insulated village, in the centre of the Col de Balaguer, commanding
completely the great road through the pass. It was a square fort with
some bastions, and commanded on two sides by almost inaccessible
mountains.
Lieut.-Colonel Prevost and the brigade under his command, consisting
of the second battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, the battalion of
Roll Dillon, and a detachment of royal artillery, landed, about
eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 3rd of June, about one mile
to the eastward of the entrance to the pass from Tarragona, where
he was joined by the Spanish regiments of Barcelona and Palma,
under the command of Don Jose Charles. On the 3rd of June the fort
was invested, and on the day following a summons was sent to the
commanding officer to surrender, offering favourable terms, which
were, however, rejected.
On the 5th of June the batteries continued a heavy fire upon the
fort, which was returned by the enemy, who kept up a heavy and
galling fire of shells, round and grapeshot, during the whole of the
night, which occasioned some loss.
About ten o'clock a most violent storm of thunder and lightning
commenced, which impeded the works greatly, and as the seamen and
troops were quite exhausted, it became expedient to delay bringing
the guns upon the platforms, and to keep the embrasures masked. In
the evening of the 6th of June a battery of two eight-inch mortars
was placed upon the road, within a few hundred yards of the Castle,
under the breaching battery; one four-pounder was likewise placed
upon the heights to the right, where the riflemen were stationed.
At daybreak on the 7th, three batteries opened to protect the working
party at the breaching battery, and kept up a tremendous fire until
six o'clock, when that of the Castle having ceased, their magazines
upon the batteries having been blown up by the shells from the
mortars, the white flag was hoisted upon the Castle, and the garrison
offered to surrender upon conditions of marching out and grounding
their arms upon the glacis, with permission to carry off the personal
baggage, which terms were granted, as Marshal Suchet's approach was
hourly expected, and Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost would be enabled to
put the fort in a good state of defence. Possession was taken of the
Castle on the 7th of June.
Lieutenant-General Sir John Murray, in his despatch to the Marquis of
Wellington, stated--
"This capture, in the present situation of our affairs, is of great
importance, as it blocks up the nearest and most accessible road from
Tortosa to Tarragona....
"The troops of both nations bore their fatigue, and performed their
duty with the greatest alacrity and spirit, and deserve every
commendation. Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost has in a former despatch
particularly noticed the gallantry and good conduct of Ensign Nelson,
of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, and Ensign John Dermot, of Roll Dillon's
battalion."
The SIXTY-SEVENTH had two rank and file killed, and eight rank and
file wounded.
Marshal Suchet advancing with an army of superior numbers, the siege
of _Tarragona_, which had been invested by Lieutenant-General Sir
John Murray on the 3rd of June, was raised, and on the 12th of that
month the troops embarked for the Col de Balaguer.
Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck assumed the command of the
troops in the East of Spain, in succession to Lieutenant-General Sir
John Murray. His Lordship joined the army at the Col de Balaguer on
the 17th of June, and re-embarked with it for Alicant, at which place
the SIXTY-SEVENTH and the rest of the troops arrived about the 24th
of June.
The battle of Vittoria, on the 21st of June, 1813, gained by the
army under the Marquis of Wellington, changed the aspect of affairs
in Spain, and the troops under Marshal Suchet made some retrograde
movements. The Anglo-Sicilian army, under Lieut.-General Lord William
Bentinck, advancing into Catalonia, proceeded to invest _Tarragona_.
On the 4th of July the army, under the command of Lieutenant-General
Lord William Bentinck, marched for Tarragona. The SIXTY-SEVENTH
were employed in the subsequent operations, and were present at the
occupation of Tarragona by the British, which place was blown up by
the French under Marshal Suchet on the night of the 18th of August,
after which the enemy retired towards Barcelona.
Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck continued in command of
this division of the army until the 23rd of September, 1813, when
his Lordship embarked for Sicily, where fresh changes injurious
to the British policy required his presence, and was succeeded by
Lieutenant-General William Clinton. Previously to his embarkation his
Lordship issued the following General Order, dated _Tarragona_, 23rd
of September, 1813:--
"The Commander of the Forces deeply laments that he is compelled
to leave the army. It is a pleasing part of his duty to express
his perfect satisfaction with the subordination and perseverance
displayed by the troops upon all occasions.
