were asleep, a large vessel was seen stealing quietly up the river
until she arrived opposite the bivouac fires, and before it was
ascertained whether she was British or American a broadside of
grape-shot swept down many soldiers in the camp. Having no means
of attacking this formidable adversary, the soldiers took shelter
behind a bank: the night was dark, and the only light to be seen
was the flashes of the enemy's guns, as he continued to pour
showers of shot into the camp. At length a firing was heard from
the advance posts, and before the import of this was known a loud
shout, followed by a semicircular blaze of musketry, proved that
the piquets were surrounded by a very superior enemy. The KING'S
OWN were instantly ordered to form in column behind the camp, while
the eighty-fifth, and five companies of the ninety-fifth, flew to
the support of the piquets. The enemy had brought forward about
five thousand men, thinking to overwhelm this solitary brigade in
the dark; but the British, regardless of the superior numbers of
their antagonists, rushed upon the opposing legions and fought,
bayonet to bayonet, and sword to sword, with a degree of energy and
resolution impossible to describe. Some of the soldiers having lost
their bayonets in the strife, laid about them with the butt-ends
of their firelocks; numerous feats of individual gallantry were
performed, and the Americans eventually gave way before this
furious and desperate charge, and fled with the loss of many men
killed, wounded, and prisoners. The KING'S OWN had Captain Francis
Johnston and Lieutenant John Sutherland killed; also Lieutenant
Thomas Moody severely wounded; and a number of private men killed
and wounded.
Notwithstanding this victory, the troops were unable to return
to their camp, as it was completely commanded by the fire of the
American schooner, and no provision could be procured. Meanwhile
the other brigades arrived from Pine Island, and the whole were in
position before dark on the 24th of December. Major-General the
Hon. Sir Edward Pakenham also joined to take the command, and he
was accompanied by Major-General Gibbs.
[Sidenote: 1815]
During the night a battery was constructed, and opening a fire of
red-hot shot, it destroyed the American schooner; but when the
troops proceeded towards the town, they encountered so many local
difficulties, were opposed by such immense bodies of Americans,
with extensive fortified lines and batteries, and armed vessels
on the river, that the advance was checked and considerable loss
sustained. Attempts were made to overcome these difficulties; the
canal from Bayo de Catiline was cleared out, widened, and opened to
the river, to admit the boats from the lake; and while the soldiers
were labouring at this work Major-General Lambert joined with two
additional regiments. Arrangements were made for attacking the
enemy's fortified lines at day-break on the morning of the 8th
of January, 1815. The boats were to be brought along the canal
in the night, part of the army was to embark, and proceeding up
the river with muffled oars, to gain the flank and rear of the
works unperceived; and simultaneous attacks were to be made on
different parts of the enemy's fortified position. This plan was,
however, partly disconcerted by the tardy arrival of the boats;
and at the moment of attack the scaling ladders and fascines had
to be sent for. Day-light arriving, the troops were visible to
the enemy, who opened a tremendous fire, with dreadful execution.
Under these disadvantages, the British rushed forward to storm the
position in front. A detachment of the KING'S OWN, twenty-first,
and ninety-fifth, captured a three-gun battery, and advanced to
attack a body of Americans who were forming for its recovery; but
having to pass a deep ditch by a single plank, they were repulsed;
and the enemy forcing his way into the battery, re-captured it with
immense slaughter. Meanwhile the remainder of the KING'S OWN were
exposed to a dreadful fire, and the regiment was nearly annihilated
by the tempest of bullets by which it was assailed. Major-General
Pakenham having galloped to the front to encourage the men, was
shot on the top of the glacis. Major-Generals Gibbs and Keane were
borne from the field dangerously wounded; and success being found
impracticable, the troops withdrew from the unequal contest. The
KING'S OWN had upwards of four hundred men killed and wounded in
this desperate service: also, Lieutenant Edward Field, and Ensign
William Crowe, killed; and Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Brooke,
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonels Alured D. Faunce, and Timothy Jones,
Brevet Major John Williamson, Captains John Wynne Fletcher, Robert
Erskine, and David S. Craig, Lieutenants J. P. Hopkins, Jeffrey
Salvin, W. H. Brooke, Benjamin Martin, George Richardson, Peter
Bowlby, George H. Hearne, William Squires, C. H. Farrington, James
Marshall, Henry Andrews, and Adjutant William Richardson, with
Ensigns Arthur Gerard, Thomas Benwell, J. L. Fernandez, and Edward
Newton, wounded.
