assembled in the vicinity of Maestricht, where the first battalion
of the ROYAL Regiment was formed in brigade with the battalion of
Foot Guards, and the regiments of Stewart, Howe, Ingoldsby, and
Marlborough,[87] under the orders of Brigadier-General Withers; and
the second battalion with the regiments of North and Grey, Derby,
Row, and Ferguson,[88] under the command of Brigadier-General the
Earl of Derby. On the 24th of May the army advanced towards Tongres,
when the French quitted their post and made a precipitate retreat,
and the confederates encamped at Thys. The army subsequently made
several movements for the purpose of bringing on a general engagement,
which the French avoided, and took post behind their fortified lines,
where the DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH was desirous of attacking them, but was
prevented by the Dutch generals and field deputies. In August the army
advanced to _Huy_, a strong fortress on the Maese above the city of
Liege, which was besieged and captured in ten days. Another proposal
to attack the French lines was declined by the Dutch; and the main
army afterwards advanced to St. Trond; at the same time a detachment
invested _Limburg_, a city of the Spanish Netherlands situated on a
pleasant eminence amongst the woods near the banks of the little river
Wesdet. The siege of this place was commenced on the 10th of September,
and on the 27th the governor, with a garrison of 1400 men, surrendered
at discretion. Thus Spanish Guelderland was delivered from the power
of France, and the Dutch were freed from the dread of an invasion. The
capture of Limburg was followed by the separation of the army for the
winter; the ROYAL Regiment struck its tents on the 10th of October, and
proceeded to the neighbourhood of Tongres, where it halted ten days,
and afterwards continued its march through the province of Limburg to
Holland.
While the army, of which the ROYAL Regiment formed part, was engaged
in operations in the Netherlands, the Elector of Bavaria took arms
against the Emperor of Germany; and a French force commanded by Marshal
Villiers having traversed the Black Forest and joined the Bavarians,
the united armies were making considerable progress in the heart of
Germany. This event occasioned the ROYALS, with a great portion of the
English and Dutch forces under the Duke of Marlborough, to transfer
their services from the Low Countries to Germany, to arrest the
progress of the French and Bavarians.
[Sidenote: 1704]
Previous to quitting the Netherlands, the regiment sent a detachment of
six hundred men to Maestricht to garrison that city, while the Dutch
troops were working at the entrenchments on the heights of Petersberg.
In the early part of May, 1704, the remainder of the regiment marched
from its winter quarters towards the Rhine, and was joined at Bedburg
by the detachment from Maestricht. On the 19th of May the army directed
its march from Bedburg along the course of the Rhine towards the
Moselle, and traversed both rivers at Coblentz on the 25th and 26th of
that month; thence proceeding towards the Maine, arrived at the suburbs
of Mentz in the beginning of June; the cavalry being in advance with
the Duke of Marlborough, the infantry and artillery a few stages in
the rear under General Charles Churchill. From the Maine the infantry
directed its march through the Landgraviate of Hesse, towards the
Neckar, passed this river on the 15th of June, and proceeding in the
direction of the Danube, was soon afterwards at the seat of war in
Germany, and co-operating with the forces of the empire.
On the 2nd of July, at three o'clock in the morning, the army marched
in the direction of Donawerth, to attack a body of French and Bavarians
under the Count d'Arco, in an entrenched camp on the heights of
_Schellenberg_, on the left bank of the Danube. After traversing a
difficult tract of country, the troops crossed the river Wernitz and
arrived in front of the enemy's camp, and about six in the evening
the leading division, consisting of a detachment from each British
regiment, with the Foot Guards, ROYALS, and Ingoldsby's regiment
(23rd), commanded by Brigadier-General Fergusson, and a Dutch force
under General Goor, advanced under cover of a heavy cannonade, to
attack the enemy's entrenchments. When these brave troops arrived
within the range of the enemy's cannon they were assailed by a volley
of grape, which produced a dreadful carnage. General Goor and many
brave officers fell; Lieut.-Col. White of the ROYALS was severely
wounded; yet the assailants moved forward with a firm tread until they
arrived at a ravine which they were unable to pass, when they shrunk
back before the shower of bullets which assailed them. At this moment
the enemy issued from the entrenchments and charged the British and
Dutch with great fury, but were gallantly opposed by the English
Foot Guards. The ROYALS and Ingoldsby's regiment also confronted the
charging Bavarians with firmness, and the enemy was repulsed and driven
back into the entrenchments. A second attack was soon afterwards
made on the heights, and the ROYALS were again sharply engaged. The
French and Bavarians made a vigorous resistance, and sallying from the
trenches attacked the leading regiments of the allies; the British and
Dutch infantry being exhausted by a continued struggle up a rising
ground, and their ranks thinned by a destructive fire, once more shrunk
back; they were, however, supported by the cavalry under Lieut.-General
Lumley, and having rallied, they returned to the attack with great
resolution. This protracted contest shook the strength and weakened the
resistance of the enemy. The Imperialists, commanded by the Margrave of
Baden, arrived at the scene of conflict and attacked the enemy's left;
at the same time the British and Dutch made another furious attack.
