it was formed in brigade with the Twenty-fourth and Seventy-second
Regiments, under the orders of Major-General Granville Elliott,
and sailed with the armament, under the Duke of Marlborough, for
the purpose of reducing the maritime power of France, and making a
diversion in favour of the allied army in Germany. A landing was
effected on the coast of Brittany on the 5th of June, and the
French infantry and cavalry assembled to oppose the debarkation
were quickly dispersed. On the 7th of June the army advanced in two
columns towards _St. Maloes_, and encamping about a mile from the
town, sent a strong detachment to the harbour, to set fire to the
shipping, magazines, and maritime stores, when a grand and dreadful
scene of conflagration illuminated the coast, and was seen for many
miles. Having destroyed a valuable fleet, and extensive magazines
of maritime stores, the troops re-embarked, and preparations
were afterwards made for a descent at Granville, on the coast
of Normandy, and afterwards at Cherbourg; but the weather being
severe, the fleet returned to England.
This success was followed by the preparation of another expedition
of a similar character, in which the THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment was
also employed; and on the 6th of August a landing was effected
in the Bay des Marées, in the face of a body of French troops.
On the following day _Cherbourg_ was taken possession of, with
the harbour, forts, magazines, and about two hundred pieces of
ordnance; the iron guns were destroyed, and twenty-two fine brass
cannon and two brass mortars, were sent to England as trophies.
These guns were seen by King George II., in Hyde Park, and
afterwards conducted by a cavalcade to the Tower.
After remaining in France ten days, the troops returned on board
the fleet, and a second descent was made on the coast of Brittany
on the 4th of September, when the batteries in the Bay of St.
Lunaire were destroyed, and the troops afterwards penetrated the
country a considerable distance; but no advantage resulted from
this enterprise, and when the troops re-embarked at _St. Cas_, the
enemy attacked the rear guard with superior numbers, and occasioned
severe loss. The THIRTY-FOURTH Foot returned to England, and
landed at Portsmouth towards the end of September.
[Sidenote: 1759]
[Sidenote: 1760]
In the summer of 1759, the THIRTY-FOURTH were encamped at
Sandheath, with the Fifth, Eighth, and Thirty-third Regiments,
under the Earl of Ancram; and in the summer of 1760, they pitched
their tents at Winchester, where five battalions of militia
were encamped with them, the whole under the colonel of the
THIRTY-FOURTH,--Thomas Earl of Effingham.
On the 30th of October, King George III. nominated the Earl of
Effingham to the command of the first troop of Horse Grenadier
Guards, (which was incorporated in the First Regiment of Life
Guards in 1788,) and his Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the
THIRTY-FOURTH on Lord Frederick Cavendish, from the Sixty-seventh
Regiment[11].
[Sidenote: 1761]
During the summer of 1761, the regiment was encamped, with the
Seventy-second Foot, at Sandheath, under Lieutenant-General
Cornwallis.
[Sidenote: 1762]
Meanwhile the conduct of the Spanish Government had led to an
interruption of the amicable relations existing between the
two countries, and in the early part of 1762 an attack on the
_Havannah_, in the island of Cuba, which was looked upon as a key
to the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, was resolved upon by
the British Government; and the THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment, mustering
one thousand officers and soldiers, under Lieutenant-Colonel
John Reed, embarked for this service; the expedition being under
General the Earl of Albemarle. On arriving at the West Indies, the
regiment was formed in brigade with the Thirty-fifth, Forty-third,
and Seventy-fifth Regiments, under Brigadier-General Reed; and
proceeding with the armament through the Straits of Bahama,
arrived in the vicinity of the Havannah on the 6th of June. On
the following day a landing was effected, and the siege of the
_Moro Fort_ was commenced by a body of troops under Major-General
the Honorable William Keppel. In the attack of this fortress,
the troops evinced that courage and patient perseverance under
severe toil and privation, for which British soldiers have been
distinguished, and united with the cordial co-operation of the
royal navy, overcame all difficulties. Batteries were erected, the
sallies of the Spaniards repulsed, and the Moro Fort captured by
storm on the 30th of July. This success facilitated the attack on
the Havannah, and a series of batteries opened so well-directed a
fire on the works of the town, and on the shipping in the harbour,
on the 11th of August, that in a few hours the guns of the garrison
were silenced, and the Spaniards solicited terms of capitulation,
which were speedily agreed upon. The wealthy city of the Havannah,
with a valuable fleet of Spanish men-of-war, and numerous stores,
were thus captured by British skill and valour, and prize money to
a large amount was afterwards distributed to the army and navy.
