ALBERT BORGARD.
NOT a statesman, not over-refined, and no scholar, a mere soldier of
fortune—yet brave, and honest, and true—Albert Borgard deserves more
than a passing notice in a history of the Regiment which he was the
first to command.
He was by birth a Dane. Born in 1659, he commenced his life as a soldier
when sixteen years of age, and until the day of his death, on the 7th
February, 1751, at the age of ninety-two years, he never had a thought
beyond his profession and his duty. The diary appended to this chapter
gives in his own words the best summary of his career which can be
written. For _naïveté_ and modesty, it can hardly be surpassed. The
compression into two or three lines, of events on which most men would
enlarge with effusion; and the simple narrative of wounds and hardships,
as if such were the ordinary circumstances of war, and unworthy of
special comment, cannot fail to strike the most superficial reader. The
only sentence that gives us pain is the plaintive allusion to one who
supplanted him with the Board of Ordnance, as Consulting Artilleryman
and Engineer. He was so devoted to his profession, that anything which
looked like putting him on one side hurt him beyond expression. There is
a time in the lives of many active men, when they realize painfully that
others are growing up who can outstrip them in work, or who have modern
ideas and appliances which it is now too late for them to learn. The
pain of such a discovery is, perhaps, the most acute that a man can
feel.
From that date, Borgard devoted himself to his men. Living in the Warren
at Woolwich, constantly among them, he was incessant in urging them to
master the details of their profession. Being devoted himself to all
laboratory work, his order-books are full of instructions to the cadets
and young officers, to devote their leisure to practical lessons in that
department. And he encouraged any who might succeed in making any good
"Firework" to bring it to him for inspection and approval. He was a
strict disciplinarian; and some of the punishments he awarded would
astonish modern soldiers. But he was essentially honest, incapable of
falsehood or meanness, and if every man in this worthy world were, like
him, brave and honest and true, what a Paradise it would be!
He commenced his military career in the service of the King of Denmark.
He went from that, in 1689, to the King of Prussia's service; served in
Hungary in 1691; and was induced by William III. to join the English
service in the following year. At the termination of hostilities he and
one other foreigner, named Schlunt, whose name appears in the list of
officers of the short-lived regiment of 1698, were the only Artillerymen
other than English, who were selected to proceed to England for
permanent employment.
In 1702, he went as Major in the expedition to Cadiz, and carried on a
successful bombardment with the five bomb-vessels under his command. In
the following year he volunteered for service under Marlborough, but,
after a few months in Flanders, he was recalled to proceed to Spain with
the expedition under Sir George Rooke and the Duke de Schomberg, which
escorted the Archduke Charles, who had just been proclaimed by his
father, King of Spain. Until the year 1710, he was engaged in all the
hostilities which were now carried on in Spain, and of which his diary
gives a summary. In 1705, at the siege of Valencia, which was taken by
the English under Lord Galway, (who had been appointed to the command in
place of Schomberg), he lost his left arm; and in 1710, he was wounded
in the leg by a round shot, and taken prisoner.
But his first service with the Royal Artillery, after its existence as a
regiment, was in 1719, when he went in command of the Artillery of Lord
Cobham's force against Spain, and successfully bombarded Vigo. The
troops, 4000 in number, embarked in a squadron of five men-of-war under
Admiral Mighells, and coasting from Corunna to Vigo, were landed two or
three miles from the town. The garrison of Vigo withdrew to the citadel,
spiking the guns in the town; but so heavy and well-directed was the
fire of the English, that they soon capitulated.
The whole of the Artillery arrangements, both in preparing and handling
the train, had been under Colonel Borgard's sole control. Judging from
the entry in his diary, he was far more pleased by the success of his
inventions and improvements in the _matériel_ of his train, than by the
surrender of the enemy.
As this was the first train of Artillery to which the Royal Artillery
Companies were attached on active service, it has been considered
desirable to give some details as to its constitution.
First, as to _personnel_:—It was commanded by Colonel Borgard, assisted
by a major, a captain, three lieutenants, and four fireworkers. The
medical staff, a surgeon and his assistant, received a little more
remuneration than in former trains; their daily pay—which to a modern
ear has a very legal sound—being respectively 6_s._ 8_d._ and 3_s._
4_d._ There were seven non-commissioned officers, twenty gunners, forty
matrosses, two drummers, and ten artificers. Engineers, conductors,
drivers, and clerks were also present; and on account of the particular
nature of the service on which the expeditionary force was to be
engaged, ten watermen and a coxswain were included among the attendants
of the train.