Three field-officers of the ROYALS had already been carried from the
field wounded, yet the regiment was seen pressing upon the enemy,
and making a desperate effort to force the entrenchments; the Scots
Greys dismounted to join in the attack; and the French and Bavarians
were overpowered and driven from the heights with dreadful carnage.
The cavalry under General Lumley charged the fugitives, and completed
the overthrow of the enemy. Sixteen pieces of artillery, a number of
standards and colours, with the enemy's tents, and the equipage, and
the plate of Count d'Arco, fell into the hands of the confederates.
Thus the ROYALS were triumphant near the same ground where the
regiment, when forming part of the GREEN BRIGADE in the service of
Gustavus Adolphus, distinguished itself in March 1632.
The first battalion of the ROYAL Regiment had Captain Murray, Ensigns
M'Dugal and M'Ilroy, one serjeant, and 38 rank and file killed; and
Lieut.-Colonel White, Major Cockburn, Captains Hume, Irwin, and Brown;
Lieutenants Kid and Ballatine; Ensigns Stratton, Cunningham, and
Stewart; with 3 serjeants, and 103 rank and file, wounded.
The second battalion had Captain Baily and Lieutenant Levingston,
with 1 serjeant and 76 private men, killed; and Major Kerr, Captain
Carr, Lieutenants Pearson, Moore, Vernel, Hay, Dickson, and Hamilton,
Ensigns M'Queen, M'Onway, Moremere, Elliot, Inglis, and Moore, with 12
serjeants, and 184 rank and file, wounded.
The victory at Schellenberg was immediately followed by the flight of
the enemy from Donawerth, which place was taken possession of by the
allies. At the same time the ROYAL Regiment crossed the Danube, and
advancing into Bavaria, was engaged in operations with the army; while
the French and Bavarians, having made a hasty retreat to Augsburg,
formed an entrenched camp near that city. The enemy also abandoned
several small towns, which were taken possession of by the allies, and
Rayn was captured after a short siege. The army afterwards advanced
towards Augsburg, and halted a short time within sight of the enemy's
fortified camp. In the mean time each regiment sent out parties to
plunder the country. This occasioned the Elector of Bavaria to engage
in a treaty with the view of an accommodation; but he soon afterwards
received information that another reinforcement of French troops had
traversed the Black Forest, when he broke off the treaty, which so
incensed the Imperialists that they laid a great part of Bavaria in
ashes.
The fortified camp at Augsburg being found too strong to be attacked
with any prospect of success, the troops retired a few stages, and the
siege of Ingoldstadt was undertaken by a detachment of Germans, at the
same time the ROYAL Regiment formed part of the covering army.
The Elector of Bavaria quitted his entrenched camp, and having formed
a junction with the reinforcements which Louis XIV. had sent to his
aid, the united armies encamped in the valley of the Danube, near the
village of _Blenheim_. At the same time the allied army, commanded by
the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy, had advanced to the
village of Minster, and was encamped with its left to the Danube.
