day, and on the 24th of August, the FOURTEENTH Foot took part in
driving the French out-posts, between the canal of Furnes and the
sea, into the town, on which occasion the soldiers had to force
their way through strong double hedges, and across deep ditches
full of water. A deep ditch, surrounding the garden of a chateau,
obstructed the progress of the grenadier company of the FOURTEENTH,
when Lieutenant THOMAS GREEN CLAPHAM leaped into the ditch, where
he stood up to his breast in water, that the grenadiers might pass
swiftly over it, by stepping upon his shoulders, and pursue the
French, which they did with great alacrity. The light infantry
company also displayed distinguished ardour, and captured three
pieces of artillery. Finally the French were driven into the town,
and the siege was commenced. The loss of the regiment was limited
to a few private soldiers killed and wounded.
On the 6th of September, the French made a sortie from Dunkirk,
in great strength, directing their attack principally against the
right of the besieging army, when the FOURTEENTH Foot, commanded
by Major Alexander Ross, (Lieutenant-Colonel Doyle being ill) was
ordered forward to support that part of the position. As they
passed the flank of the regiment of Esterhazy, the Germans cheered
the FOURTEENTH, and the gallant soldiers rushed into the fight with
great energy, overthrowing all opposition, and chasing the French
up the covered way. The regiment had one serjeant, one corporal,
and eight private soldiers killed; Captains Cochrane and Garnier,
Lieutenants Mackenzie, Powell, and Elrington[5], Ensigns Smith
and Williams, Volunteer McGrath, one serjeant, one corporal, and
thirty-six private soldiers, wounded.
The arrival of the heavy artillery for the siege, and the naval
force intended to co-operate with the army, in the reduction of
Dunkirk, was so long delayed, that the French had time to convey
from every part of France, by coaches, waggons, and other vehicles,
such an immense body of troops, to the vicinity of Dunkirk, that
the Duke of York had little chance of success.
Another sortie was made by the garrison on the 8th of September,
when the FOURTEENTH and Thirty-seventh Regiments advanced to
attack the French; as the two corps passed the regiment of Joseph
Colloredo, they were cheered by the Austrians, and they succeeded
in repulsing the enemy: but no chance of final success remained,
and the siege was raised, the FOURTEENTH Regiment marching by
Furnes and Ypres, to Menin.
The regiment marched, in October, to Oudenarde, where it furnished
a guard over two thousand French prisoners; it was sent forward,
several times, to take the out-post duty, and upon a movement in
advance, by the enemy, upon Menin and Wevelghem, it repulsed an
attack upon the out-post at Vervicke.
[Sidenote: 1794]
Early in 1794 the regiment left Oudenarde for Wevelghem, and
remained on outpost duty until April, when the army assembled, and
was reviewed by the Emperor of Germany, on the heights of Cateau,
where His Royal Highness William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester, was
nominated to the command of the brigade composed of the FOURTEENTH,
Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-third Regiments.
In the general attack on the enemy's positions, on the 17th
of April, the regiment formed part of the column under
Lieutenant-General Sir William Erskine, and took part in the attack
on the village of _Prêmont_, and the wood on its left.
The French having been driven from their positions, the siege of
_Landrécies_ was commenced, and the FOURTEENTH Regiment formed part
of the covering army encamped on the heights of _Cateau_; this post
was attacked on the 26th of April, by the French under General
Chapuy, who were repulsed, with great slaughter, by the British
cavalry, with the loss of many guns. On this occasion the light
company of the regiment behaved with much gallantry, and, having
advanced to a wood on the left, kept in check a considerable body
of the enemy, who meditated an attack on the batteries.
On the fall of Landrécies, the British troops moved to the vicinity
of _Tournay_, where they were attacked on the 10th of May by a
numerous body of French, who were defeated with severe loss. The
FOURTEENTH Foot lost only one man on this occasion.
