January, 1716, to attack the insurgents, who made a precipitate
retreat. The Pretender, and several leaders in the rebellion,
escaped to the Continent, and the clans separated. The rebellion
was thus suppressed.
In July of this year the Earl of Orrery was succeeded in the
colonelcy of the regiment by Colonel George Macartney, whose
regiment of foot had been disbanded at the peace of Utrecht.
[Sidenote: 1727]
The regiment was employed on home service many years; and in 1727
it was held in readiness to embark for Holland, to aid the Dutch in
their approaching war with the Emperor of Germany; but the presence
of British troops was not required.
In the same year Colonel Macartney was removed to the Seventh
horse, now Sixth Dragoon Guards, and the colonelcy of the ROYAL
NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS was conferred on Brigadier-General Sir
James Wood, from the Dutch service.
[Sidenote: 1728]
[Sidenote: 1729]
The order for embarking for Holland having been countermanded, the
regiment afterwards proceeded to Ireland, and was placed upon the
establishment of that country.
[Sidenote: 1738]
Major-General Sir James Wood died in 1738, and King George II.
nominated Colonel John Campbell, afterwards Duke of Argyle, to
the colonelcy of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, from the
Thirty-ninth regiment.
[Sidenote: 1739]
[Sidenote: 1740]
[Sidenote: 1741]
War having been declared against Spain, in the autumn of 1739, the
regiment was withdrawn from Ireland, and landing at Liverpool, was
stationed in South Britain during the year 1740; in the summer of
1741 it was encamped on Lexden Heath, where seven regiments of
cavalry and seven of infantry were assembled, and held in readiness
for foreign service.
[Sidenote: 1742]
In the summer of 1742 King George II. sent sixteen thousand men to
Flanders, to support the interest of the House of Austria against
the aggressions of France and Bavaria: the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS formed part of this force, and were stationed some time
at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1743]
Early in 1743 the regiment commenced its march for Germany, and
after taking part in several movements in the field, had the honor
to distinguish itself, under the eye of its Sovereign, at the
battle of _Dettingen_, on the 27th of June, when the French troops,
under Marshal Noailles, were driven from the field of battle with
great slaughter, and the loss of a number of standards and colours.
The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS had Lieutenant Yonge, one
serjeant, and thirty-five rank and file killed; Lieutenant
Levingstone, one serjeant, two drummers, and fifty-three rank and
file wounded.
The regiment was afterwards encamped near Hanau; in August it
crossed the Rhine, and was employed in West Germany; but in the
autumn it returned to Flanders.
[Sidenote: 1744]
During the campaign of 1744 the regiment served with the army
under Field-Marshal Wade; it was encamped between Asche and Alost,
afterwards on the banks of the Scheldt, and subsequently penetrated
the French territory to the vicinity of Lisle; but returned to
Ghent for winter-quarters.
[Sidenote: 1745]
Quitting its cantonments in April, 1745, the regiment marched, with
the army commanded by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland,
to the relief of _Tournay_, which fortress was besieged by a
numerous French army, which took up a position near the village of
_Fontenoy_. The enemy had a great superiority of numbers; but the
Duke of Cumberland, trusting to the innate bravery of his troops,
resolved to hazard a general engagement on the 11th of May, when
the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS had their valour and endurance
put to a severe test, and they proved themselves not unworthy
successors of the gallant officers and soldiers who triumphed at
_Blenheim_ and _Ramilies_ under the great Duke of Marlborough.
Soon after nine o'clock the British infantry advanced in the face
of a heavy fire of grape and musketry, and by a gallant charge
broke through the French lines; but the Dutch failed to carry
the village of _Fontenoy_, and a brigade under Brigadier-General
Ingoldsby did not capture the battery it was appointed to attack;
the troops, which had forced the enemy's centre, were thus exposed
to so severe a cross fire, that they were ordered to retire.
A second attack was made; British valour and intrepidity were
again triumphant; but the failure of the Dutch a second time,
produced disastrous results, and the British regiments, which had
carried the enemy's entrenchments, and forced the centre, were
nearly annihilated by a destructive cross fire. The ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS suffered severely on this occasion. The Duke of
Cumberland afterwards ordered a retreat, and the army withdrew from
the field of battle to Aeth.
