advanced; but the undaunted Picton was there to confront them, with the
42nd, 44th, 92nd, and Royal Scots. These noble fellows hurled in one
volley and down came the queen of weapons, and the mighty column of the
French was broken into fragments. The hero of many fights fell; the
heroic Picton fell I say, waving on the Highlanders with the words,
"Charge! Charge! Hurrah!" Then, as at Salamanca, the Union Brigade of
heavy horse went straight at the reeling columns of the enemy, the Scots
Grays shouting "Scotland for ever." Some of the 42nd and 92nd caught up
the fire, and clinging to the stirrups of the Grays, went in with them.
It was this time "Down with the French," for that column had a bad time
of it. Three thousand prisoners and two eagles were taken; one of the
eagles being captured by Sergeant Ewart of the Grays. It belonged to the
45th Invincibles; on it were inscribed the words, "Jena," "Austerlitz,"
"Wagram," "Eylan," and "Friedland." But this noble brigade did not stop
at trifles; they dashed on and on, cutting down all that came in their
way until they reached the terrible battery which had swept a number of
their comrades down. The gunners were cut down at their guns; the horses
hamstrung, and the tackle hacked to pieces, thus rendering some 40 guns
useless for the remainder of the day. I think I hear my young readers
say "Well done the Union Brigade." Their commander, Gen. Sir W. Ponsonby
fell, and the brigade lost half their number. We had two masters in the
art of war face to face. Napoleon witnessed the terrible charge and its
effects. He instantly ordered forward his, as he thought, matchless
Cuirassiers. No power on earth seemed capable of withstanding them.
Picton's heroes at once threw themselves into squares, and the enemy
came on with vehement cries of "Vive l'Empereur," and "Down with the
English;" but they were met with a fearful storm of lead which swept
whole squadrons to mother earth. Our troops fought with desperation, and
vain were all attempts of the French to break our infantry. The French
with all their martial pride were compelled to retreat in disorder from
the frightful strife. Our commanders would call out at times--"Steady,
men, steady; our time will come yet." At one time our great commander
had to seek shelter from these terrible Cuirassiers inside the square
of the 95th. "Stand fast, 95th," said Wellington, "we must not be
beaten, or what will they say of us in England." "Never fear, sir, we
are a match for them," was the reply; and to their cost the French found
it so. In and around Hougoumont the desperate strife raged for hours.
Huge columns were repulsed time after time, and as fast as one was
broken into fragments another took its place, all under the watchful eye
of their beloved Emperor. The conduct of the Scots Fusilier Guards was
beyond all praise. Here the Briton came out in his native lustre.
Nothing could dismay him, for unbroken stood that line of red
majestically firm; and all the boasting sons of Gaul could not capture
that old farm house and orchard from the sons of Albion. Napoleon's
furious attacks had been baffled at all points. The Prussians were now
coming up, and the French decided that one more effort on a grand scale
must be made in order to drive these detestable English from the field.
The old Guards were formed up, led by Marshal Ney; the Emperor came part
of the way with them, and bade them God speed, but it was unavailing.
They were met at the onset with that terrible weapon the bayonet, and
grim-faced as they were they had to bow before the conquering British.
They fought with desperation; they carried an empire at the points of
their bayonets; but the sons of Albion, side by side with the loyal boys
of the Green Isle, won the victory, and secured peace and plenty for
forty years. The total loss of the Highland regiments during this
sanguinary fighting was 165 officers and 2127 non-commissioned officers
and men, out of a total strength of 5174.
"Night closed around that conquering band,
The lightning showed the distant field,
Where they who won that bloody day,
Though few and faint, were fearless still."
Any impartial historian must award the highest praise to the "thin red
line," for including the King's German Legion and Hanoverians,
Wellington had only 52,000 upon whom he could rely to resist the attacks
continued during seven long hours of 80,000 veterans, directed by
Napoleon in person. These attacks were so vehement that no power on
earth seemed capable of stopping them. But the stubborn pluck of the
British on this field, as at Albuera, came out in all its brilliance.
Shoulder to shoulder they advanced at Quatre Bras, determined to conquer
or die. It was Albuera repeated, and on the red field of Waterloo they
stood to be mowed down until their invincible chief ordered them to
advance. Then it was "Scotland for ever." They then smote the boasting
legions of Napoleon, captured all their guns, and rolled them up in
indescribable confusion, and largely helped to nail victory to our flag.
The 18th June, 1815, must as long as time shall last, or until swords
are broken and made into ploughshares, be the proudest of all the many
proud days of British martial glory. For Napoleon himself said
afterwards, if he could have defeated Wellington at Waterloo, what would
have availed all the multitudes of Russians, Austrians, Spaniards, or
Prussians, who were crowding to the Rhine, the Alps, or the Pyrenees. He
could have beaten them all in detail. But for humanity's sake a merciful
Providence ordered it otherwise. Victory on this occasion did not, as on
many other fields, side with the strongest battalions, for the Atheist
(Napoleon) found to his cost on this memorable and bloody field that
there is a God that ruleth the armies of heaven and earth, and upon the
strength of the sovereign power of God Britain depended, and does still
depend, and we trust is not ashamed to acknowledge it. Every honest,
thinking Briton will Say with the writer, "So mote it be."
