this fortress by the English, with a British garrison on the top
of the rocky promontory overlooking the provinces of Spain, had
been regarded by the Spaniards with great jealousy: every attempt
to retake it had failed. Great Britain attached much importance
to the possession of it; but the contest between the revolted
provinces in North America and England appeared to present to the
Spanish monarch a favourable opportunity for regaining possession
of this valuable fortress. When the French monarch acknowledged
the independence of the United States, and commenced hostilities
against Britain, the time appeared particularly favourable for
another effort to recapture Gibraltar, and in the summer of 1779,
that fortress was beset, by sea and land, by the Spanish fleets and
armies.
The garrison consisted of the TWELFTH, thirty-ninth, fifty-sixth,
fifty-eighth, and (late) seventy-second British, with the
Hanoverian regiments of Hardenberg, Reden, and De la Motte, and
a proportion of artillery and engineers. The TWELFTH mustered
twenty-nine officers, twenty-nine serjeants, twenty-two drummers,
and five hundred and nineteen rank and file, under the command of
Lieut.-Colonel Trigge: the garrison mustered five thousand three
hundred and eighty-two men, under the orders of General Eliott,
afterwards Lord Heathfield.[14]
Being blockaded by sea and besieged by land, the troops at
Gibraltar became cut off from communication with all countries,
and the garrison was like a little world within itself. The
arrangements for the defence were devised with judgment, and
executed with skill. The soldiers conformed to the strict rules
which their circumstances rendered necessary, and severe exercise
and short diet became habitual to them; at the same time the
extensive preparations of the enemy, the great importance of the
fortress, and the determined character of General Eliott and his
garrison, occasioned this siege to become a subject of universal
interest, and the eyes of all Europe were directed towards
Gibraltar, watching the result of the contest.
As the enemy's works progressed, the pavement of the streets was
taken up, the towers of conspicuous buildings were pulled down, the
guard-houses unroofed, the stone sentry-boxes removed, traverses
raised, a covered way begun, and every measure adopted to prevent
the bombardment of the place being attended with serious results.
[Sidenote: 1780]
Early in 1780 provisions became short, and the soldiers cheerfully
submitted to privation; but soon afterwards the garrison was
relieved by a fleet from England: the wants of the troops were,
however, not supplied in many important articles.
[Sidenote: 1781]
The Spaniards renewed the blockade by sea, and sent nine fire-ships
into the harbour, but failed in the attempt to destroy the
shipping. Provisions soon became deficient again; vegetables were
cultivated on the rock with some success; a precarious supply of
several articles was obtained from the Moors, and in April, 1781,
the garrison was again relieved.
The siege was continued, and a severe bombardment reduced a great
part of the town to a heap of ruins.
General Eliott deliberately watched the progress of the enemy, and
kept his garrison close within the fortress, until a favourable
opportunity presented itself for a sally, when the following
'Evening garrison order' was issued, dated November 26, 1781:
'COUNTERSIGN, STEADY.--All the grenadiers and light infantry in
the garrison, and all the men of the TWELFTH and Hardenberg's
regiments, with the officers and non-commissioned officers on duty,
to be immediately relieved and join their regiments, to form a
detachment, consisting of the TWELFTH and Hardenberg's regiments
complete; the grenadiers and light infantry of all the other
regiments; one captain, three lieutenants, ten non-commissioned
officers and a hundred artillery; three engineers, seven officers,
ten non-commissioned officers, overseers, with a hundred and sixty
workmen from the line, and forty workmen from the artificer corps;
each man to have thirty-six rounds of ammunition, with a good
flint in his piece, and another in his pocket; the whole to be
commanded by Brigadier-General Ross, and to assemble on the red
sands, at twelve o'clock this night, to make a _sortie_ upon the
enemy's batteries. The thirty-ninth and fifty-eighth regiments to
parade at the same hour, on the grand parade, under the command of
Brigadier-General Picton, to sustain the _sortie_ if necessary.'
