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[Illustration:
BY COMMAND OF His late Majesty WILLIAM THE IV^{TH}.
_and under the Patronage of_
Her Majesty the Queen.
HISTORICAL RECORDS,
_OF THE_
British Army
_Comprising the_
_History of every Regiment_
_IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE_.
_By Richard Cannon Esq^{re}._
_Adjutant General's Office, Horse Guards._
London.
_Printed by Authority._]
GENERAL ORDERS.
_HORSE-GUARDS_,
_1st January, 1836_.
HIS MAJESTY has been pleased to command, that, with a view of doing
the fullest justice to Regiments, as well as to Individuals who
have distinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action with the
Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regiment in the British
Army shall be published under the superintendence and direction
of the Adjutant-General; and that this Account shall contain the
following particulars: _viz._,
---- The Period and Circumstances of the Original Formation of
the Regiment; The Stations at which it has been from time to time
employed; The Battles, Sieges, and other Military Operations,
in which it has been engaged, particularly specifying any
Achievement it may have performed, and the Colours, Trophies,
&c., it may have captured from the Enemy.
---- The Names of the Officers and the number of Non-Commissioned
Officers and Privates, Killed or Wounded by the Enemy, specifying
the Place and Date of the Action.
---- The Names of those Officers, who, in consideration of their
Gallant Services and Meritorious Conduct in Engagements with the
Enemy, have been distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other
Marks of His Majesty's gracious favour.
---- The Names of all such Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers
and Privates as may have specially signalized themselves in
Action.
And,
---- The Badges and Devices which the Regiment may have been
permitted to bear, and the Causes on account of which such Badges
or Devices, or any other Marks of Distinction, have been granted.
By Command of the Right Honourable
GENERAL LORD HILL,
_Commanding-in-Chief_.
JOHN MACDONALD,
_Adjutant-General_.
PREFACE.
The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly depend
upon the zeal and ardour, by which all who enter into its service
are animated, and consequently it is of the highest importance that
any measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation, by which
alone great and gallant actions are achieved, should be adopted.
Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this desirable
object, than a full display of the noble deeds with which the
Military History of our country abounds. To hold forth these bright
examples to the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to
incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those who have
preceded him in their honourable career, are among the motives that
have given rise to the present publication.
The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced in the
'London Gazette,' from whence they are transferred into the public
prints: the achievements of our armies are thus made known at the
time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute of praise and
admiration to which they are entitled. On extraordinary occasions,
the Houses of Parliament have been in the habit of conferring on
the Commanders, and the Officers and Troops acting under their
orders, expressions of approbation and of thanks for their skill
and bravery, and these testimonials, confirmed by the high honour
of their Sovereign's Approbation, constitute the reward which the
soldier most highly prizes.
It has not, however, until late years, been the practice (which
appears to have long prevailed in some of the Continental armies)
for British Regiments to keep regular records of their services
and achievements. Hence some difficulty has been experienced in
obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments, an authentic
account of their origin and subsequent services.
This defect will now be remedied, in consequence of His Majesty
having been pleased to command, that every Regiment shall in future
keep a full and ample record of its services at home and abroad.
From the materials thus collected, the country will henceforth
derive information as to the difficulties and privations which
chequer the career of those who embrace the military profession. In
Great Britain, where so large a number of persons are devoted to
the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and
where these pursuits have, for so long a period, been undisturbed
by the _presence of war_, which few other countries have escaped,
comparatively little is known of the vicissitudes of active
service, and of the casualties of climate, to which, even during
peace, the British Troops are exposed in every part of the globe,
with little or no interval of repose.
In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the country
derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agriculturist
and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be supposed not often to
reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor,--on
their sufferings,--and on the sacrifice of valuable life, by which
so many national benefits are obtained and preserved.
The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endurance,
have shone conspicuously under great and trying difficulties; and
their character has been established in Continental warfare by the
irresistible spirit with which they have effected debarkations in
spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the gallantry and
steadiness with which they have maintained their advantages against
superior numbers.
In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders, ample
justice has generally been done to the gallant exertions of the
Corps employed; but the details of their services, and of acts of
individual bravery, can only be fully given in the Annals of the
various Regiments.
These Records are now preparing for publication, under His
Majesty's special authority, by MR. RICHARD CANNON, Principal Clerk
of the Adjutant-General's Office; and while the perusal of them
cannot fail to be useful and interesting to military men of every
rank, it is considered that they will also afford entertainment and
information to the general reader, particularly to those who may
have served in the Army, or who have relatives in the Service.
There exists in the breasts of most of those who have served, or
are serving, in the Army, an _Esprit de Corps_--an attachment
to every thing belonging to their Regiment; to such persons a
narrative of the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove
interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions of the great,--the
valiant,--the loyal, have always been of paramount interest with
a brave and civilised people. Great Britain has produced a race
of heroes who, in moments of danger and terror, have stood, "firm
as the rocks of their native shore;" and when half the World has
been arrayed against them, they have fought the battles of their
Country with unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of
achievements in war,--victories so complete and surprising, gained
by our countrymen,--our brothers--our fellow-citizens in arms,--a
record which revives the memory of the brave, and brings their
gallant deeds before us, will certainly prove acceptable to the
public.
