be wanting in humanity to the brave soldiers who had behaved so long
with such fidelity and courage if they should subject them to all the
horrors of an assault, which, from the superior numbers of the enemy,
and the ruinous condition of the place, could not fail to succeed. They
therefore proposed a cessation of arms on the 12th of February, for
adjusting the terms of capitulation, which was done, as the Marquis de
Bouillé did not impose hard terms on the soldiers of a garrison who
had acquitted themselves so well and had suffered so much."[103]
The garrison marched through the breach with drums beating and colours
flying, and, having laid down their arms, the militia proceeded to
their homes, and the regular troops were sent to England, on condition
that they should be considered as prisoners of war until exchanged.
Brigadier-General Fraser observed, in his despatch:--"Notwithstanding
the event has proved unfortunate, I should be wanting in doing justice
to the troops under my command if I concluded without saying that
both officers and soldiers deserve the highest commendation. Under a
constant fire of shot and shells, night and day (that I doubt has,
in any instance, been exceeded), the officers showed a constant and
universal cheerfulness, and by their example the soldiers bore the
greatest fatigue with a firmness that deserves my acknowledgments."
The loss sustained by the battalion during this siege was, Lieutenants
Wilson and Clerk, Quarter-master Shungar, 3 serjeants, 2 drummers, and
22 rank and file, killed; Captains Wallace and Buckeridge, Surgeon
Young, 6 serjeants, 4 drummers, and 84 rank and file, wounded; 2
private men missing.
After the capitulation the battalion proceeded to England, where it
arrived in May, and, its exchange having been settled, it resumed
military duty.
[Sidenote: Both Batts.]
On the 9th of May, 1782, the Duke of Argyle was removed to the 3rd Foot
Guards; and the Colonelcy of the ROYAL Regiment was conferred on Lord
Adam Gordon, fourth son of Alexander, second Duke of Gordon.
[Sidenote: 1783]
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1784]
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1790]
Both battalions remained in England until the autumn of 1783, when,
peace having been concluded, the second battalion embarked for Ireland,
from whence it proceeded, in the following year, to Gibraltar to
relieve the Hanoverian corps, which had been performing duty in that
garrison during the war. At the same time the first battalion proceeded
from England to Ireland, where it remained until January, 1790, when
it embarked for the West Indies to relieve the 3rd Foot, and on its
arrival at its destination it was stationed at Jamaica.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1793]
Meanwhile a revolution had broken out in France; and in 1793 the French
Monarch, Louis XVI., was beheaded by his subjects. Anarchy, confusion,
and bloodshed prevailed in that kingdom, and the revolutionary party
sought to involve other nations in the like horrors. War was the
result. A powerful party, with principles favourable to monarchy,
still existed in France; and, although the kingdom was governed by
republicans, who maintained their authority by the terrors of the
guillotine, yet many patriots stood forward with boldness in the cause
of royalty; and a union took place between the cities of Marseilles,
Lyons, and Toulon, in favour of Louis XVII., which alarmed the ruling
powers. A republican army was sent against them, and Marseilles
immediately surrendered. At the same time the inhabitants of the
celebrated port of _Toulon_, the principal station of the French navy,
joined with Admiral Turgot in proposing a negotiation with Admiral
Lord Hood, who commanded a British naval force in the Mediterranean,
and the port was taken possession of in August, 1793, by the British,
in the name of Louis XVII. The French general had no sooner obtained
possession of Marseilles than he advanced against Toulon. Strenuous
exertions were made to procure troops to defend the place: besides
French loyalists and a few British troops, detachments of Spaniards,
Neapolitans, and Sardinians, were procured, and the second battalion of
the ROYAL Regiment embarked from Gibraltar to take part in this service.
