formed part of the army encamped at Cranenburg during the siege of
_Kayserswerth_, on the Lower Rhine, by the Germans. A French force
of very superior numbers attempting to cut off the communication
of the army at Cranenburg with _Nimeguen_, the troops struck their
tents on the 10th of June, and by a forced march during the night
arrived within a few miles of Nimeguen as the French legions
approached. Some sharp fighting occurred, in which the British
corps in the rear-guard evinced great gallantry, and the army
effected its retreat under the works of the fortress.
Additional forces having arrived from England, the EARL OF
MARLBOROUGH[19] assumed the command of the allied army, and by a
series of skilful movements he forced the French army to make a
precipitate retreat from the frontiers of Holland to their own
lines, and he twice attempted to bring on a general engagement
under advantageous circumstances, but was restrained by the Dutch
field deputies. The French forces having fled to their lines, the
English General resolved to attack their fortified towns, and
the ROYAL IRISH regiment was one of the corps detached from the
main army to undertake the siege of the fortress of _Venloo_,
situate on the east side of the river Maese, in the province
of Limburg.[20] On the west side of the river was a detached
fortification of five bastions, called _Fort St. Michael_, against
which the British troops carried on their approaches;--the Dutch
and Germans attacking other parts of the town: the whole were
under Veldt-Marshal Prince Nassau-Saarbruck. The approaches being
carried to the foot of the glacis, orders were given to storm the
covered-way, and make a lodgment on the top of the glacis; and the
ROYAL IRISH regiment, being on duty in the trenches at the time,
was appointed to make the attack, together with the grenadiers of
the brigade, and a party of chosen fusiliers. Captain Parker has
given the following account of this attack:--
"The Lord Cutts sent for all the officers, and told them, the
design was to drive the enemy from the covered-way, that they might
not disturb the workmen in making a lodgment; however, if the enemy
gave way with precipitation, we were to jump into the covered-way,
and pursue them, let the consequence be what it would. We all
thought these were very rash orders, contrary both to the rules of
war, and the design of the attack.
"About four in the afternoon (18th September), the signal was
given, and, according to our orders, we rushed up the covered-way;
the enemy gave us one scattering fire, and away they ran: we jumped
into the covered-way, and ran after them. They made to a ravelin,
which covered the curtain of the fort, in which were a captain and
sixty men. We, seeing them get into the ravelin, pursued them, got
in with them, and soon put most of them to the sword. They that
escaped us fled over a small wooden bridge, that led over the moat
to the fort; and here, like madmen, without fear or wit, we pursued
them over that tottering bridge, exposed to the fire of the great
and small shot of the fort. However, we got over the fausse-braye,
where we had nothing for it but to take the fort or die. They that
fled before us climbed up by the long grass that grew out of the
fort; so we climbed after them. Here we were hard put to it to pull
out the palisades, which pointed down upon us from the parapet,
and, was it not for the great surprise and consternation of those
within, we could never have surmounted this very point: but, as
soon as they saw us at this work, they quitted the rampart, and
retired down to the parade in the body of the fort, where they
laid down their arms and cried for quarter, which was readily
granted them. Thus were the unaccountable orders of Lord Cutts as
unaccountably executed, to the great surprise of the whole army,
and even of ourselves, when we came to reflect on what we had done."
The enemy had about four hundred killed, and two hundred made
prisoners. The British loss, in killed and wounded, did not exceed
forty men.
Captain Parker, of the ROYAL IRISH regiment, adds,--"This affair
was the occasion of another almost as surprising. An express came
to Prince Nassau which gave an account that Landau was taken;
whereupon he ordered the army to draw down near the town, to
fire three rounds (as a feu de-joie); the cannon also of all the
batteries, the mortars, and cohorns, were ordered to fire, with
the troops, into the town. When the garrison and inhabitants saw
us drawing down on all sides, they judged it was with a design of
making such an attack on the town as we had made on the fort, which
struck such a terror into them, that the magistrates begged the
Governor to capitulate, and not suffer them all to be put to the
sword. The first round of all our batteries, and the small shot of
the army, so affrighted them, that men, women, and children, came
flocking to the ramparts with white cloths in their hands, crying,
'Mercy! mercy!' and the Governor, in as great a consternation
as the rest, sent out an officer to the Prince to desire a
capitulation, which was immediately granted; as we had other sieges
to carry on this season, the Prince allowed them honourable terms."