At length a combined attack was made on the French positions,
with the view of forcing them to evacuate Flanders, in which the
FOURTEENTH Regiment had another opportunity of distinguishing
itself; it left Tournay on the evening of the 16th of May,--took
part in forcing the points of the French position it was destined
to attack in the direction of Lisle, on the 17th of May, and was
successful; but several Austrian columns failed to accomplish
their part in the combined movements. The British troops, having
penetrated the French position, and being left unsupported, became
exposed to the attack of the enemy's very superior numbers.
Early on the 18th of May the FOURTEENTH Regiment was environed
and attacked by an overwhelming force, but it stood its ground,
and by firing by wings and platoons with as much steadiness and
regularity as on parade, held its assailants in check. Its veteran
commanding officer, Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel BROWNE, became quite
exhausted, and sat for some time on a chair behind the colours. At
length an aide-de-camp arrived from Major-General Fox, commanding
the brigade, with orders for the FOURTEENTH to retreat; and while
performing this retrograde movement, they preserved an unbroken
formation. Surrounded by enemies, fired upon by infantry and
artillery, and menaced by cavalry, the regiment preserved its order
with astonishing firmness, forming divisions in the rear against
cavalry, and marching over ground covered with dead bodies. The
road to Lannoy, by which the regiment had advanced on the preceding
day, was found in possession of the enemy, with an abbatis and
cannon formed across it, and the first discharge killed several
grenadiers, when Major-General Fox said to Captain Clapham, "I
fear we must lay down our arms." "No, sir," replied the captain,
"the FOURTEENTH can cut through them." At this moment Corporal
GILBERT CIMITIERE[6], of the grenadiers, a French emigrant, well
acquainted with the country, stepped forward, and undertook to
conduct the brigade through the inclosures, and the troops quitted
the main road under his guidance, being followed and assailed by
the French. Lieutenant-Colonel Browne was shot through the body,
and was carried in a blanket by four grenadiers, but he suffered so
much pain that he requested them to stop, and he and they were made
prisoners. The command of the regiment devolved on Captain Perry,
of the light company, which was afterwards commanded by Lieutenant
Graves. This officer, and Lieutenant Elrington, commanded the two
rear companies of the column, and formed alternately to repulse
the French cavalry. Although every road was fortified, and the
hedges lined with troops, the brigade fought its way through the
inclosures with astonishing gallantry and resolution, and gained
the position at Templeuve, having, however, lost every piece of
artillery with the column, excepting one of the battalion guns
of the FOURTEENTH Regiment, under Lieutenant Phillott. The guide
of the column, Corporal Gilbert Cimitiere, was rewarded with a
commission.
The loss of the regiment, on this trying occasion, was one
serjeant and thirteen rank and file, killed; twenty-two rank
and file wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel Browne wounded and taken
prisoner; three serjeants, two drummers, and sixty-eight rank and
file, prisoners of war and missing, many of whom were taken in
consequence of being wounded and unable to continue the retreat.
Lieutenant-Colonel Browne died at Lisle on the following day, and
was much regretted by the officers and soldiers he had commanded
with distinguished bravery on many trying occasions. The conduct of
the brigade was commended by His Royal Highness the Duke of York,
and its gallantry is recorded in the histories of the war[7].
The regiment resumed its post in front of _Tournay_, and was in
position on the 22nd of May, when General Pichegru attacked the
allied army with an immense body of troops, first assailing the
right and afterwards the centre of the line. The FOURTEENTH being
on the left, were not engaged during the early part of the day; but
in the afternoon, the enemy carried the post of Pontechin, on the
high road from Courtray to Tournay, and the fortune of the day was
evidently flowing in favour of the French, when the brigade, formed
of the FOURTEENTH, Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-third Regiments, was
ordered to the post of honor and danger.
As the FOURTEENTH quitted their post on the left, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay, the Duke of York addressed them in the
most flattering manner, declaring his perfect reliance on their
gallantry. The three regiments moved at a running pace; though
weak in numbers, they were strong in valour and resolution, and
being conscious of their own prowess, they rushed upon their
numerous opponents fully determined to conquer or perish in the
attempt. The FOURTEENTH charged along the chaussée,--overpowered
all resistance,--carried the village,--re-formed beyond the houses
under a heavy fire[8],--raised a loud shout, and rushed forward
to storm a battery on a rising ground near a windmill, which
the French defended a short time, but afterwards abandoned it,
leaving the regiment in possession of several pieces of cannon.
