the 13th of September, in the presence of the combined fleets of
France and Spain: the enemy’s camp and the neighbouring hills were
crowded with spectators from various parts of Europe to witness the
effect of these stupendous vessels; and such a storm of war was
opened upon the place, as had probably never been equalled since
the invention of cannon. The batteries of the fortress answered
this tremendous fire with vigour, and the deafening thunder of four
hundred pieces of heavy artillery was heard for several miles. For
some hours the attack and defence were so equally well supported,
as scarcely to admit any appearance of superiority in the cannonade
on either side. The wonderful construction of the battering ships
appeared to bid defiance to the heaviest ordnance: shells rebounded
from their tops, and a thirty-two pound shot scarcely seemed to
make any impression on them. The effect of the red-hot shot was
doubted; sometimes smoke came from the ships, but the fire-engines
within soon occasioned it to cease, and the result was uncertain:
the fire was, however, persevered in, and incessant showers of
red-hot bullets, shells, and carcases flew through the air. In the
afternoon the red-hot shot had performed its work, and volumes of
smoke issued from the flagship: the admiral’s second ship was soon
perceived to be in the same condition, and confusion prevailed. The
Spaniards expected that the firing of red-hot bullets could not
be persevered in beyond a few rounds; but the fire was continued
with the same precision and vivacity as cold shot; this occasioned
the enemy’s cannonade to abate, and about eight o’clock it almost
totally ceased. The battering ships made signals to inform the
combined fleets of their extreme danger and distress, when several
boats were sent to their assistance.
At this period the fire of the garrison produced great carnage, and
the most pitiable cries and groans were heard, as the incessant
showers of shot and shells were poured into the floating batteries.
Soon after midnight one ship was in flames, and by two o’clock it
appeared one sheet of fire from head to stern; a second was soon
in the same condition, and the light of the conflagration enabled
the British artillery to point their guns with precision, when
soon after three o’clock six more ships exhibited the effects of
the red-hot shot. The burning ships exhibited one of the grandest
spectacles of destruction ever beheld; and amidst this exciting
scene the British seamen pushed off in boats to rescue the
Spaniards from the blazing vessels. They preserved between three
and four hundred, and while they were thus engaged, one of the
ships blew up with a dreadful explosion; four others met the same
fate before seven o’clock, and another shortly afterwards, and the
remainder burnt to the water’s edge, their magazines having been
inundated. Not one could be preserved as a trophy.
During the hottest period of “the enemy’s cannonade (Colonel
Drinkwater relates), the Governor was present on the King’s
bastion, whilst Lieut.-General Boyd took his station upon the
South bastion, animating the garrison by their presence, and
encouraging them to emulation. The exertions and activity of the
brave artillery in this well fought contest deserve the highest
commendations. To their skill, perseverance, and courage, with the
zealous assistance of the line (particularly the corps in town, the
THIRTY-NINTH, and the late Seventy-second regiment), was Gibraltar
indebted for its safety against the combined powers, by sea and
land, of France and Spain.”
The Colonel also adds the following singular circumstance. When
Lieut.-General Boyd laid the foundation stone of the King’s bastion
in 1773, upon fixing the stone in its place, he remarked that “this
is the first stone of a work which I name the ‘King’s Bastion;’ may
it be as gallantly defended, as I know it will be ably executed;
and may I live to see it _resist the united efforts of France and
Spain_!” This wish was fully accomplished.
In this manner the mighty efforts of France and Spain ended in
defeat and destruction, while the conduct of the garrison of
Gibraltar elicited the admiration of the nations of Europe. In
England the most enthusiastic applause was universal; illuminations
and other modes of testifying the joy of the people followed the
receipt of the news of the destruction of the supposed invincible
battering ships, and every family which could boast a defender of
Gibraltar belonging to it, was proud of the honor. The loss of the
garrison on the 13th and 14th of September, was limited to one
officer, two serjeants, and thirteen private soldiers killed; five
officers and sixty-three rank and file wounded: that of the enemy
exceeded two thousand officers and soldiers.
Although the enemy gave up all hopes of reducing Gibraltar by
force of arms, yet some expectation was entertained, that, if the
blockade was continued, the garrison might be forced to surrender
from the want of provisions; the combined fleet therefore remained
in the bay, the besieging army continued in the lines, and about
a thousand shots were fired every day from the Spanish batteries.