Biographical memoirs of the Colonels and other distinguished
Officers, will be introduced in the Records of their respective
Regiments, and the Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to
time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testifying the value
and importance of its services, will be faithfully set forth.
As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record of each Regiment
will be printed in a distinct number, so that when the whole shall
be completed, the Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.
INTRODUCTION
TO
THE INFANTRY.
The natives of Britain have, at all periods, been celebrated for
innate courage and unshaken firmness, and the national superiority
of the British troops over those of other countries has been
evinced in the midst of the most imminent perils. History contains
so many proofs of extraordinary acts of bravery, that no doubts can
be raised upon the facts which are recorded. It must therefore be
admitted, that the distinguishing feature of the British soldier is
INTREPIDITY. This quality was evinced by the inhabitants of England
when their country was invaded by Julius Cæsar with a Roman army,
on which occasion the undaunted Britons rushed into the sea to
attack the Roman soldiers as they descended from their ships; and,
although their discipline and arms were inferior to those of their
adversaries, yet their fierce and dauntless bearing intimidated
the flower of the Roman troops, including Cæsar's favourite tenth
legion. Their arms consisted of spears, short swords, and other
weapons of rude construction. They had chariots, to the axles of
which were fastened sharp pieces of iron resembling scythe-blades,
and infantry in long chariots resembling waggons, who alighted and
fought on foot, and for change of ground, pursuit, or retreat,
sprang into the chariot and drove off with the speed of cavalry.
These inventions were, however, unavailing against Cæsar's
legions: in the course of time a military system, with discipline
and subordination, was introduced, and British courage, being
thus regulated, was exerted to the greatest advantage; a full
development of the national character followed, and it shone forth
in all its native brilliancy.
The military force of the Anglo-Saxons consisted principally of
infantry: Thanes, and other men of property, however, fought on
horseback. The infantry were of two classes, heavy and light. The
former carried large shields armed with spikes, long broad swords
and spears; and the latter were armed with swords or spears only.
They had also men armed with clubs, others with battle-axes and
javelins.
The feudal troops established by William the Conqueror, consisted
(as already stated in the Introduction to the cavalry) almost
entirely of horse; but when the warlike barons and knights, with
their trains of tenants and vassals, took the field, a proportion
of men appeared on foot, and, although these were of inferior
degree, they proved stout-hearted Britons of stanch fidelity. When
stipendiary troops were employed, infantry always constituted a
considerable portion of the military force; and this _arme_ has
since acquired, in every quarter of the globe, a celebrity never
exceeded by the armies of any nation at any period.
The weapons carried by the infantry, during the several reigns
succeeding the Conquest, were bows and arrows, half-pikes, lances,
halberds, various kinds of battle-axes, swords, and daggers. Armour
was worn on the head and body, and in course of time the practice
became general for military men to be so completely cased in steel,
that it was almost impossible to slay them.
The introduction of the use of gunpowder in the destructive
purposes of war, in the early part of the fourteenth
century, produced a change in the arms and equipment of the
infantry-soldier. Bows and arrows gave place to various kinds of
fire-arms, but British archers continued formidable adversaries;
and owing to the inconvenient construction and imperfect bore of
the fire-arms when first introduced, a body of men, well trained
in the use of the bow from their youth, was considered a valuable
acquisition to every army, even as late as the sixteenth century.
During a great part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth each company
of infantry usually consisted of men armed five different ways;
in every hundred men forty were "_men-at-arms_," and sixty
"_shot_;" the "men-at-arms" were ten halberdiers, or battle-axe
men, and thirty pikemen; and the "shot" were twenty archers, twenty
musketeers, and twenty harquebusiers, and each man carried, besides
his principal weapon, a sword and dagger.
Companies of infantry varied at this period in numbers from 150
to 300 men; each company had a colour or ensign, and the mode of
formation recommended by an English military writer (Sir John
Smithe) in 1590, was:--the colour in the centre of the company
guarded by the halberdiers; the pikemen, in equal proportions, on
each flank of the halberdiers; half the musketeers on each flank of
the pikes; half the archers on each flank of the musketeers; and
the harquebusiers (whose arms were much lighter than the musket
then in use) in equal proportions on each flank of the company for
skirmishing.[1] It was customary to unite a number of companies
into one body, called a REGIMENT, which frequently amounted
to three thousand men; but each company continued to carry a
colour. Numerous improvements were eventually introduced in the
construction of fire-arms, and, it having been found impossible to
make armour proof against the muskets then in use (which carried
a very heavy ball) without its being too weighty for the soldier,
armour was gradually laid aside by the infantry in the seventeenth
century: bows and arrows also fell into disuse, and the infantry
were reduced to two classes, viz.: _musketeers_, armed with
matchlock muskets, swords, and daggers; and _pikemen_, armed with
pikes, from fourteen to eighteen feet long, and swords.
