corps to be re-embarked; and the fleet subsequently bent its
course to _Guadaloupe_, one of the Caribbee or Leeward islands,
settled by the French in 1635. Basse Terre, the capital of the
island, with the batteries near the shore, having been destroyed
by the fleet, the KING'S OWN and other troops landed on the 24th
of January: the French governor, M. Nadan D'Etreil, abandoned the
citadel, and trusting to the natural strength of the country and
the unwholesomeness of the climate, retired to the mountains,
and summoned the militia of the island, with all the settlers
and their armed negroes, to join him. An irregular warfare of
detachments followed, in which the British troops were usually
victorious; but they purchased every advantage at an immense
sacrifice of life. At length Major-General Hopson died, and the
command devolved on Major-General Barrington, who embarked the
troops on board of transports, (excepting the sixty-third regiment,
late second battalion of the eighth foot, and a detachment of
artillery left in garrison,) to attack other parts of the island.
Colonel Crump of the KING'S OWN landed, and took _St. Anne_ and
_St. François_, and reduced both towns to ashes; and the strong
post of Gosier was carried by another part of the army.
The KING'S OWN having afterwards re-embarked, were detached, with
other forces, under the command of Brigadier-Generals Clavering
and Crump, to a bay near _Arnonville_, where they landed without
opposition; the enemy retiring to a very strong position behind the
river _Le Corn_. This post covered the whole country to Bay Mahaut,
where provisions were landed for the inhabitants from St. Eustatia,
and it was strengthened by every means the enemy could devise,
though its situation was such as to require little assistance from
art. The river, on account of a morass covered with mangroves,
was only accessible at two narrow passes, and those places were
occupied with a redoubt, and well-pallisaded entrenchments,
defended with cannon, and all the militia of that part of the
island.
The KING'S OWN, and a battalion of Highlanders, advanced to attack
this difficult post with coolness and resolution, and the intrepid
bearing of the two corps intimidated the enemy, who abandoned the
first entrenchment after a few vollies; the Highlanders and part of
the KING'S OWN rushed forward and chased their adversaries into
the redoubt, and the post was eventually carried.
The KING'S OWN, and Highlanders, afterwards advanced against
another fortified post at _Petit Bourg_; the enemy kept about
two hundred yards in front, and setting fire to the sugar canes,
obliged the troops occasionally to leave the road to avoid
accidents to their ammunition. Arriving at the river _Lezard_, the
enemy was found strongly entrenched behind the ford; but the troops
having procured two canoes, a body of men passed the river in the
night, and advanced at daybreak to attack the enemy in flank, while
the remainder prepared to attack the front, and the enemy instantly
fled in dismay.
Pursuing their adversaries to _Petit Bourg_, the KING'S OWN there
encountered fortified lines, and a redoubt filled with cannon; but
the regiment diverging to the right and left to gain the heights
round the lines, the enemy fled from the post.
Two days afterwards the lieut.-colonel of the KING'S OWN was
detached with seven hundred men against _Bay Mahaut_, and he took
the batteries and town, which he reduced to ashes, and rejoined the
division on the following day.
From Petit Bourg the KING'S OWN advanced with their division
against _St. Maries_, where the enemy had collected their whole
force, and had thrown up entrenchments and constructed barricades
on the road; but from these works the British troops forced their
opponents to retire, and also from the town; and the army entered
a part of the island said to be the most rich and beautiful of any
part of the West Indies.
The inhabitants, being convinced of the superior bravery and
discipline of the British troops, and seeing the best part of
their country on the point of being given up to fire and sword,
capitulated, and their possessions, with their civil and religious
privileges, were granted them.
Thus this valuable island came into the possession of the British
crown in May, 1759; and throughout these arduous and trying
services the KING'S OWN and other corps forming the expedition,
evinced all the qualities of good soldiers. The commanding officer
of the KING'S OWN signalized himself on various occasions, and was
appointed governor of the island; his conduct, which reflected
honour on his corps, is thus spoken of by Major-General Barrymore
in his public despatch.