At three o'clock on the morning of the eventful 13th of August, 1704,
the allies advanced to attack the French and Bavarians. About seven
the heads of columns arrived in presence of the enemy, and a pause
ensuing, the chaplains performed the usual service at the heads of
their respective regiments. About mid-day, a column, of which one
battalion of the ROYAL Regiment formed part, advanced under the
direction of Lieut.-General Lord Cutts and Major-General Wilks, to
attack the village of _Blenheim_, where the French commander, Marshal
Tallard, had posted a considerable number of troops, and entrenchments
and pallisades had been constructed. This column, consisting of the two
British brigades, commanded by Brigadier-Generals Row and Fergusson,
a brigade of Hessians, and a brigade of Hanoverians, proceeded to the
banks of the little river Nebel, and took possession of two water
mills, which the enemy evacuated, and set on fire. Thence advancing
towards the inclosures, the leading brigade received the fire of the
troops in Blenheim, and many officers and men fell; but the gallant Row
struck his sword in the enemy's pallisades before he gave the word
"fire." His brigade was, however, unable to force the entrenchments
against the superior numbers of the enemy; and while retiring it was
charged by the French cavalry, but the enemy was repulsed by the
Hessians. Soon afterwards, Fergusson's brigade and the Hanoverians
traversed the Nebel, near the lower water-mill, and attacked the front
of the village, but were repulsed three successive times; the firing
was, however, continued against Blenheim; and the remainder of the
forces traversed the rivulet, and attacked the main body of the French
army. The other battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was now brought into
action; the blaze of musketry extended along the whole front; and the
troops of the several nations fought with distinguished bravery. The
combat of musketry, and the charges of the cavalry, were continued for
some time with varied success. Eventually the main body of the enemy
was overpowered, and chased from the field with great slaughter; many
prisoners were also captured, and amongst them the French commander,
Marshal Tallard.
When the main body of the French army was defeated, the troops posted
in Blenheim attempted to escape by the rear of the village, but were
repulsed. A second attempt was made in another direction, but was
checked by the Scots Greys. A third attempt was also made, but the
French were again driven back, and forced to take shelter behind the
houses and inclosures. Though encompassed and intercepted on every
side, the French obstinately defended their post. Additional forces
were brought against them; the batteries opened a tremendous fire;
Lieut.-General the Earl of Orkney attacked the French troops posted in
the churchyard with eight battalions; Lieut.-General Ingoldsby attacked
the right side of the village with four battalions, supported by the
Royal Irish (late 5th) Dragoons; and both battalions of the ROYALS
were now engaged. A sharp struggle ensued, which ended in a parley,
and eventually twenty-four French battalions of infantry, and twelve
squadrons of cavalry, surrendered prisoners of war. The Germans who
attacked the enemy's right were also triumphant. Thus the struggle of
this eventful day ended in a complete victory, which reflected lustre
on the confederate arms, and showed in its native colours the true
character of the British soldier. The French and Bavarians are reported
to have lost in killed, wounded, prisoners, and from other causes,
about forty thousand men, with nearly all their tents, cannon, and
ammunition, and a great number of standards, colours, and kettle-drums.
The ROYAL Regiment lost in this action[89] Lieut.-Colonel White,
Ensigns M'Conway and Craig, killed; Captain Lord Forbes died of his
wounds; and Captains Montgomery, Bruce, and Lindsay, with Lieutenants
Harrowby and Lisle, and Ensign Hume, wounded.
The number of French and Bavarians taken on this occasion was so great
that the second battalion of the ROYALS, with the regiments of Prince
George of Denmark, Lords North and Grey, Row and Meredith, commanded
by Brigadier-General Fergusson, were sent to Holland in charge of the
prisoners. These troops marched with the prisoners to Mentz, where
they embarked in boats and sailed to Holland, and, having delivered
them into the charge of other corps, were placed in garrison for the
remainder of the year.
Meanwhile the first battalion continued with the army in Germany; and
the enemy abandoned several important cities, which were occupied by
the allies. The battalion of the ROYAL Regiment proceeded through
the circle of Swabia and directed its march to Philipsburg, where it
crossed the Rhine on the 7th of September, and subsequently formed
part of the covering army during the siege of _Landau_, a town in the
Bavarian circle of the Rhine, situated in a beautiful valley on the
river Queich. On the 13th of October this battalion, with the regiments
of Hamilton, Ingoldsby, and Tatton, marched from the covering army
encamped at Croon-Weissemberg to Germersheim, and embarking in boats,
sailed down the Rhine to Holland, and were placed in garrison for the
winter.