In the early part of the seventeenth century Gustavus Adolphus,
King of Sweden, reduced the strength of regiments to 1000 men; he
caused the gunpowder, which had heretofore been carried in flasks,
or in small wooden bandaliers, each containing a charge, to be
made up into cartridges, and carried in pouches; and he formed
each regiment into two wings of musketeers, and a centre division
of pikemen. He also adopted the practice of forming four regiments
into a brigade; and the number of colours was afterwards reduced to
three in each regiment. He formed his columns so compactly that his
infantry could resist the charge of the celebrated Polish horsemen
and Austrian cuirassiers; and his armies became the admiration of
other nations. His mode of formation was copied by the English,
French, and other European states; but, so great was the prejudice
in favour of ancient customs, that all his improvements were not
adopted until near a century afterwards.
In 1664 King Charles II. raised a corps for sea-service, styled
the Admiral's regiment. In 1678 each company of 100 men usually
consisted of 30 pikemen, 60 musketeers, and 10 men armed with light
firelocks. In this year the king added a company of men armed with
hand-grenades to each of the old British regiments, which was
designated the "grenadier company." Daggers were so contrived as to
fit in the muzzles of the muskets, and bayonets similar to those at
present in use were adopted about twenty years afterwards.
An Ordnance regiment was raised in 1685, by order of King James
II., to guard the artillery, and was designated the Royal Fusiliers
(now 7th Foot). This corps, and the companies of grenadiers, did
not carry pikes.
King William III. incorporated the Admiral's regiment in the Second
Foot Guards, and raised two Marine regiments for sea-service.
During the war in this reign, each company of infantry (excepting
the fusiliers and grenadiers) consisted of 14 pikemen and 46
musketeers; the captains carried pikes; lieutenants, partisans;
ensigns, half-pikes; and serjeants, halberds. After the peace in
1697 the Marine regiments were disbanded, but were again formed on
the breaking out of the war in 1702.[2]
During the reign of Queen Anne the pikes were laid aside, and every
infantry soldier was armed with a musket, bayonet, and sword; the
grenadiers ceased, about the same period, to carry hand-grenades;
and the regiments were directed to lay aside their third colour:
the corps of Royal Artillery was first added to the army in this
reign.
About the year 1745, the men of the battalion companies of infantry
ceased to carry swords; during the reign of George II. light
companies were added to infantry regiments; and in 1764 a Board of
General Officers recommended that the grenadiers should lay aside
their swords, as that weapon had never been used during the seven
years' war. Since that period the arms of the infantry soldier have
been limited to the musket and bayonet.
The arms and equipment of the British troops have seldom differed
materially, since the Conquest, from those of other European
states; and in some respects the arming has, at certain periods,
been allowed to be inferior to that of the nations with whom they
have had to contend; yet, under this disadvantage, the bravery and
superiority of the British infantry have been evinced on very many
and most trying occasions, and splendid victories have been gained
over very superior numbers.
Great Britain has produced a race of lion-like champions who have
dared to confront a host of foes, and have proved themselves
valiant with any arms. At _Crècy_, King Edward III., at the head
of about 30,000 men, defeated, on the 26th of August, 1346, Philip
King of France, whose army is said to have amounted to 100,000
men; here British valour encountered veterans of renown:--the
King of Bohemia, the King of Majorca, and many princes and nobles
were slain, and the French army was routed and cut to pieces. Ten
years afterwards, Edward Prince of Wales, who was designated the
Black Prince, defeated at _Poictiers_, with 14,000 men, a French
army of 60,000 horse, besides infantry, and took John I., King of
France, and his son Philip, prisoners. On the 25th of October,
1415, King Henry V., with an army of about 13,000 men, although
greatly exhausted by marches, privations, and sickness, defeated,
at _Agincourt_, the Constable of France, at the head of the flower
of the French nobility and an army said to amount to 60,000 men,
and gained a complete victory.
During the seventy years' war between the United Provinces of the
Netherlands and the Spanish monarch, which commenced in 1578 and
terminated in 1648, the British infantry in the service of the
States General were celebrated for their unconquerable spirit and
firmness;[3] and in the thirty years' war between the Protestant
Princes and the Emperor of Germany, the British troops in the
service of Sweden and other states were celebrated for deeds of
heroism.[4] In the wars of Queen Anne, the fame of the British army
under the great MARLBOROUGH was spread throughout the world; and
if we glance at the achievements performed within the memory of
persons now living, there is abundant proof that the Britons of the
present age are not inferior to their ancestors in the qualities
which constitute good soldiers. Witness the deeds of the brave
men, of whom there are many now surviving, who fought in Egypt
in 1801, under the brave Abercrombie, and compelled the French
army, which had been vainly styled _Invincible_, to evacuate that
country; also the services of the gallant Troops during the arduous
campaigns in the Peninsula, under the immortal WELLINGTON; and
the determined stand made by the British Army at Waterloo, where
Napoleon Bonaparte, who had long been the inveterate enemy of Great
Britain, and had sought and planned her destruction by every means
he could devise, was compelled to leave his vanquished legions to
their fate, and to place himself at the disposal of the British
government. These achievements, with others of recent dates in the
distant climes of India, prove that the same valour and constancy
which glowed in the breasts of the heroes of Crècy, Poictiers,
Agincourt, Blenheim, and Ramilies, continue to animate the Britons
of the nineteenth century.