"He only regrets that the part assigned to this army in the plan
of the campaign has not permitted the troops to partake in those
brilliant triumphs which would have been the just recompense of their
valour and discipline."
In September the battalion marched into quarters at Valls, and in
October it was removed to Vendrills.
[Sidenote: 1814]
Napoleon's reverses in Germany, and the brilliant successes of the
allied army under the Marquis of Wellington, had a great effect upon
the war in Catalonia, and the troops under Marshal Suchet withdrew
from several posts. The SIXTY-SEVENTH marched, in February, 1814, to
the vicinity of _Barcelona_, and formed part of the force employed in
the investment of that place.
Hostilities were terminated in April by a treaty of peace. Napoleon
abdicated the throne of France, and the island of Elba was ceded
to him in full sovereignty with the imperial title for life, and a
pension payable from the revenues of France; and on the 3rd of May,
1814, Louis XVIII. entered Paris, and ascended the throne of his
ancestors.
Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, in his despatch dated
Toulouse, 19th of April, 1814, alluded to the conduct of the troops
under Lieutenant-General William Clinton in the following terms:--
"Upon the breaking up of this army, I perform a most satisfactory
duty in reporting to your Lordship my sense of the conduct and merit
of Lieutenant-General William Clinton, and of the troops under his
command since they have been employed in the Peninsula. Circumstances
have not enabled those troops to have so brilliant a share in the
operations of the war as their brother-officers and soldiers on
this side of the Peninsula; but they have not been less usefully
employed; their conduct, when engaged with the enemy, has always been
meritorious; and I have had every reason to be satisfied with the
General Officer commanding, and with them."
The SIXTY-SEVENTH withdrew from Barcelona, marched to Tarragona, and
embarked at that port on the 24th of April for Gibraltar, where they
arrived on the 4th of May.
[Sidenote: 1815]
Peace was of short duration. The return of Bonaparte to France, and
his enthusiastic reception at Paris, caused Louis XVIII. to retire
to Ghent. The Allied Powers, however, refused to acknowledge the
sovereignty of Napoleon, and he was obliged to trust once more to
the chances of war. The campaign was brief; totally defeated in the
celebrated battle of Waterloo, on the 18th of June, 1815, Bonaparte
was subsequently compelled to surrender himself a prisoner to Captain
Maitland, commanding the Bellerophon ship of war; and the island of
St. Helena was afterwards appointed for his future residence.
On the 6th of April, 1815, the second battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH
regiment received the royal authority to bear on its colours and
appointments the word "PENINSULA," in commemoration of its services
in Spain.
[Sidenote: 1817]
During this period the SIXTY-SEVENTH remained at Gibraltar, from
which station the battalion embarked for England, on the 25th of
March, 1817, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. Davison,
and arrived at Chatham on the 14th and 15th of May following.
All apprehensions that the peace of Europe would be disturbed having
ceased, the Government decided on making certain reductions in the
army, and the second battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment was
disbanded at Canterbury on the 25th of May, 1817.
1817.
CONCLUSION.
The details contained in the foregoing pages show, that the
reputation acquired by the Twentieth Regiment in the wars during the
reigns of King William III. and of Queen Anne,--in the defence of
Gibraltar in 1727,--and at the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy, has
been preserved unsullied by the SECOND BATTALION of that corps since
the year 1758,--at which period it was constituted the SIXTY-SEVENTH
regiment.
In the rocky and almost impregnable position of _Belle-Isle_ may be
traced an analogy between its capture, and that of _Quebec_, although
in the acquisition of the former the Nation had not to regret the
loss of such a Commander as MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, the first
Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, whose death cast a gloom over
the triumphs of the British Arms in the conquest of Canada.
The _Royal Tiger_, and the word "_India_" superscribed, borne on the
regimental colour, record the services of the FIRST BATTALION in the
East during a period of twenty-one years from 1805 to 1826; while the
inscriptions of "_Barrosa_" and "_Peninsula_" denote the share taken
by the SECOND BATTALION in support of Spanish Independence from 1810
to 1814.
Services like these, combined with arduous duties in the Colonies
of Great Britain, have acquired for the regiment the confidence of
the Nation and the approbation of the Sovereign, while its orderly
conduct in quarters has obtained the commendation of the Military
Authorities under whom it has been employed.