The victorious Highlanders marched on to Paris, where a British drum,
bugle, or pibroch had not been heard for four hundred years. The
tyrannical usurper was struck down, and guilty, haughty France had to
eat a lot of "humble pie" made by a pastry cook whom they had so much
despised, viz., John Bull, assisted by a number of the sons of the
Emerald Isle--"_Quis separabit._" Peace was now purchased by the blood
of some thousands of the best and bravest of the sons of Britain. The
victorious army remained in France until 1818, under the command of the
immortal Duke who had so often led them from victory to victory, until
the whole of Europe stood amazed at the doings of our soldiers. The
Highlanders now returned home, to be almost killed with kindness. They
were greeted by enthusiastic crowds, and in every town had cross fires
to meet, not of shot, shell, or musketry, but of brandy, rum, gin,
whisky, and ales, to say nothing of the broad-sides they got from pretty
lasses; for on all the fields they had fought the pretty girls
acknowledged the men in petticoats "second to none:" for
"Whatever he did was done with so much ease,
In him alone 'twas natural to please;
His motions all accompanied with grace,
And Paradise was opened in his face."--_Dryden._
Britain had been blessed with peace for nearly forty years, when Russian
perfidy brought about the Crimean war, and the 42nd Highlanders, or
Black Watch, the 79th Cameron Highlanders, and the 93rd Sutherland
Highlanders, with the Scots Grays and Scots Fusilier Guards, were called
upon to rally round the British standard. Their conduct at the Alma was
heroic. The great redoubt had been carried by the Light and Second
Divisions. The Russians did not at all like the appearance of the giants
in petticoats, for these stalwart regiments, the 42nd, 79th, and 93rd,
advanced, knowing well they had a spotless fame bequeathed to them by
their forefathers; and these noble regiments had made up their minds
that it should not be tarnished. They were commanded by one who had
often led them to victory--Sir Colin Campbell, K.C.B. His Highland
blood was roused, and waving his sword high in the air he exclaimed,
"We'll have none but Highland bonnets here;" and right well did these
noble regiments sweep all before them. The enemy did not wait for what
they would have got, viz., the bayonet, but bolted; they did not like
the appearance of these hardy mountaineers. We say again,
"The fierce native daring which instils
The stirring memory of a thousand years."
And none better deserved the love and gratitude of Britain. The honour
of our flag was at stake. The enemy had boasted that he would drive us
all into the sea, but their souls sank at the determined advance of our
soldiers. We pass on to the plains of Balaclava, on which the thin red
streak tipped with steel only two deep was too much for the boasting
Muscovite. Sir Colin Campbell had drawn his Highlanders up, disdaining
to form square to receive the advancing enemy's cavalry. It was do or
die. The 93rd opened a fire which emptied a number of the enemy's
saddles. By this time the Russians were in possession of our batteries;
which in this instance, unfortunately, were not manned by British
soldiers, but by the Turks, who fled from the enemy like hares before
the hounds, and in their hasty flight from the field met a terrible foe,
who attacked them with all the fury of a maniac. They in terror rushed
through the camp of the 93rd Highlanders, shouting "Ship! ship!" A
stalwart enraged woman, wife of one of the Highlanders, dashed out of
her tent, armed with a good cudgel, and laid about her right and left
without mercy. Selecting one of these cowards, the biggest she could
find, this dame thrashed him right well, holding him with a grip of iron
all the time. We think some of the faithful will have cause to remember
this Christian woman as long as they live. This incident caused no small
amusement in the 93rd, who had sterner duties before them. But with all
due respect to our ally the Turks, it must be remembered that they were
attacked by ten times their own number. Many of them fought well.
It was on this field that the Union Brigade of matchless cavalry, as at
Waterloo, went at the foe. It was cavalry charging cavalry. These noble
horsemen--under General Scarlett--advanced at a steady trot to meet a
host more than ten times their number.
After the Russian cavalry had retired, that fire-eating old commander,
the hero of a hundred fights, Sir Colin Campbell, rode up to the front
of the Greys, with hat in hand, and exclaimed with pride, "Greys,
gallant Greys, I am past sixty-one years; if I were young again I should
be proud to be in your ranks; you are worthy of your forefathers." The
French officers were in admiration of the doings of the Heavy Brigade.
They had watched the fight of a handful against a host, and exclaimed it
was truly magnificent. The victory of the Heavy Brigade was the most
glorious thing they had ever seen. The French commander sent a tribute
of admiration to Lord Lucan, and Lord Raglan conveyed a message by an
aide-de-camp in two syllables to General Scarlett--"Well done!"
As regards the remainder of the campaign, the Highlanders took their
turn in the trenches from the spring of 1855 until the town fell, but
our commanders kept them in reserve. We could have well done with their
assistance on the blood-stained height of Inkermann, for had that noble
brigade been with us the enemy would not have got off as cheaply as they
did, although they paid well for a peep at our camp; and as far as the
storming of the town was concerned, had they been by the side of us the
enemy would have gone into the harbour at the point of the bayonet, or
laid down their arms. The war, as far as fighting was concerned, ended
with the fall of that far-famed town, Sebastopol, September 8th, 1855.
The Highlanders returned home for a short time, but peace was of brief
duration. India, the brightest gem in her most gracious Majesty's crown,
was tottering. It was held in the hands of a few desperate men until
assistance could reach them. These men might well claim the motto of
Napoleon's old Guard--"The Guards die but never surrender." No regiment
came out with more honour than the 78th Highlanders under the brave Sir
H. Havelock. To give full particulars of all the fights--they fought in
the first relief of Lucknow--would be to fill a large volume. Their
conduct on every occasion was beyond all praise. They never waited to
count the enemy. "There they are, men," said that noble Christian hero
on more than one field, "beat them." It may be honestly said of that
noble band, that they tried to do their duty, both in the relief and
gallant defence of Lucknow. But help was on the way; the 42nd, 71st,
72nd, 79th, and 93rd were on march to assist in stamping out the last
spark of rebellion. Suffice it to say that all engaged, both army and
navy, nobly did their duty; the honour of our glorious old flag was at
stake, and the Highland lads were determined to uphold it or die in the
attempt.
In all our little wars or pic-nics in Abyssinia, 1868; Ashantee, 1874;
Africa, 1879-80; Afghanistan, 1879-80; Egypt, 1882-4, they have ever
proved more than a match for multitudinous fanatics. These noble fellows
have won their spurs from nobler foes, armed with as good a weapon as
their own; but it is not my intention to follow these gallant regiments
through all the muddles the "grand old man" has got them into. Suffice
it to say that the Zulus, Abyssinians, Ashantees, Afghans, Egyptians,
and the wild fanatical Soudanese will respectfully remember the men in
petticoats; and should our country get into any other muddle we feel
confident these loyal-hearted sons of Scotland will ever do their duty.
