practicable breaches, the FOURTEENTH Regiment received orders
to prepare to lead one of the attacks at the storming of this
celebrated fortress, and at two o'clock on the morning of the
18th of January, 1826, it marched to the front opposite the left
bastion, to await the explosion of a mine. The FOURTEENTH and
FIFTY-NINTH Regiments had the honour of being selected to head
the two attacks, and they were directed to wheel as soon as they
had entered the breaches, one to the right and the other to the
left, and, continuing their career round the ramparts, to drive
the enemy before them till they met. Some delay occurred in the
mine, and the soldiers stood seven hours anxiously waiting for
the moment to commence the assault, during which time the thunder
of the artillery was tremendous. General Lord Combermere arrived
at the spot where the FOURTEENTH were formed, and seeing the
mouth of the mine near, he anxiously enquired if all was safe,
to which the engineer replied in the affirmative. His lordship
returned soon afterwards, and repeated the question, when he was
again assured that all was safe. In a few minutes afterwards the
bastion, beneath which the mine had been formed, heaved, as if by
the power of an earthquake; the ponderous wall rocked to and fro,
and then sunk down again, when, with a sound far exceeding the
loudest thunder, the exploding mine rent the massive bastion into
fragments, forcing stones, logs of wood, guns, men, and earth, into
the air, with a violence which it is impossible to describe, and
filling the atmosphere for a considerable distance with so dense
a cloud of smoke, dust, and fragments of the ruined bastion, that
it was difficult to breathe. Brigadier M'Combe was stunned, and
several soldiers of the FOURTEENTH were injured by the falling
fragments and bursting mine. As soon as the tremendous crash was
over, the soldiers rushed through the cloud of smoke and dust, and
began to ascend the breach, led by Majors Everard and Bisshopp;
they encountered some opposition, but nothing could withstand the
bayonets of the Grenadiers of the FOURTEENTH,--their valour soon
overpowered all resistance, and the regiment gained the summit with
little loss. The native corps appointed to support the regiment
not being near, a short pause ensued, when the enemy opened a
heavy fire from the buildings near the breach. Undaunted by this,
the FOURTEENTH dashed forward, cleared the walls as they went,
and, turning to the right, they drove the enemy from bastion to
bastion, and from tower to tower, with astonishing intrepidity and
success, capturing a colour which was on one of the bastions. The
enemy sprang a mine, which killed several soldiers of the regiment;
the Bhurtpore artillerymen fought with great desperation, and the
defenders of the walls evinced much personal bravery, but they
could not withstand the superior prowess and discipline of the
British troops.
As the FOURTEENTH were scouring the ramparts, and overcoming all
opposition in gallant style, they arrived at the Anah gate, where
they met the soldiers of the FIFTY-NINTH, who had turned to the
left at the breach, and proved victorious over every opponent; it
was a moment of intense interest, and a scene of glorious emotions:
BHURTPORE was won! the stain of a former repulse was wiped from the
British arms, and they hailed each other with a hearty and cordial
cheer.
The light company of the FOURTEENTH, which mounted the breach
with the grenadiers, pursued, with other troops, a body of the
enemy towards the citadel, which they nearly entered with the
fugitives; four hundred Bhurtporees were shut out, and bayonetted
at the gate. The citadel surrendered a few hours afterwards;
the commander-in-chief entered it at the head of the FOURTEENTH
Regiment, which he placed in garrison, as a compliment to the
corps for its extraordinary gallantry: thus was accomplished the
capture of this celebrated city, which was regarded throughout the
East as impregnable, the natives being accustomed to remark that
India was not subdued, because Bhurtpore had not fallen. That boast
was rendered futile, and every native prince had a clear evidence
that neither the number of his troops, nor the strength of his
fortresses, would avail against the superior valour and discipline
of the British forces.
The usurper, Doorjun Sal, was captured while attempting to escape,
and was sent prisoner to Allahabad; the young Rajah, Bhulwunt
Singh, was taken to the palace of his ancestors, and seated on
the throne, in the presence of the FOURTEENTH REGIMENT; and the
other towns of his dominions submitted. Thus was the cloud which
darkened the horizon of British India dispersed, and the splendour
of the British arms received additional lustre in the East. Lord
Combermere stated in his public despatch,--"I have the pleasure
to acquaint your lordship, that the conduct of every one engaged
was marked by a degree of zeal which calls for my unqualified
approbation; but I must particularly remark the behaviour of His
Majesty's FOURTEENTH Regiment, commanded by Major EVERARD, and
FIFTY-NINTH, commanded by Major FULLER; these corps having led the
columns of assault, by their steadiness and determination decided
the fate of the day."