The British soldier is distinguished for a robust and muscular
frame,--intrepidity which no danger can appal,--unconquerable
spirit and resolution,--patience in fatigue and privation, and
cheerful obedience to his superiors. These qualities, united with
an excellent system of order and discipline to regulate and give
a skilful direction to the energies and adventurous spirit of
the hero, and a wise selection of officers of superior talent to
command, whose presence inspires confidence,--have been the leading
causes of the splendid victories gained by the British arms.[5]
The fame of the deeds of the past and present generations in the
various battle-fields where the robust sons of Albion have fought
and conquered, surrounds the British arms with an halo of glory;
these achievements will live in the page of history to the end of
time.
The records of the several regiments will be found to contain a
detail of facts of an interesting character, connected with the
hardships, sufferings, and gallant exploits of British soldiers in
the various parts of the world where the calls of their Country
and the commands of their Sovereign, have required them to proceed
in the execution of their duty, whether in active continental
operations, or in maintaining colonial territories in distant and
unfavourable climes.
The superiority of the British infantry has been pre-eminently set
forth in the wars of six centuries, and admitted by the greatest
commanders which Europe has produced. The formations and movements
of this _arme_, as at present practised, while they are adapted
to every species of warfare, and to all probable situations
and circumstances of service, are calculated to show forth the
brilliancy of military tactics calculated upon mathematical and
scientific principles. Although the movements and evolutions have
been copied from the continental armies, yet various improvements
have from time to time been introduced, to ensure that simplicity
and celerity by which the superiority of the national military
character is maintained. The rank and influence, which Great
Britain has attained among the nations of the world, have in a
great measure been purchased by the valour of the Army, and to
persons, who have the welfare of their country at heart, the
records of the several regiments cannot fail to prove interesting.
1838.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] A company of 200 men would appear thus:--
__|
| |
|__|
|
20 20 20 30 2|0 30 20 20 20
Harquebuses. Muskets. Halberds. Muskets. Harquebuses.
Archers. Pikes. Pikes. Archers.
The musket carried a ball which weighed 1/10 of a pound; and the
harquebus a ball which weighed 1/25 of a pound.
[2] The 30th, 31st, and 32nd Regiments were formed as Marine corps
in 1702, and were employed as such during the wars in the reign
of Queen Anne. The Marine corps were embarked in the Fleet under
Admiral Sir George Rooke, and were at the taking of Gibraltar, and
in its subsequent defence in 1704; they were afterwards employed at
the siege of Barcelona in 1705.
[3] The brave Sir Roger Williams, in his discourse on war, printed
in 1590, observes:--"I persuade myself ten thousand of our nation
would beat thirty thousand of theirs (the Spaniards) out of the
field, let them be chosen where they list." Yet at this time the
Spanish infantry was allowed to be the best disciplined in Europe.
For instances of valour displayed by the British Infantry during
the Seventy Years' War, see the Historical Record of the Third
Foot, or Buffs.
[4] Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of
Foot.
[5] "Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes
the successes which have attended the exertions of his troops in
Egypt, to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but
His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and forcibly impressed
on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a
strict observance of order, discipline, and military system, which
has given the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and
has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national
military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under
circumstances of peculiar difficulty."--_General Orders in 1801._
In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope
(afterwards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the
successful result of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January,
1809, it is stated:--"On no occasion has the undaunted valour of
British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a
severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority
which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired
the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be
encountered. These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the
troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever
advantages of position or of numbers he may possess, there is
inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows
not how to yield--that no circumstances can appal--and that will
ensure victory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any
human means."
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE FOURTH,
OR THE
KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF FOOT:
CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF
THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT IN 1680,
AND OF
ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1839.
_ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES._
PUBLISHED BY LONGMAN, ORME, AND CO.,
PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON;
AND BY W. CLOWES AND SONS,
_14, Charing Cross_;
AND TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.
1839.
HISTORICAL RECORDS
OF THE
BRITISH ARMY.
PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE
ADJUTANT-GENERAL.
THE FOURTH,
OR
THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF FOOT.
LONDON:
Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS,
14, Charing Cross.
THE
FOURTH,
OR
THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF FOOT,
BEARS ON ITS COLOURS, AS A REGIMENTAL BADGE,
_THE LION OF ENGLAND_;
WITH THE FOLLOWING INSCRIPTIONS,
"CORUNNA," "BADAJOZ," "SALAMANCA,"
"VITTORIA," "ST. SEBASTIAN,"
"NIVE," "PENINSULA," "BLADENSBURG,"
"WATERLOO."
