soon spread, through the instrumentality of agents, to the other
conquered islands, and thus tended to weaken the power of the
English forces at the principal point of attack:--added to this
circumstance, the ranks of the British battalions had been thinned
by an epidemic, most malignant in its nature, and it was found
impossible to oppose an effectual resistance to the accumulated
force which now assailed them. The island of Martinique was the
only settlement that could be preserved, and this was not done
without great exertions of the British troops, ably supported by
the colonists.
The QUEEN'S ROYAL had proceeded to Martinique shortly
after its arrival in the West Indies; and so great had been its
sufferings, that, at the termination of 1795, the total strength
of the battalion in that country was reduced to 162 men, and of
those, two serjeants and four privates were afterwards killed in an
engagement with the French brigands at Vaughlin, and in the same
affair we find Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Dalhousie numbered with the
wounded.
In the month of July, 1795, the two flank companies of the
regiment, already mentioned as being left on board the Fleet, were
disembarked at Guernsey, and proceeded in the month following to
Southampton: they had been augmented, and now formed the _First
Battalion_ of the regiment, which was already in a state of
readiness for foreign service. In October, eight companies of the
First Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, embarked, and
formed part of the memorable expedition destined for the West
Indies, under Major-General Sir Ralph Abercrombie and Admiral
Christian.
[Sidenote: 1796]
On this occasion about 16,000 troops were collected at Portsmouth,
and on the 18th of November the fleet containing them stood down
the Channel, but in a few hours it was overtaken by a dreadful
hurricane, which caused many ships laden with men to be wrecked,
and the coast about Weymouth to be strewed with dead bodies.
Amongst the transports lost, was that having on board the flank
companies of the _First Battalion_ of the QUEEN'S, who
were afterwards collected at Plymouth, and commanded by Major
Eyre. No further attempt was made to forward this portion of the
regiment to its previous destination; but the six companies, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, proceeded onwards with the fleet, and
in February, 1796, were landed at Martinique, where they formed a
junction with the _Second Battalion_, serving in that island.
In addition to this timely reinforcement, the _Second Battalion_,
during its service in the West Indies, was augmented by drafts
from the Forty-sixth and Sixty-first regiments, and also by men of
different regiments who had been prisoners at Guadaloupe, and who
had been exchanged.
By Returns of the battalion in the West Indies, made at the above
period, its casualties for a half year, ending
Officers. Serjeants. Corporals. Drummers. Privates.
In December, 1795, were 2 19 9 5 115
And for a half-year
ending June, 1796 4 12 10 1 139
---------------------------------------------
The Deaths for Twelve
Months amounted to 6 31 19 6 254
---------------------------------------------
[Sidenote: 1797]
In 1797 the Second Battalion of the QUEEN'S formed part
of the expedition when Sir Ralph Abercrombie captured the Spanish
island of Trinidad; and in the course of the same year, the
serviceable men were transferred to the Fifty-seventh regiment,
and the battalion, comprising altogether seventy persons, was
embarked, and returned to Europe.
The flank companies, which had been wrecked and left in England,
were made the basis of another _First Battalion_, which was formed
accordingly, and removed from Plymouth to Lyndhurst and Lymington.
In March, 1797, Lord Dalhousie, who had a short time previously
returned from the West Indies, assumed the command of the _First
Battalion_, which was marched to Tiverton, where it was brigaded
with the Twenty-ninth and Fifty-eighth Regiments.
The quarters of the QUEEN'S ROYAL, during the year 1797,
continued in the western district, and in June the regiment moved
to Plymouth Lines.
When the mutiny broke out in the fleets at Spithead and the Nore,
and attempts were made to disseminate seditious publications
among the soldiery, Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Dalhousie, and the
Captains of the QUEEN'S ROYAL, addressed a letter to the
General Commanding the district, expressive of their firm reliance
on the unshaken loyalty of the corps; at the same time, the
non-commissioned officers and privates subscribed the sum of one
hundred guineas to be applied towards the detection and punishment
of any persons who should attempt to distribute unlawful papers,
or offer, by bribes or any other means, to seduce the soldiers
from their allegiance. The letter from the Lieutenant-Colonel
and Captains, as also the resolution of the men, signed by the
Serjeant-Major, Michael Eager, were entered, by order of the
Colonel, in the Orderly Book of the regiment.
