28th of August, and retired across the East River, in boats, to
New York; the reduction of _Long Island_ was accomplished in a few
days, with little loss.
The regiment shared in the operations by which the capture of
_New York_ was accomplished: also in the movements by which the
Americans were driven from _White Plains_, and in the reduction of
_Fort Washington_.
After the reduction of Fort Washington, and of Fort Lee on the
opposite side of the North, or Hudson's River, the regiment
continued the pursuit of the enemy across the Jerseys, by Elizabeth
Town, Raway, &c. towards Philadelphia, and remained during the
following winter at Amboy.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment occupied an old transport ship as a
barrack, and being actively employed during the winter in constant
escorts of ammunition, was continually attacked between that
place and New Brunswick, on the way to Trenton, Princetown, and
Burlington, where the advance of the British army had taken up
winter quarters.
During the winter, General Washington suddenly passed the Delaware
river, and succeeded in surprising and making prisoners a corps
of Hessians at Trenton, but he afterwards made a precipitate
retreat. Being reinforced, he again crossed the river, and took up
a position at Trenton.
[Sidenote: 1777]
Information having been received that the Americans were forming
magazines at _Peek's Hill_, about fifty miles up the North River,
the FORTY-SIXTH regiment was detached against that post, with a
body of troops, which 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 subsequently
returned to their former quarters at New York.
Afterwards taking the field with the army in the Jerseys, the
FORTY-SIXTH 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; an expedition
against the populous and wealthy city of _Philadelphia_ was next
undertaken.
Embarking from Sandy Hook, the army, of which the FORTY-SIXTH
formed part, proceeded to the Chesapeake, and landed on the
northern shore of the Elk river 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 action proved decisive; the enemy was driven
from his position, and forced to make a precipitate retreat. The
FORTY-SIXTH sustained but trifling loss on this occasion.
In order to harass the Royal forces, General Washington posted
several detachments in such a manner as to command all the roads
and avenues to their encampment. He seized every opportunity of
drawing detached parties into ambuscades, which was the more
readily effected, as the country was in his interest, and the
provincial army abounded with persons fully acquainted with all its
local advantages.
A very considerable detachment employed in this manner, lay
concealed in the depth of a forest at a short distance behind the
British camp; it consisted of fifteen hundred men, commanded by
General Wayne.
General Sir William Howe, upon receiving this intelligence,
despatched Major-General Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey with a body
of troops in the middle of the night of the 20th of September to
surprise the detachment of the enemy.
The light company of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment was engaged in
this enterprise, which was conducted with singular address and
intrepidity. The troops advanced in profound silence to the
outposts of the enemy, which were surprised and secured without
the least noise. It was then between twelve and one. The main
body of the American army, unapprised of its danger, had retired
to rest. Directed by the light of the camp fires, the party
under Major-General Grey proceeded undiscovered to the enemy's
encampment, and rushed upon the foe with their bayonets. Three
hundred Americans were killed and wounded, and a great number taken
prisoners, with most of their arms and baggage. Obscurity saved
those that escaped, as it had before at Brandywine Creek. The
British had only one officer, one serjeant, and one private soldier
killed, and a few men wounded, in this attack.
It was this affair which gave the FORTY-SIXTH regiment _Red
Feathers_, which it has ever since worn. The origin of the
distinction is as follows:--
The Americans having vowed vengeance for the above attack, and that
they would give no quarter, the soldiers of the _light battalion_
on this declared, that to prevent any one not engaged in the action
from suffering on their account, they had stained their feathers
_red_, as a distinguishing mark.
The British army advanced upon Philadelphia, took possession of
that city, and occupied a position at _Germantown_. The Americans
attempted to surprise the British troops early on the morning of
the 4th of October, and at first gained some advantage, but were
speedily repulsed with severe loss.
