MINDEN,—AND AFTER MINDEN.
CERTAIN Goths and Vandals, connected with the Board of Ordnance in 1799,
issued an order granting permission for the destruction of many old
documents which had accumulated in the Battalion offices at Woolwich
since the year 1758. Had these been vouchers for pecuniary outlay, it is
but just to the Honourable Board to say that this permission would never
have been granted. But as they referred merely to such trumpery matters
as expenditure of life, and the stories of England's military
operations, no reluctance was displayed, nor any trouble taken to
distinguish between what might have proved useful, and useless to
posterity. A gap consequently occurs in the official records of the 1st
and 2nd Battalions, which increases twentyfold the labours of the
student.
The Battle of Minden was fought during the years represented by that
gap, and the difficulties to be overcome in tracing the identical
companies of the Royal Artillery which were engaged can only be realised
by the reader, who has himself had to burrow among old records and
mutilated volumes. The main purpose in this history being to strengthen
the _Battery_ as well as the _Regimental esprit_, it was of the utmost
importance that the Companies, which did so much to decide the contest
on that eventful day, should be discovered with certainty, for the sake
of the existing Batteries who are entitled to their glory, by virtue of
succession; and—to make certain that no hasty conclusions have been
arrived at—it has been thought desirable to give the data on which they
have been based.
Minden was fought in 1759. Fortunately, a fresh distribution of the
companies in the two existing Battalions took place in the preceding
year; and the names of the officers in each company are given at length
in Cleaveland's MS. notes.
Now three companies are known to have been present at Minden. Of one,
Captain Phillips', there is fortunately no doubt. It was then No. 5
Company of the 1st Battalion; and after long and glorious service became
on the 1st July, 1859, No. 7 Battery, 14th Brigade, when that change in
the nomenclature of the companies took place, which is always baffling
the student. On the 1st January, 1860, the exigencies of the service
required yet another christening, and it became, on transfer, No. 4
Battery of the 13th Brigade, which it now is. This Battery was
undoubtedly present at Minden.
The tracing of the other two companies is not so easy. It is on record
that one was commanded by Captain Cleaveland. In 1758, this officer was
in command of No. 2 Company of the 2nd Battalion, but in the winter of
that year he exchanged with Captain Tovey, of the 1st Battalion, and
almost immediately marched with his new company to join the Allied
Armies on the Continent. This was then No. 4 Company of the 1st
Battalion; and as Captain Cleaveland exchanged into it on the 30th
October, 1758, and was in Germany with his Company in the beginning of
December, (no second exchange having taken place,) there can be little
doubt that another of the Companies at Minden was No. 4 Company of the
1st Battalion, now designated No. 3 Battery of the 5th Brigade.
Judging from a mention of Captain Drummond in one of Prince Ferdinand's
despatches, the third company present at the battle would at first sight
appear to have been No. 6 of the 2nd Battalion, commanded by Captain
Thomas Smith,—Captain Drummond being at that date his Captain-
Lieutenant. But there is no mention of Captain Smith in any of the
despatches; and as there is a very frequent and most honourable mention
of Captain Forbes Macbean, who was undoubtedly present in command of one
of the companies, it would appear that Captain-Lieutenant Drummond must
have been transferred to some other company for this service.
Fortunately the Records of the 1st Battalion—generally a wilderness at
this time—contain a key to the solution of the difficulty, for they show
that Captain Forbes Macbean (on his promotion on 1st January, 1759, the
very year that Minden was fought) took command of No. 8 Company of the
1st Battalion, now A Battery, 11th Brigade. As he never exchanged, and
is specially mentioned as having _taken his company_ to Germany, this
may be assumed with certainty to have been the third of the companies
present at Minden.