Next, as to _matériel_:—Borgard selected for his purpose four 24-
pounders, four 9-pounders, and six 1½-pounders, brass guns, all mounted
on travelling carriages, with a proportion of spare carriages for the
first and last, spare limbers for the second, and spare wheels for all.
He also took a number of brass mortars, six ten-inch, and two eight-
inch, besides thirty Coehorn and twelve Royal mortars. The ammunition
comprised 9800 round shot, 180 grape, 3800 mortar shells, 1000 hand-
grenades, and 100 carcasses for the ten-inch mortars. Two bomb-vessels,
each carrying a thirteen-inch mortar, and with two fireworkers, four
bombardiers, and an artificer on board, accompanied the expedition, and
were also under Colonel Borgard's command.
The citadel capitulated on the 10th October, 1719, and a large quantity
of guns and stores fell into the hands of the English. The first
occasion, therefore, on which the Royal Artillery as a Regiment was
represented on active service was completely successful. The expedition
returned to England in November.
One more incident remains to be enlarged upon ere we leave the gallant
officer to tell the story of his own life. In 1716, when attending an
experiment at the Foundry in Windmill Hill, where some brass guns were
being recast, he was wounded in four places by an explosion which took
place, and by which seventeen of the bystanders lost their lives. The
accident had been foretold—so the story goes—by a young Swiss named
Schalch, who was thereupon invited, after his prophecy was fulfilled, to
assist the Board of Ordnance in selecting a suitable place near London
where all the guns required for the service might be cast.
Young Schalch's hands were rather tied in the matter; for he was limited
to a radius of twelve miles round London. Had this not been the case, it
is hardly probable that he would have named as the Depôt for national
Artillery Stores, and as the National Arsenal—both of which he must have
foreseen the place of his selection would become—a place so exposed as
Woolwich. As it was, however, being limited to so small an area, his
selection was a natural one for other than the reasons which would first
occur to him, as it already had a special connection with Artillery
manufactures, and with that Board under whose orders he was to work.
Few countries, and fewer Boards, have ever had a more faithful servant
than he proved. As Superintendent of the Foundries, which were built at
his suggestion, he lived for sixty years, "during which time not a
single accident "occurred."[8] The Royal Artillery may well be proud of
such a man, who, although not in the Regiment, was so intimately
connected with it by the nature of his duties; and as all the management
of the various departments in the Arsenal is in the hands of officers of
the Regiment now, there is no better model for them to study than this
father, so to speak, of Woolwich Arsenal. And the interest which must be
felt in him for his own skill and services is increased by the knowledge
that no less than six of his descendants have held commissions in the
Royal Artillery.
* * * * *
Appended to the chapter will now be found the diary of Borgard, to which
allusion has so often been made, copied from a manuscript in the Royal
Artillery Regimental Library. In addition to the short account of his
services, it contains lists of the various battles and sieges in which
he took part, and the dates of his various commissions.
"An Account of the Battels, Sieges, &c., wherein Lieutenant-General
Albert Borgard hath served, with what time and station, and in what
Prince's service, as also the dates of his commissions during the time
of his being in the English service, viz.—
"In the KING OF DENMARK'S Service.
1675. "Served as a cadet in the Queen's Regiment of Foot, and was at
the siege of Wismar (a town in the territories of Mecklenburg), then
belonging to the Sweeds, which was taken by the Danes in the said
year in the month of December."
1676. "Was ordered from the Army with a Detachment of Foot on board
the Fleet. A battle was fought with the Sweeds near Oeland in the
Baltick, the 11th of June, wherein the Danes obtained a compleat
victory. With the aforesaid Detachment in the month of July we
landed in Schonen, and joyned the Danish Army at the Siege of the
Castle at Helsingborg, which place the Danes took from the Sweeds in
the said month by capitulation.
"Marched from thence, and was at the Siege of the Town and Castle of
Landskroon. One night the Sweeds made a great sally out of the Town
with Horse and Foot; the Danes beat them back, and followed them
into the town and took it sword in hand. The Castle after some days'
bombardment was taken by capitulation.