The latter document is transcribed into this record, as
characteristic of British soldiers, who, in periods of political
excitement, do not permit themselves to be withdrawn from the
fidelity and allegiance which they owe to their Sovereign, whom
they have sworn to defend against all enemies.
_Head Quarters, Plymouth Lines,
10th June, 1797._
REGIMENTAL ORDERS.
_The following is the declaration of the 2nd or Queen's Royal
Regiment of Foot, dated Barnstaple, 7th June, 1797_:--
'We, the Non-commissioned Officers, Drummers, and Privates of
the above regiment, do most willingly subscribe _One Hundred
Guineas_, in order to detect any Author, Printer, or Distributor
of papers, or hand-bills, criminal to the Military Establishment
and the Laws of the country, or for information against any
person or persons found guilty of bribing with money, or holding
out other false allurements against His Most Sacred Majesty King
George the Third, or against this country.
'We unanimously agree to give a reward of Ten Guineas out of the
above subscription (to be paid on conviction) to the person or
persons who will inform against, secure, or deliver over, to any
man of the above regiment, the Author, Printer, or Distributor of
papers or hand-bills, or any person or persons found guilty of
bribing with money, or of holding out other false allurements to
any soldier in this district. GOD SAVE THE KING!'
_Signed at the particular request of the Non-Commissioned
Officers, Drummers, and Privates of the regiment_,
MICHAEL EAGER, _Serjeant-Major_.
On the 7th of October, the remainder of the _Second Battalion_,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, arrived from the West Indies,
joined the corps at Penzance, and the whole were incorporated
into one battalion. In December the regiment was again marched to
Plymouth, to do duty in Mill Prison; and on the 25th of the same
month twelve lieutenants and two companies were reduced.
[Sidenote: 1798]
In February, 1798, the Queen's received orders to hold itself
in readiness for embarkation. It was brigaded at Plymouth with
the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-ninth, under the command of Lord
Dalhousie, in March; and on the 12th of June following embarked
at Barnstaple, under Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre, for Ireland, where
republican principles had gained ground, and being encouraged by
promised aid from France, the malcontents broke into acts of open
rebellion. The regiment landed in Ireland on the 20th of February,
and arrived at Fowke's Mill in the middle of the action between
Major-General Sir John Moore and the rebels. On the next day, the
army moved on to Wexford, which Lord Dalhousie entered with the
flank companies of the QUEEN'S ROYAL, and liberated Lord
Kingsborough, and several other Protestant gentlemen, who were
to have been put to death. Lieutenant Charles Turner[26], of the
QUEEN'S ROYAL, was one of the officers who, a few days
after, surprised and took prisoner the celebrated _Bagenal Harvey_,
who had concealed himself in a cave in Saltee Island, and whose
character for courage and desperation was such that few people
would have ventured to approach his hiding-place.
When the French expedition under General Humbert landed in Ireland
in July, 1798, the QUEEN'S ROYAL marched to Tuam, where
the army assembled. After the surrender of General Humbert, the
regiment returned to Phillipstown, and wintered in Kilkenny,
where they were brigaded with the Twenty-ninth regiment, under
Major-General Peter Hunter.
[Sidenote: 1799]
In the early part of the following year, the brigade, with some
guns, marched to Tullamore and to Phillipstown, to be ready in
case of a rising in that part of the country: this, although
apprehended, did not take place, and in six weeks the brigade
returned to Kilkenny, and in June the QUEEN'S moved from
thence to Cork, and encamped at Monkstown.
In the month of July, the regiment embarked for England, landed
at Southampton, and marched to the camp on Barham Downs, near
Canterbury, where it was recruited by volunteers from the militia;
and with the Twenty-seventh, Twenty-ninth, and Eighty-fifth
regiments, it formed the third brigade of the army commanded by
Major-General Coote. With this brigade, to which the Sixty-ninth
regiment was afterwards added, it served during the expedition to
Holland, and was engaged with the enemy at the Helder, on the 27th
of August, 1799, when the army commanded by Sir Ralph Abercrombie
made good its landing, in defiance of great natural obstacles at
the point of debarkation, and also made an advanced movement, in
opposition to every exertion on the part of an active enemy, to
prevent it.