The capture of New Orleans appearing impracticable, a temporary
road was constructed through the morass, and the regiments having
reached the lake by a night march, embarked in boats and returned
to the fleet.
An attack on Mobile was afterwards resolved on, and the KING'S
OWN were engaged in the siege of _Fort Bowyer_, which commanded
the entrance to the harbour; this place surrendered on the 12th
of February, and the second American regiment of the line having
marched out with the honours of war, delivered its arms and colours
to the KING'S OWN.
Further hostilities against the Americans were, however, prevented
by a treaty of peace, and the FOURTH being ordered to return to
England, arrived on the 16th of May at Portsmouth, from whence they
sailed to the Downs; and having landed on the 18th, were stationed
in Deal barracks.
On the extension of the Order of the Bath, in the beginning of this
year, Lieut.-Colonel FRANCIS BROOKE and Brevet Lieut.-Colonels
JOHN PIPER and ALURED DODSWORTH FAUNCE, of the KING'S OWN, were
nominated Companions of that Order.
On the arrival in England of the surviving officers and men of
the KING'S OWN from these difficult enterprises in America, they
found Europe involved in another war. Bonaparte had violated the
treaty of 1814; he had quitted Elba; had invaded France with a few
guards; had been received with acclamations by the French army; and
while Louis XVIII. fled to Flanders, Napoleon had re-ascended the
throne of France. The nations of Europe declared war against the
usurper; and the KING'S OWN were immediately ordered to proceed to
Flanders to engage in the approaching contest. The effective men of
the second battalion were added to the first battalion, which again
embarked for foreign service on the 10th of June, and having landed
at Ostend on the 12th, proceeded up the country. Bonaparte attacked
the advanced-posts of the army commanded by Field-Marshal His Grace
the Duke of Wellington in the middle of June; and the KING'S OWN,
by forced marches, arrived at the position in front of the village
of _Waterloo_ on the morning of the 18th of June, about an hour
before the battle commenced.
The regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, and being
formed in brigade with the twenty-seventh and fortieth regiments,
under the orders of Major-General Lambert, took part in the
gigantic contest which followed. On this occasion the stern valour
and undaunted character of the British troops were pre-eminently
displayed; whether assailed by the thunder of artillery, volleys
of musketry, the bayonets of infantry, or the furious charges of
the French cavalry, the British regiments stood firm, and repulsed
with sanguinary perseverance the legions of Bonaparte, and drove
them back in confusion. After resisting the attacks of the superior
numbers of the enemy for many hours, the Prussians arrived to
co-operate; when the allied army assumed the offensive, and by a
general charge of the whole line, overthrew the French host, and
drove it from the field with dreadful slaughter, and the loss of
its artillery, ammunition waggons, &c.
The KING'S OWN had one hundred and thirty-four men killed and
wounded in this hard-contested and glorious battle; also the
following officers wounded,--Brevet Major G. D. Willson, Captain
James Charles Edgell, Lieutenants John Brown, B. M. Collins, Hygat
Boyd, George Richardson, William Squire, Arthur Gerard, Adjutant
William Richardson, and Ensign W. M. Matthews.
The honour of bearing the word WATERLOO on the colours was
conferred on the regiment; every officer and man present received
a silver medal; and Major Willson, being second in command, was
promoted to the rank of lieut.-colonel, and nominated a companion
of the Order of the Bath.