“This conquest was, without doubt, in itself the most considerable,
and in its consequences the most decisive, of any we had made since
the beginning of the war; and in no operation were the courage,
steadiness, and perseverance of the British troops, and the conduct
of their leaders, more conspicuous. It was a military achievement
of the highest class[12].”
The regiment was commanded, on this occasion, by Major Robert
Farmar, (Lieutenant-Colonel Reed being at the head of the brigade,)
and after taking part in this splendid conquest, it was stationed a
short time at the Havannah.
[Sidenote: 1763]
In the following year a treaty of peace was concluded, and the
Spaniards ceded to Great Britain the country of Florida, in North
America, on condition of having the Havannah restored to them,
which was agreed to; and the THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment was one of the
corps which proceeded to North America, to take possession of the
ceded territory.
[Sidenote: 1764]
[Sidenote: 1768]
[Sidenote: 1769]
In the pleasant and fertile country of West Florida, the regiment
was stationed some time; in 1768 it was relieved from duty in North
America, and returned to Europe, and in 1769 it was stationed in
Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1770]
[Sidenote: 1774]
The regiment was quartered in Ireland seven years; and was equally
conspicuous for good conduct on home service, as it had been for
gallantry when confronting the enemies of its country abroad.
[Sidenote: 1775]
In 1775, the misunderstanding between Great Britain and her
North American provinces, on the subject of taxation, attained
a character which produced hostilities, and the THIRTY-FOURTH
Regiment was augmented to the war establishment. The American
Congress sent a body of troops, under Colonel Montgomery, to invade
Canada, where Major-General Carleton, afterwards Lord Dorchester,
commanded, and the English general, having very few troops to
oppose to the enemy, evacuated Montreal, and retired to _Quebec_.
The Americans detached a division of troops, under Colonel Arnold,
to surprise Quebec; but this enterprise failed, through the
activity and vigilance of Major-General Carleton, who defended
that fortress against the united provincial forces, and repulsed
an assault made on the works, during a snow storm, in the depth of
winter.
[Sidenote: 1776]
The THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment embarked from Ireland early in the
spring of 1776, for the relief of Quebec; and on the arrival,
in the river St. Lawrence, of the expected succours from the
United Kingdom, in May, the Americans quitted the vicinity of
that fortress, and made a precipitate retreat. The THIRTY-FOURTH
Regiment advanced up the country in pursuit of the provincial
troops, and took part in the movements by which the Americans were
driven out of Canada. The regiment was stationed in Canada during
the winter.
[Sidenote: 1777]
In the spring of 1777, the flank companies of the regiment were
detached from Canada, with the army under Lieutenant-General
Burgoyne, which was destined to proceed, by Lakes Champlain and
George, to Hudson’s river, with the view of forcing its way
to Albany, and co-operating with the army at New York, in the
reduction of the revolted states. The troops employed on this
service embarked on board a flotilla, and, after a pleasant
voyage along Lake Champlain, landed at Crown Point, from whence
they advanced towards Ticonderago, and forced the Americans to
abandon the fort. This conquest achieved, the troops proceeded to
Skenesborough, and drove the enemy from a stockaded fort on the 6th
of July, and pursued them towards Castletown. On the 8th of July
the Americans were repulsed in an attack on the Ninth Regiment,
and driven from Fort Anne. After this success, preparations were
made for a forward movement; but extraordinary difficulties
had to be encountered; felled trees had to be removed from the
roads,--creeks and marshes had to be passed,--forty new bridges
had to be constructed, and others to be repaired; one made of
log-work crossed a morass two miles in extent. These difficulties
were overcome by the soldiers with cheerful alacrity, and on the
30th of July the troops arrived on the banks of the Hudson’s
river, when they took post at Fort Edward, awaiting the arrival
of provisions. The river was crossed in September, and a forward
movement was made; but the expedition proved of insufficient
force for the enterprise, and the means for supplying the troops
inadequate. Having penetrated into the heart of the revolted
provinces, Lieutenant-General Burgoyne found himself encompassed
by difficulties and dangers which he was unable to overcome. After
