fighting men on the north-west frontier, the regiment was directed
to volunteer to the extent of five hundred men: the detached wing
rejoined the head-quarters at Dinapore in March. In October 1846,
the THIRTY-NINTH again volunteered, preparatory to embarkation for
England, when two hundred and seventeen men were transferred to
other corps.
On the 30th of December following the remainder of the corps,
consisting of about three hundred men, embarked in boats for
Calcutta.
[Sidenote: 1847.]
The regiment arrived at Calcutta on the 27th of January 1847;
and on the 7th of February, the head-quarters, under the command
of Lieut.-Colonel Wright, consisting of seven officers, seven
serjeants, five corporals, six drummers, and one hundred and eleven
privates, embarked in the “Tudor,” and landed at Gravesend on the
9th of June following, losing one serjeant, one corporal, and three
privates, during the passage.
The remainder of the regiment, consisting of ten serjeants, nine
corporals, eight drummers, and one hundred and forty-five privates,
with six officers, under the command of Captain Wilbraham, embarked
in the “Pekin” on the 23rd of February, and arrived in England on
the 13th of July 1847, losing only one man during the voyage.
On the departure of the THIRTY-NINTH, with other corps, from India,
the Right Honorable Lord Gough, Commander-in-Chief in that country,
issued the following complimentary orders:--
“_Head-Quarters_,
“_Camp Seharunpore_,
“_9th February 1847_.
“GENERAL ORDER.
“The Right Honorable the Commander-in-Chief in India avails
himself of the opportunity which the approaching departure from
India of those distinguished regiments, the Ninth, THIRTY-NINTH,
and Sixty-second foot affords, of recording the high sense he
entertains of their respective merits, and the admiration with
which he has witnessed their uniform good conduct in quarters,
and their gallantry in the field.
“Each regiment bears on its colours the names of many hard-fought
battles in the “Peninsula,” and each regiment will carry home
the record of victories achieved in the wars of this country,
nobly gained by their indomitable bravery under his Lordship’s
immediate command.
“The Ninth regiment has completed a service abroad of upwards
of fourteen years. In 1842 it formed part of the force under
Major-General Sir George Pollock in the second campaign of
‘Affghanistan,’ and subsequently had the good fortune to partake
in the memorable battles of the Sutlej. The despatches of the
former period have testified to its gallantry, its noble bearing,
and high spirit under extreme sickness and privation; and
upon the latter, Lord Gough has recently in orders and by his
despatches, expressed his sense of its valuable services.
“The THIRTY-NINTH regiment, ‘Primus in Indis,’ having obtained
imperishable renown in the earlier wars in India, bearing
upon its colours the record of its gallantry at ‘Plassey,’
quitted this country in 1758; and after a lapse of seventy-four
years, during which it reaped a rich harvest of glory in the
‘Peninsula,’ again returned to India, and has again profited
by the opportunities, which a long service in this country has
afforded, of adding fresh lustre to its fame. The victory of
‘Maharajpore’ is already recorded on its colours, and nobly did
it earn that badge. The distinguished conduct of the THIRTY-NINTH
regiment on the 29th of December 1843, could not be surpassed for
bravery and determination.
“The Sixty-second regiment gallantly aided in the defence of
Ferozepore, when that station was invested by an overwhelming
force; and when called into action in the late brilliant
campaign, it evinced that indomitable bravery and obedience to
orders, for which the British army is justly renowned.
“Lord Gough feels happy in having it in his power to state, that
the conduct of these regiments throughout their Indian service
has always been such as to merit his warmest commendation. He
feels a pride in recording all that he has said in praise of
these gallant corps; and in parting with them, begs to assure
them that he will always feel a lively interest in their welfare.
“By order of the Right Honorable the Commander-in-Chief.
(Signed) “C. R. CURETON, _Colonel_,
“_Adjutant-General H. M. Forces in India_.”
The THIRTY-NINTH regiment, on arrival in England, was stationed
at Canterbury, and on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of December 1847,
proceeded to Gosport by railway.
[Sidenote: 1848.]
On the 15th of March, 1848, the regiment moved over to Portsmouth,
and at the end of the same month proceeded to the northern and
midland districts, the head-quarters and three companies occupying
the citadel at Hull, with detachments at Leeds, Bradford,
Sheffield, and Halifax.
The regiment proceeded by railway on the 22nd and 23rd of June to
Preston, in Lancashire.
[Sidenote: 1849.]
During the year 1849 the regiment remained at Preston.