The FOURTH advanced with the army in pursuit of the enemy, and
were present at the surrender of _Paris_ on the 7th of July. They
were afterwards encamped at Neuilly; on the 27th of October they
went into quarters at St. Germain-en-Laye; and being selected to
form part of the British contingent of the army of occupation
appointed to remain in France, they were formed in brigade with the
fifty-second and seventy-ninth regiments, under Major-General Sir
Denis Pack. On this occasion the Duke of Wellington observed in
general orders:--
"Upon breaking up the army which the field marshal has had the
honour of commanding, he begs leave again to return thanks to the
general officers, and the officers and troops, for their uniform
good conduct. In the late short but memorable campaign they have
given proofs to the world that they possess in an eminent degree
all the good qualities of soldiers; and the field marshal is happy
to be able to applaud their regular good conduct in their camps
and cantonments, not less than when engaged with the enemy in the
field. Whatever may be the future destination of those brave troops
of which the field marshal now takes his leave, he trusts that
every individual will believe that he will ever feel the deepest
interest in their honour and welfare, and will be happy to promote
either."
Major-General Lambert, also, in taking leave of the FOURTH,
expressed his approbation of their conduct, particularly at
the "ever memorable battle of WATERLOO, which afforded him an
opportunity of personally observing that the high character the
KING'S OWN always bore in the field has been most justly merited."
In consequence of a reduction in the army, the second battalion
transferred its private men to the first, and was disbanded at Deal
on the 25th of December, 1815.
[Sidenote: 1816]
In January, 1816, the regiment was quartered at Franquemberg and
adjacent villages in the Pas de Calais, where it was presented with
a new pair of colours. In August it encamped near St. Omer, and was
reviewed on the 7th of September by the Duke of Wellington, who
expressed his approbation of its appearance and discipline.
On the 15th of October, the FOURTH quitted the vicinity of St.
Omer, and encamping near Mastaing, was reviewed on the 22d with the
remainder of the British, Danish, and Saxon forces, on the plain
of St. Denain, by their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Kent and
Cambridge; the regiment afterwards returned to Franquemberg, &c.;
and its establishment was reduced to forty officers, forty-five
serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and eight hundred rank and file.
[Sidenote: 1817]
The regiment again pitched its tents in July, 1817, near St.
Omer, where it was reviewed on the 5th of August by Lieut.-General
Lord Hill; on the 3d of September it encamped on the glacis of
Valenciennes, and on the 6th it was reviewed with the remainder
of the army commanded by the Duke of Wellington, by the King of
Prussia.
Having been again reviewed by Lord Hill on the 20th of September,
and having received the expressions of his lordship's approbation,
the regiment went into barracks at Valenciennes; but it was again
encamped in October, near St. Denain, and reviewed, with the
remainder of the British, Saxon, Danish, and Hanoverian troops in
France, by his grace the Duke of Wellington, on which occasion all
the evolutions of an engagement were performed in presence of a
number of distinguished personages. The KING'S OWN subsequently
returned to their former winter quarters at Franquemberg, &c.
[Sidenote: 1818]
On the 4th of June, 1818 the FOURTH were again encamped near St.
Omer, and received the thanks of Lord Hill for their appearance
and correct discipline at the review on the 24th of June; also the
expression of the Duke of Wellington's approbation at the review on
the 31st of July: they were subsequently encamped on the horn-work
of Valenciennes; they formed a guard for the Duke of Kent during
his residence at that city, and were reviewed on the 10th of
September, with the remainder of the army commanded by his grace
the Duke of Wellington, in presence of their Royal Highnesses the
Duke and Duchess of Kent; when a number of evolutions were gone
through, and during the manœuvres the army crossed the Scheldt by
pontoon bridges.
The KING'S OWN having returned to Valenciennes on the 21st of
October, furnished guards of honour for the Emperor of Russia,
King of Prussia, Prince of Orange, and Grand Dukes Constantine
and Michael, who reviewed the Russian, British, Danish, Saxon, and
Hanoverian contingents of the army of occupation, on the 23d of
October. This force amounted to between fifty and sixty thousand
men; the evolutions of a mock engagement were gone through, and two
rivers were passed by pontoon bridges.
The Emperor of Russia was so well pleased with the conduct of the
KING'S OWN, that on quitting Valenciennes he presented one hundred
and nineteen Napoleons (pieces of twenty francs each) to be divided
among the men of the grenadier company composing his guard; also
ten Napoleons each to the two serjeants who were his orderlies;
and directed the aide-de-camp to give them his feather to keep in
remembrance of the Emperor's regard for the corps. The King of
Prussia also gave money to the men of the light company of the
KING'S OWN forming his guard.