CONTENTS.
Anno Page
1680 The origin of the regiment 1
---- Designated the _Second Tangier Regiment_ 3
---- Embarks for Tangier in Africa 5
1684 Returns to England 7
---- Designated _Her Royal Highness the Duchess
of York and Albany's regiment_ --
1685 Styled _The Queen's regiment_ 8
---- Battle of Sedgemoor 9
---- Twelve new colours presented to the regiment 10
1688 The Revolution 12
1690 Embarks for Ireland 15
---- Battle of the Boyne --
---- Returns to England 16
---- Embarks with the forces under the Earl of Marlborough
for Ireland 17
---- Sieges of Cork and Kinsale --
1691 Siege of Limerick 18
---- Returns to England 19
1692 Embarks for the Netherlands --
---- Battle of Steenkirk --
1693 Relief of Furnes 20
---- Battle of Landen 21
1694 Covering the siege of Huy 22
1695 Siege of Namur 23
1696 Returns to England 25
1697 Embarks for the Netherlands 26
---- Returns to England --
1702 Expedition to Cadiz and destruction of the French
and Spanish shipping at Vigo 28
1703 Constituted a corps of _Marines_ 30
1703 Embarks on board the fleet 32
1704 Attempt on Barcelona --
---- Capture of Gibraltar 33
---- Defence of Gibraltar 34
1709} Returns to England 38
1710}
1711 Ceases to be a corps of _Marines_ --
---- Expedition to Canada --
1715 Obtains the title of _The King's Own_ 41
1725 Proceeds to Scotland 43
1731 Returns to England --
1736 Proceeds to Scotland --
1737 Returns to England --
1744 Embarks for the Netherlands 44
1745 Returns to England --
---- Marches to Scotland --
1746 Battle of Falkirk 45
---- --------- Culloden 46
1747 Returns to England 48
1751 Colours, and regimental distinctions --
1754 Embarks for Minorca 49
1756 Defence of Fort St. Philip 50
---- Returns to England, and augmented to two battalions 53
1758 The second battalion constituted the sixty-second
regiment --
---- Embarks for the West Indies --
1759 Attack on Martinico --
---- Capture of Guadaloupe 54
1761 ---------- Dominico 57
1762 ---------- Martinico 58
---- ---------- Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Lucie 59
---- ---------- The Havannah --
1764 Returns to England 60
1768 Proceeds to Scotland --
1773 Returns to England 60
1774 Embarks for North America --
1775 Actions at Concord and Lexington 62
---- Battle of Bunkers Hill 64
1776 Proceeds to Nova Scotia 65
---- ----------- Staten Island --
---- Capture of Long Island --
---- Proceeds to New York 66
---- Skirmishes at Pell's Point and White Plains --
---- Capture of Fort Washington 67
1777 Expedition to Danbury --
---- -------- against Philadelphia 69
---- Action at Chad's Ford --
---- --------- Germantown 70
---- --------- White Marsh 71
1778 Retreat to New York 72
---- Proceeds to the West Indies --
---- Capture of St. Lucie 73
1780 Returns to England 74
---- Proceeds to Ireland --
1787 Embarks for Nova Scotia --
1793 Capture of Miquelon and St. Pierre 75
1794 Proceeds to Lower Canada --
1797 Returns to England--One transport captured by
a French privateer 76
1799 Augmented to three battalions --
---- Embarks for Holland 77
---- Battle of Egmont-op-Zee 78
---- Returns to England 79
1802 Second and third battalions disbanded --
1803 Preparations to repel the French invasion 80
1804 A second battalion added to the regiment 88
1805 Embarks for Hanover 89
1806 Returns to England 90
1807 Expedition to Copenhagen --
---- Returns to England 91
1808 Embarks for Sweden 91
---- Returns to England --
---- Proceeds to Portugal 92
---- Advances into Spain --
---- Retreats to the coast --
1809 Battle of Corunna 93
---- Returns to England 94
---- Expedition to Walcheren 95
1810 Second battalion proceeds to Gibraltar --
---- First battalion proceeds to Portugal 96
---- Lines of Torres Vedras --
1811 Battle of Sabugal --
---- Skirmish near Barba del Puerco 97
1812 Covering the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo 98
---- Storming of Badajoz 99
---- Battle of Salamanca 105
---- Siege of Burgos 106
---- Skirmish near the Carion --
1813 Battle of Vittoria 108
---- Siege of St. Sebastian 109
---- Passage of the Bidassoa 112
---- Battle of the Nivelle 113
---- ------------- Nive --
1814 Blockade of Bayonne 114
---- Embarks for the West Indies 116
---- Expedition to the Chesapeake 117
---- Battle of Bladensburg 118
---- Capture of Washington 119
---- Expedition against Baltimore 121
---- Battle of Godly Wood --
---- Returns to the West Indies 123
---- Expedition against New Orleans 124
1815 Capture of Fort Bowyer 128
---- Returns to England --
1815 Embarks for Flanders 129
---- Battle of Waterloo --
---- Advances to Paris 130
---- Second battalion disbanded 131
1816 Forms part of the army of occupation in France --
1818 Returns to England 133
1819 Embarks for the West Indies --
1826 Returns to England 137
---- Embarks for Portugal 138
1828 Returns to England 139
---- Proceeds to Scotland --
1829 Embarks for Ireland --
1830 Returns to England --
1831} Embarks by detachments for New South Wales 140
1832}
1837} -------------------------- the East Indies --
1838}
1839 The Conclusion --
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
Anno Page
1680 Charles Earl of Plymouth 142
---- Piercy Kirke --
1682 Charles Trelawny 144
1688 Sir Charles Orby 146
---- Charles Trelawny --
1692 Henry Trelawny --
1702 William Seymour --
1717 Hon. Henry Berkeley 147
1719 Charles Cadogan --
1734 William Barrell 148
1749 Robert Rich --
1756 Alexander Duroure --
1765 Hon. Robert Brudenell 149
1768 Studholme Hodgson --
1782 John Burgoyne 150
1792 George Morrison 151
1799 John Earl of Chatham 152
1835 John Hodgson --
LIST OF PLATES.