The battalion landed at Toulon towards the end of October, and marched
on the evening of the same day to an out-post called _Les Sablettes_,
where it was partially engaged with the enemy. Three companies were
afterwards detached to _Fort Mulgrave_, an important post on the
heights of Balaguier, which covered the town and harbour. This post was
attacked on the evening of the 15th of November by a strong body of
French republicans, who were repulsed and driven back. Lieut.-General
O'Hara stated in his despatch on this subject:--"I have particular
pleasure in mentioning that, on this occasion, the very spirited
exertions of the British troops stationed in Fort Mulgrave, consisting
of a detachment of the second battalion of the First, or ROYAL Regiment
of Foot, commanded by Captain Duncan Campbell, and of a detachment
of the Royal Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Lemoine, were the
principal means of repulsing the enemy, and of saving that important
post. Our loss, including Spaniards, Neapolitans, and Sardinians,
amounted only to 61. Among the wounded were Captain Duncan Campbell, of
the ROYALS, and Lieutenant Lemoine, of the Artillery."
The enemy afterwards erected a battery on the heights of _Arenes_,
which much annoyed one of the principal out-posts; and a detachment
of the ROYALS formed part of the force, consisting of 400 British,
300 Sardinians, 600 Neapolitans, 600 Spaniards, and 400 French,
commanded by Major-General David Dundas, which issued from Toulon on
the morning of the 30th of November, crossed the river, traversed the
olive-grounds, ascended the heights of Arenes, and carried the battery
with signal gallantry. British valour was conspicuous on this occasion;
but, unfortunately, an excess of ardour led to a disastrous result.
The French fled in dismay down the hill; the British and other troops,
following in full career, passed the valley, and ascended other heights
at a considerable distance; and when out of breath, and exhausted with
the chase, they encountered a superior body of fresh adversaries, and
were forced to retreat, and Lieut.-General O'Hara was taken prisoner.
Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bart., who was an eye-witness, observed, in a
letter to the Secretary of State:--"It is a real consolation to know
that the courage of the British was conspicuous from the beginning of
the action to the end; and that an excess of that good quality was
the true and only cause of the miscarriage." The ROYALS lost, on this
occasion Lieutenant M'Kellar, 1 serjeant, and 9 rank and file, killed;
Lieutenants Mackenzie and Colin M'Donald, with 2 serjeants, 1 drummer,
and 32 rank and file, wounded; Captains Reeves and Finnay wounded, and
taken prisoners; Lieutenant Bird, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 17 rank
and file, missing.
The defence of Toulon with only 12,000 men of five different nations,
against an army of between 30,000 and 40,000 men, was found a difficult
service. The garrison had to occupy a circumference of fifteen miles,
by a number of posts, which required 9000 men for their protection.
In the middle of December the republican army attacked the line of
posts with great fury, and forced a passage at several places. The
ROYALS were engaged in the defence of _Fort Mulgrave_, and lost 1
serjeant, 1 drummer, and 18 rank and file. After the line of posts
was forced it was found impossible to maintain the town; the French
shipping, magazines, and arsenal, were consequently set on fire, and
the men of the several nations embarked on board the fleet on the 19th
of December. Detachments of the troops took part with the seamen in
the work of destruction; and Lieutenant Ironmonger, of the ROYALS,
is stated to have been the last officer who quitted the dock-yard
gates. With the republican army which attacked Toulon was an officer
of artillery, named NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, who afterwards arrived at the
dignity of Emperor of France.
[Sidenote: 1794]
After the evacuation of Toulon the fleet remained five weeks in the bay
of Hieres, during which time arrangements were made for attacking the
island of _Corsica_: the fleet weighed anchor on the 24th of January,
1794, but was dispersed by a gale of wind, and the ROYALS were driven
to one of the ports in the island of Elba, where they remained several
days. On the 5th of February they again put to sea, and on the evening
of the 7th landed, with the 11th, 25th, 30th, 50th, 51st, and 69th
Regiments, in an open bay in the Gulf of Fiorenzo, in the island of
Corsica. On the following day the ROYALS and 51st were detached, under
Lieut.-Colonel (afterwards Sir John) Moore, with a small howitzer
and a six-pounder carried on the shoulders of a party of seamen,
against Fornelli Tower, and after traversing eight miles of rocky
mountainous country, destitute of roads, arrived at the heights above
the tower, but found the distance too great for the light artillery to
reach it; and the two battalions afterwards retired. Batteries were
subsequently erected against _Convention Redoubt_, which was considered
the key to the works on this part of the island; and, the fire of
the artillery having produced some effect, the ROYALS, commanded by
Captain Mackenzie, and 51st Regiment, moved from their camp-ground on
the morning of the 17th of February to attack the advanced point of
the redoubt; at the same time the 50th Regiment marched against the
centre of the work, and the 21st proceeded along the sea-shore; the
whole commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Moore. After traversing some rocky
grounds covered with myrtle-bushes with great caution, the troops
arrived in the vicinity of the redoubt unperceived by the enemy; then,
rushing forward, entered the works, and with their bayonets drove
the French and Corsicans down the steep hill in the rear. The enemy
soon afterwards evacuated the town of Fiorenzo, with the towers and
batteries in the gulf, and retreated to the Tower of Tichine, situated
on a high mountain between Fiorenzo and Bastia, an important sea-port
and the capital of the island. Speaking of this event, Lieut.-General
Dundas observed in his despatch,--"The conduct of Lieut.-Colonel
Moore, of the several commanding officers, and of the officers and
soldiers under his orders, was firm and judicious, and merits every
commendation."