This sudden burst of British valour, coming like an explosion of
thunder, amazed and confounded the French, who gave way before
the superior prowess of the British soldiers, and the current of
the battle flowed in favour of the allies. There was, however,
a protracted resistance in an orchard, where the grenadiers and
light infantry of the FOURTEENTH Foot were engaged, and several
instances of individual contempt of danger occurred. A grenadier
named RYAN refused to avail himself of the advantage of standing
behind a tree, saying "They cannot touch me;" but the next moment
he fell forward apparently dead, when Captain Clapham turned him
over, and said, "Ryan, you are only shot through the face, you will
do well yet;" "Is that all?" replied the grenadier, and jumping up
and commencing loading his firelock, he added, "Then I will have
another rap at them," and he was with difficulty prevailed upon to
go to the rear[9]. The French were eventually driven out of the
orchard; the British pressed upon their opponents, and a victory
was gained over the Republican troops, who were forced to quit the
field of battle with severe loss.
The FOURTEENTH Regiment gained great honor on this occasion;
its loss was one serjeant and four rank and file killed;
Captain Cochrane, Major of brigade, died of his wounds; one
serjeant and twenty-eight rank and file wounded; five men
missing. Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay's horse was killed, and the
Lieutenant-Colonel received four musket balls through his hat.
The following general order, dated Tournay, 23rd of May, 1794, was
published.--
"His Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief desires to express his
most particular thanks to Major-General Fox; to the FOURTEENTH
Regiment under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay; to the
Thirty-seventh Regiment commanded by Captain Lightburne; to the
Fifty-third Regiment commanded by Major Wiseman, and to the
detachment of artillery attached to them under the command of
Captain Trotter, for _that display of intrepidity and good conduct,
which reflects the greatest honor upon themselves, at the same time
that it was highly instrumental in deciding the important victory
of the 22nd instant_.
"His Royal Highness much laments the loss they have sustained; but
flatters himself they feel it, in some measure, compensated by the
credit they have gained."
In his public despatch the Duke of York, speaking of the
FOURTEENTH, Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-third Regiments,
stated,--"_Nothing could exceed the spirit and gallantry with
which they conducted themselves_, particularly in the storm of
the village of Pontechin, which they forced with the bayonet."
Historians have recorded the gallant conduct of the regiment[10];
and the royal authority was afterwards given for it to bear the
word "_Tournay_" on its colours, to commemorate its distinguished
conduct on this memorable occasion.
Notwithstanding these displays of valour, the enemy brought forward
so great a superiority of numbers that it was found necessary to
retreat, and a series of retrograde movements followed, during
which little fighting occurred, and few corps had opportunities
of distinguishing themselves. Various positions were occupied
for short periods, and after quitting the Austrian Netherlands,
attempts were made to defend Holland; but the people of that
country had imbibed the doctrines of republicanism, and they made
little effort to preserve the United Provinces from the French.
In August the FOURTEENTH regiment was encamped near Antwerp; it
was afterwards in position in the vicinity of Breda, from whence
it retired to a post beyond Bois-le-duc, and, subsequently, to
Nimeguen: it formed part of the garrison of Nimeguen for a short
period, and when that town was evacuated, the regiment proceeded
to Linden Castle; the army occupying a position beyond the Waal,
for the defence of the passage of that river. Towards the end of
December the river became frozen, and a body of the enemy crossed
on the ice; but was driven back on the 30th of that month.
[Sidenote: 1795]
The frost afterwards became more severe, and on the 4th of January,
1795, another body of French troops passed the river on the ice.
