with several other corps, under Lieutenant-General Talmash, to
Furnes, where the troops encamped until the fortifications were put
in a state of defence; the ROYAL FUSILIERS afterwards proceeded to
Dixmude, and were employed in repairing the works;[11] and after
the completion of this service, they marched into quarters at
Ghent, where they passed the winter.
[Sidenote: 1693]
Leaving Ghent in May, 1693, the regiment was in line at the
celebrated position of Parck camp, where it was formed in brigade
with the Royals (first), Queen Dowager's (second), Prince George
of Denmark's (third), and the Queen's (fourth) regiments under
Brigadier-General Churchill. After several movements the army was
posted near the village of _Landen_, where it was attacked on
the 19th of July by a French army of very superior numbers under
Marshal Luxemburg.
The ROYAL FUSILIERS were posted near the right of the confederate
army, where a slight entrenchment had been made during the
preceding night. As the first rays of morning light appeared in
the horizon, waving masses of glittering arms, traversing the
undulating grounds in front, gave indication of an approaching
enemy, when the artillery opened a heavy fire, and the battle
began. For some time the FUSILIERS were spectators of the
action, while much fighting took place at the villages of Laér,
Neer-Winden, Neer-Landen, and the fortune of the day was everywhere
in favour of the confederates; but eventually the position was
forced at the village of Neer-Winden, and the Hanoverian Cavalry
were broken. Heavy columns of pikemen and musketeers, consisting
of the French brigades of Vermandois, Nice, Roussillon, and Sare,
flanked by dragoons, and preceded by a cloud of grenadiers,
approached the ground where the ROYAL FUSILIERS were posted.
Colonel Fitzpatrick was at the head of the regiment, and directed
the men to reserve their fire until the near approach of their
opponents. As the French soldiers sprang forward with their
characteristic energy, and threw a shower of hand-grenades over
the breast-work, a well-directed volley from the FUSILIERS rent
chasms in the French ranks; but the survivors, being supported by
an immense superiority of numbers, and urged forward by Marshal
Villeroy, renewed the attack; while the marshal led a chosen body
of men to the charge, and forced the right of the entrenchment.
The ROYAL FUSILIERS, and other corps at this part of the field,
were attacked in front and flank, and a sanguinary conflict ensued.
Colonel Fitzpatrick was carried from the field wounded, yet the
FUSILIERS stood their ground; ranks of opponents ascended the
breast-work, and were speedily cut down or forced back. At length
the British battalions were overpowered and driven from their
ground. Stung with resentment at this disaster, they speedily
rallied, and, rushing sword in hand upon their opponents, they
once more regained the lost ground. A momentary pause ensued; but
soon a fresh body of opponents renewed the fight, and the British
regiments were again overpowered by superior numbers. The FUSILIERS
evinced the stern valour of British soldiers; their commanding
officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Whalley, fell mortally wounded; Major
Wilson was removed bleeding to the rear; yet they disputed the
ground with sanguinary tenacity until all chance of ultimate
success had passed away, when they withdrew from the field,
and joining a large body of infantry under Lieutenant-General
Talmash, retired by the brook Beck upon Dormal, and thence to
Lewe. The enemy attempted to interrupt the retreat; but the
British battalions facing about to confront their pursuers, the
French halted, and the retrograde movement of this body of men
was performed with trifling loss; the remainder of the army had,
however, to pass the river Gheet by a narrow bridge, and the
defiles becoming choked with gun-carriages, the rear was severely
handled by the French, and the King narrowly escaped being taken
prisoner.
The loss of the regiment on this occasion was very severe: among
the killed were Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Whalley, an officer
of distinguished merit, who raised one of the companies of the
regiment at its formation in 1685, and Lieutenants Fairbrother,
Cooper, and Blackmore; Captain Ruthwin died of his wounds: among
the wounded were Colonel Edward Fitzpatrick, Major Wilson, Captains
Harte, Betsworth, and Withers, and Lieutenant Fletcher; the loss in
non-commissioned officers and private soldiers was very great; but
the exact number has not been ascertained.
The regiment was employed in the movements of the main army until
the end of the campaign, when it returned to Ghent, where it was
stationed during the winter, together with three battalions of
foot-guards, and the Queen Dowager's regiment of foot.
