additional force act was passed in June, 1804; and four hundred of
the men, raised under its provisions, in the county of Surrey, were
constituted the _second battalion_ of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment;
they were embodied at Farnham, and the battalion was placed on
the establishment of the army on the 25th of December, 1804:
it was augmented soon afterwards to six hundred and fifty-six
non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
[Sidenote: 1805]
The first battalion remained in Ireland until January, 1805,
when it embarked at Kinsale for the Isle of Wight, where its
establishment was augmented to one thousand rank and file, which
was speedily completed, and in April it embarked in three divisions
for the East Indies: it landed at Bombay in August, and was
stationed at that city several years.
In May the second battalion left Farnham, and was stationed
a short time at the barracks at Forton and Gosport; in August
it proceeded to the Isle of Wight, where a pair of colours was
presented to it on the 28th of November. Its establishment
was augmented in December to eight hundred and sixty-six
non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
[Sidenote: 1806]
From the Isle of Wight the second battalion proceeded to Guernsey,
in March, 1806, and its establishment was fixed at a thousand rank
and file.
[Sidenote: 1807]
[Sidenote: 1808]
After remaining at Guernsey twelve months, the second battalion
returned to the Isle of Wight: it was in a high state of discipline
and efficiency, and in June it embarked in two divisions for India.
The fleet encountered a severe gale of wind, and the vessels of the
first division parted company, and put into Simon’s Bay to refit.
They remained at the Cape of Good Hope a month, and afterwards
continued the voyage to Madras, where they arrived in December,
under convoy of the Greyhound frigate. On arrival in India the
several companies proceeded to Bombay, where both battalions were
stationed in 1808: the success which attended the recruiting of
the regiment, occasioning the establishment of the first battalion
to be augmented to thirteen hundred non-commissioned officers and
soldiers.
[Sidenote: 1809]
In January, 1809, the second battalion marched to Barachie, near
Surat.
Meanwhile British commerce had experienced considerable
interruption and some loss from the French naval force stationed in
the Indian Sea, which force rendezvoused at the Island of Bourbon,
and the Isle of France (or the Mauritius). In January two hundred
men of the first battalion were detached from Bombay, to join the
troops assembling at the Island of Roderigue, under Lieut.-Colonel
Keating, of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, for the attack of the French
islands in the Indian Sea.
While this detachment of the first battalion was on the voyage,
four companies of the second battalion marched to Baroda, under
the orders of Captain D. Daly, and joined the force assembling
at that place, under Lieut.-Colonel Walker, for the reduction of
the fort of _Mallia_, in Kattawar, which was the stronghold of
a numerous body of marauders, who plundered and devastated the
surrounding territory, and had successfully resisted the attacks
of powerful native chiefs, which had procured for their fort
the reputation of being impregnable. The position was naturally
strong, the fortifications good, the garrison, being fully aware
of the approach of the British troops, was prepared, and, to
gain additional security, had surrounded the wall with a strong
embankment of earth and thorns.
After a long and fatiguing march the British troops arrived before
Mallia on the 6th of July; and the garrison returning a vaunting
answer to the summons to surrender, the fire of the artillery
commenced on the following day, and a practicable breach was
effected in a few hours.
At four o’clock in the afternoon the storming party, of which
the FIFTY-SIXTH furnished a proportion of one hundred and fifty
rank and file, advanced; the forlorn hope being under the command
of Captain McKenzie, of the Bombay European Regiment, who was
gallantly supported by Lieutenant Newman of the FIFTY-SIXTH, a
volunteer on the occasion. Rushing forward with heroic valour, the
soldiers soon forced the breach, and in less than three-quarters of
an hour they were in possession of the greater part of the town. As
they advanced, the resistance became more determined; the banditti
fighting with great spirit, and eventually retiring into an inner
fort, which was inaccessible to an assault; when, the evening being
far advanced, operations ceased for the night. Before the following
morning the defenders of Mallia withdrew through a sally port, and
fled; a few men remaining to keep up an occasional fire, and these
retired before daylight; when the fort was occupied by the British
troops.
This place having been accounted by the natives of the Kattawar as
impregnable, its early reduction, with the cool and steady valour
by which it was carried, filled with astonishment and admiration
the several vakeels of the different chieftains, who were in
attendance on Lieut.-Colonel Walker, and afforded them proof of the
irresistible effects of British discipline, skill, and prowess.
This afterwards operated beneficially in producing the organization
of so rude and uncivilized a tract of country, as the greater part
of the peninsula of Guzerat then was.
In the general orders issued on this occasion, it was stated:--“To
Captain D. Daly, the officers and men of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment,
the commanding officer returns his particular acknowledgments;
they have nobly supported the reputation of the senior battalion,
in all the characteristics of good soldiers.” ... “The commanding
officer cannot omit the expression of his warmest acknowledgments
to Captain Arnot, of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, for his exertions at
the erection of the batteries, and for his conduct at the storm;
and it would be injustice to withhold his thanks to Lieutenant
Newman, for his spirited support of Captain McKenzie in the
advanced party.”
