From the year 1714 to 1739 no corps of Marines, except four invalid
companies, were kept on the establishment of the army.
For several years Spain had beheld with great jealousy the growing
commerce and increasing naval consequence of Great Britain,
particularly in the neighbourhood of her possessions in South
America, where Spain had endeavoured to monopolize the whole
commerce and wealth of Mexico and Peru; the vessels of foreign
powers were forbidden, under severe penalties, to approach within
a certain distance of her American possessions; and to enforce
this, the American seas were filled with Spanish cruisers, whose
enormities at length attracted the attention of the British
parliament. After fruitless representations to the court of
Madrid for redress, the British ministry at length determined on
hostilities; and, with the acclamations of the nation, war was
formally declared against Spain on the 23rd of October, 1739.
It was again considered necessary to form an efficient maritime
force in distinct regiments, by which means the corps of the
regular army could be embarked when required for continental
services, and the marine regiments could be employed, either
on board of ships of war, or at the naval stations, as might be
considered best for the public service.
Orders were issued for augmenting the land forces, and also
for forming _six regiments of marines_, each to consist of ten
companies of seventy privates in each company, and to be commanded
by
1st, Colonel Edward Wolfe, from 3rd Foot Guards;
2nd, Colonel W. Robinson, from Handasyd’s 22nd regiment;
3rd, Colonel Andrew Lowther, from 2nd Foot Guards;
4th, Colonel John Wynyard, from Tyrrell’s regiment;
5th, Colonel Charles Douglas, from Howard’s regiment;
6th, Colonel Lucius Ducie Moreton, from 3rd Foot Guards.
In order to facilitate the speedy formation of these corps, and to
render them effective, five men from each company of the regiments
of foot guards were appointed serjeants and corporals; and further,
that they might be rapidly completed, a bounty of thirty shillings
per man was allowed to 1800 men who volunteered from the regiments
of infantry to the marine corps: by these energies, the whole of
the marine regiments were soon raised and disciplined.
On the prospect of the commencement of hostilities Admiral Vernon
had sailed for Jamaica, where he arrived in October, 1739, with a
fleet of five ships, having 200 marines on board, and proceeded
from thence to _Porto Bello_, the destined object of his attach,
which was at that time the great mart for the wealthy commerce of
Chili and Peru; the attempt was fraught with many difficulties, but
it was undertaken and performed with spirit and promptitude.
On the 21st of November, 1739, the attack was commenced by the
ships, in line of battle, against the Iron Castle, a strong
fort at the north point of the entrance into the harbour. The
Spaniards flying from several parts of it, an instant debarkation
of the seamen and marines from on board the Burford, Norwich, and
Worcester took place under cover of those ships, and the fort was
carried. Upon the 22nd an attack was intended against the whole,
but the enemy displayed the white flag as a signal of surrender.
After destroying the fortifications, which from their strength
required some time, the Admiral with his squadron sailed for
Jamaica on the 13th of December, 1739.
[Sidenote: 1740]
In the year 1740 an additional regiment, of four battalions, was
authorised to be raised in America, and the royal standard was
erected at New York, as the signal-post to which every volunteer
marine was to repair. The field officers and subalterns were
appointed by the King, and the captains of companies were nominated
by the American provinces. Colonel Spotswood, of Virginia, was
appointed colonel-commandant of the whole. It was supposed that,
from climate, the natives of that continent were better calculated
for the service to which they were destined, than Europeans. Their
uniform was camblet coats, brown linen waistcoats, and canvas
trousers. This regiment, which was afterwards commanded by Colonel
Gooche, was considered as the FORTY-THIRD regiment of infantry of
the line.
In January, 1740, an augmentation of 340 men, and of one lieutenant
in each company, was made in each of the six regiments of marines,
and twenty men were added to each of the four companies of
invalids, and a similar number to the retired marine establishment.
The utility of the corps of marines was now universally admitted,
and in a letter addressed to the Duke of Newcastle, then first lord
of the treasury and prime minister, by Admiral Vernon, previously
to his sailing with an expedition to the West Indies, he thus
expressed himself on the subject of marine soldiers:--
“I could wish that we” (alluding to ships of war) “had each a
company of regular troops on board, which would strengthen us
in numbers, and their expertness in handling their arms would
incite our seamen to the imitation of them. If we should come to
a general war with France as well as Spain, I believe your Grace
will have already perceived, from the difficulty of manning our
ships, the necessity of converting most of our marching regiments
into marines.
