George Carleton, quitted the Dutch service, and obtained a
commission in a newly-raised regiment on the English establishment.
This officer served as a volunteer with the Fleet under the Duke
of York in 1672 and 1673; and in the same capacity with the army,
commanded by the Prince of Orange, from 1674 to 1676, when he
obtained a commission in the Fifth. He saw much service in the
reign of King William III.; and served during the war of the
Spanish succession, as engineer, with the army in Valencia and
Catalonia; and was made prisoner at the surrender of Denia in 1708.
In 1728 he published an interesting narrative of his services,
interspersed with many curious anecdotes, under the title of
_Military Memoirs_, which are allowed to contain the best account
extant of the services of the Earl of Peterborough in Spain. These
memoirs were reprinted in 1741 with the title of _History of the
two last Wars_, and again in 1743, with that of _Memoirs of Captain
George Carleton_; and a new edition appeared in 1809, with the
latter title.
[8] One of the officers who quitted the Dutch service on this
occasion was Captain John Bernardi, of the Fifth. He obtained
a commission in the regiment at its formation in 1674; had
distinguished himself on several occasions, and had received many
honourable wounds.
At the Revolution in 1688, he adhered to King James, and served
in his cause in Ireland and Scotland. He subsequently resided
in London, and being implicated in the plot to assassinate King
William, in 1696, he was imprisoned. Although his guilt could not
be established, and he was never brought to trial, yet he was
detained in prison by authority of an Act of Parliament passed
expressly for that purpose. After remaining upwards of thirty years
in confinement, he wrote his life, which was published in 1729;
and contains many interesting particulars relative to the early
services of the regiment.
[9] _Life of Major John Bernardi._--Rapin says only forty declared
for King James.
[10] This officer's name is sometimes written Talmash.
[11] Boyer's Life of King William.
[12] Dalrymple.
[13] Boyer.
[14] Afterwards the celebrated General Wood, who was many years
Colonel of the 4th Horse, now 3rd Dragoon Guards.
[15] London Gazette, No. 2661; Dublin Intelligencer; and Story's
History of the Wars in Ireland.
[16] Inquiry into the Management of the War in Spain, Part II.
Account of Embarkations, page 9.--_London Gazettes_, 4340, 4347,
and 4348.
[17] "Estremos.--The enemy, having resolved to besiege Olivenza,
or oblige the Portuguese to a battle, had all their heavy cannon
and fascines in readiness before the town; but upon the approach
of the four regiments lately arrived from Ireland, they retired in
great precipitation, and sent away their cannon to Badajoz. These
regiments are in very good condition, and will be able to do great
service."--_Ibid._ No. 4350.
[18] In 1706, six hundred and sixty men of the Thirteenth Foot were
formed into a regiment of Dragoons by the Earl of Peterborough, in
Catalonia, and the Colonelcy conferred on the Lieutenant-Colonel,
Edward Pearce. The remainder of the regiment returned to England
to recruit, and, having completed the establishment, arrived in
Portugal as above stated. The regiment of Dragoons thus formed was
disbanded at the peace of Utrecht.
[19] Annals of Queen Anne, and London Gazette.
[20] The Monthly Mercury for May, 1709.
[21] London Gazette.
[22] Annals of Queen Anne, Vol. 10, page 95.
[23] London Gazette.
[24] The Marquis of Granby's Despatch.
[25] "The Brigade formed of the English Grenadiers and
Scotch Highlanders greatly distinguished itself, performing
wonders."--_Operations of the Allied Army_, page 161.