[Sidenote: 1694]
In the spring of 1694 a numerous body of recruits from England
replaced the losses of the preceding campaign, and when the
regiment took the field, it was reviewed by King William, and
complimented on its martial appearance, and the steadiness with
which it performed the simple manœuvres practised at that period.
It served in the brigade under the orders of Brigadier-General
Erle, and performed many long and toilsome marches in Flanders and
Brabant; but no general engagement occurred, and it passed another
winter in barracks at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1695]
When the season for taking the field, in the spring of 1695,
arrived, the British monarch appeared at the head of a splendid
army of British, Spaniards, Dutch, and Germans; in the preceding
years His Majesty had been satisfied with arresting the progress
of the French arms; but in 1695 he resolved to wrest the strong
and important fortress of _Namur_ from the power of Louis XIV.
Colonel Fitzpatrick, having been eighteen months in England to
recover of his wounds, rejoined the army on the 19th of June, and
was placed at the head of a brigade, of which his own regiment of
FUSILIERS formed part. King William attacked Fort Kenoyne, and
having drawn the French forces to the Flanders side of their line
of entrenchments, he invested _Namur_. The ROYAL FUSILIERS were
detached from the army at Wonterghem to take part in the siege,
and pitched their tents at Templeaux, a post about five miles from
the town. On the 6th of July they were on duty in the trenches; on
the 8th they marched into the lines of circumvallation, and in the
evening of the same day a detachment was engaged in a successful
attack on the covered way upon the hill of Bouge. The attack was
made about seven in the evening; and such were the spirit and
energy with which the British soldiers rushed upon their opponents,
that the palisades were speedily broken down,--the covered way
carried,--the French overpowered and chased among the works, many
of them throwing themselves into stone pits to escape the fury of
their assailants.
This success stimulated the soldiers to fresh exertions, and on
the 17th of July, when the ROYAL FUSILIERS were directed to take
part in the storming of the counterscarp, they engaged in this
service with a cheerful alacrity, which proved the ardour which
glowed in every breast. The grenadiers led the assault, and,
rushing to the glacis, cast their grenades over the palisades into
the covered way. Following up this attack with spirit, the French
were overpowered, the counterscarp was carried in gallant style,
and the ROYAL FUSILIERS were thanked by King William for their
distinguished bravery. They had Lieutenant Dancy killed and Captain
Negus wounded; also a number of private men killed and wounded.
The siege was prosecuted with vigour, and with such success that
before the end of July the town was delivered up, Marshal Boufflers
retiring with the garrison into the castle.
One hundred and thirty-six pieces of cannon and fifty mortars
opened their fire on the castle of _Namur_ on the 11th of August,
and being continued without intermission, breaches were made in the
Terra Nova and Cohorne, and on the night of the 20th of August, a
detachment of the ROYAL FUSILIERS was engaged under Lord Cutts in
the attack of the counterscarp and breach of Terra Nova, and had
several men killed and Captain Groves, Lieutenant Rainsford, and
a number of men wounded. The fire of the artillery was continued,
and preparations were made for another assault; but the further
effusion of blood was prevented by the surrender of the place.
After the repair of the works, the King, being satisfied with the
capture of so important a place, dismissed the army to its winter
quarters, and the FUSILIERS returned to their usual station at
Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1696]
During the following winter a conspiracy was formed in England for
the assassination of King William: at the same time an insurrection
was organised, and a French army was assembled near the coast
to aid in the replacing of King James on the throne. A body of
troops was immediately ordered to return from Flanders; and the
ROYAL FUSILIERS embarked at Sas van Ghent, sailed from thence to
Flushing, where the transports were placed under the convoy of
Dutch men-of-war, and, afterwards resuming the voyage, arrived at
Gravesend in March, 1696. The plot had, however, been discovered,
the conspirators arrested, and the British fleet was manned and
sent to sea; the French monarch's designs were thus frustrated, and
the FUSILIERS returned to Flanders without landing in England.
During the campaign of 1696 the regiment served with the Brabant
army commanded by King William; but no fighting took place. In
the beginning of September it joined the army of Flanders under
the Prince of Vaudemont, and, encamping near the village of St.
Michael, was employed in constructing works for the protection of
Bruges. In October it marched to Ghent.
In November, 1696, Brigadier-General Sir Charles O'Hara was
appointed colonel of the ROYAL REGIMENT OF FUSILIERS, in succession
to Brigadier-General Fitzpatrick, drowned.
