the Travancoreans did not hazard another general attack; but they
frequently endeavoured to surprise the piquets in the night, in
which they were always defeated. On the 13th of February, the
nineteenth regiment arrived from Columbo; and the troops were only
prevented advancing up the country from the want of stores and the
means of conveyance. A small supply having arrived, they advanced
in two columns, the first composed of the TWELFTH and a battalion
of Sepoys, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Picton; and the second, of
the nineteenth and a battalion of Sepoys, under Lieut.-Colonel
Stewart, and by a combined attack they captured the enemy's
stockade and extensive breast-works, in gallant style, on the 21st
of February.
In the meantime another British force had penetrated the
Travancore country under Colonel St. Leger, and this army arrived
at Travandapatam, the capital, without meeting with serious
opposition. The refractory Rajah made overtures for peace, and the
TWELFTH regiment returned to Coulan, detaching the flank companies
to the capital.
The regiment commenced its march for Seringapatam, on the 23rd of
May; but was forced to halt several days in consequence of the
heavy rains of the Malabar monsoon, which rendered the rivers
impassable, swept away part of the regimental baggage, and drowned
several men in the rapid currents which rushed along the low
grounds. On the 24th of July the regiment arrived at Trichinopoly.
[Sidenote: 1810]
In Europe, the war with France was being prosecuted with vigour,
and in the month of March, 1810, the flank companies of the
regiment were completed to one hundred rank and file each, and
marched under Captain Forssteen, for Madras, to take part in an
expedition against the French island of _Bourbon_, situate in
the Indian ocean, about four hundred miles east of Madagascar.
In June the expedition arrived at Rodriguez, and in July came in
sight of the island of Bourbon, when the surf was so high as to
render a landing dangerous; an attempt was, however, made; the
light infantry of the TWELFTH in a small schooner, and about three
hundred men of the thirty-third and sixty-ninth regiments in boats,
approached the shore and effected a landing with the loss of a few
men drowned; but the schooner and boats were dashed to pieces, the
soldiers' ammunition damaged, and many of their arms lost. As no
more men could be landed, Lieutenant Foulkstone of the sixty-ninth
regiment volunteered to swim through the surf and convey orders to
Lieut.-Colonel Macleod, to take possession of _St. Marie_. This
order was instantly obeyed, and the light infantry of the TWELFTH
distinguished themselves in storming the batteries, in which
service they had two private soldiers killed; Lieutenants John
Spinks, and John B. Whannell, with five rank and file wounded. The
grenadier company of the TWELFTH, and other corps afterwards landed
at Grand Chaloupe, and by their spirited conduct, particularly the
gallant behaviour of the eighty-sixth regiment, the reduction of
the island was speedily accomplished.
While the flank companies were engaged in this service, the
regiment was stationed at Wallajahbad, from whence it marched, in
August, to St. Thomas's Mount, and in September to Madras, where
it embarked on board the "Russell," of seventy-four guns, and the
"Cornwallis," "Hesper," "Cornelia," "Bucephalus," and "Clorinde"
frigates, to take part in the expedition against the _Mauritius_,
or _Isle of France_, another island in the Indian sea, belonging
to France; the grenadiers and light infantry of the regiment also
embarked from St. Paul's in the island of Bourbon, to share in
the enterprise. On the 28th of November the armament approached
the Isle of France, and the troops effected a landing in the bay
of Mapon, when one brigade was ordered into a large wood, through
which it was necessary to pass. The light company of the TWELFTH
under Captain Forssteen, preceded by a section under Lieutenant
Ashe, penetrated among the trees, and skirmished with a French
piquet, in which service two men were killed, and Lieutenant
Ashe and three private soldiers wounded. After a march of nine
miles, the light infantry of the TWELFTH halted on some low ground
surrounded by jungle. The weather was very hot, water could not
be procured, and the sufferings of the soldiers, in consequence,
were very severe; but on the following day some alleviation of
suffering was obtained by sucking the dew from the herbage, and
advancing to the powder mills, within five miles of Port Louis, the
capital, clear streams of water were discovered. While halting at
this place, the piquets were attacked by the enemy, when the rifle
company of the TWELFTH, and the light infantry of the fifty-ninth,
dashed forward, and drove back the French skirmishers, wounding
General de Caen.