We now wish them, and the loyal boys of the Green Isle, a hearty "God
speed."
THE BRITISH ARMY, 1886.
The following table will prove of much interest to all who wish to trace
the crimson records of our army. It will show all the battles and
campaigns that have been fought from 1704 up to 1884, compiled from the
Horse Guards Records, according to seniority:--
REGIMENT. NAME OF ENGAGEMENT.
1ST LIFE GUARDS.--Dettingen, Peninsula, Waterloo, Egypt,
1882, Tel-el-Kebir.
2ND LIFE GUARDS.--Dettingen, Peninsula, Waterloo, Egypt,
1882, Tel-el-Kebir.
ROYAL HORSE GUARDS (THE BLUES).--Dettingen, Peninsula,
Waterloo, Egypt, 1882, Tel-el-Kebir.
1ST KING'S DRAGOON GUARDS.--Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde,
Malplaquet, Dettingen, Waterloo, Sevastopol, Taku Forts,
Pekin, South Africa, 1879.
2ND DRAGOON GUARDS (QUEEN'S BAYS).--Lucknow.
3RD (PRINCE OF WALES') DRAGOON GUARDS.--Blenheim, Ramillies,
Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Talavera, Albuera, Vittoria,
Peninsula, Abyssinia.
4TH (ROYAL IRISH) DRAGOON GUARDS.--Peninsula, Balaklava,
Sevastopol, Egypt, 1882, Tel-el-Kebir.
5TH (PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S) DRAGOON
GUARDS.--Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse, Peninsula, Balaklava,
Sevastopol.
6TH DRAGOON GUARDS (CARABINIERS).--Blenheim, Ramillies,
Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Sevastopol, Delhi, Afghanistan,
1879-80.
7TH (PRINCESS ROYAL'S) DRAGOON GUARDS.--Blenheim, Ramillies,
Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Dettingen, South Africa, 1846-7,
Egypt, 1882, Tel-el-Kebir.
1ST ROYAL DRAGOONS.--Dettingen, Peninsula, Waterloo,
Balaklava, Sevastopol.
2ND DRAGOONS (ROYAL SCOTS GRAYS).--Blenheim, Ramillies,
Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Dettingen, Waterloo, Balaklava,
Sevastopol.
3RD (KING'S OWN) HUSSARS.--Dettingen, Salamanca, Vittoria,
Toulouse, Peninsula, Kabul, 1842, Moodkee, Ferozesha,
Sobraon, Punjab, Chillinwallah, Googerat.
4TH (QUEEN'S OWN) HUSSARS.--Dettingen, Talavera, Albuera,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse, Peninsula, Afghanistan,
Ghuznee, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sevastopol.
5TH (ROYAL IRISH) LANCERS.--Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde,
Malplaquet, Suakin, 1885.
6TH (INNISKILLING) DRAGOONS.--Dettingen, Waterloo,
Balaklava, Sevastopol.
7TH (QUEEN'S OWN) HUSSARS.--Dettingen, Peninsula, Waterloo,
Lucknow.
8TH (KING'S ROYAL IRISH) HUSSARS.--Laswarree, Hindostan,
Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Central India,
Afghanistan, 1879-80.
9TH (QUEEN'S ROYAL) LANCERS.--Peninsula, Punniar, Sobraon,
Punjab, Chillinwallah, Goojerat, Delhi, Lucknow, Charasiah,
Kabul, 1879, Kandahar, 1880, Afghanistan, 1878-80.
10TH (PRINCE OF WALES' OWN ROYAL) HUSSARS.--Peninsula,
Waterloo, Sevastopol, Ali-Musjid, Afghanistan, 1878-9,
Egypt, 1884.
11TH (PRINCE ALBERT'S OWN) HUSSARS.--Salamanca, Peninsula,
Waterloo, Bhurtpore, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sevastopol.
12TH (PRINCE OR WALES') LANCERS.--Egypt, Peninsula,
Waterloo, South Africa, 1851-2-3, Sevastopol, Central India.
13TH HUSSARS.--Peninsula, Waterloo, Alma, Balaklava,
Inkermann, Sevastopol.
14TH (KING'S) HUSSARS.--Douro, Talavera, Fuentes d'Onor,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes, Peninsula, Punjab,
Chillinwallah, Goojerat, Persia, Central India.
15TH (KING'S) HUSSARS.--Emsdorf, Villiers-en-Couche,
Egmont-op-Zee, Sahagun, Vittoria, Peninsula, Waterloo,
Afghanistan, 1878-80.
16TH (QUEEN'S) LANCERS.--Talavera, Fuentes d'Onor,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Nive, Peninsula, Waterloo, Bhurtpore,
Afghanistan, Ghuznee, Maharajpore, Aliwal, Sobraon.
17TH (DUKE OF. CAMBRIDGE'S OWN) LANCERS.--Alma, Balaklava,
Inkermann, Sevastopol, Central India, South Africa, 1879.
18TH HUSSARS.--Peninsula, Waterloo.
19TH HUSSARS.--Assaye, Niagara, Egypt, 1882-4, Tel-el-Kebir,
Nile, 1884-5, Abou Klea.
20TH HUSSARS.--Peninsula, Suakin, 1885.
21ST HUSSARS.--_Nil._
THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.--This noble arm of the
service has served in all quarters of the globe, and in
every battle, from Crecy down to the present time.
In tracing out the honours of our Infantry, to assist the reader we give
their old titles and their new-fangled territorial distinctions.
GRENADIER GUARDS.--Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde,
Malplaquet, Dettingen, Lincelles, Corunna, Barrosa,
Peninsula, Waterloo, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Egypt,
1882, Tel-el-Kebir, Suakin, 1885.