The TWELFTH appeared on parade at the appointed hour, and mustered
twenty-six officers, twenty-eight serjeants, two drummers, and
four hundred and thirty rank and file, ready to engage in this
enterprise. It was the hour of midnight; the moon shone brightly,
and all was still in the enemy's camp. The soldiers waited two
hours, when the moon set, darkness overspread the sky, and they
issued silently from the fortress. The Spanish regiments were
asleep in the camp; their guards at the batteries were also
reposing, when suddenly the sound of a trampling multitude was
heard approaching them; their sentries called, and receiving
no answer, fired their muskets and hurried to the guards. They
were followed by the British at a running pace; the guards were
surprised, the batteries captured, and two Spanish officers, with
sixteen soldiers, were made prisoners; the Spanish guards were
astounded by the suddenness of the onset in the dark; they hurried
to their lines, communicating a panic to the troops in their
rear. The British instantly commenced the work of destruction.
'The batteries (constructed of wood upon the sands) were soon in a
state for the fire-faggots to operate, and the flame spread with
astonishing rapidity into every part. The column of fire and smoke
which rolled from the works, beautifully illuminated the troops
and neighbouring objects, forming altogether a _coup-d'œil_ not
possible to be described.'[15]
In one hour the object of the _sortie_ was fully effected; the
Spaniards, being dismayed, did not venture to interrupt the work;
and trains being laid to the enemy's magazines, the TWELFTH, and
other troops which had made the sally, retired; as they entered the
fortress, tremendous explosions shook the ground like the shocks
of an earthquake, accompanied by rising volumes of smoke, flame,
and burning timber, which proclaimed the destruction of the enemy's
immense stores of gunpowder.
Thus was completed, with success beyond the expectations of
every one, an enterprise of the greatest magnitude; and General
Eliott declared in orders, 'the bravery and conduct of the whole
detachment, officers, soldiers, and sailors, on this glorious
occasion, surpassed his utmost expectation.' The loss of the
TWELFTH regiment was limited to Lieutenant Tweedie and four private
soldiers wounded: the total loss of the garrison was four soldiers
killed, one officer and twenty-four soldiers wounded, one man
missing.[16]
For several days the Spaniards appeared confounded at their
disgrace; the smoke of the burning batteries continued to rise,
and no attempt was made to extinguish the flames; but several
executions took place in their camp, probably of persons who fled
so precipitately from the batteries. In the beginning of December
they began to arouse themselves, and a thousand workmen commenced
labouring to restore the batteries, in which they were retarded by
the fire of the garrison.
The Spaniards, by their heavy fire on the fortress, had already
spoiled three sets of guns; but the court of Madrid appeared bent
on capturing Gibraltar. An immense quantity of ordnance of larger
calibre was provided, numerous batteries were prepared, and the
Duke of Crillon assumed the command of the besieging army. He was
assisted by a celebrated French engineer, Monsieur d'Arcon, and
by Admiral Moreno, and a French army arrived to take part in the
siege. At the same time stupendous preparations were made on a new
principle, and floating batteries were constructed with great art
and labour, and were accounted the most perfect contrivance of the
kind ever seen.
[Sidenote: 1782]
A crisis was evidently approaching, and in the spring and summer
of 1782, the garrison of Gibraltar made preparations with cool
determination for the hour of trial: the officers and soldiers
appeared to be impressed with their peculiar situation; an
important fortress was confided to their protection; they had
defended it against the efforts of the Spanish army and navy
upwards of two years; and the eyes of all Europe were directed
towards them. The damaged works were carefully repaired, new ones
were constructed, extensive subterraneous works were prepared, and
forges for heating red-hot shot were got ready; every serjeant,
drummer, musician, and officer's servant, as well as the corporals
and private soldiers, used a shovel, pickaxe, or musket, according
as their services were required. The effect of the red-hot shot was
proved on some of the enemy's wooden batteries on the sands, which
were speedily destroyed.
The Duke of Crillon anticipated the most signal success from the
extensive preparations he was making; his camp was visited by
princes of the royal blood of France, by Spanish nobility, and
other dignified characters of Europe, who came to be spectators of
the fall of the fortress under the heavy fire of artillery which
was about to be opened upon it. The new batteries on shore were
unmasked, and fired a volley of sixty shells, which was followed
by the thunder of one hundred and seventy guns of large calibre.