In division orders it was stated,--"Major-General Reynell
congratulates the troops of his division, European and Native,
engaged in the storming of Bhurtpore this morning, upon the
brilliant success which attended their gallant exertions. It is
impossible for him to convey half what he feels in appreciating
the conduct of His Majesty's FOURTEENTH Regiment, that led the
principal storming column. It has impressed his mind with stronger
notions of what a British Regiment is capable of, when led by such
officers as Major Everard, Major Bisshopp, and Captain Mackenzie,
than he ever before possessed. The Major-General requests that
Major Everard will assure the officers and soldiers of the
FOURTEENTH Regiment, that they more than realized his expectations."
Lieutenant-Colonel W. T. Edwards, of the FOURTEENTH, an officer of
high character and lofty promise, fell at the head of the second
brigade, pierced by many wounds; Captain Henry B. Armstrong was
also mortally wounded while leading his men to victory on the
ramparts. The regiment had likewise two serjeants, twenty-nine
rank and file, and three Lascars, killed; Lieutenant-Colonel John
M'Combe, Lieutenants Richard Stack, Robert Daly, and Edward C.
Lynch, Volunteer W. Tulloh, two serjeants, ninety-eight rank and
file, and three Lascars, wounded.
Colonel John M'Combe[16], who commanded the first brigade, and
Major Matthias Everard, who commanded the regiment, were rewarded
with the dignity of Companion of the Bath; and the Royal authority
was afterwards given for the word "BHURTPORE" to be borne on the
regimental colour, to commemorate its gallantry on this occasion.
The war having terminated, the regiment returned to the cantonment
of Meerut, where it was stationed upwards of six months.
General Sir Harry Calvert, Baronet, G.C.B., died in September,
1826, when King George IV. conferred the colonelcy of the regiment
on General Thomas Lord Lynedoch, G.C.B.
[Sidenote: 1827]
The regiment left Meerut in October; it subsequently embarked in
boats, and, after a tedious passage down the river Ganges, arrived
at Fort William in the beginning of 1827; and was stationed at that
fortress twelve months.
[Sidenote: 1828]
[Sidenote: 1829]
Early in 1828 the regiment quitted Fort William, and proceeded to
the cantonment at Berhampore, where it was stationed during the
year 1829.
[Sidenote: 1830]
[Sidenote: 1831]
After performing the important duty of guarding the colonial
possessions of Great Britain in India twenty-three years,
the FOURTEENTH Regiment received orders to prepare to return
to England; it left Berhampore in November, and proceeded to
Fort William; the men who volunteered to remain in India were
transferred to other corps; and in December, 1830, and January,
1831, it embarked from Calcutta for England. It landed at Gravesend
in May and July,--was stationed at Chatham until September,--and at
Albany Barracks during the remainder of the year.
[Sidenote: 1832]
In the early part of 1832, the regiment was stationed at Haslar
Barracks, from whence it proceeded to Portsmouth, where it remained
five months. In the middle of July it embarked for Ireland, and
after landing at Cork, marched from thence to Buttevant.
[Sidenote: 1833]
[Sidenote: 1834]
In 1833 the head-quarters were removed to Athlone; in 1834 to
Dublin, and afterwards to Mullingar.
[Sidenote: 1835]
General Lord Lynedoch having been removed to the First, the Royal,
Regiment of Foot, King William IV. conferred the colonelcy of the
regiment on Lieutenant-General the Honorable Sir Charles Colville,
G.C.B., G.C.H., by commission, dated the 12th of December, 1834.
This officer was removed to the Fifth Fusiliers in March, 1835,
and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the FOURTEENTH Regiment
by Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Hope, G.C.B., who, as
lieutenant-colonel, commanded the regiment in 1795.
The head-quarters were removed to Dundalk in the summer of 1835.
[Sidenote: 1836]
Five years had not elapsed from the period of the return of the
regiment from India, when it received orders to prepare for
embarkation for the West Indies. It was divided into six service
and four depôt companies; the service companies embarked from
Cork in February, 1836, arrived, in March, at Barbadoes, and were
removed, in April, to the island of St Kitt's.
