commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Sir James Hackett, were reviewed, with
a number of other corps, by King Charles II., on Putney Heath. "The
Coldstream, my Lord DUMBARTON'S, and the Admiral's Battalions,
successively exercised all three by beat of drum, the military postures
of pike, sword, and musket, every man dexterously discharging his
duties with an exact and general readiness, to the great delight of
their Majesties and Royal Highnesses, who vouchsafed, all the time
of exercise, to grace the arms with their presence. The other two
battalions of the Royal Regiment[67] had not fallen short of the like
performance, if illness of weather, when they just intended it, had not
prevented: the day proving wet and showery was a general impediment
from proceeding at that time to any other motions customary upon the
like reviews; and all decamped sooner than otherwise they would have
done." In the Army List, published by Nathan Brooks, in October,
1684, the ROYAL, or DUMBARTON'S Regiment, is stated to "consist of
twenty-one companies, two lieutenants to each company, three serjeants,
three corporals, and two drums, established; distinguished by red coats
lined with white; sashes white, with a white fringe; breeches and
stockings light grey; grenadiers distinguished by caps lined white, the
lion's face, proper, crowned; flys St. Andrew's cross, with thistle and
crown, circumscribed in the centre, '_Nemo me impunè lacessit_.'"
[Sidenote: 1685]
After the review, the regiment was stationed in extensive cantonments
in the county of Kent, where it remained until the death of King
Charles II., on the 6th February, 1685, when it was suddenly ordered to
march into quarters in London and the adjacent villages.[68] Although
King James II. was known to be a papist, yet no opposition was made to
his accession to the throne; and in March four companies proceeded to
Yarmouth, and four to Rochester, leaving thirteen companies in quarters
in the metropolis.
The tranquillity of the kingdom was, however, suddenly disturbed
in June, 1685, by the rebellion of James, Duke of Monmouth, who
appeared on the western coast with a band of followers, and asserted
his pretensions to the throne, when orders were issued for the ROYAL
Regiment to be augmented to one hundred men per company, and five
companies were sent from London to Portsmouth, to increase the strength
of that garrison.
Shortly afterwards, Brigadier-General Lord Churchill (afterwards the
Great Duke of Marlborough) was sent to the west of England with a
body of troops to oppose the rebels; and another division of the army
followed under the direction of Lieut.-General the Earl of Feversham,
who was appointed to the command of the royal forces. At the same
time five companies of the ROYAL Regiment of foot, under the orders
of Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Douglas, and a troop of the Royal
Horse Guards, commanded by Sir Francis Compton, were sent from London
with the train of artillery to be employed on this service. The four
companies of the ROYAL Regiment at Yarmouth were at the same time
ordered to march to London; so that during Monmouth's rebellion the
regiment was employed as follows:--Five companies with the army; five
in garrison at Portsmouth; seven attending the court in London; and
four at Rochester.[69]
The five companies of the ROYAL Regiment, under the orders of
Lieut.-Colonel Douglas, with nine field-pieces,[70] having joined
the army under the Earl of Feversham, the rebels found it necessary
to move to Bridgewater. The King's forces advanced to the village of
Weston, where they arrived on the 5th of July, and the cavalry having
been quartered in the village, the infantry encamped on _Sedgemoor_.
The ROYALS, being formed in one small battalion, took the right of
the line, and were posted behind a deep ditch; a squadron of horse
and fifty dragoons were sent forward as an advanced guard, and one
hundred of the ROYALS were kept under arms in readiness to support
the cavalry out-guards. During the night the rebels marched out of
Bridgewater, with the design of surprising the King's forces; but the
guard having given an alarm, the five companies of the ROYAL Regiment
were formed in order of battle in a few moments, and opening their
fire upon the advancing rebels with good effect, held them in check,
and gave time to the other battalions to form, and for the cavalry
to draw out of the village.[71] The rebel cavalry, under Lord Grey,
first attempted to charge the ROYALS, but being unable to cross the
ditch, they were driven back by the steady fire of the veteran Scots.
