behalf to make any attempt to deliver themselves from the power of
France; and, several circumstances, calculated to render the expedition
unsuccessful having occurred, it was decided that, instead of fighting
for a people who were not resolved to be free, the troops should be
withdrawn from Holland. A convention was in consequence concluded with
the enemy, and the 2nd battalion of the ROYAL Regiment returned to
England.
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
The 1st battalion was stationed during the whole of this year in
Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1800]
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
The 2nd battalion did not remain long on home service before it
was again ordered to embark; and it formed part of the force under
Lieut.-General Sir James Pulteney which landed on the 25th of August,
1800, on the coast of Galicia, in Spain, with the view of attacking
the strong fortress of _Ferrol_, a sea-port situated at the influx of
the river Javia into the extensive inlet called the Bay of Corunna.
Having made good their landing, the troops advanced to the heights
which overlook the town; some sharp skirmishing took place, and the
ROYALS had one private soldier killed, and Lieutenant Edmonston and
one private soldier wounded. After viewing the town and its defences,
Sir James Pulteney resolved not to lose time in attacking this place,
but to re-embark the troops and proceed to join General Sir Ralph
Abercrombie, who commanded a British force in the Mediterranean. The
united forces afterwards sailed to _Cadiz_, and summoned the governor
to surrender; but a disease was ravaging the city at the time, and
the fleet quitted the coast for fear of infection, and proceeded to
Gibraltar.
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
During the summer the 1st battalion quitted Ireland, and proceeded to
Scotland, where it continued during the remainder of the year.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
After its arrival at Gibraltar the 2nd battalion was selected to form
part of an expedition under the orders of Sir Ralph Abercrombie,
designed to drive the French army out of Egypt; and in November it
sailed from Gibraltar to the island of Malta, where the men were
disembarked to refresh themselves after having been many months at
sea. The abundance of fresh provisions which the island afforded, the
comforts of the beautiful city of Valetta, with the luxury of the
scenery, soon restored and reanimated the troops; and on the 20th of
December the expedition sailed for the Bay of Marmorice, in Asiatic
Turkey, where the fleet arrived in nine days.
[Sidenote: 1801]
Here the troops remained for several weeks, in a bay surrounded by
mountains, which presented to the eye the most picturesque scenery
imaginable; the regiments were successively disembarked and exercised;
Turkish horses were purchased for the cavalry; gun-boats were procured
to cover the landing of the troops in Egypt, and a plan of co-operation
was arranged with the Turks. The delays of the Turks detained the fleet
some time; but on the 23rd of February, 1801, it again put to sea, when
a gale of wind dispersed the Greek and Turkish vessels. The British
continued their course, and having arrived on the 1st of March off the
celebrated city of Alexandria, the ancient capital of Egypt, they bore
down at sunset into the bay of _Aboukir_.
The 2nd battalion of the ROYALS was formed in brigade with the 1st
and 2nd battalions of the 54th, and the 92nd Highlanders, commanded
by Major-General Coote, and formed part of the van-guard of 5000
men, which entered the boats on the morning of the 8th of March, to
effect a landing. At nine o'clock the boats moved forward, and as
they approached the shore, the French troops poured down a shower of
shot, shells, grape, and musketry, which cut the surface of the water
into deep furrows, and sank several of the boats. Yet the undaunted
Britons pressed forward;--the reserve leaped out of the boats on the
shore and formed as they advanced;--the 23rd and flank companies of
the 40th rushed up the heights in the face of dangers and difficulties
sufficient to intimidate ordinary men;--the 28th and 42nd also formed
and mounted the position;--while the Foot Guards and 58th prolonged
the attack;--and the ROYALS and 54th pushed forward to sustain their
brave companions in arms. A column of French infantry advancing through
a hollow way with fixed bayonets against the left flank of the Foot
Guards, encountered the ROYALS and 54th; the British pressed forward
to engage their antagonists with their characteristic ardour; the
French hesitated, fired a volley, and then retreated; and the ROYALS
and 54th continued their advance. The regiments, which first ascended
the enemy's position, had already gained considerable advantage, and
when the ROYALS reached the heights and joined in the attack, the
French retreated. They, however, maintained a scattered fire from the
rear sand-hills for about an hour and a half, when they were obliged
to retreat, with the loss of eight pieces of cannon and many horses.