A detail of this gallant exploit states, 'the first success of
this day was principally owing to General Coote's brigade, and
the advance, consisting of the 23rd and 55th regiments, commanded
by Colonel Macdonald, who, instead of waiting the attacks of the
enemy, advanced on every occasion to meet them.' These brave
efforts cost the British forces a loss of about 500 men.
In subsequent operations, during this arduous expedition, the
QUEEN'S ROYAL had the honour of contributing a full
portion of its services, and was present when his Royal Highness
the Duke of York, in Command of the Anglo-Russian forces, on the
2nd of October, 1799, gained a decided victory at Egmont-op-Zee,
over a numerous army opposed to him on that occasion. Alluding to
this action, his Royal Highness observes, 'Under Divine Providence,
this signal victory, obtained over the enemy, is to be ascribed
to the animated and persevering exertions which have been at all
times the characteristics of the British soldier, and which,
on no occasion, were ever more eminently displayed; nor has it
often fallen to the lot of any general to have such just cause of
acknowledgment for distinguished support.'
On the 6th of October the French and Dutch armies again contested
the field with their opponents, and were once more forced by
British valour to retire. In his report of this victory, the Duke
of York remarks, that 'the gallantry the troops displayed, and
the perseverance with which they supported the fatigues of the
day, rival their former exertions.' The loss of the QUEEN'S
ROYAL in this action proves they were honourable competitors
for glory.
Notwithstanding the successes of the British forces, they were
precluded from a further advance, and from profiting by the just
reward of their labours, in consequence of the lateness of the
season, and the difficulty of obtaining supplies during the winter;
besides which, the French army was receiving large reinforcements.
These and other causes induced his Royal Highness to desist from
further offensive operations, and finally led to the withdrawing
of the Anglo-Russian army from Holland, and to the termination
of an expedition which, although unattended with full success,
evinced distinguished merit and bravery on the part of the British
commander and his army.
Nor must it be omitted, in alluding to this expedition, that at
this period the old regiments had been considerably reduced by the
arduous services against St. Domingo and the French West India
islands, and were now chiefly made up from volunteers from the
militia, hastily got together, and employed in active offensive
operations before they could be properly organised and rendered fit
for such duty.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages, the British troops employed in
Holland upheld, by their gallantry and discipline, the honour of
their country, and by the skill and attention of their officers,
this short but active campaign prepared this little army to
advance the glory of England in succeeding years, against the best
organised troops in Europe.
Major-General Coote expressed, in orders, his approbation of the
conduct of the QUEEN'S ROYAL; and after the evacuation of
Holland, the regiment landed at Yarmouth, from whence it proceeded
to Ashford, in Kent, for the winter.
[Sidenote: 1800]
In May, 1800, the QUEEN'S ROYAL marched to Plymouth, and
embarked on board the Europa and Thisbe, on a flying expedition,
under the command of General Sir Thomas Maitland and Admiral Sir
Edward Pellew, which was employed in making descents upon the coast
of France, and destroying batteries and small crafts. In this
service, Major Ramsay, of the QUEEN'S, led some successful
attacks, and on one occasion (as recorded in 'Baine's History of
the Wars') 'he seized several sloops and gun-vessels, and burned a
national corvette of eighteen guns, by means of a detachment from
the QUEEN'S Regiment, assisted by the gun-launches under
Lieutenant Pinfold.'
On the 15th of June, the regiment was encamped in the island of
Houat, preparatory to an intended attack upon Belle Isle; but the
plan was abandoned; the regiment re-embarked, and, with other
corps, to the number of 5000 men, sailed, under the command of the
Earl of Dalhousie, to reinforce Sir Ralph Abercrombie at Minorca,
where it arrived on the 19th of July.
