Hyde Park; and in 1782 it proceeded to the island of Jersey, where
its numbers were reduced to the peace establishment in consequence
of the termination of the American war.
Leaving Jersey in February, 1782, the thanks of the Commander
of the forces at that station were conveyed to the officers and
soldiers of the EIGHTEENTH, for their conduct while under his
command. The regiment was afterwards stationed at Guernsey, where
an alarming mutiny occurred among the soldiers of the 104th
regiment, who fired upon their officers, and took possession of the
fort. They were invested by the ROYAL IRISH regiment, commanded
by Major Mawby, and a battalion of militia, and were forced to
submit. The lieut.-governor thanked the ROYAL IRISH regiment, in
orders, for its loyal and spirited conduct on this occasion, in the
strongest terms, and promised to take the earliest opportunity of
bringing its meritorious conduct before the King. The States of the
island also conveyed the expression of their thanks and approbation
of the excellent behaviour of the EIGHTEENTH regiment, accompanied
by a vote of 100 guineas, to be divided among the non-commissioned
officers and soldiers.
[Sidenote: 1783]
In July, 1783, the regiment proceeded to Portsmouth, and in October
it embarked for the fortress of Gibraltar.
[Sidenote: 1793]
While the ROYAL IRISH regiment was employed in protecting the
important fortress of Gibraltar, a revolution occurred in France;
Louis XVI. was beheaded by his subjects in 1793; and while anarchy
and bloodshed prevailed in France, the republicans of that
country sought to involve other nations in the same calamities.
War was the result. A powerful party favourable to monarchy still
existed in France, many patriots stood forward in the cause of
royalty, and the inhabitants of _Toulon_ joined with Admiral Turgot
in delivering up that port to the British, who took possession
of the place in the name of Louis XVII. A numerous republican
army advanced against Toulon, and the allies made exertions to
procure troops for the defence of the town and harbour. Some corps
of French loyalists were embodied; detachments of Spaniards,
Neapolitans, and Sardinians were procured, and the ROYAL IRISH
regiment was withdrawn from Gibraltar to aid in the protection of
this important place.
The regiment arrived at Toulon in November, and was actively
employed in the defence of the place upwards of a month, during
which period it was frequently engaged with the republican troops
of France.
A battery having been erected by the enemy on the heights of
_Arenes_, which much annoyed one of the principal outposts, a party
of the EIGHTEENTH joined the troops under Major-General David
Dundas, which issued from Toulon on the morning of the 30th of
November, crossed the river, traversed olive-grounds, intersected
with stone walls, ascended a height cut into vine-terraces, and,
surprising the French on their post, drove them from the battery
with signal gallantry. The object in view was thus accomplished,
but the impetuosity of the soldiers could not be restrained; they
pursued the enemy too far, and, encountering fresh adversaries,
were forced to retire with loss. The ROYAL IRISH regiment had seven
men killed on this occasion, twenty-four wounded, four serjeants,
one drummer, and twenty-nine rank and file missing.
Much difficulty was experienced in defending Toulon with twelve
thousand men, of five different nations, against thirty to
forty thousand French troops; a circumference of fifteen miles
having to be occupied by a number of posts which required nine
thousand men for their protection, so that three-fourths of the
men were constantly on duty. On the 17th of December, the French
attacked the British quarter under Captain William Conolly of the
EIGHTEENTH, who defended his post with great gallantry until the
enemy had forced the Spanish side, when he fell back fighting to
another position. The regiment lost Ensign George Minchin and two
rank and file on this occasion. The enemy afterwards attacked
the posts on the mountain of Pharou, where another party of the
EIGHTEENTH was engaged, and lost one serjeant and five rank and
file.
The line of posts being forced, it was found impossible to preserve
the town and harbour, and the French shipping, arsenal, and
magazines were set on fire, and the troops of the several nations
embarked on board of the fleet on the 19th of December.
[Sidenote: 1794]
After the evacuation of Toulon, the fleet proceeded to the bay of
Hières, and arrangements were made for attacking the island of
_Corsica_: the fleet weighed anchor on the 24th of January, 1794;
but was dispersed by a gale of wind. Early in February a landing
was effected in the gulf of Fiorenzo in the island of Corsica, and
a series of operations were commenced by which the greater part
of the island was speedily reduced, and an assembly of Deputies
afterwards agreed to unite Corsica to the British dominions.
