in order to form part of an expedition against the French naval
station of _Rochfort_, on the river Charente. The FIFTEENTH,
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Honorable Sir James Murray, was
formed in brigade with the fifth, twenty-fourth, thirtieth, and
fifty-first regiments; the land forces were under Lieut.-General
Sir John Mordaunt, and the navy under Admiral Sir Edward Hawke. The
fleet sailed in the early part of September; on the 23rd of that
month the _Isle of Aix_ was captured, and the forts were afterwards
destroyed. Owing to unfavourable weather, a landing could not be
effected near Rochfort before the enemy was alarmed and prepared
for a vigorous resistance. The troops were repeatedly in readiness
to land, and on one occasion the first division was in the boats;
but the weather, and other causes, prevented a debarkation taking
place. The expedition afterwards returned to England.
[Sidenote: 1758]
Early in the following year, the FIFTEENTH regiment, mustering
eight hundred and fifty officers and soldiers, commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel Honorable James Murray, embarked for North America,
to take part in the attack of the French possessions in that part
of the world. It proceeded to Halifax, in Nova Scotia, where the
expedition was prepared against _Louisburg_, the capital of the
island of Cape Breton,[11] in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, under the
orders of its colonel, Lieut.-General Sir Jeffery Amherst, K.B.,
the naval force being under Admiral Boscawen. The expedition
sailed from Halifax on the 28th of May, and approached Louisburg,
on the 2nd of June; but the weather was so unfavourable that a
landing could not be effected before the 8th of June. On that
occasion, the grenadier company of the FIFTEENTH formed part of
the centre division under the gallant Brigadier-General James
Wolfe, designed to force a landing; and the regiment formed
part of the left division, under Brigadier-General Lawrence,
designed to make a show of landing at Fresh-water Cove, to divert
the enemy's attention from the main attack. The division under
Brigadier-General Wolfe approached the shore under a heavy fire,
and the surf being high, several boats were overset. One boat,
containing part of the grenadier company of the FIFTEENTH, was
overset, when Lieutenant Kennedy, two serjeants, and thirteen rank
and file, were drowned. The regiment had also Lieutenant Nicholson
and eight men killed by the enemy's fire. The survivors, however,
jumped into the water with great gallantry, formed on the beach,
and being animated by their chivalrous leader, the heroic Wolfe,
they rushed upon their opponents with fixed bayonets, and carried
the enemy's works in a manner which excited great admiration. The
other divisions followed, and before night the army was on shore.
The siege of Louisburg was afterwards commenced; and the FIFTEENTH
regiment took part in this service. In carrying on the approaches,
and in making the attacks, the troops underwent great fatigues
with a cheerful alacrity, which redounded to their honor. The
enemy's sallies were repulsed: the fire of the British artillery
destroyed their shipping, silenced their batteries, and damaged
their works to so great an extent, that, on the 26th of July,
the garrison surrendered prisoners of war; the whole island was
also delivered up; and two other small islands in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence surrendered. Eleven stand of colours were captured on this
occasion, and sent to England.
Besides the officers and soldiers killed in effecting a landing,
the regiment had also Lieutenant Campbell killed; Lieutenant
Hamilton, Lieutenant and Adjutant Mukens, and Ensign Moneypenny,
wounded during the siege of Louisburg. The regiment had also a
considerable number of private soldiers killed and wounded.
The arrival of the news of this gallant exploit produced great
sensation in England; the captured colours were presented to the
King, and conducted by a splendid cavalcade from Kensington Palace
to St. Paul's Cathedral. The meritorious conduct of the officers
and soldiers of the expedition was rewarded with the approbation of
their Sovereign and the thanks of Parliament.
The FIFTEENTH were stationed at Louisburg during the remainder of
the year.
[Sidenote: 1759]
From Louisburg the regiment sailed in the beginning of June,
1759, with the expedition against _Quebec_, under Major-General
JAMES WOLFE; and was formed in brigade with the forty-third,
forty-eighth, and seventy-eighth foot, under Brigadier-General
Monckton. Towards the end of June, the army landed at Orleans,--a
large, fertile, and well-cultivated island in the river St.
Lawrence, below Quebec,--and commenced preparations for carrying on
the object of the expedition.