"In the month of August, we marched from Landskroon to
Christianstat, which town was taken from the Sweeds, sword in hand,
some days after it was invested, without opening trenches. The
Garrison did consist of near 3000 men, which were all cut to pieces.
Liberty for three hours' time was granted to the soldiers to plunder
the town, where there was found a great deal of riches and treasure.
"In the latter end of August, I was one of the 4000 men of the Army
which marched from Christianstat to besiege the Town Halmstat. Upon
their march they were intercepted and totally defeated by the
Sweeds, of which number not above 700 men made their escape.
"In the month of September, several young men that were well
recommended were taken out of the Foot Regiments to be made gunners
of y^e Artillery, of which I was one of the number, and served as
such in the great Battle of Lund (in the month of December) between
the Sweeds and the Danes, which continued from sun-rising to sun-
setting. This was counted a drawn battle, because both Army's
Artillery remained in the field that night.
1677. "I likewise served as a gunner in the Battle fought between
the Sweeds and the Danes, near Sierkiobing or Ronneberg, two leagues
from Landskroon, in the month of July, where the Sweeds had a
compleat victory. In the latter end of the same month I was ordered
from Schonen with more gunners to the Siege of Mastraud, in Norway.
In the month of July, the Town with a little Fort was attacked and
taken sword in hand, and two other Castles near the same place were
taken by capitulation. In the latter end of August we marched with a
body of the Norwegian Army, and fell in the night-time on the Sweeds
at Odewald, beat them, and took from them twelve pieces of cannon,
and all their baggage.
1678. "In the month of September, a great Detachment of the Danish
Army, where I was one of the number, was ordered in the expedition
to the Island of Lauterugen, in the Baltick. We landed on the said
Island, though we mett with great opposition from the Sweeds. We
beat them and obliged them to retire to Stralsund.
1679. "I was made a Fireworker, and ordered on a survey of the
Island of Sealand, in Denmark.
1680. "I with another Fireworker was ordered to Berlin in exchange
of two Brandenburgher Fireworkers, sent to Denmark to learn the
difference of each nation's work relating to all sorts of warlike
and pleasaunt Fireworks.
1681. "I was ordered to go from Berlin to Strasburg to perfect
myself in all things relating to Fortification.
1682. "I was ordered back again from Strasburg to Gluckstadt, in
Holstein, where I was made Ensign in the Queen's Regiment of Foot.
1683. "I was made a Lieutenant in the same Regiment, and ordered
with the Duke of Wirtemberg, who went a voluntier to the relief of
Vienna, in Austria, where I was in the Battle fought by the Germans
and Poles against the Turks the 11th day of September. The Turks
were totally defeated with the loss of their Artillery and greatest
part of their baggage.
1684. "I was ordered with several other engineers under Colonel
Scholten's command to fortifie a place called Farrell, in the County
of Oldenburg.
1685. "I was ordered by the aforesaid Duke of Wirtemberg, who went a
voluntier to Hungary, and was both of us at the Siege of Niewhausel
and the Battle of Grau in the month of August. The Germans beat the
Turks, and took twenty-three pieces of cannon, with some of their
baggage, and some days after the battle, Niewhausel was taken sword
in hand.
1686. "I went as a voluntier to Hungary, and was at the Siege of
Buda, and was recommended to Colonel Barner, Commander of the
Imperial Artillery, who employ'd me during the Siege, in the
Artillery service. The lower town was taken in June without
opposition. The upper town and castle were taken sword in hand in
the month of September. Here I got so much plunder that paid for all
my campaign done in Hungary as a voluntier.
1687. "I was made a Lieutenant in the King of Denmark's Drabenten
Guards, and was employed as Engineer in the new Fortifications made
at Copenhagen.
1688. "I quitted the Danish Service on account of some injustice
done me in my promotion, and went as voluntier to Poland. I was well
recommended to his Polish Majesty. I was in the action that happen'd
at Budjack, when the Poles beat the Tartars, and killed and took
prisoners to the number of 2400. Here I took for my share two
Tartars prisoners, which had near cost me my life, by reason I would
not deliver them over to a Polish officer.
"In the KING OF PRUSSIA'S Service.