A little confusion has been caused by the mention of Captain Foy in
Prince Ferdinand's General Order after the battle; and one writer,
generally marvellously accurate, assumes that he commanded one of the
companies engaged. But, in the first place, he was then merely a
Captain-Lieutenant, and much junior even to Captain Drummond, and, in
the second, he was then holding a special appointment, namely, that of
Bridge-master to the Artillery. Although he and Captain Drummond had
undoubtedly each charge of some guns during the battle, he was certainly
not there with his Company. Indeed, in a contemporary notice, we find
that this officer proceeded _alone_ to join the Allied Army in the
capacity named above. He held a similar appointment in America
afterwards for nine years, and died in that country in 1779.
The two most prominent of the Artillery officers present at Minden were
Captain Phillips, who commanded, and Captain Macbean; and both deserve
more than passing notice. The former joined the Regiment as a cadet
gunner in 1746, became Lieutenant-Fireworker in the following year,
Second Lieutenant in 1755, and First Lieutenant in 1756. When holding
this rank, he was appointed to the command of a company of miners raised
in 1756 for duty in Minorca, but no longer required after the
capitulation of Port Mahon. Instead of disbanding them, however, the
Board of Ordnance converted them into a company of Artillery, and added
them to the Regiment. Greatly to the indignation of the officers of a
corps, whose promotion then, as now, was by seniority, Lieutenant
Phillips was transferred with the company, as a Captain, without having
passed through the intermediate grade of Captain-Lieutenant. If the end
ever justifies the means, this job on the part of Sir John Ligonier,
then Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance, was justified by Captain
Phillips' subsequent career both in Germany and in America. A minor
point in connection with this officer is worthy of mention. He was the
first to originate a band in the Royal Artillery—not a permanent one,
however—the present Band only dating as far back as 1771, when the 4th
Battalion was formed, and with it the nucleus of what has developed into
probably the best military band in the world. Captain Phillips died—a
general officer—in Virginia, in the year 1781, from illness contracted
on active service.
Forbes Macbean, the next most worthy of mention, began his career in the
Regiment, as a Cadet Matross, and died in 1800 as Colonel-Commandant of
the Invalid Battalion. He was present at Fontenoy, as has already been
mentioned; in Germany during the campaign of which Minden was part; in
Portugal, where he reached the rank of Inspector-General of the
Portuguese Artillery; and in Canada, in the years 1778-9, as commanding
the Royal Artillery. He is mentioned in Kane's List, as having been the
second officer in the Regiment who obtained the blue ribbon of Science,
the Fellowship of the Royal Society—an honour borne by a good many in
the Regiment now, and valued by every one who appreciates its position
as a scientific corps.
The battle of Minden was the first during the operations in Germany of
the Allied Army under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, at which special
notice was made of the English troops.
These operations commenced in 1757, the year in which Prince Ferdinand
assumed the command of the Allied Army, and terminated in 1762. On the
8th March, 1758, Prince Ferdinand captured Minden from the French—a town
situated on the river Weser, about 45 miles W.S.W. from Hanover; and
retained possession of it until July, 1759, when it was retaken from
General Zastrow and his Hessian troops by the French under M. de
Broglio.
During this interval, however, the Allied Army had been strengthened by
the arrival of the following Regiments from England, sent by King
George, as Elector of Brunswick-Luneberg, viz., _Cavalry_: Horse Guards
Blue, Bland's, Howard's, Inniskillen, and Mordaunt's. _Infantry_:
Napier's, Kingsley's, Welsh Fusiliers, Home's, and Stuart's.
These were afterwards joined by the North British Dragoons, and
Brudenel's Regiment of Foot. The Artillery which first accompanied this
force consisted of a Captain, six subalterns, and 120 non-commissioned
officers and men, but in 1759 it was reinforced to a total strength of
three companies. At first nothing but light 6-pounders had come, for use
as battalion guns, and had this state of matters remained unaltered,
this chapter need never have been written. But with the reinforcements
of 1759 came also twenty-eight guns of heavier calibre, and the
Artillery was now divided into independent Brigades or Batteries, with a
proportion merely of battalion guns; and as it now ceased to march in
one column, as had formerly been the case, the great kettledrums were no
longer carried with the companies.
