WOOLWICH IN THE OLDEN TIME.
LIFE in the Barracks in the Warren, where the Artillery at Woolwich were
stationed, with the exception of one company, which was detached at
Greenwich whenever the Warren was overcrowded, can be gathered from the
Standing Orders which survive in the old MS. order-books in the Royal
Artillery Regimental Library and Royal Artillery Record Office. A few of
these orders, extracted from the books whose contents extend over the
period between 1741 and 1757, cannot fail to be interesting.
The establishment of each company at the commencement of that period was
as follows:—One Captain, one Captain-Lieutenant, one First Lieutenant,
one Second Lieutenant, three Lieutenant Fireworkers, three Sergeants,
three Corporals, eight Bombardiers, twenty Gunners, sixty-four
Matrosses, and two Drummers—in all, one hundred and seven.
The uniform dress of the officers was a plain blue coat, lined with
scarlet, a large scarlet Argyle cuff, double-breasted, and with yellow
buttons to the bottom of the skirts; scarlet waistcoat and breeches—the
waistcoat trimmed with broad gold lace,—and a gold-laced hat. The
Sergeants' coats were trimmed, the lappels, cuffs, and pockets with a
broad single gold lace; the Corporals' and Bombardiers' with a narrow
single gold lace; the Gunners' and Matrosses', plain-blue coats; all the
non-commissioned officers and men having scarlet half-lappels, scarlet
cuffs, and slashed sleeves with five buttons, and blue waistcoats and
breeches; the Sergeants' hats trimmed with a broad and the other non-
commissioned officers' and men's with a narrow gold lace. White
spatterdashes were then worn. The Regimental clothing was delivered to
the non-commissioned officers and men once a year, with the exception of
the Regimental coats, which they only received every second year;
receiving in the intermediate year a coarse blue loose surtout, which
served for laboratory work, cooking, fatigue duties, &c. The arms of the
officers were fusees without bayonets, and not uniform. The sergeants,
corporals, and bombardiers were armed with halberds and long brass-
hilted swords; "the gunners carried field-staffs about two feet longer
than a halberd, with two lintstock cocks branching out at the head, and
a spear projecting between and beyond them (great care was paid to
keeping these very bright); a buff belt over the left shoulder, slinging
a large powder-horn, mounted with brass over the right pocket; and the
same long brass-hilted swords as worn by the non-commissioned officers.
The matrosses had only common muskets and bayonets, with cartouche-
boxes."[13]
The variations in the dress of the Regiment which subsequently were made
will be noted in their proper places.
A few of the orders issued by General Borgard are given to show the
interior economy of the Regiment in 1743 and subsequent years:
March 13, 1743. "That the corporals and bombardiers do not drink with
any of the private men."
March 29, 1743. "That if any non-commissioned officer or gunner make
himself unfit for the King's duty, either by drinking, whoring, or any
other bad practice, he will send them to the Hospital at London for
cure, and discharge them out of the Regiment."
January 30, 1744. "That no man go out a-shooting, on any account
whatever."
August 15, 1744. "The Captains to advertise all their deserters in the
newspapers."
October 29, 1744. "That none of the people go three miles out of
quarters without a passport, in writing, from the Captain or officer
commanding the Company to which they belong."
February 15, 1745. "That neither non-commissioned officers, cadets, nor
private men go a-shooting, either in the Warren or Country, without
leave of their officer who commands the company to which they belong."
April 18, 1746. "That none of the non-commissioned officers strike any
of the men, on any pretence whatsoever; but in case they are guilty of
any misbehaviour, confine them prisoners and report them to the
commanding officer. That the Sergeants, Corporals, and Bombardiers enrol
in duty all alike."
July 22, 1746. "That the Sergeants and Corporals go round all the
Public-houses in Town, and acquaint them that it is the General's orders
that they trust none of the Train people on any account whatever."
October 20, 1746. "That none of the men carry their victuals from the
Baker's or any other weight on their Regimental Hats. That the Orderly
Sergeants and Corporals make these orders known to the same."
November 21, 1746. "That the Captains have all their men provided with a
knapsack, two pair of shoes, three pair of stockings, and three shirts
and stocks each."