[Sidenote: 1705]
In the following spring, the losses of the preceding campaign were
replaced with recruits from Scotland; and in April the regiment quitted
its quarters, and directed its march towards Maestricht, passed that
city on the 13th of May, and proceeded to Juliers. From Juliers the
regiment proceeded through a mountainous country to the valley of the
Moselle, in the midst of which stands the ancient city of Treves, where
both battalions encamped on the 28th of May. The British and Dutch,
with several German corps, having assembled in the neighbourhood of
Treves, the army passed the Moselle and the Saar on the 3rd of June,
and advanced towards Syrk, near which place a French army of superior
numbers, commanded by Marshal Villiers, was encamped. The allied army
halted a short distance from the enemy, and awaited the arrival of
the Imperialists under the Margrave of Baden, who had promised to
co-operate with the Duke of Marlborough in carrying on the war in this
direction: but this co-operation was delayed so long that the British
commander was forced to return to the Netherlands, where the French
were making considerable progress.
The retreat was commenced during the night of the 17th of June; and
on the 20th, Lieut.-General the Earl of Orkney was detached with all
the grenadiers, and one hundred men of each battalion, to observe the
motions of a detachment which Marshal Villiers had sent towards the
Netherlands.
The approach of the army towards the Maese alarmed the French, and they
raised the siege of the citadel of Liege and retired. On the 4th of
July the first battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was detached, with other
forces under General Schultz and Lieut.-General the Earl of Orkney, to
besiege _Huy_, which had been captured by the French during the absence
of the army up the Moselle. On the 6th a battery of twelve cannon
and six mortars opened a sharp fire upon Fort Picard; and during the
afternoon of the same day the troops forced the covered-way and reared
their ladders against the walls, when the French quitted this fort and
also Fort Rouge, and fled to the castle. On the 10th the batteries were
brought to bear on the castle and on Fort Joseph, and on the following
day the garrison surrendered.
Meanwhile the French army, commanded by Marshal Villeroy and the
Elector of Bavaria, having taken refuge behind their fortified
lines, the Duke of Marlborough had formed a scheme for forcing these
stupendous barriers, and the first battalion of the ROYAL Regiment
rejoined the army in time to take part in this splendid enterprise. The
lines were menaced by a detachment on the south of the Mehaine, which
drew the greater part of the French army to that quarter; and during
the night of the 17th of July the allied army marched to its right,
and at four o'clock on the following morning the leading regiments
approached the works at _Neer-Hespen_ and _Helixem_. Both battalions
of the ROYAL Regiment were in the leading division. Their advance was
concealed by a thick fog, and under the cover of this obscurity one
column cleared the village of Neer-Winden and Neer-Hespen, another
gained the bridge and village of Helixem, and a third carried the
castle of Wange, which commanded the passage over the Little Gheet.
Then rushing through the inclosures and marshy grounds, the troops
forded the river, and crowded over the defences with an ardour
which overcame all opposition. The French guards were surprised and
overpowered, and a detachment of dragoons fled in a panic. Thus the
lines were forced; the pioneers were instantly set to work, and in
a short time a passage was made for the cavalry. While this was in
progress, the Marquis d'Allegre advanced with twenty battalions of
infantry, and fifty squadrons of cavalry, and opened a sharp cannonade;
but his advance was retarded by a hollow way, which gave time for more
troops to pass the lines; and eventually his forces were attacked and
defeated, and the allies took many prisoners, and also captured a
number of standards and colours. Speaking of this action, the Duke of
Marlborough observes in a letter published in his memoirs,--"It is
impossible to say too much good of the troops that were with me, for
never men fought better."
The enemy made a precipitate retreat, and took up a position behind
the river Dyle. The Duke of Marlborough advanced with the design of
passing the river, but was prevented by heavy rains. On the 21st of
July, a small body of French troops passed the _Dyle_, when the first
battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was ordered forward, and a slight
skirmish ensued. The French fled to their lines, and a few companies of
the ROYALS pursuing too far, were fired upon from the works, and had
one captain killed and several men wounded. Major General Wood was also
wounded.