"I have appointed Colonel Crump to the government, who, since
governor Haldane left us, I have made act as a brigadier; his merit
is very great, both as a soldier and a man of judgment; he is of
this part of the world; understands the trade, customs, and genius
of the people; and as he thinks nobly and disinterestedly, he would
not have accepted of the government, but in hopes of advancing
himself in the army by that means. I cannot express how very useful
he has proved, and how much our successes are owing to his good
conduct and great zeal."
[Sidenote: 1760]
[Sidenote: 1761]
After the reduction of Guadaloupe the regiment was stationed at
that island; and in 1761 a detachment was employed under Colonel
Lord Rollo in the capture of _Dominico_. The troops landed on the
6th of June on the beach near Roseau, under cover of the guns
of the fleet, and while part of the army took possession of the
town, the grenadier companies of the KING'S OWN and twenty-second
regiments seized a flanking battery and part of an adjoining
entrenchment. During the night the grenadiers, supported by the
battalion companies, stormed and carried with the bayonet the
entrenchments on the heights above the town, and took the governor
and several of the principal inhabitants prisoners. The whole
island immediately submitted; and Captain Robert Douglas of the
KING'S OWN was the bearer of the news of this conquest to England.
The detachment of this regiment afterwards returned to Guadaloupe.
[Sidenote: 1762]
The British government having resolved to make a powerful attack
upon such of the West India islands as still remained subject to
the French monarch, four companies of the KING'S OWN were selected
to take part in the enterprise, and proceeded for this purpose
from Guadaloupe to the general rendezvous of the expedition at
Barbadoes; where the several corps were assembled under the orders
of Major-General Monckton. The armament sailed from Carlisle
bay on the 5th of January, 1762, and another attack was made on
_Martinico_, which place was settled by the French about the year
1635. This island is extremely mountainous in the centre, from
whence issue numerous streams of water, which, in the hurricane
months, are swelled to violent torrents; these have, in their way
to the sea, worn deep channels, so that the country is intersected
with a great number of deep ravines, with steep rocky sides,
having water running at the bottom; and these ravines are rendered
difficult to pass from the number of stones which the torrents
have rolled from the sides of the mountains. Thus, in attacking
the island, difficulties almost insurmountable are met with in
transporting cannon, ammunition, and stores across the country.
With these obstructions the army had to contend; but they were
overcome by British skill, discipline and valour.
After several attempts on other parts of the island, a landing was
effected on the 16th of January in Cas des Navieres bay, and the
troops pitched their tents on the heights above the landing place.
Advancing from thence through a country fortified by nature, an
attack was made on the heights of _Morne Tortenson_ on the 24th of
January, and the four companies of the KING'S OWN had the glory of
taking part in the capture of these formidable works; also in the
capture of _Morne Garnier_ on the 27th of that month; and in the
reduction of the citadel of _Fort Royal_, which surrendered on the
4th of February: these captures were followed by the surrender of
the opulent city of St. Pierre, and the submission of the whole
island to the British crown.
The capture of Martinico was succeeded by that of _Grenada_,
_St. Lucie_, and _St. Vincent_; and the acquisition of these
islands gave additional honour to the expedition of which the four
companies of the KING'S OWN formed part.
These achievements were followed by another enterprize of a most
important character, in which a detachment of the KING'S OWN had
the honour to share; namely, the reduction of the _Havannah_, a
wealthy and important city in the island of Cuba.
The island of Cuba was first discovered by the celebrated Columbus,
but was not conquered by the Spaniards until the early part of the
sixteenth century, from which period it had continued rising in
wealth and importance. St. Jago was the capital; but the city of
_Havannah_ held the first place in point of wealth and commerce.
During the early part of this war, Spain had continued neutral;
but in 1762 His Catholic Majesty united his interests with France,
and war was declared between Great Britain and Spain. This was
immediately followed by a resolution of the British government
to attack the important city of Havannah, and an expedition was
prepared for this purpose under the orders of General the Earl of
Albemarle.
