induced Lord Wellington[40] to limit his operations in 1810 to
the defence of Portugal. The second battalion of the FIFTH formed
part of Major-General Lightburn's brigade of the third (Sir
Thomas Picton's) division of the army, and was stationed for some
time behind the Mondego river, from whence it advanced to Pinhel
behind the Coa to support the light division; and was afterwards
employed in a series of operations to retard the advance of the
overpowering numbers of the enemy. At length Lord Wellington made a
stand on the rocks of _Busaco_; and the third division had its post
on the heights near the village of St. Antonio de Cantara. Here
the second battalion of the FIFTH was first under fire, and its
light company, under Lieutenant Shadwell Clerke, was thrown out to
repulse the advancing skirmishers of the enemy, a service which it
most promptly and gallantly performed.
The French, after astonishing efforts, gave way before the superior
valour and tactics of the British troops. For this victory,
Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry King, commanding the
battalion, received a medal, and the word "BUSACO" was authorized,
on the 31st of December, 1825, to be inscribed upon the colours of
the regiment. Its loss in the battle of Busaco was one killed and
seven wounded.
After the battle, the French having made a flank movement, Lord
Wellington retired to the celebrated lines of _Torres Vedras_,
where he posed an insurmountable barrier to the further progress
of the enemy; and the second battalion of the FIFTH passed the
remainder of the year in these stupendous works.
The first battalion remaining on home service was removed, in
March, 1810, from Bexhill to Lewes, and on the 12th of August
was, with several other corps, reviewed on Brighton Downs by
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, attended by his Royal
Highness the Duke of Clarence, (afterwards King William IV.,) who
expressed themselves in terms of approbation of its appearance
and discipline. Two days afterwards the battalion marched to
Portsmouth, where it embarked for Ireland, and on its arrival was
quartered at Fermoy.
[Sidenote: 1811]
During the early part of 1811, the second battalion remained in
the lines of Torres Vedras, where Major-General the Honourable
Charles Colville took command of the brigade. The enemy, defeated
in his purpose, reduced in numbers by sickness, and in want of
provisions, was obliged to retreat; and the second battalion of the
FIFTH, moving with its division from the lines, was employed in
the pursuit of Marshal Massena towards the frontiers of Portugal.
It was frequently engaged with the enemy's rear guards, and on the
12th of March had a sharp affair at _Redinha_, where, descending
from the woody heights on the enemy's left, it cleared the grounds
in its front in fine style, and forded a deep and rapid river,
under the fire of the enemy, when Lieutenant Clerke, already
mentioned as commanding the light company at Busaco, was severely
wounded in the leg, which he lost in consequence.
The battalion continued to take an active part in the pursuit; and
in the action at _Sabugal_, on the 3rd of April, it forded the
river Coa, and immediately afterwards, on ascending the heights,
and while the brigade was forming on one of the centre companies
of the FIFTH, the skirmishers were rapidly driven in. The FIFTH,
commanded by Major Ridge, suddenly found itself in presence of a
strong French column, upon which it instantly advanced, opening
at the same time a heavy fire; the enemy was repulsed with severe
loss, and driven precipitately, and in the greatest disorder, down
the hill. In this affair Lieutenant Sinclair was killed, and Ensign
Williams, one serjeant, and five rank and file, wounded.
Almeida having been blockaded by the British, the French advanced
to relieve the place, and crossed the frontiers of Portugal on
the 2nd of May. On that day the battalion of the FIFTH was again
in sight of the enemy, and on the 5th of the same month it was
present, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel King (who had
rejoined), at the battle of _Fuentes d'Onor_, where the enemy was
defeated, and his design to relieve Almeida frustrated. In this
action the battalion had four rank and file wounded.
Immediately after the battle of Fuentes d'Onor, the second
battalion of the FIFTH was detached to the south to join the forces
under Marshal Beresford, and it was employed in the second siege
of _Badajoz_, where it was one of the first corps to break ground.
In the operations of this siege, which was raised on the morning
of the 17th of June, Lieutenant Sedgwick of the FIFTH (acting as
engineer) and three rank and file were killed, and one serjeant and
three rank and file were wounded.