[Sidenote: 1778]
The regiment passed the winter in quarters at Philadelphia, and
in the spring of 1778, it furnished several detachments, which
ranged the country in various directions to open communications
for obtaining provisions. At this period General the Honorable Sir
William Howe had returned to England, and resigned the command of
the army to General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. The regiment also took
part in the fatigues and difficulties of the march of the army
from Philadelphia, through the Jerseys, in order to return to New
York, and the flank companies were engaged on the 28th of June in
repulsing the attack of the enemy on the rear of the column at
_Monmouth Court-House_, near _Freehold_, in New Jersey.
The army had marched from Philadelphia to New York in consequence
of the King of France having engaged to aid the Americans, which
circumstance changed the character of the war. Shortly after
the arrival of the British army at New York a powerful French
armament appeared off that port. The enemy had a great superiority
of numbers; but the enthusiasm in the British navy and army was
unbounded, and the hour of contest was looked forward to with
sanguine expectations. The enemy did not, however, venture to
hazard an attack; but proceeded against Rhode Island; a numerous
body of Americans co-operated in the enterprise, and besieged
Newport. The British fleet put to sea, and the thirty-third,
forty-second, FORTY-SIXTH, and sixty-fourth regiments embarked,
under Major-General Grey, to join the fleet at the east end of Long
Island.
When the transports were about to sail, information was received
of the departure of the French fleet from Rhode Island, and while
at sea, news arrived of the Americans having raised the siege
of Newport. The troops were then directed to proceed against
_Bedford_, on the Accushnet river, a noted place for American
privateers. On the evening of the 5th of September the troops
landed,--overcame all opposition,--destroyed seventy privateers
and other ships,--demolished the fort and artillery,--blew up the
magazine,--destroyed an immense quantity of naval stores, &c., and
returned on board the transports at noon on the following day. The
troops afterwards proceeded against Martha's Vineyard,--destroyed
the defences,--took three hundred and eighty-eight stand of arms
from the militia,--obliged the inhabitants to deliver up three
hundred oxen, ten thousand sheep, and a thousand pounds sterling
collected by the Congress. After this success the regiment returned
to New York.
A powerful French armament menacing the British possessions in
the West Indies, the FORTY-SIXTH, and other regiments, sailed
from North America, early in November, for Barbadoes, under
Major-General James Grant.
Upon the arrival of the reinforcements at Barbadoes, the British
naval and military commanders resolved to attack the French
island of _St. Lucia_. On this occasion the FORTY-SIXTH regiment
was formed in brigade with the fifteenth, twenty-eighth, and
fifty-fifth regiments, under Major-General Prescott.
The expedition sailed from Carlisle Bay on the 12th of December,
a landing was effected at _St. Lucia_ on the following day, and
on the 14th the French troops were driven from several important
posts. In the meantime a French armament of very superior numbers
approached the island, and the British took up positions to repel
the enemy. The French fleet made a desperate attack on the British
naval force, but was repulsed.
A numerous body of the enemy landed, and, on the 18th of
December, stormed the post of _La Vigie_, which was occupied by
the grenadiers and light infantry (of which the flank companies
of the FORTY-SIXTH formed part), and the fifth regiment, under
Brigadier-General Medows. The enemy amounted to nine thousand
men, commanded by Monsieur D'Estaing, the Marquis de Bouillé,
and M. Lavendahl, and advanced in three columns; their first two
attacks were made, to quote the words of Major-General Grant's
despatch, "with the impetuosity of Frenchmen, and repulsed with the
determined bravery of Britons." The French made a third attempt,
but were soon broken, and were forced to re-embark, leaving the
ground covered with killed and wounded.[14]
The flank companies of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment had an opportunity
of distinguishing themselves on this occasion, and Lieutenant
William Gomm was wounded.
The loss of the French amounted to about four hundred killed
and eleven hundred wounded, while the killed on the side of
the British was only ten, and one hundred and thirty wounded.