The French General, the Marquis of Montcalm, possessed a
superiority of numbers over the invading force, and he had made
excellent dispositions for the defence of the country: but the
English Commander had complete reliance on the valour of his
troops, whose confidence he possessed to an extraordinary degree.
The FIFTEENTH foot, and three other regiments, were detached
under Brigadier-General Monckton, against Point Levi, on the east
shore of the river, from whence a body of the enemy was driven;
at the same time a body of troops, under Colonel Carleton, took
possession of the western point of the island of Orleans, and
both these posts were fortified. Sixteen hundred of the enemy
attempted to retake Point Levi, but were repulsed; and a mortar
battery, constructed at that post, fired on Quebec, destroying the
lower town, and damaging the upper town. Having finished the works
on the island of Orleans, the army crossed the north channel of
the river in boats, and landed below the splendid waterfalls of
_Montmorenci_; and arrangements were made for attacking the enemy's
position beyond the river Montmorenci, in which the FIFTEENTH
regiment was ordered to co-operate.
As the regiment was crossing the river in boats from Point Levi,
the grenadiers effected a landing, and commenced the action
prematurely, before their formation was completed and before
the troops designed to sustain them had arrived; and they were
repulsed. They reformed behind the corps from Point Levi, the
FIFTEENTH and seventy-eighth; but the excess of ardour, without
sufficient attention to discipline, occasioned the loss of five
hundred officers and men, and the failure of the operation.[12]
Difficulties, calculated to perplex and discourage the most
resolute and intelligent commander, presented themselves; but
the English general evinced talent and perseverance. No prospect
of final success, by advancing across the river Montmorenci,
presenting itself, the troops re-embarked and proceeded to Point
Levi; they afterwards sailed a considerable distance up the river;
but it was found impossible to annoy the enemy above the town. A
desperate resolution was subsequently formed, to retire a little
down the river, land in the night within a league of Cape Diamond,
ascend the heights of Abraham, and gain possession of the ground at
the back of the city.
At midnight on the 12th of September, the troops went on board the
boats, and at one o'clock the first division moved down the river;
an officer who spoke the French language, answering the challenges
of the enemy's sentries on the shore. A landing was effected:
the officers and men climbed the steep woody precipice, pulling
themselves up by roots and branches of trees with admirable courage
and activity, dislodged a captain's guard, and gained the heights.
The FIFTEENTH and other corps followed.
When the French general was informed that the English had gained
the heights of Abraham, he instantly collected his forces and
advanced to give battle; and Major-General Wolfe, observing
the approach of the hostile troops, formed line, the FIFTEENTH
being posted in reserve. The enemy manifesting a design against
the British left, the FIFTEENTH were removed to that flank by
Brigadier-General Townshend, and were formed _en potence_,
presenting two fronts to the enemy.
About nine o'clock the action commenced, and was particularly
severe on the right, at which point the British regiments
behaved with extraordinary gallantry, charging with bayonets,
and overthrowing all opposition. In the midst of the action,
Major-General Wolfe was shot in the breast, and he expired at the
moment of victory. Brigadier-General Monckton was also wounded,
and the command devolved on Brigadier-General Townshend, who had
scarcely formed the troops after the pursuit, when a fresh body of
the enemy appeared in his rear: he detached two regiments against
them, and the enemy fled to the woods. The French commander, the
Marquis of Montcalm, was mortally wounded; and his second in
command, Brigadier-General de Senezergue, was wounded and taken
prisoner, and he died on board an English ship on the following day.
This victory was gained with the loss of about fifty men killed,
and five hundred wounded; but the fall of Major-General JAMES
WOLFE was a national loss. He possessed an animating fervour of
sentiment,--an intuitive perception,--extensive capacity,--personal
bravery beyond all estimation,--and an unbounded thirst for
glory; these bright qualities were combined with every species
of military knowledge that study could comprehend, and actual
service illustrate; and, while the sublimity of his genius soared
above ordinary minds, his generous disposition, and complacent
deportment, procured him universal esteem. The soldiers admired and
loved him.
After this victory, preparations were made for prosecuting the
siege of Quebec; but further loss of life was prevented by the
surrender of the garrison.