After the capture of Venloo, the regiment was employed in the siege
of the fortress of _Ruremonde_, which was captured in a short time;
and Stevenswart having also been reduced by a detachment from the
covering army, the navigation of the Maese was thus cleared of the
enemy up to Maestricht.
Rejoining the main army after this achievement, the regiment
advanced towards the city of _Liège_, the French forces retiring
as the British approached, but leaving a strong garrison in the
citadel and Chartreuse. The ROYAL IRISH regiment was employed
in the siege of the citadel of Liège, and its grenadier company
had the honour to take part in the capture of that fortress by
storm, on the 23rd of October, when the British soldiers highly
distinguished themselves. They were permitted to appropriate a
large quantity of dollars and silver plate, captured on this
occasion, to their own use.
From the pleasant valley of Liège, the regiment commenced its
march, on the 3rd of November, back to Holland, and passed the
winter in garrison at Huesden.
[Sidenote: 1703]
Quitting its winter quarters in April, 1703, the regiment traversed
the country to Maestricht, and was in position near that city when
the French forces, under Marshals Villeroy and Boufflers, made a
sudden advance to surprise the British troops in their quarters,
but were defeated in their design.
The DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH assembled the army near Maestricht, and
the ROYAL IRISH regiment was formed in brigade with the eighth,
thirteenth, seventeenth, and thirty-third, under its colonel,
Brigadier-General F. Hamilton; and it advanced with the army
towards Tongres, when the French quitted their post and eventually
retired within their fortified lines, where the English General
was desirous of attacking them, but was prevented by the Dutch
commanders and field deputies. The services of the regiment were
afterwards connected with the siege of _Huy_, which fortress was
captured in ten days.
The ROYAL IRISH regiment formed part of the covering army during
the siege of _Limburg_, which was commenced on the 10th of
September, and on the 27th of that month the Governor surrendered.
Spanish Guelderland being thus delivered from the power of France,
the Dutch were freed from the danger of an invasion.
After taking part in these services the regiment marched to Breda:
during the severe frosts of winter it proceeded to Bergen-op-Zoom,
to reinforce the garrison of that fortress, and afterwards returned
to Breda, from whence it detached three hundred men to Maestricht,
to join the garrison of that city, while the Dutch soldiers were
working at the entrenchments on the heights of Petersberg.
[Sidenote: 1704]
Meanwhile the united French and Bavarian armies had gained
considerable advantage in Germany, and the Duke of Marlborough
resolved to lead his British brigades from the ocean to the Danube,
to rescue the Emperor of Germany from the menaced danger. To engage
in this splendid undertaking, the ROYAL IRISH regiment marched
from Breda on the 5th of May, N.S., and proceeded towards the
Rhine; being joined at Bedburg by the detachment from Maestricht.
Continuing its route, the regiment proceeded to Coblentz, where
it passed the Moselle and the Rhine, and afterwards traversed the
minor states of Germany towards the seat of war on the Danube;
all Europe being surprised at the ability evinced by the British
commander in conducting this daring enterprise.
Having united with the forces of the Empire, the British advanced
on the 2nd of July to attack a body of French and Bavarians
under Count d'Arco, in an entrenched camp on the heights of
_Schellenberg_, on the left bank of the Danube. About six in the
evening the leading division, of which a detachment of the ROYAL
IRISH regiment formed part, moved forward under a heavy fire, and
attacked the enemy's entrenchments with distinguished gallantry.
The enemy made a determined resistance, and the assailants were
repulsed; but the attack was renewed with heroic courage, and,
after a protracted contest, the Germans co-operated in the attack,
when the entrenchments were forced, and the French and Bavarians
driven from the heights with great slaughter. The British cavalry,
charging, completed the discomfiture of the enemy, and sixteen
pieces of ordnance, a number of standards and colours, with the
enemy's tents, and the equipage and plate of the Count d'Arco, were
captured.
