landed at Boston on the 1st of January, 1776. At this period the
British troops at Boston were blocked up on the land side by a
numerous army of provincials; much inconvenience was experienced in
procuring provisions; and as this town did not appear to be a place
calculated to become the base of extensive military operations for
the reduction of the revolted provinces, Lieut.-General Sir William
Howe resolved to vacate Boston, and proceed with the army to Nova
Scotia; this resolution was carried into effect in the middle of
March, when the SEVENTEENTH sailed with the army to Halifax.
Reinforcements being expected from England, the army sailed
from Halifax in June, and, proceeding to the vicinity of New
York, landed, on the 3rd of July, on Staten Island, where the
SEVENTEENTH, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Mawhood, were formed in
brigade with the fortieth, forty-sixth, and fifty-fifth regiments
under Major-General James Grant.
On the 22nd of August a landing was effected on _Long Island_,
and on the evening of the 26th the army was put in motion to pass
a range of woody heights which intersect the island, and attack
the American army in position beyond the hills. The SEVENTEENTH
regiment formed part of the column under Major-General Grant, which
was directed to advance along the coast, with ten pieces of cannon,
to draw the enemy's attention to that quarter. Moving forward at
the appointed hour, this column fell in with the advanced parties
of the Americans about midnight, and, at daybreak on the following
morning, encountered a large force, formed in an advantageous
position defended by artillery. Skirmishing and cannonading
ensued, and was continued, until the Americans discovered, by the
firing at Brooklyn, that the left of their army had been turned
and forced, when they retreated in great confusion through a
morass. They were met and attacked by the second battalion of
grenadiers, which was soon reinforced by the seventy-first regiment
(Highlanders); and were also assailed on the left by Major-General
Grant's corps, and sustained severe loss; many of the Americans
being killed, and others drowned or suffocated in the morass. The
American army was driven from its positions with severe loss, and
made a precipitate retreat to the fortified lines at _Brooklyn_.
The regiment had Captain Sir Alexander Murray and two rank and file
killed; Lieutenant Marcus A. Morgan, one serjeant, and nineteen
rank and file wounded.
The Americans having quitted their fortified lines at Brooklyn
and passed the river to New York, the conquest of Long Island by
the British troops was completed; and the SEVENTEENTH 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.
Afterwards proceeding to the Jerseys, the regiment was stationed at
Brunswick, and subsequently at Princetown.
During the winter, General Washington suddenly passed the Delaware
river, and surprised and made prisoners a corps of Hessians
at Trenton, and afterwards made a precipitate retreat. Being
reinforced, he again passed the river, and took up a position at
Trenton. Major-General the Earl Cornwallis advanced with a division
of British troops, and, after reconnoitring the American position,
sent orders for the SEVENTEENTH, fortieth, and fifty-fifth
regiments to join him from Princetown.
[Sidenote: 1777]
Early on the morning of the 4th of January, 1777, the three
regiments commenced their march. The SEVENTEENTH regiment,
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Charles Mawhood, being in advance,
encountered the van of the American army, General Washington
having suddenly quitted Trenton with his whole force to surprise
the three regiments. The morning being foggy, Lieut.-Colonel
Mawhood could not discern the numbers of the force he had met;
but supposing it to be only a detachment, he instantly attacked
his opponents, and the SEVENTEENTH speedily drove back a force of
very superior numbers with great gallantry. The regiment was soon
environed in front and on both flanks by a numerous force; and
Lieut.-Colonel Mawhood, discovering that he was engaged with the
American army, resolved to make a desperate effort to extricate
himself: having confidence in the valour and resolution of the
regiment, he directed a charge with bayonets to the front, to
break through the American army. Undismayed by the multitudes of
opponents which environed them, the SEVENTEENTH rushed upon the
ranks of the enemy, broke through all opposition, and continued
their march to Maidenhead. Their conduct excited great admiration;
and the Americans acknowledged the superior gallantry of the
regiment. A serious loss was, however, sustained; thirteen officers
and soldiers being killed, fifty-three wounded, and thirty-five
missing: among the former was Captain the Honorable William Lesley,
son of the Earl of Leven, an officer of great promise, whose death
was much regretted.