[Sidenote: 1697]
Leaving Ghent on the 13th of March, 1697, the regiment proceeded
into village quarters between Brussels and Malines. Two companies
were detached to form part of the garrison of Oudenarde, and the
remainder subsequently encamped behind the forest of Soignies,
where the men suffered much from wet weather and from the want of
their clothing, which was due, but had not arrived from England.
The ROYAL FUSILIERS took part in the operations of this campaign.
In September a treaty of peace was signed at Ryswick, and during
the winter the regiment returned to England; at the same time its
numbers were reduced to a peace establishment.
[Sidenote: 1698]
In August, 1698, the regiment proceeded to Jersey and Guernsey, to
relieve a corps of marines which was ordered to be disbanded.
[Sidenote: 1701]
[Sidenote: 1702]
The regiment remained in Jersey and Guernsey until 1702, when the
accession of Philip Duke of Anjou (grandson of Louis XIV.) to the
throne of Spain, to the prejudice of the House of Austria, had
involved Europe in another war. This violation of existing treaties
was followed by the Courts of France and Spain acknowledging the
Pretender as King of Great Britain. Queen Anne declared war against
France and Spain, and in the summer of 1702 three companies of
the ROYAL FUSILIERS were called from Jersey and Guernsey to take
part in an expedition, under the Duke of Ormond, against the city
of _Cadiz_; their colonel, Major-General Sir Charles O'Hara, was
also employed in this enterprise. The fleet arrived off the coast
of Andalusia in Spain, and a landing was effected in the middle
of August, within a short distance from Cadiz. The wind being
high, about thirty boats crowded with soldiers were overturned
by the surge, and above twenty men of the ROYAL FUSILIERS were
drowned. The towns of _Rota_, and Port St. Mary's with _Fort St.
Catherine_, were captured; but the fortress of Cadiz was found too
strong, and the garrison too numerous to be reduced by the small
expedition sent against it. The wealthy and flourishing town of
Port St. Mary's was found deserted by the inhabitants, the houses
well furnished, and much valuable merchandise in the warehouses.
Strict discipline not being preserved, the town was plundered,
and a great quantity of property was removed on board the fleet.
Several officers were charged with participating in the plunder,
and Sir Charles O'Hara was implicated and brought to trial, but
was acquitted. The capture of Cadiz being found impracticable,
the troops re-embarked, and sailed for England; but while at
sea, information was received of the arrival of a valuable
Spanish fleet under a French convoy, at the harbour of _Vigo_,
and the expedition immediately proceeded thither. A landing was
effected on the south side of the river, above _Vigo_; a strong
fort and a battery were captured; the British fleet forced an
entrance, and the French and Spanish shipping were all captured or
destroyed. The fleet afterwards returned to England; and the Duke
of Ormond received the thanks of parliament for his success in
this enterprize. The three companies of the FUSILIERS were landed
and placed in garrison at Tilbury, excepting fifty men, who were
sent to the West Indies to complete Brigadier-General Gustavus
Hamilton's regiment.
[Sidenote: 1703]
[Sidenote: 1704]
[Sidenote: 1705]
The war being continued, the ROYAL FUSILIERS were employed during
the summer of 1703 as marines on board the fleet: they afterwards
landed, and were placed in garrison at Portsmouth, from whence a
detachment was sent to the Isle of Wight in August, 1704. In 1705
the regiment was stationed at Plymouth.
[Sidenote: 1706]
In the meantime several regiments had been sent to Portugal; an
armament under the Earl of Peterborough had captured _Barcelona_,
and Catalonia and Valencia had declared in favour of Archduke
Charles of Austria, who was acknowledged as sovereign of Spain
by Great Britain, Holland, &c. The house of Bourbon assembled a
well-appointed army and a powerful fleet to retake Barcelona,
which was besieged by King Philip in April, 1706. King Charles
remained in the city, that his presence might inspire confidence
in the garrison, which was weak and ill provided with the means of
defence. Succours were sent from England, and the ROYAL FUSILIERS
were embarked for this service. On the approach of the British
squadron the French fleet retired. The ROYAL FUSILIERS landed at
Barcelona on the 8th of May, and immediately marched to the breach
to repel an expected attack by storm, which did not, however, take
place. The arrival of the British fleet with reinforcements decided
the fate of the town; and the army of King Philip raised the siege
and retired, leaving its battering train and magazines behind.