Thus was Gibraltar assailed by a storm of iron, which threatened
to reduce the fortress to a heap of ruins, and this was only a
prelude to the tremendous fire which was afterwards opened upon the
garrison.
On the 13th of September, the ten battering ships took their
station before the fortress, in the presence of the combined fleets
of France and Spain: the enemy's camp and neighbouring hills were
crowded with spectators from various parts of Europe, to witness
the effect of these stupendous vessels, and such a storm of war
was opened upon the garrison, as was probably never heard before
since the invention of cannon. The batteries of the fortress
answered this tremendous fire with vigour, and the deafening
thunder of four hundred pieces of heavy artillery was heard for
many miles. For some hours the attack and defence were so equally
well supported, as scarcely to admit any appearance of superiority
in the cannonade on either side. The wonderful construction of the
battering ships seemed to bid defiance to the heaviest ordnance;
shells rebounded from their tops, and a thirty-two pound shot
scarcely seemed to make any impression on them. The effect of the
red-hot shot was doubted; sometimes smoke came from the ships, but
the fire-engines within soon occasioned it to cease, and the result
was uncertain; the fire was, however, persevered in, and incessant
showers of red-hot bullets, shells, and carcases flew through
the air. In the afternoon the effects of the red-hot shot became
apparent, and volumes of smoke issued from the flag-ship; the
Admiral's second ship was perceived to be in the same condition,
and confusion prevailed. The Spaniards expected that the firing of
red-hot bullets could not be persevered in beyond a few rounds;
but the fire was continued with the same precision and vivacity
as cold shot. The effects of the hot balls occasioned the enemy's
cannonade to abate, and about eight o'clock it almost totally
ceased. The battering ships made signals to inform the combined
fleets of their extreme danger and distress, and several boats were
sent to their aid. At this period the fire of the garrison produced
great carnage, and the most pitiable cries and groans were heard,
as the incessant showers of shot and shells were poured into the
floating batteries. Soon after midnight one ship was in flames, and
by two o'clock she appeared one sheet of fire from head to stern; a
second was soon in the same state; the flames enabled the British
artillery to point their guns with precision, and soon after
three o'clock six more ships exhibited the effects of the red-hot
shot. The burning ships exhibited one of the grandest spectacles
of destruction ever beheld; and amidst this dreadful scene of
conflagration, the British seamen in boats were seen endeavouring
to rescue the Spaniards from the blazing ships. They preserved
between three and four hundred; and while they were thus engaged,
one of the ships blew up with a dreadful explosion; four others met
the same fate before seven o'clock, and another shortly afterwards,
and the remainder burnt to the water's edge, their magazines having
been inundated; not one could be preserved as a trophy.
Thus did the mighty efforts of France and Spain end in defeat
and destruction, and the gallant efforts of the brave soldiers
who defended Gibraltar elicited the admiration of the nations in
Europe. In England the most enthusiastic applause was universal;
illuminations and other modes of testifying the joy of the people
followed the receipt of the news of the destruction of the boasted
invincible battering ships, and every family which could boast a
defender of Gibraltar belonging to it, was proud of the honour.
The loss of the garrison, on the 13th and 14th of September,
was limited to one officer, two serjeants, and thirteen private
soldiers killed; five officers and sixty-three rank and file
wounded; that of the enemy exceeded two thousand officers and
soldiers.
Although the enemy gave up all hopes of reducing Gibraltar by
force of arms, yet some expectation was entertained, that, if the
blockade were continued, the garrison might be forced to surrender
from the want of provisions; the combined fleet therefore remained
in the bay, the besieging army continued in the lines, and about
a thousand shots were fired every day from the Spanish batteries.
The garrison was encouraged to continue resolute in the defence of
the fortress by assurances of their Sovereign's favour and high
approbation. The principal Secretary of State, writing to General
Eliott, stated,--'I am honored with His Majesty's commands to
assure you, in the strongest terms, that no encouragement shall
be wanting to the brave officers and soldiers under your command;
his royal approbation of the past will, no doubt, be a powerful
incentive to future exertions, and I have the King's authority
to assure you, that every distinguished act of emulation and
gallantry, which shall be performed in the course of the siege, by
any, even of the lowest rank, will meet with ample reward from his
gracious protection and favour.'