The regiment had one serjeant and eleven rank and file killed;
Captain Lea, Ensigns Gilman, Walsh, and Pensant, three serjeants,
and thirty-two rank and file wounded.[21]
The victory at Schellenberg was followed by the flight of the enemy
from Donawerth; and the regiment was engaged in the operations
of the army which penetrated Bavaria, and captured _Rayn_ after
a short siege. The Elector of Bavaria formed an entrenched camp
at Augsburg, to which city the allied army advanced; but found
the enemy's camp too strong to be attacked with any prospect of
success, and the troops retired a short distance. The siege of
_Ingoldstadt_ was commenced by the Germans, and the ROYAL IRISH
regiment formed part of the covering army.
Quitting his camp at Augsburg, the Elector of Bavaria joined a
strong body of French troops sent to reinforce his army, and the
united divisions encamped in the valley of the Danube, near the
village of _Blenheim_.
At three o'clock on the morning of the memorable 13th of August,
1704, the allied army advanced towards the enemy, and about three
o'clock in the afternoon the British developed their attack
against the French brigades posted in the village of Blenheim;
thus commencing an engagement in which the English troops acquired
great distinction. The village being found strongly fortified,
it was environed by a few corps, and the army passed the little
river Nebel to attack the enemy's lines. The ROYAL IRISH regiment
directed its attacks against the right wing of the Gallo-Bavarian
army, and was engaged with the chosen troops of France, under
Marshal Tallard; its heroic conduct reflected the highest lustre
on the British arms, and it contributed materially to the complete
overthrow and discomfiture of the opposing host. The French were
chased from the field with great slaughter, and the loss of their
cannon, baggage, and many troops captured, including the brigades
posted in the village of Blenheim: Marshal Tallard, and several
officers of distinction, were among the prisoners. The left wing of
the enemy was also overpowered by the Germans, and the victory was
complete and decisive: the powerful armies of France and Bavaria
being literally destroyed. Thus, on the banks of the Danube, was
achieved by British valour a trophy which will serve as a monument
to commemorate the national glory to the end of time. The conduct
of the brave soldiers who conquered in the interior of Germany
was the admiration of surrounding states, and has been lauded by
numerous historians: the DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH was elevated to the
dignity of a PRINCE of the ROMAN EMPIRE.
The loss of the ROYAL IRISH regiment was Captains Brown, Rolleston,
and Vaughan, Ensign Moyle, five serjeants, and fifty-two rank and
file killed; Major Kane, Captains Lepenitor and Hussey, Lieutenants
Smith, Roberts, Blakeney, and Harvey, Ensign Trips, nine serjeants,
and eighty-seven rank and file wounded.[22]
From the Danube, the regiment traversed the country to the
banks of the Rhine, crossed that river at Philipsburg on the
7th of September, and formed part of the covering army encamped
at Croon-Weissemberg during the siege of _Landau_, which was
undertaken by the Germans. When the siege drew towards a close, the
regiment marched to Germersheim, where it embarked in boats on the
Rhine, and in twelve days arrived at Nimeguen, where it landed,
and, marching to Ruremonde, passed the winter at that place.
[Illustration: EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM.
Aug^t the 13^{th} 1704.
_J.M. Jopling del^t_
_Madeley lith 3 Wellington S^t Strand_
_For Cannon's Military Records_]
[Sidenote: 1705]
Brigadier-General Hamilton, having become advanced in years,
retired from active service, and was permitted to dispose of the
colonelcy of the regiment to Lieut.-General Ingoldsby, from the
twenty-third foot, who was appointed colonel of the ROYAL IRISH
regiment by commission dated the 1st of April, 1705.
From Ruremonde the regiment marched to the vicinity of Maestricht,
where it joined the army; and afterwards proceeded by Juliers,
through a mountainous country, to the valley of the Moselle, where
it encamped near the city of Treves. The army passed the Moselle
and the Saar in the early part of June, with the view of carrying
on the war in that direction; but the Duke of Marlborough, being
disappointed of the co-operation of the Germans, marched his
army back to the Netherlands, which occasioned the soldiers much
fatigue. On arriving at the Maese, a detachment was employed in
recapturing _Huy_, which the enemy had taken during the absence of
the army up the Moselle.