Returning to the north, the battalion commanded by Major Ridge
was stationed, during the month of August and part of September,
in the village of Fuente Guinaldo, then the head-quarters of Lord
Wellington: it was the only British corps in the village, and was
considered such a favourite as to have acquired the _nom de guerre_
of "Lord Wellington's body-guard."
It was afterwards employed in the blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo;
and on the 24th of September it was ordered to a position on
the heights near the village of _El Bodon_, on the left of the
Agueda and within a few miles of Ciudad Rodrigo. The enemy, having
assembled an immense force to relieve the place, advanced on
the morning of the 25th, and the second battalion of the FIFTH
sustained an attack from a vastly superior French force, consisting
of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, in so distinguished a manner,
that its conduct was held up in General Orders as an example to
the whole army. The behaviour of the battalion on this proud
occasion is described by Lord Wellington in his public despatch as
follows:--
"The enemy's attention was principally directed during this day
(the 25th) to the portion of the third division on the hills
between Fuente Guinaldo and Pastores. About eight in the morning
they moved a column, consisting of between thirty and forty
squadrons of cavalry, and fourteen battalions of infantry, and
twelve pieces of cannon, from Ciudad Rodrigo, in such a direction
that it was doubtful whether they would attempt to ascend the
hills by Encina, El Bodon, or by the direct road towards Fuente
Guinaldo, and I was not certain by which road they would make
their attack till they actually commenced it upon the last. As
soon as I saw the direction of their march, I had reinforced
the second battalion of the FIFTH regiment, which occupied the
post on the hill, over which the road passes to Guinaldo, by the
Seventy-seventh regiment, and by the Twenty-first Portuguese
regiment, under the command of Major-General the Honourable
Charles Colville, and Major-General Alten's brigade, of which
only three squadrons remained, which had not been detached,
drawn from El Bodon, and I ordered there a brigade of the fourth
division, from Fuente Guinaldo, and afterwards from El Bodon the
remainder of the troops of the third division, with the exception
of those at Pastores, which were too distant. In the mean time,
however, the small body of troops at this post sustained the
attack of the enemy's cavalry and artillery. One regiment of
French dragoons succeeded in taking two pieces of cannon, which
had been posted on a rising ground on the right of our troops;
but they were charged by the second battalion of the FIFTH
regiment, under the command of Major Ridge, and the guns were
immediately re-taken.
"While this operation was going on on the flank, an attack was
made on the front by another regiment, which was repulsed in a
similar manner by the Seventy-seventh regiment, and the three
squadrons of Major-General Alten's brigade charged repeatedly
different bodies of the enemy, which ascended the hill on the
left of the two regiments of British infantry, the Portuguese
regiment being posted in the rear of their right.
"At length the division of the enemy's infantry, which had
marched with the cavalry from Ciudad Rodrigo, was brought up to
the attack on the road to Fuente Guinaldo. The second battalion
of the FIFTH regiment, and the Seventy-seventh regiment, were
formed into one square, and the Twenty-first Portugese regiment
into another, supported by Major-General Alten's small body of
cavalry and the Portuguese artillery.
"The enemy's cavalry immediately rushed forward, and obliged our
cavalry to retire to the support of the Portuguese regiment, and
the FIFTH and Seventy-seventh regiments were charged, on three
faces of the square, by the French cavalry, but they halted and
repulsed the attack with the utmost steadiness and gallantry.
We then continued the retreat, and joined the remainder of the
third division, also formed in squares, on their march to Fuente
Guinaldo; and the whole retired together in the utmost order, and
the enemy never made another attempt to charge any of them, but
were satisfied with firing upon them with their artillery, and
with following them.
"I cannot conclude this report of the occurrence of the last
week, without expressing to your Lordship my admiration of
the conduct of the troops engaged in the affair of the 25th
instant. The conduct of the second battalion of the FIFTH
regiment, commanded by Major Ridge, in particular, affords a
memorable example of what the steadiness and discipline of the
troops, and their confidence in their officers, can effect, in
the most difficult and trying situations. The conduct of the
Seventy-seventh regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Bromhead was
equally good; and I have never seen a more determined attack
than was made by the whole of the enemy's cavalry, with every
advantage of the assistance of a superior artillery, and repulsed
by these two weak battalions."
The following are extracts from General Orders issued by command of
Lord Wellington on this memorable occasion.