The garrison was encouraged to continue resolute in the defence of
the fortress by assurances of their Sovereign’s favour and high
approbation. The principal Secretary of State, writing to General
Eliott, stated,--“I am honored with His Majesty’s commands to
assure you, in the strongest terms, that no encouragement shall be
wanting to the brave officers and soldiers under your command. His
royal approbation of the past will no doubt be a powerful incentive
to future exertions; and I have the King’s authority to assure
you, that every distinguished act of emulation and gallantry,
which shall be performed in the course of the siege by any, even
of the lowest rank, will meet with ample reward from his gracious
protection and favour.”
In October the combined fleet was much damaged by a storm, and
soon afterwards a British naval force arrived, and the garrison
was again relieved, when two regiments, the Twenty-fifth and
Fifty-ninth, landed to take part in the defence of the fortress.
[Sidenote: 1783.]
After the garrison was thus relieved and reinforced a third time,
the Court of Madrid relinquished the idea of recovering Gibraltar
either by force or stratagem; negotiations ensued, and in February
1783 the Spanish army withdrew, the preliminary articles for a
treaty of peace having been signed in the preceding month. Thus
terminated the siege of _Gibraltar_, which is celebrated in the
military annals of the eighteenth century; and the successful
defence of that fortress ranks amongst the noblest efforts of
the British arms: it exceeded in duration the famous siege of
Ostend in the beginning of the seventeenth century; and it is a
proud circumstance in the services of the THIRTY-NINTH, that the
regiment had _twice_ shared in the defence of Gibraltar, having (as
stated at page 9) been present when the place was besieged by the
Spaniards in the year 1727.
The THIRTY-NINTH regiment was rewarded, with the other corps which
took part in this long and arduous service, with the thanks of the
Sovereign, and of the Houses of Parliament, and with the honor
of bearing on the regimental colour and appointments the word
“GIBRALTAR,” with the “_Castle and Key_,” and the motto “_Montis
Insignia Calpé_,” in commemoration of its services during the
siege.[19]
The loss of the regiment during the siege was--
+--------------------+----------+----------+---------+--------------+
| | Officers.|Serjeants.|Drummers.|Rank and File.|
| +----------+----------+---------+--------------+
|Killed | 1 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
|Died of wounds | 1 | 1 | - | 6 |
|Disabled by wounds | - | - | - | 10 |
|Wounded, that | | | | |
| recovered | 3 | 5 | 1 | 44 |
|Died of diseases | - | 1 | - | 37 |
| +----------+----------+---------+--------------+
| Total | 5 | 10 | 2 | 113 |
+--------------------+----------+----------+---------+--------------+
During the period the THIRTY-NINTH were engaged in the defence of
Gibraltar, county titles were given to the several regiments of
infantry; and the communication with England having become free,
the THIRTY-NINTH received directions to assume, in addition to the
numerical title, the designation of “THE EAST MIDDLESEX” regiment,
in order that a connexion between the corps and that part of the
county should be cultivated, which might be useful in promoting
the success of the recruiting service. The letter conveying His
Majesty’s pleasure that county titles should be conferred on the
infantry, was dated the 31st of August 1782.
In November 1783 the THIRTY-NINTH regiment quitted Gibraltar, and
on its arrival in England was for some time stationed in South
Britain.
[Sidenote: 1789.]
The regiment proceeded from Great Britain to Ireland in May 1789.
[Sidenote: 1790 to 1792.]
During the years 1790, 1791, and 1792, the regiment continued to be
stationed in Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1793.]
While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, the National
Convention of France declared war against Great Britain and
Holland. This occurred on the 1st of February 1793, and in
September following, the THIRTY-NINTH regiment, under the command
of Lieut.-Colonel Stephen Fremantle, embarked from Ireland for
Barbadoes, in order to take part in an attack on the French West
India Islands.
[Sidenote: 1794.]
An armament was assembled at Barbadoes in the beginning of 1794,
under Lieut.-General Sir Charles, afterwards Earl Grey, K.B.,
and Vice-Admiral Sir John Jervis, K.B., for the capture of
_Martinique_, and the THIRTY-NINTH had the honor to share in this
enterprise. This island had been captured by the British in 1762,
but was restored to France at the Peace of Fontainebleau of the
following year. The expedition sailed from Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes,
early in February, and landing at three different points on the
island of _Martinique_, on the 5th, 6th, and 8th of that month,
drove the enemy from several strong posts. Fort Royal and Fort
Bourbon were afterwards besieged; the former was captured on the
20th of March, and the latter surrendered two days afterwards. The
loss of the regiment on this service was limited to a few soldiers
killed and wounded.