COLDSTREAM GUARDS.--Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Dettingen,
Lincelles, Egypt, Talavera, Barrosa, Peninsula, Waterloo,
Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Egypt, 1882, Tel-el-Kebir.
SCOTS FUSILIER GUARDS, _now_ SCOTS GUARDS.--Dettingen,
Lincelles, Egypt, Talavera, Barrosa, Peninsula, Waterloo,
Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Egypt, 1882, Tel-el-Kebir,
Suakin, 1885.
1ST ROYALS, _now_ THE ROYAL SCOTS (LOTHIAN
REGIMENT).--Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet,
Louisburg, St. Lucia, Egmont-op-Zee, Egypt, Corunna, Busaco,
Salamanca, Vittoria, St. Sebastian, Nive, Peninsula,
Niagara, Waterloo, Nagpore, Maheidpore, Ava, Alma,
Inkermann, Sevastopol, Taku Forts, Pekin.
2ND QUEEN'S, _now_ THE QUEEN'S (ROYAL WEST SURREY
REGIMENT).--Egypt, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Vittoria,
Pyrenees, Nivelle, Toulouse, Peninsula, Afghanistan,
Ghuznee, Khelat, South Africa, 1851-2-3, Taku Forts, Pekin.
3RD BUFFS, _now_ THE BUFFS (EAST KENT REGIMENT).--Blenheim,
Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Dettingen, Douro,
Talavera, Albuera, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Peninsula,
Punnair, Sevastopol, Taku Forts, South Africa, 1879.
4TH KING'S OWN, _now_ THE KING'S OWN (ROYAL LANCASTER
REGIMENT).--Corunna, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, St.
Sebastian, Nive, Peninsula, Bladensburg, Waterloo, Alma,
Inkermann, Sevastopol, Abyssinia, South Africa, 1879.
5TH FUSILIERS, _now_ THE NORTHUMBERLAND
FUSILIERS.--Wilhelmstahl, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco,
Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle,
Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Lucknow, Afghanistan, 1878-80.
6TH WARWICKSHIRE, _now_ THE ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE
REGIMENT.--Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Vittoria, Pyrenees,
Nivelle, Orthes, Peninsula, Niagara, South Africa, 1846-7,
South Africa, 1851-2-3.
7TH ROYAL FUSILIERS, _now_ THE ROYAL FUSILIERS (CITY OF
LONDON REGIMENT).--Martinique, Talavera, Albuera, Badajoz,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula,
Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Kandahar, 1880, Afghanistan,
1879-80.
8TH KING'S OWN, _now_ THE KING'S (LIVERPOOL
REGIMENT).--Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet,
Dettingen, Egypt, Martinique, Niagara, Delhi, Lucknow,
Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan, 1878-80.
9TH FOOT, _now_ THE NORFOLK REGIMENT.--Roleia, Vimiera,
Corunna, Busaco, Salamanca, Vittoria, St. Sebastian, Nive,
Peninsula, Kabul, 1842, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Sobraon,
Sevastopol, Kabul, 1879, Afghanistan, 1879-80.
10TH FOOT, _now_ THE LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT.--Blenheim,
Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Egypt, Peninsula, Sobraon,
Punjaub, Mooltan, Goojerat, Lucknow.
11TH FOOT, _now_ THE DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT.--Dettingen,
Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse,
Peninsula, Afghanistan, 1879-80.
12TH FOOT, _now_ THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT.--Dettingen, Minden,
Gibraltar, Seringapatam, India, South Africa, 1851-2-3, New
Zealand, Afghanistan, 1878-80.
13TH LIGHT INFANTRY, _now_ THE PRINCE ALBERT'S
(SOMERSETSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY).--Dettingen, Egypt,
Martinique, Ava, Afghanistan, Ghuznee, Jellelabad, Kabul,
1842, Sevastopol, South Africa, 1878-9.
14TH FOOT, _now_ THE PRINCE OF WALES' OWN (WEST YORKSHIRE
REGIMENT).--Tournay, Corunna, Java, Waterloo, Bhurtpore,
India, Sevastopol, New Zealand, Afghanistan, 1879-80.
15TH FOOT, _now_ THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT.--Blenheim,
Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Louisburg, Quebec, 1759,
Martinique, Guadaloupe, Afghanistan, 1879-80.
16TH FOOT, _now_ THE BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT.--Blenheim,
Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet.
17TH FOOT, _now_ THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.--Louisburg,
Hindostan, Afghanistan, Ghuznee, Khelat, Sevastopol, Ali
Musjid, Afghanistan, 1878-9.
18TH ROYAL IRISH, _now_ THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT.--Blenheim,
Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Egypt, China, Pegu,
Sevastopol, New Zealand, Afghanistan, 1879-80, Egypt, 1882,
Tel-el-Kebir, Nile, 1884-5.
19TH FOOT, _now_ THE PRINCESS OF WALES'S OWN YORKSHIRE
REGIMENT.--Malplaquet, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol.
20TH FOOT, _now_ THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS.--Dettingen,
Minden, Egmont-op-Zee, Egypt, Maida, Vimiera, Corunna,
Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Alma,
Inkermann, Sevastopol, Lucknow.
21ST ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, _now_ THE ROYAL SCOTS
FUSILIERS.--Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet,
Dettingen, Bladensburg, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, South
Africa, 1879.
22ND FOOT, _now_ THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT.--Louisburg, Meeanee,
Hyderabad, Scinde.
23RD ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS, _now_ THE ROYAL WELSH
FUSILIERS.--Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet,
Dettingen, Minden, Egypt, Corunna, Martinique, Albuera,
Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes,
Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol,
Lucknow, Ashantee.
24TH FOOT, _now_ THE SOUTH WALES BORDERERS.--Blenheim,
Ramillies, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Egypt, Cape of Good Hope,
1806, Talavera, Fuentes d'Onor, Salamanca, Vittoria,
Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Peninsula, Punjaub,
Chillinwallah, Goojerat, South Africa, 1877-8-9.