Lieutenants Campbell, Houston, and Serjeant, of the regiment, were
killed; Major Colville, Captains Latan, Olivant, and Knatchbull,
Lieutenants Maxwell, Colville, Ballenden, Macgaken, and Townsend,
wounded; Captain Sandilands, Lieutenant Stuart, and Quarter-Master
Stewart prisoners; eleven serjeants and two hundred and fifty-nine
rank and file killed, wounded, and prisoners.
The severe loss which the regiment had experienced occasioned it
to be placed in garrison at _Ostend_. This place was besieged by
a numerous French force; and the garrison defended their post
some time; but the works were not in repair, the stores were
defective, and the garrison not sufficiently numerous: under these
circumstances the governor surrendered, on condition that the
garrison should join the allied army.
While the regiment was in Flanders, Charles Edward, eldest son of
the Pretender, arrived in Scotland, and being joined by a number
of Highland clans, he made a desperate attempt to overturn the
existing government, and establish his father's authority in
the kingdom. The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were ordered to
return to England; they arrived in the river Thames on the 4th of
November, and after landing, marched northward: the efficiency of
the regiment was increased by a body of fine recruits enlisted in
Scotland.
[Sidenote: 1746]
The regiment arrived at Edinburgh in January, 1746, and advanced
with the army commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, towards
Stirling, when the young Pretender raised the siege of Stirling
castle and made a precipitate retreat. The pursuit was retarded
by severe weather; but the army continued its advance when the
season permitted, and on the 16th of April encountered the
clans on _Culloden_ moor. The regiment was in the front line on
this occasion, and took part in repulsing the attacks of the
Highlanders, and in driving them from the field of battle with
great slaughter. This victory proved decisive, and the rebellion
was suppressed.
The loss of the regiment was limited to seven private soldiers
killed and wounded. It was encamped a short time at Inverness, and
afterwards removed to Glasgow.
[Sidenote: 1747]
From Scotland, the regiment was again removed to the theatre of the
war in the Netherlands, where it arrived in time to take part in
the operations of the campaign of 1747; and it was engaged at the
battle of _Val_, on the 2nd of July. On this occasion the allied
army was very inferior in numbers to the enemy, and although the
gallantry of the British infantry was very conspicuous throughout
the action, the Duke of Cumberland was obliged to order a retreat
to Maestricht.
Eight rank and file of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were
killed; one serjeant and fifteen rank and file were wounded; and
five men missing.
[Sidenote: 1748]
The regiment was again in the field in the summer of 1748.
Hostilities were this year terminated by the treaty of
Aix-la-Chapelle, and during the winter the regiment returned to
England.[7]
[Sidenote: 1751]
In the Royal Warrant, issued on the 1st of July, 1751, for ensuring
uniformity in the clothing, standards, and colours of the army, the
following directions are given for the TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, OR
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS:--
"In the centre of their colours, the THISTLE within the CIRCLE OF
ST. ANDREW, and the CROWN over it; and in the three corners of the
second colour, the KING'S CIPHER AND CROWN.
"On the grenadier caps, the THISTLE as on the colours; the WHITE
HORSE, and motto over it, _Nec aspera terrent_, on the flap. On the
drums and bells of arms, the THISTLE and CROWN to be painted, as
on the colours, with the rank of the regiment underneath."
During the period the regiment was stationed in England, where it
remained until 1751, it received the commendations of His Royal
Highness the Duke of Cumberland, on account of its good conduct in
quarters, and of its former gallantry in the field.
The TWENTY-FIRST regiment embarked for Gibraltar towards the end of
the year 1751, in order to relieve the Eighth, or King's Regiment.
[Sidenote: 1752]
Lieut.-General Campbell was removed to the Scots Greys, and
King George II. nominated Colonel the Earl of Panmure, from the
Twenty-fifth regiment, to the colonelcy of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS, by commission dated the 29th of April, 1752.