a series of hard toil, incessant effort, and severe privation, the
Indian warriors, who formed part of the expedition, deserted, and
many of the Canadians followed their example; and after several
stubborn engagements, in which the British regiments fought
gallantly against an immense superiority of numbers, and the flank
companies of the THIRTY-FOURTH Foot had repeated opportunities
of distinguishing themselves, Lieutenant-General Burgoyne found
himself on the banks of the Hudson’s river, with an army diminished
in numbers to three thousand five hundred men,--reduced in physical
power by incessant toil and want of provisions,--invested by an
army of sixteen thousand Americans,--disappointed of co-operation
from other armies,--and without provision. Under these dismal
circumstances, a convention was concluded with the American General
Gates, at Saratoga, in which it was agreed that the troops should
lay down their arms, on condition of being sent to England, and
of not serving in America during the remainder of the war. These
articles were violated by the American government, and the brave
soldiers who had fought so gallantly, and who did not submit until
surrounded by five times their own numbers, were detained prisoners
in America.
The battalion companies of the regiment, which had remained in
Canada, were not involved in this occurrence.
In the several actions between the Americans and the troops
under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, the flank companies of the
THIRTY-FOURTH had a number of men killed and wounded; also Captains
Harris and Ross, and Lieutenant Richardson, wounded.
The battalion companies furnished a detachment of one hundred men,
for the expedition to the _Mohawk_, under Brigadier-General Barry
St. Leger. This detachment was engaged in the unsuccessful siege of
_Fort Stanwix_.
[Sidenote: 1778]
The THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment formed part of the force to which the
protection of Canada was confided during the remainder of the
American war, which was terminated in 1782, by a treaty of peace,
in which the independence of the United States was acknowledged.
[Sidenote: 1782]
A letter, dated the 31st of August, 1782, conveyed to the
regiment His Majesty’s pleasure that it should assume the title
of the THIRTY-FOURTH, OR CUMBERLAND REGIMENT OF FOOT, and that a
connection and mutual attachment between the corps and that county
should be cultivated, in order to promote the success of the
recruiting service.
[Sidenote: 1786]
[Sidenote: 1787]
The regiment remained in Canada until 1786, when it was relieved,
and returned to Europe. In 1787 it was stationed in England.
[Sidenote: 1792]
[Sidenote: 1793]
[Sidenote: 1795]
On the breaking out of the French revolutionary war, the
establishment of the regiment was augmented. In 1793 a British army
proceeded to Flanders; but the THIRTY-FOURTH remained in Great
Britain until the middle of February, 1795, when they embarked for
the West Indies.
Previous to this date the revolutionary principles, which had
involved France in anarchy and crime, had extended to the French
West India islands; but the planters of these colonies had
been delivered from the power of the republicans by a British
armament, under General Sir Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey; the
THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens,
proceeded to St. Lucia, which island had been captured from the
French in April, 1794.
The National Convention which governed France, although employed in
extending revolutionary power in Europe, paid so much attention to
the colonial interests of that nation, as to send an expedition to
the West Indies, for the recovery of the conquered islands; and the
doctrines of liberty and equality, which were disseminated in the
islands, occasioned multitudes of mulattoes, blacks, and Charibbees
to array themselves under the standard of republicanism, which led
to a frightful catalogue of outrages and depredations. _St. Lucia_,
where the THIRTY-FOURTH were stationed, was among the colonies
attacked by the enemy, and the regiment was engaged a short period
in its defence, in which it lost several men, and Captain Dodsworth
was taken prisoner, on the 18th of June. The British troops not
being sufficiently numerous for the defence of the island, it was
evacuated, the THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment proceeding to _St. Vincent_,
where republican emissaries from France had organised a rebellion,
and many whites, mulattoes, blacks, and native Charibbees, were in
arms against the British Government, which occasioned the regiment
much severe service[13].