“I have always looked upon our fleet as what must not only
protect our trade, but secure to us the blessings of a Protestant
succession, being strongly convinced in my own judgment, that
preserving a superiority at sea is the best security of His
Majesty’s government, as well as the trade and prosperity of this
kingdom.”
The sentiments expressed by Admiral Vernon, in favour of the
marines, were drawn from the acknowledged usefulness of the corps
so employed in the naval expeditions during the reign of Queen Anne.
In the year 1740 _four_ additional regiments of marines were
raised, viz.:--
7th, Colonel W. Cornwall;
8th, Colonel W. Hanmore;
9th, Colonel C. Powlett;
10th, Colonel J. Jeffreys.
Each regiment consisted of ten companies of 100 men in each
company, which, with officers included, amounted to 1155 in each
regiment. The _six_ regiments raised in 1739 were increased to the
same numbers of officers and men.
In February, 1740, the town of _Carthagena_, the capital of an
extensive and wealthy province in Terra Firma in South America, was
bombarded, and an attack was made upon Chagre, a fort situate upon
the mouth of a river of that name a little to the north-west of
the Gulf of Darien. The latter surrendered, after a sharp contest,
on the 24th of March, when the castle, situated on a rock, and the
custom house under its protection, were demolished and burnt.
These were all that could be performed until the arrival of
reinforcements and supplies from England. The fleet afterwards
returned to Porto Bello, and from thence to Jamaica.
Considerable exertions were made in England during the year
1740 with the view of attacking, more effectually, the Spanish
possessions in South America.
A large number of ships of war was assembled at Spithead under
the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle, and a land force,
consisting of Harrison’s (15th) regiment, Wentworth’s (24th)
regiment, and part of Cavendish’s (34th) regiment, was collected in
the Isle of Wight, and held in readiness, with the six regiments
of marines, to be embarked for service under the orders of General
Lord Cathcart, a nobleman of approved courage and experience in war.
The fleet, with the British armament, consisting of one hundred and
seventy ships, sailed from St. Helen’s in October, 1740; but being
overtaken by a tempest in the Bay of Biscay, it was dispersed.
The greater part of the vessels, being re-collected, the Admiral
prosecuted his voyage, and anchored at the neutral island of
Dominica, in order to obtain a supply of wood and water.
Unfortunately for the service, General Lord Cathcart fell an
early victim to the disease of the climate, and the command of the
expedition devolved upon Brigadier-General Thomas Wentworth, of the
24th regiment.
The sixth regiment of foot, under the command of Colonel John
Guise, who was appointed brigadier-general, was subsequently
ordered to proceed to the West Indies to reinforce the troops
employed in this enterprise.
[Sidenote: 1741]
The fleet, under the charge of Rear-Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle,
arrived at Jamaica in January, 1741, and joined the force under
Vice-Admiral Vernon, who was thus placed at the head of the most
formidable fleet and army which were ever employed in those
seas. The conjoined squadrons consisted of twenty-nine ships of
the line, with nearly an equal number of frigates, fire-ships,
and bomb-ketches, well manned, and plentifully supplied with
provisions, stores, and necessaries. The number of seamen amounted
to 15,000; that of the land forces, including the American regiment
of four battalions (Colonel Spotswood’s) and a body of negroes
enlisted at Jamaica, did not fall short of 12,000.
The whole force sailed from Irish Bay in Hispaniola, and anchored
on the evening of the 4th of March in the _Grande Playa_, to
windward of the town of _Carthagena_, the intended object of the
attack.
The necessary arrangements having been made, the fleet moved
forward in two divisions on the 8th of March, in order to silence
the different forts, preparatory to the landing of the troops.
After about one hour’s cannonade, the forts of _St. Jago_ and _St.
Philip_ were deserted by the enemy, and were taken possession of
by the troops; and by the 15th all the soldiers, with their tents,
tools, artillery, and stores, were landed, the ground cleared, and
an encampment formed.