"The bravery and abilities of Colonel Mawhood, on this occasion,
deservedly gained him the highest applause;"[9] and the resolute
attack of the SEVENTEENTH so occupied the American army, that the
fortieth and fifty-fifth regiments effected their retreat with much
less loss than could have been expected. The American army had many
men killed and wounded on this occasion; among the killed was an
officer of reputation, Brigadier-General Mercer, from Virginia.
When the army took the field, the regiment was employed in
operations in the Jerseys to bring the American army to a general
engagement; but General Washington kept close in his strong
position in the mountains; and the British undertook an expedition
to Pennsylvania: the SEVENTEENTH were employed in this enterprise,
and were formed in brigade with the fifteenth, forty-second, and
forty-fourth regiments, under Major-General (afterwards Earl) Grey.
A landing was effected on the northern shore of Elk River on the
25th of August; and the army of the revolted provinces took up
a position at _Brandywine_ to oppose the advance; an attack was
made on the position on the 11th of September, when the Americans
were driven from their ground with loss. On this occasion the
SEVENTEENTH formed part of the column under Major-General Earl
Cornwallis.
Advancing upon Philadelphia, the British troops took possession of
that city, and the army took up a position at _Germantown_. The
Americans attempted to surprise the British troops early on the
morning of the 4th of October, and they gained some advantage at
the first, but were speedily repulsed with severe loss. On this
occasion several companies of the fortieth regiment, commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel Musgrave, threw themselves into a building, where
they were attacked by an American brigade; when Major-General Grey
brought forward the SEVENTEENTH and another British regiment, and
drove back the enemy with great gallantry.
Ensign Nathaniel Philips and four rank and file of the regiment
were killed on this occasion; and three serjeants and twenty-one
rank and file were wounded.
[Sidenote: 1778]
The regiment passed the winter in quarters in Philadelphia, and
in the spring of 1778 it furnished several detachments, which
ranged the country in various directions to open communications for
obtaining provisions. The regiment also took part in the fatigues
and difficulties of the march of the army from Philadelphia,
through the Jerseys, in order to its return to New York; and
its flank companies were engaged in repulsing the attack of the
enemy on the rear of the column, at _Freehold_, in New Jersey,
on the 28th of June, on which occasion Captain William Brereton,
commanding the grenadier company, was wounded.
[Sidenote: 1779]
The regiment was stationed at New York, and other posts in the
vicinity of that city; and when _Stoney Point_, a fortified post
on the river Hudson, had been captured by the British troops, the
SEVENTEENTH, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Henry Johnson, were placed
in garrison at that fort. On the night of the 15th of July, 1779,
this post was suddenly beset by nearly four thousand Americans
under General Wayne, who assaulted the works. The SEVENTEENTH made
a gallant resistance, but were overpowered by superior numbers:
Captain Tew, an officer of distinguished gallantry, and a number of
soldiers were killed, and the survivors were made prisoners of war.
[Sidenote: 1780]
[Sidenote: 1781]
The regiment remained some time in custody, and, being afterwards
exchanged, the men fit for duty were formed into a small battalion,
and, being united with a number of detachments of provincial
troops, they were placed under the orders of Colonel Watson, of
the foot-guards. They sailed from New York in October, 1780, with
a detachment under Major-General the Honorable Alexander Leslie,
and landed in Virginia. They were employed in various services
there, and early in 1781 they were directed to join the army under
Earl Cornwallis. This army attacked the Americans at _Guildford
Court House_ on the 15th of March, and gained a victory. After
performing much harassing service the troops under Earl Cornwallis
took possession of _York Town_ and Gloucester, where they were
invested by the combined French and American forces in September.
They defended York Town until the works were destroyed by the
enemy's batteries, and, when no possibility remained of being able
to resist successfully, they surrendered, and the SEVENTEENTH again
became prisoners of war, but did not remain long in custody before
they were exchanged.
[Sidenote: 1782]
In 1782 the regiment was stationed in Virginia.
On the death of Lieut.-General the Honorable Robert Monckton,
King George III. conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on
Major-General George Morrison, from the seventy-fifth regiment
(afterwards disbanded), by commission dated the 29th of May, 1782.