[Sidenote: 1760]
The regiment remained at Gibraltar until 1760, when it was relieved
from duty at that fortress, and returned to England.
[Illustration: _Madeley lith 3 Wellington S^t. Strand._
XXI.
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS.
1742
_For Cannon's Military Records._]
[Sidenote: 1761]
In the meantime another war had commenced between Great Britain and
France, and in 1761 the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, mustering
eight hundred men, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Edward
Maxwell, sailed with the expedition under Major-General Hodgson,
for the attack of the French island in the Bay of Biscay, called
_Belle-Isle_. The fleet appeared before the island on the 7th of
April; but the coast was found like a vast fortress,--the little
which nature had left undone by rocks and crags, having been
supplied by art. A landing was, however, effected on the following
day; the TWENTY-FIRST was one of the regiments which leaped on
shore, and stormed the works of Port Andro, under a heavy fire of
cannon and musketry; the works were found too steep to be ascended,
and although the officers and soldiers made a gallant effort,
one attempting to lift another up, it was found impossible to
succeed, and they were ordered to return on board of the fleet. The
regiment had three serjeants, one drummer, and eight rank and file
killed; eight rank and file wounded; Lieutenants Innis and Ramage,
and thirty-five rank and file, prisoners;--many of the officers and
soldiers taken prisoners were severely wounded, and were unable to
return on board of the fleet when the order was given to retire.
A landing was effected on the 22nd of April at a rugged spot near
Point Lomaria, where the difficult ascent had occasioned the
enemy to be less attentive to that part of the coast; and the
troops, under Brigadier-General Lambert, having landed, gained
the summit of the rock, and repulsed the attempts of the enemy to
dislodge them,--capturing three brass field-pieces. The cannon
was afterwards landed from the ships, and dragged up the rocks;
the lines which covered the town of Palais were captured, and the
siege of the citadel commenced. The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS
took part in the siege of the _Citadel_ of _Belle-Isle_, which was
prosecuted with so much vigour, that the governor, the Chevalier de
St. Croix, was forced to surrender on the 7th of June. The capture
of the island was thus effected, with the loss of about eighteen
hundred men killed and wounded.
[Sidenote: 1762]
[Sidenote: 1763]
[Sidenote: 1764]
After the surrender of the Castle of Belle-Isle, the regiment
returned to England, where it was stationed in 1762; and in 1763
and 1764 it occupied quarters in Scotland.
[Sidenote: 1765]
[Sidenote: 1770]
On the 6th of May, 1765, the regiment embarked for America, and was
quartered five years in West Florida; in 1770, it was removed to
Canada, and was stationed some time at Quebec.
In November, 1770, Lieut.-General the Earl of Panmure was removed
to the Scots Greys, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the ROYAL
NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS by Major-General the Honorable Alexander
Mackay, from the Sixty-fifth regiment.
[Sidenote: 1772]
[Sidenote: 1773]
[Sidenote: 1774]
Having been relieved from duty at Quebec, in 1772, the regiment
embarked for England, where it was stationed in 1773 and the two
following years.
[Sidenote: 1775]
The American war commenced in 1775, and during the winter of that
year Quebec was besieged by an American force.
[Sidenote: 1776]
In the spring of 1776, the regiment embarked for the relief of
_Quebec_; on the arrival of the British reinforcement to the
garrison, the Americans raised the siege, and made a precipitate
retreat; they were pursued up the country, and driven from all the
posts which they occupied in that province. After these services
were performed, the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were quartered at
St. John's, where they were stationed during the winter.
[Sidenote: 1777]
The regiment was called into active operations in the spring of
1777, with the armament commanded by Lieut.-General Burgoyne; it
embarked in boats on Lake Champlain, and sailed to Crown Point,
where the troops halted three days, and afterwards proceeded
against Ticonderago; but the Americans quitted the fort without
hazarding the events of a siege. The regiment returned on board
of the flotilla, and sailing along the lake, arrived, about three
o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th of July, within three miles of
Skenesborough, where the Americans had a stockaded fort. The Ninth,
Twentieth, and TWENTY-FIRST regiments leaped on shore, and ascended
the mountains, to get behind the fort and cut off the retreat of
the garrison; but the Americans made a precipitate retreat, and
escaped with the loss of a few men made prisoners.