This conquest produced great joy in England; a day of thanksgiving
was set apart by proclamation; and the thanks of Parliament, with
the approbation of their Sovereign, were conveyed to the troops:
also an abundant supply of warm clothing, purchased by public
subscription, for the use of the men in the cold climate of Quebec.
The loss of the regiment in the several actions near Quebec, was
one surgeon's mate, two serjeants, and eleven rank and file killed;
Major Paulus Armil Irving, Captain Arthur Loftus, Lieutenants
Samuel Rutherford, John Maxwell, _senior_, John Maxwell, _junior_,
William Skeane, Robert Ross, James Leslie, Lieut. and Adjutant
Francis Mekins, Ensigns Edmund Wroth, Samuel Baker, nine serjeants,
one drummer, and ninety-seven rank and file, wounded.
The Lieut.-Colonel of the FIFTEENTH foot, Colonel Honorable James
Murray, was rewarded with the appointment of Colonel-commandant of
a battalion of the sixtieth regiment, and Governor of Quebec, in
which fortress the FIFTEENTH were stationed during the winter, and
they suffered severely from scurvy, occasioned by living constantly
on salt provisions.
[Sidenote: 1760]
Resolving, if possible, to regain possession of Quebec, a French
force, commanded by the Chevalier de Louis, advanced from Montreal
towards the end of April, 1760; the enemy attempted to cut off
the British out-posts, but was frustrated by the advance of the
piquets, the grenadiers, and the FIFTEENTH regiment.
Brigadier-General Murray led the garrison of Quebec forward to meet
the enemy, whom he engaged on the 28th of April, near the village
of _Sillery_, and gained some advantage; but the superior numbers
of the enemy rendered a retreat necessary, which was executed in
good order.
The enemy besieged _Quebec_, and the FIFTEENTH regiment had the
honour of taking part in a successful defence of that important
fortress. The governor stated in his despatch,--'I flatter myself
the extraordinary performances of the handful of brave men I
had left, will please His Majesty as much as they surprised us,
who were eye-witnesses of them.' While the garrison was making
a resolute defence, a British naval force arrived in the river,
destroyed the enemy's vessels near the town, and cannonaded their
lines. On the morning of the 17th of May, the FIFTEENTH were under
arms, to make a sally on the besieging force; but the French camp
was found empty, and the tents standing. A pursuit was ordered, and
some prisoners and baggage were captured.
In June a detachment of the regiment advanced up the river, in
vessels, to co-operate with the troops under General Sir Jeffery
Amherst, in an attack on the French army at _Montreal_. The British
advanced upon Montreal from three different points, and by a
well-arranged combination the whole were united before that place
in the early part of September. The French governor, the Marquis of
Vaudreuil, being unable to withstand the British arms, surrendered;
and the conquest of Canada was thus accomplished.
After this success, the regiment was assembled at Montreal, and it
was one of the corps which occupied that place for several months.
[Sidenote: 1761]
In the spring of 1761, the regiment proceeded up Lake Champlain in
boats, marched from the shore of the lake to Albany, and afterwards
sailed down the Hudson river to New York. In June it was encamped
on Staten Island, and in October sailed for Barbadoes, where an
expedition was assembled under Major-General Monckton, for an
attack on the French island of _Martinique_, and the FIFTEENTH was
one of the corps selected for this service.
[Sidenote: 1762]
The expedition sailed from Carlisle-bay on the 5th of January,
1762, and a landing was effected on the island of Martinique in
the middle of that month. The FIFTEENTH were actively employed in
the operations necessary to bring the enemy to submission, and
some severe fighting took place, in which the regiment had several
men killed and wounded; Captain Prescott and Lieutenant Leslie,
being among the latter. The governor, M. Le Vassor de la Touche,
surrendered the island in February.