Bastia was afterwards besieged by sea and land, and surrendered on
the 22nd of May. An assembly of the Deputies afterwards agreed to
unite the island to Great Britain, which was performed with the
solemnities customary on such occasions. But _Calvi_, a fortified
town thirty-three miles from the capital, and situated on a tongue of
land which forms one of the most beautiful harbours in the island,
still held out; and the ROYALS formed part of the land force commanded
by Lieut.-General Stuart selected for the siege of this place. The
battalion accordingly embarked from Bastia, and, having landed near
Calvi on the 19th of June, took post on a ridge of mountains three
miles from the town. Owing to the numerous rocky heights and steep
mountains before the town, the soldiers and seamen had to make roads
along difficult precipices, to drag the guns up the mountains, and to
carry up materials for erecting the batteries, which they performed
with cheerful alacrity. The fire of the heavy artillery having made
a practicable breach on the west side of the Mozello, on the 18th of
July the light infantry and ROYALS, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Moore,
"proceeded with a cool, steady confidence, and unloaded arms, towards
the enemy, forced their way through a smart fire of musketry, and,
regardless of live shells flung into the breach, or the additional
defence of pikes, stormed the Mozello; while Lieut.-Colonel Wemyss,
with the Royal Irish Regiment, and two pieces of cannon, under the
direction of Lieutenant Lemoine, equally regardless of opposition,
carried the enemy's battery on the left, and forced the trenches
without firing a shot."[104] The capture of these posts proved of great
importance, and, the siege being continued with vigour, the garrison
surrendered on the 10th of August. The loss sustained by the 2nd
battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was very trifling, viz., about four men
killed and Captain Colin M'Donald and seven men wounded. The battalion
was afterwards stationed in garrison at Calvi, where it remained nearly
two years.
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
The republican principles which produced the revolution in France soon
extended to the French West India settlements; and the inhabitants of
colour in the island of _St. Domingo_ (now the black empire of Hayti),
having imbibed the doctrine of equality, rose in arms against the
whites, and carried fire and bloodshed through the settlement. Many
of the planters having, from the distracted state of France, no hope
of relief from that country, were desirous of placing themselves under
the protection of Great Britain: a body of troops was accordingly sent
to their aid, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Whitelocke; and while
the 2nd battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was engaged in the defence of
Toulon and the capture of Corsica, the 1st battalion embarked from
Jamaica and sailed to St. Domingo.
Much resistance was met with from the republican troops and revolted
negroes on the island. In February, 1794, the light company of the
ROYALS advanced against the fortress of _L'Acal_, in the vicinity of
Leogane. Part of the force designed for this service was embarked in
transports, and the remainder, including the light company of the
ROYALS, proceeded by land. The wind proving unfavourable, the troops
in transports could not disembark; the remainder, however, advanced
against the fort,--ascended the hill, which was rendered difficult by
trees placed in all directions,--and, attacking the enemy with fixed
bayonets, drove them from their works. After obtaining possession of
the fort, two officers and thirteen private men were killed by the
explosion of a magazine, which was fired by a negro recently from
Africa, who did not know the use of gunpowder. One of the officers thus
killed was Captain Morshead, of the light company of the ROYALS, who
was wounded in the assault of the fort. Captain Hutchinson,[105] of
the ROYALS, who was doing duty with the artillery, was wounded at the
commencement of the attack, but he continued at his post of duty until
the fort was carried.
