Chapter III: Part 3

The peace of Paris in 1814, having put an end to the war on the Continent, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH Regiment was among the corps ordered to proceed to America, where hostilities were still raging. It embarked in the Gironde on the 15th of June, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Macpherson, and, without returning to England, sailed direct to Quebec, where it arrived on the 3rd of August following. The unfortunate failure of the combined military and naval operations on Lake Champlain and at Plattsburgh put a stop to active hostilities in Canada, and the EIGHTY-EIGHTH had only one opportunity of coming into contact with the enemy, viz., at the passage of the Savannah, where the light company, under Captain Nickle, distinguished itself.

If, however, the period of its stay in Canada was barren of laurels to the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, it gave the regiment an opportunity of displaying qualities which, if not so dazzling and brilliant, are equally valuable in, and honourable to the soldier, namely, firm discipline and unshakeable fidelity to his king, his country, and his colours. The extent to which desertion prevailed amongst the British troops in America, is unhappily but too well known; but although the EIGHTY-EIGHTH was stationed on the banks of the river Richelieu, within a few hours’ sail of the province of Vermont; although the men were considerably in debt to their officers, and under stoppages to pay off an incumbrance, of which desertion would at once have relieved them; although tempting rewards awaited such as should reach the American territory, which could be done without the slightest risk; although American ships were daily arriving and departing, and the facilities were such that, if so disposed, the whole battalion might have deserted in a night, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH _did not lose one man by desertion_, during the whole eleven months that it remained in Canada!!

[Sidenote: 1815]

This honourable conduct of the men of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH did not go unnoticed or unrewarded; their reward was exemption from the painful duty of being present when the extreme sentence of martial law was executed upon deserters from other regiments. The following is a copy of the brigade order on one occasion of the kind, more than nine months after the arrival of the regiment in America.

“_St. John’s, May 19, 1815._

“No men having deserted from Major Green’s artillery, or from the
EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment, they will not be required to attend at
Chambly for the purpose of witnessing the execution of the sentence
of a General Court Martial on several deserters.”

The subject was again honourably adverted to by Major-General Brisbane, in a letter addressed to the regiment in Brigade Orders, when, in consequence of the escape of Napoleon from Elba, and the prospect of renewed and active warfare in Europe, it had been ordered to return to England.

“B. O.

“Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane was much pleased this day with
the general appearance and movements of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH Regiment.
He cannot refrain from expressing how much, and how sincerely he
regrets losing a regiment with which he has so long served, and
which has conducted itself so creditably since its arrival in this
country; but he confidently looks forward to have it again in his
brigade. The circumstance of the regiment _never having lost a
man by desertion_ is highly honourable to it, and can never be
forgotten by the Major-General.

(Signed) “J. CAMPBELL,
“Brigade-Major.

“_St. John’s, May 26, 1815._”

On the 29th of May the regiment marched from St. John’s, reached William Henry on the 1st of June, where it embarked in small craft, and arrived at Trois Rivieres on the 4th. At Trois Rivieres it was shifted into transports, reached Quebec on the 8th, sailed again on the 10th, and arrived at Spithead on the 15th of July.

The battle of Waterloo had decided the contest in Europe before the arrival of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH; nevertheless the regiment was ordered to proceed, without disembarking, to Flanders. After two days’ stay, therefore, at Spithead, it sailed again on the 17th, and landed at Ostend on the 21st of July. From thence it proceeded towards Paris, and on the 12th of August took up its quarters at St. Denis, and was once more attached to Sir Thomas Brisbane’s brigade. In December following it was removed to that of Sir John Keane, on which occasion Major-General Brisbane caused the following letter to be addressed to Colonel Wallace, who had again taken command of the regiment.

“_Paris, Dec. 17, 1815._

“SIR,

“I am directed by Major-General Sir T. Brisbane to express to
you, and to request that you will communicate to the regiment
under your command, the very sincere regret he feels in losing the
EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment from his brigade: but he begs to assure
them that his best wishes accompany them, and he will always be
happy to have again under his command a regiment that was surpassed
by none, either for gallantry in the field, or orderly conduct in
quarters, during the seven years they have been with him.

“I have, &c.
“J. CAMPBELL,
“Brigade-Major.

“_To_ COLONEL WALLACE,
_Commanding the Eighty-Eighth Regiment_.”

[Sidenote: 1816]

[Sidenote: 1817]

From January, 1816, to the end of the spring, 1817, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH was in garrison at Valenciennes, when it returned to Great Britain, and was quartered in Edinburgh about two years. Some time after its arrival in Scotland, a letter was received from Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville, who had frequently had it under his command, as part of the third division, in the Peninsula, and more recently during its stay at Valenciennes, “expressing his hearty wish for the honour and well-being of the regiment in whatever situation it may be placed, and requesting the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, to accept his thanks for the ready attention paid to his orders during the period the regiment was under his command.”

* * * * *

[Sidenote: 1818]

During the period of repose at Edinburgh, it occurred to Colonel Wallace to establish an _Order of Merit_ in the regiment, by conferring some honorary mark of distinction on the non-commissioned officers and privates, proportioned to their regimental character, length of service, and the number of general engagements in which they had been present. This was, however, a design which could not be carried into execution without the consent and approbation of the Commander-in-Chief, which Colonel Wallace applied for in the following letter:—

“_Edinburgh Castle, June 4, 1818._

“SIR,

“I have the honour to state, that some of the non-commissioned
officers and soldiers of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH Regiment have served in
twelve different general actions, and have been two, three, and
four times wounded, have been a long time in the regiment, and
always conducted themselves well in the field and in quarters. I am
anxious to bestow upon them some mark of distinction for their good
conduct, as an encouragement to them and others in future.