On the 29th of August, 1800, it was again on ship-board, forming
part of the expedition against Cadiz, on the abandonment of which
it became necessary to dispose of this force, which, although
small, was considered the corps d'élite of England, and included
almost the entire disposable force of the country.
The attention of Sir Ralph Abercrombie was directed towards the
Mediterranean, and the reduction of Malta encouraged an expedition
to that quarter. At this time Egypt was occupied by 30,000 French
veterans, emboldened by conquest, and inured to the climate of the
country. They had been taken from that army which, under Napoleon
Bonaparte, had astonished Europe by its successes in Italy and in
Germany, and they were now awaiting a favourable opportunity to
forward the ambitious projects that had been planned for them by
their great leader, who had exultingly named them '_The army of the
East_.'
The attention of all Europe was directed to the struggle about to
take place, in which the ambition of Bonaparte was supposed to have
attained a crisis, and the _fate of Asia_ was to be decided _on the
shores of Africa_, by the two most powerful European nations.
A British army, amounting to about 15,000 men, assembled under
Sir Ralph Abercrombie, at Marmorice Bay, on the coast of Asiatic
Turkey, towards the end of December, 1800.
[Sidenote: 1801]
The QUEEN'S ROYAL Regiment had proceeded from Cadiz to
Gibraltar and Minorca, from whence it sailed to Malta, and now
formed part of the above force. Some weeks were lost at Marmorice,
in expectation of receiving reinforcements of Greeks and Turks;
and the expedition did not proceed to its final destination until
the 23rd of February, 1801. On the 1st of March it anchored in the
bay of Aboukir, eastward of Alexandria; but notwithstanding all
the exertions of the navy under Admiral Lord Keith's orders, the
necessary arrangements could not be made for landing the troops,
chiefly in consequence of unfavourable weather, until the 8th of
March. On the morning of that day a signal rocket caused 150 boats,
laden with 5000 men, to approach the shore. The clear silence of
the morning broken by the deep murmur of thousands of oars urging
forward the flower of a brave army, whose polished arms glittered
in the rays of the morning sun, produced an interesting scene:--the
floating battalions drew near the shore, which was crowded with
French troops; a combat ensued; and the bay of Aboukir resounded to
the roar of cannon.
A body of French troops, supported by several batteries, awaited
the arrival of their enemies, but were forced to give way in
defiance of every exertion, and after severe loss. The loss of the
British amounted to 576 rank and file, in killed, wounded, and
missing.
The QUEEN'S ROYAL Regiment was first employed under the
command of Sir Sydney Smith, at the siege of Fort Aboukir; but on
the 12th of March, seven companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jones,
were ordered to join the army, and arrived in time to take a share
in the victory of the 13th of March. The other three companies of
the regiment remained with the Twelfth Light Dragoons (dismounted)
before Aboukir, until the surrender of that fort on the 19th of
March. The regiment was afterwards attached to the fourth brigade,
under Major-General Sir John Doyle's command, and was present at
the glorious Battle of ALEXANDRIA, on the 21st of March;
when a protracted and well-contested fight terminated in victory to
the British troops after a loss of between 1400 and 1500 men.
After the battle of the 21st of March, the QUEEN'S ROYAL
was detached, with the flank companies of the Fortieth regiment,
under Colonel Spencer, to _Rosetta_, and was employed in the
reduction of that town, and of the fortress of _St. Julien_,
which commanded the navigation of the Nile, on which occasion one
of the '_French Invincible Standards_' was taken. The Regiment
then proceeded with the army towards Cairo, and was engaged in
the affair at _Rahmanie_,--the capture of the French convoy in
the Desert,--at the surrender of _Cairo_--and in the escort of
the French garrison from that city to its place of embarkation.
Subsequently, the regiment joined that part of the army which was
engaged in the blockade of _Alexandria_, and was attached to the
reserve brigade commanded by Major-General (afterwards Sir John)
Moore. Alexandria surrendered on the 2nd of September, 1801, and
the QUEEN'S ROYAL was ordered to Fort Pharos, at the
entrance of the harbour, where it continued until the following
December.
In this campaign, the severe loss sustained by the British army in
their active operations against the enemy was greatly augmented
by deaths caused by fatigue, as well as by the climate of Egypt.