1689. "In the month of January I was made a Lieutenant in the
Prussian Guards, and the same year went with my Colonel, Baron
Truckis, who made a campaign as voluntier on the Rhine. I was in the
month of March in action of Niews, a little town between Keyserwart
and Cologne, where the Brandenburghers totally beat the French and
took all their baggage. In the month of June I was at the Siege of
Keyserwart, which place the Brandenburghers, after some days'
bombardment, took from the French by capitulation. In the month of
July we marched with the Army from Keyserwart to invest the town of
Bonn, which place was without intermission eight nights and days
bombarded, and totally destroyed. After the bombardment it was kept
blockaded till the month of September. In this bombardment I
commanded two mortars ordered me by Colonel Wyller, commander of the
Prussian Artillery. In the month of August I went from Bonn to
Mentz, a town besieged by the Emperour's and Allies' Army. In the
taking of the Counterscarps or Glacies of this place, it cost us
near 4000 men, by which means the town was obliged to capitulate. In
the month of September the Duke of Lorrain went with 10,000 men from
Mentz, to reinforce the Allies' Army at Bonn. By his arrival there
the attack was regularly carried on, in which service I was employed
as Engineer, under the direction of Colonel Gore, who had the
direction of the trenches carried on by the Dutch forces. The
Counterscarps or Glacies, with a ravelin and a counterguard, were
taken sword in hand with the loss of 3000 men. The enemy was beat
into the town, which obliged them in two days' after to capitulate.
1691. "In the month of March 8000 of the Prussian troops were
ordered to Hungary. The company to which I belonged was included in
this number. We joined the Emperour's Army in the month of June, and
we fought a Battle with the Turks at a place called Solankeman,
where we beat them totally, and took upwards of 100 pieces of
cannon, with a great part of their baggage, in the month of August.
1692. "I quitted the Prussian service, and agreed with Count de
Dohna for a Company of Foot, in a Regiment of Foot he was to raise
for the service of the Emperour. After some weeks spent in raising
men for my company, the capitulation broke off, because the Emperour
would not agree to the terms stipulated with the said Count. In the
month of April I went from the city of Dantzick to Holland, and from
thence in company with some Danish voluntiers to y^e Siege of
Namur. After the siege I went from Namur to the English and Allies'
camp at Melle, and from thence I marched with the Army to the camp
at Genap, where in the month of July I entered as Firemaster into
the English Artillery, under the command of Colonel Gore.
"In the ENGLISH Service.
1692. "I marched with the English Artillery to the Battle of
Steenkirke, and after the battle was ordered with a Detachment of
Fireworkers to joyn at Ostend those Artillery people which came from
England under the command of Sir Martin Beckman. From Ostend we
marched to Tourney, from thence to Dixmud, and at last to quarter at
Ghent.
1693. "I was commanded with a Detachment of Fireworkers and
Bombardiers to Liege, and from thence back again to Nearhespe, where
we fought the battle of Landen, and where our Army was beat, and
sixty-three pieces of English cannon lost. After the battle I was
ordered with a detachment of Fireworkers to Sasvangand, in order to
embark the great Artillery for a secret expedition; after some days'
labour was ordered back again to the Army encamped at Nuioven, from
thence into Flanders.
1694. "I went with my Lieutenant-Colonel Browne to the Siege of Huy,
which place we took from the French in the month of September, by
capitulation.
1695. "I was ordered with some mortars to follow the Duke of
Wirtemberg, who commanded a detachment of the Army at Fort Knock
invested by the said Duke. From thence I was ordered with a
detachment of the Artillery to the Siege of Namur, which place I
bombarded with twelve great mortars, and did throw about 4000 bombs
(into the town, Cohorn's Work, and Terra Nova), before the siege was
over. The town capitulated in August, and Cohorn's Work and Terra
Nova in September.
1696. "Nothing material was done this year but making intrenchments,
marching, and counter-marching with the Army.
1697. "This year was like the former till we encamped at Brussels,
where the cessation of arms was proclaimed.... In the month of
September the Army marched into quarters, where the greatest part of
the Artillery people were ordered to England, foreigners excepted,
who were all discharged except myself and one by name Schlunt. I was
ordered to embark all the English Artillery remaining in Flanders to
be sent to England. I myself went with the last embarkation in the
month of February."
1698 to 1701. "I remained in England without being in any action.