The Regimental Colours to follow the Regimental title page.
The landing at Gibraltar, to face page 34
Fourth (or King's Own) Regiment of Foot, to face page 141
[Illustration: Colours of the 4th Regiment of Foot.]
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE FOURTH,
OR
THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF FOOT.
[Sidenote: 1680]
The city of TANGIER on the coast of the kingdom of Fez, in Africa,
having been ceded in 1661, by Portugal, to King Charles II., as
part of the marriage portion of the Infanta, Donna Catherina,
this fortress, with a portion of the adjoining territory, had
constituted a part of the possessions of the British crown for a
period of nearly twenty years, when circumstances occurred, which
gave rise to the formation of the REGIMENT which is the subject of
this memoir, for service in that part of His Majesty's dominions.
This ancient and renowned city had been successively in the power
of the Phœnicians, Romans, Vandals, Saracens, Portuguese, and
Spaniards, and it had been the scene of armed contentions and
sanguinary wars, in remote ages as well as in modern times. It had
formerly been celebrated as one of the most splendid cities in that
quarter of the world, but had fallen from its ancient power and
magnificence; and when it came into the possession of the British
crown, fragments of ruins were all that remained to indicate
its former grandeur. It had been much strengthened and improved
by the English after their possession of it; detached forts had
been constructed, and large sums of money had been granted by the
parliament for improving the harbour and enlarging the defences.
Much opposition had, however, been met with from the native chiefs,
who availed themselves of all the means within their power for
exterminating the Christian occupants of this part of Africa. The
garrison had already resisted many attempts of its daring and
inveterate enemies, particularly in the time of Gaylan, the usurper
of Fez; but in 1680 the city was besieged by an immense force, and
the Moors had the advantage of having several European renegades
in their army, by whom they had been taught the art of mining and
of carrying on approaches under ground. Not only the national
honour and the credit of His Majesty's arms were concerned in the
preservation of this fortress, but, in the event of its capture by
the Moors, the Levant trade was likely to suffer some interruption
from its harbour becoming the resort of pirates.
King Charles II., therefore, sent thither a battalion of foot
guards and sixteen companies of Dumbarton's regiment, (now first
royals,) and issued, in July, 1680, warrants for raising six
independent troops of horse and a regiment of foot, to augment the
garrison, and to enable it to chase from under the walls the native
forces by which it was menaced.
The first troop of horse was raised by Major-General the Earl of
Ossory, who was nominated governor of His Majesty's possessions
in Africa; and the others by Lieut.-Colonel Sir John Lanier, and
Captains Robert Pulteney, John Coy, Charles Nedby, and Thomas
Langston.
The regiment of foot was ordered to consist of sixteen companies of
sixty-five private men each, besides officers and non-commissioned
officers; and the colonelcy was conferred on CHARLES FITZ-CHARLES,
EARL OF PLYMOUTH, a daring aspirant to military fame, who had
already distinguished himself against the Moors in the character
of a volunteer, and was serving at TANGIER at the time the regiment
was raised.
The royal authority for raising this regiment was given on the 13th
of July, 1680, and the sixteen companies of which it was composed,
were raised by the following officers; Lieut.-Colonel Piercy
Kirke,[6] Major Charles Trelawny, and Captains Zachariah Tiffin,
Henry Trelawny, Edward Hastings, Charles Fox, Edward Griffin,
John Strode, Edward Saville, Roger Pope, Walter Fitzgerard, John
Grimes, Robert Ansley, Arthur Cheffors, and John Southcote, and
the captain-lieutenant of the colonel's company. Eight companies
were raised in London and in its vicinity under the immediate
superintendence of Lieut.-Colonel Kirke, and had their general
rendezvous in Clerkenwell; and the other eight companies were
raised in the west of England, with their general rendezvous at
Plymouth, under the superintendence of Major Trelawny.