March 2, 1747. "That none of the men be suffered to go to work in their
Regimental coats, but either in frocks or surtouts."
March 16, 1747. "The men who are taken sick and sent to the Infirmary
are to be paid only 3_s._ 6_d._ per week, which money is to be paid the
nurse for subsistence; The remainder of their pay to be kept until they
are recovered."
June 16, 1747. "That none of the officers turn any of their horses to
graze in the Warren."
January 8, 1749. "That none of the Lieutenants go to London, stay all
night out of quarters, change his guard, or any other duty without the
General's or Commanding Officer's leave; that they first apply to their
Captain or Commanding Officer of the Company to which they belong for
his consent to be absent, which if obtained, they may then apply to the
commanding officer, and not before; that if any officer change his guard
or other duty without leave, or does not attend the Parade exactly at
the Hour of Mounting, or the proper time when visiting the Barracks, or
any other duty is to be done, that the Adjutant report the same directly
to the Commanding Officer in quarters."
February 27, 1749. "The Roll to be called in the Barracks at nine
o'clock at night, in presence of the Officer on Guard, who is to have a
Report made to him in writing of those absent. Immediately after the
Roll is called the Orderly Corporals are to go into Town, and each go
round their men's quarters (those in private lodgings as well as those
billeted in Public-houses), and make a report to the Officer of the
Guard of those who are absent. The Orderly men are then to go to their
Rooms, and the Sergeant of the Guard to lock both Barrack doors, and
bring the keys to his officer, who is to send the Sergeant to open the
doors at _Reveillé_ beating in the morning. The officer shall confine
any of those men who are found absent if they come in during his Guard,
and report them to the Commanding Officer at his being relieved. But, in
case they do not come in during his Guard, he is to leave their names
with the relieving officer. If the orderly men find any men absent from
quarters over night, they are to go early next morning to see if they
are come home, and, if they find they are, to bring them to the Guard in
order to be examined by the officer and give reasons for being absent
the night before. If the orderly men, in going round, find any man
drinking in Public-houses where they are not quartered, they are to
order them home, which if they refuse to comply with, are to bring them
directly to the Guard, and confine them for disobeying orders."
April 1, 1749. "The Orderly Corporals are to report to their respective
Captains all non-commissioned officers and private men who do not parade
for church, in order to their being stopped a day's pay, according to
the Articles of War; and if any man is seen to quit his rank after
marching from the parade, and does not go to Church, he shall be
punished the same as if he had not paraded, of which the non-
commissioned officers who go to Church are to report at their return to
the Orderly Corporals, and they to the Captains."
* * * * *
There was immense excitement in Woolwich in the spring of 1749. A great
firework, made at Woolwich, was to be exhibited in the Green Park, and
the Regiment, for the first time, was to be reviewed by the King. The
Order-books bristle with threats and admonitions, and some of them
reveal a power in the Commanding Officer of which he has long been
deprived.
April 16th, 1749. "The officers and men to be under arms to-morrow both
morning and afternoon. The officers to endeavour as much as possible to
perfect themselves, both in taking posts and saluting. The captains to
see that their companies march strong, and in as good order as possible,
on Tuesday morning at seven o'clock, in order to their being reviewed on
Wednesday by the King. Every man to parade with his arms and
accoutrements as clean as hands can make them; and in case any of their
clothes want mending or buttons, the person so offending shall be
severely punished. And the first man that is seen drunk, or the least in
liquor, he shall be immediately brought to y^e halberts, and there
receive 300 lashes, and afterwards be drummed out of the Regiment with a
rope about his neck. The guard to mount to-morrow in black
spatterdashes, and the officers in boots."
After order. "That all the cadets who desire to see the fireworks be
under arms at five o'clock in black spatterdashes, and their officers in
boots, in order to march by Lambeth to the Green Park. They are to take
white spatterdashes in their pockets to appear in."
The discipline among the cadets may be comprehended from the following
order:—
October 10, 1840. "Complaints having been made to the Board that the
following persons belonging to the Company of Gentlemen Cadets in the
Royal Regiment of Artillery have been very negligent of their duty,
viz., Francis Volloton, Archibald Douglas, &c. &c. And that Francis
Volloton has been absent above twelve months, and not so much as
attended the muster, and has otherwise misbehaved himself. It is the
Board's orders that the said Francis Volloton be broke, and the rest
suspended from their pay till they show cause to the contrary."