While the brigade of grenadiers under the command of His Royal
Highness Prince Edward, afterwards Duke of Kent, the brigade of
Light Infantry under Major-General Dundas, and the Sixth, Ninth,
and Forty-third regiments under Colonel Sir Charles Gordon,
proceeded to _St. Lucia_, which island was captured on the 4th of
April, the THIRTY-NINTH remained to garrison _Martinique_.
An expedition subsequently proceeded from Martinique against
_Guadeloupe_: a determined resistance was experienced at this
place, but the island was captured by the 20th of April. Sir
Charles Grey stated in his public despatch, that he “could not find
words to convey an adequate idea, or to express the high sense he
entertained of the extraordinary merit evinced by the officers and
soldiers in this service.”
France did not view with indifference the loss of these valuable
possessions, and in June a French armament arrived at _Guadeloupe_
for the recovery of that island. In the night attack on the French
camp at _Point Gabbare_ on the 13th of June 1794, the THIRTY-NINTH
regiment, under the command of Major Henry Magan[20], greatly
distinguished itself, and was thanked in general orders by Sir
Charles Grey. In this severe conflict the enemy precipitated
themselves into the sea in order to swim across the harbour to
Point-à-Pitre; but few succeeded in the desperate attempt, many
being drowned, and more shot by the British infantry, who followed
them closely in their flight. One hundred and seventy-nine of
the enemy were left dead on the field, while the loss of the
British was limited to seven men killed and twelve wounded. The
enemy’s camp, colours, baggage, and ammunition, with one piece of
artillery, fell into the hands of the victors.
Major-General Nisbett Balfour was appointed colonel of the
THIRTY-NINTH regiment on the 2nd of July 1794, in succession to
General Sir Robert Boyd, K.B., deceased.
During the remainder of the operations the THIRTY-NINTH regiment
remained at _Berville_. Several skirmishes took place at various
poets, but the troops suffered so severely from the climate at
Guadeloupe, and the arduous duties they had to perform, that on the
1st of September only three hundred and eighty-nine soldiers could
be mustered fit for duty.[21]
Lieut.-Colonel Colin Graham, of the Twenty-first Royal North
British Fusiliers, was appointed to the command of the troops
in Basse Terre; and he defended _Berville_ camp with the utmost
gallantry, until the 6th of October, when he was forced to
surrender, his force having become reduced by excessive exertion,
and the unhealthiness of the climate, to one hundred and
twenty-five rank and file fit for duty.
By the articles of capitulation the British troops were to march
out with the honors of war, and it was agreed to send the garrison
to England on board French ships, as soon as transports were ready.
The latter part of the agreement was not, however, complied with,
as they remained prisoners for more than a year afterwards, during
which time many of them died. The garrison consisted of the flank
companies of the Seventeenth, Thirty-first, and Thirty-fourth
regiments; the Thirty-ninth, Forty-third, Fifty-sixth (three
companies), and Sixty-fifth regiments. Their loss in the different
actions between the 27th of September and the 6th of October
amounted to two officers killed and five wounded; twenty-five
non-commissioned officers and privates killed, and fifty-one
wounded.
The whole island of Guadeloupe, with the exception of Fort Matilda,
had been recaptured by the French under General Victor Hughes: this
fort was defended by the troops under Lieut.-General Prescott until
the 10th of December, when it was evacuated by the British.
During this campaign the THIRTY-NINTH regiment lost several
officers, who died of fever or other disorders, amongst whom was
Lieut.-Colonel Stephen Fremantle. Captain George Bell and some few
officers escaped with the colours of the regiment, and arrived in
open boats at the Islands of the Saints; in the beginning of the
forthcoming year, they proceeded to Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1795.]
The regiment, having speedily recruited its ranks by large drafts
from the One hundred and fourth and other corps, was again destined
to proceed to the West Indies, and it embarked for Barbadoes
towards the end of the year 1795.
[Sidenote: 1796.]
