with Cape Breton, and the other islands in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, were ceded to Great Britain. In the West Indies, the
islands of Tobago, Dominica, St. Vincent, and Grenada were retained
by Great Britain; but Martinique, Guadaloupe, Marigalante, and
St. Lucia were restored to France. In the East Indies, the French
obtained the restitution of their settlements, but agreed not to
erect any fortifications in Bengal. Minorca was restored to England
in exchange for Belle-Isle, which had been captured by the British
in 1761, and it was stipulated that the fortifications of Dunkirk
should be demolished. Spain ceded East and West Florida to Great
Britain, in return for the restitution of the Havannah, Manilla,
and all the places which Spain had lost since the commencement of
the war.
[Sidenote: 1765]
In this year the THIRTY-FIRST regiment was embarked for Pensacola,
the capital of West Florida, which country had been ceded to Great
Britain by Spain at the peace of Fontainebleau; on the passage out,
the transport having the regiment on board put into Blue-field
Bay, Jamaica, at the time the yellow fever was raging with great
violence in that island; the THIRTY-FIRST took the infection, and
unfortunately carried it to Pensacola, where the soldiers continued
to suffer most severely; so great was the mortality, and so rapid
the disease in its course, that the regiment could not supply
men to carry their comrades to the grave. The men who attended
the funerals of their brother soldiers in the morning, while the
regiment was strong enough to preserve some ceremony, were, in
many instances, consigned to the tomb in the evening. It appears
by the newspapers of the period, in which allusion is made to the
mortality, that at one period of its illness the regiment could
muster only a corporal and six men for duty.
[Sidenote: 1772]
The regiment remained in the Floridas, garrisoning alternately St.
Augustine and Pensacola, the capitals of East and West Florida,
until the autumn of 1772, when it was embarked for _St. Vincent_,
to take part in reducing to submission the refractory Caribs in
that island.
The island of St. Vincent was captured from the French, in 1762,
and was ceded to Great Britain at the peace concluded in the
following year; it contained two tribes of natives, called the
_red_ and _black_ Caribs, the former being the aborigines, and the
latter having sprung from a cargo of African slaves, who escaped
from a vessel which was wrecked on the island. The Caribs were
devoted to the French interest; they were dangerous and troublesome
neighbours to the English planters, and it was found necessary to
restrain their conduct, and enforce obedience to a few salutary
regulations. They were, however, of a resolute spirit, possessed
many thickly wooded fastnesses, and resisted all attempts to
restrain their roving propensities and mode of life with such
determination, that it became necessary to augment the military
force on the island. Although they were contemptible opponents in
skill, yet the nature of the climate, and the natural difficulties
of the country, being thickly wooded where they inhabited, rendered
the service extremely tedious and arduous.
[Sidenote: 1773]
On the 14th of January, 1773, the THIRTY-FIRST regiment fell into
an ambuscade, and sustained some loss; the commanding officer,
Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Walsh, was among the killed.
[Sidenote: 1774]
After the troops had been in the woods for some months, they at
length succeeded, in February, 1774, in bringing the Caribs to
terms, who agreed to acknowledge the sovereignty of Great Britain,
but were permitted to preserve their own laws and customs.
Thus terminated the Carib war. The THIRTY-FIRST regiment returned
to England, and was subsequently stationed in North Britain.
[Sidenote: 1775]
At this period the unfortunate misunderstanding between Great
Britain and her American colonies, on the subject of taxation,
produced open hostilities. On the 19th of April the first collision
occurred at _Lexington_, and on the 17th of June following the
battle of _Bunker’s Hill_ was fought. During the winter _Quebec_
was besieged by an American Army: this fortress was gallantly
defended by the troops under Lieut.-General Guy Carleton, and
reinforcements were ordered to proceed from England to Canada.
[Sidenote: 1776]
The THIRTY-FIRST regiment proceeded from Glasgow to Cork, whence
it embarked for Canada in April, as part of the army under
Major-General Burgoyne. The transports arrived at Quebec on the
28th of May, shortly after the defeat of the Americans by a sortie
of the garrison. Lieut.-General Carleton had pursued the enemy up
the river St. Lawrence, and Major-General Burgoyne’s force remained
only one night at anchor below Quebec, where orders had been left
for him to follow. He joined at _Trois Rivières_; part of the army
disembarked and immediately occupied the villages adjacent to their
post on the road to Montreal. On the 8th of June the Americans
attempted to surprise the post of Trois Rivières, having passed the
river from Sorel with two thousand men.