The rebel infantry, headed by the Duke of Monmouth, directing their
march by the fire, first attacked the ROYALS, and extending along the
moor, a sharp combat of musketry ensued in the dark. The rebel foot,
consisting principally of miners, fought with desperation; but their
cavalry was soon chased out of the field by the King's horsemen; and
when daylight appeared, the Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards, and Royal
Dragoons, charged the right flank of the rebel infantry, and put
Monmouth's untrained battalions into disorder. A complete rout ensued;
the insurgents fled from the moor; and numbers were slain and made
prisoners in the adjoining fields. The companies of the ROYAL Regiment
were foremost in the pursuit, and captured the Duke of Monmouth's
standard with his motto in gold letters,--"_Fear none But God._"[72]
The Duke of Monmouth was taken prisoner soon afterwards, and was
beheaded on the 15th of July on Tower-Hill, London.
Thus the rebellion was suppressed; and the sum of 397_l._ was paid
to the officers and soldiers of the ROYAL Regiment of foot who were
wounded in this service, as is set forth in the following warrant,
copied from the public accounts of that period:--
"JAMES R.
"WHEREAS by the establishment of our forces, we have been graciously
pleased to direct that an allowance be made to such officers and
soldiers as should be wounded or hurt in our service; our will and
pleasure is, that out of such monies as are or shall come to your hands
for the contingent use of our guards, &c., you cause the sums following
to be paid to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, of
our ROYAL Regiment of Foot, hereunder mentioned, viz.:--
£. _s._ _d._
Capt. Jas. Moncrief 40 0 0
Lieut. Jno. Stirling 20 0 0
" Rob. Dury 20 0 0
" Thos. Bruce 20 0 0
" Jno. Livingston 35 0 0
" Jno. M'Kullock 25 0 0
" Jas. Law. 15 0 0
----------------
£175 0 0
----------------
Serjeants.
Murdo Mackenzie 8 0 0
John Henderson 2 0 0
James Ferchardson 2 0 0
Will. Conn 8 0 0
Corporals.
Andrew Kennedy 8 0 0
Andrew Duncomb 4 0 0
Drummer.
William Murray 5 0 0
Privates.
Thomas Powell 4 0 0
John Mackintosh 4 0 0
David Campbell 3 0 0
David M'Cloud 4 0 0
Allan M'Cullough 3 0 0
Edwd. Correll, jun. 8 0 0
Duncomb Grant 4 0 0
John Mackenzie, jun. 2 0 0
Alex. Mackintosh 2 0 0
Alex. M'Dowgall 4 0 0
John Pendrick 3 0 0
John Brown 4 0 0
John Shepheard 2 0 0
John Chambers 7 0 0
James Hall 7 0 0
Thomas Shepheard 2 0 0
John Lowry 2 0 0
David Jekenbur 4 0 0
John Richy 3 0 0
James Ratt 2 0 0
James Cormagh 2 0 0
Thomas Gouthar 2 0 0
James Johnston 3 0 0
John Adams, jun. 8 0 0
James Johnston. 2 0 0
John Mackiver 4 0 0
James Mosey 5 0 0
John Gorden 4 0 0
James Factor 5 0 0
Thomas Baker 2 0 0
James Contie 3 0 0
Robert Miller 4 0 0
Dunie Ferguson 2 0 0
Dune Mackenzie 2 0 0
John Young 4 0 0
Nicholas Farland 3 0 0
John Clark 2 0 0
Alex. Wilson 2 0 0
Andrew Singleton 2 0 0
William Symins 2 0 0
George Robinson 4 0 0
David Arrott 4 0 0
Thomas Mackgowne 2 0 0
John M'Garth 2 0 0
John Mackenzie 3 0 0
John Burne 3 0 0
Jno. Robinson 2 0 0
Jas. Ramskin 3 0 0
Will. Lowder 3 0 0
John Davison 2 0 0
Charles Johnson 3 0 0
Charles Gelly 3 0 0
Willm. Bayon 2 0 0
James Watson 2 0 0
Charles Jolley 5 0 0
Peter Constable 5 0 0
----------------
222 0 0
Officers 175 0 0
----------------
£397 0 0
----------------
"Which sums, amounting to three hundred and ninety-seven pounds, are to
be paid to the said persons, in satisfaction for their wounds received
in our service during the late rebellion; provided none of them be
already admitted to the allowance appointed for our Royal Hospital,
near Chelsea. And for so doing, this, together with the acquittances of
the said persons, or their assigns, shall be your discharge.