[Sidenote: 1783]
In October, the combined fleet was much damaged by a storm; and
soon afterwards a British naval force arrived, and the garrison
was again relieved; when two regiments, the twenty-fifth and
fifty-ninth, landed to take part in the defence of the fortress.
After the garrison was thus relieved and reinforced a third time,
the Court of Madrid gave up all hopes of gaining possession of
Gibraltar either by force or stratagem: negociations ensued, and
in February, 1783, the Spanish army decamped; the preliminary
articles for a treaty of peace having been signed in the preceding
month. Thus ended the siege of "GIBRALTAR," which is celebrated in
the military annals of the eighteenth century, and the successful
defence of that fortress, ranks among the noblest efforts of the
British arms: it exceeded in duration the famous siege of OSTEND,
in the beginning of the seventeenth century.[17]
The TWELFTH regiment of foot was rewarded, with the other corps
which took part in this long and arduous service, with the thanks
of its Sovereign, and of the Houses of Parliament, and with the
honour of bearing on its colours the word 'GIBRALTAR,' with the
'_Castle and Key_,' and the motto '_Montis Insignia Calpé_,' in
commemoration of its services during the siege.[18]
The loss of the regiment during the siege of Gibraltar was--
+-------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+---------+
| | Officers.| Serjeants.| Drummers.| Rank and|
| | | | | File. |
+-------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+---------+
| Killed | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| Died of Wounds | | | | 10 |
| Disabled by Wounds | 1 | | | 10 |
| Wounded, that recovered | 2 | 4 | 7 | 89 |
| Died of Diseases | | 3 | | 32 |
| +----------+-----------+----------+---------+
| Total | 4 | 10 | 8 | 154 |
+-------------------------+----------+-----------+----------+---------+
During the period the TWELFTH were engaged in the glorious defence
of Gibraltar, county-titles were given to the several regiments of
infantry, and the communication with England having become free,
the TWELFTH received directions to assume the title of the 'EAST
SUFFOLK REGIMENT,' and to cultivate a connection with that part of
the country, in order to facilitate the recruiting of the regiment.
[Illustration:
_J. M. Jopling del^t._ _Madeley Lith. 3 Wellington S^t Strand._
TWELFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
VIEW OF THE NORTH PART OF GIBRALTAR, AND OF THE ATTACK BY LAND AND
SEA SEPT^R 13^{TH} & 14^{TH} 1782
_For Cannons Military Records_]
In November, the TWELFTH were relieved from duty at the fortress of
Gibraltar, which they had so gallantly defended, and returned to
England; they landed at Portsmouth, from whence they proceeded to
Hilsea barracks, and in December, they marched to Windsor.
[Sidenote: 1784]
King George III. was highly gratified at having a corps, which
had distinguished itself during the memorable siege of Gibraltar,
employed near his person, and on the 1st and 8th of June, 1784,
His Majesty reviewed the TWELFTH regiment in Windsor Park, in the
presence of the Royal Family, and many distinguished personages,
and expressed, in very gracious terms, his high approbation of its
appearance and discipline, and of its conduct during the siege of
Gibraltar.
The regiment remained at Windsor on the King's duty until November,
when it proceeded to Chatham.
[Sidenote: 1785]
[Sidenote: 1786]
[Sidenote: 1787]
[Sidenote: 1788]
During the years 1785, 1786, and 1787, the regiment was stationed
successively at Newcastle, Tynemouth, Sunderland, Musselburgh,
Ayr, Edinburgh, and Plymouth; on the 10th of January, 1788, it was
reviewed by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, afterwards King
George IV., who was then in the seventeenth year of his age, and
his person and accomplishments excited the admiration of all who
beheld him. In a few days after the review, the regiment proceeded
to the islands of Jersey and Guernsey.