A formidable barrier of forts and entrenchments had been
constructed with great labour and expense to arrest the progress of
the British General; but by menacing the lines to the south of the
Mehaine, to draw the French army to that quarter, and afterwards
making a forced march to the right during the night of the 17th
of July, these stupendous works were passed at _Helixem_ and
_Neer-Hespen_, with little opposition; and the French and Bavarian
troops, which hurried to the spot to drive back the leading corps
of the allied army, were repulsed with severe loss. The ROYAL
IRISH regiment was formed in brigade on this occasion with the
twenty-fourth, twenty-ninth, and Temple's (afterwards disbanded),
under Brigadier-General Webb, and, being in the main body of the
army, did not sustain any loss. After this brilliant success, the
designs of the British commander were frustrated by the opposition
of the Dutch Generals, and little further advantage was gained.
The regiment returned to Holland for winter quarters, and was
stationed at Worcum.
[Sidenote: 1706]
Taking the field in May, 1706, the regiment proceeded to the
general rendezvous of the army near Tongres, and, advancing from
thence in the direction of Mont St. André, on Whit-Sunday the 23rd
of May, the British commander discovered a powerful French army,
under Marshal Villeroy and the Elector of Bavaria, in position at
that place, with their centre at the village of _Ramilies_, which
was occupied by a considerable body of troops.
Diverging into the plain, the allied army formed line and advanced
towards the enemy; the ROYAL IRISH regiment, being in the right
wing, formed on the heights of Foulz, and, descending into the low
grounds near the Little Gheet river, menaced the enemy's left, at
Autreglise and Offuz, with an attack. This movement occasioned the
enemy to weaken his centre to support his left flank, when the
Duke of Marlborough instantly reinforced his centre, and made a
determined attack upon the enemy's position at the weakened point.
For some time the officers and soldiers of the ROYAL IRISH regiment
were spectators of the fight; but at a critical moment they were
brought forward, and they contributed to the complete overthrow
of the forces of France, Spain, and Bavaria. The warlike brigades
of the enemy, a few hours before so formidable and menacing,
were driven from the field with great slaughter, and the loss of
many officers and soldiers taken prisoners, also of their cannon
and many standards and colours. After pursuing the fugitives
a considerable distance, the regiment halted for the night,
surrounded by the ensanguined trophies of this day of glorious
triumph to the British arms.
Retreating to Louvain, the broken remains of the enemy's splendid
army halted a short time, and soon afterwards abandoned that city,
and also Lierre, Ghent, Damme, and Bruges. The magistrates of
these towns, together with those of Brussels, Malines, and Alost,
renounced their allegiance to the Duke of Anjou, and declared
in favour of the House of Austria. The garrisons of Oudenarde
and Antwerp surrendered; Ostend withstood a short siege and then
capitulated. Thus the successes of the allied arms were splendid
beyond all precedent.
Towards the end of July, the ROYAL IRISH regiment was detached
from the main army to take part in the siege of the fortress of
_Menin_, which was considered one of the masterpieces of VAUBAN,
the celebrated French engineer, and was provided with a numerous
garrison well supplied with everything necessary for a protracted
defence. The garrison disputed every yard of ground with sanguinary
tenacity; but the allies carried on the siege with vigour, and
brought their approaches to the foot of the glacis, where a
storming party was assembled to attack the covered-way. The ROYAL
IRISH regiment was appointed to take part in this service. The
signal being given, the assailants rushed forward to the palisades,
and threw a shower of hand-grenades into the covered-way; then,
entering amidst the confusion, overthrew all opposition. General
Stearne states,--"This proved warm service; for though we drove the
enemy at once out of the counterscarp, they sprung two mines upon
us, and from their works plied us with a most violent fire, which
we lay exposed to until our workmen had thrown up an entrenchment
sufficient to cover us. In this action our regiment had six
officers and upwards of eighty soldiers killed and wounded."[23]
The Governor, finding himself unable to arrest the progress of the
besieging force, surrendered.