Part of the battalion was afterwards engaged in an unsuccessful attack
on _Bombarde_, in which service sixteen men were killed and twenty-six
taken prisoners. The attack was made before day-break in the morning,
and, the retreat being sudden, ENSIGN JOHN GARSTON, of the ROYALS, with
eight men of his company, became separated from the detachment, and,
losing the road, wandered in a wrong direction. Towards mid-day he
fell in with a patrol of six men of the enemy, and was called upon to
surrender; but this brave young officer answered by a threat to fire
upon them if they attempted to interrupt him. He continued to stray
farther from his intended point; the enemy followed at a distance, and
again called upon him to surrender, but he constantly refused. At night
the patrol, fatigued with following him over dry and sandy plains,
retired. The ensign and his little party continued to wander--fainting
with hunger, thirst, and fatigue--two days and a night, during which
time two men died of want and weariness, having found nothing but
the fruit of Indian fig-trees and aloes. At length they arrived at a
demolished port, where they found an old fishing-boat, in which they
embarked, and arrived on the morning of the third day at the entrance
of the bay of the mole St. Nicholas, from whence the fishermen brought
them into the town.[106]
Lieutenant M'Kellar, of the ROYALS, who commanded the light company
after the death of Captain Morshead, occupied an unfinished block-house
near the fortress of _L'Acal_, where he was attacked by the enemy; but
he repulsed the assailants with signal gallantry, and his conduct on
this occasion was mentioned in orders.
_Port-au-Prince_, the capital of the French possessions in the island,
was still in the power of the republicans, and the siege of this place
was resolved upon. The flank companies of the battalion took part in
this service, and the enemy evacuated the town on the 4th of June, and
it was immediately occupied by the British troops. Unfortunately, a
malignant fever broke out in the town, and the British lost 40 officers
and 600 rank and file within two months after the surrender of the
place.
A detachment of the ROYALS, under Lieutenant Clunes, formed part of the
garrison of 120 men at _Fort Bizzeton_, which was attacked on the 5th
of December by 2000 of the enemy, who were repulsed with considerable
loss. Major-General Sir Adam Williamson, speaking of this affair
in his public despatch, stated,--"Captain Grant (13th) and his two
Lieutenants, Clunes of the ROYALS and Hamilton of the 22nd Regiment,
merit every attention that can be shown them. They were all three
severely wounded early in the attack, but tied up their wounds and
continued to defend their posts. It has been a very gallant defence,
and does them great honour." The loss of this little garrison was, one
serjeant and four rank and file killed; three officers, one serjeant,
and thirteen rank and file, wounded.
[Sidenote: 1795]
A detachment of the battalion was engaged in the defence of an
out-post at the commencement of the year 1795; and Lieutenant Spencer
was wounded, and Lieutenant Watts killed, by the blowing up of a
block-house.
[Sidenote: 1796]
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
The 2nd battalion had, in the mean time, remained in garrison at Calvi,
in the island of Corsica; but the French having violated the neutrality
of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and taken possession of the city of
Leghorn, directed the cannon of the fortresses against the British
shipping in the road, and seized on British property; it was believed
they had the same design against Porto Ferrajo, in the island of Elba;
and the ROYALS were withdrawn from Corsica in July, 1796, to take
possession of this place. Meanwhile the success of the French arms in
various parts of Europe, particularly the victorious career of General
Bonaparte in Italy, had produced a revolution of feeling amongst the
inhabitants of Corsica. Bonaparte was a native of the island, and
the Corsicans gloried in him as a man who reflected honour on his
country; this produced a feeling of regret that the island had become
annexed to Great Britain, and they began to plot measures to effect its
separation. It appearing evident that the cost of the defence would
exceed the advantage derived from the possession of the island, it was
evacuated in October, and the remainder of the troops proceeded to
Elba, where the 2nd battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was stationed.