War having been declared against Spain, the regiment was attached
to the armament under General the Earl of Albemarle, destined to
attack the valuable settlement of the _Havannah_, on the island of
Cuba. Passing through the straits of Bahama, the expedition arrived
within six leagues of the Havannah on the 6th of June; a landing
was effected on the following day; and on the 9th, the troops took
up a position between Coximar and the _Moro_, a fort which it was
deemed necessary to besiege and capture before an attack was made
on the town. In this service, great hardships had to be endured;
a thin soil, hardly sufficient to cover the troops in their
approaches, a scarcity of water, and the labour of dragging the
artillery several miles over a rocky country, and under a burning
sun, called forth the efforts of the army and navy. The works
were carried on, the sallies of the enemy were repulsed, and the
Moro fort was captured by storm on the 30th of July. A series of
batteries were erected against the town; and on the 11th of August
they opened so well-directed a fire, that the guns of the garrison
were silenced, and flags of truce were hung out from the town, and
ships in the harbour. The terms of capitulation were agreed upon,
and the British took possession of this valuable settlement, with
nine men of war in the harbour, and two upon the stocks.
The regiment lost a number of men on this important service;
Lieutenant Skene was among the killed; Captain Tyrwhitt and
Lieutenant Winter died from the effects of climate.
After the capture of the Havannah, the regiment was stationed at
that place eleven months.
[Sidenote: 1763]
In the meantime a treaty of peace had been concluded, and in 1763
the Havannah was restored to Spain; the regiment was relieved by
the Spanish troops which arrived to take possession of the colony,
and embarked for New York, from whence it proceeded, by Albany and
Lake Champlain, to Canada, where it was stationed several years.
[Sidenote: 1764]
[Sidenote: 1765]
[Sidenote: 1768]
After occupying quarters successively at Montreal, Quebec, and on
the upper lakes, until the summer of 1768, the regiment embarked
for England, and landed at Portsmouth in July.
Occurrences of a political character having induced Sir Jeffery
Amherst to resign the colonelcy of the regiment, he was succeeded,
on the 21st of September, 1768, by Colonel Charles Hotham
(afterwards Sir Charles Thompson, Baronet) from the sixty-third
regiment.
[Sidenote: 1769]
[Sidenote: 1770]
[Sidenote: 1771]
The regiment occupied various quarters in the southern and midland
counties of England, until the summer of 1770, when it was reviewed
at Chatham by King George III. and in the spring of 1771 marched
into Yorkshire.
[Sidenote: 1772]
[Sidenote: 1773]
[Sidenote: 1774]
In 1772 the regiment marched to Scotland, where it was stationed
during the following year, and in the spring of 1774 it embarked at
Port Patrick for Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1775]
Major-General Sir Charles Thompson was succeeded in the colonelcy
of the regiment, in September, 1775, by Major-General Richard Earl
of Cavan, from the fifty-fifth regiment of foot.
[Sidenote: 1776]
In the meantime, the determined spirit evinced by the British
colonists in North America to resist the acts of parliament passed
in England for raising a revenue in their country, had been
followed by hostilities, and the FIFTEENTH regiment was one of
the corps selected to proceed across the Atlantic, to aid in the
attempt to reduce the refractory provincials to submission. The
regiment embarked from Ireland early in 1776, and proceeded to Cape
Fear, in North Carolina, with four other corps, under Major-General
the Earl Cornwallis. These troops arrived on the coast of North
Carolina early in April, and Lieut.-General Clinton assumed the
command. The men landed at Cape Fear to refresh themselves after
the voyage, and returning on board the transports, sailed, on
the 1st of June, with the expedition against _Charleston_. After
passing Charleston bar, the troops landed on one of the islands,
but the armament proved of insufficient strength for the capture of
the capital of South Carolina, and the five regiments re-embarked
and proceeded to Staten Island, where the main body of the British
forces was assembled under General Sir William Howe. The FIFTEENTH,
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel John Bird, were formed in brigade
with the fourth, twenty-seventh, and forty-fifth regiments, under
Major-General Pigot.
A landing was effected on _Long Island_ on the 22nd of August,
and the FIFTEENTH regiment formed part of the force under
Lieut.-General Clinton, which advanced after dusk on the evening of
the 26th to seize on a pass in the heights, and turn the enemy's
left flank at Flat-bush. This pass was taken possession of on the
following morning; the army advanced, and the Americans were driven
from their position with considerable loss, and forced to retreat
to their fortified lines at _Brooklyn_. The loss of the regiment on
this occasion was limited to a few men wounded.
The Americans quitted their fortified lines during the night of the
28th of August, and retired across the East River, in boats, to New
York; and the reduction of Long Island was thus accomplished in a
few days, with little loss.