"Given at our Court at Whitehall this 16th day of May, 1686.
"By his Majesty's command,
"WILLIAM BLATHWAYTE.
"_To our trusty and well-beloved Cousin and Councillor Richard,
Earl of Ranelagh, our Paymaster-General, &c. &c. &c._"
The following men of the ROYAL Regiment, who were admitted into the
Royal Hospital at Chelsea, received the sums set down against their
names:--
£. _s._ _d._
J. Batchelor, 10 marks 6 13 4
Martin Bryer 6 13 4
Jas. Bennerman 6 13 4
John Dannine 6 13 4
Arch. Eastwood 6 13 4
John Murray 6 13 4
Angus Macleod 6 13 4
Arch. Nicholson 6 13 4
Thomas Jarvis 6 13 4
Robert Thomas 6 13 4
John Harris 6 13 4
Godfrey Twiddy 6 13 4
Serjeant Weems of the ROYAL Regiment particularly distinguished
himself; and a warrant of James II. directs that he should be paid
"Forty pounds for good service in the action at Sedgemoor, in firing
the great guns against the rebels."
A few days after the battle, the establishment of the ROYAL Regiment
was reduced from 100 to 50 private men per company; and in August
eleven companies were encamped on Hounslow Heath, where they were
reviewed by the King. In September, thirteen companies marched to
Winchester, to attend the court at that city; and the regiment passed
the winter at Portsmouth and Exeter, with one company detached to Lynn.
[Sidenote: 1686]
At this period the establishment of the regiment consisted
of 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 18 captains, 1
captain-lieutenant, 41 lieutenants, 21 ensigns, 1 adjutant, 1 chaplain,
1 quarter-master and marshal, 1 chirurgeon, 1 chirurgeon's mate, 1
drum-major, 1 piper, 42 drummers, 63 serjeants, 63 corporals, and
1050 private soldiers. The privilege of having two lieutenants and
three serjeants to each company appears to have been peculiar to this
regiment; and a warrant of King James II., dated the 1st of January,
1686, directs that "As any of the lieutenants of the ROYAL Regiment
shall die, or be displaced, their number be reduced to one lieutenant
only in each company of this regiment; and that as the serjeants shall
die, or be displaced, they be in the same manner reduced to two in each
company."[73]
On the 1st of March, 1686, a second adjutant and a second surgeon's
mate were added to the establishment, and the regiment was again
divided into two battalions; the first battalion consisting of eleven,
and the second of ten companies; and in April the second battalion
embarked at Gravesend for Scotland. At the same time the whole of the
first battalion was placed in garrison at Portsmouth, from whence it
marched in June following to the vicinity of Hounslow, and on the
24th of that month erected its tents on the heath, where about twelve
thousand men were encamped, under the orders of Lieut.-Generals the
Earls of Feversham and Dumbarton, and were frequently exercised in
presence of the royal family. In July, four companies marched from
Hounslow Heath, and encamped near Tunbridge Wells, to attend the
Princess Anne (afterwards Queen Anne) during her residence at that
place; and in August the battalion struck its tents, and marched to
Yarmouth and Bungay, with a detachment at Landguard-Fort, where it
passed the winter.
[Sidenote: 1687]
From these quarters the first battalion was removed in the spring
of 1637 to the vicinity of London, where it halted a few days, and
afterwards proceeded to Portsmouth, and passed the summer months in
that garrison. In the autumn it marched into Yorkshire; and the men
were employed dining the winter in working on the fortifications at
Hull.
[Sidenote: 1688]
In April, 1688, the first battalion was recalled from Yorkshire, and
was stationed at Greenwich, Woolwich, and Deptford, until the 26th of
June, when it encamped on Hounslow Heath.
In the meantime the second battalion had marched from Scotland to
York. In August it proceeded to Hertford and Ware; and in September
to Gravesend, where the first battalion had previously arrived from
Hounslow Heath; and the two battalions being again united, occupied
Gravesend, Tilbury-Fort, Sheerness, and other places along the banks of
the Thames and the coast of Kent.