[Sidenote: 1797]
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
The 1st battalion had, in the meantime, been much reduced in numbers by
its arduous services in the island of St. Domingo; and in May, 1797, it
returned to England, from whence it was ordered to Scotland to recruit.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
The French republic had concluded a treaty of peace with Spain, and
entered into negociations with the Portuguese; but the Queen of
Portugal refused to ratify the treaty, and agreed to receive British
troops into several ports of Portugal. The 2nd battalion of the ROYAL
Regiment was, in consequence, withdrawn in the summer of 1797 from the
island of Elba to proceed to Portugal; calling at Gibraltar, it there
received drafts from the several regiments in that garrison, and, on
its arrival in the river Tagus, it was placed in garrison at Cascaes, a
small sea-port in the district of Torres Vedras, fifteen miles west of
Lisbon, where the battalion was stationed during the remainder of this
and the following year.
[Sidenote: 1798]
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1799]
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
In 1798 the 1st battalion, having recruited its numbers, proceeded
from Great Britain to Ireland; and in the beginning of 1799 the 2nd
battalion was withdrawn from Portugal, and after its arrival in England
it was encamped on Barham Downs.
Bonaparte was at this period in Egypt, French troops were also
engaged in operations on the Rhine, on the Danube, and elsewhere;
and a favourable opportunity appeared to present itself for rescuing
Holland from the power of France, into which it had fallen after the
unfortunate issue of the campaign in the Netherlands in 1794. A plan
of co-operation was concerted between Great Britain and Russia, in the
expectation that the Dutch would rise in arms against the French, and
in favour of the Prince of Orange, and, aided by the Anglo-Russian
force, would exert themselves to effect their emancipation. The 2nd
battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was selected to form part of the
expedition to Holland, and it sailed from Deal on the 13th of August,
with several other corps commanded by General Sir Ralph Abercombie,
and, after some delay from contrary winds, landed on the 27th on the
Dutch coast, near the _Helder_. A considerable body of French and Dutch
troops assembled near the point of debarkation, some sharp fighting
occurred, and in the evening the enemy retreated to a position six
miles in his rear. The garrison in the Helder also abandoned its
post, which was taken possession of on the following day by the 2nd
battalion of the ROYALS and the 92nd Regiment. A numerous train of
heavy and field artillery was found in this important post; and two
days afterwards the Dutch fleet surrendered without striking a blow,
and hoisted the colours of the Prince of Orange.
The Dutch people did not, however, manifest a disposition to rise
against the French; but on the 10th of September the united French and
Dutch forces attacked Sir Ralph Abercombie's position near _Shagen_,
and were repulsed by the steady valour of the British troops. The
British commander observed in his despatch,--"It is impossible for
me to do full justice to the good conduct of the troops." The 2nd
battalion of the ROYAL Regiment had Lieutenant Gordon and three private
men wounded on this occasion.
Additional forces were sent from England, and His Royal Highness the
Duke of York arrived and took the command of the army. A Russian
force also arrived; and on the 19th of September an attack was made
on the enemy's position, but, owing to the inconsiderate valour of
the Russians, it failed. On the 2nd of October another attack was
made on the enemy's positions between Bergen and _Egmont-op-Zee_, in
which the ROYALS had another opportunity of signalizing themselves.
"The points where this well-fought battle were principally contested
were from the sea-shore in front of Egmont, extending along the sandy
desert, or hills, to the heights above Bergen, and it was sustained by
the British columns under those highly-distinguished officers General
Sir Ralph Abercrombie and Lieut.-General Dundas, whose exertions, as
well as the gallantry of the brave troops they led, cannot have been
surpassed by any former instance of British valour[107]." The ROYALS
were engaged with the enemy's troops occupying the sand-hills in front
of Egmont-op-Zee, and lost on this occasion seven private men killed,
Captains Barns and Hunter, Lieutenants Ainslie, Edmonston, Patten,
Bowe, Fraser, and Johnstone, Ensign Birmingham, four serjeants, and
sixty-one rank and file wounded, Lieutenant Hope wounded and taken
prisoner, and ten rank and file missing.
The gallant conduct evinced by the battalion on this occasion was
afterwards rewarded with the Royal permission to bear the word
"EGMONT-OP-ZEE" on its colours.