The fortified town of _Calvi_, situate on a tongue of land which
forms a beautiful harbour thirty-three miles from _Bastia_, the
capital of Corsica, still held out in the French interest, and the
EIGHTEENTH regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel David Douglas
Wemyss, was selected to join the troops, under Lieut.-General C.
Stuart, appointed for the reduction of this fortress. The regiment
accordingly sailed from Bastia, and, having landed near Calvi on
the 19th of June, took post on a ridge of mountains three miles
from the town. Owing to the numerous rocky heights and steep
acclivities before the town, the soldiers and seamen had to make
roads along difficult precipices, to drag guns up the mountains,
and to carry up materials for erecting the batteries, which they
performed with cheerfulness. A practical breach having been made
in the west side of the Mozello, on the 18th of July the light
infantry (including the light company of the EIGHTEENTH) and
the second battalion of the Royals, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel
Moore, "proceeded with a cool steady confidence, and unloaded
arms, towards the enemy, forced their way through a smart fire of
musketry, and, regardless of live shells flung into the breach,
or the additional defence of pikes, stormed the Mozello; while
Lieut.-Colonel Wemyss, with the ROYAL IRISH regiment, and two
pieces of cannon under the direction of Lieutenant Lemoine of the
royal artillery, equally regardless of opposition, carried the
enemy's battery on the left, and forced the trenches without firing
a shot."[31]
After the capture of these important posts, the siege of Calvi was
prosecuted with vigour, and on the 10th of August the garrison
surrendered.
The loss of the ROYAL IRISH regiment was limited to six rank and
file killed; Lieutenant William Johnston, one serjeant, and ten
rank and file wounded.
In the early part of this year, General Sir John Sebright,
Bart., died; and the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on
Major-General Sir James Murray, Bart., who afterwards took the
surname of Pulteney.
[Sidenote: 1795]
[Sidenote: 1796]
The ROYAL IRISH regiment was stationed in the island of Corsica
during the year 1795, and nine months of 1796. In the mean time
the success of the French arms, particularly the brilliant career
of General Bonaparte in Italy, had produced a change of sentiment
among the inhabitants of Corsica. Bonaparte was a native of the
island; the Corsicans gloried in him as a man who reflected honour
on their country, and they regretted that the island had become
annexed to Great Britain, as this event placed them in hostility
to their victorious countryman, and they began to plot measures to
effect its separation. It appearing evident that the expense of the
defence would exceed the advantage derived from the possession of
the island, the British troops were withdrawn in October, and the
EIGHTEENTH proceeded to the island of Elba.
[Sidenote: 1797]
[Sidenote: 1798]
[Sidenote: 1799]
Soon afterwards the regiment was detached, with a small force under
Colonel Wemyss, to the coast of Italy; the troops landed on the 7th
of November, and, having driven the French from the principality
of Piombino, occupied the towns of Campiglia, Castiglione, and
Piombino, with some advanced posts in the Tuscan states. The
ROYAL IRISH were commanded by Lieut.-Colonel H. T. Montresor,
and distinguished themselves on several occasions. They waded
through an inundation of near three miles, to attack the town of
_Campiglia_, and made the French garrison prisoners. The enemy
receiving considerable reinforcements, and advancing in force
against those towns, the British troops were withdrawn from Italy,
and returned to Elba. During the winter, the EIGHTEENTH regiment
sailed for Gibraltar, where it arrived in the beginning of 1797,
and was stationed at that fortress during the two following years.
[Sidenote: 1800]
In the spring of 1800, the regiment was withdrawn from Gibraltar,
to join the armament preparing for active service in the
Mediterranean: it proceeded to Minorca, where the land-forces
were assembled, and in the summer sailed under the orders of
Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby for Genoa, to co-operate with
the Austrians; but the victories gained by the French in Italy
occasioned this enterprise to be abandoned, and the EIGHTEENTH
returned to Minorca.
The regiment afterwards sailed with the expedition against _Cadiz_,
and it had entered the boats of the fleet for the purpose of
effecting a landing and attacking Cadiz, when orders were received
to return on board the shipping; the attack of this place having
been relinquished in consequence of an infectious disease of a
fatal character ravaging the city; and the armament sailed to
Gibraltar.