[Sidenote: 1850.]
On the 25th, 26th, and 27th of April, 1850, the regiment proceeded
from Preston, in three divisions, by railway to Fleetwood, and
embarked for Belfast. Previous to the departure of the THIRTY-NINTH
from Preston for Ireland, the mayor of that borough forwarded
a complimentary resolution to Lieut.-Colonel Wright from the
magistrates, relative to the excellent conduct of the regiment
while stationed in the neighbourhood of Preston.
The regiment was stationed at Belfast from the 28th of April to the
16th of November 1850, when it proceeded to Newry.
[Sidenote: 1851.]
On the 17th of July 1851 the regiment proceeded from Newry to
Dublin, and was quartered in the Linen Hall barracks.
[Sidenote: 1852.]
Lieut.-General George Burrell, C.B., was appointed Colonel of the
THIRTY-NINTH regiment on the 11th of February 1852, in succession
to General Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson, G.C.B., deceased.
In February and March nine companies were removed to Richmond
barracks, Dublin; in consequence of the want of accommodation at
the head-quarters, a portion of the regiment proceeded to Island
Bridge barracks.
On the 15th of July five companies of the regiment, under the
command of Major William Munro, proceeded from Dublin to Cork,
there to be stationed during the elections. A company of the
regiment, under Major Robert Newport Tinley, detached at Drogheda,
proceeded on the 21st of July to Balbriggan, in aid of the civil
authorities during the elections in that town, and subsequently
joined the head-quarters at Dublin.
Towards the end of July the head-quarters received orders to move
from Dublin to Clonmel, and proceeded to that station by railway on
the 5th of August, where they arrived on the same day.
The five companies on election duty at Cork were detached, on
the removal of the head-quarters from Dublin to Clonmel, to the
following stations: two companies to Carrick-on-Suir, one to
Clogheen, one to Dungarvon, and one to Cappoquin; the latter
returned to head-quarters on the 23rd of September.
[Sidenote: 1853.]
Major-General Richard Lluellyn, C.B., was appointed Colonel of the
THIRTY-NINTH regiment on the 17th of January 1853, in succession to
Lieut.-General George Burrell, C.B., deceased.
The regiment proceeded from Clonmel to Cork in February 1853, where
it was stationed on the 30th of June, the date to which this Record
has been brought.
_Note._--The compiler of the Regimental Records feels it his
duty to acknowledge the assistance which he has received in the
compilation of the History of the THIRTY-NINTH and certain other
regiments, from Mr. Thomas Carter, of the Adjutant-General’s
Office, who, by much labour and research, has endeavoured to
supply the deficiencies in the manuscript narratives transmitted
by regiments, particularly in the details of their earlier
services.
1853.
[Illustration: THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
_For Cannon’s Military Records_]
FOOTNOTES:
[6] The regiments of infantry which were raised in 1702, and since
retained on the establishment of the army, commenced with the
_Twenty-eighth_, and ended with the THIRTY-NINTH regiment.
[7] The THIRTY-NINTH formed part of the garrison of Gibraltar when
that fortress was besieged by the Spaniards in 1727, and it also
shared in the memorable defence made by General Eliott, afterwards
Lord Heathfield, from 1779 to 1782.
[8] A tradition has been preserved in the THIRTY-NINTH, that the
regiment was present at the battle of _Almanza_ on the 25th of
April 1707, and that it was for some years known as “_Sankey’s
Horse_,” in consequence of its being said to have been mounted on
mules for the purpose of expediting its advance. The regiment,
however, did not embark for Portugal until the 22nd of May 1707,
and therefore was not present at the battle of Almanza.
[9] Minorca, an island in the Mediterranean, on the eastern coast
of Spain, is about thirty miles in length and twelve in breadth,
and is chiefly valuable for the excellent harbour of Port Mahon.
In September 1708 Minorca was taken by Admiral Leake and a land
force under Lieut.-General Stanhope, after a siege of about three
weeks. The island was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of
Utrecht, and remained in its possession until 1756, when, in April
of that year, it was besieged by the French, under Marshal the
Duke de Richelieu. After a brave defence by the Governor, General
Blakeney, the garrison surrendered, and, in consideration of its
gallantry, was permitted to march out with all the honours of war.
At the Peace of Fontainebleau, in 1763, Minorca was restored to the
English in exchange for Belle-Isle. In February 1782, the garrison,
under the Governor, Lieut.-General the Honourable James Murray,
after suffering severely from sickness, surrendered to the Duke de
Crillon, the Commander-in-Chief of the combined French and Spanish
forces, and Minorca was retained by Spain at the peace of 1783.