25TH BORDERERS, _now_ THE KING'S OWN BORDERERS.--Minden,
Egmont-op-Zee, Egypt, Martinique, Afghanistan, 1878-80.
N.B.--All the above infantry regiments have two battalions, and are
linked together; but we now come to where our red tape gentlemen have
thought fit to break up and do away with old regimental distinctions.
Honours have likewise been transferred, so that regiments now have
honours on their colours they knew nothing of. The 90th Regiment was not
raised until the end of the last century.
1ST BATT. 26TH CAMERONIANS,
2ND BATT. 90TH LIGHT INFANTRY,
_now_ THE CAMERONIAN SCOTCH RIFLES.--Blenheim, Ramillies,
Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Mandora, Egypt, Corunna, Martinique,
Guadaloupe, China, South Africa, 1846-7, Sevastopol,
Lucknow, Abyssinia, South Africa, 1877-8-9.
1ST BATT. 27TH INNISKILLINGS,
2ND BATT. 108TH FOOT,
_now_ THE ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS.--St. Lucia, Egypt,
Maida, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle,
Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, South Africa, 1835,
South Africa, 1846-7, Central India.
1ST BATT. 28TH OLD BRAGGS,
2ND BATT. 61ST FOOT,
_now_ THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.--Ramillies, Louisburg,
Quebec, 1759, Egypt, Maida, Corunna, Talavera, Barossa,
Albuera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive,
Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, Punjaub,
Chillinwallah, Goojerat, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Delhi.
1ST BATT. 29TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 36TH FOOT,
_now_ THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.--Ramillies, Hindostan,
Roleia, Vimeira, Corunna, Talavera, Albuera, Salamanca,
Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula,
Ferozeshah, Sobraon, Punjaub, Chillinwallah, Goojerat.
1ST BATT. 30TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 59TH FOOT,
_now_ THE EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT.--Egypt, Cape of Good
Hope, 1806, Corunna, Java, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, St.
Sebastian, Nive, Peninsula, Waterloo, Bhurtpore, Alma,
Inkermann, Sevastopol, Canton, Ahmad Khel, Afghanistan,
1878-80.
1ST BATT. 31ST FOOT,
2ND BATT. 70TH FOOT,
_now_ THE EAST SURREY REGIMENT.--Dettingen, Guadaloupe,
Talavera, Albuera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive,
Orthes, Peninsula, Kabul, 1842, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal,
Sobraon, Sevastopol, Taku Forts, New Zealand, Afghanistan,
1878-9, Suakin, 1885.
1ST BATT. 32ND LIGHT INFANTRY,
2ND BATT. 46TH FOOT,
_now_ THE DUKE OF CORNWALL'S LIGHT INFANTRY.--Dettingen,
Dominica, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Pyrenees,
Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Peninsula, Waterloo, Punjaub,
Mooltan, Goojerat, Sevastopol, Lucknow, Egypt, 1882,
Tel-el-Kebir, Nile, 1884-5.
1ST BATT. 33RD, DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S OWN,
2ND BATT. 76TH FOOT,
_now_ THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S WEST RIDING
REGIMENT.--Dettingen, Hindostan, Seringapatam, Ally-Ghur,
Delhi, 1803, Leswarree, Deig, Nive, Peninsula, Waterloo,
Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Abyssinia.
1ST BATT. 34TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 55TH FOOT,
_now_ THE BORDER REGIMENT.--Albuera, Arroyodos Molinos,
Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Peninsula, China,
Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Lucknow.
1ST BATT. 35TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 107TH FOOT,
_now_ THE ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT.--Louisburg, Quebec, 1759,
Maida, Egypt, 1882, Nile, 1884-5, Abou Klea.
1ST BATT. 37TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 67TH FOOT,
_now_ THE HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.--Blenheim, Ramillies,
Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Dettingen, Minden, Tournay, Barossa,
Peninsula, India, Taku Forts, Pekin, Charasiah, Kabul, 1879,
Afghanistan, 1878-80.
1ST BATT. 38TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 80TH FOOT,
_now_ THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT.--Egypt, Monte Video,
Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Badajoz, Salamanca,
Vittoria, St. Sebastian, Nive, Peninsula, Ava, Moodkee,
Ferozeshah, Sobraon, Pegu, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol,
Lucknow, Central India, South Africa, 1878-9, Egypt, 1882,
Nile, 1884-5, Abou Klea.
1ST BATT. 39TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 54TH FOOT,
_now_ THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT.--Plassy, Gibraltar, Egypt,
Marabout, Albuera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive,
Orthes, Peninsula, Ava, Maharajpore, Sevastopol.
1ST BATT. 40TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 82TH FOOT,
_now_ THE PRINCE OF WALES'S VOLUNTEERS (SOUTH LANCASHIRE
REGIMENT).--Louisburg, Egypt, Monte Video, Roleia, Vimiera,
Talavera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle,
Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Niagara, Waterloo, Candahar,
Ghuznee, Kabul, 1842, Maharajpore, Sevastopol, Lucknow, New
Zealand.
1ST BATT. 41ST FOOT,
2ND BATT. 69TH FOOT,
_now_ THE WELSH REGIMENT.--Bourbon, Java, Detroit,
Queenstown, Miami, Niagara, Waterloo, India, Ava, Candahar,
Ghuznee, Kabul, 1842, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol.
1ST BATT. 42ND, (BLACK WATCH),
2ND BATT. 73TH FOOT,
_now_ THE BLACK WATCH, ROYAL HIGHLANDERS.--Mangalore,
Seringapatam, Egypt, Corunna, Fuentes d'Onor, Pyrenees,
Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, South
Africa, 1846-7, South Africa, 1851-2-3, Alma, Sevastopol,
Lucknow, Ashantee, Egypt, 1882-4, Tel-el-Kebir, NIle,
1884-5, Kirbekan.