In July, 1759, the French re-occupied Minden; and, outside the town,
Prince Ferdinand was encamped with his Army, the right resting on Minden
Marsh, the left on the Weser, but on a somewhat extended arc, and with
intervals so great as to appear dangerous. He resolved to make a stand
against the French, who had been considerably strengthened and were now
under the command of M. de Contades. The French Commander had obtained
permission from Paris to attack the Allies, and on the evening of the
31st July he issued the most detailed orders to his army as to the hours
of movement, disposition of the troops, and order of battle. Prince
Ferdinand anticipating the movements of the French, had issued orders
for his army to march at 5 A.M. on the morning of the 1st August, moving
in eight columns towards Minden, thus narrowing the arc on which they
would deploy, and proportionately diminishing the intervals. By the hour
the Allies marched, the French, who had moved two hours before, were
drawn up in order of battle, and at 6.30 A.M. the Allied Army was
similarly formed. The appearance of the armies now was that of the arcs
of two concentric circles, Minden being the centre, and the French Army
being on the inner and smaller arc. The French had confidence in
superior numbers—in the protection of the guns of the fortress in case
of retreat—and in the prestige of recent successes. Their commander had
boasted of his intention of surrounding Prince Ferdinand's army, and
sending their capitulation to Paris. His plan was to make a powerful
attack on General Wangenheim's corps, the left of the Allied Army, and
somewhat detached from the main body; which he hoped to turn. But, as
the event turned out, Wangenheim's division did not change its position
during the whole engagement. About 7 A.M. a French battery commenced
harassing the English Artillery, as it advanced in column of route on
right of the Allied infantry; but as soon as possible Captain Macbean
brought his battery—known as the heavy brigade—into action, and soon
silenced the enemy's fire. Although he had only ten medium 12-pounders,
manned by his own and Captain Phillips's companies—and two of these were
disabled during this Artillery duel—he succeeded in overcoming a battery
of thirty guns. While he was thus engaged, the celebrated attack of the
British infantry on the French cavalry was taking place. The British,
accompanied by the Hanoverian Guards, and Hardenberg's Regiment, marched
for some 150 paces, exposed both to a cross fire from the enemy's
batteries, and a musketry fire from the infantry; but, notwithstanding
their consequent losses, and their continued exposure on both flanks, so
unshaken were they, and so courageously did they fight, that in a very
short time the French cavalry was routed. It is doubtful if their
gallantry has ever been exceeded. Captain Macbean, being now at leisure,
advanced his battery, came into action to the left, and—first preventing
the French cavalry from reforming—followed by opening fire upon the
Saxon troops who were now attacking the British infantry. The value of
this assistance was very great.
On the left of the Allies, the Artillery fire was equally successful,
and the Hanoverians and Hessians greatly distinguished themselves.
Notwithstanding the unhappy and severely expiated blunder of Lord George
Sackville, in failing to obey the orders for advancing his cavalry,
before 10 A.M. the French army fled in confusion. At this time, Prince
Ferdinand advanced the English guns on the right, as close to the morass
as they could be taken, to prevent the French from returning to their
old camp on the Minden side of Dutzen; and in this he completely
succeeded,—the enemy being compelled to retire behind the high ground,
with their right on the Weser. The victorious army encamped on the field
of battle, and on totalling their losses, they were found to amount to
2800 killed and wounded, 1394 of that number being British. The French
lost in killed, wounded, and prisoners, between 7000 and 8000; besides
43 cannon, 10 pairs of colours, and 7 standards.
The Royal Artillery had present on this memorable day in addition to
Captain Macbean's heavy brigade, two light 12-pounders, three light 6-
pounders, and four howitzers, under Captain-Lieutenant Drummond; and
four light 12-pounders, three light 6-pounders, and two howitzers, under
Captain-Lieutenant Foy. There were also twelve light 6-pounders with six
British battalions. Captain Phillips commanded the whole three companies
at the battle.