On the 8th of July, the regiment was detached towards Fort Anne, to
support the Ninth, who were attacked by an American force of very
superior numbers. The enemy was repulsed, and retreated towards
Fort Edward.
To follow up these advantages proved a difficult undertaking; trees
and other obstacles had to be removed; creeks and marshes had to be
crossed; forty bridges had to be constructed; but by great exertion
these difficulties were overcome, and on the 30th of July, the army
arrived at the bank of the Hudson's River, which was crossed by a
bridge of boats on the 13th and 14th of September, and on the 19th
the army advanced against the Americans, in position on an island
called Still-Water, when a severe action was fought. Lieut.-General
Burgoyne stated in his public despatch,--"About three o'clock, the
action began by a very vigorous attack on the British line, and was
continued with great obstinacy until after sunset; the enemy being
constantly supplied with fresh troops. The stress lay upon the
Twentieth, TWENTY-FIRST, and Sixty-second regiments, most parts of
which were engaged nearly four hours without intermission.... Just
as night closed, the enemy gave ground on all sides, and left us
completely masters of the field of battle."
Several other actions occurred, and the regiment sustained
considerable loss in killed and wounded; among the former were
Lieutenants Currie, Mackenzie, Robertson, and Turnbull; and among
the latter Captain Ramsay, and Lieutenant Richardson.
The circumstances under which the troops commanded by
Lieut.-General Burgoyne eventually became placed, assumed a
desperate character; their numbers were reduced to about three
thousand five hundred men able to bear arms; they were environed
by sixteen thousand Americans; their retreat cut off, and they
were short of provisions. Under these accumulated difficulties,
they agreed to lay down their arms on condition of being sent to
England, and of not serving again in North America during the war.
These conditions were, however, violated by the American Congress,
and the troops were detained some time in the provinces.
[Sidenote: 1781]
The TWENTY-FIRST regiment having been liberated returned to Europe,
and in 1781 it was stationed in Scotland, recruiting its numbers.
[Sidenote: 1782]
At the termination of the American war, in 1782, the regiment was
placed on the peace establishment; and in 1783 it proceeded to
Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1789]
The regiment remained in Ireland until the spring of 1789, when it
embarked from Cork for Nova Scotia, and landing at Halifax, was
stationed in the British provinces in North America nearly four
years.
Lieut.-General the Honorable Alexander Mackay died in 1789, and the
colonelcy of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS was conferred on
General the Honorable James Murray, from the Thirteenth regiment.
[Sidenote: 1793]
While the regiment was in North America a revolution took place
in France, and republican principles were extended to the French
West India islands, where the inhabitants of colour rose in arms
against the European settlers, many of whom sought protection from
Great Britain. Under these circumstances the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS were removed to the West Indies in the spring of 1793.
The French royalists of _Martinique_ sent pressing applications for
assistance, and Major-General Bruce, commanding the British troops
in the West Indies, was induced to proceed with a small force to
their aid. The TWENTY-FIRST were employed on this service; they
landed at Caise de Navire on the 14th of June; the other corps
landed on the 16th, and eleven hundred British, and eight hundred
French loyalists, advanced to attack the town of St. Pierre: but
the Royalists were undisciplined; they got into confusion, fired by
mistake on one another, and so completely disconcerted the plan of
attack, that the English General, not having a force sufficiently
numerous for the purpose without them, ordered the British troops
to return on board of the fleet.
[Sidenote: 1794]
General Sir Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey assembled a body of
troops at Barbadoes, in January, 1794, for the attack of the
French islands, and the flank companies of the TWENTY-FIRST were
employed on this service. A landing was effected on the island of
_Martinique_ in the early part of February, and after some sharp
fighting, in which the regiment had several men killed and wounded,
this valuable possession was delivered from the power of the
republicans.
From Martinique the grenadiers, under Prince Edward (afterwards
Duke of Kent), the light infantry, under Major-General Dundas, and
three other corps, embarked on the 30th of March for _St. Lucia_,
where they arrived on the 1st of April, and the conquest of that
fine island was completed in three days.