In August of this year orders were issued for the regiment to
assume the title of the SEVENTEENTH, OR THE LEICESTERSHIRE
REGIMENT, and to cultivate a connection with that county, which
might, at all times, be useful towards recruiting.
[Sidenote: 1783]
In the early part of 1783 the regiment was stationed at New York.
Peace having been concluded with the Americans, the regiment was
removed to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, where it was stationed
during the years 1784 and 1785.
[Sidenote: 1786]
Having been relieved from duty in North America, the regiment
embarked for England, where it arrived in August, 1786.
[Sidenote: 1789]
In the year in which the regiment returned to England, a company
of merchants, residing in the East Indies, formed a settlement at
Nootka Sound,--a bay of the North Pacific Ocean, on the west coast
of North America,--with the view of obtaining furs. This settlement
was seized by the Spaniards in 1789, and two ships were detained.
To chastise this violation of British enterprise and liberty, a
fleet was fitted out, and the SEVENTEENTH were embarked to serve
as marines, but the subject was settled without hostilities taking
place.
[Sidenote: 1792]
Lieut.-General Morrison was removed to the fourth foot in 1792,
and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the SEVENTEENTH regiment
by Major-General George Garth, from lieut.-colonel in the first
foot-guards.
[Sidenote: 1793]
[Sidenote: 1796]
[Sidenote: 1798]
The regiment was employed on home service during the early part of
the war of the French Revolution, and was stationed in Ireland,
from whence it embarked on the 25th of February, 1796, for the
island of St. Domingo, where a contest was being carried on between
the British troops and the republican forces on that island.
The climate of St. Domingo proved particularly injurious to the
health of the British troops, and the SEVENTEENTH regiment lost
Lieut.-Colonel Hooke, and several other officers and a number of
men, by disease; also a few men in skirmishes with the republican
troops. The island was eventually evacuated, and the surviving
officers and men embarked for England in 1798, and landed at
Deptford in January, 1799.
[Sidenote: 1799]
In this year the soldiers of the militia corps were permitted
to volunteer their services into regiments of the regular army,
when fifteen hundred men volunteered to the SEVENTEENTH regiment,
which was augmented to _two battalions_, the second battalion
being placed on the establishment of the army in the beginning of
August, under the orders of colonel-commandant Major-General Eyre
Coote; four lieut.-colonels and four majors being placed on the
establishment.
A favourable opportunity appearing to present itself for rescuing
Holland from the power of France, Great Britain and Russia sent
a body of troops to that country, under the command of his
Royal Highness the Duke of York; and the two battalions of the
SEVENTEENTH formed part of the leading division of the British
force under Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, which effected
a landing on the Dutch coast, near the _Helder_, on the 27th of
August, and defeated a body of French and Dutch troops.
The SEVENTEENTH were engaged in repulsing an attack of the enemy on
the 10th of September, when the first battalion had two rank and
file killed, and the second two killed and eighteen wounded.
At the attack of the enemy's positions on the 19th of September,
the regiment distinguished itself; but the inconsiderate valour
of the Russians occasioned a failure. The first battalion had six
rank and file killed; Major William Grey, Major Peter Cockbourne,
Captains M. J. Grace and William Knight, Lieutenant Charles Wilson,
Ensign J. Thompson, two serjeants, and thirty-four rank and file
wounded; Lieutenant Wickham and three rank and file missing: the
second battalion had two men killed; Major Robert Wood, Lieutenant
William Saunders, and nineteen rank and file wounded.
In the action at _Bergen_ on the 2nd of October, the regiment
was again engaged, and had two rank and file killed; Lieutenants
William Wynne and Joshua Morrison, and five men wounded. The Dutch
people not seconding these gallant efforts for their deliverance,
the army returned to England.
[Sidenote: 1800]
[Sidenote: 1802]
The regiment embarked from England in May, 1800, and proceeded
to Minorca to join the armament assembled to co-operate with the
Austrians in Italy; and when this enterprise was abandoned, the
regiment remained at Minorca, where it was stationed until the
peace of Amiens in 1802, when it embarked for Ireland, and, landing
at Cork in August, was reduced to one battalion.