[Sidenote: 1790]
The TWELFTH were relieved from duty at Jersey and Guernsey in
March, 1790, and sailed to Portsmouth. Two months afterwards,
orders were received for the regiment to serve on board the fleet
as marines, and in the middle of June it embarked on board of His
Majesty's ships 'Barfleur,' 'Carnatic,' 'Bellona,' 'Impregnable,'
'Magnificent,' and 'Edgar'; at the same time the staff officers,
musicians, and a few soldiers who were not employed on this
service, proceeded to Hilsea barracks.
After six months' service as marines the companies landed and
joined the head-quarters at Hilsea barracks; towards the end of
December the whole embarked for Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1791]
[Sidenote: 1792]
[Sidenote: 1793]
The regiment landed near Cork on the 5th of January, 1791, and
marched to Kinsale; in the summer of 1792, it proceeded to Dublin,
from whence it was removed in March, 1793, to Drogheda.
In the meantime a revolution had taken place in France; men
of violent republican principles had seized on the reins of
government, beheaded their Sovereign, and involved Europe in
another war. The pernicious doctrines of liberty and equality
had been disseminated in the French West India Islands, and the
European planters had solicited the protection of the British arms
against the fury of the mulattoes and negroes. War was commenced
to arrest the tyrannical proceedings of aggression pursued by
the French republic;--a British army was sent to Flanders under
His Royal Highness the Duke of York; additional forces were sent
to the West Indies, and in November the flank companies of the
TWELFTH foot, commanded by Captains Tweedie and Perryn, Lieutenants
Mathews, Leister, Leister junior, and O'Brien, embarked for the
West Indies.
[Sidenote: 1794]
The deliverance of the French West India Islands from republican
domination, was undertaken in January, 1794; the flank companies
of the TWELFTH joined the expedition under General Sir Charles
Grey, K. B. (afterwards Earl Grey), at Barbadoes, and were engaged
in the attack of _Martinico_. A landing was effected at three
different points in the early part of February, and after some
sharp fighting, in which the companies of the TWELFTH signalized
themselves, particularly the grenadier company, forming part of the
brigade commanded by Prince Edward (afterwards Duke of Kent), which
captured Fort Royal by escalade on the 17th of March, and carried
Morne Tartisson by storm, the island was captured. In his despatch,
Sir Charles Grey stated,--'All the officers and soldiers of this
little army merit the greatest praise.' The loss of the TWELFTH
foot was limited to a few private soldiers killed and wounded.
From Martinico the flank companies of the TWELFTH sailed with the
expedition against _St. Lucia_, where the troops arrived on the
1st of April, and the companies of the TWELFTH took part in the
reduction of that island, which was accomplished in three days
without loss.
The flank companies were afterwards engaged in the capture of
_Guadaloupe_ and its dependencies, in which service they lost
several men. The rapid success with which the British empire was
thus extended, by the addition of three valuable islands and their
dependencies, excited great admiration; and Sir Charles Grey
stated in his despatch, that he 'could not find words to convey an
adequate idea, or to express the high sense he entertained, of the
extraordinary merit evinced by the officers and soldiers in this
service.'
While the flank companies were engaged in the capture of the
French West India Islands, the regiment was withdrawn from Ireland
to reinforce the troops under the Duke of York in Flanders; it
embarked from Drogheda on the 7th of March, landed at Parkgate on
the 14th, re-embarked at Greenwich on the 1st of May, and landed at
Ostend on the 6th of that month.
On arriving at the seat of war, the regiment was ordered to join
the corps under the Austrian General Count Clerfait, who commanded
the troops in West Flanders, and it was attached to the division
under Major-General Hammerstein, together with the thirty-eighth
and fifty-fifth regiments, and the eighth light dragoons.
The TWELFTH regiment, commanded by Major Frederick Bowes,
consisting of eight hundred and fifteen rank and file, took part
in numerous operations, and was engaged in the general attack on
the French positions on the 17th and 18th of May. On the latter
day, the TWELFTH were engaged in driving the enemy from _Werwick_,
and in forcing the passage of the river _Lys_, on which occasion
they highly distinguished themselves; but the operations on the
above two days were not successful, from the want of a more perfect
combination in the movements of the several divisions, and from the
superior numbers of the enemy.