After some delay, the EIGHTEENTH regiment again proceeded to
Minorca.
In the meantime a powerful French army had taken possession of
Egypt, with the view of colonizing that country, and making it
the base of future conquests in the east, and the ROYAL IRISH
regiment was called from Minorca to take part in the expulsion
of the boasted invincible legions of France from Egypt. The
regiment accordingly quitted Minorca without landing, and sailed
to Malta, where it joined the armament under Lieut.-General
Sir Ralph Abercromby, and was formed in brigade with the
thirtieth, forty-fourth, and eighty-ninth, under the orders
of Brigadier-General Doyle. The troops were soon restored and
reanimated, after having been so long at sea, by the abundance
of fresh provisions which the island of Malta afforded, and the
comforts of the beautiful city of Valetta, and on the 20th of
December the fleet sailed for the bay of Marmorice, in Asiatic
Turkey, where it arrived in nine days.
[Sidenote: 1801]
In this bay, environed by mountains covered with the foliage of
trees, the troops remained several weeks, while preparations
were being completed, and a plan of co-operation was arranged
with the Turks, whose tardy proceedings detained the expedition
some time. On the 23rd of February, 1801, the fleet again put to
sea, presenting a splendid sight; the magnitude of the armament,
and the gaiety of the brave men on board, being calculated to
excite emotions of an interesting character. On the 1st of March,
the armament arrived off the celebrated city of Alexandria, and
anchored in the bay of _Aboukir_.
Early on the morning of the 8th of March, five thousand British
troops entered the boats to effect a landing in the face of an
adverse army, and the ROYAL IRISH regiment, having joined the
second brigade under Major-General Cradock, entered some small
Greek ships to be in readiness to support the gallant men who
should first land on the shores of Egypt. A rocket gave the
expected signal, and the clear silence of the morning was instantly
broken by the deep murmur of a thousand oars urging forward the
flower of a brave army, whose polished arms gleamed in the rays
of the morning sun. Suddenly the thunder of artillery shook the
ground, and a tempest of balls cut the surface of the water; but
the British soldiers speedily gained the shore in the face of
this tempest of war, and, rushing forward to close upon their
enemies with the bayonet, soon decided the contest and forced the
French to retreat with loss. The EIGHTEENTH regiment, commanded
by Lieut.-Colonel Montresor, was one of the first corps which
landed to support the leading division, and to participate in this
splendid triumph of British valour.
Advancing towards Alexandria, the British troops encamped near
Mandora Tower, and on the 13th of March they proceeded through a
wood of date-trees to attack the French forces posted on a ridge
of heights in front. The ROYAL IRISH deployed under a heavy fire,
with the other corps of their brigade, and executed the manœuvre
with admirable order and precision; and, advancing upon their
adversaries, compelled the French to retire from their position.
A strong body of French cavalry charged the leading corps of the
British right column, but was repulsed. Under the cover of some
sand-hills, a body of French dragoons rode towards the British
second brigade, and attempted to penetrate the interval between
the EIGHTEENTH and the regiment on their left: the French troopers
were checked by a prompt and well-directed fire from the light
company of the EIGHTEENTH, which was followed by a rapid platoon
fire from the regiment, and the French horsemen made a precipitate
retreat. They belonged to the eighteenth French dragoons, and had
been mistaken, by one British battalion, for a foreign corps in the
English service.
The French, having been driven from their post, fell back to an
entrenched position before Alexandria; and the British, after
reconnoitring the ground, encamped in front of the enemy's lines.
Speaking of the conduct of the army, on this occasion, in general
orders, Sir Ralph Abercromby stated that he felt it "incumbent on
him particularly to express his most perfect satisfaction with the
steady and gallant conduct of Major-General Cradock's brigade." The
conduct of the brigade was also commended in the General's public
despatch.
The loss of the ROYAL IRISH regiment was Captain George Jones,
killed; three officers, one serjeant, and forty-five rank and file
wounded.