[Illustration:
_Benjamin West Pinx^t._ _Madeley lith. 3 Wellington S^t. Strand_
THE DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, THE FIRST COLONEL OF THE
SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT; KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF QUEBEC ON THE
13^{TH}. SEPTEMBER 1759.
_For Cannon's Military Records_]
FOOTNOTES:
[18] Now General Lord Gough, G.C.B., and Colonel of the
Eighty-seventh, Royal Irish Fusiliers.
[19] Now Lieut.-General Sir John Macdonald, G.C.B., _Adjutant-General
to the Forces_.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
OR
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
JAMES WOLFE.
_Appointed 21st April, 1758._
Major-General James Wolfe, son of Lieut.-General Edward Wolfe,
was born at Westerham, in Kent, on the 11th of January, 1726, and
entered the army as a second lieutenant in Colonel Edward Wolfe's
First regiment of Marines, on the 3rd of November, 1741. On the
27th of March, 1742, he was removed to the Twelfth foot, in which
regiment he was promoted lieutenant on the 14th of July, 1743. He
was appointed to a company in the Fourth foot on the 23rd of June,
1744, and obtained his majority in the Thirty-third regiment on
the 5th of February, 1747. The war of the _Austrian Succession_
afforded him many occasions to show the bravery and decision of
his character; and at the battle of _Val_, or _Laffeld_, on the
2nd of July, 1747, when only twenty-one years of age, his masterly
exertions, at a critical juncture, procured his appointment as a
major of brigade, and the highest encomiums from His Royal Highness
the Duke of Cumberland, then at the head of the army. He was removed
to the Twentieth regiment on the 5th of January, 1749, in which he
was promoted to the rank of lieut.-colonel on the 20th of March,
1750. After the peace he cultivated the arts of war, and introduced
such exactness of discipline into his corps, that as long as the six
British battalions[20] on the plains of _Minden_ are recorded in the
annals of Europe, so long will Kingsley's (Twentieth) stand amongst
the foremost of that day. He received the brevet rank of colonel
on the 21st of October, 1757, and in January, 1758, was appointed
brigadier-general in America. He was appointed colonel of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH on the 21st of April, 1758, on the second battalion of
the Twentieth being constituted the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. In July
following he distinguished himself at the capture of the island of
_Cape Breton_. On his return to England he was appointed to command
the important expedition against _Quebec_, with the local rank of
major-general. This was an expedition of considerable difficulty and
danger. He was to sail up the St. Lawrence and capture Quebec, which
is situated on its shores. The place was, by its natural formation,
very strong, and succours of all kinds had been thrown into the town;
and the garrison, consisting of French, Canadians, and Indians, was
prepared at all points for the attack. Major-General Wolfe on landing
at the Isle of Orleans found it necessary to seize and to fortify
Point Levi, and the western parts of the isle, as the Canadians
might otherwise prevent a ship approaching Quebec. These points
having been attained, he ordered works to be constructed there for
the bombardment of the town. The French endeavoured to prevent the
construction of these works, and crossed the river for that purpose,
but in vain. Finding, however, that an attack on the city from the
river side would be of small effect, Major-General Wolfe resolved
to carry on the attack on the land side. To effect this, he first
attempted to land his troops some miles below the town near the falls
of Montmorenci; here he was repulsed by a large division of the
French forces, with loss. Undismayed by his repulse near the falls
of Montmorenci, on the 31st of July, 1759, he saw, in this reverse,
the necessity of greater efforts, and conceived the bold design of
drawing the French from their unassailable position by scaling the
heights of Abraham. The soldiers clambered up the heights with great
difficulty, and the guns were hauled up by means of ropes and pulleys
fixed round the trees, which covered the banks from top to bottom.