[Sidenote: 1803]
Hostilities were resumed in 1803; in July of that year the regiment
was suddenly ordered from Limerick to Dublin, where a serious
riot had taken place on the 23rd of July, when Lord Chief Justice
Kilwarden, and his nephew the Rev. Richard Wolfe, were attacked in
his carriage and murdered by the rioters.
[Sidenote: 1804]
Embarking from Ireland in April, 1804, the regiment proceeded to
the Isle of Wight; in July it sailed for the East Indies, and
arrived at Fort William in December; having lost Ensign Strickland
by disease on the voyage.
[Sidenote: 1805]
In June and July, 1805, the health of the officers and soldiers
suffered severely from the effects of the climate. The casualties
were replaced by a strong detachment from England, and the
effective strength was augmented to twelve hundred and sixty
officers and soldiers. In September the whole embarked in boats for
the upper provinces; the head-quarters and three companies landed
and encamped a short period at Allahabad; the other companies
proceeded to Cawnpore, where they were joined by the head-quarters.
[Sidenote: 1806]
Two companies were detached, in October, 1806, with some artillery,
under Captain Nicoll, to reduce a fort on the right bank of the
Jumna; but it was evacuated by the insurgents on the approach of
the detachment, and the two companies returned to their cantonments.
[Sidenote: 1807]
On the 20th of December two companies of the regiment marched
under Captain Hawkins for the purpose of reducing several forts
in the mountainous district of Bundelkund, which was resigned to
the British by the Mahrattas in 1804; but several chiefs proved
refractory. Little resistance was made excepting at _Chumar_, which
place was captured by storm in January, 1807, on which occasion
Lieutenant Peter McGregor was killed gallantly fighting in the
breach. Lieutenant Despard also distinguished himself; he received
a contusion in ascending the breach.
In an official communication on this subject, it was stated:
"In justice to the merits of two companies of His Majesty's
SEVENTEENTH regiment, forming part of the army immediately
employed in Coonch, Major-General Dowdesdell, divesting his mind
of every ground or intention of partiality, cannot forego the
expression of the sincere pleasure he has received from numerous
concurrent testimonies of their excellent behaviour, which is
generally allowed to have been conspicuous in the affair at Chumar,
and uniformly to redound to the credit and highly appreciated
character of His Majesty's SEVENTEENTH regiment."
The two companies returned to Cawnpore, where the regiment remained
until September, when it commenced its march for Muttra.
In October five companies took the field under Lieut.-Colonel
Hardyman, for the purpose of attacking the fort of _Comona_,
and on the 19th of November the breach was stormed with great
gallantry; but it was found impracticable, and the troops were
forced to retire. The enemy was, however, so fully impressed with
a sense of British valour and perseverance, that he fled from the
fort during the night. Captains Radcliff and Kirk, Lieutenants
Harvey and Harrison, three serjeants, and forty-four rank and file
of the SEVENTEENTH were killed in the act of making a gallant
effort to ascend the breach; at the same time Lieutenants Wilson,
Campbell, and Dadingstone, two serjeants, ninety-three rank and
file were wounded. Pay-serjeant Suttle distinguished himself, and
was killed at the top of the breach. The conduct of the troops
on this occasion was highly commended in General Orders by the
Governor-General in Council: Lieut.-Colonel Hardyman of the
regiment was particularly noticed.
The other companies of the SEVENTEENTH were afterwards withdrawn
from Muttra, and the regiment was employed some time in pursuit of
the hostile tribes, which made a short resistance at the fort of
Gonoivie, and afterwards fled. The regiment then returned to Muttra.
[Sidenote: 1808]
[Sidenote: 1809]
In November, 1808, the regiment joined the force under
Major-General St. Leger advancing against the Sikhs, and proceeded
as far as the river Sutlej without meeting with serious
opposition. The dispute being settled by negotiation, no action
of importance took place, and in the beginning of May, 1809, the
regiment returned to Muttra, where its efficiency was increased by
a large detachment from England. In November the regiment marched
for Meerut, Muttra being discontinued as a station for European
troops.