At this period, the FOURTEENTH Regiment was at Linden Castle,
from whence it advanced to take part in a combined attack on the
enemy, under Major-General David Dundas. On the 7th of January it
traversed the Rhine on the ice at Rhenen, and proceeded to Bueren
Castle. On the following morning Major-General Lord Cathcart
advanced with the light companies, thirty hulans, and a detachment
of the Twenty-seventh Regiment, to reconnoitre; and the FOURTEENTH
and Twenty-seventh regiments were afterwards brought up to attack
the enemy at _Gueldermalsen_. The FOURTEENTH formed on the ice, on
the left of the dyke, and the Twenty-seventh across the inclosure
on the right, supported by the piquets, hulans, and afterwards by
a squadron of light dragoons; and the field pieces were protected
by the grenadiers of the FOURTEENTH under Lieutenant Elrington,
who marched before the guns. Advancing in this order, the troops
drove the French before them, until they arrived at Gueldermalsen,
where a protracted resistance was made. Lieutenant Elrington, with
the grenadiers of the FOURTEENTH, charged the French artillery
at the bridge, and bayonetted the enemy at the gun, carrying the
post with great gallantry. The British battalion guns cleared the
street; the soldiers rushed forward, and were engaged from house to
house, until they had passed the village, when they were assailed
by the enemy in force. The FOURTEENTH defended the streets; the
Twenty-seventh, the church-yard; and the Twenty-eighth coming up
most opportunely on the right, threw in a flanking fire, which
compelled the enemy to retire[11]. The brigade remained in the
village during the night; it was ordered to retire on the following
morning, and the three regiments were thanked in orders for their
distinguished conduct: Lieutenant ELRINGTON, of the FOURTEENTH,
was thanked by name for his gallantry at the attack of the bridge
defended by a gun. The regiment had twelve rank and file killed;
Lieutenant-Colonel Hope (afterwards General Sir Alexander Hope,
G.C.B.), Captain Perry, one serjeant, and twenty rank and file,
wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel Hope lost the use of his right arm from
a wound in the shoulder[12]. Captain Perry died of his wounds.
After this action the regiment marched to Cullenburg, and was on
duty about a week, on the banks of the Leek, without house, tent,
or any other cover from the weather, which was particularly severe.
Numerical superiority gave the enemy so decided an advantage,
that a retreat through Holland to Germany became necessary, which
took place in the depth of winter, and was attended with severe
privation and suffering. On one occasion, after a long march, the
FOURTEENTH Foot found themselves on a dreary heath, on a dark
night, exposed to severe frost, and a snowstorm; the men's limbs
were so benumbed with cold, that the most fatal results were
apprehended; but the discovery of a large farm-house, and a barn
upon the heath, proved particularly fortunate to the soldiers.
These hardships were aggravated by the mortifying reflection,
that the regiment was retiring before an enemy, whom it had never
encountered without proving victorious. At length the regiment
arrived in Germany, where it obtained repose in comfortable
quarters; it embarked at Bremen-lee on the 9th of April, and landed
at Harwich on the 7th of May.
From Harwich the regiment marched to Hitchin and its neighbourhood;
and when passing through the several towns on its route it was
hailed with acclamations by the inhabitants; almost every officer
and soldier bore marks of bullets having passed through his
accoutrements or clothing; the colours were perforated in many
places, and were borne by Lieutenants Stuart and Graves, the two
senior subalterns,--so many casualties had occurred among the
officers. The achievements of the regiment had been made known, and
it was everywhere congratulated on its gallant exploits.
In June the regiment pitched its tents at Warley, in Essex, and
in July received orders to march to Nusthaling, near Southampton.
On passing through Dartford, the band played the republican tune
_ça ira_ (which it played when the regiment charged the position
at Famars, in 1793), when the inhabitants evinced their aversion
to democracy by throwing stones at the musicians for playing so
offensive a tune; but upon an explanation being given, the people
responded with three cheers to the honour of the brave soldiers of
the FOURTEENTH who fought at Famars.
The regiment afterwards embarked for Quiberon-bay, to support the
French emigrants under M. Sombreuil, but being detained by contrary
winds, it was directed to disembark and return to Southampton.
At this period an armament was fitting out to complete the
deliverance of the French West India islands from the power of
republicanism, and to reduce to obedience the insurgents of St.