The two points which strike one most after the perusal of the accounts
of this engagement are the stolidity and nerve of English infantry under
fire, and the advantage of independent action on the part of Field
Artillery.
Minden was a cruel blow at the system of battalion guns. And although
battalion guns have long disappeared, the mere concentration of them
into batteries was not enough, while those batteries had to accommodate
their movements to those of the battalions to which they were attached.
Billed ordnance—with a range double that of the infantry weapon—had been
in existence for years; and yet general officers at reviews and field-
days made the batteries keep with the battalions;—advancing, retiring,
dressing together, as if the only advantage of a gun over a rifle was
the size of the projectile, and not also increased range. It seemed
never to dawn upon their understanding that by bringing their Artillery
within range of the enemy's infantry fire, as by their system they
certainly did, they would ensure for their batteries, after half an
hour's engagement, a ghastly paraphernalia of dead horses and empty
saddles. It was not until the year 1871, that an order was issued by one
who is at once Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and Colonel of the Royal
Artillery, giving to field batteries in the field that inestimable boon,
comparative freedom of action. The lesson was a long time in learning;
and one of the best teachers was one of the oldest—this very Battle of
Minden—which, in the words of one who took part in it, was of such
importance in its results, that it "entirely defeated the French views,
disconcerted all their schemes, and rescued Hanover, Brunswick, and
Hesse from the rapacious hands of a cruel ambitious, and elated enemy."
On the day after the battle, Prince Ferdinand issued a General Order,
thanking the army for their gallantry, and particularizing, among
others, "the three English Captains, Phillips, Drummond, and Foy;" and
on discovering that he had omitted mention of Captain Macbean, he wrote
the following letter to him in his own hand.
"_To_ Captain MACBEAN, _of the British Artillery._
"SIR,—It is from a sense of your merit, and a regard to justice,
that I do in this manner declare I have reason to be infinitely
satisfied with your behaviour, activity, and zeal, which in so
conspicuous a manner you made appear at the battle of Thonhausen, on
the 1st of August. The talents you possess in your profession did
not a little contribute to render our fire superior to that of the
enemy, and it is to you and your Brigade that I am indebted for
having silenced the fire of a battery of the enemy, which extremely
galled the troops, and particularly the British infantry.
"Accept then, sir, from me the just tribute of my most perfect
acknowledgment, accompanied by my most sincere thanks. I shall be
happy in every opportunity of obliging you, desiring only occasions
of proving it; being with the most distinguished esteem,
"Your devoted and entirely affectionate servant,
(Signed) "FERDINAND,
"Duke of Brunswic and Luneberg."
Subsequently, as a further proof of his appreciation of the services of
the Royal Artillery at Minden or Thonhausen, as the battle was also
named, the Prince directed the following gratuities to be presented to
the senior officers:—
To Captain William Phillips 1000 crowns.
Captain Forbes Macbean 500 crowns.
Captain Duncan Drummond 500 crowns.
Captain Edward Foy 500 crowns.
The story of the remaining operations of the Allied Army, in so far as
they bear upon the services of the Royal Artillery, may be briefly
stated. In 1760, two additional companies were sent to Germany, the
Regiment having in the interim been augmented by a third battalion. The
British guns now with the army were as follows:—eight heavy, twelve
medium, and six light 12-pounders; thirty light 6-pounders; three 8-
inch, and six Royal mortars. Before the end of the war the armament was
changed to eight heavy, six medium, and four light 12-pounders; twenty-
four heavy, and thirty-four light 6-pounders; eight 8-inch, and four
Royal howitzers. Captain Macbean is the prominent Artillery officer
during the rest of the campaign: except, perhaps, at Warberg, where, on
the 30th July, 1760, Captain Phillips astounded every one by bringing up
the Artillery at a gallop, and so seconding the attack as utterly to
prevent the enemy, who had passed the Dymel, from forming on the other
side; and by the accuracy and rapidity of his fire, converting their
retreat into a precipitate rout. Perhaps it was young blood that
prompted this unexpected action; for, as has already been stated, he was
but a boy compared with most captains; if so, it contributes somewhat to
atone for Sir John Ligonier's favouritism. More than thirty years were
to pass before Horse Artillery should form part of the British army, and
show what mobility it was possible to attain; and more than a century
ere Field Artillery should reach the perfection it now possesses, a
perfection which treads closely on the heels of the more brilliant
branch. During the Seven Years' War, so unwieldy was the movement of
Artillery in the field, that this little episode, which makes modern
lips smile, was thought worthy of a record denied to events which would
now be considered far more important.