[Sidenote: 1837]
In February, 1837, the service companies were removed to Antigua.
On the 19th of May, General the Honorable Sir Alexander Hope,
G.C.B., Lieutenant Governor of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea,
died, and was succeeded in the colonelcy by Lieutenant-General Sir
James Watson, K.C.B., who had commanded the regiment in India,
as lieutenant-colonel, from the year 1807 to 1821, when he was
promoted to the rank of major-general.
In June the depôt companies embarked from Waterford for England,
and, landing at Bristol, proceeded from thence to Brecon.
[Sidenote: 1838]
During the year 1838, the service companies remained at Antigua.
The distinguished services of the FOURTEENTH Regiment in India,
from 1807 to 1831, having been, at the special request of
Lieutenant-General Sir James Watson, brought before Her Majesty by
the Commander-in-Chief, the Royal authority was given for the badge
of the "ROYAL TIGER," superscribed "INDIA," to be borne upon the
regimental colour and appointments, to commemorate its services in
that part of Her Majesty's dominions.
[Sidenote: 1839]
[Sidenote: 1840]
In December[17] orders were received for the removal of the service
companies from Antigua to St. Lucia, where they arrived in the
beginning of January, 1839: in April, 1840, they proceeded to
Barbadoes, and in June to Trinidad. They suffered severely on these
stations from yellow fever and other effects of a tropical climate.
The depôt companies proceeded from England to Ireland in June, 1840.
[Sidenote: 1841]
The regiment remained at Trinidad until the early part of 1841,
when it was removed to Barbadoes. On the 27th of April it embarked
from Barbadoes for Lower Canada, and landed at Quebec on the 2nd of
June following.
[Sidenote: 1845]
The depôt companies were removed from Ireland to England, in
December, 1844; and the service companies have remained in Canada
until the year 1845, the period of the completion of this Record.
Among the splendid achievements of valour with which the annals of
the British army abound, the gallant behaviour of the FOURTEENTH
FOOT, on several occasions, appears conspicuous for those bright
qualities of intrepidity and heroism which distinguish the
inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland when arrayed under the
standard of their Sovereign; and the conduct of this corps in
quarters has been marked by those excellent features of order,
subordination, and discipline, which adorn the character of
the British soldier, procuring for him the admiration of the
inhabitants of all countries. The inscriptions on the colour of the
regiment bear testimony of the estimation in which its services
have been held by its Sovereign; and the reports of the general
officers, under whom it has served, have procured for it the
confidence of the Government and the Country.
[Illustration: 14th Regiment of Foot.]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Afterwards Colonel of the Twelfth Foot.
[2] The strength of the regiment at the battle of Culloden was,
2 field officers, 7 captains, 14 subalterns, 21 serjeants, 11
drummers, and 304 rank and file.
[3] "_14th October, 1765._
"Alterations in the clothing which is to be delivered in the year
1766 to the FOURTEENTH Regiment of Foot, commanded by the Honorable
Major-General Keppel, and which are approved of by His Majesty.
"The breeches to be buff.
"The Grenadiers to have black bear-skin caps, fronted with red, the
motto and horse white metal.
"The drummers to have white bear-skin caps, with a red front, motto
and horse white metal.
"By order of the King.
"EDWARD HARVEY
"_Adjutant-General_."
[4] "The British troops who had this opportunity of distinguishing
themselves were the brigade of the line, viz., the FOURTEENTH,
Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-third Regiments, with the battalion
formed from the Light Infantry and Grenadier companies, under the
command of Major-General Abercromby; seven pieces of cannon and two
hundred prisoners were taken in the redoubts."--_London Gazette._
[5] Lieutenant Richard Goodall Elrington received a musket-ball
in the right thigh: after the wound was healed, he returned to
his duty, when an abscess formed in the left thigh from which the
ball was extracted; it having passed, in the flesh, from the right
to the left side of his body, and sunk down the thigh to the spot
where the abscess formed. This officer entered the army as an
ensign in 1790; was promoted from a lieutenantcy in the FOURTEENTH
to be captain in the First West India Regiment in 1795: was removed
to the Forty-seventh Regiment in 1803, and was promoted to the
lieut.-colonelcy in June, 1813: he continued in command of the
Forty-seventh Regiment until November, 1841, when he attained the
rank of major-general. He died in London on 2nd August, 1845.