[26] "The FIFTH Foot behaved nobly, and took above twice its own
numbers prisoners."--_Letter from an Officer of the Artillery._
"Prince Ferdinand pursued and pressed upon them as close as
possible: and they would, without doubt, have been entirely routed,
if M. de Stainville had not thrown himself, with the Grenadiers of
France, the Royal Grenadiers, the regiment of Aquitaine, and other
corps, being the flower of the French infantry, into the woods
of Wilhelmstahl to cover their retreat. That resolution cost him
dear; his whole infantry having been taken, killed, or dispersed,
after a very gallant defence, excepting two battalions which found
means to get off; some of these troops had before surrendered
to Lord Granby's corps, and upon the coming up of the army, the
remainder, after one fire, surrendered to the FIFTH regiment of
Foot."--_London Gazette._
[27] Return of Prisoners taken in the action at Groebenstien, and
in the woods of Wilhelmsthal, on the 24th June 1762.
CORPS. Number of
Men.
Grenadiers of France 635
Royal Grenadiers. Rochelambert 208
" L'Espinasse 135
" Le Camus 121
" Narbonne 60
Aquitaine 432
Poictou 29
Royal Deux-Ponts 30
Waldner 108
D'Epring 55
Choiseul,--Dragoons 64
Royal Picardy,--Cavalry 30
Fitz-James',--Cavalry 77
Chamboran 28
Monnet 112
Of different corps 446
----
2570
Officers 162
----
Total 2732
Also one standard, six pair of colours, and two pieces of cannon,
were taken.--_Operations of the Allied Army._
[28] According to the embarkation return the strength of the
regiment when it quitted Germany was, 27 officers, 692 men, 54
women, and 67 horses.
[29] A full account of these medals is given in a work published in
America by General Donkin in 1777.
[30] How the badge of St. George and the Dragon with the motto
"_Quo fata vocant_" above mentioned, were first acquired by the
regiment, has not been ascertained. There is a tradition in the
corps that they were conferred as an honorary distinction for
gallant conduct either in the German war or that of the Spanish
succession; but it is probable they might have been assumed when
the regiment in 1675 was given to Colonel John Fenwick, and became
English. A portrait of Major Bernardi (who was an Ensign in this
corps at its formation in 1674, and rose to the rank of Captain in
it) prefixed to his Memoirs published in 1729, is surmounted by
the motto "_Quo fata trahunt_," evidently a metamorphosis of, and
borrowed from the "_Quo fata vocant_" of the regiment. The Royal
Warrants of the 1st of July, 1751, and 19th of December, 1768,
while they recognise and confirm the badge, are silent respecting
the motto; an omission, however, not confined to the FIFTH Regiment
only, for the warrants do not notice the motto of any one infantry
regiment, though others (the Royal Scots for instance,) must have
had mottoes. It will be seen in the text that the motto surmounted
the badge on the medal of merit, one of which from the original
die with the date 10th of March, 1767, is now (1837) in possession
of Colonel Sutherland, commanding the regiment. This motto and
badge has for many years been borne on the officers' and men's
appointments, and there is no doubt but they form one whole, and
are coeval with each other.
[31] "Lord Percy now formed his detachment into a square, in which
he enclosed Colonel Smith's party, who were so much exhausted with
fatigue that they were obliged to lie down for rest on the ground,
their tongues hanging out of their mouths like those of dogs after
a chase."--_Stedman's History of the American War._
[32] London Gazette.
[33] London Gazette.
[34] "If any thing had been wanting to show the bravery and
discipline of the British troops, the action at Bunker's Hill
furnished an ample proof of both. Twice they were stopped and
twice they returned to the charge. In the middle of a hot summer's
day; encumbered with three days' provisions, their knapsacks on
their backs, which, together with cartouch-box, ammunition, and
firelock, may be estimated at 125lbs; with a steep hill to ascend,
covered with grass reaching to their knees, and intersected with
walls and fences of various enclosures; and in the face of a hot
and well-directed fire,--they gained a complete victory over three
times their own numbers."--_Stedman._
[35] Stedman.
[36] London Gazette.