1ST BATT. 43RD FOOT,
2ND BATT. 52ND FOOT,
_now_ THE OXFORDSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY.--Quebec, 1759,
Hindostan, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad
Rodrio, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes,
Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, South Africa 1851-2-3, Delhi,
New Zealand.
1ST BATT. 44TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 56TH FOOT,
_now_ THE ESSEX REGIMENT.--Moro, Gibraltar, Egypt, Badajoz,
Salamanca, Peninsula, Bladensburg, Waterloo, Ava, Alma,
Inkermann, Sevastopol, Taku Forts, Nile, 1884-5.
1ST BATT. 45TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 95TH FOOT,
_now_ THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS (DERBYSHIRE
REGIMENT).--Louisberg, Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco,
Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca,
Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula,
Ava, South Africa, 1846-7, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol,
Central India, Abyssinia, Egypt, 1882.
1ST BATT. 47TH FOOT, 2ND BATT. 81ST FOOT, _now_ THE LOYAL
NORTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT.--Louisburg, Quebec, 1759, Maida,
Corunna, Tarifa, Vittoria, St. Sebastian, Peninsula, Ava,
Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Ali Musjid, Afghanistan,
1878-79.
1ST BATT. 48TH, PRIMROSES,
2ND BATT. 58TH FOOT,
_now_ THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGIMENT.--Louisburg, Quebec, 1759,
Gibraltar, Egypt, Maida, Douro, Talavera, Albuera, Badajoz,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse,
Peninsula, Sevastopol, New Zealand, South Africa, 1879.
1ST BATT. 49TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 66TH FOOT,
_now_ THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S (BERKSHIRE
REGIMENT).--Egmont-op-Zee, Copenhagen, Douro, Talavera,
Albuera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes,
Peninsula, Queenstown, China, Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol,
Candahar, 1880, Afghanistan, 1879-80, Egypt, 1882, Suakin,
Tofrek.
1ST BATT. 50TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 97TH, EARL OF ULSTER'S,
_now_ THE QUEEN'S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT.--Egypt,
Vimiera, Corunna, Almaraz, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nive, Orthes,
Peninsula, Punniar, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, Sobraon,
Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Lucknow, New Zealand, Egypt,
1882, Nile, 1884-5.
1ST BATT. 51ST FOOT,
2ND BATT. 105TH FOOT,
_now_ THE KING'S OWN LIGHT INFANTRY (SOUTH YORKSHIRE
REGIMENT).--Minden, Corunna, Fuentes d'Onor, Salamanca,
Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Peninsula, Waterloo,
Pegu, Ali Musjid, Afghanistan, 1878-80.
1ST BATT. 53RD FOOT,
2ND BATT. 85TH FOOT,
_now_ THE KING'S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY.--Nieuport,
Tournay, St. Lucia, Talavera, Fuentes d'Onor, Salamanca,
Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Toulouse, Peninsula,
Bladensburg, Aliwal, Sobraon, Punjaub, Goojerat, Lucknow,
Afghanistan, 1879-80, Egypt, 1882, Suakin, 1884-5.
1ST BATT. 57TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 77TH FOOT,
_now_ THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE'S OWN (MIDDLESEX
REGIMENT).--Seringapatam, Albuera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz,
Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Peninsula, Alma,
Inkermann, Sevastopol, New Zealand, South Africa, 1879.
1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH BATTS. 60th Rifles,
_now_ THE KING'S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS.--Louisburg, Quebec,
1759, Roleia, Vimiera, Martinique, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes
d'Onor, Albuera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca,
Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse,
Peninsula, Punjaub, Mooltan, Goojerat, South Africa,
1851-2-3, Delhi, Taku Forts, Pekin, South Africa, 1879,
Ahmad Kheb, Candahar, Afghanistan, 1878-80, Egypt, 1882-4,
Tel-el-Kebir.
1ST BATT. 62ND FOOT,
2ND BATT. 99TH FOOT,
_now_ THE DUKE OF ENDINBURGH'S (WILTSHIRE REGIMENT).--Nive,
Peninsula, Ferozeshah, Sobraon, Sevastopol, Pekin, New
Zealand, South Africa, 1879.
1ST BATT. 63RD, WEST SUFFOLK,
2ND BATT. 96TH FOOT,
_now_ THE MANCHESTER REGIMENT.--Egmont-op-Zee, Egypt,
Martinique, Guadaloupe, Peninsula, Alma, Inkermann,
Sevastopol, New Zealand, Afghanistan, 1879-80, Egypt, 1882.
1ST BATT. 64TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 98TH FOOT,
_now_ THE PRINCE OF WALES' NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
REGIMENT.--St. Lucia, Surinam, China, Punjaub, Persia,
Reshire, Bushire, Koosh-ab, Lucknow.
1ST BATT. 65TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 84TH FOOT,
_now_ THE YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENT.--India, Arabia, Nive,
Peninsula, Lucknow, New Zealand, Egypt, 1882-4,
Tel-el-Kebir.
1ST BATT. 68TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 106TH FOOT,
_now_ THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY.--Salamanca, Vittoria,
Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Peninsula, Alma, Inkermann,
Sevastopol, Persia, Reshire, Bushire, Kooshab, New Zealand.
1ST BATT. 71ST FOOT,
2ND BATT. 74TH FOOT,
_now_ THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY.--Hindostan, Assaye,
Seringapatam, Cape of Good Hope, 1806, Roleia, Vimiera,
Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz,
Almaraz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive,
Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, South Africa,
1851-2-3, Sevastopol, Central India, Egypt, 1882,
Tel-el-Kebir.
1ST BATT. 72ND HIGHLANDERS,
2ND BATT. 78TH HIGHLANDERS,
_now_ SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS (ROSS-SHIRE BUFFS, THE DUKE OF
ALBANY'S.)--Hindostan, Assaye, Cape of Good Hope, Maida,
Java, South Africa, 1835, Sevastopol, Persia, Kooshab,
Lucknow, Central India, Peinar, Kotal, Charasiah, Kabul,
1879, Candahar, 1880, Afghanistan, 1878-80, Egypt, 1882,
Tel-el-Kebir.