The reduction of the Castle of _Bocca Chica_ next took place,
which, on a practicable breach being made, it was determined to
storm; but, in consequence of a well-judged diversion of the
navy, the Spaniards retired without firing a shot, and when the
grenadiers advanced to storm at the hour appointed, they met no
resistance.
A panic had seized the enemy, who set fire to one of their ships;
taking advantage of this state, the boats resolved to attempt
the fort of _St. Joseph_, which was immediately evacuated. The
Spaniards appearing to be determined to sink their vessels, the
British crews proceeded to board the ship Galicia, which carried
the flag of the Spanish Admiral.
After various services the castle of _Grande Castello_ was gained,
and the enemy had sunk all their ships of war; preparations were
made for landing the troops near the town, in order to cut off all
communication with the main land.
Two channels having been made through the sunk vessels, with which
the Spaniards had blocked up the entrance of the harbour, the
troops and artillery were re-embarked, and commenced landing on
the 5th of April near the city; and, after a spirited contest, the
British bivouacked within a mile of the castle of _St. Lazar_,
which commanded the town. The men passed three nights in the open
air for want of tents and tools, which could not be landed sooner,
and the health of the troops became seriously injured.
As affairs were now drawing to extremities, and the men were fast
diminishing in numbers from hard duty and the effects of climate,
Brigadier-General Wentworth resolved to attack _St. Lazar_ by
escalade, it being judged necessary to forego the ceremonies of
a regular siege, and, however hazardous, to rest the issue upon a
storm.
Accordingly before daybreak on the 9th of April, a force under the
command of Brigadier-General Guise, of the sixth foot, consisting
of five hundred grenadiers, supported by a thousand Marines, and
some American and Jamaican levies, advanced against the enemy’s
lines in front of the fort; these were followed by a body of
Americans, with woolpacks, scaling-ladders and hand-grenades.
The grenadiers, led by Colonel Grant, of the fifth Marines,
rushed forward with astonishing bravery, and, leaping into the
entrenchments, carried the works in gallant style, driving the
Spaniards into the fort over a drawbridge which communicated with
the lines. Colonel Grant fell mortally wounded, and the troops,
after sustaining a most destructive fire for several hours with
intrepidity and perseverance, were ordered to retreat, having lost
many officers, and 600 men in killed and wounded.
This repulse was succeeded by the violent periodical rains; the
country was deluged with water; and the change of atmosphere, which
is always attended with epidemical diseases, produced the most
fatal effects. The troops were so drenched with rain, and their
health so seriously impaired, that all hope of further success
vanished; they were accordingly re-embarked, and the forts and
castle of the harbour of _Carthagena_ having been demolished, the
fleet sailed for Jamaica on the 6th of May, where it arrived on the
9th of that month. After re-embarking, the distempers, peculiar to
the climate, produced numerous casualties among the troops.
Thus terminated, for the time, the expedition to Spanish South
America, during which the persevering and undaunted bravery of
British Seamen, Soldiers, and Marines, and their patient endurance
under the most trying difficulties, were never displayed in a
greater degree.
In consequence of the heavy losses sustained at _Carthagena_, and
the mortality which continued to prevail after the troops returned
to Jamaica, it was not until the beginning of July, 1741, that the
fleet and army were in a condition to renew their operations. It
was then resolved to proceed against the _Island of Cuba_, where
they anchored on the 18th of July in Waltenham Bay, about eighteen
leagues to windward of _St. Jago_, the first object of their
intended attack. The troops were landed on the 24th, consisting of
nearly 4,000 men, including 1000, negroes raised by the Island of
Jamaica, with a view to sustain the peculiar duties of fatigue,
naturally expected to arise on this service.
After establishing a position on the side of the river, nearly
three leagues from the mouth of the harbour, the General pushed
some detachments into the country, which beat back the outposts of
the enemy, and in a few days returned to the camp with plentiful
supplies of provisions.
It was originally intended by the Commanders-in-Chief to have made
a joint attack upon _St. Jago_, but the want of unanimity ruined
every purpose, and contentious debates and dilatory measures,
instead of cordial co-operation and daring enterprise, took place;
while the interests of the country, and the lives of the troops,
were sacrificed to the prejudices and bad judgment of the officers
entrusted with so important a command.