Sir Ralph Abercrombie expressed his approbation of the conduct of
the troops in general orders in the following terms:--"The gallant
behaviour of the troops in the action of yesterday claims from the
Commander-in-Chief the warmest praise that he can bestow; and it is
with particular satisfaction that he observed their conduct marked
equally for ardent bravery, and by coolness, regularity, and order."
The loss of the 2nd battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was--Lieutenant
Lyster, 1 serjeant, and 11 rank and file, killed; Captain---- M'Donald,
Lieutenants Graham and Fraser, 3 serjeants, and 40 rank and file,
wounded.
In the evening after the action the victorious troops advanced three
miles on the road towards Alexandria; on the 10th they advanced three
miles further, and, owing to the depth of the sand, the men were three
hours proceeding that short distance. On the 12th they encamped near
Mandora Tower, and on the succeeding day marched through the wood
of date-trees to attack the enemy on the ridge of heights in front.
Some sharp fighting occurred, and the French were driven from their
position, and forced to retreat over the plains to their lines on the
heights before Alexandria. The ROYALS lost during this day's service 4
men killed and 21 wounded.
After this victory the British troops took up a position with their
right to the sea, and their left to the canal of Alexandria; and the
Arabs visited the camp and brought sheep, goats, fowls, eggs, and
everything the country afforded, and appeared happy to engage in a
friendly intercourse with their deliverers. On the 19th 500 Turkish
troops arrived and encamped three miles in the rear of the army. The
French at _Alexandria_ having been increased in numbers by troops from
the interior, advanced on the 21st of March to attack the British,
and the ROYALS had another opportunity of acquiring laurels on the
distant shores of Egypt. The battalion, being on the right of the
1st brigade, had its post in the centre of the front line, on the
left of the Foot Guards. As soon as the day dawned a column of French
grenadiers advanced, supported by a heavy line of infantry, to assault
this part of the position. The Foot Guards threw forward a line of
skirmishers; these being driven in, and the French column near, the
brigade opened its fire with great precision. The enemy attempted to
turn the left flank of the Guards, but was checked; and the ROYALS,
with the remainder of their brigade, coming forward at the moment to
engage the enemy, the French grenadiers were driven from their ground
and forced to retreat. A crowd of French sharp-shooters afterwards
advanced against the ROYALS and other regiments at this part of the
field, and the French artillery played incessantly. But the British
stood their ground manfully, and repelled the attacks of the enemy with
a constancy and valour which redounded to their honour. The French
were repulsed at every point of attack, and forced to retreat; and
at 10 o'clock A.M. the action ceased. The splendour of the victory
was, however, clouded with the fall of the British commander, Sir
Ralph Abercrombie, who was wounded in the action and died a few days
afterwards. The loss sustained by the 2nd battalion of the ROYAL
Regiment was--9 rank and file killed; with Captain Goodson, Lieutenants
Gordon, M'Pherson, and Johnstone, 1 serjeant, and 68 rank and file,
wounded. Four days after the battle, between five and six thousand
Turks arrived. Soon afterwards a body of British and Turks traversed
the country to the city of _Rosetta_, situated near the mouth of one
of the great channels of the river Nile, a place distinguished by the
beauty of its environs, being completely embosomed in a grove of date,
banana, sycamore, orange, lemon, and pomegranate trees, while the lofty
palm-tree, towering over all, added magnificence to the landscape.
This place was soon captured; but the fort of St. Julian held out,
and, while the siege was in progress, the ROYALS marched across the
country to _Hamed_, on the Nile, five miles above Rosetta, where they
arrived on the 12th of April. A small force of British, Turks, and
Greeks, assembled at this place, to cover the siege, several skirmishes
occurred, and the ROYALS had two drummers and eight private men killed.
After the surrender of St. Julian, General Hutchinson, who commanded
the British forces in Egypt, having left a body of troops before
Alexandria, advanced with the remainder, on the 5th of May, along the
banks of the Nile, through a rich country, abounding in rice, sugar,
wheat, barley, and other necessaries and luxuries of life, and on the
7th of May drove the French from the post of _El-Aft_. He also forced
the enemy to quit their fortified post at _Rahmanie_, and to retire
through the desert to the city of _Cairo_, the metropolis of modern
Egypt. The ROYALS had three men wounded in the skirmish near Rahmanie.