“I shall be much obliged to you if you will obtain His Royal
Highness the Commander-in-Chief’s permission for me to give such
men medals as a testimony of their merit.

“I have, &c.,
“J. A. WALLACE,
“Colonel Commanding.

“_To the Adjutant-General._”

The answer of the Commander-in-Chief, communicated in a letter from Sir Henry Torrens, dated 28th of the same month, sanctioned Colonel Wallace’s plan, leaving it to his “discretion to grant such testimonials in the case alluded to, as he might deem essential to the good of the regiment.” The proper authority thus obtained, Colonel Wallace’s intentions were carried into effect without delay. Silver medals of three distinct classes were struck at the expense of the officers of the regiment. The first class was bestowed on men who had been present in twelve general actions, and consisted of a Maltese cross on which the names of the twelve actions were stamped. The second class was given to those who had served in from six to eleven general actions, and the third to such as had served in any number less than six. The name of the man to whom it was given was engraved on each medal. The total number distributed was,—

Serjeants, Corporals, Drummers, Privates.
First Class, 13 6 6 45
Second Class, 7 9 3 126
Third Class, 19 10 3 185
—— —— —— ———
39 25 12 356

[Sidenote: 1819]

On the 11th of March, 1819, Lieutenant-General Sir Gordon Drummond, G.C.B., was appointed Colonel of the Regiment, in succession to Lieut.-Gen. Viscount Beresford, who was removed to the Sixty-Ninth Regiment.

In the summer of 1819, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH moved from Edinburgh to Hull, sending detachments to Manchester and Stockport. In August of the same year, Colonel Wallace, after more than fourteen years’ service with the regiment, was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and was succeeded in the command by Lieutenant-Colonel James Ferguson.

During the time the regiment was quartered at Hull, the manufacturing districts of England were in a high state of discontent, and attempts were made to circulate inflammatory publications amongst the military. Private James Tracy, of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, being tampered with for this purpose, received the papers, but, instead of distributing them amongst his comrades, instantly gave them up to his commanding officer, Major Nickle, furnishing, at the same time, such information as led to the apprehension and conviction of the man from whom he had received them. For this conduct Tracy received a liberal reward, as well as the approbation of Lieutenant-General Sir John Byng, commanding the district, which was conveyed to him through a letter to Colonel Ferguson.

[Sidenote: 1821]

[Sidenote: 1822]

[Sidenote: 1823]

From Hull the EIGHTY-EIGHTH removed to Chester, and from thence, in the summer of 1821, to Liverpool, where it embarked for Ireland, landed at Dublin, and proceeded to Enniskillen, where it took up its head-quarters, furnishing sixteen officers’ detachments. In July, 1822, it moved from Enniskillen to Castlebar in Connaught, where it remained, again furnishing fifteen officers’ detachments, till December, 1823, when it marched to barracks at Naas. On quitting Castlebar it received a very flattering address from the magistrates and resident gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood.

[Sidenote: 1824]

On the 16th of January, 1824, Lieutenant-General Sir Gordon Drummond was removed to the Seventy-First regiment, and the Colonelcy of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH was conferred upon Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Frederick Campbell, K.C.B., G.C.H.

[Sidenote: 1825]

It was February, 1825, before the last detachment joined from Connaught, when the regiment, once more united, removed to Dublin, occupying first the Richmond, and subsequently the Royal barracks. While the EIGHTY-EIGHTH remained in Dublin, orders were issued for increasing the establishments of regiments from eight to ten companies. The zealous exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Ferguson, aided by the high popularity the corps enjoyed, enabled the EIGHTY-EIGHTH to complete its numbers in little more than six weeks, and to be the first regiment reported as complete to the Commander-in-Chief, a circumstance honourably noticed in a letter from the Adjutant-General of the Forces to Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, then commanding the garrison of Dublin, under date of 20th of June, 1825. “I have it in command,” says the letter of the Adjutant-General, “to express His Royal Highness’s approbation of the zeal manifested by Lieutenant-Colonel Ferguson, the commanding officer, in thus rapidly raising the augmentation, and which being the first instance of completion yet reported, is most creditable to that officer, and the corps under his command.”

In the latter part of the summer of 1825, the regiment removed to Templemore, furnishing fourteen detachments in the counties of Tipperary and Limerick. Here Lieutenant-Colonel O’Malley joined on the 10th of August, and took the command in place of Lieutenant-Colonel Ferguson, who had been removed to the Fifty-Second Regiment. In September it received orders for the Mediterranean, embarked by divisions at Cork on the 7th and 21st of October and 12th of December, 1825, and proceeded to Corfu, where the last division arrived on the 27th of January, 1826.

[Sidenote: 1828]

During the year 1828 the regiment furnished several detachments to the neighbouring islands of Ithaca, Cerigo, Calamos, and Santa Maura; the detachment in the last-named island suffered severely from a malignant fever which raged during the months of June, July, and August, and carried off thirty-six men out of seventy-five, of which it originally consisted. On the 19th of September, the head-quarters were removed to Cephalonia, on which occasion Major-General Woodford took leave of it in the following very flattering terms:—

“GARRISON ORDERS.
“_Brigade-Major’s Office, Corfu,
“Sept. 18th, 1828._

“Major-General Woodford will not allow the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment
to embark without his expressing the satisfaction he feels at
the invariably good conduct the regiment has maintained in the
garrison. Its interior order and general soldier-like appearance
sufficiently evince the assiduous attention which has been bestowed
on the regulation and discipline of the corps. The Major-General
feels this tribute to be due to Lieutenant-Colonel O’Malley, and he
requests he will communicate his sentiments to the regiment.”