1ST BATT. 75TH FOOT,
2ND BATT. 92ND HIGHLANDERS,
_now_ THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS.--Seringapatam, India,
Egmont-op-Zee, Mandora, Egypt, Corunna, Fuentes d'Onor,
Almaraz, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nive, Orthes, Peninsula,
Waterloo, South Africa, 1835, Delhi, Lucknow, Charasiah,
Kabul, 1879, Candahar, 1880, Afghanistan, 1878-80, Egypt,
1882-84, Tel-el-Kebir, Nile, 1884-5.
1ST BATT. 79TH FOOT, or CAMERON HIGHLANDERS,
_now_ THE QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS.--Egmont-op-Zee,
Egypt, Fuentes d'Onor, Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive,
Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, Alma, Sevastopol, Lucknow,
Egypt, 1882, Tel-el-Kebir, Nile, 1884-5.
1ST BATT. 83RD FOOT,
2ND BATT. 86TH FOOT,
_now_ THE ROYAL IRISH RIFLES.--India, Egypt, 1801, Cape of
Good Hope, 1806, Bourbon, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor,
Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle,
Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Central India.
1ST BATT. 87TH, ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS,
2ND BATT. 89TH FOOT,
_now_ PRINCESS VICTORIA'S ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS.--Egypt,
Monte Video, Talavera, Barrossa, Tarifa, Java, Vittoria,
Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Niagara, Ava,
Sevastopol, Egypt, 1882-4, Tel-el-Kebir.
1ST BATT. 88TH, CONNAUGHT RANGERS,
2ND BATT. 94TH FOOT,
_now_ THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS.--Seringapatam, Egypt, 1801,
Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula,
Alma, Inkermann, Sevastopol, Central India, South Africa,
1877-8-9.
1ST BATT. 91ST HIGHLANDERS,
2ND BATT. 93RD, SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS,
_now_ PRINCESS LOUISE'S ARGYLE AND SUTHERLAND
HIGHLANDERS.--Cape of Good Hope, 1806, Roleia, Vimiera,
Corunna, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse,
Peninsula, South Africa, 1846-7, South Africa, 1851-2-3,
Alma, Balaklava, Sevastopol, Lucknow, South Africa, 1879.
1ST BATT. 100TH, ROYAL CANADIANS,
2ND BATT. 109TH FOOT,
_now_ THE PRINCE OF WALES'S LEINSTER REGIMENT.--Niagara,
Central India.
1ST BATT. 101ST, BENGAL FUSILIERS,
2ND BATT. 104TH FOOT,
_now_ THE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSILIERS.--Plassy, Buxar, Guzeret,
Deig, Bhurtpore, Afghanistan, Ghuznee, Ferozeshah, Sobraon,
Punjaub, Chillinwallah, Goojerat, Pegu, Delhi, Lucknow.
1ST BATT. 102ND BOMBAY FUSILIERS,
2ND BATT. 103RD MADRAS FUSILIERS,
_now_ THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS.--Arcot, Plassy, Condore,
Wyndewash, Buxar, Sholingur, Nundy, Droog, Amboyna, Ternate,
Banda, Pondicherry, Mahidpore, Carnatic, Mysore, Goojerat,
Seringapatam, Kirkee, Beni Boo, Ally, Aden, Punjaub,
Mooltan, Googerat, Ava, Pegu, Lucknow.
1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH BATT. RIFLE BRIGADE, _now_ THE RIFLE
BRIGADE (THE PRINCE CONSORT'S OWN).--Copenhagen, Monte
Video, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Barrossa, Fuentes
d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria,
Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, South
Africa, 1846-7, South Africa, 1851-2-3, Alma, Inkermann,
Sevastopol, Lucknow, Ashantee, Ali Musjid, Afghanistan,
1878-9.
1ST WEST INDIA REGIMENT.--Dominica, Martinique, Guadaloupe,
Ashantee.
2ND WEST INDIA REGIMENT.--Ashantee.
The following shows about the average number of troops kept in India,
Gibraltar, Malta, and Ireland:--
Regiments of Batteries of Companies of Battalions of
Cavalry. Artillery. Engineers. Infantry.
India 9 77 3 50
Gibraltar 0 7 4 4
Malta 0 7 2 4
Ireland 6 17 4 27
Index of Linked Battalions, to enable the reader to find out regiments
that are struck off the Army List:--
Territorial. Regiments.
1st--The Lothian Regiment.
2nd--The Royal West Surrey Regiment.
3rd--The East Kent Regiment.
4th--The Royal Lancaster Regiment.
5th--The Northumberland Fusiliers.
6th--The Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
7th--The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
8th--The Liverpool Regiment.
9th--The Norfolk Regiment.
10th--The Lincolnshire Regiment.
11th--The Devonshire Regiment.
12th--The Suffolk Regiment.
13th--The Somersetshire Light Infantry.
14th--The West Yorkshire Regiment.
15th--The East Yorkshire Regiment.
16th--The Bedfordshire Regiment.
17th--The Leicestershire Regiment.
18th--The Royal Irish Regiment.
19th--The Yorkshire Regiment.
20th--The Lancashire Fusiliers.
21st--The Royal Scots Fusiliers.
22nd--The Cheshire Regiment.
23rd--The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
24th--The South Wales Borderers.
25th--The King's Own Borderers. 1st Batt. 2nd Batt.