The British and Turks continued their route along the banks of the
Nile, and arrived, on the 1st of June, within sight of the Pyramids.
On the 8th they encamped within a few miles of these stupendous
structures, where they halted several days; then advanced to _Cairo_
and commenced the siege of the city, and in a few days the French
surrendered the place.
The capture of the capital of Egypt added additional lustre to the
British arms; and the brave men, whose skill and prowess gained these
honours, were rewarded with the approbation of their Sovereign and the
thanks of Parliament. From Cairo the British and Turks retired down the
Nile, and proceeded to the vicinity of _Alexandria_, and, having driven
in the French out-posts, besieged the city, which was surrendered
in the beginning of September. The ROYALS had one serjeant and seven
private men killed before Alexandria, and also sustained considerable
loss from the effects of fatigue and climate.
The nations of Europe had witnessed with anxiety the progress of this
important struggle, and, when the veterans of France were overpowered,
the dawn of liberty appeared above the distant horizon.
The British troops having, by a display of gallantry and heroism which
exceeded the most sanguine expectations of their country, overcome the
boasted "_Invincible_" legions of Bonaparte, and forced the French
"_Army of the East_" to evacuate Egypt, from whence its ambitious and
tyrannical leader had vainly imagined he should be able to extend
his conquests throughout Asia, King George III. conferred upon the
ROYALS and other corps, which had thus exalted the military fame of
Great Britain, the honour of bearing on their colours the SPHYNX,
and the word "EGYPT," as a distinguished mark of His Majesty's royal
approbation of their conduct.
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
The 1st battalion had, in the meantime, marched from Scotland to
England; and it sailed on the 1st of January, 1801, from Portsmouth
for the West Indies, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Nicholson. A
combination had been entered into by the courts of Sweden, Denmark,
and Russia, to support the principles of an armed neutrality, contrary
to the stipulations of treaties, and injurious to the interests of
Great Britain; orders were in consequence issued for the attack of
the Swedish and Danish islands in the West Indies; and the ROYALS
joined the expedition, commanded by Lieut.-General Thomas Trigge, at
the island of St. Bartholomew, on the 22nd of March. On the 24th the
troops made good their landing on the Danish island of _St. Martin_.
After landing, the ROYALS, with the 11th and 2nd West India regiments,
proceeded to the French quarter and took possession of Lee Hill, which
commanded Fort Chesterfield. The artillery was dragged up the heights,
and preparations made for commencing the attack, when the governor
surrendered.
One wing of the battalion, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery,
were left at St. Martin's under Lieut.-Colonel Nicholson, who
was appointed to the command of the troops and the charge of
the administration of the island. The other wing, commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel J. C. Cowell, proceeded with the expedition to the
island of _St. Thomas_, which surrendered, together with _St. John_,
and their dependencies, on the 28th of March; and on the 31st of the
same month the Danish island of _Santa Cruz_ was taken. The battalion
was then stationed, half at the island of St. Martin, and half at St.
Thomas.
In August, 1801, General Lord Adam Gordon died, and was succeeded in
the Colonelcy of the ROYAL Regiment by His Royal Highness the Duke of
Kent, from the 7th Royal Fusiliers.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
In November of the same year the 2nd battalion was withdrawn from
Egypt, and proceeded to the island of Malta, where it remained upwards
of four months.
[Sidenote: 1802]
The victories gained by the British troops in Egypt, the West Indies,
and other parts of the globe, were followed by a treaty of peace, which
was concluded at Amiens; and in May, 1802, the 2nd battalion of the
ROYAL Regiment proceeded from Malta to Gibraltar.
[Sidenote: 1803]
It quitted Gibraltar in the beginning of 1803, and proceeded to
England. Soon after its arrival the war again broke out, and it was
ordered to the West Indies, where it arrived in June. It was inspected
at Barbadoes by Lieut.-General Greenfield, and immediately afterwards
proceeded with an expedition against the French island of _St. Lucia_.
The 1st division, consisting of the ROYALS and two field-pieces, landed
on the island in the afternoon of the 21st of June, under the orders
of Brigadier-General Brereton. The other corps followed; the French
out-posts were driven in, and the town of Castrées taken possession of.