The flank companies of the TWENTY-FIRST were afterwards employed
in the reduction of the island of _Guadaloupe_. A determined
resistance was made by the enemy; but the island was captured
before the end of April. The regiment had several men killed and
wounded; Captain Macdonald was also wounded on the 12th of April.
After the reduction of Guadaloupe, the flank companies of the
regiment were removed to Antigua.
The loss of so many valuable colonial possessions was not regarded
with indifference by the republican government of France, and in
June a French armament arrived at _Guadaloupe_ for the recovery of
that island. The negroes and other men of colour flocked to the
standard of republicanism; they were instantly armed and clad in
uniforms; the doctrines of liberty and equality were disseminated
among this motley crowd, which led to a frightful catalogue of
crime and bloodshed. The flank companies of the TWENTY-FIRST were
called from Antigua to aid in the defence of Guadaloupe; they
arrived on the 10th of June in the Winchelsea ship of war, landed
on the 19th, at Ance Canot, and were engaged in several arduous
services, in which Lieutenants Harry Foley Price, Samuel Knollis,
and J. S. Colepeper were wounded; also several private soldiers
killed and wounded: but the British troops were not sufficiently
numerous to contend with the republican forces.
Lieut.-Colonel Colin Graham of the TWENTY-FIRST was appointed to
the command of the troops in Basse Terre, and he defended Beville
camp until the 6th of October, when he was forced to surrender, his
force having become reduced to one hundred and twenty-five rank and
file fit for duty.
Three companies of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were engaged
in the defence of _Fort Matilda_, under Lieut.-General Prescott,
and the garrison made a resolute resistance, until the place became
so much injured by the enemy's fire that it was not tenable,
when it was evacuated during the night of the 10th of December.
One company of the TWENTY-FIRST occupied the rampart,--the light
company, under Lieutenant William Paterson, was stationed on
the right of the breach, and the third company, under Captain
Mackay, was posted along the Gallion river; they thus covered the
embarkation of the garrison and stores, and afterwards retired
on board of the fleet. The three companies were reduced by
casualties to one captain, three lieutenants, six serjeants, and
ninety-two rank and file. Lieut.-General Prescott stated in his
despatch,--"During the whole progress of this long and painful
siege, the officers and men under my command have conducted
themselves in such a manner as to deserve my warmest praise;
bearing their hardships with the utmost patience, and performing
their duty with alacrity."
General the Honorable James Murray died in this year, and King
George III. nominated Major-General James Hamilton from the
Fifteenth regiment, to the colonelcy of the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS.
[Sidenote: 1795]
[Sidenote: 1796]
In addition to the casualties in action, the regiment also
sustained, during its services in the West Indies, severe loss from
the yellow fever, and in 1796 it returned to England much reduced
in numbers; it landed at Portsmouth, and proceeded from thence to
Scotland, where it commenced active measures for completing its
ranks with recruits.
[Sidenote: 1800]
[Sidenote: 1801]
[Sidenote: 1802]
The regiment occupied various stations in Scotland until June,
1800, when it embarked from Portpatrick for Ireland, where its
numbers were increased to eight hundred rank and file by volunteers
from the Scots fencible regiments then in that country.
In October of the same year, the regiment marched to Enniskillen,
where it was quartered nearly two years, during which time its
numbers were increased to a thousand men by recruits. The good
conduct of the regiment, during its stay at this place, occasioned
it to stand very high in the estimation of the inhabitants; and on
its removal, in 1802, a hundred gentlemen and respectable persons
sent a memorial to the Commander-in-chief, requesting that it
might be again quartered at Enniskillen, and offered to defray the
expense of removal.
On the 15th of July, 1802, the regiment arrived at Londonderry,
where its establishment was reduced in consequence of the peace of
Amiens having been concluded with France.
[Sidenote: 1803]
From Londonderry the regiment was removed to Dublin, in February,
1803; its establishment was again augmented in the summer of this
year after the renewal of hostilities with France.