[Sidenote: 1810]
[Sidenote: 1811]
The regiment remained at Meerut during the years 1810 and 1811. On
the 4th of June of this year Colonel R. Stovin was promoted to the
rank of major-general, and was succeeded in the command by Colonel
Frederick Hardyman, the second lieut.-colonel.
[Sidenote: 1812]
[Sidenote: 1813]
From Meerut the regiment marched in November, 1812, for Ghazeepore,
where nine companies arrived in January, 1813. Two companies were
stationed at Chumar fourteen months, and afterwards joined the
regiment. In April, 1813, four companies marched under Captain
Despard, to Secrole and Mirzapore, for the purpose of watching
and intercepting the bands of marauders called _Pindarees_, who
infested the British territory: these companies rejoined the
regiment in June.
[Sidenote: 1814]
The depredations of the Nepaulese having brought on a war with
that kingdom, the regiment was called from its quarters at
Ghazeepore, to join the army invading that mountainous country.
It commenced its march on the 31st of October, and, joining the
division under Major-General John Sulivan Wood, was engaged in
the unsuccessful attack on _Jutgurgh_. The Major-General stated
in his despatch--"His Majesty's SEVENTEENTH regiment of foot led
the column, headed by its gallant commander, Colonel Hardyman,
and supported by the grenadiers of the second battalion of the
seventeenth and fourteenth regiments of Native infantry, and
advanced upon the works; while the grenadiers and one battalion
company of His Majesty's SEVENTEENTH succeeded in gaining the
hill on the right of the redoubt. This party was led by a brave
and cool officer, Captain William Croker, who drove the enemy up
the hill, killing a chief, Sooraj Tappah: still the fire from the
enemy, concealed by the trees, was kept up with great obstinacy,
and the hill which rose immediately behind the works was filled
with troops, rendering the post, if it had been carried, wholly
untenable. I therefore determined to stop the fruitless waste of
lives, by sounding the retreat." The regiment lost several men on
this occasion, and had Lieutenants Matthew Pickering and Arthur
Poyntz wounded.
Afterwards joining the army under Major-General George Wood, the
regiment took part in several operations, and subsequently returned
to its cantonments. The rulers of Nepaul were brought to submission.
[Sidenote: 1815]
The regiment was stationed at Ghazeepore during the year 1815.
[Sidenote: 1816]
In 1816 a combination of Native princes against the British
authority called part of the regiment into the field; in July of
that year the flank companies under Captain Croker proceeded to
join a flank battalion forming at Allahabad, to unite with the army
proceeding against Scindia, under the Marquis of Hastings.
[Sidenote: 1817]
The battalion companies of the regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel
Nicoll, formed, in October, 1817, part of the brigade under
Brigadier-General Hardyman, which was ordered to proceed by forced
marches towards Nagpore, where a body of British troops was
surrounded. On the march a considerable portion of the enemy's
troops were discovered in order of battle in front of _Jubblepore_,
with their right to the hills. The enemy's guns were captured by
a charge of the eighth Native cavalry, and the Arab infantry were
attacked, overpowered, and driven from their ground with severe
loss, by the SEVENTEENTH regiment. The two corps were thanked in
General Orders for their distinguished conduct on this occasion.
The SEVENTEENTH lost a few men, and had Lieutenants Maw and
Nicholson wounded.
The enemy evacuated the fortified town of Jubblepore, leaving a
quantity of stores; and the regiment continued its march towards
Nagpore. Being obliged to halt two or three days at Lucknadoon,
for the elephants to come up with provision, information was
received of the overthrow of the Nagpore Rajah's forces, and of the
termination of his resistance: the regiment then returned to its
cantonments at Ghazeepore: it received prize-money for the capture
of Nagpore.
[Sidenote: 1818]
The regiment remained at Ghazeepore until December, 1818, when it
proceeded by water to Fort William, where it arrived on the 24th of
January following.
[Sidenote: 1819]
General Garth died, after commanding the regiment twenty-six years,
and was succeeded by Lieut.-General Sir Josiah Champagné, G.C.H.,
from the forty-first regiment.