The corps thus raised obtained the title of the SECOND TANGIER
REGIMENT,[7] and after serving the British crown in various parts
of the world, through the eventful period of one hundred and
fifty-eight years, it continues a distinguished corps, and bears
the designation of the FOURTH, OR THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF FOOT.
Although the particulars of its origin and formation have been
distinctly given, yet it was in some measure connected with another
corps, of whose services a few words are introduced into this
record.
On the breaking out of the war between England and Holland in the
early part of 1672, a regiment of foot was raised, of which JAMES
DUKE OF MONMOUTH was appointed colonel. This regiment was sent to
France, and taken into the pay of Louis XIV.; it served during the
campaigns of 1672 and 1673, under the Duke of Monmouth, in the
Netherlands, and during the four succeeding years it served with
the French army in Alsace and on the Rhine, together with Douglas's
or Dumbarton's regiment, now first royals, Churchill's, and
Hamilton's. In these campaigns MONMOUTH'S regiment distinguished
itself on several occasions under Marshals Turenne, De Crequi, and
Luxemburg. In 1678 it was ordered to return to England, and after
the peace of Nimeguen it was disbanded.
When the EARL OF PLYMOUTH'S regiment was raised, many of
the officers of MONMOUTH'S late regiment were appointed to
commissions in this new corps, through whose influence many of
the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, who had served in the
Netherlands, France, and Germany, were induced to enter the same
regiment. By these means, and by the aid of a few men from the
_Holland regiment_, now third foot, or the buff's, the EARL OF
PLYMOUTH'S, or SECOND TANGIER REGIMENT, was completed in numbers,
equipped,[8] instructed in the simple exercises practised at the
time, and ready to embark for foreign service in less than four
months after the order for its being raised was issued.
The service for which these forces were raised being urgent,
three of the troops of cavalry (Langston's, Nedby's, and Coy's)
were provided with horses from the life guards and royal regiment
of horse guards, and sailed as soon as possible; the EARL OF
PLYMOUTH'S regiment also embarked with all possible expedition, and
sailed in November.
In the mean time the garrison of TANGIER had overpowered the
Moorish army in a sharp action under the walls, and a truce had
been agreed upon for six months; and when information of this event
arrived in England, the other three troops of horse (viz. Ossory's,
Lanier's, and Pulteney's) were disbanded.
This truce was in operation when the EARL OF PLYMOUTH'S regiment
arrived at TANGIER; and the officers and men learned that their
colonel had died a few weeks previously of dysentery. He was
succeeded in the colonelcy by the lieut.-colonel, PIERCY KIRKE, who
was also appointed commander-in-chief of the garrison.
Shortly afterwards an ambassador from the court of Fez arrived,
and made his public entry into the city of Tangier on the 2nd
of December; his reception is thus described in the London
Gazette:--"Colonel Kirke, our commander-in-chief, went out
to meet him between eleven and twelve. Four troops of horse
marched first;--after them fifty chosen grenadiers of the Earl of
Dumbarton's regiment; then thirty gunners with their linstocks;
followed by thirty negros in painted coats, with their brown-bills
(a sort of battle-axe); and after these rid Colonel Kirke,
surrounded with twenty gentlemen well mounted, and having six men
of the tallest stature, with long fusils, on each side of his
horse; in which order, having proceeded a good distance beyond
Fountain Fort, the party of Moors, which was about two hundred
horse with their lances, being now within musket shot of us, made
a halt. The ambassador with about thirty persons advanced towards
Colonel Kirke, who received him with those compliments which are
customary. Colonel Kirke then went to make his salutations to the
alcaid, Aley Benanbdala, vice roy of those countries, who remained
at the head of the Moorish party; which being ended, the alcaid
and the ambassador with each of their parties began a skirmish, it
being their manner of rejoicing and expressing their satisfaction.
Having shown their horsemanship and skill in managing their lances
and fusils, they parted, the alcaid going off with his men, and
the ambassador with his train proceeding with Colonel Kirke to the
town; where all the regiments in garrison were formed up to augment
the splendour of his public entry."
[Sidenote: 1681]
In the succeeding year Colonel Kirke proceeded on an embassy to the
court of the vice-roy of Fez, and also to that of the Emperor of
Morocco, and a treaty of peace between the English and Moors was
concluded. A diary of Colonel Kirke's journey, with a description
of his reception, and of the court of the African potentate, was
published at the time, and appears more like an airy vision of
the imagination, or a few pages from an eastern romance, than a
narrative of facts.
[Sidenote: 1682]
After the decease of Sir Palmes Fairborne (who was killed in an
engagement with the Moors on the 24th of September, 1680), Colonel
Kirke was removed to the colonelcy of the first Tangier (now
the second or queen's royal) regiment, and was succeeded by the
lieut.-colonel, Charles Trelawny, by commission dated the 23d of
April 1682.
The improved military system of the Moors, introduced by the
employment of European renegades, having rendered it necessary to
maintain a much stronger garrison at TANGIER than formerly, His
Majesty brought the subject before parliament; but the people of
England were more alarmed at the prospect of a popish successor to
the throne than at the danger of losing this fortress, which they
considered as an asylum for popish recusants, and consequently no
further grant was voted.