At the top the plain commences, and extends close under the walls
of the city. By this arrangement he forced the French to come out
of the city. The Marquis de Montcalm was thus compelled to abandon
his camp, and risk a battle for the protection of Quebec. While
bravely animating his troops on the 13th of September, 1759, and at
the moment when victory was almost within his grasp, he received a
wound in the wrist, and another in the breast, which rendered it
necessary to bear him to the rear. There, roused from fainting, in
the agonies of death, by the cry of "They run! they run!" he eagerly,
asked "Who run?" and being told the French, and that they were
defeated, he exclaimed, "Then I thank God, and die contented;" and
almost immediately expired.[21] He was in the thirty-fourth year of
his age. Brigadier-Generals Monckton and Townshend, after the loss
of their commander, completed the victory. On the 18th of September
Quebec surrendered; and, like Gibraltar, conquered by a similar
bold exploit, has, to the present time, continued an appendage to
the crown of Great Britain. The remains of Major-General Wolfe were
conveyed to Portsmouth, and at night on the 20th of November were
deposited in the family vault at Greenwich. A handsome monument was
also erected, by order of Government, to his memory in Westminster
Abbey. The Major-General is represented as endeavouring to close,
with his hand, the wound made in his breast, and is supported by a
grenadier. An angel is seen in the clouds, holding a wreath ready to
crown the expiring hero. On the pyramid is represented, in relief,
the faithful Highland serjeant who attended him; and his sorrow
at witnessing the agonies of his dying master is so pathetically
expressed, that a spectator can scarcely view the sculpture unmoved.
In the front, in alto-relief, is depicted the landing at Quebec, with
a view of the precipices the troops had to ascend before the enemy
could be attacked. The inscription is as follows:-- "_To the memory
of James Wolfe, Major-General and Commander-in-Chief of the British
Land Forces on an expedition against Quebec, who, after surmounting,
by ability and valour, all obstacles of art and nature, was slain in
the moment of victory, on the 13th of September, 1759, the King and
the Parliament of Great Britain dedicate this monument._"
LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH.
_Appointed 24th August, 1759._
Lord Frederick Cavendish, third son of William (third) Duke of
Devonshire, was honoured with having the Prince of Wales (father
of King George III.) for his godfather. Choosing the profession of
arms, he entered the army as ensign in the First foot guards, and
was appointed lieutenant and captain in the Second foot guards in
1752; in 1755 he was nominated lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-ninth
regiment; he was honoured with the appointment of aide-de-camp to
King George II., with the rank of colonel, in 1758, and in 1759 he
obtained the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, from which
he was removed in 1760 to the Thirty-fourth. He was promoted to
the rank of major-general in 1761,--to that of lieutenant-general
in 1770,--general in 1782,--and field-marshal in 1796. In 1797 he
resigned the colonelcy of his regiment. He died in October, 1803.
SIR HENRY ERSKINE, Bart.
_Appointed 30th October, 1760._
Sir Henry Erskine was an officer of the Royal regiment, in which
corps he was appointed captain on the 12th of March, 1743; in April,
1746, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and held
the appointment of Deputy-Quartermaster-General to the expedition
under Lieutenant-General St. Clair, which made a descent on the
French coast, in which service he was wounded. In June, 1759, he
was promoted to the rank of major-general; and in October, 1760, he
obtained the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, from which he
was removed in 1761 to the Twenty-fifth regiment, and in 1762 to the
colonelcy of the Royals. He was a Member of Parliament, and Secretary
to the Order of the Thistle, and died in August, 1765.
HAMILTON LAMBERT.
_Appointed 29th May, 1761._
Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton Lambert, of the Thirty-first regiment,
was promoted to the rank of colonel in the army on the 1st of March,
1761. Shortly afterwards he proceeded with the expedition for the
attack of Belle-Isle, in the Bay of Biscay, under Major-General
Hodgson. Colonel Lambert received the rank of brigadier-general
on this expedition, and highly distinguished himself in the
capture of Belle-Isle, which surrendered on the 7th of June, 1761.
Brigadier-General Lambert's services at Belle-Isle are narrated at
pages 5 and 6 of the Historical Record of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment,
the colonelcy of which was conferred upon him by His Majesty King
George III., on the 29th of May, 1761. On the 10th of July, 1762, he
was promoted to the rank of major-general, and was advanced to that
of lieutenant-general, on the 25th of May, 1772. Lieutenant-General
Lambert died in the year 1774.
EDWARD MAXWELL BROWN.
_Appointed 11th March, 1774._
The early services of this officer are connected with the
Twenty-first, Royal North British Fusiliers, which regiment served
in Germany during the war of the Austrian Succession, and was
present at the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy. At the battle of
Fontenoy, on the 11th of May, 1745, Lieutenant Maxwell was wounded.