[37] Lieutenant-Colonel Smith continued in the command of the
fortress of Niagara until the 19th November, 1795, when he died,
and was buried with military honours, in a vault prepared for
the family on the Canada side of the Niagara River. His son, Sir
David William Smith, baronet, was born in the regiment, and having
obtained a commission at an early age, he attained the rank of
Captain in it before he quitted the service; he afterwards settled
in the province of Upper Canada, and was called to the bar there.
He communicated to the compiler of this record, with great zeal and
kindness, several interesting particulars relative to the history
of the regiment. He died on the 19th of May, 1837, at Alnwick, in
Northumberland.
[38] Now (1837) Lieutenant-General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, Bt.
[39] Marshal Soult, Duc de Dalmatia.
[40] Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, K.B., was created
a Peer on the 26th August, 1809, by the titles of Baron Douro of
Wellesley, and Viscount Wellington of Talavera.
[41] Late Scots Brigade, formed from the three Scots regiments,
mentioned at page 10.
[42] "Ridge fell, and no man died that night with more glory:--yet
many died, and there was much glory."--_Napier._
[43] The chivalrous spirit displayed throughout these campaigns
by private James Grant, of the second battalion, deserves to be
recorded in these memoirs. This brave fellow was a native of
Strathspey; being a musician in the band, he was, as usual, left
with it in the rear whenever there was any expectation that the
battalion might be seriously engaged. On such occasions, however,
Grant uniformly stole away from the band, appropriated to himself
the arms of the first man he found in the field disabled from using
them himself, and, being a tall, fine-looking soldier, fell in on
the right of the grenadier company, and there fought till the day
was won, when he returned to his instrument. In this manner he took
part in the actions of Busaco, Sabugal, Fuentes D'Onor, El Bodon,
and Salamanca, the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, and was amongst the
foremost in the escalade of the castle of Badajoz. From all these
he escaped without a wound: he was appointed serjeant-major of the
regiment in 1828; and he died in 1835 from the effects of a fall,
at Malta, where a handsome tomb was erected by the regiment, on
which his achievements were recorded.
[44] On the 21st May, 1831, Captain Spence (being a magistrate)
was directed to proceed with his company to _Kilfenora_, by the
following letter, viz.:--
"_Ennis, 21st May, 1831._
"Sir,
"I am desired by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot to acquaint
you, that as it is very desirable to have a magistrate stationed
at _Kilfenora_, and as, moreover, he was extremely pleased
with your zeal and exertions, while in command of a post, he
has directed Lieutenant-Colonel Tovey to send your Company to
Kilfenora, having every expectation that your services there will
prove of much benefit to the country.
"I have, &c.
(Signed) "W. VINCENT, Lt.-Col., A.Q.M.G.
"_To Captain Spence_, FIFTH FOOT."
[45] The FIFTH regiment for many years carried a _small green silk
banner_, inscribed with the badge, motto, number, and designation
of the corps, at the head of the regiment, amidst the corps of band
and drummers. This distinction is supposed to have originated from
the battle of Wilhelmsthal, where the regiment took the colours of
the French grenadiers--as stated at page 34.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF THE
FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT,
OR
NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS.
DANIEL VISCOUNT OF CLARE,
_Appointed in 1674_.
Daniel O'Brien was one of the distinguished loyalists who attended
King Charles II. during the period His Majesty was in exile on the
continent, and he obtained at the Restoration the title of Viscount
of Clare for his grandfather, who had frequently given proofs of
his loyalty and attachment to his King, in the reign of Charles
I. Daniel, the third Viscount of Clare, succeeded to the title in
1670, and having proceeded to Holland, after the treaty of London,
in 1674, he obtained the Colonelcy of the FIFTH FOOT, then newly
raised; but, being afterwards charged with holding a treasonable
correspondence with the French, he relinquished his commission and
returned to Ireland.
After the Revolution in 1688, the Viscount of Clare displayed great
zeal in the cause of King James,--having raised two Irish regiments
of foot and one of dragoons for the service of that unhappy
monarch; he was also a member of the Privy Council in Ireland, and
Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Clare. He served under King James
at the battle of the Boyne, in 1690: and died in the same year.