[6] Afterwards lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-eighth Regiment.
Mr. Gilbert Cimitiere was appointed to an ensigncy in the Sixth
West India Regiment on 1st July, 1795; promoted to a lieutenantcy
in the Forty-eighth Regiment on the 15th June, 1796; in which he
attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in 1824. He retired from
the service in 1827.
[7] "Major-General Fox, with the FOURTEENTH, Thirty-seventh, and
Fifty-third Regiments, was engaged with the whole of the French
column which had marched from Lisle, and the different corps which
had driven the rest of the army back fell upon his flanks and
rear; perhaps there is _not on record a single instance of greater
gallantry_ or more soldier-like conduct than was exhibited on that
day, by these three regiments. At length General Fox, finding that
the whole army had left him, began to think of retreating, to
effect which it was necessary to get possession of the causeway
leading to Leers; but before that could be accomplished he was
obliged to charge several battalions of the enemy, who were
astonished that such a handful of men should presume to give
them battle, and expected every moment that they would lay down
their arms; but with _a degree of intrepidity that words cannot
describe_, and is, indeed, scarcely conceivable, they gained the
wished-for point, and then formed with such regularity that the
enemy could not assail them: they secured their retreat towards
Leers, and the next morning joined General Otto's column."--CAPTAIN
JONES' _Journal_.
[8] While the troops were forming outside the village, a hare
ran across the line, a man named Tovey knocked it down with his
musket, and placed it in his haversack, with surprising coolness,
although under so heavy a fire that it was difficult to form the
men, from the frequent and numerous casualties which occurred; thus
exemplifying that distinguished feature in the character of the
British soldier, "cool and collected in the midst of danger."
[9] Private Ryan served many years afterwards with deep marks in
his cheeks.
[10] "The Duke of York detached seven Austrian battalions, and the
second brigade of British infantry, (FOURTEENTH, _Thirty-seventh_,
and _Fifty-third_,) under Major-General Fox, who, though they had
lost so many men only four days before, anxiously wished to get
into action. Nothing could exceed their spirit and perseverance;
they stormed the village of Pontechin, and after firing a few shot
rushed with fixed bayonets into the heart of the enemy, and turned
the fate of the day once more in favour of the allies. The charge
was conducted with such skill and activity that it immediately
threw the enemy into confusion, and forced them to give way. At
this time the artillery came into action and directed their fire
so well, and followed it up with such activity, the enemy could
never be rallied so as to renew the attack, although they had
fresh troops constantly coming up, but continued to lose ground
till dark. Such a battle has seldom been fought; the enemy was in
action, under an incessant fire of cannon and musketry, upwards
of twelve hours, and left twelve thousand dead in the field, five
hundred taken, and seven pieces of cannon.
"The loss of the allies, in this memorable action, amounted to four
thousand men; one hundred and ninety-six were British, and all,
except three, from General Fox's brigade. It is a fact, although it
appears almost impossible, that _a single British brigade, and that
brigade less than six hundred men, on that great day, absolutely
won the battle_; for had it not come up, the allies would have been
beaten."--CAPTAIN JONES' _Journal_.
[11] Every man of the FOURTEENTH was proud of the reputation which
the regiment had acquired, with which he identified himself; even
the recruits possessed the same _esprit de corps_. After the
capture of Gueldermalsen a young soldier, named Sullivan, struck
the butt-end of his musket against a cask, when the musket went
off, and the ball passed through the soldier's body. He instantly
called to Lieutenant Graves, and said, "I hope, Sir, you will let
my friends know that I always behaved as became a good soldier,"
and immediately expired.
[12] Captain Jones, speaking of the conduct of the FOURTEENTH,
Twenty-seventh, and Twenty-eighth Regiments, at Gueldermalsen,
states in his _Journal_, "These regiments behaved with their usual
gallantry, and faced every danger with that cheerfulness and
perseverance which has peculiarly distinguished them."