A previous order to that just quoted shows that boyishness was not
confined to the Cadets. An order, twice issued, appeared on
July 23, 1749. "That none of the men play at long bullet on Plumstead
Road, of which they are all to be acquainted."
August 26, 1749. "When any of the men die or desert, the Captain of the
company is to put down the day in the muster-roll against his name, and
the money to be left in the agent's hands from the day such men died or
deserted for recruiting others in their room."
March 14, 1750. "The Captains or commanding officers of companies are to
observe that henceforward no man is to be enlisted under five feet nine
inches without shoes."
March 30, 1750. "The Sergeant of the Guard is not to suffer any non-
commissioned officer or private man to go out of the Warren gate unless
they are dressed clean, their hair combed and tied up, with clean
stockings, and shoes well blacked, and in every other respect like
soldiers. The cooks are excepted during their cooking hours, but not
otherwise."
May 9, 1750. "No subaltern officer is for the future to have a servant
out of any of the companies."
July 17, 1750. "The commanding officers of companies are ordered by the
general to provide proper wigs for such of their respective men that do
not wear their hair, as soon as possible."
July 25, 1750. "Each company is to be divided into three squads. The
officers and non-commissioned officers to be appointed to them to be
answerable that the arms, accoutrements, &c., are kept in constant good
order, and that the men always appear clean."
July 25, 1750. "Joseph Spiers, gunner in Captain Desagulier's company,
is by sentence of a Court-martial broke to a matross, and to receive 100
lashes; but General Borgard has been pleased to forgive him the
punishment."
A General Court-martial was ordered to assemble _at the Academy_ to try
a matross for desertion. The Court, which assembled at 10 A.M. on the
20th October, 1750, was composed of Lieutenant-Colonel Belford as
President, with nine captains and three lieutenants as members.
November 3, 1750. "Sergeant Campbell, in Captain Pattison's company, is
by sentence of a Regimental Court-martial reduced to a Bombardier for
one month, from the date hereof, and the difference of his pay to be
stopped."
The death of General Borgard took place in 1751, and he was succeeded by
Colonel Belford. This officer was most energetic in drilling officers
and men, and in compelling them to attend Academy and all other
instructions. Even such an opportunity as the daily relief of the Warren
guard was turned to account by him; and the old and new guards were
formed into a company for an hour's drill, under the senior officer
present, at guard mounting. From one order issued by him, it would seem
as if the authority of the captains required support, being somewhat
weakened perhaps, as is often the case, by the oversight and
interference in small matters by the colonel; for we find it was
necessary on March 2, 1751, to order "That when any of the Captains
review their companies either with or without arms, all the officers
belonging to them were to be present."
Colonel Belford's weakness for the carbine is apparent in many of his
orders.
April 1, 1751. "All the officers' servants who are awkward at the
exercise of the small arms to be out every afternoon with the awkward
men, and the rest of them to attend the exercise of the gun."
A most important official must have been expected in the Warren on the
5th August, 1751, for we find orders issued on the previous evening, as
follows:
"The Regiment to be under arms to-morrow morning at nine o'clock. The
commanding officers are to see that their respective men are extremely
well-powdered, and as clean as possible in every respect. The guard to
consist to-morrow of one Captain, two Lieutenants, two Sergeants, four
Corporals, and forty men. The forty men are to consist of ten of the
handsomest fellows in each of the companies. The Sergeant of the Guard
to-morrow morning is not to suffer anybody into the Warren but such as
shall appear like gentlemen and ladies."
February 7, 1752. "For the future when any man is discharged he is not
to take his coat or hat with him, unless he has worn them a year."
April 6, 1752. "The officer of the Guard is for the future to send a
patrol through the town at any time he pleases between half an hour
after ten at night and one in the morning, with orders to the Corporal
to bring prisoners all the men of the Regiment he finds straggling in
the streets. The Corporal is likewise to inspect all the alehouses,
where there are lights, and if there are any of the men drinking in such
houses, they are also to be brought to the Guard; but the patrol is by
no means to interfere with riot or anything that may happen among the
town-people."