Brigadier-General Fraser, who commanded at the post of _Trois
Rivières_, gave the foe a ready reception, with such men as he
could collect, and, being soon supported from the cantonments and
the transports, put the Americans to the rout. The troops pursued
the fugitives along the shore, while the shipping sailed up the
river and intercepted their flight. Major-General Thompson, the
American General, with many officers, and two hundred men, were
taken prisoners.
On the 14th of June the flotillas and the force on shore reached
Sorel, which the colonists had evacuated a few hours before;
Major-General Burgoyne continued the pursuit as far as St. John’s,
where the troops from the transports under Major-General Phillips
joined him, and soon afterwards an additional reinforcement under
Brigadier-General Fraser.
All hope of accommodation now failed; on the 4th of July the
American Congress issued their Declaration of Independence,
and abjured their allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain. By
this Declaration the name of _colonies_ was abolished, and the
_thirteen_ provinces, namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia,
were constituted the _United States_ of America.
The whole of Major-General Burgoyne’s army was assembled by the end
of July at St. John’s, where it remained encamped during the naval
operations on Lake Champlain. After the defeat of the American
fleet, on the 11th of October, the weather becoming too severe for
further operations in the field, the troops returned to Canada. The
posts occupied by the THIRTY-FIRST regiment during the winter were
Sorel, St. Charles, St. Denis, St. Anthony, and St. Ours.
[Sidenote: 1777]
Major-General Burgoyne, who had proceeded to England to submit
to the Government a plan for the ensuing campaign, arrived in
Canada in May, 1777, empowered to carry it out. An army, composed
of British, Dutch, and Colonial Corps, with the _flank_ companies
of the regiments left to garrison Quebec (among which was the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment), amounting to nearly eight thousand men, was
equipped and in the field by the 1st of July.
The flank companies of the THIRTY-FIRST, commanded by Captains
Cotton and Simpson, formed, with the other flank companies
and the twenty-fourth regiment, the advance of the army under
Brigadier-General Fraser. _Ticonderago_ was first attacked, and the
Provincials were forced to evacuate that post.
Major-General Burgoyne’s plan was to penetrate the United States
from Lake Champlain to the river Hudson, and advance upon Albany,
with the view of reducing that country to submission. While
Major-General Burgoyne moved towards the lake by _Skenesborough_,
a short distance inland from South Bay, where an action occurred
on the 6th of July, Brigadier-General Fraser, with the advance,
followed the Provincial troops towards _Castleton_, and on the
following day commenced an action by detaching his light companies
to occupy a height commanding their flank. The American General
observing this movement detached a force to prevent the British
obtaining possession of this post. A sharp action ensued, and the
Americans retreated with much loss to Huberton, where, meeting with
a reinforcement, they made a stand in good order. Brigadier-General
Fraser attacked them with great vigour, but not having half
their number, made no impression upon them, until Major-General
Reidesel, commanding the Dutch, arrived, when their flank being
turned, the Americans retreated, leaving two hundred dead on the
field, among whom was Colonel Francis, their commander.
The flank companies were hotly engaged in this affair.
Brigadier-General Fraser had but 850 men in the beginning of the
day, while the enemy amounted to 2000.
When Major-General Burgoyne joined, he pursued the Americans to
Fort Anne and Fort Edward, notwithstanding the natural difficulties
of the road, which the enemy increased by every possible means
that could be devised. The Americans retreated from Fort Edward to
Saratoga, and abandoning Fort George, left the navigation of Lake
George open to Major-General Burgoyne.
General Arnold was now appointed to command the Americans in the
British front, and, forming at Saratoga, fell back to _Stillwater_.
Major-General Burgoyne remained at Fort Edward in great want of
provisions and of means to advance; a detachment sent to procure
supplies was completely cut off at Bennington, while Lieut.-Colonel
St. Leger was compelled to raise the siege of Fort Stanwix, leaving
behind his equipage and baggage.