1702. "I was made Major to the Artillery in the bomb vessels sent on
the expedition to Cadiz, under the command of His Grace the Duke of
Ormond and Admiral Rooke. In this expedition I bombarded with five
bomb vessels, first, St. Catharina, with such success that it
capitulated. I also bombarded with some land mortars the Fort
Matagorde. At our arrival at Vigo, I bombarded with three bomb
vessels Fort Durand, which was taken sword in hand by the land
forces. The Fleet entered and broke the boom which was laid over the
entrance of the harbour near the said Fort, took and destroyed all
the ships of war, galleons, &c., to the number of thirty-seven.
1703. "Went as voluntier to Flanders. After some months' stay was
recalled to England in order to command the English Artillery
ordered to Portugall, with this present Emperour, being at that time
King of Spain. Two of the transports laden with stores under my
command were lost in the great storm in the Downs, where myself then
rode, and was afterwards obliged to go to Portsmouth to repair the
damage we had received by that storm.
1704. "Nothing material done with the Army but marching and counter-
marching.
1705. "I was at the Siege of Valencia d'Alcantra, which the English
took from the Spaniards sword in hand. At this siege, in building
the Battery, I had my left arm shot to pieces.
1706. "I was at the Siege of Alcantra, which place the English and
Allies took by capitulation in the month of April. Here I received a
contused wound on my left breast. Marched from thence to Corea and
Plazencia. Both towns declared for King Charles, and from thence
marched to the Bridge of Almaraz, and so back to Corea and to Ciudad
Rodrigo, which place we besieged and took by capitulation in the
month of May. Marched from thence to the Town Salamanca, which place
declared for King Charles: from thence to Madrid, which likewise
declared for King Charles, where we encamped ten days. From Madrid
we marched to Guadalaxara; from thence to Guadraka, where I
cannonaded in the month of August for two days together the Duke of
Berwick's Army; from thence marched back to Guadalaxara, and so on
to St. Jonne, from which place we retreated into the kingdom of
Valencia, where the enemy followed us close till we had got over the
pass at Raguina.
1707. "In the month of April we marched from Valencia to the Battle
of Almanza, where our Army was totally routed, and the remaining
part retreated to Toroza in Catalonia. In this battle we lost all
the Portuguese Artillery, and most part of the Artillery people were
taken prisoners or cut to pieces; and I had the misfortune to lose
all my baggage.
1708. "I commanded the Artillery on the expedition with Major-
General Stanhope to the Island of Minorca, where we landed in
September, and after I had built my battery by which I dismounted
the cannon of two of the enemy's towers built in the line, the
Castle of St. Phillip capitulated in the latter end of October. The
whole Island, at our landing, declared for King Charles, and after
having been three months in regulating the Artillery, I returned
back to Catalonia in the month of February, 1708-9.
1709. "Marched with the Artillery to Villa Nova de la Barkia, on the
River Segra, where I bombarded for some days the enemy's Army, and
after our Army had passed the river, they took the town Balaguar,
after two days' siege, by capitulation.
1710. "In the month of July I was at the Battle of Almenar, where
our Army in less than two hours beat the enemy and encamped in the
place of the field of battle for some days...." "From the camp at
Almenar we marched to besiege the Castle Moncon. We possessed
ourselves the first night of one of the enemy's works that covered
their bridge laid over the Cuica river, and continued there some
days, and at last was obliged to leave the place...." "In August,
marched from thence and passed the said river near Traga in pursuit
of the enemy to the place of Saragoso, where we fought a battle on
the 20th August, got a compleat victory, and took the greatest part
of the enemy's Artillery. Here I received four wounds, and had
upwards of eighty men killed and wounded on my battery, and above
300 Artillery mules hamstringed. From this place our Army pursued
the enemy, and marched to Madrid, which declared a second time for
King Charles. Two months after, I was carried thither, and from
thence ordered to Toledo to put that Artillery, &c., we had taken
from the enemy in order; and after some days' stay was ordered to
destroy the said Artillery, and march to joyn part of the Army in
camp at St. Jonne, from whence we marched in the month of December,
and joyned the whole Army near Villa Viciosa, where we fought a
battle the 10th December with the loss of all our Artillery, and
were obliged to retreat into the Kingdom of Arragon. I was wounded
with a cannon-shot in my left leg, lost all my baggage, and was
taken prisoner in the town of Siguenca.