April 20, 1752. "When any man is to be whipped by sentence of a court-
martial, the Surgeon, or his Mate, is to attend the punishment."
February 6, 1753. "The officers are to appear in Regimental hats under
arms, and no others."
February 19, 1753. "The officers appointed to inspect the several squads
are to review them once every week for the future; to see that every man
has four good shirts, four stocks, four pair of stockings, two pair of
white, and one pair of black spatterdashes, two pair of shoes, &c.; and
that their arms, accoutrements, and clothes are in the best order. What
may be required to complete the above number is to be reported to the
commanding officer and the Captains. The officers are likewise to see
that the men of their squads always appear clean and well-dressed like
soldiers; and acquaint their Captains when they intend to review them."
February 20, 1753. "The Captains are to give directions to their
Paymasters to see that the initial letters of every man's name are
marked with ink in the collar of their shirts."
April 5, 1753. "The Captains or commanding officers of companies are not
to give leave of absence to any of their recruits or awkward men."
April 29, 1753. "It is Colonel Belford's positive orders that for the
future, either the Surgeon or his Mate always remain in quarters."
May 23, 1753. "No non-commissioned officer or private man to appear with
ruffles under arms."
June 15, 1753. "No man to be enlisted for the future who is not full
five feet nine inches without shoes, straight limbed, of a good
appearance, and not exceeding twenty-five years of age."
January 2, 1754. "No officer to appear under arms in a bob-wig for the
future."
October 19, 1754. "When any of the men are furnished with necessaries,
their Paymasters are immediately to give them account in writing of what
each article cost."
October 28, 1754. No Cadet is for the future to take any leave of
absence but by Sir John Ligonier, or the commanding officer in
quarters."
November 8, 1754. "In order that the sick may have proper airing, one of
the orderly Corporals is every day, at such an hour as the Surgeon shall
think proper, to collect all those in the Infirmary who may require
airing, and when he has sufficiently walked them about the Warren, he is
to see them safe into the Infirmary. If any sick man is seen out at any
other time, they will be punished for disobedience of orders."
March 17, 1755. "All officers promoted, and those who are newly
appointed, are to wait on Colonel Belford with their commissions as soon
as they receive them."
July 20, 1755. "If any orderly or other non-commissioned officer shall
excuse any man from duty or exercise without his officer's leave, he
will be immediately broke."
August 1, 1755. "As there are bomb and fire-ship stores preparing in the
Laboratory, the officers who are not acquainted with that service, and
not on any other duty, will please to attend, when convenient, for their
improvement."
August 8, 1755. "It is ordered that no non-commissioned officer or
soldier shall for the future go out of the Warren gate without their
hats being well cocked, their hair well-combed, tied, and dressed in a
regimental manner, their shoes well blacked, and clean in every
respect.... And it is recommended to the officers and non-commissioned
officers, that if they at any time should meet any of the men drunk, or
not dressed as before mentioned, to send them to the Guard to be
punished."
February 13, 1756. "The Captains are forthwith to provide their
respective companies with a knapsack and haversack each man."
February 16, 1756. "For the future, when any Recruits are brought to the
Regiment, they are immediately to be taken to the Colonel or commanding
officer for his approbation; as soon as he has approved of them, they
are directly to be drawn for, and the officers to whose lot they may
fall are forthwith to provide them with good quarters, and they are next
day to be put to the exercise."
March 16, 1756. "The Captains are to attend parade morning and
afternoon, and to see that the men of their respective companies are
dressed like soldiers before they are detached to the guns."
March 30, 1756. "It is recommended to the officers to confine every man
they see dirty out of the Warren, or with a bad cocked hat."
March 31, 1756. "The officers are desired not to appear on the parade
for the future with hats otherwised cocked than in the Cumberland
manner."
April 2, 1756. "It is the Duke of Marlborough's orders that Colonel
Belford writes to Captain Pattison to acquaint General Bland that it is
His Royal Highness's commands that the Artillery take the right of all
Foot on all parades, and likewise of dragoons when dismounted."