On the following morning the army advanced, the grenadiers of the
TWELFTH being in front, and the light infantry on the flanks,
under Captains Firth and Forssteen, Lieutenant Keappock commanding
the leading section of grenadiers. While advancing along a narrow
road, through a country covered with underwood, the army was
suddenly assailed with grape shot, from an eminence; but a charge
with bayonets forced the French to withdraw. Arriving at some open
grounds, the British formed line, when the French abandoned their
guns and retreated towards the town, leaving a body of troops on a
mountain on the British left. The TWELFTH were ordered to storm the
height, and they raised a loud shout, and soon gained the summit,
when the French fled, leaving a gun behind them.
The officers and soldiers of the regiment evinced great heroism
in these services; Lieutenant Keappock was wounded in the side,
but continued at his post until a shot in the head forced him
to retire; his honourable, though dangerous post, was taken by
Lieutenant Jenkins, who received a severe contusion on the breast
by a ball, but continued at the head of the leading section.
In this short but brilliant and decisive service, the regiment
had Major Jeremiah O'Keefe, one drummer, and sixteen rank and
file killed; Lieutenants Keappock and Ashe, three serjeants, and
twenty-eight rank and file wounded; five men missing.
The French Governor, General de Caen, seeing no prospect of being
able to make effectual resistance, surrendered the island. This
enterprise was thus successfully accomplished, and the conduct of
the TWELFTH regiment was commended in orders, also in the public
despatch of Major-General Abercromby.
After the surrender of the Isle of France, the flank companies
proceeded to Port Louis, and the battalion companies descended
the Long Mountain, and embarked from Tortue bay, in the "Psyche"
frigate, for Grand Port, where they were joined by the flank
companies, after being separated eleven months.
[Sidenote: 1811]
General Picton died on the 14th of October, 1811, in his
eighty-fourth year, and was succeeded in the Colonelcy of the
TWELFTH foot, by Lieut.-General Sir Charles Hastings, Baronet, from
the seventy-seventh regiment of foot.
The regiment was stationed in the Isle of France during the years
1811 and 1812.
[Sidenote: 1812]
In the meantime the war with France was approaching to a crisis;
Napoleon Bonaparte had attained the summit of power, and the
efforts of Great Britain were commensurate with the importance
of the contest; the army was augmented, and in the autumn of
1811 a _second battalion_ was added to the TWELFTH regiment of
four hundred and fifty-one officers and soldiers, into which the
recruiting companies of the regiment were incorporated.
In the autumn of 1812, the second battalion proceeded to Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1813]
In April, 1813, the first battalion embarked from Port Louis, for
the island of Bourbon, where it was stationed nearly two years.
[Sidenote: 1814]
[Sidenote: 1815]
During this period the tyrannical power of Bonaparte had been
overthrown, and the Bourbon dynasty restored to the throne of
France. On the re-establishment of peace in Europe, the island of
Bourbon was restored to the French monarchy, and in consequence of
this arrangement the regiment embarked from St. Denis on the 3rd of
April, 1815; the French soldiers, who arrived from Europe to take
possession of the island, landing as the British went on board the
ships prepared to receive them.
The Mauritius, or Isle of France, was retained by the British
government, and the TWELFTH foot having been selected to form part
of the garrison of that valuable island, immediately proceeded
thither.
Soon afterwards, Bonaparte quitted the island of Elba, in violation
of his engagements, and regained the throne of France, when the
powers of Europe took arms against the usurper, and his veteran
legions were overpowered in the field of Waterloo by the allied
army under Field Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington, on the
18th of June, 1815. To replace the losses of the British army at
Waterloo, additional forces were sent to the continent, and the
second battalion of the TWELFTH regiment, which had returned to
England a few months previously from Ireland, embarked for Flanders
on the 27th of June, under the command of Colonel Julius Stirke;
it landed at Ostend and advanced to Paris, where the campaign was
terminated by the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty to the throne
of France. Peace being again established in Europe, the battalion
returned to England in December.
In June, 1815, the rifle company of the first battalion proceeded
to Bengal, and formed part of a field brigade assembled for
service; it, however, returned to the Mauritius in November.
[Sidenote: 1816]
In January, 1816, the second battalion again proceeded to Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1817]
The first battalion continued to form part of the garrison of the
Mauritius during the year 1816, and the first six months of 1817;
on the 1st of July of the latter year, a serious fire broke out at
Port Louis, when the exertions of the garrison to extinguish the
flames, called forth the admiration and thanks of the inhabitants,
which were communicated to the troops by the governor.