After an interval of several months, during which nothing was
attempted towards effecting the conquest of the island, and when
sickness, the never-failing result of inactivity, particularly in
those climes, began its ravages, it was determined to evacuate the
island, which took place on the 20th of November, 1741, when the
regimental Returns were as follow:--
+---------------------------------+-------------+--------------+
| | | Serjeants, |
| Regiment. | Colonels. |Drummers, and |
| | |Rank and File.|
+---------------------------------+-------------+--------------+
|15th regiment |Harrison | 225 |
|24th regiment |Wentworth | 219 |
| | | |
|43rd regiment { 1st Battalion |Spotswood’s, | 159 |
| American { 2nd ” | afterwards | 110 |
| Marines { 3rd ” | Gooche’s, | 99 |
| { 4th ” | Marines | 121 |
| | | |
|1st Marines (aft^{ds}. 44th Rt.) |Wolfe | 181 |
|2nd do. ( ” 45th Rt.) |Fraser | 158 |
|3rd do. ( ” 46th Rt.) |Lowther | 237 |
|4th do. ( ” 47th Rt.) |Wynyard | 177 |
|5th do. ( ” 48th Rt.) |Cochrane | 191 |
|6th do. ( ” 49th Rt.) |Cotterell | 211 |
| | +--------------+
| | 2088 |
| Sick in all | 566 |
| +--------------+
| Total | 2654 |
+-----------------------------------------------+--------------+
The total loss of officers at the close of 1741 amounted to one
Commander-in-Chief, five colonels, ten lieut.-colonels, seven
majors, fifty-five captains, one hundred and sixteen subalterns,
and fourteen staff officers.
The heavy casualties in the Marine regiments are shown when it is
stated that these six regiments consisted of more than one thousand
men each, and that, only 2654 men returned.
The foregoing statement affords a sad record of the ill-judged
plans relating to the expedition to South America, both as to the
season of the year at which it was undertaken, and the deficiency
of means and arrangements with which it was attempted to be carried
into execution. Great disappointment and dissatisfaction were
consequently created in the feelings of the British public.
The transports returned to Jamaica on the 29th of November, 1741,
and the squadron continued at sea to meet the reinforcements which
were anxiously expected from England.
[Sidenote: 1742]
In January 1742, nearly 3000 men, including 2000 Marines, arrived
at Jamaica. Another expedition was now meditated, which put to sea
early in March; but adverse winds, the separation of the transports
having on board the working negroes, and the expectation of the
periodical rains being then about to set in, suggested to a Council
of War, held at Porto Bello, at the close of that month, the
immediate return of the whole armament to the port they had left:
the fleet arrived at Jamaica upon the 15th of May.
It was now considered desirable to detach a force to take
possession of _Rattan_, an island in the Bay of Honduras, and a
situation proper for maintaining a commercial intercourse with
South America, as well as the trade in logwood. An establishment
having been formed there in the early part of the year, it was
determined in a Council of War to send a force of 50 marines and
200 Americans, under Major Caulfield, in order to place the island
in a state of military defence.
On the 23rd of August the troops reached _Port Royal_, on the
south side of the island, where they formed a camp and erected
_Fort George_ to defend the harbour, as well as _Fort Frederick_
on the western part of it. A proportion of the Americans, who were
papists, formed a plot to render the settlement abortive, and to
rise upon the Marines. Her Majesty’s ship, the Litchfield, then in
the harbour, hearing the alarm-guns, instantly landed her party
of Marines, who, with those on shore, soon checked the daring
mutiny, secured the delinquents, and preserved the settlement to
the British Crown.
At this period it was necessary to detach 500 men to the assistance
of _General Oglethorpe_, in _South Carolina_, and to repel the
menaces of the Spaniards against the infant colony of _Georgia_.[45]
On the 23rd of September orders arrived at Jamaica for the recall
of Admiral Vernon and of General Wentworth; for providing the fleet
with a number of men from the Marines, sufficient to supply its
wants; and also to fill up the vacancies in the eight Independent
Companies raised for the defence of Jamaica (now the 49th
Regiment):--These services absorbed all the men who were considered
fit for duty, and the remainder were embarked for England.