[Sidenote: 1796]
Early in 1796, additional forces arrived at the West Indies, where
Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby assumed the command of an
armament to complete the deliverance of the West India islands
from the power of the republicans, and to reduce to obedience the
insurgents of St. Vincent and Grenada.
On the 8th of June, a body of troops landed at the island of St.
Vincent, and were joined by the THIRTY-FOURTH Foot, commanded
by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, who had the honour of taking
a distinguished part in the reduction of the colony, which
was accomplished in a few days. Part of the regiment evinced
signal gallantry at the assault and capture of the insurgent
camp, on, the 10th of June, when Sir Ralph Abercromby stated in
orders,--“Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, and the troops who served
under him, are entitled to a great share of praise.” The regiment
had two serjeants, one drummer, and six rank and file killed;
Volunteer Gordon died of his wounds; Lieutenants O’Donoughue and
Georges, nine serjeants, three drummers, and sixteen rank and file
wounded.
The hostile spirit long shown by the Charibbees towards the
European inhabitants, occasioned the British Government to
determine to remove them from the island; and the execution of the
orders received for this purpose was attended with much harassing
duty to the troops, in which the THIRTY-FOURTH took part, and
sustained some loss. The regiment afterwards received the thanks
of Major-General Hunter, and of the principal inhabitants of the
colony, for its conduct in the brigand and Charibbee war.
On the 15th of July, the regiment embarked for England, where
it arrived on the 8th of October, and was stationed at Poole,
in Dorsetshire, from whence recruiting parties were detached to
various towns in South Britain.
[Sidenote: 1797]
In the spring of 1797[14], the regiment proceeded to York, where
the non-commissioned officers and soldiers evinced their loyalty
and zeal for the preservation of the constitution of their country,
by a contribution in aid of the war, for which they received the
thanks of Lieutenant-General Scott, commanding the district. In the
autumn the regiment marched to Lincoln.
Field-Marshal Lord Frederick Cavendish was succeeded in the
colonelcy of the regiment in July by George Frederick Lord
Southampton, from captain and lieutenant-colonel Second Foot Guards.
[Sidenote: 1798]
[Sidenote: 1799]
The regiment remained in England during the years 1798 and 1799,
and, having been brought into a high state of discipline and
efficiency, it was selected to proceed on colonial service.
[Sidenote: 1800]
In January, 1800, the regiment marched from Hilsea barracks, and
embarking on board an Indiaman, sailed to the Cape of Good Hope,
where it landed on the 21st of May, and occupied barracks at Cape
Town until September, when it pitched its tents at Wynberg, where a
numerous force was encamped under Major-General Dundas.
[Sidenote: 1801]
[Sidenote: 1802]
[Sidenote: 1803]
After remaining two years and a half at the Cape of Good Hope, that
colony was restored to the Dutch, at the peace of Amiens, in 1802,
and the regiment embarked for the East Indies, where it arrived in
January, 1803, and landed at Madras on the 2nd of February.
The regiment was stationed at Madras several months, during which
period the conduct of the officers and soldiers on the occasion
of an alarming fire, elicited the following communication to
Colonel Dickens, from the merchants of that place:--“Impressed
with a grateful sense of the extraordinary exertions manifested
by the officers and men of His Majesty’s THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment,
under your command, on the occasion of the late calamitous fires,
we feel it incumbent upon us to offer you and them our public
acknowledgements for the service rendered to the commercial
interests in particular, and at the same time to request you will
be assured of our sincere respect for the public spirit which
uniformly animates the British military on every emergency.”
The peace of Europe was violated by the ambitious projects of
Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France, and the war was resumed
in 1803, in July of which year two companies of the regiment
embarked, under Captain Everard, for the island of Ceylon, which
had been captured from the Dutch, and they were followed by two
additional companies, under Captain Roberts, in October.
[Sidenote: 1804]
In 1804 the head-quarters were removed from Madras to Wallajabad,
where they arrived on the 21st of August. In December a detachment
returned to Madras, where it embarked for Vizagapatam, to protect
the shipping.