Transports having arrived to convey the regiment to Europe, a
general order was published, in which it was stated, 'Major-General
Sir Edward Butler, in taking leave of the TWELFTH regiment, feels
himself highly gratified in stating, that its conduct, during
its services in this island, has, in every particular, been such
as to meet with his highest approbation, and he begs to assure
Lieut.-Colonel Forssteen, the officers, non-commissioned officers,
and men of the TWELFTH regiment, that they carry with them his
warmest wishes for their prosperity and welfare.'
The regiment sailed from Port Louis on the 25th of July, arrived
at Portsmouth on the 10th of November, and afterwards proceeded to
Cork, where it landed on the 26th of December, after an absence
from Europe of nearly twenty-two years.
A representation of the distinguished services of the regiment
in the Travancore country, and other parts of India, with its
gallantry at the capture of the islands of Bourbon and Mauritius,
procured for it the royal authority to bear the word "INDIA" on its
colours.
[Sidenote: 1818]
From Cork the regiment marched to Athlone, where it arrived on the
9th of January, 1818; and joined the second battalion, which was
stationed at that place.
[Sidenote: 1820]
On the 16th of January the second battalion was disbanded at
Athlone, transferring six hundred and sixty men to the first
battalion. The regiment performed duty in the counties of Cork,
Limerick, and Clare, until June, 1820, when it marched to Dublin.
In the autumn of the same year, the regiment embarked for England;
it landed at Liverpool, and was afterwards stationed at Manchester
and Macclesfield.
[Sidenote: 1821]
On the regiment quitting these quarters, in February, 1821,
Major-General Sir James Lyon stated, in a letter to Lieut.-Colonel
Forssteen, 'Although the TWELFTH foot have been stationed but a
short time in this place, I cannot refrain from expressing to you,
that no military change could have given me more concern than their
departure. I have had every opportunity of observing their uniform
good conduct and strict attention to every branch of discipline,
and nothing but satisfaction has ever been manifested to me by the
civil authorities, and the inhabitants in general, on the very
exemplary behaviour of the men. I beg of you to make known to the
corps, the value I attach to the honor of having had a regiment of
such high character placed under my orders, and that I must ever
take an interest in its welfare and success.'
From Lancashire, the regiment marched to Portsmouth, where it
embarked for Jersey and Guernsey.
[Sidenote: 1822]
[Sidenote: 1823]
While stationed at these islands, the appearance of the regiment,
the conduct of the men, and the excellent system of interior
economy which existed in the corps, elicited the commendations of
Major-General Sir Colin Halkett, at the inspections in October,
1821, May and October, 1822; and when the TWELFTH were about to
return to England, in May, 1823, the Major-General repeated his
expressions of approbation, with his warm interest in the welfare
of the corps. The conduct of the four companies at Guernsey, under
Major Bayley, was also specially commended by the Lieut.-Governor,
Colonel Sir John Colborne.
On arriving in England, the regiment was stationed at Chatham and
Sheerness until October, when it proceeded to Fort Cumberland.
On the decease of General Sir Charles Hastings, Baronet, the
Colonelcy was conferred on Lieut.-General the Honorable Robert
Meade, from the ninetieth regiment, by commission dated the 9th of
October, 1823.
The regiment having received orders to transfer its services
to Gibraltar, the scene of its former triumphs, it embarked on
board of His Majesty's Ships "Ganges" and "Superb," on the 8th of
November, and arrived at that celebrated fortress on the 25th of
the same month.
[Sidenote: 1825]
In 1825, the establishment of the regiment was augmented from eight
to ten companies, _six_ to be considered _service companies_ and
remain at Gibraltar, and _four depôt_ companies to be stationed in
the United Kingdom; in consequence of this arrangement the officers
and non-commissioned officers of two companies were sent to England.