"_Head-Quarters, Regidsa, 2nd October, 1811._
No. 3. "The commander of the forces is desirous of drawing the
attention of the army to the conduct of the second battalion
of the FIFTH regiment, and Seventy-seventh regiment, and
Twenty-first Portuguese regiment, and Major Arentschildt's
Portuguese artillery, under the command of the Honourable
Major-General Colville, and of the Eleventh Light Dragoons and
First Hussars, under Major-General Alten, in the affair with the
enemy on the 25th of September ultimo. These troops were attacked
by between thirty and forty squadrons of cavalry, with six pieces
of cannon, supported by a division, consisting of fourteen
battalions of infantry, with cannon."
No. 4. "The Portuguese artillery-men were cut down at their guns
before they would quit them; but the second battalion of the
FIFTH regiment attacked the cavalry, which had taken their guns,
and retook them; at the same time the Seventy-seventh regiment
was attacked in front by another body of cavalry, upon which body
they advanced, and repulsed them."
No. 5. "While those actions were performed, Major-General Alten's
brigade, of which there were only three squadrons on the ground,
was engaged on the left with numbers infinitely superior to
themselves. These squadrons charged repeatedly, supporting each
other, and took about twenty prisoners, and, notwithstanding
the immense superiority of the enemy, the post would have been
maintained, if the commander of the forces had not ordered the
troops to withdraw from it, seeing that the action would have
been still more unequal, as the enemy's infantry were likely to
be engaged in it before the reinforcements ordered to support the
post could arrive."
No. 6. "The troops then retired with the same determined spirit,
and in the same good order, with which they had maintained their
post--the second battalion of the FIFTH and Seventy-seventh
regiments in one square, and the Twenty-first Portuguese in
another, supported by Major-General's Alten's cavalry, and the
Portuguese artillery. The enemy's cavalry charged three faces of
the square of the British infantry, but were beaten off; and,
finding from their fruitless efforts that those brave troops
were not to be broken, they were content with following them at
a distance, and firing upon them with artillery, till the troops
joined the remainder of the third division, and were afterwards
supported by a brigade of the fourth division. Although the
Twenty-first Portuguese regiment was not actually charged by
the enemy's cavalry, their steadiness and determination were
conspicuous, and the commander of the forces observed with
pleasure the order and regularity with which they made all their
movements, and the confidence they showed in their officers."
No. 7. "The commander of the forces has been particular in
stating the details of this action in the general orders, as
in his opinion it affords a memorable example of what can be
effected by steadiness, discipline, and confidence. It is
impossible that any troops can be exposed at any time to the
attack of numbers relatively greater than those which attacked
the troops under Major-General Colville and Major-General
Alten, on the 25th of September; and the commander of the
forces recommends the conduct of these troops to the particular
attention of the officers and soldiers of the army, as an example
to be followed in all such circumstances."
No. 8. "The commander of the forces considers Major-General
Alten and Major-General Colville, and the commanding officers
of regiments under their command respectively, _viz._
Lieutenant-Colonel Cummins, Lieutenant-Colonel Arentschildt,
Lieutenant-Colonel Bromhead, Major Ridge, and Colonel Bucella,
of the Twenty-first Portuguese, and the officers and soldiers
under their command, to be entitled to his particular thanks, and
assures them that he has not failed to report his sense of their
conduct, in the action of the 25th of September, to those by whom
he trusts that it will be duly appreciated and recollected."
Further eulogium, or even comment, on the brilliant conduct of the
second battalion of this regiment at EL BODON it must be felt, is
unnecessary, and would be supererogatory: its loss was five rank
and file killed, and Captain Ramus, one serjeant, and twelve rank
and file, wounded. The army moved forward on the 26th to occupy
other positions, and the battalion, for the remainder of 1811, was
posted in the village of Payo, near the pass of Perales.