After the departure of Admiral Vernon, the Naval Command devolved
on Sir Chaloner Ogle, who bore his testimony to the zeal and
bravery of the troops, whose gallant efforts and patient endurance,
under great privations, had been conspicuous throughout a series
of misfortunes. Upwards of 7000 Marines and nearly 4000 other
troops were the lamentable victims to pestilence and disease, but
not to defeat; and the objects which had been effected, although
not adequate to the hopes and expectations of the British Nation,
were distressing to the enemy, and embarrassing to the Spanish
Government.
[Sidenote: 1743]
In the early part of 1743 it was resolved to make another attempt
upon the continent of South America, and the conduct of the
operations was entrusted to Captain Knowles, of the Navy, who
had on board of his squadron 400 of _Dalzell’s_ (thirty-eighth)
_regiment_ and about _six hundred Marines_. They were first ordered
to rendezvous at Antigua, from which island they sailed on the 12th
of February with a view to an attack upon La Guira, a town in the
district of the Caraccas in Terra Firma. The attack was commenced
on the 18th, but, owing to a heavy swell, the ships could not
approach the shore, and the troops were consequently not landed.
After a heavy cannonade, which was ended only by the night, the
ships withdrew from the combat: the town suffered extremely, many
breaches being made in the fortifications; and the enemy sustained
a loss of more than 700 men. The British squadron suffered
considerable damage, and had nearly 400 men killed and wounded.
The fleet proceeded to Curaçao to refit, where preparations were
made for another attempt upon the sea-coast of Terra Firma. Having
been reinforced by some Dutch volunteers, Commodore Knowles sailed
from this island on the 20th of March, and steered for _Porto
Cavallo_, a town having a respectable force, and being in a good
state of defence.
On the 15th of April the ships anchored to the eastward of the
town, and on the 16th two vessels commenced a flanking fire against
_Ponta Brava_; and after the batteries were silenced, it was
decided to land the troops in order to take possession, and to turn
the guns against the castle, their retreat being secured by a ship
of war within pistol-shot, of the shore: by sunset the ships had
accomplished their object, and by dusk a force of 1200 sailors,
soldiers, and Dutch volunteers, was disembarked under the command
of Major Lucas.
About eleven at night the van had gained one of the fascine
batteries upon Ponta Brava, but the garrison having been alarmed,
and being prepared for resistance, this mixed detachment acted
under the influence of a panic, and retreated with precipitation to
the ships. On the 21st it was resolved to make another attack of
the squadron and forces against the castle and fascine batteries:
four ships were destined to batter the former on the 24th, while
three others were placed against the latter. The cannonading began
at eleven on the noon of that day, and was maintained with mutual
obstinacy till night, when, some of the ships having expended
their ammunition, and others being damaged, they were ordered
to anchor beyond reach of the enemy’s shot. This attack being
fruitless, and the troops being prevented from landing, it was
deemed impracticable to push the enterprise any further: it was
accordingly resolved on the 28th of April to return to Jamaica.
From the period of the commencement of hostilities against Spain in
1739, the conduct of the Court of Versailles had been equivocal,
and in the beginning of the year 1743 the projects of Louis XV.
were developed by the equipment of powerful naval armaments in the
ports of France, and by the assembling of armies on the sea-coasts,
the avowed aim of which was against the Crown and liberties of the
British Empire.
Being no longer able to restrain her views, France declared war on
the 20th of March, 1743, which was answered by a proclamation on
the part of Great Britain on the 31st of that month.
[Sidenote: 1744]
A force of 11,550 Marines was granted by Parliament as a part of
the establishment for the year 1744, at which period fleets were
detached to every quarter of the globe. A partial affair occurred
in the Mediterranean in May of this year, in which a party of
Marines disembarked from the Essex ship-of-war, and signalized
themselves: that ship being on a cruise gained sight of twenty-six
xebeques and settees, bound to Antibes, from whence they were to
carry troops to Italy: the former were a convoy to the latter,
which were laden with powder, cannon, ordnance stores, and
provisions: thirteen having taken refuge in the Creek of Casse, the
Marines were landed in order to co-operate with the boats, and to
repel any enemy that might appear to retard their progress: they
were attacked by a body of Spaniards, whom they beat back, and thus
effected the object on which they were employed: eleven vessels
were burnt and two captured.