[Sidenote: 1830]

In April, 1830, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH again returned to Corfu, where it remained until September, 1831, when it was removed to Vido, and continued there until December, 1831, when it again proceeded to Corfu. The reserve companies remained in Ireland from 1825, to April, 1830, when they embarked for England.

* * * * *

From the time of its original formation, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment had, as stated at the commencement of the Record, borne on its colours and appointments a device, consisting of a Harp and Crown, with the motto “_Quis separabit?_” No direct authority appears to have authorised this appropriation of a badge and motto, but use had sanctioned it, and the recollection of the fields of glory in which it had waved before the enemy, endeared it to the sympathies of the officers and men. In an official design for a new stand of colours preparing for the regiment towards the end of 1830, this device and motto were omitted. Colonel O’Malley immediately wrote to the Adjutant-General representing the case, and the strong wishes of the regiment for its retention, for the consideration of the Commander-in-Chief. His application was successful, and obtained distinct authority for the corps to continue the use of the badge to which it was so strongly and so reasonably attached. The Adjutant-General, in a letter dated from the Horse-Guards, 30th of December, 1830, says—

“Sir,

“I have had the honour to submit to the General Commanding-in-Chief
your letter of the 22nd instant with its enclosures, and am
directed to acquaint you, that under the circumstances therein
stated, his Lordship has been pleased to obtain his Majesty’s
permission, that the EIGHTY-EIGHTH Regiment, or ‘CONNAUGHT
RANGERS,’ may retain on its colours and appointments the HARP and
CROWN, with the motto ‘_Quis separabit?_’ in addition to the badges
and devices which it has been authorized to bear in commemoration
of its distinguished services on various occasions.

“I have, &c.,
“JOHN MACDONALD, A.G.

“_Colonel O’Malley, Eighty-Eighth Regiment._”

The EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment having been omitted among the regiments authorised to bear, as an honorary distinction, the word “_Pyrenees_” on its Colours, the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel O’Malley, in the year 1830, made the most strenuous exertions to obtain this additional honour for the regiment, in commemoration of its services in the actions in the Pyrenees, as narrated at pages 52, &c.; and testimonials of its gallant conduct on the occasions in question, were furnished by Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane, who commanded the brigade of which the EIGHTY-EIGHTH formed a part,—by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Frederick Stovin, who acted as Assistant-Adjutant-General to the third division,—and by Lieutenant-Colonel James Campbell, who was Major of Brigade.

This omission occurred in consequence of the officer who commanded the regiment on the occasion alluded to, not having received a medal for that service, perhaps owing to an accident, or clerical error at the time; but, as Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton, who commanded the third division, fell in the battle of Waterloo, the requisite form of recommendation for honours of this description could not be procured, and the General Commanding-in-Chief did not feel himself justified in departing from the general rule which had been established, as the ground on which these distinctions should be submitted for the King’s approval. This honorary inscription is, consequently, not borne on the colours of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment, for its services in the Pyrenees.

[Sidenote: 1831]

On the 20th October, 1831, Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Frederick Campbell, K.C.B., was removed to the Twenty-Fifth regiment, and Major-General Sir John Alexander Wallace, Bart. and K.C.B., who had commanded the regiment in many of the arduous campaigns during the Peninsular war, was appointed to the Colonelcy of the CONNAUGHT RANGERS.

The EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment continued in Corfu from the year 1830 to 1836, furnishing occasionally working parties for the island of Vido, and detachments to Santa Maura, and the other islands: the detachment to Santa Maura in April, 1832, continued there ten months, and consisted of two Captains, three Subalterns, one Assistant-Surgeon, six Serjeants, two Drummers, and one hundred and fifty Rank and File.

To those persons interested in the well-being of the corps, and who recollect the extent of sickness and mortality experienced by a former detachment at this station, and of not more than half the strength, in the year 1828, it will be gratifying to know, that not more than two deaths took place, neither of which was caused by climate, one of them was accidental drowning, and the other the consequence of _delirium tremens_; indeed, such was the health of this detachment, that the hospital was, for the greater part of the time, unoccupied during its stay at Santa Maura.

From the period of the return of the regiment from the Island of Cephalonia to Corfu, Major-General Sir Alexander Woodford, in making his half-yearly inspections, expressed in every instance his approbation of the corps, more especially in June, 1831, when he addressed a letter, of which the following is a copy, to Major O’Hara, then Commanding Officer, upon whom, and the regiment altogether, the sentiments expressed by the Major-General reflect much credit:—

“_Corfu, 6th June, 1831._

“Sir,

“Having now inspected the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment, twice within six
months, and having on both occasions found it in high order, I have
a satisfactory duty to perform, in desiring you will communicate
to the regiment my approbation of its soldier-like appearance, its
interior order, and its general steadiness under arms.

“I beg you will intimate to the Officers, that their attention
to their duties, and to the good order and management of their
companies, is very apparent; and that, from the direction
thus given to the men, in the care and keeping of their arms,
accoutrements, and appointments, and in everything relating to
their equipment and personal appearance, arise, in my opinion,
the good humour and contentment, and consequent regularity and
discipline, which characterise the regiment.

“To the Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, I desire you will state,
that I am perfectly satisfied with them, individually, as clean,
smart, and well-behaved soldiers, and collectively as a corps,
highly creditable to the King’s service.

“In conveying these observations to the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment
assembled on parade, you will, Sir, receive yourself the best
testimony I can give, to the care and attention with which you have
discharged your own superior duties.

“I have, &c.
(Signed) “A. WOODFORD,
“Major-General.