Although more than two years passed between the Battle of Minden and the
conclusion of peace, the custom which then prevailed of armies going
into winter-quarters curtailed the time for active operations; and even
when the forces were manœuvring, much of the time was spent in empty
marching and counter-marching. At Warberg, as at Minden, the heaviest
loss fell upon the English troops, of whom 590 were killed or wounded;
their gallantry—more especially in the case of the Highlanders and
grenadiers—being again conspicuous. Among the trophies taken on this
occasion from the enemy were ten guns.
The fortune of war changed repeatedly; and the British troops received
further reinforcements, including three battalions of the Guards. Lord
George Sackville having been cashiered was succeeded in the command of
the English contingent by the Marquis of Granby; and a cheerful feeling
prevailed among the troops, since the news had arrived of the conquest
of Canada.
On the 12th February, 1761, Captain Macbean received the brevet rank of
Major, and was ordered to proceed with a brigade of eight heavy 12-
pounders, to join the Hereditary Prince near Fritzlar, on the following
day. This town was garrisoned by 1200 French troops under M. de
Narbonne; and Major Macbean—having been entrusted with the command of
the whole Artillery of the Prince's army—commenced the bombardment on
the 14th, placing his batteries within 300 yards of the wall, and
advancing some light pieces even nearer, to scour the parapet with
grape. As, however, he had no guns heavier than 12-pounders, and the
walls were made of flint, his fire, although hot and steady, made little
or no impression; nor could he do much damage to the gates, which were
barricaded with felled trees, and immense heaps of earth and stones.
The Hereditary Prince, although expressing himself pleased with Major
Macbean's dispositions, was evidently impatient to take the city; so
Major Macbean suggested shelling it with howitzers, a suggestion which
was approved of. So successful was the fire, that in about an hour's
time the enemy capitulated, being allowed to march out with the honours
of war.
Major Macbean received the Prince's special thanks; and the town was
ordered to pay him 4000 crowns in lieu of their bells, a perquisite in
those days of the commanding officer of Artillery, when a siege was
crowned with success.
From this time, matters looked well for the Allies. On the 25th June,
1761, news reached the army of the reduction of Belleisle; and in
October, 1762, tidings of the British successes at the Havannah arrived.
On both occasions, a _feu de joie_ was fired. On the 1st November, 1762,
Cassel capitulated; a signal victory was gained over the combined
Austrians and Imperialists, near Freytag, by Prince Henry of Prussia,
which filled the Allied camp with joy; and on the 14th November, word
reached the army that the preliminaries of peace had been signed at
Fontainebleau. On the 24th December, Prince Ferdinand wrote to King
George, congratulating him on the peace, and asking permission to quit
the army, where his presence was no longer necessary; and at the same
time he announced to the British troops, that the remembrance of their
gallantry would not cease but with his life; and that "by the skill of
their officers he had been enabled at the same time to serve his
country, and to make a suitable return for the confidence which His
Britannic Majesty had been pleased to honour him with."
On the 13th January, 1763, the thanks of the House of Commons was
conveyed to the British troops for "their meritorious and eminent
services;" and on the 25th January, their homeward march through Holland
commenced; through the provinces of Guelderland, Nimeguen, and Breda, to
Williamstadt, where they took ship for England.
And, as sleep on the eyes of the weary, so peace descended for a time on
those towns and hamlets by the Weser and the Rhine, which had been for
so many years unwilling pawns on the great chess-board of war.