On the 7th of August, 1749, he was promoted to a company in the
Twenty-first regiment; and on the 17th of September, 1757, was
advanced to the rank of major. Major Maxwell was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant-colonel in the same regiment on the 27th of April,
1758. In the year 1761, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Maxwell commanded
the Twenty-first Fusiliers in the expedition under Major-General
Hodgson, for the attack of Belle-Isle. The island was captured with
much difficulty, but was restored to the French at the peace in
1763, in exchange for Minorca. Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell obtained
the rank of colonel in the army on the 25th of May, 1772; and on
the 11th of March, 1774, was appointed by His Majesty King George
III. to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. He was further
advanced to the rank of major-general on the 29th of August, 1777;
and to that of lieutenant-general on the 20th of November, 1782. In
1786, Lieutenant-General Edward Maxwell was permitted to assume the
additional surname of Brown. On the 3rd of May, 1796, he was promoted
to the rank of general. The decease of General Edward Maxwell Brown
occurred in the year 1803.
FRANCIS D'OYLY.
_Appointed 25th February, 1803._
The regimental services of Lieutenant-General Francis D'Oyly are
associated with the First regiment of foot guards, in which he
obtained a company, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, on the
27th of April, 1780. On the 18th of November, 1790, he received the
rank of colonel in the army; and on the 3rd of October, 1794, was
advanced to that of major-general. On the 11th of October, 1797, he
became lieutenant-colonel in the First foot guards; and on the 25th
of November, 1799, was appointed, by His Majesty King George III.,
colonel-commandant of the Fifteenth regiment of foot. Major-General
D'Oyly was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general on the 1st of
January, 1801; and on the 25th of February, 1803, was appointed by
the King to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. The decease
of Lieutenant-General D'Oyly took place suddenly on the 4th of March,
1803, at his residence in Half-moon Street, Piccadilly.
PETER CRAIG.
_Appointed 9th March, 1803._
General Peter Craig commenced his military career as ensign in the
Thirtieth foot, on the 28th of May, 1762; and on the 1st of June,
of the following year, obtained his lieutenancy. He was promoted
to a company in the Fifty-seventh regiment, on the 25th of March,
1768; and was advanced to the rank of major in that corps, on the
14th of December, 1774. On the 9th of January, 1779, he became
lieutenant-colonel of the Fifty-sixth regiment, then stationed at
Gibraltar, which had the honour of forming part of the garrison
in the successful and gallant defence of Gibraltar against the
combined power of France and Spain, from 1779 to 1783. On the 20th
of November, 1782, he obtained the brevet rank of colonel; and on
the 12th of October, 1793, Colonel Craig was promoted to the rank
of major-general; on the 1st of January, 1798, he was advanced to
that of lieutenant-general. His Majesty King George III. appointed
Lieut.-General Craig colonel-commandant of the Sixty-second regiment,
on the 25th of November, 1799; and on the 9th of March, 1803, he
was nominated colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. On the 25th
of September, 1803, he obtained the rank of general. His decease
occurred in the year 1810.
SIR WILLIAM KEPPEL, G.C.B.
_Appointed 7th February, 1811._
This officer served fifty-six years in the army, having entered the
service in the year 1778. He served in North America and the West
Indies, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general in the
year 1803; and colonel-commandant of the Sixtieth regiment, on
the 24th of April, 1806; he was appointed by the Prince Regent, in
the name and on the behalf of His Majesty King George III., to the
colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 7th of February,
1811, on the decease of General Peter Craig. His Majesty King George
IV. removed General the Right Honorable Sir William Keppel to the
colonelcy of the Second, or Queen's Royal regiment, in the year
1828, on the decease of Major-General Sir Henry Torrens. In 1813 Sir
William Keppel was raised to the rank of general in the army; and was
for many years Groom of the Bedchamber and Equerry to His Majesty
King George IV., who bestowed on him the appointment of Governor of
Guernsey, when it became vacant by the death of the Earl of Pembroke,
in 1827. The Right Honorable General Sir William Keppel, G.C.B., died
at Paris, on the 11th of December, 1834.
SIR JOHN MACDONALD, G.C.B.
_Appointed 25th August, 1828._
Removed to the FORTY-SECOND, ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT, on the 15th of
January, 1844.
JOHN CLITHEROW.