Minorca again surrendered to a British force under General the
Honourable Charles Stuart, on the 15th of November 1798; and at the
Peace of Amiens, in 1802, Minorca was restored to the Spaniards,
under whose sway it remains at the present period.
[10] The following return of killed and wounded during the siege
of Gibraltar, from the 11th of February to the 12th of June 1727,
is extracted from “_The Political State of Great Britain_,” vol.
xxxiv. p. 413:--
+-------------------------------+---------+--------------------------+
| |Officers.| Men. |
| Regiments. |---------+-------+---------+--------+
| | Killed. |Killed.| Wounded.| Died of|
| | | | | Wounds.|
+-------------------------------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
|Foot Guards | - | 2 | 19 | 2 |
|Royal Artillery | 1 | 11 | 16 | 2 |
|Pearce’s, 5th Foot | - | 4 | 9 | - |
|Lord Mark Kerr’s, 13th ditto | - | 7 | 26 | 3 |
|Clayton’s, 14th ditto | - | 7 | 13 | 5 |
|Egerton’s, 20th ditto | 1 | 8 | 12 | 8 |
|Middleton’s, 25th ditto | 1 | 3 | 14 | - |
|Anstruther’s, 26th ditto | - | 6 | 29 | 3 |
|Disney’s, 29th ditto | - | 2 | 12 | - |
|Bissett’s, 30th ditto | - | 8 | 15 | 4 |
|Hayes’s, 34th ditto | - | 2 | 16 | 2 |
|Newton’s, 39th ditto | - | 6 | 4 | 4 |
|Detachment from the regiments }| | | | |
| at Minorca, under }| - | 6 | 17 | 1 |
| Colonel Cosby, 18th Foot }| | | | |
+-------------------------------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
| Total | 3 | 72 | 202 | 34 |
+-------------------------------+---------+-------+---------+--------+
[11] The numbers of the two armies are taken from the _Life of
Robert Lord Clive_, by Major-General Sir John Malcolm, G.C.B., in
which is published a letter from Lieut.-Colonel Clive to the Secret
Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company,
containing an account of the battle of Plassey, and of the loss
sustained in killed and wounded.
[12] Topasses were black infantry, descended from Portuguese who
had married natives, and were so named because they wore hats.
[13] These distinctions having, in after years, been discontinued,
His Majesty King William IV., on the 17th of November 1835, was
graciously pleased to authorise their being resumed. A handsome
silver-mounted drum-major’s cane (now in possession of the
regiment) was presented to the THIRTY-NINTH by the Nabob of Arcot,
with the following device and inscription thereon:--DEVICE:
_an Elephant_, with motto “_Primus in Indis_,” PLASSEY,
1757:--INSCRIPTION: Nabob of Bengal overturned by the 39th Regiment
and the Company’s troops, _5th February 1757_.
It will be observed that the date 5th February 1757, is not that of
the battle of _Plassey_, but of the action fought near Calcutta,
which is narrated at page 18. The battle of _Plassey_ took place on
the 23rd of June 1757.
[14] The force under Captain Caillaud, of the Company’s service,
consisted of one hundred and fifty Europeans, including artillery,
five hundred Sepoys, and two field-pieces.
[15] These men belonged to “_The Soldier Artificer Company_,” and
were commanded by the officers of _Royal Engineers_.
[16] The proceedings of the Spanish Government were somewhat
sudden; and it is stated by Colonel John Drinkwater, of the late
Seventy-second regiment, or Royal Manchester Volunteers, in his
popular _History of the Siege of Gibraltar_, that “those officers
whose curiosity had led them into the interior parts of the country
were positively refused liberty to return to the garrison; they
were therefore conducted to Cadiz, and had passports granted them
to leave the kingdom by other routes. Brevet-Colonel Charles Ross
and Captain John Vignoles, of the THIRTY-NINTH, with Captain Henry
Lefanue, of the Fifty-sixth regiment, nevertheless contrived to
join their corps, by assuming disguises, and risking the passage in
a row-boat from Faro (a port in Portugal) to Gibraltar: others also
attempted, but unfortunately were intercepted in their voyage.”
[17] The flank companies of the THIRTY-NINTH formed part of the
centre column under Lieut.-Colonel Dachenhausen; the grenadier
company consisted of three officers, three serjeants, and
fifty-seven rank and file; the light infantry company was composed
of a like number.