JOHN FENWICK,
_Appointed 2nd August, 1675_.
John Fenwick was many years an officer of the Queen's troop (now
Second Regiment) of Life Guards, in the reign of Charles II., and
he served under the Duke of Monmouth in the campaigns of 1672 and
1673. In the succeeding year he obtained permission to proceed
to Holland, and in 1675 he was appointed to the Colonelcy of the
FIFTH FOOT, retaining, at the same time, his commission of Guidon
and Major in the Life Guards.[46] After his recovery of a wound
received during the siege of Maestricht, some angry expressions
occurred between him and the Prince of Orange, when he quitted the
Dutch service, returned to England, and resumed his duties in the
Life Guards; and shortly afterwards he succeeded to the dignity of
a Baronet.
In 1678 Sir John Fenwick was promoted to the rank of
Brigadier-General, and appointed Colonel of a newly-raised
regiment of foot, which was disbanded after the peace of
Nimeguen. He was subsequently governor of Holy Island, one of the
Inspecting-Generals of cavalry, and a member of Parliament for
the county of Northumberland: and in 1687 he was promoted from
the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Queen's troop of Life Guards, to
the Colonelcy of the Fourth regiment of Horse, now Third Dragoon
Guards, from which he was removed by the Prince of Orange at the
Revolution in 1688. In 1695 he engaged in a conspiracy to raise an
insurrection in behalf of King James, for which he was apprehended
and brought to trial before the Parliament. No direct proof of his
guilt could be produced, yet a bill of attainder for high treason
was passed against him; and he was beheaded on Tower Hill on the
28th of January, 1697.
HENRY WISELY,
_Appointed 11th September, 1676_.
Henry Wisely was an Officer of repute in the Dutch service, and
his meritorious conduct was rewarded with the Lieutenant-Colonelcy
of the FIFTH. After the resignation of Colonel (afterwards Sir
John) Fenwick, he was promoted, at the recommendation of the Prince
of Orange, to the Colonelcy of the regiment, by commission from
the States-General of Holland dated the 11th of September, 1676.
He served with his regiment against the French until the peace of
Nimeguen, acquiring, by his zealous exertions on all occasions,
the character of a good officer. He was drowned on his passage to
England in the winter of 1680.
THOMAS MONK,
_Appointed 10th December, 1680_.
This Officer also served with distinction under the Prince of
Orange, and was advanced to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of Sir Henry
Bellasis' regiment (now Sixth Foot), from which he was promoted to
the Colonelcy of the FIFTH in December, 1680; but his death appears
to have occurred before he acquired any higher rank.
THOMAS TOLLEMACHE,
_Appointed 9th October, 1688_.
Thomas Tollemache (or Talmash), son of Lionel third Earl of Dysart,
was an officer in the English army in the reign of King Charles
II., and in January, 1678, he obtained the rank of Captain in the
Second Foot Guards. In March of the same year he was appointed
Lieutenant-Colonel of Lord Arlington's newly-raised regiment,
which was disbanded after the peace of Nimeguen. He was afterwards
Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Foot Guards; but subsequently
entering the Dutch service, he was promoted to the Colonelcy of the
FIFTH in October, 1688; from which he was removed to the Colonelcy
of the Second Foot Guards in May following. He was advanced to
the rank of Major-General in December, 1690; and to that of
Lieutenant-General in January, 1692. He commanded an expedition to
the coast of France in the summer of 1694, was wounded at Cameret
Bay on the 8th of June, and died on the 12th at Plymouth.
EDWARD LLOYD,
_Appointed 1st May, 1689_.
Edward Lloyd became proficient in the duties of his profession in
active service under the Prince of Orange, who promoted him to
the Colonelcy of the FIFTH FOOT in May, 1689. While serving with
his regiment in Ireland, and in the Netherlands, he acquired the
confidence and esteem of his superior officers, and he had every
prospect of rising to high military rank; but his mortal career was
terminated by death on the 26th of August, 1694.