[Sidenote: 1827]
A new pair of Colours having been provided for the regiment, and
bearing the following honorary distinctions, the words "MINDEN,"
"GIBRALTAR" with the Castle and Key and the motto '_Montis Insignia
Calpé_,' "SERINGAPATAM" and "INDIA," they were presented to the
corps, on the 28th of June, 1827, by General Sir George Don, who
addressed the commanding officer (Major-Turberville), the officers,
and soldiers, to the following effect:--
'It appears by the record of the TWELFTH Regiment, to which I
have the honor of presenting these colours, that among the many
valiant deeds of the corps, it achieved distinguished glory at
the battle of _Minden_. In 1797 I attended the renowned Duke
of Brunswick on the spot where this battle was fought; after
His Serene Highness had shown me the position occupied by the
British, he said, _It was here the conflict was most obstinate
and it was here that the British Infantry gained immortal glory_.
This Rock, and Seringapatam, were afterwards among the scenes
where the TWELFTH Regiment distinguished itself, and which are
immortalized in the history of our country. Being myself a soldier
of fifty-seven years' standing, I am alive to every instance of
meritorious conduct in my brother soldiers, and it is extremely
gratifying to me to reflect, that the TWELFTH Regiment, which so
early established its fame, has continued to augment it on every
occasion; and I am confident that whenever these Colours shall
be displayed before an enemy, the regiment will, by its valiant
conduct, add to the number of glorious records with which they are
graced.'
[Sidenote: 1828]
In 1828 the garrison of Gibraltar was afflicted with a severe
epidemic fever, which occasioned the death of upwards of five
hundred soldiers; the inhabitants suffered much more severely than
the troops. During the prevalence of the disease, the TWELFTH were
encamped for four months on the neutral ground, where they were
reviewed on the 27th of December, by the Lieut.-Governor Sir
George Don, who expressed to Lieut.-Colonel Bayley, his entire
approbation of the appearance of the corps, of its discipline, and
interior economy. Eight officers, and two hundred and eighteen
non-commissioned officers and soldiers, had been afflicted with
the fever, of which number, two officers (Lieutenant Forssteen and
Ensign Werge) and fifty-three soldiers had died.
[Sidenote: 1834]
The regiment remained at Gibraltar until the spring of 1834, when
it embarked for England, and landed at Portsmouth, from whence it
marched to Winchester, and during the winter into Lancashire.
[Sidenote: 1835]
[Sidenote: 1836]
In November 1835, the regiment embarked at Liverpool for Ireland;
it landed at Dublin, and was quartered in that city until October
1836, when it proceeded to Athlone.
[Sidenote: 1837]
The regiment was again divided into six service and four depôt
companies in the summer of 1837; and in August, the service
companies embarked at Cork for the Mauritius, where they arrived in
December, and landed at Port Louis.
[Sidenote: 1838]
During the year 1838 the depôt companies were stationed at Kinsale
and Tralee.
[Sidenote: 1839]
On the augmentation of the army in August, 1839, the establishment
of the TWELFTH was increased to forty-seven serjeants, fourteen
drummers, and eight hundred rank and file.
[Sidenote: 1840]
[Sidenote: 1841]
In May, 1839, the depôt companies embarked at Cork for Wales,
and continued to be stationed at Newtown, Builth, and Brecon,
until May, 1840, when they proceeded to Scotland and occupied the
barracks at Paisley until May, 1841, when they returned to South
Britain and were stationed at Sunderland.
[Sidenote: 1842]
In April, 1842, the TWELFTH Regiment having been augmented to an
establishment of one lieut.-colonel, twelve captains, fourteen
lieutenants, ten ensigns, six staff officers, sixty-seven
serjeants, twenty-five drummers, and twelve hundred rank and file,
was ordered to be separated into two battalions; the six service
companies abroad being termed the First battalion, and the depôt,
augmented to six companies, being styled the Reserve battalion.
[Sidenote: 1843]
The depôt was consequently removed from Sunderland to Weedon in
May, 1842, and receiving 255 volunteers from other corps, was there
organised for foreign service. The reserve battalion embarked from
Portsmouth in the "Java" transport for the Mauritius in November,
1842, under the command of Major Sir Robert Douglas, Bart., but was
disembarked at the Cape of Good Hope, and remained there until May,
1843, when it proceeded to its original destination.
[Sidenote: 1847]
On the 2nd of November, 1847, Her Majesty's Troopship "Resistance"
arrived with the first battalion of the Fifth Fusiliers for the
purpose of relieving the first battalion of the TWELFTH Regiment,
which embarked from the Mauritius on the 16th of December, under
the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Patton.