The Americans, greatly elated by these circumstances, had assembled
a large body under Major-General Gates at _Stillwater_. Small
parties having been detached to Lieut.-General Burgoyne’s[20] rear,
were in some measure successful, and his communication being thus
threatened, notwithstanding his difficulties, arising from want of
resources, he resolved to advance, and at all hazards to attempt a
junction with the troops under Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton,
taking with him thirty days’ provisions. Lieut.-General Burgoyne
crossed the river Hudson on the 13th and 14th of September by a
bridge of rafts, which had once been swept away, and on the 18th
arrived at _Stillwater_, before the enemy’s position, which he
attacked at two o’clock in the afternoon of the 19th of September,
when a severe and indecisive action ensued. Both parties held their
respective positions, and entrenched themselves within them. The
British General, confined between two rivers by a stronger force
than his own, continued within his lines and redoubts until the 7th
of October, and when nearly destitute of provisions, determined to
make another effort to extricate his troops; 1500 British, with
twelve pieces of artillery, commanded by Lieut.-General Burgoyne in
person, moved in advance towards the American position, and formed
his right wing, while a body of light companies and Indians were
placed under cover to act upon the enemy’s rear when he should be
sufficiently advanced. General Gates, observing this separation of
wings, instantly attacked the left wing with a view to cut off all
chance of a junction; the British grenadiers were in this wing, and
behaved with great gallantry. General Arnold attacked the British
right, and Brigadier-General Fraser threw the light companies into
a second line, in rear of the right wing, to cover its retreat
upon the left. While this movement was taking place, the left of
the right wing doubled to the rear. Brigadier-General Fraser led
the light infantry to its support, but was mortally wounded; not,
however, before his brave troops gave the right wing time to
recover, and secured Lieut.-General Burgoyne’s retreat to his camp.
The Americans pushed on, and obtained an entrance into the British
lines: night put an end to the action.
During the night Lieut.-General Burgoyne removed his position to
higher ground in his rear. General Gates distributed his corps
to surround the British, and Lieut.-General Burgoyne once more
tried a new position, retiring on _Saratoga_, and abandoning his
baggage and provisions, as well as his hospital with 300 sick. He
reached Saratoga safely, the Americans having been delayed in their
pursuit by bad weather: a detachment, sent to observe the British,
succeeded in reaching the place, but withdrew on the appearance
of Lieut.-General Burgoyne’s force. Sending a detachment with
workmen to examine and repair the roads, Lieut.-General Burgoyne
resolved to continue his retreat to Fort George. The detachment,
which was of regular troops, had scarcely marched, when the
Americans appeared in force; it was instantly recalled, and the
hope of rendering the roads passable for artillery was abandoned.
The British patrols reported that every avenue of escape was in
possession of the enemy; the men were worn down with fatigue and
hunger, having been for some time on a reduced allowance, and
but three days’ provisions remained. Under these circumstances
Lieut.-General Burgoyne was constrained to treat with Major-General
Gates, and obtaining honorable terms, capitulated on the 17th of
October. The troops, of which the _grenadier_ and _light companies_
of the THIRTY-FIRST formed part, laid down their arms on condition
of being sent to England; and they engaged not to serve again in
North America during the war.
The American government violated the conditions of the convention,
and detained the troops until the year 1781.
[Sidenote: 1778]
[Sidenote: 1779]
In 1778 the French monarch sent a numerous fleet under the
Count D’Estaing, having on board a large body of troops, to the
assistance of the Americans; in 1779 the court of Spain commenced
hostilities against Great Britain, and this example was followed by
the Dutch.
[Sidenote: 1780]
Major-General Thomas Clarke, from the Coldstream Guards, was
appointed, on the 3rd of May, 1780, to the Colonelcy of the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir James
Adolphus Oughton, K.B., deceased.