From Long Island the regiment proceeded with the army across the
East River, when General Washington was forced to abandon New York,
which city was taken possession of by the British.
Proceeding up the river, the regiment took part in the operations
of the army by which the Americans were forced to evacuate their
lines on _White Plains_; but it did not sustain any loss.
The regiment took part in the attack and capture of the enemy's
lines and redoubts near _Fort Washington_, on the 16th of November,
when it had a few private soldiers killed and wounded.
After taking part in these services, the regiment proceeded into
winter quarters at the city of New York.
[Sidenote: 1777]
Information being received that the Americans were forming
magazines at _Peek's-hill_, about fifty miles up the North River,
Lieut.-Colonel Bird, of the FIFTEENTH, was detached from New York
against that post, with a body of troops, of which a division
of the regiment formed part. The troops sailed from New York on
the 22nd of March, 1777, and as they approached Peek's-hill, the
Americans set fire to the stores and retreated. The British landed,
completed the destruction of the magazines, barracks, &c., and
afterwards returned to New York.
Extensive depôts were also prepared by the Americans at _Danbury_,
and other places on the borders of Connecticut, and the FIFTEENTH
regiment formed part of a body of troops which embarked from New
York, under Major-General Tyron, for the destruction of these
magazines. The British arrived off Norwalk on the evening of the
25th of April, landed without opposition, and commenced their march
for Danbury, from whence the American troops fled, as the English
approached that place on the afternoon of the following day. As no
carriages could be procured to bring off any part of the immense
collection of stores at this place, the magazines were set on fire,
and in the progress of the flames the town was unavoidably burnt.
This service accomplished, the British commenced their march back
to the coast, early on the morning of the 27th of April, when a
body of Americans hung upon their rear, and at every eminence a
corps of militia was found ready to oppose their march; but they
attacked and routed their opponents; and in one of the skirmishes
the American General Wooster was killed.
Arriving at _Ridgefield_, the British were opposed by a strong
force under General Arnold, protected by intrenchments, which
the Americans were preparing; but a few rounds from the English
artillery, and a gallant charge with bayonets, routed the American
force, and the King's troops halted at Ridgefield during the night.
Resuming the march on the following morning, the British were
harassed by the enemy, in their retrograde movement, and numerous
skirmishes occurred. Arriving at the _Hill of Compo_, contiguous
to the place of embarkation, the Americans appeared in force, and
commenced an attack with greater spirit and determination than
before; the British troops confronted their numerous assailants,
fired a volley, and charged with bayonets with so much impetuosity
and valour, that the Americans were unable to withstand the shock,
and they retreated. The King's troops afterwards embarked without
molestation for New York.
Eight rank and file of the FIFTEENTH regiment were killed on this
expedition; Captain Harry Ditmas, one serjeant, and fifteen rank
and file wounded; two men missing. Lieutenant Charles Hastings, of
the twelfth foot, serving as a volunteer with the regiment, was
also wounded.
Afterwards taking the field with the army in the Jerseys, the
regiment was engaged in the operations designed to bring the enemy
to a general engagement, but the Americans kept close in their
fortified lines in the mountains; and an expedition against the
populous and wealthy city of Philadelphia was resolved upon. The
FIFTEENTH, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel John Bird, were employed in
this enterprise, and were formed in brigade with the seventeenth,
forty-second, and forty-fourth regiments, under Major-General
(afterwards Earl) Grey.
Embarking from Sandy Hook, the army sailed to the Chesapeake, and
proceeding up Elk River, landed on the northern shore on the 25th
of August. The American army took up a position at _Brandywine_ to
oppose the advance, and on the 11th of September the royal forces
moved forward to engage their opponents. The FIFTEENTH formed part
of the column under Major-General the Earl Cornwallis, which made
a circuit of some miles to turn the right and gain the rear of the
American army. The action proved decisive; the enemy was driven
from his position, and forced to make a precipitate retreat. The
battalion companies of the regiment did not sustain any loss on
this occasion; but the flank companies, being formed in grenadier
and light infantry battalions, had Lieutenant Faulkener killed;
Captain Cathcart, Captain Douglas, and Lieutenant Leigh wounded;
also several men killed and wounded.