On this occasion the KING'S OWN were left in garrison at
Guadaloupe, excepting a detachment of two hundred and twenty-five
men under the command of Captain Kennedy, which joined the
expedition at Martinico, and formed part of Brigadier-General
Grant's brigade. In the landing five leagues eastward of the
_Havannah_ on the 6th of June, in the advance upon the city, in the
siege and capture of the _Moro_ Fort, and in the other operations
by which the final reduction of this wealthy settlement was
accomplished, and twelve men-of-war captured in the harbour, the
detachment of the KING'S OWN had the honour to take part. The loss
of the detachment on this service, including the killed and those
who died from fatigue and the effects of climate, was two officers
and twenty-four men.
[Sidenote: 1763]
After the completion of this conquest, the detachment returned to
Guadaloupe, and the regiment remained in the Leeward Islands until
the peace of Fontainbleau, when these acquisitions were restored to
the French and Spanish monarchs.
[Sidenote: 1764]
In the spring of 1764 the regiment quitted the West Indies, arrived
in England in July of that year, and commenced recruiting its
diminished numbers.
[Sidenote: 1765]
[Sidenote: 1768]
After the decease of Lieut.-General Duroure, King George III.
conferred, on the 23d of January, 1765, the colonelcy of the
regiment on the Hon. Robert Brudenell, from the sixteenth foot;
who was succeeded, on the 7th of November, 1768, by Lieut.-General
Studholme Hodgson, from the fifth foot.
[Sidenote: 1773]
[Sidenote: 1774]
In 1768, the KING'S OWN proceeded to Scotland, where they were
stationed during the four succeeding years, but returned to England
in the spring of 1773, and remained on home service until the
following year, when they were again ordered to hold themselves in
readiness to proceed abroad.
The war in which the regiment was about to engage was of a most
important character, involving the destinies of millions, and was
followed by the construction of a new and powerful state in the
world. As the population of the British North American colonies
increased, and the inhabitants beheld their own rising power and
importance, the idea of their country eventually becoming a great
and independent empire would doubtless frequently occur; and while
contemplating such an event, men would naturally become impatient
of their condition: hence the delight produced by the anticipation
of future greatness would prepare the minds of men for a change.
That these states should become independent so early as the
eighteenth century could, however, scarcely have been expected; but
this event was hastened by the system of policy pursued towards the
colonies by the British government, which alienated the affections
of the inhabitants from the mother country. The disputes which
resulted from these proceedings, and the spirit which the colonists
evinced to resist the acts of the British parliament for raising
a revenue in their country, took a most serious turn in the years
1773 and 1774; a body of troops was in consequence sent to Boston,
the place which had been the scene of the greatest outrages, and
the KING'S OWN, being one of the corps selected to proceed to North
America, embarked for that service on the 17th of April, 1774.
After landing at Boston the KING'S OWN were encamped for some time
near the town; and the violent revolutionary spirit which many of
the colonists displayed, occasioned a detachment of the regiment
to be sent during the winter to Marshfield, for the protection
of a number of the friends of the government in that town and
neighbourhood.
[Sidenote: 1775]
The hostile feelings to the British government previously evinced
by the Americans appeared to increase during the winter and
succeeding spring; and the preparations which they made for open
resistance indicated a design to make a speedy appeal to arms.
General Gage, who commanded the troops at Boston, sent the flank
companies of the KING'S OWN, and other regiments under his orders,
up the country to _Concord_, to destroy a quantity of military
stores which the inhabitants were collecting at that place. This
circumstance occasioned the first blood to be shed in the contest.
The flank companies were placed under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel
Francis Smith, of the tenth foot, and having embarked on the
night of the 18th of April, in the boats of the men-of-war in the
harbour, proceeded to the entrance of the Cambridge River, where
they landed, and afterwards advanced up the country. While on the
march, the troops heard the ringing of bells, firing of guns, and
other sounds of alarm spreading over the country; and when the
light companies, which were in advance, arrived at the village
of _Lexington_, they descried a body of provincials formed upon
the green. These men fired several shots at the soldiers, who
immediately retaliated, and the Americans were dispersed with the
loss of about ten men killed, and several wounded.