At this period the nation was violently agitated by political events.
The King, being a roman catholic, and being guided by jesuitical
councils, and countenanced and encouraged by a few families of the same
persuasion, was attempting to effect the subversion of the established
religion and laws. At the same time many noblemen and gentlemen who
felt the greatest concern for the welfare of their country had invited
the Prince of Orange to come to England with a Dutch army to aid them
in resisting the proceedings of the court. Thus the kingdom was divided
against itself, and men were looking forward, with a mixed feeling
of hope, terror, and consternation, to the great convulsion which
threatened the State. The King made preparations to avert the danger,
and augmented his army, when the ROYAL Regiment was increased to 26
companies, and the total strength to 1858 officers and soldiers, each
battalion having now a grenadier company.
In the early part of November, the Dutch fleet having sailed past
Dover, the ROYAL Regiment was ordered to the west; and when the Prince
of Orange had landed at Torbay and advanced to Exeter, it proceeded to
Warminster, which was the most advanced post of the royal army. The
head-quarters were at Salisbury, and King James reviewed his army on
Salisbury Plain on the 21st of November. But his Majesty found that
his conduct had alienated the affections not only of his subjects in
general, but of the officers and soldiers of his army, many of whom
forsook his camp and joined the Prince of Orange. Yet, while many of
the nobility and gentry, with officers and soldiers from almost every
regiment in the army, were quitting the King's standard daily, the
ROYAL Regiment of Foot was an exception; it preserved its ranks entire,
and stood with an unshaken loyalty amidst the general defection which
prevailed in the kingdom.
When the King ordered his forces to retire towards London, the ROYAL
Regiment marched, first to Devizes, and afterwards to Windsor, where
it arrived on the 29th of November. The desertions continuing, the
King sent orders to Lieut.-General the Earl of Feversham to make no
further resistance to the Prince of Orange, and his Majesty afterwards
attempted to effect his escape to France. These orders produced
much confusion. Several corps were disbanded; and the men spreading
themselves in parties over the country, committed many disorders. The
ROYAL Regiment, however, appears to have been equally conspicuous for
good order as for loyalty, and continued at its post of duty until
directed by the Prince of Orange to march to Oxford.
Although the King failed in his first attempt to escape to France,
yet he afterwards succeeded, and having been followed by the Earl of
Dumbarton, the Colonel of the ROYAL Regiment, the Prince of Orange
conferred the Colonelcy on one of his most distinguished officers,
Marshal Frederick De Schomberg, afterwards Duke Schomberg.
[Sidenote: 1689]
After these events had transpired, a convention was assembled, which
declared the throne abdicated and vacant, and conferred the sovereignty
on William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange. Many of the
officers and men of the ROYAL Regiment were, however, not satisfied
with the new arrangements. Their regiment had been King James's
favourite corps, on account of its antiquity, valour, and good conduct,
and its having served with his Majesty in France, when he was an exile.
Having preserved their loyalty to the last, the officers and men did
not expect much favour from the new king. At the same time they were
not pleased that a foreigner, Marshal Schomberg, though an officer
of distinguished merit, should be placed at the head of a national
Scots corps. While these feelings were prevalent in the breasts of
the officers and men, the regiment received orders to embark for the
Netherlands to replace the Dutch troops which were in England. This
order was considered premature: the national assembly in Scotland had
not declared for King William, and the Scots officers and soldiers did
not consider themselves bound to obey the commands of a king who had
not been acknowledged in Scotland. Under this impression a number of
officers and men mutinied, and, seizing the money appointed for their
pay, marched with four pieces of cannon towards Scotland. At the same
time the Royal Regiment of Scots Horse, commanded by Major-General
Viscount Dundee, deserted from its quarters at Abingdon, and proceeded
in the same direction.[74] The King sent Major-General Sir John Lanier
with his own (now the First Dragoon Guards), and Colonel Langston's
regiment of horse, and Lieut.-General De Ginkell (afterwards Earl of
Athlone) with three regiments of Dutch dragoons, in pursuit of the
mutineers; and these troops having overtaken the men of the ROYAL
Regiment in Lincolnshire, about twenty officers and five hundred men,
who had previously become convinced of their error, laid down their
arms and submitted themselves to the King's clemency. King William
III. is reported to have repeatedly expressed his admiration of the
firm loyalty and attachment evinced by the officers and soldiers of
the ROYAL Regiment to their former sovereign, when he was forsaken by
almost every other person; and the King, after dismissing three or four
officers, pardoned the remainder of the regiment, and ordered the first
battalion to be completed to its establishment from the second, and to
proceed to its original destination.