On the breaking up of the army of occupation in France, the
KING'S OWN received, with the other corps, the expressions of the
approbation of the Duke of Wellington, in general orders; also of
Lieut.-General Lord Hill in general orders to the two divisions
under his command; of Lieut.-General Sir Charles Colville in
division orders; and of Major-General Sir Denis Pack in brigade
orders.
The regiment embarked at Calais on the 29th of October, landed
at Dover on the following morning, and proceeding from thence to
Winchester barracks, was immediately afterwards ordered to hold
itself in readiness to embark for the West Indies; at the same
time the establishment was reduced to seven hundred and forty-six
officers and men.
[Sidenote: 1819]
In the early part of January, 1819, the regiment marched to
Cumberland fort; on the 1st of February it embarked at Portsmouth,
and having landed at Barbadoes on the 5th of April, was reviewed
by Lieut.-General Lord Combermere on the same day, and afterwards
returned on board the transports. His lordship expressed in general
orders his approbation of the appearance and discipline of the
regiment.
On the following day six companies sailed for Grenada
(head-quarters) under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Piper; two
companies to Trinidad under Lieut.-Colonel Faunce; and two to
Tobago under Captain Fletcher.
At the half-yearly inspection in July, Major-General Sir Frederick
Robinson expressed in brigade orders "the very high satisfaction
he had enjoyed in the military appearance and the report of the
good conduct of the KING'S OWN regiment, which he perceives has not
lost any of its former character,--hitherto a subject for praise
and admiration with officers of the highest rank and military
reputation."
[Sidenote: 1820]
The two companies at Tobago suffered very severely from fever, and
having lost four officers and eighty-four serjeants and rank and
file, the remaining one officer, four serjeants, two drummers, and
thirty-five rank and file were relieved in September 1820 by the
twenty-first regiment, and sent to Barbadoes, from whence they were
removed to Grenada.
[Sidenote: 1821]
A general change of quarters took place among the troops stationed
in the Windward and Leeward Islands in March 1821, when the KING'S
OWN proceeded to Barbadoes. On leaving Grenada Major-General Riall
expressed in brigade orders his approbation of the conduct of the
KING'S OWN, and the satisfaction he experienced at hearing from the
magistrates and principal inhabitants of the island their esteem
for the corps, and their regret at its departure.
The loss from disease during the short period the regiment had been
in the West Indies was great. Quarter-Master Thomas Richards and
fifty-four men had died at Grenada; Lieutenant William Blagrave,
Ensign Robert Gamble, and seven men at Trinidad, which had proved
a comparatively healthy station, the two companies having occupied
the barracks at St. Joseph's and the hospital had frequently been
without a patient; at Tobago, Lieutenants John Westby, Frederick
P. Robinson, and Isaac Beer, with Ensign Frederick Clarke, and
eighty-four men, had fallen victims to the climate; Captain Charles
James Edgell died on the passage, near Barbadoes: the total loss
of life in one year and eleven months was eight officers and one
hundred and forty-five soldiers.
The regiment was, however, still in an efficient state, and having
been inspected by Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde on the 27th of
August, an order was issued on the same day, expressing "the great
satisfaction felt by the lieut.-general at the appearance of that
old and respectable corps under arms, as well as the steadiness of
the regiment, the correct advance in line, and the close firing,
which evince that great attention has been paid to its discipline,
and is highly creditable to Lieut.-Colonel Piper and to the
officers generally."
In October the establishment was reduced to eight companies, making
a total of thirty-three officers and six hundred and seventeen men.
[Sidenote: 1822]
[Sidenote: 1823]
Lieut.-Colonel Piper died at Barbadoes soon afterwards, and was
succeeded in January, 1822, by Brevet Lieut.-Colonel A. D. Faunce.
In the following year this officer obtained permission to return
to England for the benefit of his health, on which occasion
Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde observed in general orders--"He
was aware that no encomium of his could add lustre to the already
well-established and high military character of Lieut.-Colonel
Faunce, yet the particularly exemplary state of discipline, in
every respect, which the FOURTH or KING'S OWN regiment has attained
since he assumed the command, calls loudly on the lieut.-general,
as an imperious duty to the service, to express his warmest praise
and thanks to Lieut.-Colonel Faunce, for the truly able and
unremitted attention which he has daily and hourly paid to his
regiment, the effect of which confers on him the highest credit
and honour as its commander, and at the same time reflects them
strongly on every individual, both officer and private, composing
the corps under his command."