The casualties, amounting to eighty-two killed and wounded, prove
the arduous nature of the enterprise; and of this number the
FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment had six rank and file killed; Captain Arnot,
and twelve rank and file wounded. In December the troops were
ordered to return to their former stations, and the detachment of
the FIFTY-SIXTH rejoined the head-quarters of the second battalion
at Barachie.
Meanwhile the party of the first battalion at the Isle
of Roderigue had sailed from thence with the forces under
Lieut.-Colonel Keating, to co-operate with the British navy in
blockading the Isles of France and Bourbon, and in attacking the
enemy’s ports. At five o’clock on the morning of the 21st of
September, six hundred men landed in three columns, seven miles
from the port of _St. Paul’s_, in the Isle of Bourbon, then called
by the French the Isle of Bonaparte, and by a forced march crossed
a causeway extending over the lake, before the enemy discovered
their disembarkation or approach to the town; they also passed the
enemy’s strongest position by seven o’clock, and gained possession
of two batteries before the enemy could form in force. Captain
Imlack, of the Bombay Native Infantry, was detached with one
hundred and fifty men to take possession of a third battery; and
on his way he encountered the French forces, concentrated behind a
stone wall, with eight field-pieces on their flanks. This post was
instantly attacked in a most gallant manner; Captain Hanna of the
FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment arrived with the third column, and charging,
captured two guns; and Captain Forbes, of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment,
advancing with the reserve, the enemy was compelled to retreat with
the loss of his artillery. A few men were detached in pursuit; two
additional batteries were captured, and by half-past eight o’clock
the town, batteries, magazines, eight brass field-pieces, and one
hundred and seventeen new iron guns, were in possession of the
British troops: at the same time the enemy’s shipping were forced
to surrender to the British naval force. Thus was accomplished a
most brilliant exploit, in a few hours, and it reflected great
credit on the commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel KEATING, of
the FIFTY-SIXTH, and on all the troops engaged. The loss of the
regiment was one serjeant, and five rank and file killed; one
serjeant and twenty-six rank and file wounded.
The town being commanded by the British naval force, the troops
returned on board the fleet; part of the enemy’s stores and the
guns were destroyed; the remainder were embarked on board the
company’s recaptured ship Streatham, which, with the Europe, were
placed under their former commanders. In October the troops sailed
for the Isle of Roderigue. The conduct of Ensign Pearce, of the
FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, was highly commended in the public despatch
of Lieut.-Colonel Keating.
In the beginning of this year, a detachment of the regiment, under
Lieutenant John Elliot Cairnes, performed duty as marines, in
the Indian Sea, on board of His Majesty’s ship Psyche, which was
engaged in the war with the Rajah of Travancore, who governed a
populous province at the south-west extremity of Hindoostan. This
province was indebted for its independence to the valour of British
troops, who rescued it from the power of Tippoo Sultan, when the
forces of the Mysore had overrun the country, in 1790; and in 1795
a treaty of alliance was concluded with the rajah, who engaged to
subsidize three battalions of British Sepoys for the defence of
his dominions. Some disputes arising from the payments to be made
in consequence of this treaty, produced war; the British Sepoys
stationed at Quilon were menaced with annihilation; the house of
the resident, Colonel C. Macauly, at Cochin, was attacked; and the
Twelfth and Nineteenth British regiments were suddenly ordered to
the scene of contest. A detachment of the FIFTY-SIXTH, on board
the Piedmontaise frigate, were employed in services connected with
the safety of the troops at Quilon, and the preservation of the
life of the British resident. This frigate cannonaded the port of
Aleppi, where a party of the Twelfth Foot had been treacherously
seized, their wrists broken with a heavy piece of iron, their
hands tied behind them, and after lying several days in a dungeon,
were precipitated from a rock into the sea. This detachment of
the FIFTY-SIXTH landed at Quilon, under Lieutenant Warren, to
co-operate in the preservation of the life of the British resident,
who had escaped from Cochin. The services of the detachment under
Lieutenant Cairnes, on board of the Psyche, were connected with the
operations of the army under Brigadier-General the Honorable A. St.
Leger; and under the cover of the frigate’s broadside, the soldiers
of the regiment stormed and captured a strong battery, commanding
_Colatchi Bay_; thus co-operating in the capture of _Travandrum_,
the capital, which reduced the refractory Rajah of Travancore to
submission.