“_To Major O’Hara, Commanding
Eighty-Eighth Regiment._”

Nothing of importance connected with the history of the regiment, occurred from the date of its return to Corfu, with the exception of the melancholy circumstance of Captain the Honourable Charles Gustavus Monckton having been assassinated by a villain, private James Clarke, on the 9th August, 1831, under the impression, as it is believed, that his being accidentally met out of barracks at a late hour of the night, by Captain Monckton, when in the act of committing felony, might tend to his conviction thereof.

The constitution of a regiment is such that the acts of individuals, more or less, reflect honour or disgrace on the whole corps, and much of the fame and high character to which the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment has claim, would perhaps be tarnished, if grounds existed for imagining that any other individual belonging to it was concerned in this diabolical act; the feelings evinced by the soldiers of the regiment, particularly those of the company to which the assassin belonged, when forgetful of the forbearance due to religion and to the laws, they were with difficulty restrained from taking vengeance, as well as their subsequent conduct in requesting to be permitted to subscribe one dollar (4_s._ 4_d._) per man, to erect a monument to the memory of their much-lamented officer, and thereby make known to posterity, their horror and indignation at the disgraceful occurrence, are convincing proofs that no other soldier was implicated in this disgraceful transaction.

The request of the regiment was acquiesced in; at the same time it was deemed prudent to limit the subscription of the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, to one day’s pay each, with which a monument has been erected in the military burial-ground of Corfu.

The following notification was made to the regiment on this occasion:—

“_Corfu, 15th March, 1833._

“The Colonel commanding has much pleasure in announcing to the
regiment, that the Monument to the memory of the late Honourable
Captain Monckton has been completed, and now stands over the grave
of that much-lamented officer, in the military burial-ground of
this garrison. This mark of esteem and regard for the deceased
reflects much credit and honour upon the regiment, more especially,
as the expense attending it has been paid by the voluntary
subscriptions of the Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers who
generously offered one dollar per man towards it, which Colonel
O’Malley feels quite assured they would as cheerfully have paid,
if necessary, and if permitted to do so, as they have readily
contributed one day’s pay, to which it was deemed prudent to limit
their contribution.”

The monument bears the following inscription in English, and in Greek, viz.:—

SACRED
To the Memory of
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES GUSTAVUS MONCKTON,
Late Captain in
His Majesty’s Eighty-Eighth Regiment (or Connaught Rangers),
Who died by the hand of an Assassin, on the 9th August, 1831,
Aged Twenty-Six years.
This Monument is erected by the Non-Commissioned Officers and Private
Soldiers of the Regiment, in testimony of their respect and regard
for this most lamented young Officer, and to record their
abhorrence of the atrocious act by which he was
deprived of life.
The feeling of grief and indignation, strongly and universally expressed
by the Regiment, was only moderated on witnessing the prompt
punishment of the murderer, Private James Clarke, who
was executed on the 11th August, 1831.

[Sidenote: 1833]

It may be here told, in further justice to the feelings of the men of the company to which this assassin Clarke belonged, that such was the horror of the wretch’s memory amongst them, that not one of those soldiers could be prevailed with, unless positively ordered, to receive, and do duty with the arms and accoutrements which had been in his charge, and this having come to the knowledge of the Commanding Officer, in March, 1833, when a draft of men was received from the reserve companies, which made it necessary to bring in use some spare arms and accoutrements, Colonel O’Malley (in proof of his acquiescence in the feeling) caused the accoutrements and appointments in question to be cut in pieces on the parade of the regiment, and the objectionable firelock was delivered into the Ordnance stores in exchange for another.

[Sidenote: 1834]

The ceremony of presenting new colours to the regiment, took place at Corfu on the 27th of February, 1834, _the anniversary of the battle of Orthes_, in which the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment bore a distinguished part, and suffered a severe loss in officers and men.

The presentation of colours, which is under any circumstances interesting, caused on the present occasion an unusual excitement, it being known that they were to be given by Lady Woodford, the wife of Major-General Sir Alexander Woodford, commanding the troops in the Ionian Islands. A vast concourse of people, with all the beauty and fashion of the place, assembled at an early hour on the esplanade of the citadel, which is finely situated, commanding a view of the rugged and snow-topped mountains of Albania, of the sea, and of the fertile hills of the island covered with olives, and green with the opening vegetation of an early spring. The fineness of the day was in unison with the beauty of the scenery, and nature herself seemed to smile on the expected ceremony. The Lord High Commissioner, Lord Nugent, the President of the Senate, and the Senators with their families, and the nobility and gentry of the island, honoured the corps with their presence.

The regiment being assembled and drawn up in line, at about eleven o’clock Lady Woodford arrived in her carriage, attended by the Major-General and his Staff on horseback; and on her Ladyship’s descending in front of the line, the regiment presented arms, the band playing “God save the King.” The grenadier company then moved from the right, and drew up facing the centre of the battalion: having opened its ranks, it presented arms to the old colours, of which it took charge, and escorted them to the citadel, the regiment presenting arms to them. Shortly afterwards the grenadiers returned with the new colours, which had been consecrated on the previous Sunday, and had remained in the garrison chapel. These were delivered by the Rev. Charles Küper to the Major and senior Captain, by whom they were borne to the parade, where those officers placed themselves on either side of Lady Woodford, continuing to hold the colours unfurled. The grenadiers having resumed their place on the right of the line, the regiment formed three sides of a square, leaving the fourth open to the public. During this formation, in order that a suitable impression might be made on their young minds, the school children of the regiment (boys and girls), neatly and uniformly dressed in green, moved into the square.

Ensigns Herbert and Honeywood, upon whom the honour of receiving the colours devolved, were then ordered to advance towards Lady Woodford, when her Ladyship delivered the colours to those officers, with the following exhortation:—

“Gentlemen,

“Receive and guard with fidelity, in every danger, these Colours
which I have the honour of presenting to you! May the Almighty
protect and prosper you in this sacred duty, and may you live to be
distinguished in your country’s service!”