The casualties in the QUEEN'S were 36 killed and 70
wounded[27].
In the action of the 21st of March, Lieut.-General Sir Ralph
Abercrombie, the commander-in-chief of the army, received a mortal
wound, and died on the 28th of the same month. His merits are
attested in General Orders issued to the army on the 16th of May,
1801[28], and in the dispatch of his successor, General Hutchinson,
in the following terms: 'His memory will be recorded in the annals
of his country, will be sacred to every British soldier, and
embalmed in the recollection of a grateful posterity.' The same
officer adds, 'It is impossible for me to do justice to the zeal of
the officers, and to the gallantry of the soldiers, of this army.'
By the conquest of Egypt, Great Britain effected a revolution,
which, in a great degree, influenced the politics of nations
throughout the world. The vaunting ambition of France received a
timely check, by the defeat of the boldest project which the mind
of her greatest General had ever conceived; and the '_Army of the
East_' returned to their country, relieved, in a short campaign, of
the fruits of four years' toil and glory.
The successful efforts of the British fleet and army were followed
by a treaty of peace with France, which was concluded at Amiens
on the 1st of October, 1801, by which Egypt was again restored to
the Ottoman empire. The troops, as opportunities offered, were
withdrawn from the scene of their brilliant achievements, and
about the end of the year 1801 the Queen's Regiment embarked for
Gibraltar.
The peace concluded at the above period was, however, of short
duration, and did not tend to check the hostile spirit of
Bonaparte, whose perfidious conduct and insatiable ambition
rendered an appeal to arms again necessary, and Great Britain was
obliged to declare war against France in May, 1803.
[Sidenote: 1802]
[Sidenote: 1804]
From the spring of 1802 until the end of 1805, the QUEEN'S
ROYAL formed part of the garrison of Gibraltar, and was
highly complimented by his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, for
its loyalty, steadiness, and good conduct throughout the mutiny
which occurred there. By the malignant fever which raged with
great violence in that garrison in 1804, it lost in a few weeks
one captain, six subalterns, and about 90 men, besides women and
children.
While the regiment was at Gibraltar, the officers received
permission to wear the medals which had been presented to them by
the Grand Signior, for their services in the Egyptian campaign.
[Sidenote: 1805]
In November, 1805, the regiment embarked for England. One of the
transports, having on board the two flank companies, and one
battalion company under the command of Captain Wilson, was taken
on the 15th of December by the squadron of the French Admiral,
Guillaumet, consisting of six sail of the line (one commanded by
Jerome Buonaparte) and several frigates. The captured companies
were put on board La Voluntaire frigate, where they remained
prisoners about three months: they were subsequently restored to
liberty in consequence of that vessel putting into the Cape of
Good Hope, which she expected to find a friendly port, but which
had surrendered a short time before to the British forces under
Lieut.-General Sir David Baird and Admiral Sir Home Popham. At
the Cape these companies remained about seven months, when they
embarked once more for England, and rejoined the regiment in April,
1807.
In the mean time the head-quarters and the remainder of the
regiment had landed, in December, 1805, at Portsmouth, its strength
amounting to 20 officers, 31 serjeants, 12 drummers, and 289 rank
and file.
[Sidenote: 1806]
In January, 1806, the regiment received new colours, on which, in
addition to former devices, were the SPHYNX, and the word
EGYPT, granted to it by his Majesty, in consideration
of its distinguished conduct in that country in 1801, as already
detailed.
[Sidenote: 1807]
In 1807 the establishment of the regiment was 696. In the month
of June of that year it embarked for Guernsey, and remained there
till June of the following year, receiving, during its stay in
that island, 330 general-service men from the depôt in the Isle of
Wight, and above 150 militia volunteers.
[Sidenote: 1808]
In June, 1808, the regiment returned to England, 860 rank and file
strong, and was quartered at Ipswich, until the 18th of July, when
it was brigaded with the Twentieth Foot and a battalion of the
Ninety-fifth Rifles, under the command of Major-General Acland, and
embarked at Harwich for Portugal, to join the forces about to be
assembled in that country.