The troops continued their march to _Concord_, and while the search
for military stores was taking place, the light companies of the
KING'S OWN and tenth regiment were posted on some heights in the
vicinity of a bridge beyond the town. Meanwhile armed countrymen
were assembling in crowds on the high grounds near the town, and a
large body proceeding towards the bridge, the light companies of
the KING'S OWN and tenth regiment descended from the heights and
joined the troops posted at the bridge. The provincials advanced
in great numbers, and firing on the troops, killed three men, and
wounded several others; the fire was returned, and the detached
companies joined the main body in the town.
After destroying three pieces of ordnance, burning a number
of carriage-wheels, and throwing a quantity of gunpowder and
musket-balls into the river, the troops commenced their march back
to Boston. On emerging from the town, the soldiers were fired upon
from the walls, fences, trees, barns, &c., on both sides of the
road; the country appeared swarming with armed men, and the troops
were engaged fighting and retreating until they were exhausted,
and had expended nearly all their ammunition; at the same time
the numbers of their antagonists were constantly increasing.
Fortunately, they were met at Lexington by the battalion companies
of the KING'S OWN, twenty-third and forty-ninth regiments, with a
party of marines and two field-pieces, under the command of Colonel
Earl Percy of the fifth foot. The fire of the field-pieces checked
the Americans; Earl Percy formed his brigade into a square, with
the exhausted flank companies in the centre, and after the men had
rested a short time, commenced his march for Boston. The Americans
hung upon his rear in crowds, and kept up a constant fire; but the
troops continued their march in excellent order to Charlestown,
from whence they crossed the river in boats to Boston, under the
cover of the guns of a man-of-war stationed near the ferry. The
loss of the KING'S OWN on this occasion was Lieutenant Knight
and seven private men killed; Lieutenant Gould wounded and taken
prisoner; three serjeants, one drummer, and twenty-one private men
wounded; and eight men missing.
This was the commencement of open hostilities; the whole country
round Boston was in the utmost agitation, and multitudes of
countrymen equipped for battle repaired to Cambridge and Roxburg,
and there threw up entrenchments. All intercourse between the
garrison of Boston and the adjacent country was cut off, and the
town was completely blocked up on the land side.
Soon after this event the party of the KING'S OWN stationed at
Marshfield was withdrawn, and rejoined the regiment at Boston.
The rapid and judicious movements of the Americans appeared to
be the result of a preconcerted plan, and having a very great
superiority of numbers, they meditated driving the King's troops
out of Boston. During the night of the 16th of June an immense
body of provincials proceeded to the heights on the peninsula
of Charlestown called _Bunker's Hill_, and commenced throwing
up entrenchments with great diligence. General Gage resolved to
dislodge the enemy from this post immediately, and a body of
troops, of which the grenadier and light companies of the KING'S
OWN formed part, was embarked in boats for this purpose about
mid-day on the 17th of June.
About three o'clock in the afternoon the attack commenced, and
in this contest British valour and discipline were eminently
displayed. The Americans were in great force, strongly posted, and
entrenched up to the teeth. The King's troops had to advance in a
hot summer's day, in the face of a sharp and well-directed fire,
and to ascend a steep hill covered with grass reaching to their
knees, and intersected with walls and fences of various enclosures:
twice they were stopped, and twice they returned to the charge,
and by their undaunted resolution and steady perseverance they
eventually triumphed over thrice their own numbers, and carried
the heights at the point of the bayonet. This proved one of the
most sanguinary battles on record, and the superiority of the
British troops was pre-eminently displayed. The two flank companies
of the KING'S OWN had one serjeant and thirteen rank and file
killed; Captains Balfour and West, Lieutenants Baron and Brown, one
serjeant, one drummer, and twenty-nine rank and file wounded.
[Sidenote: 1776]
Although the valour and discipline of the small British force in
North America were so conspicuous as to excite the admiration and
applause of their country, yet the circumstances in which the army
at Boston was eventually placed rendered it impossible for these
excellent qualities to be exercised with the prospect of ultimate
success. The immense superiority of numbers of the enemy, the
great strength of the works thrown up on Phipp's farm, Dorchester
heights, and other places, with the want of provisions, induced the
commander of the troops, Lieut.-General Sir William Howe, to vacate
the town, and proceed with the army to Halifax, in Nova Scotia.