The ROYAL Regiment was subsequently engaged in several manœuvres; but
the designs of the British commander were frustrated by the inactivity
and want of co-operation on the part of the Dutch generals. The French
lines were demolished in the autumn; and a detachment was sent to
invest a small town and fortress on the Scheldt, called Sandlivet,
which surrendered on the 29th of October. In the early part of November
the regiment marched back to Holland, and was placed in garrison for
the winter.
[Sidenote: 1706]
The ROYAL Regiment again took the field in May, 1706, and proceeding
to the province of Limburg, arrived at the general rendezvous of the
army at Bilsen, near Tongres, on the 19th of that month. Advancing from
Bilsen, the army proceeded in the direction of Mont St. André; and on
Whit-Sunday, the 23rd of May, as the troops were on the march, the
enemy's army, commanded by Marshal Villeroy and the Elector of Bavaria,
was discovered forming in order of battle in the position of Mont
St. André, with their centre at the village of _Ramilies_, which was
occupied by a considerable body of troops.
The allied army, diverging into the open plain of Jandrinœuil, formed
line, and advanced against the enemy. The ROYAL Regiment, having its
post near the right of the first line, formed on the heights of Foulz;
then descending, with several other British, Dutch, and German corps,
into the low grounds near the river, menaced the villages of Autreglise
and Offuz with an attack. This movement occasioned the enemy to weaken
his centre to support his left flank, when the duke of Marlborough
made a powerful attack on the enemy's centre and right. The ROYALS
were spectators of the fight for above an hour; at length a critical
period in the engagement arrived, and the regiment was brought forward.
The veterans of Schellenberg and Blenheim fought like men resolved to
die rather than lose their reputation; and the French, Spaniards, and
Bavarians, were overthrown and driven from the field with a terrible
slaughter. The fugitives were pursued many miles, and an immense number
of prisoners, with cannon, standards, and colours, was captured. Thus
a complete and decisive victory was gained over an army of superior
numbers in less than three hours.
The wreck of the French army continued its precipitate flight to
Louvain, and immediately afterwards abandoned that city, and also
Brussels. The States of Brabant, and the magistrates of Brussels,
renounced their allegiance to the Duke of Anjou. The principal towns of
Brabant, and several others in Flanders, were immediately delivered up,
and others surrendered on being summoned, or in a few days afterwards.
Dendermond held out, and was blockaded in the early part of June; and
Ostend was afterwards besieged by a detachment from the main army,
and surrendered on the 6th of July. Menin was besieged on the 25th of
July, and surrendered in August; and Dendermond was delivered up in the
early part of September. During these sieges the ROYALS continued to
form part of the covering army; but after the surrender of Dendermond,
one battalion of the regiment was detached under Marshal d'Auverquerque
and Lieut.-General Ingoldsby, to besiege _Aeth_, a town and fortress
on the river Dender. This place was invested on the 16th of September:
the several attacks were carried on with vigour, and the garrison
surrendered on the 3rd of October. The capture of Aeth was the last
important event of this glorious campaign: and in the early part of
November the ROYAL Regiment marched into garrison at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1707]
Here the regiment passed the succeeding winter and spring, and again
took the field on the 16th of May, 1707, when the first battalion was
formed in brigade with the Foot Guards and the regiments of Godfrey and
Sabine (now 16th and 23rd), commanded by Brigadier-General Meredith;
and the second battalion with the regiments of Webb, Ingoldsby, and
Tatton, (now 8th, 18th, and 24th), and Temple's (since disbanded),
under the command of Brigadier General Sir Richard Temple, afterwards
Viscount Cobham. The opposing armies, however, passed the campaign in
manœuvring, and observing each other's movements; the French avoided a
general engagement; and in October the ROYALS returned to Ghent.
In this year, the Union of Scotland with England having taken place,
the _Cross of St. Andrew_ was placed on the colours of the English
regiments in addition to the Cross of St. George--previously displayed;
and the ROYAL Regiment obtained as a regimental badge--the _Royal
Cypher_, within the _circle of St. Andrew_, surmounted with _a crown_;
instead of St. Andrew's Cross, which it had formerly borne on its
colours.
[Sidenote: 1708]