From Barcelona the ROYAL FUSILIERS marched a distance of
forty-seven miles, to Gironne, a fortified town of Catalonia,
situated at the base of a steep mountain, with the river Tar
running through the town. Here the regiment passed in comfortable
quarters among the Spaniards the remainder of the year 1706 and
the early part of 1707. Provisions and wine were abundant, and the
regiment was preserved in a state of efficiency.
[Sidenote: 1707]
While the ROYAL FUSILIERS were at Gironne, the allied British,
Portuguese, and Dutch army, was overpowered on the plains of
Almanza on the 25th of April, 1707. Soon after this disaster the
ROYAL FUSILIERS traversed the country from Gironne to _Lerida_
(anciently called _Ilerda_), a place celebrated in history for the
beauty of its situation, the fertility of the adjacent country, and
for having been the capital of the country of the Ilergetes long
before the first invasion of Spain by the Romans. At this pleasant
city, situated on the declivity of a hill on the west bank of the
Segra, the ROYAL FUSILIERS remained a short time, expecting the
approach of the victorious French and Spanish forces. The officers
and soldiers could view the ground where Scipio defeated Hanno,
the Carthaginian general, and where Julius Cæsar conquered the
lieutenants of Pompey; but no hope of victory could be entertained
by the ROYAL FUSILIERS in the approaching contest, the disparity of
numbers being too great.
The garrison of Lerida consisted of the ROYAL FUSILIERS, Wills's
marines (now thirtieth regiment), with one Portuguese and two
Dutch battalions, commanded by Prince Henry of Hesse d'Armstadt
and Major-General Wills. A powerful French and Spanish army under
His Royal Highness the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Berwick
invested the town on the 10th of September, and, having effected a
breach, gave a general assault on the 12th of October. The garrison
defended its post with admirable courage and resolution, and the
firmness and steady valour of the ROYAL FUSILIERS were conspicuous.
The enemy having made a lodgment, the garrison vacated the town,
and retired to the castle at the top of the hill, where a vigorous
defence was continued until the water and provisions were expended,
when the fortress was surrendered on honourable terms. The garrison
marched, out on the 12th of November with colours flying, taking
with them all their baggage and two pieces of cannon, and proceeded
to join the army under the Earl of Galway.
[Sidenote: 1708]
The ROYAL FUSILIERS, having sustained considerable loss in the
defence of Lerida, returned to England in the spring of 1708 to
recruit, and their colonel, Major-General Sir Charles O'Hara, was
advanced to the peerage by the title of BARON TYRAWLEY.
[Sidenote: 1709]
During the winter of 1708 and spring of 1709 the regiment occupied
extensive cantonments in Devonshire and Somersetshire, and its
ranks were rapidly recruited.
This year Lieut.-General Stanhope formed the design of surprising
Cadiz, and concerted measures with Admiral Sir George Byng, on
board of whose squadron he embarked from Port Mahon with two
regiments of foot, and sailed to Gibraltar to await the arrival of
a body of troops from England. The ROYAL FUSILIERS were selected
to take part in this enterprise, and they embarked at Portsmouth
on board of the squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Baker; but the
fleet was detained so long by contrary winds, that it did not reach
Portugal until October, when the season was too far advanced for
prosecuting this adventure, and the regiment sailed to Barcelona.
[Sidenote: 1710]
[Sidenote: 1711]
[Sidenote: 1712]
[Sidenote: 1713]
The island of Minorca having been captured in 1708, the ROYAL
FUSILIERS were selected to form part of the garrison of that
important place during the remainder of the war, which was
terminated in 1713 by the Treaty of Utrecht. By this treaty Minorca
was ceded to Great Britain, and the regiment was one of the corps
destined to remain on the island.
On the 29th of January, 1713, the colonelcy was conferred on the
Honourable James O'Hara, in succession to his father, James Lord
Tyrawley.
[Sidenote: 1714]
[Sidenote: 1719]
The ROYAL FUSILIERS remained at Minorca until the spring of 1719,
when they were relieved, and arrived at Plymouth in May of that
year; in July they proceeded to Ireland, where they continued until
1727.
[Sidenote: 1727]
In 1727, when the Spaniards besieged Gibraltar, the regiment was
ordered to return to England, and it was subsequently held in
readiness to join the Dutch in their war with Austria; but no
embarkation took place.