[18] In Colonel Drinkwater’s _History of the Siege of Gibraltar_,
it is stated, “that in the forenoon of the 6th of September 1782,
Lieut.-General Boyd, the colonel of the THIRTY-NINTH regiment,
and Lieut.-Governor of Gibraltar, recommended, by letter, to
the Governor, the immediate use of _red-hot shot_ against the
land-batteries of the besiegers. General Eliott acquiesced in the
proposal, and immediately ordered Major Lewis, the commandant of
the artillery, to wait on Lieut.-General Boyd for his instructions
and commands, submitting entirely to him the execution of the
attack which he had projected. In consequence of the Governor’s
assent, preparations were instantly made; and in a short time
everything was properly arranged for the service.”
[19] CALPÉ, in the south of Spain, and ABYLA, on the opposite coast
of Africa (about eighteen miles distant), were celebrated as the
_Pillars of Hercules_; and, according to heathen mythology, these
two mountains were united, until that hero separated them, and made
a communication between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic
Ocean. CALPÉ received the present designation of Gibraltar from the
Arabic “_Gib-el-Tarif_,” or “_Mountain of Tarif_,” being the spot
where that Moorish chieftain landed on his invasion of Spain in the
year 711. The device of the “_Castle and Key_,” the present arms
of Gibraltar, was given by Henry IV., King of Castile, upon his
capturing the place from the King of Granada in 1462, in allusion
to its being considered as the key to the Mediterranean.
[20] Major Henry Magan was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel
of the THIRTY-NINTH regiment on the 17th of August 1794, in
succession to Lieut.-Colonel Fremantle, deceased.
[21] Return of the troops at _Guadeloupe_ on the 1st of September
1794:
+------------------------------+-----------------------+
| | Rank and File. |
| Corps. +-------+-------+-------+
| |Fit for| | |
| | Duty. | Sick. | Total.|
+------------------------------+-------+-------+-------+
|Grenadier battalion | 152 | 208 | 360 |
|Light Infantry battalion | 33 | 382 | 415 |
|35th regiment | 47 | 116 | 163 |
|39th ditto | 24 | 284 | 308 |
|43rd ditto | 23 | 176 | 199 |
|56th ditto, three companies | 67 | -- | 67 |
|65th ditto | 43 | 209 | 252 |
| +-------+-------+-------+
| General total | 389 | 1,375 | 1,764 |
+------------------------------+-------+-------+-------+
The _Grenadier_ and _Light Infantry_ battalions were composed of
the flank companies of the 8th, 12th, 17th, 31st, 33rd, 34th, 38th,
40th, 44th, and 55th regiments.
[22] In 1781 the colonies on the rivers Essequibo and Demerara were
placed under the protection of Great Britain, but the French took
temporary possession of the Dutch settlements in 1783, which in
April 1796 surrendered to the British, as above narrated. By the
Treaty of Amiens, in 1802, these settlements were restored to the
Dutch, but, upon the renewal of the war in the following year, were
again taken by the British, since which period they have continued
under the sway of Great Britain.
[23] A List of the Regiments which received men raised under the
_Army of Reserve_, and _Additional Force Acts_, in the years 1803
and 1804, is inserted in the Appendix, pp. 125 to 128.
[24] See Appendix, pp. 125 to 128.
[25] Lieut.-Colonel the Honorable Robert William O’Callaghan, of
the THIRTY-NINTH regiment, remained in Sicily, and was present, in
command of a grenadier battalion, at the battle of Maida on the 4th
of July 1806, for which victory he received a gold medal.
[26] A Memoir of Major-General Sir Patrick Lindesay, C.B. and
K.C.H., is inserted in the Appendix, page 121.
[27] Lieut.-General Rowland Hill was nominated a Knight of the Bath
on the 22nd of February 1812.
[28] A memoir of the services of Colonel George Wilson is inserted
in the Appendix, page 119.
[29] It will be perceived, on reference to page 3 of the Historical
Record, that the tradition of the THIRTY-NINTH regiment having been
engaged at Almanza in 1707, is not borne out by facts.
[30] General the Right Honorable Lord William Bentinck, G.C.B.
relinquished the appointment of Commander-in-Chief in India on the
20th of March 1835, prior to the receipt of this letter in Bengal.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE THIRTY-NINTH,
OR
THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
RICHARD COOTE.