[Sidenote: 1781]
The _battalion_ companies of the regiment had remained in Canada,
where they eventually were joined by the _flank_ companies. On
the 12th of March, 1781, the _light company_ was detached to
Lake Champlain, with a view of reconnoitring the neighbourhood,
and effecting the destruction of the military stores left at
Ticonderago by Lieut.-General Burgoyne. The object was partly
accomplished, and Captain Andrew Ross, who commanded the company,
gained great credit for the skill and conduct he displayed in
this difficult enterprise. The party consisted, in addition to
the _light company_ of the THIRTY-FIRST, of men selected from
the different Provincial corps, with a few Indians. It was in
the spring of the year, when the ice was breaking up, and the
operations were attended with difficulties and great privations.
The men suffered so severely from fatigue, that the Provincials and
Indians dropped off by degrees, and the party was reduced, on its
return, to the _light company_ only.
During July the THIRTY-FIRST regiment was encamped on the Plain of
Abraham, memorable as the scene of the British victory over the
French under the Marquis de Montcalm, on the 13th September, 1759,
by which Quebec was gained to England, and in which battle the
celebrated Major-General Wolfe lost his life.
[Sidenote: 1782]
In October, 1781, the British army under Lieut.-General the Earl
Cornwallis, after a gallant defence against the combined French and
American forces, was compelled to surrender to General Washington
at York-Town. The enormous expense of carrying on the war with
America, so distant from the seat of preparation and power, with
the other evils attending this memorable and ever-to-be regretted
contest, were so apparent, that the desire for peace became
general, and King George III. at length conceded the Independence
of the United States. The Preliminary Articles of Peace were signed
at Paris on the 30th of November, 1782, by the Commissioners of the
King of Great Britain and by those of the American Congress, and
the Treaty was concluded in the ensuing February.
While the THIRTY-FIRST was stationed in Canada, a letter, dated
the 31st of August, 1782, conveyed to the regiment His Majesty’s
pleasure that _County-titles_ should be given to the regiments of
infantry, and the THIRTY-FIRST was directed to assume the name of
the HUNTINGDONSHIRE regiment, in order that a connexion between the
corps and that county should be cultivated, which might be useful
in furthering the success of the recruiting service.
[Sidenote: 1783]
The preliminaries of the treaties between England, France, and
Spain, were signed at Versailles on the 20th of January, 1783. St.
Lucia was restored to France, also the settlements on the river
Senegal, and the city of Pondicherry in the East Indies. France
relinquished all her West India conquests, with the exception of
Tobago; Spain retained Minorca (which she had captured in the
previous year) and West Florida; East Florida was ceded in exchange
for the restitution of the Bahamas to Great Britain.
On the 2nd of September, 1783, were signed the Preliminary Articles
of Peace with Holland, the peace with that country having been
postponed in consequence of the Dutch claiming an indemnification
for the expenses of the war, and the restoration of Trincomalee, in
Ceylon, which had been captured from the Dutch by the English, in
January, 1782, and retaken by the French in August following. The
place was, however, restored to Holland.
[Sidenote: 1787]
After eleven years’ service in North America, the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment embarked, on the 4th of October, 1787, at Quebec, and on
the 7th of November landed at Portsmouth.
During the two following years the regiment remained in Great
Britain.
[Sidenote: 1789]
In the year 1789 was effected the French Revolution; the Bastile
was stormed by the Parisians on the 14th of July, and the Governor
put to death. The National Assembly passed several decrees
abolishing all the relies of the feudal system. On the 20th of
August a declaration of rights was agreed on to serve as the basis
of the French constitution. A national force was embodied, and
no vestige of the old government remained, except a King without
power, and a Court without splendour.
In the summer of 1789 two British vessels were seized by the
commander of a Spanish frigate at Nootka Sound, on the western
coast of North America, where a settlement had recently been
established for carrying on the fur-trade with the natives. The
settlement was taken possession of by Spain, and the British
crews were made prisoners. The Government, on receiving this
intelligence, called upon the Court of Madrid to make satisfaction
for these injuries, and great preparations were made for war by
both countries.
[Sidenote: 1790]
Accordingly in July, 1790, the THIRTY-FIRST regiment embarked at
Spithead on board the fleet to perform its _original_ service of
MARINES, in the event of a war with Spain, which appeared probable.