In December the regiment was withdrawn from Barbadoes, and
proceeded,--four companies and head-quarters to the Ridge at
Antigua, three to Brimstone-hill, St. Kitt's, and one to Montserrat
and Nevis. Previous to its embarkation Lieut.-General Sir Henry
Warde expressed in general orders his "high approbation of the
conduct of the corps." During the two years and nine months it
was stationed at Barbadoes, it was in a healthy state, excepting
towards the end of 1821, when a fever carried off Lieut.-Colonel
John Piper, Ensigns H. N. Shipton, and H. J. Loraine, with
Quarter-Master Doran, and Assistant-Surgeon Morrow; its total loss
in serjeants and rank and file was fifty-eight.
[Sidenote: 1824]
The detachment at Nevis suffered from the unhealthy situation
of the barracks, and lost seventeen men out of thirty; it was
subsequently withdrawn. In October, 1824, the regiment lost Brevet
Major John Wynne Fletcher.[34]
[Sidenote: 1825]
In April, 1825, the regiment was augmented to ten companies, and
the total establishment to eight hundred and thirty-six officers
and men.
[Sidenote: 1826]
The regiment was relieved from duty at Antigua, St. Kitt's, and
Montserrat, in February, 1826, by the ninety-third, and sailed for
England. The first division landed at Gosport on the 16th of March,
the second on the 1st of April, and the last on the 6th of April.
During the seven years the regiment was in the West Indies its
total loss was sixteen officers, twenty-one serjeants, one drummer,
and two hundred and forty-five rank and file. It brought home four
hundred and twenty rank and file, (without leaving a sick man
behind;) and on the 25th of April sent out thirteen recruiting
parties, twelve to different parts of England, and one to Ireland.
On the 8th of August the Adjutant-General of the Forces,
Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, inspected the regiment, and
expressed his approbation of its appearance and discipline,
adding that he should make a most favourable report to His Royal
Highness the Duke of York. In the autumn it quitted Winchester,
and proceeding to Portsmouth, was employed in the duty of that
garrison. At the half-yearly inspection, Major-General Sir James
Lyon expressed his perfect approbation of its appearance and
discipline.
The regiment was soon afterwards called upon to transfer its
services to the Peninsula, the scene of many of its toils and
triumphs. After Spain and Portugal had been delivered by British
skill and valour from the power of Bonaparte, these kingdoms
became convulsed by opposing interests, one party striving for the
liberties possessed by other nations, and another for a return to
ancient usages; and the granting of a constitution to Portugal,
which conferred on the people privileges previously unknown in that
country, was followed by internal commotions; at the same time the
kingdom was menaced with an invasion from Spain. The Portuguese
government applied for the aid of a body of British troops; six
companies of the KING'S OWN formed part of a force of five thousand
men, commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Sir William H. Clinton, ordered
for this service, and embarking from Portsmouth on the 15th of
December, arrived at Lisbon towards the end of that month.
[Sidenote: 1827]
Having landed on the 1st of January, 1827, the KING'S OWN occupied
the barracks of Valle de Pereiro, and were formed in brigade with
the tenth, twenty-third, and first battalion of the sixtieth
rifles, under the command of Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney. The
brigade having been inspected by Sir William Clinton on the 14th
of January, advanced up the country nine stages to Coimbra, and
was quartered in convents, the KING'S OWN occupying the convent of
St. Bernard. On the advance of the British, the Spaniards withdrew
from the frontiers, and declared a friendly disposition towards
the Portuguese government; a mutiny in the Portuguese army was also
suppressed; and there being no further occasion for the British
troops, they marched back to Lisbon, where the KING'S OWN arrived
on the 12th of July, and occupied the barracks of La Lippe at
Belem. Three companies of the regiment were subsequently stationed
at Oeiras, a small town on the right bank of the Tagus, two leagues
from Lisbon, and the other three at Feitovia barracks, near Fort
St. Julian.
[Sidenote: 1828]