1711. "I obtained leave upon my parole to go to England, to be cured
of my wound; and after my arrival had the good fortune to be
exchanged for another Colonel belonging to the enemy.
1713. "I made pleasure fireworks which were burnt on River Thames in
the month of August, over against Whitehall, on the Thanksgiving Day
for the Peace made at Utrecht.
1715. "In the month of December I was ordered with a train of
Artillery to Scotland, and arrived in the month of February in the
Firth of Forth by Leith, where I was ordered by His Grace the Duke
of Argyle to send the vessells with the Artillery to a place called
Innerkithen till further orders, and to march with all the officers
and Artillery people from Edinburgh to Stirling. At Stirling I was
ordered by His Grace to take upon me the command of fifteen pieces
of cannon ordered from Edinburgh, &c., for field service, which was
in such confusion as cannot be expressed; part of which Artillery I
brought so far as the town of Dundee, where I was ordered to bring
the Train back again to Edinburgh by water.
1716. "In the month of March I was ordered by General Cadogan, in
His Grace the Duke of Argyle's absence, to send the vessells with
the Artillery back again to London, and the Train people to march
from thence. On our arrivall at London, I was ordered by the Board
of Ordnance to lay before them tables and draughts of all natures of
brass and iron cannon, mortars, &c., which was done accordingly and
approved of. After the said draughts, two 24-pounder brass cannon
were ordered to be cast by Mr. Bagley in his Foundry at Windmill
Hill, at the casting of which I was ordered to be present. In the
founding, the metal of one of the gunns blow'd into the air, burnt
many of the spectators, of which seventeen dy'd out of twenty-five
persons, and myself received four wounds.
1717, 1718. "The Board came to a resolution to regulate what was
wanting to compleat a compleat Artillery for sea and land service. I
had an order to lay before them draughts of all natures of
carriages, wheels, trucks, grapes, and matted shot, and all sorts of
bombs both great and small for land and sea service, with a great
many other things relating to an Artillery too tedious to mention,
which they approved of. I likewise laid before the Board the ill-
state of the Laboratory, which the Board order'd me to put in some
better order, and to be at as little expence as possible, which I
did accordingly.
1719. "I was ordered on the expedition to Vigo, which place I
bombarded with forty-six great and small mortars of my own
projection, which answered their intended end, of which my Lord
Cobham, and the rest of the generall officers can give a better
account than myself, by which bombardment the Castle of Vigo was
obliged in the month of October to surrender.
1720 to 1722. "I attended the Service, as formerly, at all surveys,
&c., relating to the Artillery till such time Colonel Armstrong was
made Surveyor, after which time, notwithstanding His Majesty's
signification to me for regulating the Artillery for sea and land
service, I was never consulted in anything relating to the said
service.
"His late Majesty was graciously pleased to renew my old commission
as Colonel, and to give me the command of the Regiment of Artillery
established for His service, consisting of four companys."[9]
DATE OF LIEUT.-GENERAL BORGARD'S COMMISSIONS, AND BY WHOM SIGNED.
────────┬─────────────────────────────────┬──────────────┬─────────────
Order of│ IN WHAT STATION. │ Date of │ By whom
Commis- │ │ Commission. │ Signed.
sions. │ │ │
────────┼─────────────────────────────────┼──────────────┼─────────────
1│Served one campaign in the │ │
│ Artillery in Flanders as │ │
│ Firemaster, having no │ │
│ Commission │ │
1│Firemaster │ March, 1693│Lord Sidney.
2│Captain and Adjutant │ 1 Jan., 1695│Lord Romney.
3│Engineer │27 March, 1698│
4│Major of the Artillery │ 4 April, 1702│Duke of
│ │ │ Marlboro'.
5│Major and Commander-in-Chief to │ 1703│
│ Portugal │ │
│ Both of these Commissions lost │ │
│ at the Battle of Almanza. │ │
6│Lieut.-Colonel of Artillery │ 1704│
│ Both of these Commissions lost │ │
│ at the Battle of Almanza. │ │
7│Colonel of Foot │14 April, 1705│Lord
│ Both of these Commissions lost │ │ Galloway.
│ at the Battle of Villa Viciosa.│ │
8│Colonel of Artillery │27 Nov., 1706│
│ Both of these Commissions lost │ │
│ at the Battle of Villa Viciosa.│ │
9│Chief Firemaster of England │ 9 Aug., 1712│Lord Rivers.