The negotiations were protracted to a considerable length of time,
but on the 28th of October a convention was entered into, by which
Spain agreed to make reparation for the injuries sustained, and to
restore Nootka.
[Sidenote: 1791]
In July, 1791, the THIRTY-FIRST regiment was sent hastily to
Birmingham, to aid in the suppression of very serious disturbances,
which broke out there in consequence of the celebration of the
anniversary of the French Revolution, on the 14th of July, 1791,
by a party of the “Friends of Freedom,” at a tavern. The populace
destroyed the house and chapel of Dr. Priestley, the eminent
philosopher, and burned many of the dwellings of those suspected to
be friendly to the French cause. The troops employed were praised
for their regularity and forbearance on this occasion.
When order had been restored in Birmingham, an outbreak among the
miners at Whitehaven called for the assistance of the military,
and the regiment was again employed in the delicate as well as
unpleasant duty of aiding the civil power in the suppression of
riot.
[Sidenote: 1792]
Major-General James Stuart was appointed from the half-pay of the
Ninetieth regiment to the Colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment
on the 8th of February, 1792, in succession to Lieutenant-General
Thomas Clarke, removed to the Thirtieth regiment.
On the 17th of April, 1792, the THIRTY-FIRST regiment embarked at
Port Patrick for Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1793]
Colonel Henry Lord Mulgrave, from the Grenadier Guards, was
appointed Colonel of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment on the 8th of
February, 1793, in succession to Major-General James Stuart,
deceased. His Lordship subsequently assumed the command of the
regiment at Waterford, as its Colonel; and, after inspecting the
corps in the field, entertained the officers at dinner.
Meanwhile, Louis XVI. had been decapitated, and the progress of
democracy menaced Europe with universal anarchy. On the 1st of
February the National Convention of France declared war against
Great Britain and Holland, and the British Government prepared
for hostilities. A large army was sent, under the command of the
Duke of York, to join the Austrian and Prussian allies. Several
engagements occurred, and the French gained possession of the
Austrian Netherlands. Holland opened her principal towns to the
enemy, and they were garrisoned by French troops.
In September, 1793, the _flank_ companies of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment embarked for Barbadoes, for the purpose of taking part in
the capture of the French West India Islands.
[Sidenote: 1794]
In the beginning of 1794 an armament was assembled at Barbadoes,
of which the _flank_ companies of the THIRTY-FIRST formed part,
and early in February the expedition, under Admiral Sir John
Jervis and General Sir Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey, sailed
for _Martinique_. After some sharp fighting the island was taken
possession of by General Sir Charles Grey, on the 22nd of March.[21]
From Martinique the _grenadiers_, under Prince Edward (afterwards
Duke of Kent), the _light_ infantry, under Major-General Dundas,
and three other regiments, embarked on the 30th of March for _St.
Lucia_, where they arrived on the 1st of April, and the conquest of
that island was effected in three days; His Royal Highness Prince
Edward, with his brigade of grenadiers, and Major-General Dundas,
with his brigade of light infantry, taking possession of St. Lucia
on the 4th of April. The flank companies of the THIRTY-FIRST
regiment were afterwards employed in the reduction of the island of
_Guadaloupe_. A determined resistance was made by the enemy; but
the island was captured by the 20th of April.
France did not view with indifference the loss of these valuable
possessions, and in June a French armament arrived at _Guadaloupe_
for the recovery of that island. The light company, under
Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Andrew Ross, highly distinguished itself
on the night of the 13th of June, in attacking the enemy near
_Point-à-Petre_. General Sir Charles Grey stated in his despatch:--
“Brevet Major Ross,[22] of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, who was
with the light infantry, behaved with great gallantry and good
conduct on this occasion, as he has done on every other.”
The light company also participated in a night attack on Fort
_Fleur d’Epée_ between the 25th and 26th of June; on the day
following, Brigadier-General Symes, with the grenadiers and light
infantry, attacked the enemy, who was driven to Morne Mascot, where
he again made resistance, but being charged with the bayonet, he
fled into Fort Fleur d’Epée.
Lieut.-Colonel Ross, of the THIRTY-FIRST, commanded the second
battalion of light infantry on these occasions.