At this moment a light breeze expanded the Colours, emblazoned with the names of the many battles in which the corps had borne a distinguished part, and a simultaneous burst of admiration and applause issued forth from the numerous spectators.

The Ensigns then moved to their places in the line of Officers; as they advanced, the regiment presented arms, the band playing “God save the King.”

The Major-General then stepped forward and addressed the regiment in the following terms:—

“Colonel O’Malley, Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and
Privates of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment, I have witnessed
the presentation of your Colours with peculiar interest and
satisfaction.

“To a regiment whose bravery in the field has ever been
conspicuous, few words can be necessary on this occasion; but as
your Colours are a sacred pledge which binds you to your duty and
your country, I cannot pass over in silence a ceremony which calls
forth every warm and honourable feeling that ought to animate a
soldier’s breast.

“This day, the anniversary of the battle of Orthes, reminds us of a
period when the valour and discipline of the British arms rendered
it everywhere triumphant, under that great commander who led it
from victory to victory.

“In those active and arduous campaigns, the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment,
from first to last, bore a most distinguished part, under the
command of that gallant officer who is now your Colonel[8].

“The records of its meritorious services in those hard fought
battles, emblazoned on these colours which are now confided to your
trust, will be to you a proud memorial of the past, and a stimulus
for days to come.

“There are other corps, too, in this command, who equally shared
in those glorious successes, and in reverting to their own gallant
conduct, they will attest, and they can well appreciate the ardour
and gallantry of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH.

“Nor can I pass over a fact not less honourable to the corps than
even brilliant achievements in the field, I allude to the campaign
in Canada, where the inducement to desertion was great, but where
your men, without one single exception, spurned every attempt to
seduce them from their colours and their duty; a memorable instance
of their love of country, and of their fidelity to the service,
which rendered them worthy of their native land, and an honour to
the British army.

“Colonel, Officers, and Soldiers,

“The good spirit and discipline which pervade your ranks are the
best presages of your future conduct, wherever you may be called.

“In your hands, Sir, warmly supported as you are by the officers
around you, with your vigilance, your perseverance, and your
zeal for the welfare of the regiment, I feel persuaded that its
reputation and high name will ever be nobly maintained.

“With respect to you, Soldiers, there never was a period when
the country had stronger claims on your attachment; when the
regulations of the service so carefully provide for your
maintenance, your comfort, and your protection, while serving; your
support and honourable retirement, when age and infirmity render
you incapable of active duty; and I may say, with confidence, there
never was a time when the British soldiers were more sensible of
the advantages they enjoy—more firm in their allegiance—more
faithfully devoted to their King and country.

“And whenever your services shall again be required to encounter
the enemies of our country in the field, need I say to the
CONNAUGHT RANGERS, by these Colours you must stand or fall—with
these Colours you must conquer or perish?”

The Commanding Officer, Colonel O’Malley, replied to the Major-General as follows:—

“It becomes my duty for the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers,
and Soldiers of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, to return thanks to you, Lady
Woodford, and to you, Sir Alexander, for the honour done to us this
day; in performing which duty, I feel, with much regret, how very
incapable I am to do justice to the occasion, or to the grateful
feelings towards you, which animate me and every individual of the
regiment.

“RANGERS! the Colours you have just received have been in my
possession above two years, in which I have watched over them
with a constant and anxious desire to witness their delivery to
you. Unavoidable circumstances have hitherto prevented this, more
especially, which we all have viewed with deep sympathy and regret,
the long and severe indisposition of Lady Woodford. We have now,
however, thanks to the Almighty, the great satisfaction to see her
Ladyship on this parade in renewed health and strength; under any
circumstances you would receive with pleasure and honour throughout
your lives, those Colours, borne as they are on the old and wounded
poles which accompanied the regiment through many successful and
triumphant battles, and with the only remaining fragments of the
old Colours attached to them; but tenfold will be your satisfaction
in having received them through the hands of Lady Woodford, a
circumstance in itself which could not fail to insure them your
respect and devotion; of this I was fully aware, when in your name
I solicited her Ladyship to present those Colours.

“In reference to them, identified as they are with the history and
gallant achievements of the regiment, I might, and would say much,
and that without a fear of the charge being made against me, of
sounding my own praises, (for, unhappily, I had no share in the
deeds of glory to which I allude); but my feelings, excited by the
very impressive address that the Major-General has had the goodness
to make to us, and by the interesting presentation of the Colours
by Lady Woodford, altogether unfit me for the task.

“To gain the good opinion and the confidence of those General
Officers under whose orders we may serve, should at all times be
our study; to succeed must in any case be gratifying; but in the
instance of so very distinguished an officer as Sir Alexander
Woodford, who so thoroughly knows what a British soldier is and
ought to be; and after a period of seven years, in which we have
served under his orders, in the course of which he has acquired
an intimate knowledge of us as a regiment, it is flattering and
grateful in the extreme to me, as it is to you, Officers and
Soldiers, to have heard the Major-General speak as he has done of
the good spirit and discipline which pervade our ranks.

“We owe it to ourselves never to be unmindful of this address,
and I pray you to recollect what I have frequently impressed
on you, that not only by bravery in war can the honour of your
Colours be upheld, but also by a steady perseverance in good and
regular conduct, and let us ever bear in mind, that valour without
discipline is of no avail.”

The square was then reduced, and the regiment being in line, fired a _feu de joie_, the drums beating a point of war between each fire, and at the close the band played “God save the King;” after which the regiment gave three hearty cheers in honour of the occasion. The regiment then broke into column and marched past, the Officers saluting, and the line being re-formed, opened its ranks, advanced, and again presented arms.