This resolution was carried into effect in the middle of March,
1776; and on their arrival at Halifax several regiments were landed.
A reinforcement being expected from England, and the general being
anxious to commence operations against the revolted Americans as
early as possible, the fleet sailed from Halifax on the 12th of
June, arrived at Sandy Hook on the 29th of that month, and on the
3d of July landed on Staten Island, near New York. Here the troops
were disposed in cantonments for refreshment, and the head-quarters
were established at Richmond.
Additional troops having arrived, a landing was effected at
Utrecht, on _Long Island_, on the 22d of August; and after dusk on
the evening of the 26th, the KING'S OWN, commanded by MAJOR JAMES
OGILVIE, forming part of the first brigade under Major-General
Pigot, moved across the country to seize a pass in the heights
extending from east to west along the middle of the island, to
turn the enemy's left flank at _Flat Bush_. This pass was taken
possession of on the following morning; the main body of the army
advanced, and the Americans were driven from their position with
considerable loss. In this day's skirmish the battalion companies
of the regiment did not sustain any loss; but the flank companies,
being formed in grenadier and light infantry battalions, had
several men killed and wounded.
The Americans retreated to their lines at _Brooklyn_; but, fearing
the consequences of an attack, they quitted their post during the
night of the 28th of August, and crossed the East River in boats to
New York; thus the reduction of Long Island was effected in a few
days with trifling loss.
After this success the army was embarked in flat-bottomed boats,
and crossed the East River to York Island, and the KING'S OWN were
engaged in the movements by which General Washington was forced to
abandon New York; which city was immediately taken possession of by
the British.
General Washington having taken up a position in another
part of the country, the British troops were again embarked
in flat-bottomed boats and landed near West-Chester; thence
re-embarking on the 18th of October, passed Frogs-neck and landed
at _Pell's-point_, at the mouth of Hutchinson's river. Advancing
from thence, the troops encountered a detachment of provincials;
a sharp skirmish ensued, in which several men were killed and
wounded; and the KING'S OWN lost a most valuable and gallant
officer, Captain W. Granville Evelyn, who was mortally wounded, and
whose fall was much regretted.
In the subsequent operations of the army, by which the Americans
were forced to evacuate their lines on _White Plains_, the KING'S
OWN took part, but did not sustain any loss; they were also present
at the siege and capture of _Fort Washington_, in which service
they lost only one man: and they passed the succeeding winter in
quarters in the city of New York.
[Sidenote: 1777]
During the winter the Americans were engaged in collecting
stores and forming magazines for the ensuing campaign, which
they were careful to place as far as possible out of the reach
of His Majesty's land and sea forces. Extensive depôts had been
established at the town of _Danbury_, and other places on the
borders of Connecticut, contiguous to Courland Manor; and the
KING'S OWN were withdrawn from the city of New York to form part
of a detachment under the command of Major-General Tyron, for the
destruction of these stores.
The detachment sailed from New York in transports, passed through
the Sound, and on the evening of the 25th of April, 1777, arrived
off Norwalk, a town in the province of Connecticut, about twenty
miles south of Danbury. As the troops were quite unexpected, they
landed without opposition, and by ten o'clock that night began
their march for Danbury, where they arrived about two in the
afternoon of the following day; on their approach the American
troops fled, and gave the alarm to the country people, who took
arms, and made preparations to cut off the retreat of the British
detachment.
As no carriages could be procured to bring off any part of the
magazines, Major-General Tyron was under the necessity of setting
them on fire, and in the progress of the flames the town was
unavoidably burnt. The magazines having been all destroyed, the
detachment commenced its march back early on the morning of the
27th of April; a body of Americans under General Wooster hung upon
its rear, and at every eminence a corps of militia was found ready
to oppose its march; but the British troops attacked and routed
their adversaries, and in one of these skirmishes General Wooster
was killed.
Arriving at _Ridgefield_, a strong force under General Arnold was
found posted at that place, and busily employed in throwing up
entrenchments; these were instantly attacked by the artillery, and
the British troops rushing forward to the charge with their native
valour and intrepidity, the Americans were driven from their ground.