[13] Sir Ralph Abercromby entertained a high opinion of the
FOURTEENTH; in the West Indies he always landed with the flank
companies, and the regiment furnished a corporal's guard at his
quarters. When he was appointed to the command of the troops in the
Mediterranean, with whom he proceeded to Egypt, he wrote to Captain
Graves, stating, "I regret extremely that I cannot take you with
me, as I intended, having found all my staff appointed when I got
to London." He afterwards added, with great pleasantry, "I also
greatly regret that the FOURTEENTH are not on the expedition, as I
do not think any service can go on well without them."
[14] "It is peculiarly incumbent upon the Lieutenant-General to
notice the vigorous attack made by the second battalion of the
FOURTEENTH Regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Nicolls, which drove the
enemy out of the village on the left, of which he had possessed
himself."--_General Orders._
[15] "The gallant FOURTEENTH proceeded to scour the ramparts, and
the capture of the Sultan rendered the victory complete."--_London
Gazette._
[16] Colonel John M'Combe died at Calcutta on the 12th October,
1828.
[17] A brigantine, having on board the head-quarters of the
regiment, with six officers, one hundred and eight soldiers, and
thirty women, under Lieut.-Colonel Everard, C.B., K.H., was wrecked
on the rocks off Guadaloupe, before daylight on Christmas day; but
the inhabitants came to their aid in boats, and no lives were lost.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE FOURTEENTH,
OR
BUCKINGHAM REGIMENT
OF
FOOT.
SIR EDWARD HALES, BARONET.
_Appointed 22nd June, 1685._
This officer was the son of Sir Edward Hales, of Woodchurch, in the
county of Kent, who was a distinguished loyalist in the reigns of
Charles I. and Charles II., and being forced to flee from England
for his loyal attempts during the rebellion, he died in France a
few years after the restoration in 1660.
EDWARD HALES succeeded, on the decease of his father, to the
family estate at Woodchurch, and to the dignity of a Baronet; and
when the Court began to evince a disposition to favour Papacy, he
changed his religion from Protestant to Roman Catholic. He was
in great favour with King James II., and having raised a company
of foot for the service of that monarch, in June, 1685, he was
appointed colonel of a regiment, which is now the FOURTEENTH FOOT.
He was also constituted a member of the privy council, one of the
lords of the Admiralty, deputy governor of the cinque ports, and
lieutenant-governor of the Tower of London. Being unable, from
his religion, to take the required oaths on appointment to the
colonelcy of his regiment, he was prosecuted and convicted at
Rochester assizes; but he moved the case to the Court of King's
Bench, pleaded the King's dispensation and had judgment in his
behalf:--eleven out of the twelve judges being of opinion that the
King might dispense in that case.
SIR EDWARD HALES was in the King's confidence; and at the
Revolution, in 1688, he was employed to make arrangements for His
Majesty's flight to France. On the night of the 10th of December,
Sir Edward, with the quarter-master of his regiment, Edward
Syng[18], quitted Whitehall Palace with the King--proceeded in a
hackney coach to Horse-ferry, crossed the Thames in a boat, and
continued their flight in disguise to Feversham, where they went
on board of the Custom-House hoy, designing to cross the channel
to France; but they were suspected of being Popish priests, and
were apprehended on board the vessel by the country people. The
King being afterwards recognised, he was induced to return to
London; but he subsequently escaped from Rochester and proceeded to
France. Sir Edward Hales attempted to conceal himself, to escape
the fury of the populace, who were enraged against him for changing
his religion, and at the time he was apprehended at Feversham the
country people were plundering his house, killing his deer, and
wantonly destroying his property in Kent.
He was detained in custody, and afterwards confined in the Tower of
London for eighteen months; on his release he proceeded to France,
and he was at La Hogue ready to embark for England when Admiral
Russel defeated the French fleet. His eldest son served in King
James's army in Ireland, and was killed at the battle of the Boyne.
While in France, Sir Edward Hales was created by King James, EARL
OF TENTERDEN, in Kent. He died in France in 1695, and was buried in
the church of St. Sulpice in Paris.
WILLIAM BEVERIDGE.
_Appointed 31st December, 1688._
WILLIAM BEVERIDGE served under the Prince of Orange in the
Netherlands, in one of the British regiments in the service of the
States-General of Holland; and at the Revolution, in 1688, His
Highness promoted him to the colonelcy of the FOURTEENTH Regiment
of Foot. He commanded the regiment nearly four years; and was
killed in a duel with one of his captains, on the 14th of November,
1692.
JOHN TIDCOMB.
_Appointed 14th November, 1692._