Measures for enforcing a system of economy, having interfered with
the emoluments which British officers in the command of native
regiments had been accustomed to receive, from the contract for
supplying their corps with camp equipment, the civil and military
authorities of Madras became opposed to each other; from this
misunderstanding resulted serious disaffection and disobedience of
orders in the native army; and the head-quarters and companies of
the first battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH at Bombay, were suddenly
ordered to Madras. They embarked on board the Cornwallis frigate
and two transports, on the 30th of July, under secret orders, and
landed at Madras on the 11th of August, before any disclosure
of the approach of this reinforcement had reached the army of
that presidency. The governor addressed a communication to the
regiment on this occasion, in which he stated he felt--“particular
satisfaction that the selection for this delicate service had
fallen to the first battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, whose
distinguished and characteristic zeal for the maintenance of
professional subordination to the authority of legal government,
must so powerfully tend to recall the misguided to a sense of their
duty.”
The regiment proceeded to the Marmalong camp immediately, and
after the return of the native corps to their duty, it received
the thanks of the Governor in Council, in general orders,--“for
the manner in which His Majesty’s officers and soldiers, who
rallied round the cause of government, loyalty, and duty, conducted
themselves.” In October the battalion proceeded to Bellary.
[Sidenote: 1810]
These troubles being suppressed, the governor-general conceived
the idea of clearing the Indian Ocean of all that was hostile
to Great Britain, and a considerable force was placed under the
orders of Lieut.-Colonel Keating, of the FIFTY-SIXTH, including a
strong detachment of the first battalion of the regiment, for the
capture of the Island of _Bourbon_. On this occasion Lieut.-Colonel
Keating resolved to make his first attack on the capital, in the
expectation that, with its capture, the reduction of the island
would be accomplished. A landing was effected at Grand Chaloupe
on the 7th of July, 1810; and Captain Hanna was detached with two
companies of the FIFTY-SIXTH to _La Possessime_, “the batteries of
which place he took by assault in the most gallant manner[5];” and
with the trifling loss of two men killed, and two wounded: thus
proving the advantage of making attacks with spirit and resolution.
All the troops of the expedition conducting themselves with heroic
ardour, the opposition of the enemy was speedily overcome, and the
conquest of the island accomplished in so short a period of time,
that Lieutenant-Colonel Keating stated in his public despatch,--“In
all the operations the troops evinced the native energy and
gallantry of Britons, and in a few hours this rich, extensive, and
valuable colony was added to the British dominions.” Lieutenant
Mallet and a party of the regiment, proceeded with the French
troops which had surrendered, to the Cape of Good Hope.
Additional troops arriving at this part of the Indian Ocean,
Major-General J. Abercromby assumed the command, and an expedition
proceeded against the _Isle of France_, which was afterwards
restored to its original designation of the _Mauritius_, and the
detachment of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment had the honor to serve
in this enterprise; the party which proceeded, under Lieutenant
Mallet, in charge of French prisoners to the Cape, arriving in time
to take part in this service. A landing was effected in the Bay
of Mapon on the 29th of November, and the troops advanced through
a thick wood, when some skirmishing occurred, and Lieut.-Colonel
Keating, of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, and twelve men of the piquet,
were wounded. Penetrating the open country on the following day,
the troops experienced great inconvenience from the want of water,
and halted at the streams of the powder-mills, five miles from Port
Louis. After passing the night at this place, they resumed the
march, and were opposed in their progress by a strong body of the
enemy, when some severe fighting occurred, in which the British
soldiers were triumphant: the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment had five men
killed and several wounded.
Pursuing their victorious career, the British troops advanced
to the enemy’s lines; and on the following morning the French
Commander, General de Caen, proposed to capitulate; thus was this
valuable colony wrested from the enemy, and it has continued to
form part of the possessions of the British crown to the present
time.
During this year the star of Britain shone bright on the naval and
colonial affairs of this great maritime power, whose enemies were
deprived of the last establishment which they had possessed beyond
the Cape of Good Hope, and the Pompadours had the honor of sharing
in these brilliant adventures.
The second battalion remained at Barachia; and so successful was
the recruiting of the regiment, under the influence and zealous
efforts of its colonel, Lieut.-General the Hon. Chapple Norton,
that the establishment of the second battalion was augmented to
one thousand three hundred and six non-commissioned officers
and soldiers; making the number of the two battalions in India,
two thousand six hundred and twelve, and, notwithstanding the
casualties of war and climate, the effectives approximated the
establishment. A strong detachment of volunteers from the militia,
to the FIFTY-SIXTH, arriving in India in May, was stationed at the
Portuguese establishment at Goa.
The detachment under Lieutenant Cairnes continued to serve as
marines.
[Sidenote: 1811]
In March, 1811, the party from Goa joined the head-quarters of
the first battalion at Bellary; and towards the close of the
year, Lieut.-Colonel Keating returned with the detachment from
the capture of Bourbon and the Mauritius. The Honorable the East
India Company expressed its sense of the valuable services of the
regiment, by presenting the first battalion with a pair of new
colours, during its stay at Bellary.