The second battalion of the ROYAL Regiment having transferred its
serviceable men to the first, proceeded to Scotland; and the first
battalion embarked for the Netherlands, where it arrived in the
beginning of May, 1689, and joined the Dutch camp at Tongres in the
early part of June. The British troops were commanded by the Earl of
Marlborough,[75] and the combined army by Prince Waldeck. The ROYALS
were employed in several operations; and on the 25th of August they
took part in a sharp action with the French troops commanded by
Marshal d'Humieres, at _Walcourt_, in the province of Namur. The enemy
attacked a foraging-party, and this brought on a sharp action, in which
the British infantry evinced firmness and intrepidity, particularly
a detachment under Colonel Robert Hodges;[76] and the French were
repulsed with considerable loss.
[Sidenote: 1690]
During the winter, the second battalion of the ROYAL
Regiment, having recruited its ranks, was sent from Scotland to
Holland; and in the summer of 1690 both battalions took the field. On
the 21st of June, the regiment was on its march to Brussels; but Prince
Waldeck, without waiting for the arrival of the British troops, engaged
the French at Fleurus, and was defeated. This disaster reduced the
combined army to the necessity of limiting its operations, and acting
on the defensive during the remainder of the campaign.
[Sidenote: 1691]
On the 1st of July, 1690, Marshal Duke Schomberg was killed at the
battle of the Boyne in Ireland; and the Colonelcy of the ROYAL Regiment
remained vacant until the 5th of March, 1691, when it was conferred by
King William III. on Lieut.-Colonel Sir Robert Douglas.
The regiment having been withdrawn from its winter quarters in the
month of March, 1691, was encamped at Halle, in South Brabant, where
the first battalion was formed in brigade with the Scots Foot Guards,
and the regiments of Ramsay, Angus, Mackay, and Hodges; and the second
battalion was posted, with O'Ffarrel's regiment, between two divisions
of Dutch infantry.[77] The French besieged Mons, and the confederates
being unable to relieve the place, the garrison surrendered on the 31st
of March, when the French troops went into quarters.
After the surrender of Mons, the ROYAL Regiment was sent into garrison,
from whence it was withdrawn in May, and was encamped near Brussels,
and both battalions were formed in one brigade with the Scots regiments
of Mackay, Ramsay, O'Ffarrel, and Angus, under the orders of
Brigadier-General Ramsay. The summer was passed by the opposing armies
in manœuvring on the rich plains of the Netherlands; and in October the
troops marched into quarters for the winter.
[Sidenote: 1692]
In the spring of 1692, Louis XIV. marched into the Netherlands with an
immense army and besieged Namur, when the ROYAL Regiment was called
from its cantonments, and advanced with the army, commanded by King
William III. in person, to the relief of the place; but the march
having been delayed by heavy rains, the garrison surrendered on the
20th of June. On the 23rd of that month, Colonel Sir Robert Douglas,
with 2 captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, and 120 private men, of
the ROYAL Regiment, was detached, with other troops, to attempt the
surprise of Mons. After marching all night, the detachment arrived
about one o'clock on the following morning within a short distance of
the town, when the troops were ordered to halt, and Sir Robert Douglas
and Colonel O'Ffarrel, having proceeded to consult with the Prince of
Wirtemberg, who commanded the party, mistook their way in the dark, and
fell into the hands of a detachment of French cavalry, and were made
prisoners. The enemy being found prepared to resist, the detachment
returned to the camp at Mellé, and Sir Robert Douglas was released on
payment of the regulated ransom, and rejoined the regiment on the 29th
of June.