Signifi-│Assistant to the Surveyor of the │25 April, 1718│H.M. King
cation │ Ordnance │ │ George I.
10│Colonel of Artillery renewed │ 1 April, 1722│Duke of
│ │ │ Marlboro'.
11│ Ditto │ 1 Oct., 1722│Lord Cadogan.
12│Brigadier-General │ 1 March, 1727│H.M. King
│ │ │ George I.
13│ Ditto │16 June, 1727│H.M. King
│ │ │ George II.
14│Colonel of the Royal Regiment of │ 1 Nov., 1727│ Ditto.
│ Artillery │ │
15│Major-General │28 Oct., 1735│ Ditto.
16│Lieut.-General │ 2 July, 1739│ Ditto.
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ABSTRACT OF ALL THE SIEGES
LIEUT.-GENERAL BORGARD _has been present at from the year 1675_.
─────┬───┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Year.│No.│
─────┼───┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1675│ 1│The Town of Wismar, in Mecklenburg.
1676│ 2│The Castle of Helsinburg, in Schonen.
1676│ 3│The Town and Castle of Landskroon, in Schonen.
1676│ 4│The Town of Christianstadt, in Schonen.
1677│ 5│The Town of Mastraud and Castles, in Norway.
1685│ 6│The Town of Niewhensell, in Hungary.
1686│ 7│The Town and Castle of Buda, in Hungary.
1688│ 8│The Town of Haminie Podolski, in Poland.
1689│ 9│The Town of Keyserwart, on the Rhine.
1689│ 10│The Town of Bonn, on the Rhine: two slight Wounds.
1689│ 11│The Town of Mentz, on the Rhine.
1692│ 12│The Town and Castle of Namur, taken by the French.
1694│ 13│The Town and Castle of Huy.
1695│ 14│The Town and Castle of Namur, retaken by King William.
1702│ 15│Fort St. Catherine, near Cadiz. Bombarded and took.
1702│ 16│Fort Malagar, near Cadiz. Bombarded.
1702│ 17│Fort Duran, near Vigo. Bombarded.
1705│ 18│The Town and Castle of Valencia d'Alcantra. Wounded.
1706│ 19│The Town of Ciudad Rodrigo.
1706│ 20│The Town of Alcantra. Slight Wound.
1708│ 21│Fort St. Philip's, in Minorca.
1709│ │Bombarded the enemy's camp at Villa Nova de la Barkea, in
│ │ Catalonia.
1709│ 22│The Town of Balaguer, in Catalonia.
1719│ 23│Bombarded the Castle at Vigo, which surrendered after some
│ │ days' bombardment.
─────┴───┴─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ABSTRACT OF THE BATTLES
LIEUT.-GENERAL BORGARD _has been present at from the year 1675_.
─────┬───┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Year.│No.│
─────┼───┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1676│ 1│Oeland, in the Baltic.
1676│ 2│Halmstadt, in Holland.
1676│ 3│Lund, in Schonen.
1677│ 4│Ronneberg, near Landskroon.
1677│ 5│Oddewall, in Norway.
1678│ 6│Whitlow, in the Isle of Ruggen, on the Baltic.
1683│ 7│Vienna.
1685│ 8│Graun, in Hungary.
1688│ 9│Budjack, in Tartary.
1689│ 10│Neys, near Dusseldorp.
1691│ 11│Salankeman, in Sclavonia. Wounded.
1692│ 12│Stemkirk, in Brabant.
1693│ 13│Neerhespe, or Landen, in Brabant.
1705│ 14│Brozus, in Spain.
1706│ 14│Cannonaded the enemy at Guadraca, in Spain.
1707│ 15│Almanza, in Spain. Here I lost my baggage.
1710│ 16│Almenar, in Spain.
1710│ 17│Saragosa, in Spain. Three wounds.
1710│ 18│Villa Viciosa, in Spain. Here I was wounded, lost my baggage,
│ │ and was taken prisoner.
1715│ 18│Went on the Expedition to North Britain.
─────┴───┴─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-----
Footnote 8:
Browne's 'England's Artillerymen.'
Footnote 9:
_N.B._—It was not until November, 1727, that these four companies were
fully completed. They were, however, decided upon at the date referred
to in Colonel Borgard's diary.