At two o’clock, the whole of the Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers, with their families, were provided with an excellent dinner on the parade in the citadel.

The Service Companies embarked from Corfu on board the Barosa troop ship, under command of Major Eden, on 29th July, 1836, and landed at Portsmouth the 23rd of September, where they joined the Depôt Companies after a separation of nearly eleven years, those companies having arrived only _two_ days previously from Ireland.

The Depôt Companies after being moved from Ireland to Languard Fort and Harwich in 1830, continued to occupy those quarters until July, 1832, when they moved to Chatham, leaving a detachment of one company at Harwich, under command of Captain Orr; on the 1st January, 1833, Major O’Hara joined and assumed the command of the depôt, Major Eden having proceeded to join the Service Companies, and in this year the depôt moved to Sheerness, where Captain Orr’s detachment joined in June from Harwich, on quitting which place Captain Orr received a letter expressive of the admiration of the Mayor, Justices, and Inhabitants, of the good conduct of the detachment, of which letter and of Captain Orr’s reply, the following are copies, viz.:—

_“Harwich, 12th June, 1833._

“Sir,—By the desire of the Mayor and Justices of this Borough, and
on behalf of the inhabitants at large, I have to communicate to you
the expression of their admiration of the conduct of the detachment
of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH Regiment under your command, during their long
services on this station, as having been of the most exemplary and
praiseworthy description. I beg to assure you how much gratified I
am by the honour of this instrumentality.

“Believe me, Sir, very respectfully, yours,
(Signed) “B. CHAPMAN, T. C.”

“A correct copy of the testimonial of good conduct of a detachment
of EIGHTY-EIGHTH Regiment, under the command of Captain Orr.

(Signed) “GEORGE GRAHAM, Mayor.

“_To Captain Orr, Commanding 88th Foot._”

“_Harwich, 12th June, 1833._

“Sir,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter, conveying the kind expression of the Mayor, Justices, and
Inhabitants at large, on the conduct of the detachment under my
command, and am much gratified that their constant good conduct
should have called forth the approbation of those among whom
they have so long been quartered, requesting you to accept my
best thanks for the handsome manner you have communicated their
sentiments to me.

“Believe me, Sir,
“Your most obedient humble servant,
(Signed) “MARTIN ORR, Capt. 88th regt.

“_To B. Chapman, Esq., Town Clerk._”

In June, 1834, the depôt marched in _two_ divisions from Sheerness, and returned to Chatham, where, soon after, one of those incidental riots took place between some soldiers and some of the seamen and labourers in the Dock-yard, which, as in most cases of the kind, originated from some trifling cause, and was in the first instance considered of no importance; but unhappily it shortly after assumed a more grave and serious form, as very frequent opportunities were taken to grossly insult and assault the soldiers, who, though fully impressed with that good sense of discipline which commands forbearance, were forced in self-defence to retaliate. Again, on the 21st August, after the races, an altercation took place between some soldiers and sailors, the origin of which could not be ascertained, but the sailors were joined by a vast rabble of the lowest kind, who aided in seriously maltreating the soldiers, whose numbers being comparatively few, acted alone in self-defence, until some of the well-disposed of the inhabitants ran to the barracks and gave notice to the guard of what was passing: when the soldiers in barracks were made aware of it, they rushed therefrom to the aid of their comrades, some of whom they met, in appearance frightfully maimed, the consequences of which might have been most serious, had not the Officers of the depôt hurried forward and arrested the advance of the soldiers, who in obedience to orders immediately returned to the barracks. In the course of this proceeding, no interference was made by the civil authorities, nor on the following day when a party of seamen in a state of intoxication, accompanied by a vast rabble armed with bludgeons, and preceded by persons with musical instruments, marched up to the barrack-gate and called for the soldiers of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, to come out for fight, and decide the affray of the previous day, a challenge which no doubt would have been readily accepted, more especially as the men were termed cowards, &c. had not the serjeant of the barrack-guard and his men done their duty by keeping their comrades within the walls, until the Commanding Officer and Officers were made aware of what was passing, and ordered the barrack-gates to be closed, and thus terminated this threatened fight. A detailed report of these proceedings was made by the Officer commanding the depôt to the Commandant of Chatham, and a complaint against the military having been forwarded in the name of the inhabitants of that place, a Court of Enquiry of _five_ Officers (Major Dubourdieu of the Provisional Battalion, President) was assembled on the 1st September for the investigation of the complaints, of which due notice was given to the complainants, with an invitation to attend and support the charges they had preferred: notwithstanding which, not one individual appeared before the court; and however blameable the civil authorities may be considered for their non-interference to check the scenes which took place, it may be justly inferred that no guilt could be established against the military, more especially, as such a report was made for the General Commanding-in-Chief’s information, as brought a letter from the Adjutant-General, expressive of Lord Hill’s satisfaction at the exertions of Major O’Hara and that of the Non-Commissioned Officers, in supporting his exertions to prevent and stop the irregular proceedings which took place, of which letter the following is a copy, viz.:—

“_Horse-Guards, 20th September, 1834._

“Sir,—Having had the honour to submit to the General
Commanding-in-Chief, your letter of the 5th inst., and that of
Major O’Hara of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH Regiment therewith received,
I have it in command to say, that Lord Hill learns with great
satisfaction from the detailed explanation which the Major has
submitted on the present occasion, that he did not fail to exert
himself to the very utmost to prevent and put a stop to the
irregular proceedings to which that explanation alludes; and that
his Lordship’s satisfaction is greatly enhanced, from learning,
also, that the Non-Commissioned Officers of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH did
their duty in supporting their Commanding Officer’s exertions
on that occasion, as the contrary line of conduct had been
calumniously imputed to them.

