Doctor Boyles Chaplain.
John Waller Adjutant.
Thomas Smith Quarter Master.
Charles Hill Surgeon.
James Silven Surgeon's Mate.
An order, upon the 29th of April, to the Marine Battalion, extended
the allowances of six contingent men to Captains of Companies,
until the pleasure of the Admiralty Board was known.
In consequence of a review of the Battalion by the Commander in
Chief at Halifax, the following after-orders were given out on the
9th of June:--
"Major General Massey approves so very highly of the steadiness
as well as the appearance of the Corps of Marines which he had
the honour to review this day, that he returns Major Souter,
the Officers, and Soldiers, his most grateful thanks for their
performance in the field."
Lieutenant Trollope, of Marines, was appointed to the duty of
attending the Commander in Chief; and Lieut. Waller as Brigade
Major to the Provincial forces, during 1777.
In December of that year, Lieutenant John Oldfield, who had lately
received a Marine commission, after having served with much credit
as a Volunteer, was directed by General Massey to accompany Colonel
Goreham to Fort Cumberland, in these handsome terms:--
"Lieutenant Oldfield, of the Battalion of Marines, is to return
with Lieut. Colonel Goreham to join the Light Infantry of that
Corps, Lieut. Oldfield having acquired so thorough a knowledge of
that country, which the General hopes will recommend him to farther
notice and future promotion."
His Majesty's ship Milford having run on shore, was nearly lost in
the beginning of December. Such were the exertions of the Marines
upon the occasion, that Sir William Burnaby, her Commander, felt it
his incumbent duty to tender them his thanks in these words--"Sir
William Burnaby desires his thanks may be given to the Officers and
men of the Battalion, who so actively assisted in getting off his
Majesty's ship Milford." This was read to the Companies at evening
roll-calling.
Lieutenant Trollope having been appointed Secretary to Major
General Massey, Lieut. Tantum, a respectable young Officer (who
was afterwards unfortunately drowned in the Ville de Paris), was
attached as an assistant Artillery Officer in his stead; a party
of Marines was trained to the great guns, and the command of the
Half-moon Battery, as well as of the Citadel, was allotted him
under the event of an alarm.
Although neither the circumstances of the action, or name of the
achiever, are alluded to in the following detail, still it carries
in it that zealous anxiety to promote discipline, by recompencing
merit, that I cannot omit its insertion.
"General Orders, Halifax, February 27, 1778.
"That good Marine Soldier who was yesterday with General Massey,
and who now forgets his name and Company, the General wishes to see
to-morrow morning at nine o'clock, as he wants to reward him for
his loyalty. General Massey will be much obliged to Major Souter
to order this to be read by an Officer, at roll-calling, to the
different Companies."
In April, Lieutenant Jacobs who was an ornament to his Corps,
(subsequently drowned at St. Lucia) was appointed to act as
Overseer to the King's Works, which were carrying on.
No occasion seemed to have been lost by General Massey in calling
forth talents wherever they were to be found, and applying them
to the public good. Such precedents, if generally adopted upon
service, would stimulate the Marine Officer to the early study of
every branch of military education. It is but rarely that we are
inclined to devote our attention to sciences which may never be
called into action, and what our professional views seem almost to
render unnecessary. This knowledge may adorn the man, but it is too
often restrained from being useful to our Country.
Upon the 25th of August the Marine Battalion was struck off
the roster of duty in the garrison of Halifax, previous to its
embarkation for Europe.
Major General Massey delivered, in Public Orders of the 30th, his
testimony of the general conduct of both Officers and men to this
effect:--
"The Commander in Chief cannot part with the Marine Corps, without
telling them he was pleased with their soldier-like appearance at
the review of yesterday, and now has the pleasing satisfaction to
say, that he has had the honour to command that Corps for above
two years, _without ever hearing of a Court Martial in it, or ever
rebuking an Officer or Soldier_.
"He will therefore make such a report of that respectable body of
men as they merit, and now wishes Officers and Soldiers plenty of
prize-money, and makes not a doubt but they will always contribute
to the glory of his Majesty, King George's arms."
On the 1st day of September the whole embarked, but in consequence
of a petition from the Lieutenant Governor and Council of the
Province of Nova Scotia, intreating their continuance, in order to
yield their tribute of respect, the Commander in Chief was pleased
to intimate the following notice, in Public Orders of the 7th:--
"The Lieutenant Governor and Council, having made application to
Major General Massey, praying the Marine Corps may be detained
here, and Lord Viscount Howe having left the determination to him,
the Major General is happy to comply with the Lieutenant Governor's
request; they, therefore, are to continue in the harbour till
further orders, and Major Souter will please to land the men on
board the transports, at either Dartmouth or the Eastern Battery,
in order to give them an airing, at such times as he may choose to
order."
Notwithstanding that the result of this liberal indulgence produced
a constant intercourse between the town and transports during their
stay, still the same harmony reigned during their social hours;
and to the eternal honour of the meanest Marine Soldier, neither
the merchant, the fatherless, the widow, or the orphan, could
cast an eye after him for an unliquidated shilling. Such conduct
necessarily drew the grateful sentiments of the Constituted Powers,
which were expressed to Major Souter by a letter from Mr. Bulkeley,
of which the following is a copy:--
"HALIFAX, Sept. 10, 1778.
"SIR,
"I have singular pleasure in obeying the request of the Members of
his Majesty's Council, by conveying to you, and the rest of the
Officers, our acknowledgments and thanks for the good order and
discipline observed by the Battalion of Marines under your command,
during the whole time they have been on duty in this town. I have
the honour to be, Sir,
"Your most obedient humble servant,
"RICHARD BULKELEY."
Major Souter.
Those steady Soldiers soon after sailed for England, and they
continued to preserve the same conduct through all their subsequent
destinies.
I have thus placed this train of honourable retrospect under one
connected view. To have interspersed the incidents amongst the
successive and fleeting periods in which they occurred, and what
have been already discussed, would have been uninteresting and
less impressive. I have peculiarly addressed myself to my Corps
throughout this domestic narrative; and while I have exhibited a
bright pattern of valour, combined with steady discipline, in the
Marine Battalions that were employed upon the soil of America, I am
sanguine to hope, that after having viewed the picture, _not one_
amongst our numerous ranks will ever deface its beauties.