On the morning of the 21st of March, the French issued from their
position, and attacked the British line; but they encountered an
opposition which they were unable to overcome, and the English
army was once more triumphant over the numerous veteran troops
of France. This action afforded the ROYAL IRISH regiment another
opportunity of gaining honour on the distant shores of Egypt;
and its gallant bearing throughout the day was conspicuous. This
victory was however clouded with the fall of the brave SIR RALPH
ABERCROMBY, who died of wounds received in action. He was succeeded
in the command of the army by Major-General (afterwards Lord)
Hutchinson.
Soon afterwards a body of British troops traversed the country
to _Rosetta_, where a small force of British, Turks, and Greeks
was assembled, and took post at Hamed. The EIGHTEENTH regiment,
and two other corps, followed on the 13th of April, and, after
the surrender of Fort St. Julian, a strong division of the army
advanced up the banks of the Nile, to attack the French troops in
Upper Egypt.
The ROYAL IRISH regiment took part in the operations by which the
French were driven from _El Aft_, and from the fortified post of
_Rahmanie_, and forced to retire upon Cairo.
Following the retreating enemy up the country, the EIGHTEENTH
arrived, with the army, at the vicinity of the celebrated pyramids
of Egypt, in the early part of June; and after a halt of several
days they advanced upon the city of _Cairo_, which was besieged
by the united British and Turkish forces, and in a few days the
garrison surrendered, on condition of being sent back to France.
The capture of the capital of Egypt added fresh laurels to the
British arms; and the troops which had acquired these honours
retired down the Nile to the vicinity of _Alexandria_, and,
having driven in the French outposts, commenced the siege of that
place with vigour. In the beginning of September, the garrison
surrendered, on condition of being sent back to France.
Thus was Egypt delivered from the power of France; and the
British troops, which overcame the boasted _invincible_ legions
of Bonaparte, and forced the _Army of the East_ to surrender
its conquests, were rewarded with the thanks of Parliament, the
approbation of their Sovereign, and the royal authority to bear on
their colours the "SPHINX," with the word "EGYPT;" and the officers
were permitted to receive gold medals from the Grand Seignior.
Immediately after the conquest of Egypt, the British generals and
admirals endeavoured to promote still further the interests of
their country by preparing to make additional acquisitions, and the
ROYAL IRISH regiment was one of the corps selected to proceed on
another expedition. Several corps sailed on the 12th of September;
but were met at sea by a ship of war bringing information that
the preliminaries of a treaty of peace were signed; the troops
proceeded to Malta, where the ROYAL IRISH regiment arrived in
October.
After performing garrison duty at Valetta for six weeks, the
regiment proceeded to the island of Elba, and occupied the fortress
of Porto Ferrajo, the French being in possession of other parts of
the island.
[Sidenote: 1802]
The treaty of Amiens being concluded, the regiment sailed for
Ireland in the summer of 1802, and after landing at Cork proceeded
to Armagh.
[Sidenote: 1803]
War was resumed in 1803, and in the summer of that year the
regiment marched to Newry, where it was augmented to _two
battalions_, from the army of reserve. Both battalions were
completed to 1100 men each in less than two months, and in October
the first battalion embarked from Ireland for Scotland; it landed
at Greenock, and proceeded from thence to Edinburgh. It was
followed to Scotland by the second battalion, which was stationed
a short time at Stirling castle; but on the removal of the first
battalion from Edinburgh to Haddington, the second battalion
proceeded to Dunbar.
[Sidenote: 1804]
The threat of invading England made by Napoleon Bonaparte, with
the progress of the naval preparations on the coast of France, and
the presence of a numerous French army at Boulogne, occasioned
the regiment to be withdrawn from Scotland in the summer of 1804,
and to proceed to the south of England, to be in readiness to
repel the invaders, should they venture to land. On quitting
Haddington, Lieut.-Colonel Montresor received a highly gratifying
letter from the magistrates and clergy of that place, expressing
their admiration of the peaceable and regular behaviour of the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the first battalion
during their stay at Haddington, and a tribute of public respect
to the officers for their gentlemanly deportment towards the
respectable inhabitants in the neighbourhood.
Both battalions landed at Ramsgate, and joined the troops encamped
on Barham Downs. On the breaking up of the camp, the second
battalion embarked for the island of Jersey.
[Sidenote: 1805]
Towards the end of January, the first battalion embarked for the
island of Jamaica, where it arrived in May.
[Sidenote: 1807]
In 1807 the second battalion proceeded to the West Indies, and was
stationed at the island of Curaçao.