“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your very obedient humble Servant,
(Signed) “JOHN MACDONALD, Adjt.-Gen.

“_To Colonel Sir Leonard Greenwell,
K.C.H., Chatham._”

The depôt marched in two divisions to Dover, on the 6th and 8th of September, and arrived on the 10th and 12th. They occupied the Western Height Barracks, giving a detachment to the Castle until the 3rd of January, 1835, when the entire of the depôt were moved to the Castle. Soon after its arrival in Dover it actively assisted with the Artillery in extinguishing a fire, for which the thanks of the inhabitants were received; and after being quartered in Dover for eleven months, it embarked for Ireland in the Messenger steamer, the 5th August. The feeling of the inhabitants at its departure will be best understood by reading the following description thereof, extracted from the “Dover Telegraph,” which, with a letter from the Magistrates, and a garrison order, on the occasion, sufficiently refute the calumny cast on the corps when at Chatham.

_From the Dover Telegraph._

DEPARTURE OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH.

The official documents which follow this article, so justly embody the sentiments of the chief civil and military authorities of the town and garrison, on the uniform good conduct of the depôt companies of the CONNAUGHT RANGERS, since they have been stationed here, as to leave us but the alternative of referring to our humble testimony in their favour on the first arrival of their route for Ireland.

That the inhabitants of all ranks fully concur in these testimonies, is best proved by the voices of the _thousands_ assembled to greet them with a farewell cheer. At five o’clock on Wednesday evening, the depôt marched from their quarters in the Castle through the town to the new cross wall, where they were immediately embarked on board the Messenger steamer, and from that hour till nearly half-past eight, the piers and quays were literally crowded with the largest concourse of persons witnessed there for many years. During the flowing of the tide the brass band gave their final entertainment, by performing several national and appropriate airs in their acknowledged excellent style, and considerable amusement was afforded to those near the vessel by the leave-takings of the soldiers’ female friends, most of whom seemed more desirous of taking leave to accompany them. At nearly half-past eight the Messenger was warped into the middle of the harbour, and presently afterwards the paddle wheels were in motion. At this moment the most perfect silence was observed by the troops, an arrangement that seemed necessary for every order being distinctly heard, relative to navigating in the harbour a vessel of eight hundred tons, propelled by machinery of two hundred horse power. But no sooner had she passed the boom-house jetties, than the cheers of the troops burst forth in a genuine Hibernian hurra, which was immediately answered most cordially by the multitude assembled on the piers, and continued for some minutes. The band played “Rule Britannia” as the ship glided majestically to sea, and in a few minutes the CONNAUGHT RANGERS were out of sight and progressing towards their native land.

[Sidenote: 1835]

We have entered more into detail than is usual on the embarkation of a single corps, but the peculiarly disadvantageous circumstances under which the EIGHTY-EIGHTH arrived at Dover, thus contrasted with the interest excited by their departure, after a stay of nearly twelve months amongst us, we think may warrant our doing so, as a proof that the odium attached to the corps at Chatham was undeserved. We now turn cheerfully to the documents before alluded to, the communication from the town clerk, and the garrison order of Colonel Arnold, viz.:—

“_Dover, 3rd August, 1835._

“Sir,—I am directed by the Mayor and Magistrates to express
to you their regret that the town is shortly to be deprived of
the EIGHTY-EIGHTH depôt under your command. When the peculiar
circumstances attending its removal to this town are taken into
consideration, the Mayor and Magistrates deem it but an act of
justice to the regiment, to state their great satisfaction with the
general good conduct of all parties connected with it during the
period it has been stationed in this garrison.

“I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) “G. W. LEDGER, Town-Clerk.

“_To Major O’Hara, Commanding Depôt
Eighty-Eighth Regiment, Dover Castle._”

“_Dover Castle, 4th August, 1835._

“Sir,—I have received with much satisfaction your letter of the
3rd inst. expressive of the regret of the Mayor and Magistrates at
our departure from this garrison. In the present instance its value
is much enhanced from the circumstance to which it refers, and
their favourable opinion is the best refutation to those unfounded
calumnies which were disseminated to our disadvantage at Chatham.
Here we have found no unjust prejudice; on the contrary, we are
much indebted to the inhabitants for their invariable kindness and
attention, and we feel a pride and satisfaction in having elicited
this testimony of approbation from so highly respectable a body
as the Mayor and Magistrates of Dover, to whom, as well as to the
inhabitants, we sincerely bid farewell.

“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your obedient servant,
(Signed) “ROBERT O’HARA, Major 88th,
“Commanding Depôt.

“_To Mr. G. W. Ledger, Town-Clerk, Dover._”

Copy of a Garrison Order issued by the Commanding Officer at Dover, on the departure of the depôt of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment:—

“_Dover, 3rd August, 1835._

“The depôt of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment being about to embark
for Cork, Colonel Arnold cannot suffer it to leave Dover without
expressing his high sense of its excellent and exemplary conduct
since it has been stationed here, and which he has frequently
had much satisfaction in reporting to his Lordship the General
Commanding-in-Chief. By its correct and soldier-like behaviour, the
depôt of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment has fully supported in garrison
the high character which that distinguished corps has always
maintained in the field, and conciliated the respect and regard of
the inhabitants generally, by whom Colonel Arnold is confident its
departure will be greatly regretted, and he sincerely wishes the
depôt health and prosperity.

(Signed) “T. B. ARNOLD, Colonel,
“Royal Engineers, Commg. the Garr.”