[Sidenote: 1812]
The first operation of the year 1812 was the siege of _Ciudad
Rodrigo_, in the storming of which fortress, on the 19th of
January, the second battalion of the FIFTH had another glorious
opportunity of distinguishing itself and earning one more
honourable inscription for the regimental colours. On this
occasion, moving from its post behind the convent of Santa Cruz, it
entered the ditch at the extremity of the counterscarp, then, after
escalading the wall and scouring the _fausse braye_ to the great
breach, it rushed forward in the face of a thundering discharge
of shells, grape, and musketry, which thinned the ranks; yet,
continuing its course with unabated fury, it drove the French, with
fixed bayonets, behind the entrenchments. Here the enemy rallied,
some hard fighting occurred, but at length the British, by a mighty
effort, burst through the entrenchment. In the mean time the other
attacks had also succeeded. The garrison fought for a moment in the
streets; but eventually fled to the castle and surrendered. The
Commander-in-Chief, in his despatch to the Earl of Liverpool, dated
Gallegos, 20th of January, 1812, says:--
"Major Ridge, of the second battalion, FIFTH regiment, having
escaladed the _fausse braye_ wall, stormed the principal breach
in the body of the place, together with the Ninety-fourth
regiment[41], commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, which
had moved along the ditch at the same time, and had stormed the
breach in the _fausse braye_, both in front of Major-General
Mackinnon's brigade. Thus these regiments not only effectually
covered the advance from the trenches of Major-General
Mackinnon's brigade by their first movements and operations, but
they preceded them in the attack.
"The conduct of all parts of the third division in the operations
which they performed with so much gallantry and exactness, on
the evening of the 19th in the dark, affords the strongest proof
of the abilities of Lieutenant-General Picton and Major-General
Mackinnon, by whom they were directed and led; but I beg
particularly to draw your lordship's attention to the conduct
of Lieutenant-Colonel O'Toole, of the second Caçadores; of
Major Ridge, second battalion FIFTH Foot; of Lieutenant-Colonel
Campbell, Ninety-fourth regiment; of Major Manners, of the
Seventy-fourth; and of Major Grey, second battalion FIFTH Foot,
who has been twice wounded during the siege."
The loss of the battalion during the siege, and at the storming
of Ciudad Rodrigo, was heavy, Captain McDougal, one serjeant, and
thirty-four rank and file, being killed, and Major Grey, Captain
Dubourdieu, Lieutenants Wylde, McKenzie, D. E. Johnson, Fitzgerald,
and Fairtclough, Ensigns Ashford and Canch (who carried the colours
at the assault), and Volunteer Hillyard, with three serjeants, and
fifty-five rank and file, wounded. Major Ridge obtained the rank of
Lieutenant-Colonel, and the words 'CIUDAD RODRIGO' are authorized,
under date October the 25th, 1817, to be borne on the colours of
the regiment.
As soon as the breaches in Ciudad Rodrigo were repaired, and the
place put in a state of defence, the Earl of Wellington undertook,
for a third time, the siege of _Badajoz_, and on the 16th of March
the second battalion of the FIFTH, with the remainder of Sir
Thomas Picton's division, having marched to the Alentejo, crossed
the Guadiana, and took up its position in the investing force. In
the assault, which took place at ten o'clock on the night of the
6th of April, General Picton's division was directed to file out
of the trenches, cross the Rivillas river, and scale the castle
walls, which were from eighteen to twenty-four feet high; furnished
with all means of destruction, and so narrow at the top that the
defenders could easily overturn the ladders. The second battalion
of the FIFTH led the brigade to which it belonged, and, passing
the Rivillas by a narrow bridge under a hot fire of musketry, the
troops reared their ladders against the lofty castle, and with
undaunted courage ascended amidst a shower of heavy stones, logs
of wood, and bursting shells from the parapet, while the enemy
plied a heavy fire from the flanks, and with pikes or bayonets
stabbed the leading assailants in front, or pushed the ladders
from the wall. Yet, amidst the deafening noise of musketry, the
crash of breaking ladders, and the sound of falling weights, the
men were seen striving who should first ascend, until, all being
overturned, a pause ensued, and the French shouted "Victory."--A
vain shout:--for in a few moments the heroic Lieutenant-Colonel
Ridge, who commanded the FIFTH, springing forward, and calling
on his men to follow, raised a ladder against the castle on the
right of the former attack, Ensign Canch raised a second, and the
next moment these two, with Colonel Campbell of the Ninety-fourth
(commanding the brigade), followed by the grenadiers, were on the
rampart. The remainder of the men followed cheering, and, when
a sufficient number had succeeded in gaining the summit of the
wall, the gallant Ridge, calling out "Come on, my lads, let us be
the first to seize the governor," led them along the ramparts and
drove the garrison before them with terrible slaughter through the
double gate into the town. The enemy sent a reinforcement, but it
was driven back. Thus the castle was nobly won, and the grenadiers
of the FIFTH had the honour of having led the successful escalade,
under circumstances which gave an interesting character to this
daring exploit. A shot in the breast unfortunately closed the
mortal career of Lieutenant-Colonel Ridge even in the moment of
victory, and deprived the regiment, and the service in general,
of a most valuable officer[42]. His family had the melancholy
satisfaction of receiving the medal which, had he survived, would
have graced his own breast: another medal was given to Major
Bishop, who, on the death of his Lieutenant-Colonel, succeeded
to the temporary command of the battalion; and, in reward and
commemoration of its services on this occasion, the word "BADAJOZ"
is, by authority dated July the 4th, 1818, borne on the colours.