THOMAS FAIRFAX,
_Appointed 6th November, 1694_.
This Officer, after a progressive service in the subordinate ranks,
obtained, on the 8th of March, 1689, the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of
Lord Castleton's regiment, from which he was promoted by King
William III., in November, 1694, to the Colonelcy of the FIFTH
FOOT. He served with his regiment in Flanders, was promoted to
the rank of Brigadier-General in 1696, and commanded a brigade of
infantry during the campaign of the following year. He was removed
from the FIFTH in 1703, was afterwards promoted to the rank of
Major-General; and died on the 6th of January, 1710.
THOMAS PEARCE,
_Appointed 5th February, 1704_.
Thomas Pearce obtained the commission of Ensign in a regiment of
Foot on the 28th of February, 1689; and in October, 1694, he was
appointed Captain of the Grenadier Company in the Second Foot
Guards. He served at the siege of Namur in 1695, and, being engaged
in storming the covered-way on the night of the 8th of July, he
advanced, in the heat of the conflict, too far in front of his
men, and was wounded and taken prisoner.
In 1702 he served under the Duke of Ormond in the expedition to
Cadiz; and, commanding a brigade of Grenadiers at the storming of
the forts of Vigo, he was wounded in the thigh by a cannon-ball.
His gallantry was rewarded on the 10th of April in the following
year with the Colonelcy of a newly-raised Irish regiment of
Foot;[47] from which he was removed to the FIFTH, on the 5th of
February, 1704. He was promoted on the 1st of January, 1707, to
the rank of Brigadier-General, and, proceeding with his regiment
to Portugal, he highly distinguished himself at the head of
a brigade of infantry at the battle of Caya in 1709, and was
taken prisoner. He was shortly afterwards exchanged for a French
Brigadier-General, and on his return to England he was promoted to
the rank of Major-General. He was further promoted to the rank of
Lieutenant-General on the 5th of March, 1727; and in 1732 he was
removed to the Colonelcy of the Fifth Horse, now Fourth Dragoon
Guards. He was several years a member of Parliament for Melcomb
Regis, and died in 1739.
JOHN COPE,
_Appointed 15th December, 1732_.
This Officer entered the army in the reign of Queen Anne, and was
several years Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second troop of Horse
Grenadier Guards. He obtained the rank of Colonel in the army on
the 15th of November, 1711; and was promoted to the Colonelcy of
the Thirty-ninth Foot on the 10th of November, 1730, from which
he was removed to the FIFTH FOOT on the 15th of December, 1732.
In 1735 he obtained the rank of Brigadier-General; in 1737 he was
removed to the Ninth Dragoons; and on the 2nd of July, 1739, he was
advanced to the rank of Major-General. He was several years on the
staff of Ireland, and, after having been removed to the Colonelcy
of the Seventh Dragoons in 1741, he proceeded in the summer of
1742 to Flanders with the army commanded by Field-Marshal the Earl
of Stair. In the beginning of the following year he was promoted
to the rank of Lieutenant-General; and, having signalized himself
at the battle of Dettingen under the eye of his sovereign, he was
constituted a Knight of the Bath.
In 1745 Sir John Cope was Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, and a
small body of troops under his immediate command were defeated by
the Highlanders under the Young Pretender at Preston Pans; which
unfortunate circumstance enabled the rebels to penetrate into
England and advance as far as Derby. He retained the Colonelcy of
the Seventh Dragoons until his decease in 1760.
ALEXANDER IRWIN,
_Appointed 27th June, 1737_.
Alexander Irwin commenced his military career as Ensign on the 1st
of October, 1689, and, after serving the crown nearly forty-eight
years in various parts of Europe, he was promoted to the Colonelcy
of the FIFTH FOOT, by commission dated 27th of June, 1737. He was
promoted to the rank of Major-General on the 24th of February,
1744; he was subsequently on the Staff of Ireland, and also held
the appointment of Lieutenant-Governor of Kinsale. He was further
advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1748, and died four
years afterwards.