Great Britain now began to see her former allies converted into
enemies; and Holland, having become united to France in the early
part of the previous year, was styled the Batavian Republic. In
April 1796, a secret service having been ordered by Lieut.-General
Sir Ralph Abercromby, then Commander-in-chief in the West Indies,
the THIRTY-NINTH, and the late Ninety-third and Ninety-ninth
regiments, with a detachment of the Royal Artillery, were embarked
at Barbadoes on this expedition, which proved to be against the
Dutch colonies of _Demerara_, _Essequibo_, and _Berbice_. The
troops were under the orders of Major-General John Whyte, and
the THIRTY-NINTH regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Thomas
Hislop. The force sailed for its destination on the 15th of April,
and arrived on the coast of Demerara on the 21st of that month:
on the following day the Governor and Council were summoned to
surrender the colony to His Britannic Majesty, and the capitulation
was signed on the 23rd of April. The British troops accordingly
occupied the fort and colony, and Lieut.-Colonel Hislop was
left as Commandant of Demerara and Essequibo; but Major-General
Whyte proceeded to take possession of the neighbouring colony of
_Berbice_, which accepted the terms offered to Demerara.[22]
The THIRTY-NINTH remained at Demerara, upon the capitulation
of that colony, and, in September, it received six hundred and
ninety-one men, from the Ninety-third and Ninety-ninth having been
directed to be drafted into the regiment. This raised the regiment
to fifty-two serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and one thousand and
ninety-three rank and file.
[Sidenote: 1797 to 1799.]
During the years 1797, 1798, and 1799, the THIRTY-NINTH regiment
continued to be stationed at Demerara. On the 1st of November 1799,
the regiment had been reduced by deaths to twenty-five serjeants,
ten drummers, and four hundred and sixty-eight rank and file.
[Sidenote: 1800.]
In October 1800 the regiment proceeded from Demerara to Surinam.
[Sidenote: 1801.]
The regiment remained at Surinam during the year 1801.
[Sidenote: 1802.]
On the 27th of March 1802, a definitive treaty of peace was signed
at Amiens between the French Republic, Spain, and the Batavian
Republic, on the one part, and Great Britain on the other.
The principal features of the treaty were, that Great Britain
restored all her conquests during the war, excepting Trinidad
and Ceylon, which were ceded to her, the former by Spain, and
the latter by the Batavian Republic. Portugal was maintained in
its integrity, excepting that some of its possessions in Guiana
were ceded to France. The territories of the Ottoman Porte were
likewise maintained in their integrity. The Ionian Republic was
recognised, and Malta was to be restored to the Knights of St. John
of Jerusalem. The French agreed to evacuate the Neapolitan and
Roman States, and Great Britain all the ports that she held in the
Adriatic and the Mediterranean.
Surinam was evacuated in December 1802, and the THIRTY-NINTH
regiment embarked for Barbadoes, and proceeded thence to Antigua.
[Sidenote: 1803.]
In the beginning of March 1803, the THIRTY-NINTH embarked for
England; and the regiment, consisting of thirty-three serjeants,
nineteen drummers, and three hundred and fifteen rank and file,
under the command of Lieut.-Colonel George Bell, arrived at
Spithead on board the “Thalia” transport, on the 22nd of April.
During its service on the different stations in South America,
upwards of two thousand men had fallen victims to the climate.
The Peace of Amiens was of short duration, and on the 18th of May
1803 war was declared against France. Preparations were accordingly
made by the British Government to meet the emergency, and the
“_Army of Reserve Act_” was passed in July following, for raising
men for home service by ballot, by which a second battalion was
added to the THIRTY-NINTH regiment.[23] The second battalion was
placed on the establishment from the 9th of July 1803, and was
composed of men raised in Cheshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, and
Worcestershire. The chief part of the men immediately afterwards
volunteered for general service, whereby the first battalion of the
regiment became available for foreign service.
At this period, Napoleon Bonaparte, the Chief Consul of France,
was making preparations for the invasion of England, for which
purpose he collected an immense flotilla at Boulogne. The threat of
invasion aroused the patriotism of the British people, and the most
strenuous measures were adopted to defeat this design; volunteer
and yeomanry corps were formed in every part of the kingdom, and
all parties united in one grand effort for the preservation of
their native land.
[Sidenote: 1804.]