Vincent and Grenada. The FOURTEENTH Regiment joined the expedition,
and sailed with the immense fleet of Indiamen, transports, and
merchant-vessels, under the convoy of a squadron of the royal navy
commanded by Admiral Christian, which, on quitting the British
shores, presented a magnificent spectacle calculated to impress
the mind with a just idea of British power; but the voyage had
been delayed until a very late period of the year, and the fleet
encountered so severe a storm that several ships foundered at
sea, others were wrecked on the western coast of England, and the
greater part returned to port. The fleet was re-fitted and again
put to sea, but, after encountering severe gales, it returned to
Portsmouth a second time. The "Calypso" transport, having part
of the FOURTEENTH Regiment on board, was nearly run down during
a heavy gale, by the "Charon" of forty-four guns, and lost the
main yard; but this transport continued the voyage and arrived at
Barbadoes in eleven weeks.
[Sidenote: 1796]
Several of the regiments, which returned to port, had their
destination changed; but the portion of the FOURTEENTH, which had
put back, re-embarked in February, 1796, and arrived in April at
Barbadoes, where four companies of the Twenty-eighth Foot were
attached to the regiment.
The FOURTEENTH Foot constituted part of the expedition against
_St. Lucia_, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby;
and sailed from Carlisle-bay, Barbadoes, on the 22nd of April, for
the rendezvous of the troops to be employed in the enterprise, at
Martinique, from whence the expedition sailed, on the morning of
the 26th of April, for St. Lucia, where the head quarters landed
on the 27th, near Pigeon Island, and marched to Choque Bay, to
cover the landing of the remainder of the troops. They continued
in position there a short time, till the batteries against Morne
Fortuné were completed, when they were ordered up to take part
in the ulterior operations. Prior to landing, three companies
were detached, with a force under Brigadier-General Perryn, on
the side of the Grand Cul de Sac, to facilitate the investment
of _Morne Fortuné_, and an attempt was made to drive the enemy
from the batteries on the base of the mountain, on that side; and
Major Donkin's battalion, consisting of three companies of the
FOURTEENTH and four of the Twenty-eighth, formed part of the force
employed on this service. This battalion supported the Forty-fourth
Regiment, in the column commanded by Colonel Riddell. On advancing
to the attack, the battalion was checked, at a sudden turn in a
winding road cut on the side of a steep hill, by an _abattis_
occupied by French troops, when Captain James Graves sprang up
the bank by the aid of a branch, and being assisted by Captain
Henry Cox, and Lieutenant George Morris, he helped a few soldiers
to climb up the side of the hill, who fired down upon the flank
of the troops in the _abattis_, who instantly abandoned it, and
the FOURTEENTH continued their advance. On arriving on more open
ground, the fire of the enemy's batteries was heavy; when Captain
James Graves, of the FOURTEENTH, and Captain John Frederic Brown,
of the Twenty-eighth, stormed the lower battery, called _Chapuis_,
with a few men of the two regiments. Captain Brown, Lieutenants
William F. Dalton and John Grady, with several private soldiers,
fell wounded in the advance, but the battery was captured, and was
held by Captain Graves, Lieutenant John Hutchinson, and about forty
rank and file. The soldiers being fired upon from a house, it was
forced by a few men under Lieutenant Owen, and all the defenders
bayonetted. The firing on the right indicating a retrograde
movement on the part of the British troops at that point, Serjeant
Shaw of the FOURTEENTH was detached to reconnoitre; he returned
wounded, and reported the retreat of the British, and the advance
of a fresh column of the enemy. Under these circumstances the guns
in the battery were spiked, and the soldiers retired, fighting
their way through a woody country, until they joined the column
under Brigadier-General Perryn. From the failure of part of the
attacking force the operations were not successful.
The loss of the FOURTEENTH was limited to five men killed; Captain
Cox, and one serjeant wounded. On sending a flag of truce, on the
following day, to inquire for prisoners, the answer received was,
"The republicans have made no prisoners."
An attack was afterwards made on the north side of Morne Fortuné;
a battery opened its fire against the enemy's works on the 16th of
May, and on the 24th the French desired a suspension of arms, which
was followed by the surrender of the island.