The sense Major-General Grant entertained of the services of
Brigadier-General Medows and the detachment under his command, was
expressed in the following letter, dated from _Morne Fortunée_, the
19th of December, 1778:--
"SIR,
"I cannot express how much I feel obliged to you, and the troops
under your command, for repulsing, with so much spirit and
bravery, so great a body of the enemy, and own it was just what
I expected from you and them; and I am sure, under your command,
they will always behave in such a manner as to do honor to you,
themselves, their King, and their country; and I must beg of you
to express my gratitude.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "JAMES GRANT,
"_Major-General_.
"_Brigadier-General Medows_, _&c., &c., &c._"
Immediately after the departure of the French armament, the
governor surrendered the island of _St. Lucia_ to the British
troops, the capitulation being signed on the 30th of December.
[Sidenote: 1779]
In 1779 the Court of Spain commenced hostilities against Great
Britain, and this example was followed by the Dutch.
[Sidenote: 1782]
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment remained in the West Indies until the year
1782, when it returned to England.
A letter, dated the 31st of August, 1782, conveyed to the regiment
His Majesty's pleasure, that County Titles should be conferred
on the Infantry, and the FORTY-SIXTH was directed to assume the
designation of the SOUTH DEVONSHIRE regiment, in order that a
connexion between the regiment and that part of the county should
be cultivated, which might be useful in promoting the success of
the recruiting service.
On the 30th of November, 1782, the preliminary Articles of Peace
were signed at Paris between Great Britain and the United States of
America, and the treaty was concluded in the ensuing February.
[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 had surrendered to the
combined French and Spanish forces 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 treaty 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 of the previous year, and retaken by the French in August
following. The place was, however, restored to Holland at the
general peace.
[Sidenote: 1784]
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment proceeded from Plymouth to Ireland on the
21st of February, 1784, and continued in that country during the
eight following years.
[Sidenote: 1792]
In February, 1792, the regiment proceeded from Ireland to Gibraltar.
[Sidenote: 1794]
While the FORTY-SIXTH regiment was stationed at Gibraltar, the
French revolutionary war commenced, and in the year 1794, the
islands of Martinique, St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe were captured
by the British. The French republican government fitted out an
expedition for the recovery of these islands, and some success
attended their efforts. This occurrence occasioned an order to be
given for the FORTY-SIXTH regiment to be embarked from Gibraltar
to reinforce the British troops in the West Indies. The regiment
accordingly embarked in November, 1794, and arrived in the
following month at the island of Martinique.
[Sidenote: 1795]
The republican emissaries employed by France having organized an
insurrection in the island of _St. Vincent_, where the native
Caribs, and several of the French inhabitants were in arms against
the British government, occasioned the FORTY-SIXTH regiment to be
ordered to St. Vincent.
At Dorsetshire Hill, the Caribs hoisted the tri-coloured flag, and
burnt every plantation in their power. The loyal inhabitants of the
island assembled at Kingston, and in the fort, and every means of
defence which the colony afforded, were used by Governor Seton.
It being determined to storm _Dorsetshire Hill_, Governor Seton
selected a force for this enterprise, of which a company of the
FORTY-SIXTH regiment, which had arrived from Martinique, under the
command of Captain Dugald Campbell, formed part. Shortly after
twelve o'clock, on the night of the 14th of March, the troops
mounted the steep and rugged path in regularity and silence. They
ascended within eighty yards of the main post, when they were
discovered by the enemy's sentry, who challenged and fired. The
Caribs, undismayed by the surprise, shouted, and opened a smart
fire of musketry on the British. As soon as the troops were within
twenty yards of the enemy, orders were given to fire a volley and
charge, which were obeyed with the greatest alacrity. While a
portion of the British force mounted the bank at one place, the
detachment of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, under Captain Campbell,
ascended another part of the bank. The buildings which sheltered
the enemy were stormed, but many escaped through the darkness of
the night. Chatoye, the Carib king, was killed with several of his
adherents, and the enemy's two pieces of cannon were captured.