In May 1804 Napoleon was invested with the dignity of Emperor of
the French, and on the 26th of May of the following year he was
crowned at Milan as King of Italy.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
Further measures of defence were adopted by Great Britain, and
the “_Additional Force Act_” was passed on the 29th of June
1804.[24] Under the provisions of this act, the second battalion
was augmented with men raised in the county of Shropshire, and its
establishment was subsequently fixed at the same strength as the
first battalion, namely, forty-four serjeants, twenty-two drummers,
and eight hundred rank and file. The second battalion, which, since
its formation, had been quartered at Battle, in Sussex, embarked
at Plymouth on the 27th of November 1804 for Guernsey, under the
command of Lieut.-Colonel George Wilson.
[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]
In the year 1804, during the threatened invasion, the first
battalion was stationed on the coast of Sussex.
The first battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel the
Honorable Robert William O’Callaghan, which was selected to proceed
with the expedition under Lieut.-General Sir James Craig to the
Mediterranean, embarked at Portsmouth on the 26th of March 1805,
and arrived at Malta on the 22nd of July following, where it formed
part of the garrison.
In the autumn of 1805, Napoleon led his army into Germany to
crush the confederacy forming against his interests. From the
commencement of the war with England, Naples was occupied by French
troops; but at this period a treaty of neutrality was concluded
between France and Naples, the French troops were withdrawn, and
the King of Naples was bound not to admit the fleets or armies of
any power engaged in hostilities with France into his ports or
territories. While the war in Germany was undecided, the flank
companies of the first battalion of the THIRTY-NINTH regiment were,
in November 1805, detached to Naples, and landed at that city on
the 22nd of that month. A Russian armament also arrived at Naples.
The Emperor Napoleon being triumphant in Germany, seized the moment
of victory to denounce vengeance against the King of Naples for
permitting a British and Russian armament to enter his ports and
land on his shores; and on the morning after signing the Treaty
of Presburg, Napoleon issued a proclamation declaring that “the
Neapolitan dynasty had ceased to reign.” This was followed by the
march of a numerous French army, under Joseph Bonaparte, to take
possession of Naples: the Russians withdrew; and the British, under
Lieut.-General Sir James Craig, were too few in numbers to think
of defending that kingdom against the numerous forces sent to that
devoted country.
[Sidenote: 1806. 1st Batt.]
The flank companies of the first battalion embarked from Naples
in January 1806, and proceeded to Sicily, to which island the
King and Queen of Naples had resorted, and which was preserved
in their interest by the British. The Neapolitans abandoned
their royal family to its fate, and submitted to the dictates of
Napoleon, who issued a decree conferring the crown of Naples on
his brother Joseph. The city of Naples was illuminated, and the
nobles were eager to show their attachment to their new sovereign.
Insurrections occurred in several places; but the French arms were
successful, and the provinces became tranquil.
The flank companies returned to Malta in February 1806.[25]
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
The second battalion remained at Guernsey until the 26th of
February 1806, when it proceeded to Ireland, and arrived at Cork on
the 15th of March. Having been a short time stationed in the county
of Cork, it proceeded to Dublin, and, after performing garrison
duty for some months, received orders to transfer all its limited
service men to a garrison battalion, and all its disposable men to
the first battalion at Malta.
[Sidenote: 1807.]
Being thus reduced to a skeleton, the officers and non-commissioned
officers proceeded to England in January 1807, for the purpose
of recruiting the ranks of the second battalion, and arrived at
Liverpool on the 30th of that month. Having distributed recruiting
parties to various stations, the head-quarters marched to Edmonton
and Enfield, near London.
On the 29th of October 1807, His Majesty King George III. was
pleased to direct that the county title of the THIRTY-NINTH
regiment should be changed from EAST MIDDLESEX to DORSETSHIRE.
[Sidenote: 1808. 1st Batt.]
The flank companies of the first battalion proceeded from Malta to
Sicily in May 1808.
[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]
The recruiting continued from the militia and in the ordinary mode
with such success that the second battalion was soon increased
to five hundred strong; and after being some time stationed at
Berry-Head, embarked from thence for Guernsey, where it arrived
on the 24th of May 1808. Subsequently, a general volunteering
from the militia took place, when the battalion was augmented to
about seven hundred rank and file, and being organised in the
course of a short period, Lieut.-General Sir John Doyle, Bart.,
then Lieut.-Governor of Guernsey, was so pleased with the general
appearance of the corps as to express his entire satisfaction with
it, and to report the battalion fit for immediate foreign service.
[Sidenote: 1809. 1st Batt.]