[Sidenote: 1836]

On the arrival of the Messenger steamer at the Cove of Cork, orders were received to convey the depôt to Kinsale, where it disembarked the 10th September, and went into barracks at Charles Fort, from which a company was detached to Bandon on the 14th. On the 6th October, the depôt was inspected by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B., commanding the southern district, who expressed himself highly satisfied with it in every particular. On 19th October, Assistant-Surgeon Douse, Lieutenant Mackie, with one serjeant, and twenty-one privates, proceeded to Spike Island, where (with the exception of Surgeon Douse, promoted to the 14th foot, who was replaced by Assistant-Surgeon Dalmage) they remained until the 9th February, 1836, when they embarked in the Bristol freight ship to join the service companies at Corfu. On the 31st March, a company was detached to Dunmanway.

The depôt received the route for Nenagh, and two companies, with head-quarters, marched from Charles Fort on the 19th of April, detaching, _en route_, a company to Killaloe, and relieved the depôt of the 27th regiment at Nenagh, on the 27th. The companies at Bandon and Dunmanway joined head-quarters on the 12th May, and the depôt was inspected by Major-General Sir James Douglas, K.C.B., commanding the south-western district, on the 14th, who was pleased to say, “he had seen no depôt of which he should make a more favourable report.”

A letter, of which the following is a copy, was received by Captain Rutherford, commanding the detachment at Bandon, on his departure from that town:—

“_Bandon, 2nd May, 1836._

“Sir,—We the undersigned inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood
of Bandon, having learned with regret that you are about to be
removed with the detachment under your command of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH
regiment, consider it but justice to express to you before your
departure, our perfect satisfaction at the regular and strict
propriety of conduct of the men of your distinguished corps while
they have been stationed here, now upwards of seven months; thus
proving to their friends at home, as they have often done to their
enemies abroad, what can be effected by uniform steadiness and high
discipline.

“We beg you to accept and express to your men, our very best
wishes for yours and their happiness and success, and the great
satisfaction we shall feel, should the CONNAUGHT RANGERS at any
future period be quartered among us.”

Signed by the Honourable WM. BERNARD, Provost of Bandon, eight Magistrates, ten Clergymen, and one hundred and forty-eight of the most respectable and influential inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood.

To the foregoing Captain Rutherford made the following reply:—

“To the Provost, Magistrates, Clergymen, and Inhabitants of the
town and neighbourhood of Bandon.

“_Bandon, 3rd May, 1836._

“Gentlemen,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
very flattering address of the 2nd inst.

“That the conduct of the men of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment, since
they have been quartered here, has elicited the approbation of so
numerous and highly respectable a body of the inhabitants, is to
me, as I am sure it will be to every officer of the corps, a source
of the greatest gratification.

“The regret you express at the departure of the detachment, and
the satisfaction it would afford, should the CONNAUGHT RANGERS at
any future period return to Bandon, must be fully participated in
by every individual who has had the good fortune to be stationed
here, where the officers have received such general and friendly
attention, and where the men have witnessed such cordiality and
good feeling.

“With a deep sense of the honour you have conferred, not only on
me, but the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment if generally,

“I have the honour to remain,
“Your very obedient humble servant,
(Signed) “H. W. RUTHERFORD,
“Capt. 88th, Commandg. Detach.”

The depôt marched from Nenagh to Buttivant on the 9th June, where it arrived on the 14th, and received orders to hold itself in readiness to embark for England, which it did in September following, on board the Athol troop ship, and joined the service companies at Portsmouth, on the 23rd of that month, when they landed from Corfu.

[Sidenote: 1837]

The regiment continued to do duty in the garrison of Portsmouth nearly eleven months, in the course of which time it was twice inspected by Major-General Sir Thomas M‘Mahon, K.C.B., who, on each occasion, expressed his most unqualified approbation of it in every particular, and his intention to report accordingly to the General Commanding-in-Chief. Whilst at Portsmouth the regiment discharged nine serjeants and ninety-two rank and file, most of them after long service, worn out and unfit for further service; those numbers were, however, recruited in the course of fourteen weeks, forty-one of whom were chosen from disbanded soldiers of Evans’s legion on their return from Spain, and the regiment discontinued to recruit. It marched for Weedon Barracks, Northamptonshire, in three divisions, on the 14th, 15th, and 16th August, 1837, and on the 20th of September, it was inspected by Lord Hill, General Commanding-in-Chief, when his Lordship was pleased to express himself in high terms of approbation. After a stay of only seven weeks at this most desirable station, it again marched in four divisions into Lancashire, on 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, of October, to Bolton (head-quarters), Wigan, Haydock Loch, and Liverpool.

The EIGHTY-EIGHTH, or CONNAUGHT RANGERS, though comparatively a young regiment, has performed much arduous service. A few months after it was embodied, it was engaged in operations against the enemy in Flanders and Holland, and shared in all the difficulties and privations of a winter campaign in 1794. A portion of the corps was afterwards employed in active operations in the West Indies. In a few years it appeared on the shores of India; and it formed the van of the Indian army through the deserts of Egypt. In South America the CONNAUGHT RANGERS performed their duty as gallant soldiers: and throughout the Peninsular campaigns their services are associated with the _Third Division_ of the British army, which was eminently distinguished for gallantry. After a series of victories in Europe, the services of the regiment were transferred to North America, where it was distinguished for a praiseworthy national feeling, which is inherent in brave men, and was evinced by the absence of desertion. Its services may be estimated from the circumstance, that in a period of six years it lost forty-three Officers, twenty-eight of whom fell in the field; the remainder died from wounds, from the effects of climate, or from fatigue; and its loss in Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates during the same period, and from the same causes, was above two thousand. Since the termination of the war, this regiment, whether on home service, or in garrison abroad, has been eminent for good conduct; and its past services furnish a laudable incentive to perseverance in well-doing, to all who have the honour of being enrolled under its Colours.