[Sidenote: 1728]
[Sidenote: 1734]
The regiment remained in Great Britain until 1734, when it
proceeded to Gibraltar.
[Sidenote: 1739]
Lord Tyrawley having been removed to the fifth horse (now fourth
dragoon guards) in August, 1739, his lordship was succeeded in the
colonelcy by Major-General William Hargrave, from the ninth foot.
[Sidenote: 1749]
Leaving Gibraltar in 1749, the regiment proceeded to Ireland, where
it was stationed six years.
[Sidenote: 1751]
In the royal warrant dated 1st July, 1751, the ROYAL FUSILIERS
are authorized to bear the following distinctions. "In the centre
of their colours, the ROSE within the GARTER, and the CROWN over
it; the WHITE HORSE in the corners of the second colour. On the
grenadier caps the Rose within the Garter, and Crown as in the
colours. White Horse and motto over it, _Nec aspera terrent_. The
same device of the Rose within the Garter, and Crown on their drums
and bells of arms, with the rank of the regiment underneath."
[Sidenote: 1754]
On the decease of General Hargrave in January, 1751, the command
of the ROYAL FUSILIERS was conferred on Colonel John Mostyn, who
was removed, in August, 1754, to the thirteenth dragoons, and was
succeeded by Colonel Lord Robert Bertie.
[Sidenote: 1755]
[Sidenote: 1756]
In the spring of 1755 the regiment embarked from Dublin, and,
having landed at Liverpool, occupied quarters in England until the
breaking out of the Seven Years' War, when it was embarked on board
the fleet commanded by Admiral Byng, in March, 1756, to serve as
marines, and sent to the Mediterranean to endeavour to preserve
_Minorca_ from the power of the French. It served at the engagement
with the French fleet off Minorca on the 20th of May; but the
enemy had previously landed an army, and captured the whole island
excepting Fort St. Philip, and the relief of this fort was not
attempted. The admiral was afterwards brought to trial and shot.
[Sidenote: 1763]
[Sidenote: 1765]
[Sidenote: 1773]
The ROYAL FUSILIERS landed at Gibraltar, and were stationed at that
fortress during the remainder of the war. In 1763 they embarked
for England; in 1765 they proceeded to Scotland; but returned to
England in the spring of 1770, and in April, 1773, they embarked
for Canada.
[Illustration: Private Bn. Coy., 1742.]
[Sidenote: 1774]
After performing garrison duty at Quebec several months, the
regiment embarked for Montreal, and occupied several posts in Lower
Canada.
[Sidenote: 1775]
While the ROYAL FUSILIERS were in Lower Canada, the
misunderstanding between Great Britain and her North American
colonies, on the subject of taxes, attained a crisis; thirteen
states united against the mother-country, and, hostilities having
commenced, the Congress resolved to attempt the conquest of Canada.
The only regular forces in Lower Canada, at this period, were the
SEVENTH and twenty-sixth regiments, and their number being weak,
they were unequal to the defence of this extensive province against
the very superior numbers of the enemy: the eighth foot were in
upper Canada.
In May, 1775, a body of Americans surprised and captured the posts
of Ticonderoga and Crown-point; and this success was followed by
the advance of two divisions of the American army at different
points. The British governor, Lieut.-General Carlton, sent the
ROYAL FUSILIERS and twenty-sixth from Montreal to _St. John's_,
where they were employed in constructing two redoubts.
In the autumn one division of the American army, under Colonel
Montgomery (a native of Ireland, who had quitted the British
service a short time before, and settled at New York), besieged
_St. John's_. The garrison, consisting of five hundred and fifty
men of the SEVENTH and twenty-sixth, and a few Canadian volunteers,
commanded by Major Charles Preston of the twenty-sixth, had but a
small supply of ammunition and provision, and the works were in an
imperfect state, yet a most gallant resistance was made.
The American commander turned the siege into a blockade, and
invested _Fort Chambly_, where Major the Honourable Joseph
Stopford of the ROYAL FUSILIERS, and about eighty men, were in
garrison. This post kept up the communication between St. John's
and Montreal; but the works were not in a good condition; the place
was not deemed capable of resisting artillery, and no effectual
resistance could, consequently, be made against the very superior
numbers of the enemy. The garrison surrendered on the 20th of
October.