_Dorsetshire Hill_ being too extensive a position, was abandoned
early on the following morning, and the British returned to Sion
Hill.
The remainder of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment having arrived, enabled
the governor to make a second attack upon the enemy on the 10th
of April, when the Caribs were driven from their positions with
considerable loss on their side, but small on the part of the
British.
On the 7th of May, the enemy appeared on the height above
_Calliaqua_, in the vicinity of which was situated the estate
belonging to Sir William Young, whose buildings had been previously
consumed by the Caribs, who had received reinforcements from
Guadaloupe.
Governor Seton, considering that some attempt would be made against
Kingston, sent on the 7th of May, a party, under Captain John Hall,
of the FORTY-SIXTH, consisting of a subaltern and thirty-three
rank and file of that regiment, forty militia, and forty of the
corps of rangers, with five of the royal artillery, and a fourteen
pound field-piece, to take possession of _Dorsetshire Hill_. About
one o'clock in the morning of the 8th of May, the party under
Captain Hall was attacked by a force of three hundred French and
Caribs, and after a vigorous resistance, was compelled to withdraw
to the post on Sion Hill, in consequence of the enemy's great
superiority in numbers, leaving the field-piece spiked.
Kingston would inevitably have been destroyed, if the enemy had
kept possession of Dorsetshire Hill, and sixty rank and file of
the FORTY-SIXTH, under Captain William Cooper Forster, of that
regiment, were immediately detached with other troops to attack the
foe at daybreak.
The Caribs, with great dexterity, found means to clear the
field-piece of the spike during the short time they had it in
their possession, and had been joined by upwards of a hundred
French and others of their party immediately after the retreat of
Captain Hall's party. The British, however, attacked them with
great spirit, and, in less than half an hour, they retook the
field-piece, and obtained possession of the hill, the enemy flying
on all sides.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment had three rank and file killed, and nine
wounded. Captain William Cooper Forster and Ensign Michael Lee,
were also wounded.
On the 12th of June the troops under Lieut.-Colonel Baldwin
Leighton, of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, carried by assault, the
enemy's post on the Vigie, on which occasion Captains John Law and
William Cooper Forster, of that regiment, were wounded:--after this
success the Lieut.-Colonel advanced into the Carib country, and
took up a position on Mount Young.
On the 1st of August, 1795, Major-General James Henry Craig was
appointed Colonel of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, in succession to
Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir John Vaughan, K.B., deceased.
In September, 1795, reinforcements arrived from England, consisting
of the fortieth, fifty-fourth, and fifty-ninth regiments, and
Major-General Paulus Æmilius Irving assumed the command. The enemy,
apprised of the arrival of fresh troops, retired from his position
on Fairbane's Ridge, during the night of the 30th of September.
At three o'clock on the morning of the 2nd of October, the troops
advanced against the _Vigie_, and after a severe action, the Caribs
abandoned that post, of which possession was taken by the British.
[Sidenote: 1796]
After this action the British remained on the defensive, but
several attacks were made by the enemy. Major-General Peter Hunter,
after an action fought on the 8th of January, 1796, evacuated the
New Vigie, in order to provide for the safety of Fort Charlotte and
Kingston. The party from Morne Ronde was also withdrawn.
On the 8th of June further reinforcements arrived under
Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., and on the following
day the troops marched in one column, by the right, as far as
Stubbs, about eight miles from Kingston; each division halted that
evening opposite to their respective points of attack. The post of
_New Vigie_, an eminence on which the enemy had constructed four
redoubts, stronger by the natural difficulties of the approach,
than by the art displayed in their formation, was attacked on the
10th of June, and after a conflict of seven hours' duration, the
Caribs surrendered prisoners of war; but about six hundred broke
the capitulation, and escaped to the woods, where they joined their
friends at the farther end of the island.
In this attack the FORTY-SIXTH had two rank and file killed, and
one wounded.