[Sidenote: 1808]
[Sidenote: 1809]
The ROYAL IRISH regiment being employed in guarding the colonial
possessions of Great Britain, its services were valuable to the
Crown and to the kingdom, and the exemplary conduct of both
battalions was commended by the general officers under whom the
regiment served; but the performance of this duty precluded the
EIGHTEENTH sharing in the brilliant campaigns of the British army
in the Peninsula, where several corps acquired numerous honorary
inscriptions for their regimental colours.
The first battalion sailed from Jamaica on the 7th of June, 1809,
with the troops under Major-General Sir Hugh Lyle Carmichael, to
aid the Spaniards in their attempt to reduce the city of _St.
Domingo_. The British troops landed about thirty miles from the
place, and, advancing to the besieged fortress, found the Spanish
army greatly reduced by sickness. Prompt measures were adopted
for an attack on the place by storm by the British troops, and
the EIGHTEENTH were under arms to take part in this service, when
hostilities were suddenly terminated by the surrender of the
French garrison.
After the deliverance of the city of St. Domingo from the power of
France, the ROYAL IRISH returned to Jamaica.
[Sidenote: 1810]
Very severe losses having been sustained by the second battalion
from the climate of the West Indies, it was directed to transfer
its men fit for service to the first battalion, and embark for
England to recruit. It arrived at Ottery barracks, in Devonshire,
in October 1810, and was joined by the regimental depôt, amounting
to upwards of five hundred men.
[Sidenote: 1811]
In the spring of 1811 the second battalion proceeded to the island
of Jersey.
On the decease of General Sir James Pulteney, Bart., His Royal
Highness the Prince Regent conferred the colonelcy of the ROYAL
IRISH regiment on Lieut.-General John Lord Hutchinson, K.B.,
afterwards Earl of Donoughmore, from the fifty-seventh regiment, by
commission dated the 27th of April, 1811.
[Sidenote: 1814]
The second battalion was employed on garrison duty in the island
of Jersey until the power of Napoleon Bonaparte was overthrown by
the armies of the allies, and the Bourbon family was restored to
the throne of France, which was accompanied by the restoration
of peace to Europe. A reduction was, in consequence, made in the
strength of the British army, and the second battalion of the ROYAL
IRISH regiment was disbanded at Jersey on the 24th of October 1814,
transferring its non-commissioned officers and private soldiers fit
for duty to the first battalion.
[Sidenote: 1817]
After twelve years' service in Jamaica, during which time
it had suffered severely from the effects of climate, and
had lost upwards of fifty officers and nearly three thousand
non-commissioned officers and soldiers, the ROYAL IRISH regiment
received orders to return to England. It landed at Portsmouth in
March, 1817, in so complete a state of discipline and efficiency,
that it was ordered to proceed to Brighton, where it had the honour
of furnishing the usual guard for the Prince Regent during His
Royal Highness' stay at the Pavilion. The regiment was afterwards
removed to Chatham and Sheerness, and in August it proceeded to
Hilsea barracks.
[Sidenote: 1818]
Early in 1818 the ROYAL IRISH regiment marched to Haslar barracks
and Gosport; in December it embarked for Ireland, and, after
landing at Cork, proceeded to Fermoy.
[Sidenote: 1819]
From Fermoy the regiment marched, in January, 1819, to Waterford,
Wexford, Carlow, Duncannon-fort, and Kilkenny; and the excellent
conduct of the men, during their stay in these quarters, elicited
the admiration and gratitude of the public authorities of the
several places, which was communicated to the corps in the
strongest terms.
[Sidenote: 1820]
In July, 1820, the regiment marched to Cork.
[Sidenote: 1821]
Orders having been received for the regiment to transfer its
services to Malta, it embarked from Cork in February, 1821, and
after its arrival on that island the head-quarters were established
in the Cottonera district, with one company detached to the small
island of Gozo.
[Sidenote: 1822]
In November, 1822, the regiment was removed to St. Elmo barracks
and Valetta, where the detached company joined from the island of
Gozo.
[Sidenote: 1823]
After remaining twelve months at St. Elmo barracks, the regiment
was removed to Floriana barracks in November, 1823, detaching two
companies to Fort Manuel and Tignie.
[Sidenote: 1824]