26th--The Cameronian Scottish Rifles 26th 90th
27th--The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 27th 108th
28th--The Gloucestershire Regiment 28th 61st
29th--The Worcestershire Regiment 29th 36th
30th--The East Lancashire Regiment 30th 59th
31st--The East Surrey Regiment 31st 70th
32nd--The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 32nd 46th
33rd--The West Riding Regiment 33rd 76th
34th--The Border Regiment 34th 55th
35th--The Royal Sussex Regiment 35th 107th
37th--The Hampshire Regiment 37th 67th
38th--The South Staffordshire Regiment 38th 80th
39th--The Dorsetshire Regiment 39th 54th
40th--The South Lancashire Regiment 40th 82nd
41st--The Welsh Regiment 41st 69th
42nd--The Royal Highlanders 42nd 73rd
43rd--The Oxfordshire Light Infantry 43rd 52nd
44th--The Essex Regiment 44th 56th
45th--The Derbyshire Regiment 45th 95th
47th--The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 47th 81st
48th--The Northamptonshire Regiment 48th 58th
49th--The Berkshire Regiment 49th 66th
50th--The Royal West Kent Regiment 50th 97th
51st--The South Yorkshire Regiment 51st 105th
53rd--The Shropshire Regiment 53rd 85th
57th--The Middlesex Regiment 57th 77th
60th--The King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th batts.
62nd--The Wiltshire Regiment 62nd 99th
63rd--The Manchester Regiment 63rd 96th
64th--The North Staffordshire Regiment 64th 98th
65th--The York and Lancaster Regiment 65th 84th
68th--The Durham Regiment 68th 106th
71st--The Highland Light Infantry 71st 74th
72nd--The Ross-shire Buffs 72nd 78th
75th--The Gordon Highlanders 75th 92nd
79th--The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders 1st batt.
83rd--The Royal Irish Rifles 83rd 86th
87th--The Royal Irish Fusiliers 87th 89th
88th--The Connaught Rangers 88th 94th
91st--The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders 91st 93rd
100th--The Royal Canadians 100th 109th
101st--The Royal Munster Fusiliers 101st 104th
102nd--The Royal Dublin Fusiliers 102nd 103rd
The Rifle Brigade, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th battalions.
Household Cavalry, number of regiments 3
Heavy Dragoons, 〃 10
Lancers, Light 〃 5
Hussars, Light 〃 13
Royal Horse Artillery, number of batteries 26
Royal Artillery 〃 80
Garrison Artillery 〃 96
Royal Engineers, number of companies 52
Foot Guards, number of battalions 7
Regiments of the Line, 〃 129
Regiments of Rifles, 〃 12
Royal Marines, number of companies 40
Commissariat and Transport Corps, companies 20
Medical Staff Corps, divisions 16
Ordnance Department, companies 4
Yeomanry Cavalry in Great Britain, regiments 39
Militia Artillery, number of batteries 196
Militia Regiments, number of infantry 143
Militia Engineers, number of companies 3
Artillery Volunteers, number of battalions 62
Engineer Volunteers, number of companies 22
Light Horse Volunteers, number of regiments 15
Volunteer battalions of Infantry 206
Mounted Rifle Volunteer regiments 16
West India Regiments of Infantry 2
Royal Malta Fencibles, Artillery batteries 6
Channel Islands Militia, battalions of Infantry 6
Channel Islands Militia Artillery, number of batteries 15
In Memoriam--Charles George Gordon.
(Jan. 26, 1885.)
C hrist's noble Warrior thou! Single thine aim
H appy thou wast when the last summons came.
A re there no friends around thee? None to aid?
R ound thee to rally? None! Thou art betrayed!
L one dost thou stand amid the savage horde.
E choes the faithful promise of the Lord:
S aved shall he be who to the end endured.
G entle thy presence; great thy power to lead.
E ach nation sought thy help, thy word obeyed.
O pen thy heart and hearth to all Christ's poor,
R oyal thy gifts, and boundless was thy store.
G allant Commander thou, as Knight of old!
E ver true-hearted, simple, fearless, bold.
G reatness and goodness thine, Faith, Hope, and Love,
O n sword thy hand, thy brave heart fixed above:
R eady to dare and die at Duty's call.
D oubts hadst thou none, but trust invincible.
O nce was a Noble Life for faithless friends laid down;
N ow hast thou followed Him, and won thy crown.
TWO DAYS TOO LATE!
[After the battle near Metemneh, Sir Charles Wilson pushed
on to Khartoum in one of the steamers which General Gordon
had sent down the Nile to meet our troops. But two days
before his arrival--so it is said--Khartoum had been
betrayed into the hands of the rebels, and its heroic
defender had been slain.]
Two days too late! Through trackless wastes of sand
Our gallant sons in vain have fought their way!
In vain has brain conceived, has genius planned:
Hope has but smiled, the better to betray.
With victory almost ours, the hero's hand
Outstretched in welcome, every heart elate,
Khartoum has fallen, and the traitors stand
With mocking faces as we reach the gate
_Two days too late!_
Two days too late! Two days too late to save
The grand heroic soul who dared so long;
Who for nine weary months withstood the wave
Of countless thousands, chanting their deathsong!
His foes _without_, the bravest of the brave--
Famine and treachery _within_ the gate!
And we but come to find a new-made grave:
The help arrives--alas! two days too late!
_Two days too late!_
Too late! too late! England is dumb to-day--
Too new her grief for words, too deep her love!
The giant heart and soul have passed away,
And we but strive in faith to look above
And pray as he so often loved to pray:
"Father, Thy will be done, Thy purpose great!"
Till knowing of his peace, we've strength to say
"In God's good time, and _not_ two days too late!"
No, _not_ too late!
MEDALS.
"Ambition sigh'd: she found it vain to trust
The faithless column and the crumbling bust;
Huge moles, whose shadow stretch'd from shore to shore,
Their ruins perish'd, and their place no more;
Convinced, she now contracts the vast design,--
And all her triumphs sink into a coin.
A narrow orb each crowded conquest keeps;
Beneath her palm here sad Judæa weeps;
Now scantier limits the proud arch confine,
And scarce are seen the prostrate Nile or Rhine;
A small Euphrates through the piece is roll'd,
And little eagles wave their wings in gold."--_Pope._