In the mean time the menace of invading England, made by Napoleon
Bonaparte, had been followed by a simultaneous appeal to arms
throughout the United Kingdom, and an array of military power was
manifested which proved the attachment of the British people to
their sovereign and constitution. On this memorable occasion a
_second battalion_ was added to the THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment, and
was embodied at Ashford, in Kent. It was formed of volunteers from
the First East York, Third West York, First Lancashire, South
Lincoln, and East Essex Regiments of Militia, and was placed on the
establishment of the army on the 25th of April, 1805.
Soon after its formation, the second battalion marched to
Colchester.
[Sidenote: 1805]
BONAPARTE obtained the dignity of EMPEROR from the French nation,
was crowned King of Italy, and added Genoa to his dominions; he
afterwards marched his army from Boulogne to crush the coalition
forming against his interests in Germany; at the same time the
French troops were withdrawn from Hanover, which country they had
seized soon after the resuming of hostilities in 1803. A body of
troops was sent to Hanover under Lieutenant-General Lord Cathcart,
to co-operate with the continental powers; and on the 28th of
November the second battalion of the THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment marched
to Ramsgate for embarkation for Germany, under the orders of Major
Broomhead. The battle of Austerlitz established the preponderance
of French power; in a subsequent treaty it was stipulated that
Hanover should be occupied by the Prussians, and the British
troops, under Lord Cathcart, withdrew to the coast and embarked
for England. On its return from this expedition, the battalion was
quartered on the coast of Sussex.
In March of this year, the detachment of the first battalion was
withdrawn from Ceylon, and joined the head-quarters at Wallajabad;
and in April four companies proceeded to the fortress of Vellore,
which had been chosen for the residence of the captive princes of
the race of Hyder and Tippoo, with the two hostages given up to
Lord Cornwallis. In October, the battalion was united at Bellary.
[Sidenote: 1806]
During the year 1806, the first battalion was in garrison at the
fortresses of Gooty and Bellary. Lieutenant-Colonel Fancourt of the
THIRTY-FOURTH Regiment was commandant of Vellore, and was killed in
the mutiny which took place among the Sepoys and Moormen, on the
morning of the 10th July, 1806.
[Sidenote: 1807]
In April, the second battalion embarked for the island of Jersey,
where it remained until May, 1807, when it was removed to the Isle
of Wight, in order to its embarkation for the island of Ceylon;
but while waiting for shipping, its destination was changed, and
it proceeded to Cork, to join a secret expedition ordered to
rendezvous at that place, under Brigadier-General Beresford. The
expedition sailed to Madeira, and took possession of that island;
but the THIRTY-FOURTH landed in Ireland, were stationed at Bandon
barracks, and placed under orders to proceed to India.
[Sidenote: 1808]
In December they embarked from Cork, and sailed to Spithead, where
they arrived on the 18th of January, 1808; but circumstances
had occurred which occasioned their embarkation for India to be
countermanded; they landed and marched to Steyning barracks, where
they remained until May, when they returned to the island of Jersey.
During this period, the first battalion had remained at Gooty and
Bellary.
[Sidenote: 1809]
The second battalion was stationed at Jersey until the summer
of 1809, when it was completed to a thousand rank and file by
volunteers from the militia, and embarked for the Peninsula, to
join the British army, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, and take part
in the deliverance of Portugal and Spain from the tyrannical
domination of the Emperor Napoleon, who was attempting to bring
those kingdoms under his despotic sway. After landing at Lisbon,
on the 4th of July, the battalion was encamped near that place,
with the brigade under Brigadier-General James Catlin Craufurd,
for three weeks, and afterwards proceeded in boats up the river
Tagus, under Lieutenant-Colonel Maister, to Santarem, from whence
it marched into Spain, to co-operate with the troops under
Lieutenant-General Lord Wellington, who had driven the French from
Portugal, and repulsed the army under Joseph Bonaparte (titular
King of Spain) at Talavera, a short time before. After several
movements, the brigade joined the army under Lord Wellington in
Spanish Estremadura; and the THIRTY-FOURTH were placed in village
cantonments on the right bank of the Guadiana, near Badajoz, where
the battalion suffered from the epidemic fever which thinned the
British ranks.
When Lord Wellington marched northward, the THIRTY-FOURTH were left
in Portuguese Estremadura, under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland
Hill.