May 1, 1756. "It is Colonel Belford's orders that no non-commissioned
officer, or private man, is to wear ruffles on their wrists when under
arms, or any duty whatsoever for the future."
About this time, a camp was ordered to be formed at Byfleet, where the
Master-General of the Ordnance was present, and as many of the Royal
Artillery as could be spared. Most of the Ordnance for the camp went
from the Tower, and the following disposition of the Artillery on the
march from London to Byfleet may be found interesting.
ADVANCED GUARD:—Consisting of 1 non-commissioned officer
and 12 matrosses.
───────────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬────────────
│ Captain. │Lieutenant. │ Non- │ Miners.
│ │ │commissioned│
│ │ │ Officers. │
───────────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼────────────
Miners' Front │ 1│ 3│ 5│ 40
Guard: consisting│ │ │ │
of │ │ │ │
Front Guard │ 1│ 2│ 5│ ..
Eleven 24-pounders │ 1│ 2│ 4│ ..
Fourteen 12- │ 1│ 2│ 4│ ..
pounders │ │ │ │
Twenty 6-pounders │ 1│ 3│ 8│ ..
Six 3-pounders │ 1│ 1│ 2│ ..
Six Royal Howitzers│ 1│ 1│ 8│ ..
Forty-three │ 1│ 2│ 6│ ..
Ammunition │ │ │ │
Waggons │ │ │ │
Twenty-two │ 1│ 2│ 4│ ..
Ammunition Carts │ │ │ │
Two spare │ ..│ ..│ 1│ ..
Carriages, and │ │ │ │
one Forge Cart │ │ │ │
Four Waggons, │ ..│ ..│ ..│ ..
Intrenching │ │ │ │
Tools, Triangle │ │ │ │
Gyn │ │ │ │
Twenty-seven │ ..│ 1│ 6│ ..
Baggage-Waggons │ │ │ │
Ten Pontoons, and │ ..│ ..│ 5│ 40
one spare │ │ │ │
Carriage │ │ │ │
Rear Guard │ ..│ 1│ 2│ ..
───────────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴────────────
───────────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬────────────
│ Gunners. │ Matrosses. │ Fifers. │ Drummers.
───────────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼────────────
Miners' Front │ ..│ ..│ 2│ 2
Guard: consisting│ │ │ │
of │ │ │ │
Front Guard │ ..│ 45│ 2│ 2
Eleven 24-pounders │ 11│ 11│ 1│ 1
Fourteen 12- │ 14│ 14│ ..│ 1
pounders │ │ │ │
Twenty 6-pounders │ 20│ 20│ ..│ 1
Six 3-pounders │ 6│ 6│ ..│ ..
Six Royal Howitzers│ 6│ ..│ ..│ ..
Forty-three │ ..│ 86│ ..│ 1
Ammunition │ │ │ │
Waggons │ │ │ │
Twenty-two │ ..│ 44│ ..│ 1
Ammunition Carts │ │ │ │
Two spare │ ..│ 6│ ..│ ..
Carriages, and │ │ │ │
one Forge Cart │ │ │ │
Four Waggons, │ ..│ 8│ ..│ ..
Intrenching │ │ │ │
Tools, Triangle │ │ │ │
Gyn │ │ │ │
Twenty-seven │ ..│ 54│ ..│ 1
Baggage-Waggons │ │ │ │
Ten Pontoons, and │ ..│ ..│ ..│ 1
one spare │ │ │ │
Carriage │ │ │ │
Rear Guard │ ..│ 24│ 2│ 1
───────────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴────────────
Giving a total of 29 officers, 61 non-commissioned officers, 57 gunners,
330 matrosses, 80 miners, 7 fifers, and 12 drummers.