During the siege and assault, the battalion lost, besides its
lamented Lieutenant-Colonel, one Lieutenant (Fairtclough), one
serjeant, and sixteen rank and file, killed; and two captains,
Bennett (aide-de-camp to Major-General Kempt) and Doyle, Lieutenant
John Pennington, and Ensign Hopkins, with three serjeants, and
twenty-seven rank and file, wounded.
After the capture of Badajoz, the second battalion accompanied
the army towards the north of Portugal and into Spain; it was in
position on the heights of St. Christoval until after the capture
of the forts at Salamanca. It was afterwards in position on the
Douro, and was for a time posted, with the remainder of the third
division, to observe the ford of Pollos, while the opposite bank of
the river was occupied by the French army; and it was occasionally
under the enemy's fire in the course of the movements which
preceded the battle of Salamanca.
During this period, the first battalion, which had embarked at
Cork in May, landed at Lisbon, and, advancing by forced marches,
joined the army about the 20th of July, a few leagues in front of
Salamanca, taking the right of that brigade of the third division
which had been hitherto formed by the second battalion of the
FIFTH, the Eighty-third, and the Ninety-fourth regiments.
The two battalions of the FIFTH were thus united in time for
the whole regiment to share in the honours and triumphs of the
22nd of July, 1812, the glorious victory of _Salamanca_. In the
course of this day, while the French were manœuvring, the third
division, being suddenly ordered to cross their line of march,
sprang forward with an energy and force which broke the half-formed
French lines into fragments, and drove them in confusion upon the
support. The shock of this gallant and unexpected attack threw the
enemy into confusion; and the division continuing its spirited
advance, the right flank of the first battalion of the FIFTH was
threatened by a charge of cavalry, when three companies were
thrown back _en potence_, and, coolly allowing the enemy's horse
to advance so close that every shot would tell, opened so steady
and well-directed a fire, that they were instantly repulsed, and
they fled in disorder. The division again bearing onwards in its
victorious course, its attack was rendered decisive by a brilliant
charge of the heavy cavalry; and finally the enemy sustained an
entire overthrow. Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, of the first battalion,
Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry King, of the second (who
in the course of the day succeeded to the temporary command of
the brigade), and Captain Bishop (on whom at the same time the
temporary command of the second battalion devolved), obtained
medals; and the good conduct of the regiment in general was
rewarded by authority, under date October the 25th, 1817, to bear
the word "SALAMANCA" inscribed on its colours. Its loss amounted to
one serjeant and ten rank and file killed; and Captain Simcocks,
Lieutenants Bird, McPherson, O'Dell, Gunn, Hamilton, and Hillyard,
Ensign Pratt, and eleven serjeants, one drummer, and one hundred
and nineteen rank and file, wounded.
The loss of the second battalion in the brilliant but severe
service in which it had now for three years[43] been constantly
engaged was so serious, that, on the arrival of the army in
Madrid, the capture of which capital was the first fruit of the
victory of Salamanca, it was ordered to England to recruit its
thinned ranks. After transferring the effective privates to the
first battalion, it took leave of the army at Madrid on the 3rd
of September, embarked at Lisbon in November, and on the 1st
of December landed at Plymouth, from whence it marched, on the
following day, to Kingsbridge, to join its depôt, and finally, in
January, 1813, took up its quarters in Exeter. The estimation in
which this battalion was held by the Earl of Wellington will be
best shown by the following extracts from general orders, dated
Arcala, July 27th, 1812.