[Sidenote: 1848]
The first battalion arrived at Spithead on the 1st of March, 1848,
and disembarked on the 3rd of March at Portsmouth, where it was
joined by the depôt company from the Isle of Wight. The reserve
battalion, after being completed by the transfer of effective men
from the first battalion, continued at the Mauritius.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF THE
TWELFTH, OR EAST SUFFOLK
REGIMENT OF FOOT.
HENRY DUKE OF NORFOLK, K. G.
_Appointed 20th of June, 1685._
HENRY HOWARD, son of Henry sixth Duke of Norfolk, sat in the
House of Lords by the title of Lord Mowbray, in the lifetime of
his father, and on the death of Prince Rupert, in 1682, he was
nominated Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle and Warden
of the forest at Windsor, also Lord-lieutenant of the counties
of Berks and Surrey. On the decease of his father, in 1684, he
succeeded to the dignity of DUKE OF NORFOLK, and of Earl Marshal of
England, and he was also constituted Lord-lieutenant of Norfolk.
On the accession of King James II., he was one of the peers who
signed the order for His Majesty's proclamation, and he was
shortly afterwards elected a Knight Companion of the most noble
Order of the Garter. He took an active part in favour of the King,
on the breaking out of the rebellion of James Duke of Monmouth,
and interested himself in the raising of a corps of pikemen and
musketeers, now TWELFTH foot, of which he was appointed colonel,
and of which his garrison company at Windsor Castle formed a part.
In a few months after tranquillity was restored, he relinquished
the command of the regiment, but continued to attend at court, and
witnessed, with painful emotions, the predilection of the King in
favour of papacy and arbitrary government. On one occasion His
Majesty gave the Duke of Norfolk the sword of state to carry before
him to the Roman Catholic chapel; but on arriving at the door, His
Grace stopped, not being willing to enter the chapel, when the King
said, "My Lord, your father would have gone further;" to which the
Duke replied, "Your Majesty's father was the better man, and he
would not have gone so far."[21]
The DUKE OF NORFOLK continued faithful to the interests of the
Protestant religion, and was one of the peers who invited the
Prince of Orange to come to England with an army to oppose the
proceedings of the court. When the Prince landed, His Grace was in
London, and signed the petition to the King for a free Parliament;
His Majesty replied, "They should have a Parliament, and such
a one as they asked for, when the Prince of Orange had quitted
the realm:" and commenced his journey, on the same day, to place
himself at the head of his army. His Grace set out for his seat in
Norfolk, declared for the Prince of Orange, and brought over that,
and some of the neighbouring counties, to the Prince's interest.
On the accession of the Prince and Princess of Orange to the
throne, His Grace was sworn a member of the privy council, and he
took an active part in raising a regiment for the King's service,
now the Twenty-second foot, of which he was appointed Colonel, by
commission dated the 16th of March, 1689. He died on the 2nd of
April, 1701.
EDWARD EARL OF LICHFIELD.
_Appointed 14th June, 1686._
SIR EDWARD HENRY LEE, of Ditchley, Baronet, was advanced to the
peerage by King Charles II., in 1674, by the titles of Baron of
Spelsbury, in the county of Bucks, and EARL OF LICHFIELD. He was
appointed one of the Lords of the bedchamber to King James II.,
also Custos Rotulorum for the county of Oxford, high steward of
the borough of Woodstock, and lord-lieutenant of Woodstock park.
In 1686 he succeeded the Duke of Norfolk in the colonelcy of the
regiment, now TWELFTH foot, which he continued to command until
November, 1688, when, being a staunch supporter of the measures of
the court, he was removed to the colonelcy of the first regiment of
foot guards, which he only held a few weeks, the Prince of Orange
conferring that appointment on the Duke of Grafton. The Earl of
Lichfield was not afterwards employed in a military capacity. He
died on the 14th of July, 1716.
ROBERT LORD HUNSDON.
_Appointed 30th November, 1688._
SIR ROBERT CAREY, Knight, served in a military capacity in the
reign of King Charles II., and succeeded, on the decease of John
Earl of Dover without issue, to the dignity of LORD HUNSDON. He
was one of the supporters of the measures of King James II., who
appointed him Lieut.-Colonel of the old Holland regiment (now Third
foot) in 1685, and in November, 1688, promoted him to the colonelcy
of the TWELFTH foot, from which he was removed, at the Revolution,
by the Prince of Orange. He died in 1692.
HENRY WHARTON.
_Appointed 31st December, 1688._