[Sidenote: 1683]
A free intercourse had been established with the Moors, and a
traffic by barter was carried on to the benefit of the town; but
all the advantages expected to be derived from the possession of
this fortress had not been realized, and King Charles II. was
unwilling to bear, without any pecuniary aid from parliament, the
expense of the fortifications and troops. He accordingly sent,
towards the end of 1683, Admiral Lord Dartmouth with a fleet,
to destroy the fortifications, and to bring away the British
inhabitants and garrison.
[Sidenote: 1684]
The regiment arrived in England from Tangier in February, 1684, and
was placed in garrison at Portsmouth, where it remained upwards of
twelve months; and its establishment was reduced from sixteen to
twelve companies.
In the autumn of this year His Majesty conferred upon the regiment
the title of HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK AND ALBANY'S
REGIMENT. What its distinguishing colour, or _livery_ (which is now
called _facing_), was on its formation, has not been ascertained;
but in October of this year it was YELLOW. This appears to have
been a favourite colour of the Duke of York, (afterwards James
II.) as his troop of life guards had _yellow_ horse furniture,
belts covered with _yellow_ velvet, _yellow_ ribands on the horses'
heads and tails, and also _yellow_ ribands in the men's hats; and
his marine regiment, called the Admiral's Regiment, was clothed in
yellow.
The colours of the regiment were of _yellow_ silk, with the red
cross of St. George bordered with white; the rays of the sun
issuing from each angle of the cross, or; and Her Royal Highness's
cypher in the centre.
[Sidenote: 1685]
On the 6th of February, 1685, King Charles II. died, and was
succeeded by his brother, James Duke of York; and the Duchess of
York having become Queen of England, this regiment was styled THE
QUEEN'S REGIMENT OF FOOT: the first Tangier regiment had previously
been styled the _Queen's_, and was now designated the _Queen
Dowager's_ regiment.
The much dreaded event--the accession of a papist to the
throne--had now occurred; but the minds of the people were
partially set at ease by the King's declaration of his
determination to maintain the protestant religion as by law
established. This did not, however, prevent several rash
adventurers from urging James Duke of Monmouth, to make an attempt
to gain the throne. This nobleman was the illegitimate son of the
late king,--was of prepossessing appearance and address,--a steady
advocate for the protestant religion,--had gained a reputation for
military virtues,--and had become a favourite with the people.
Being urged to this enterprise by his desperate associates, he
raised the standard of rebellion in the west of England in June,
1685; and, having been joined by a number of miners and other
persons, proclaimed himself king.
THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT OF FOOT was reposing in quarters at Portsmouth
and performing the duties of the garrison, when the news of
Monmouth's rebellion produced an electric sensation throughout the
country. The regular army was augmented; the militia was called
out; and this regiment was ordered to recruit its numbers to one
hundred men per company. Soon afterwards five companies, under
the command of Lieut.-Colonel Charles Churchill, were ordered
to march in charge of a train of artillery, consisting of seven
field-pieces, to join the army under the command of Lieut.-General
the Earl of Feversham, which was assembling to oppose the rebels.
The five companies of the QUEEN'S REGIMENT having joined the other
forces with the artillery, the army advanced to the village of
Weston, and the infantry encamped on SEDGEMOOR, the two Tangier
regiments taking the left of the line. The rebel army lay at
Bridgewater, and during the night of the 5th of July the Duke of
Monmouth advanced with the view of surprising the King's troops
in their camp; but his approach was discovered, and the camp was
alarmed by the cavalry out-guards. The rebels, however, rushed
forward, and a fierce conflict of musketry ensued in the dark.
The first attack was made against the royals on the right; and
extending along the front to the left, the companies of the QUEEN'S
REGIMENT became sharply engaged, and "performed good service." Soon
after day-break the King's cavalry charged the flanks of the rebel
army and put it into confusion. An entire rout ensued, and the
insurgents were pursued across the moor and adjoining fields with
great slaughter; many were taken prisoners; and their leader, the
Duke of Monmouth, was captured two days afterwards near Ringwood,
in Hampshire, and was removed to London, and beheaded.
After the suppression of the rebellion, the five companies of the
QUEEN'S REGIMENT returned to Portsmouth: their conduct was highly
approved by his Majesty, and soon afterwards the regiment was
presented with a set of new colours--_one to each company_; and it
continued to display TWELVE COLOURS for several years from that
period. Two of the new colours were presented by the Queen, and the
other ten by his Majesty: of the expense of the former no account
has been met with; but some idea may be formed of the splendid
appearance of these colours, from the fact that the ten presented
by the King cost upwards of twenty pounds each.[9] A copy of the
bill, amounting to £206 5_s._ 6_d._, is preserved in the official
records in the War Office. A copy of the royal warrant, dated 21st
of August, 1686, for the payment of this sum, is inserted below.[10]