The fortress of _Aeth_ was afterwards captured, and this event
terminated the campaign. Thus fortresses which had resisted
powerful armies for months and years, and provinces disputed
for ages, were the conquests of a summer: the nations of Europe
witnessing with astonishment the splendid achievements of the
forces under the Duke of Marlborough. After sharing in the
brilliant successes of this campaign, the ROYAL IRISH regiment
passed the winter at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1707]
In May, 1707, the regiment again took the field, and was formed
in brigade with the second battalion of the Royals, the eighth,
twenty-fourth, and Temple's regiments, under Brigadier-General Sir
Richard Temple (afterwards Viscount Cobham). During this campaign,
the French army avoided a general engagement, and the summer was
passed by the opposing armies in manœuvring and watching each
other's movements. In the autumn, the regiment marched to the
castle of Ghent, of which its commanding officer, Colonel Stearne,
was appointed governor.
[Sidenote: 1708]
Finding his armies beaten on the continent, the French monarch
fitted out an expedition for the purpose of landing the Pretender
in Scotland, to embroil Great Britain in civil war; and the
EIGHTEENTH regiment was one of the corps ordered home to repel the
invaders: it embarked from Ostend in the middle of March, 1708, and
sailed to the river Tyne; but the English fleet chased the French
squadron from the British coast, and the regiment returned to
Flanders.
When the opposing armies took the field, the French had obtained
possession of Ghent and Bruges by treachery; but the English
General surprised the French on the march near _Oudenarde_ on
the 11th of June, and gained a decisive victory. The EIGHTEENTH
regiment formed part of the leading brigade of the van of the army,
under Major-General Cadogan, and with the eighth, twenty-third, and
thirty-seventh regiments, descended from the high grounds between
Eyne and Bevere, forded a rivulet, and attacked seven battalions
of the Swiss regiments of Pfeffer, Villars, and Gueder, which had
taken post at Eyne: after a sharp contest British valour prevailed,
and Brigadier-General Pfeffer, with three entire battalions,
were made prisoners of war: the remainder were either killed,
or intercepted in their attempt to escape, and made prisoners.
The EIGHTEENTH afterwards attacked a body of troops posted in
the enclosures, and soon drove the French from their ground. As
the regiment was advancing in pursuit, a numerous body of French
cavalry menaced it in front and flank, and it fell back to the
hedges, where it repulsed the French horsemen. Other British
brigades arriving, the whole advanced; a fierce conflict of
musketry ensued, and charge succeeded charge until darkness put an
end to the conflict, and thus saved the French army from complete
annihilation. The enemy made a precipitate retreat during the
night.
Lieut.-Colonel Stearne commanded the regiment on this occasion, and
he states in his journal,--"Our regiment, though the first that
engaged, had only one lieutenant and eight men killed, and twelve
men wounded."
The ROYAL IRISH regiment formed part of the force employed in
the siege of the important fortress of _Lisle_, the capital of
French Flanders, and the regiment had numerous opportunities of
distinguishing itself during the long and determined defence made
by a numerous garrison under Marshal Boufflers. The citadel did
not surrender until the 9th of December. The EIGHTEENTH had two
captains and three subalterns killed, the major and several other
officers wounded, and two hundred non-commissioned officers and
soldiers killed and wounded.
[Sidenote: 1709]
A strong detachment of recruits replaced the losses of the
regiment, and it was in a highly efficient state when it took
the field to serve the campaign of 1709. The Duke of Marlborough
menaced the French army with an attack, which occasioned
Marshal Villars to weaken the garrisons of the fortified towns
to strengthen the army in the field, when the allies besieged
_Tournay_. The EIGHTEENTH were detached, under the Prince of
Orange, to drive the French detachment from Mortagne and St.
Amand, and, having accomplished this service, joined the besieging
army, and carried on its approaches at the seven fountains. The
regiment was engaged in storming the breaches in the Ravelin and
Half-Moon; and on the 29th of July it was in readiness to take part
in storming the town, which was prevented by the surrender of the
place, the garrison retiring into the citadel.