This train of Artillery left the Tower in July, and remained in Byfleet
until October, practising experiments in mining, and the usual exercises
of Ordnance, under the immediate eye of the Master-General himself, the
Duke of Marlborough, who marched at the head of the train, and encamped
with it. An interesting allusion to a custom long extinct appears in the
orders relative to the camp. We find certain artificers detailed for the
flag-gun and the flag-waggon. The former was always one of the heaviest
in the field; and the custom is mentioned in 1722, 1747, and in India in
1750. Colonel Miller, in alluding to this custom in his valuable
pamphlet, expresses his opinion that the flag on the gun corresponded to
the Queen's colour, and that on the waggon to the Regimental colour, the
latter probably bearing the Ordnance Arms. The guns had been divided
into Brigades, corresponding to the modern Batteries. Four 24-pounders,
five 12-pounders, five 6-pounders, and six 3-pounders, respectively,
constituted a Brigade. The howitzers were in Brigades of three. The
discipline insisted upon was very strict. Lights were not allowed even
in the sutler's tents after ten o'clock; no man was allowed to go more
than a mile from camp without a pass; officers were not allowed to
appear in plain clothes upon any occasion; strong guards were mounted in
every direction, with most voluminous orders to obey,—orders which seem
occasionally unreasonable. The Captain of the Guard had to see the
evening gun fired, and was made "answerable for any accident that might
happen"—a somewhat heavy responsibility, as accidents are not always
within the sphere of control, where the executive officer's duties are
placed. Whenever the weather was fine, all the powder was carefully
aired, and all articles of equipment requiring repair were laid out for
inspection. The powers of the commanding officers of companies in
granting indulgences to their men were curtailed. No artificer was
allowed to be employed at any time on any service but His Majesty's,
without the leave of the Duke of Marlborough himself, or the commandant
in the camp; and should any officer excuse a man from parade he was to
be put in arrest for disobedience of orders.
Colonel Belford revelled in the discipline of the camp. It brought back
to his mind the old days in Flanders when he worked so hard to imbue his
men with a strict military spirit, and, with the Master-General by his
side, he felt renewed vigour and keenness. The Regiment was attracting
greater attention every year; augmentations were continuous. The year
before the Byfleet camp was formed, six companies had been added: this
year there were three more; and in 1757, four additional companies were
to be raised. The King had reviewed the Regiment, and the Duke of
Cumberland came to Woolwich every year to inspect and encourage. Who can
tell whether the new organization of 1757, which divided the Regiment
into Battalions and accelerated the stagnant promotion, did not come
from the long days of intercourse at Byfleet between Colonel Belford and
the Master-General? The opportunities offered by such a meeting must
have been priceless to a man who was so fond of his Regiment. Nothing is
so infectious as enthusiasm; and we learn from Colonel Belford's orders
and letters that he was an enthusiastic gunner. The early History of the
Regiment is marked by the presence in its ranks of men eminent in their
own way, and perfectly distinct in character, yet whose talents all
worked in the same direction, the welfare of their corps. Who could be
more unlike than Borgard and his successor, Colonel Belford? And yet a
greater difference is found between the scientific Desaguliers, and the
diplomatic and statesmanlike Pattison, the model of a liberal-minded,
high-spirited soldier. These four men are the milestones along the road
of the Regiment's story from 1716 to 1783. They mark the stages of
continuous progress; but there the parallel fails. For they were no
stationary emblems. Their whole life was engrossed in their Regiment. To
one, discipline was dear; to another, military science; to another,
gunnery, and the laboratory; and they drew along with them in the
pursuits they loved all those whose privilege it was to serve under
them. It was in a small and distinct way a representation of what the
Regiment in its present gigantic proportions would be, if the
suggestions quoted in the commencement of this volume were heartily
adopted by all who belong to it. Out of the faded pages and musty
volumes which line the walls of the Regimental Record Office, there
seems to come a voice from these grand old masters, "Be worthy of us!"
To them, their corps was everything; to its advancement every taste or
talent they possessed was devoted. With its increased proportions, there
has now come an increased variety of tastes, of learning, and of
accomplishments; and the lives of our great predecessors in the corps
read like a prayer over the intervening years, beseeching us all to work
together for the Regiment's good.
If variety of taste is to produce opposition in working, or dissipation
of strength and talent, what a cruel answer the Present gives to the
Past! But, if it is to raise the Regiment in the eyes, not merely of
military critics, but of that other world of science, across whose
threshold not a few Artillerymen have passed with honour, then the
variety of tastes working together, and yet independently—conducing to
the one great end—is the noblest response that can be made to those who
showed us in the Regiment's earliest days how to forget self in a noble
_esprit de corps_.
-----
Footnote 13:
Macbean's MSS.