This year the second battalion returned to Bombay.
[Sidenote: 1812]
In May, 1812, Lieut.-Colonel Kingscote arrived from England, and
took the command of the second battalion; which, in October,
marched from the town barracks, Bombay, to the pendals on Colabah.
The first battalion quitted Bellary, and in September joined the
field-force assembled in the southern Mahratta country, under the
command of Colonel Dowse, of the East India Company’s Service,
for the purpose of enforcing the payment of the arrears of the
customary tribute, withheld by the Ranee of Raree; and took part in
all the operations consequent upon the performance of this duty.
[Sidenote: 1813]
Two companies of the second battalion were ordered to garrison
Surat, in February, 1813; and the head-quarters embarked for the
Guzerat, where they arrived at the Dutch Bundes in Surat on the
9th of March; and owing to the bad and unhealthy state of these
quarters, the battalion was removed in April, to Domus, where it
was encamped: but re-occupied the Dutch Bundes in June, with two
companies at Surat.
Four companies were detached, in the same month, under the command
of Captain Barrington, to join the Guicwar’s subsidiary force,
under the orders of Colonel Holmes, of the East India Company’s
service. On the third day the four companies marched from Khim to
Oclasceer, a distance of eighteen miles, the last six of which
were across an arid plain, destitute of shelter, and exposed
to an unusual degree of heat, when many men fell from complete
exhaustion; three died where they fell; and seven others expired
during the day, after they had been removed to quarters by the
natives. These four companies were followed, in September, by two
others, under Lieut.-Colonel Kingscote who assumed the command
of the six companies with the force under Colonel Holmes, which
was employed in operations for the re-establishment of the
rightful heir to the throne, which had been usurped by the uncle.
On the 15th of November this force took possession of the fort
of _Palampore_, which the Scindians had evacuated early in the
morning. The troops remained in the neighbourhood of this place
until the end of the year, when the companies of the FIFTY-SIXTH
marched back to the camp at Domus, where the Guzerat fever deprived
the corps of many valuable soldiers.
Notwithstanding its numerous losses, the recruiting of the regiment
was conducted with great success, under the influence and zealous
efforts of its colonel, and its ranks received a constant supply
of young men, many of them from the county of Surrey. At this
period the war in Europe had attained a crisis: the British forces
had triumphed in Portugal and Spain, and had forced the barrier
of the Pyrenees and penetrated France; the Emperor Napoleon had
lost a numerous army in the north; the forces of Russia, Austria,
Prussia, and the German States, were in arms against him; and a
powerful effort promised complete success to the cause of the
allies. Measures were adopted to augment the British army at this
interesting period; and the facility with which the FIFTY-SIXTH had
been recruited, holding out the prospect that its establishment
might be increased, a warrant was issued by the Prince Regent in
the early part of November, for adding a _third battalion_ to the
corps. This battalion was embodied at Horsham, its establishment
was six hundred and fifty non-commissioned officers and soldiers,
and its ranks were so speedily completed with disciplined men, by
volunteers from the militia, &c., that in one month from the date
of the order for its formation, it was ready for foreign service.
At this period a body of British troops proceeded to Holland, under
Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham (late Lord Lynedoch), to
co-operate with the forces of the allied sovereigns, and the third
battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH embarked for this service at Ramsgate,
on the 9th of December, under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel John
Frederick Brown; it was posted to the third brigade, commanded
by Major-General Sir Herbert Taylor; the British troops were
concentrated in and near Williamstadt.
[Sidenote: 1814]
About the same period the first battalion took the field in India,
and formed part of the force assembled at Goute, from whence
it proceeded against _Canool_, where it arrived on the 25th of
December, and batteries were erected during the night, but a flag
of truce being sent out on the following morning, hostilities
ceased. The battalion was also at the reduction of the fort
of _Raree_, Goosecull; and passed the monsoon in quarters at
Cataubaugy; afterwards returning to Goute, it was relieved in the
field by the second battalion of the Royals; it had lost three
hundred and fifty men from disease, and was so reduced, that it was
ordered to return to Bellary; it subsequently marched to Fort St.
George, Madras.
The third battalion did not remain many days in quarters in Holland
before it was employed in active operations, in consequence of a
request of the Prussian general, Bulow, that the British would make
a forward movement upon _Antwerp_, to favour his operations; the
English general accordingly advanced to make a reconnoissance, and
approaching that fortress on the 13th of January, attacked a body
of French troops at the village of _Merxem_. On this occasion the
FIFTY-SIXTH supported the Seventy-eighth Highlanders, in a charge
with the bayonet, on a French column, which was driven from its
ground. The FIFTY-SIXTH were engaged in a sharp skirmish, and had
four men killed and fourteen wounded. The object of this movement
having been accomplished, the British troops marched to Rosendael.