CHARLES WHITEFORD,
_Appointed 25th November, 1752_.
Charles Whiteford entered the army as Cornet on the 3rd of May,
1720; and on the 27th of April, 1741, he was promoted to the
Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Fifth regiment of Marines, with which
corps he served several years on the continent of America and in
the West India islands. In 1752 King George II. conferred the
Colonelcy of the FIFTH FOOT on Colonel Whiteford, who did not long
enjoy the promotion; his decease having occurred in the summer of
1754.
LORD GEORGE BENTINCK,
_Appointed 20th of August, 1754_.
Lord George Bentinck, second son of Henry first Duke of Portland,
received the appointment of Ensign on the 3rd of November, 1735;
and having been promoted on the 12th of April, 1743, to the
command of a company in the First Foot Guards with the rank of
Lieutenant-Colonel, he served at the battle of Dettingen in June
of the same year. He obtained the appointment of Aide-de-camp to
the King on the 17th of March, 1752; and the Colonelcy of the FIFTH
FOOT, in August, 1754. He was afterwards promoted to the rank of
Major-General; and died at Bath on the 2nd of March, 1759.
STUDHOLME HODGSON,
_Appointed 24th of October, 1759_.
Studholme Hodgson, after serving several years in the army, was
appointed, in 1745, Aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland, whom
he attended at the battles of Fontenoy and Culloden. He obtained
the command of a company, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel,
in the First Foot Guards, on the 22nd of February, 1747; and on
the 30th of May, 1756, he was promoted to the Colonelcy of the
Fiftieth Foot. He obtained the rank of Major-General on the 25th
of June, 1759; and was removed to the Colonelcy of the FIFTH
FOOT in October of the same year. In 1761 he was advanced to the
rank of Lieutenant-General, and he commanded the land forces of
a successful expedition against Belle-Isle in the same year, for
which he obtained the approbation of the King, and was appointed,
in 1765, Governor of Forts George and Augustus. In 1768 he was
removed to the Fourth Foot; in 1778 he was promoted to the rank of
General; and in 1782 he was removed to the Colonelcy of the Fourth
Irish Horse, now Seventh Dragoon Guards. He was again removed,
in 1789, to the Eleventh Light Dragoons, and on the 30th of July,
1796, he was promoted to the rank of Field-Marshal. He enjoyed this
elevated rank two years, and died in the autumn of 1798, at the
advanced age of ninety years.
HUGH EARL PERCY,
_Appointed 7th November, 1768_.
Earl Percy entered the army at an early age, and was first
engaged in actual warfare under the Duke of Brunswick during the
seven years' war in Germany. He obtained the rank of Captain
and Lieutenant-Colonel in the First Foot Guards, on the 17th of
April, 1762; and was promoted on the 7th of November, 1768, to
the Colonelcy of the FIFTH FOOT, the command of which corps he
retained nearly sixteen years, displaying, during that period,
such distinguished military virtues, with a kind liberality, and a
constancy of attention to, and interest in, the welfare and credit
of the regiment, as endeared his name in the grateful remembrance
of the officers and men. His Lordship commanded a brigade in
America, and distinguished himself in the retreat from Lexington to
Boston, and in the storming of Fort Washington near New York. In
1784 he was promoted to the Colonelcy of the Second troop of Horse
Grenadier Guards; and succeeded, in 1786, to the dignity of DUKE OF
NORTHUMBERLAND. In 1788 the Second troop of Horse Grenadier Guards
was incorporated in the Second Regiment of Life Guards; and in 1806
his Grace was appointed to the Colonelcy of the Royal Regiment
of Horse Guards, which he resigned in 1812. The decease of this
respected nobleman occurred in 1817.
THE HONOURABLE EDWARD STOPFORD,
_Appointed 1st November, 1784_.