On the following morning, before daylight, the ROYALS and 64th regiment
advanced to attack the strong post of _Morne Fortuné_ by storm. The
ROYALS led the assault in gallant style; the redoubt was carried with
fixed bayonets, and the enemy immediately surrendered. On the same day
Lieut.-General Greenfield issued a general order, in which he stated:--
"The Commander of the Forces has the honour to congratulate the troops
under his command on the gallant attack and capture of the fortress of
Morne Fortuné, and the unconditional surrender of the island of St.
Lucia.
"He shall have particular satisfaction in reporting to the King the
readiness with which the troops forming the expedition were embarked
on the shortest notice: he must, in particular, speak of the gallant
behaviour of the second battalion of the ROYALS."
The loss of the battalion on this occasion was 1 serjeant, and 8
rank and file, killed; Lieut.-Colonel Macdonald, Captain Chaloner, 2
serjeants, and 43 rank and file, wounded; and 1 rank and file missing.
Both the officers afterwards died of their wounds.
As a mark of His Majesty's approbation of the signal gallantry evinced
by the ROYALS on this occasion, they were permitted to bear the words
"SAINT LUCIA" on their colours.
After the capture of St. Lucia the expedition proceeded to _Tobago_,
where it arrived on the 30th of June. The troops landed without
opposition, and marched in column towards Scarborough; the French
governor, General Berthier, was summoned, and he surrendered the island
on the same day. The ROYALS were afterwards stationed at the island of
Tobago for several months.
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
The first battalion, which had been in the West Indies since 1801, was
employed in 1803, under Lieut.-General Greenfield, in capturing the
islands belonging to the Batavian republic. _Essequibo_ and _Demerara_
surrendered on the 20th of September, 1803; and the island of _Berbice_
surrendered to Lieut.-Colonel Robert Nicholson, of the ROYALS, on the
23rd of that month, when the Batavian garrison, of upwards of 600 men,
was made prisoners.
[Sidenote: 1804]
[Sidenote: 3rd and 4th Batts.]
While the first and second battalions were in the West Indies two
additional battalions were embodied at Hamilton, in North Britain,
on the 25th of December, 1804, and added to the establishment of
the FIRST, or ROYAL Regiment of Foot, which now consisted of four
battalions, all fit for active service.
[Sidenote: 1805]
[Sidenote: 4th Batt.]
Soon afterwards the fourth battalion marched to Stirling Castle, and,
after doing duty there a short time, embarked for Ireland.
[Sidenote: 3rd Batt.]
In May, 1805, the third battalion marched from Scotland to the south of
England.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1806]
In February of the same year the two flank companies of the second
battalion were detached from Tobago, for the defence of the island
of Antigua; and the battalion companies embarked for the defence of
Trinidad; and in July the whole returned to Tobago, where the battalion
remained until November of the same year, when, after transferring its
effective non-commissioned officers, drummers, and private men to the
first battalion, it embarked for England, and landed in January, 1806,
a mere skeleton.
[Sidenote: 4th Batt.]
[Sidenote: 3rd Batt.]
This year (1806) the fourth battalion quitted Ireland, and on its
arrival in England it was quartered at Horsham, and afterwards at
Bexhill barracks. The third battalion was also stationed, during the
winter of the same year, at Bexhill barracks.
[Sidenote: 1807]
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
In the meantime information arrived in England of the revolt of two
battalions of Sepoys, in the service of the East India Company,
at Vellore, and of their attack on a few companies of the King's
troops at that place in July, 1806; also of the alarming spirit of
insubordination evinced by the native troops in other parts of India;
and the second battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was immediately ordered
to embark for India, to strengthen the European force in that country.
When the order arrived the battalion only mustered about 500 men; but
it was completed in twenty-four hours to 1000, by volunteers from the
third and fourth battalions, then at Bexhill barracks. On the 17th of
April, 1807, it embarked at Portsmouth in six China ships, under the
orders of Lieut.-Colonel A. Stewart, arrived off the west coast of the
Malay peninsula in September following, and landed on the 18th of that
month on the Prince of Wales's Island.
[Sidenote: 3rd Batt.]
The third battalion had in the meantime proceeded to the island of
Jersey, from whence it embarked, in September, for Ireland.