_Appointed 13th February 1702._
Several regiments were raised in the beginning of the year 1702, in
consequence of the anticipated renewal of the war with France, and
Colonel Richard Coote was appointed to raise the regiment which is
now numbered the THIRTY-NINTH, of which he was appointed Colonel on
the 13th of February 1702. This honor he did not long enjoy, for he
was killed in a duel in the beginning of 1703.
NICHOLAS SANKEY.
_Appointed 17th March 1703._
This officer attained the rank of Colonel on the 28th of September
1689, and was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Anne to be Colonel of
the THIRTY-NINTH regiment on the 17th of March 1703. On the 1st of
January 1704 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. He
afterwards embarked with the THIRTY-NINTH regiment for Portugal in
May 1707, on the 1st of January of which year he had been promoted
to the rank of Major-General. In the action at the Caya on the 7th
of May 1709, he was taken prisoner. On the 1st of January 1710, he
was advanced to the rank of Lieut.-General. He died on the 6th of
March 1719.
THOMAS FERRERS.
_Appointed 11th March 1719._
This officer served under the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough,
and was promoted to the rank of Captain and Lieut.-Colonel in the
Foot Guards. In May 1705 he was advanced to the rank of Colonel,
and in 1710 to that of Brigadier-General. Being conspicuous for
loyalty at a period when Jacobite principles were prevalent in the
kingdom, he was commissioned to raise a regiment of Dragoons, which
was disbanded in 1718. On the 11th of March 1719 he was appointed
Colonel of the THIRTY-NINTH regiment, from which he was removed in
September 1722 to the Seventeenth regiment. His decease occurred
about three weeks afterwards.
WILLIAM NEWTON.
_Appointed 28th September 1722._
This officer served during the wars of King William III. and Queen
Anne, and on the 1st of January 1707 received the brevet rank of
Colonel in the army. Colonel Newton was appointed by King George
I. to the Colonelcy of the THIRTY-NINTH regiment on the 28th of
September 1722, and on the 4th of March 1727, was advanced to the
rank of Brigadier-General, while serving with his regiment at the
siege of Gibraltar. He died in November 1730.
SIR JOHN COPE, K.B.
_Appointed 10th November 1730._
This officer entered the army in the reign of Queen Anne, and was
for several years Lieut.-Colonel of the second troop of Horse
Grenadier Guards. He obtained the rank of Colonel in the army
on the 15th of November 1711; and was appointed Colonel of the
THIRTY-NINTH regiment on the 10th of November 1730, from which he
was removed to the Fifth Foot on the 15th of December 1732. In 1735
he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General; in 1737 he was
removed to the Ninth Dragoons; and on the 2nd of July 1739 he was
advanced to the rank of Major-General.
Major-General Cope served for several years on the staff of the
army in Ireland, and after having been appointed Colonel of the
Seventh Dragoons in 1741, he proceeded in the summer of 1742 to
Flanders with the army commanded by Field-Marshal the Earl of
Stair. In the beginning of the following year he was promoted to
the rank of Lieut.-General; and having signalised himself at the
battle of Dettingen, on the 27th of June 1743, under the eye of his
Sovereign, he was constituted a Knight of the Bath.
In 1745 Lieut.-General Sir John Cope was Commander-in-Chief in
Scotland, and a small body of troops under his immediate command
sustained a defeat from the Highlanders under the Young Pretender
at Preston Pans, on the 21st of September, which unfortunate
circumstance enabled the rebels to penetrate into England, and
advance as far as Derby. The rebellion was suppressed in 1746, the
victory obtained at Culloden on the 16th of April of that year
having completely destroyed the hopes of the Pretender.
Lieut.-General Sir John Cope retained the Colonelcy of the Seventh
Dragoons until his decease in 1760.
THOMAS WENTWORTH.
_Appointed 15th December 1732._
This officer was appointed to a commission in the army on the 10th
of March 1704, and served several campaigns in the wars of Queen
Anne. In December 1722 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in
the army, and on the 15th of December 1732 was appointed Colonel
of the THIRTY-NINTH regiment, from which he was removed, in June
1737, to the Twenty-fourth regiment. Two years afterwards he was
appointed Brigadier-General; in 1741 he was promoted to the rank
of Major-General; and in June 1745 he was removed to the Colonelcy
of the Sixth Horse, which corps became the Second Irish Horse in
the following year, and in 1788 was constituted the Fifth Dragoon
Guards. Major-General Wentworth served the Crown in a diplomatic
as well as military capacity, and died at the court of Turin in
November 1747.
JOHN CAMPBELL (afterwards Duke of Argyle).
_Appointed 27th June 1737._