Troops were also despatched to _Mounts Young_ and _William_, where
a number of brass ordnance, and a quantity of ammunition, &c., were
taken.
A desultory warfare was carried on until September, when the Caribs
were forced to submit, and they were afterwards removed from the
island of St. Vincent.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment, which had been engaged with the Caribs,
together, and in detachments, on _thirteen_ occasions, and in
eight months had sustained a loss of four hundred men out of five
hundred and twenty, afterwards returned to England, and arrived at
Portsmouth in November, 1796.
[Sidenote: 1797]
[Sidenote: 1799]
While stationed in England the regiment was successively quartered
at Doncaster, York, Henley-upon-Thames, Warminster, Poole, and
Plymouth, from which port it embarked for Ireland, towards the end
of the year 1799.
[Sidenote: 1800]
In the beginning of the year 1800, the regiment arrived at Cork,
and was subsequently stationed at Fermoy, Limerick, and Cork.
[Sidenote: 1802]
While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, a treaty of peace was
signed on the 27th of March, 1802, at Amiens, but the ambitious
designs of the French ruler occasioned the war to be renewed in
May, 1803.
[Sidenote: 1804]
On the 5th of January, 1804, His Majesty King George III.,
appointed Lieut.-General John Whyte, from the First West India
regiment, to be colonel of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, in succession
to Lieut.-General Sir James Henry Craig, who was removed to the
eighty-sixth regiment.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment embarked at Cork for the West Indies,
and arrived at Barbadoes in April. In June following the regiment
proceeded to _Dominica_.[15]
[Sidenote: 1805]
In February, 1805, the island of Dominica was attacked by the
French, and the gallant conduct of the FORTY-SIXTH on that occasion
cannot be better recorded than by the insertion of the following
despatch, addressed to Earl Camden, K.G., one of His Majesty's
principal Secretaries of State, by Lieut.-General Sir William
Myers, Bart., commanding the troops in the Windward and Leeward
Islands:--
"_Barbadoes, March 9th, 1805._
"My LORD,
"I have the honor to enclose to your Lordship, a copy of a
despatch from Brigadier-General Prevost, dated Dominica, 1st
of March, 1805. The details contained therein are so highly
reputable to the Brigadier-General, and the small portion of
troops employed against so numerous an enemy, that I have great
satisfaction in recommending that their gallant exertions may be
laid before His Majesty.
"The zeal and talent manifested by the brigadier-general
upon this occasion, it is my duty to present for the royal
consideration, and at the same time I beg to be permitted to
express the high sense I entertain of the distinguished bravery
of His Majesty's troops, and the militia of the colony, employed
on that service.
"The vigorous resistance which the enemy have experienced, and
the loss which they have sustained in this attack, must evince to
them, that however inferior our numbers were on this occasion,
British troops are not to be hostilely approached with impunity;
and had not the town of Roseau been accidentally destroyed by
fire, we should have little to regret, and much to exult in.
"Your Lordship will perceive by the returns, that our loss in
men, compared to that of the enemy, is but trifling; but I have
sincerely to lament that of Major Nunn, of the First West India
regiment, whose wound is reported to be of a dangerous kind; he
is an excellent man, and a meritorious officer.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "W. MYERS.
"_Lieut.-General._"
"_Head Quarters, Prince Rupert's,
Dominica, March 1st, 1805._
"SIR,
"About an hour before the dawn of day on the 22nd ultimo, an
alarm was fired from Scots Head, and soon after a cluster of
ships was discovered off Roseau. As our light increased, I made
out five large ships, three frigates, two brigs, and small craft
under British colours, a ship of three decks carrying a flag
at the mizen. The frigates ranging too close to Fort Young,
I ordered them to be fired on, and soon after nineteen large
barges, full of troops, appeared coming from the lee of the
other ships, attended and protected by an armed schooner, full of
men, and seven other boats carrying carronades. The English flag
was lowered, and that of the French hoisted.