[Sidenote: 4th Batt.]
The fourth battalion, consisting, after it had transferred its
service-men to the second, of about 40 rank and file, embarked in April
of the same year at Portsmouth, for Scotland; arrived at Glasgow on the
29th of that month, and commenced recruiting its numbers.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1808]
While the second battalion remained at the Prince of Wales's Island
it lost about 100 men from disease. In November it embarked for the
continent of India, landed at Madras in December, and, marching into
the interior, was stationed at Wallajahbad and Bangalore, where it
remained until March, 1808, when it returned to Madras.
[Sidenote: 4th Batt.]
During the summer of 1808 the fourth battalion, having recruited its
ranks, embarked from Scotland, and arrived in England in August.
[Sidenote: 3rd Batt.]
[Sidenote: 1809]
The resistance of the Portuguese and Spaniards to the tyrannical
government of Napoleon had, in the meantime, occasioned a British force
to be sent to their aid; and Portugal had been freed from the power of
France. Spain was overrun by the legions of Napoleon; the Spaniards
were rising in arms in every quarter; and a British force was ordered
to their aid, under the command of Lieut.-General Sir John Moore. The
third battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was selected to form part of
this force; and it accordingly embarked at Cork in September, 1808,
under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Andrew Hay,[108] and sailed for
Spain with a body of troops under the orders of Lieut.-General Sir
David Baird. These troops landed at Corunna in October, and marched
up the country; at the same time another British force was advancing
into Spain from the frontiers of Portugal, under Sir John Moore; and
a junction was effected on the 20th of December at Majorga, from
whence the united forces advanced on the following day to Sahagun, in
the province of Leon. The Spaniards had, however, been defeated and
dispersed; and the few troops under Sir John Moore were unable to cope
with the overwhelming numbers with which Napoleon advanced to attack
the British army. A retreat was consequently resolved upon; and the
third battalion of the ROYAL Regiment shared with the other corps in
all the fatigues and privations consequent upon a retrograde movement,
continued for a distance of 250 miles, along roads covered with snow,
over mountains and rivers, and through narrow defiles, with an enemy
above three times as numerous as themselves following in full career,
and frequently skirmishing with the rear-guard. Yet such was the
ability of the British commander, and the native energy and resolution
of the troops, that this retrograde movement was successfully executed,
and in the middle of January, 1809, the army arrived, unbroken, in
front of _Corunna_. Napoleon, having been foiled in his object, had
desisted from the pursuit; but he had detached a large body of troops,
under Marshal Soult, to pursue the British to the sea-shore; and a
general engagement was fought on the 16th of January, when the British
were victorious. The third battalion of the ROYAL Regiment was formed,
on this occasion, in brigade with the 26th (Cameronians), and the
second battalion of the 81st, under Major-General Manningham, in the
division commanded by Sir David Baird. Before the action commenced,
Captain Rowan was sent forward with 100 men of the ROYALS, and joined
the 81st Regiment, which had also been posted in advance. On the
approach of the enemy this party was attacked by very superior numbers,
and Captain Rowan brought back very few of his men. When the enemy
approached Sir David Baird's division, it did not wait to be attacked,
but advanced under a heavy fire to meet its opponents; on no occasion
was the valour of British troops more manifest, and the ROYALS, with
the remainder of their brigade, were thanked in general orders for
their gallant conduct. This victory was, however, purchased at the
expense of many valuable lives; and the death of Sir John Moore, who
was killed by a cannon-ball, was an irreparable loss to his country.
The British troops afterwards embarked at Corunna, and returned to
England. When the ROYALS arrived in England, it was discovered that
they had sustained, in killed, wounded, missing, and death from
fatigue, a loss of about 250 men: and their gallantry was rewarded with
the Royal permission to bear the word CORUNNA on their colours.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
This year (1809) the 2nd battalion marched, under the command of
Lieut.-Colonel H. Conran, from Fort St. George, Madras, to take the
field. Previously to quitting this station the following order was
issued by the Governor-General in Council:--
"On the march of the 2nd battalion of the ROYALS from the garrison
of Fort St. George, Lieut.-Colonel Conran will assume the command of
the force under the orders of march to the ceded districts, without
interfering with the command of the troops in the centre division of
the army.