Historical record of the Eighty-eighth Regiment of Foot, or Connaught Rangers

Chapter IV: Part 4

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_In compiling this Record of the_ EIGHTY-EIGHTH _Regiment, or_
CONNAUGHT RANGERS, _in conformity to the King’s Command, as
conveyed in the General Orders of the Army, great credit is due
to Colonel O’Malley, who, with much diligence, has obtained a
very circumstantial and correct statement of the services of the
regiment; and Colonel O’Malley has acknowledged his obligations for
much valuable information which has been furnished to him by the
late Captain Robertson, and several other Officers who formerly
served in the regiment;—particularly by Lieutenant Grattan,
who served with the regiment in the Peninsular Campaigns and in
North America, and has evinced the most indefatigable zeal and
perseverance in contributing to the completion of this Memoir._

SECOND BATTALION OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

This battalion was composed of recruits raised in Ireland, for limited service, under the authority of the Additional Force Act, which passed 4th of July, 1804, and was placed on the establishment of the army, December 25th of the same year. It was formed at Dumfries, in Scotland, in November, 1805, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Alexander Wallace, embarked at Leith for the Thames, and landing at Gravesend, marched into Sussex, where it occupied various quarters, and furnished, from time to time, reinforcements for the First Battalion. In January, 1807, it returned to Ireland, and was quartered principally in Connaught, where it recruited numerous volunteers from the Irish militia regiments.

In the summer of 1809 it embarked from Cork for Lisbon; but on its arrival, and subsequent inspection there, it was sent, in consequence of the youth of the men, to Gibraltar, and did duty in that garrison for a few months. From Gibraltar it was ordered, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, to Cadiz, in which city it was quartered during the operations against Fort Matagorda. After the reduction of that fort it was encamped for two or three months in the Isla de Leon, under the command of Major (afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel) Macpherson, and assisted in the construction of the lines thrown up for the defence of that island against the French. A short time before Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham engaged in the expedition which led to the battle of Barossa, the Second Battalion of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH was ordered again to Lisbon, where Colonel Taylor resumed the command.

In the pursuit of Massena’s army from the lines of Torres Vedras, the second battalion, under the command of Major Dunne, was attached to the third division of the army. It was engaged in the action at Sabugal, and was present in the operations of the army down to the storming of Badajoz, after which, it furnished, as formerly stated, a large draft of men to the First Battalion and returned to England. In the end of 1813 it was ordered to Ireland, for the greater facility of recruiting. The very liberal encouragement which Lieutenant-General Lord Beresford afforded to this service, enabled Major Dunne to obtain a number of volunteers from the Irish militia; the liberality of the Colonel, and the judicious management of the Commanding Officer, were so successful, that in two months the battalion was increased from one hundred and forty to eight hundred strong. It continued in Ireland, furnishing occasional drafts to the First Battalion until January, 1816, when it was finally reduced at Clare Castle, after transferring all the men who were fit for service to the 1st battalion, then quartered in France.

SUCCESSION OF FIELD OFFICERS;

THE

NAMES OF OFFICERS, &c., KILLED AND WOUNDED;

WITH A

LIST OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, &c.,

WHO HAVE RECEIVED MEDALS FOR MERITORIOUS
SERVICE.

SUCCESSION OF FIELD OFFICERS.

COLONELS.

Date of Appointment. Date of Removal, &c.

The Honourable John Thomas } { Removed to the 66th
De Burgh, afterwards } Sept. 25th, 1793. { Regt., 27th Nov.
Major-General the } { 1794.
Earl of Clanricarde }

General John Reid Nov. 27th, 1794. Died in 1807.

Colonel William Carr } { Removed to the 16th
Beresford, now General } Feb. 9th, 1807. { regiment of foot
Viscount Beresford } { in 1819.

Lieut.-General Sir Gordon } { Removed to the 71st
Drummond, G.C.B. } Mar. 11th, 1819. { regiment of foot
{ in 1824.

Lieut.-General Sir Henry } { Removed to the 25th
Fred. Campbell, K.C.B. } Jan. 16th, 1824. { regiment of foot
{ in 1831.

Lieut.-General Sir John }
Alexander Wallace, Bt. } Oct. 20th, 1831.
and K.C.B. }

LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.

Date of Appointment. Date of Removal, &c.

Robert Brownrigg September 25, 1793. Coldstream Guards.
Frederick Keppell March 28, 1794. 49th foot.
Wentworth Serle June 21, 1795. To half-pay.
Wm. Carr Beresford September 16, 1795. { Promoted to the
{ Colonelcy in 1807.
Alexander Duff April 14, 1798. To half-pay.
John Alex. Wallace February 6, 1805. { Promoted to
{ Major-General, 1819.
John Taylor May 18, 1809. To half-pay.
James Ferguson August 12, 1819. To 52nd foot.
George N. O’Malley June 2, 1825.

MAJORS.

Date of Appointment. Date of Promotion
or Removal.
J. T. Harvey Elwes March 28, 1794. To 4th foot.
Alexander Duff March 28, 1794. To Lieut.-Col. 88th.
Alexander Houstoun July 15, 1795. To 57th foot.
F. W. Buller June 27, 1796. To half-pay.
Daniel Hoghton April, 1798. To 8th foot.
Richard Vandeleur April 1, 1804. Died in Portugal, 1809.
William Ironmonger September 18, 1804. To 2nd foot.
John Silver September 19, 1804. Killed at Busaco, 1810.
Daniel Colquhoun November 23, 1804. To 7th garrison batt.
Christopher Vowell March 10, 1810. Retired.
R. B. M‘Pherson March 17, 1808. To half-pay.
R. B. M‘Gregor November 23, 1809. To half-pay.
John Dunne October 25, 1810. To half-pay.
Joseph Thompson August 4, 1811. Killed at Badajoz.
W. C. Seton October 30, 1812. To half-pay.
C. M. Graham November 28, 1816. Retired.
R. N. Nickle November 28, 1822. To Lieut.-Col. in 1825.
Henry Heathcote October 6, 1825. Died in 1829.
Harris Hailes May 25, 1826. To Lieut.-Col. 28th foot.
William Onslow February 15, 1827. To half-pay.
Robert O’Hara May 14, 1829. To Lieut.-Col. unatt.
W. H. Eden July 2, 1829.
William Mackie Nov. 10, 1837.

RETURN of the NAMES of the OFFICERS, and the Number of Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, Killed and Wounded by the Enemy, at the Places and Dates specified.

Place and Date Officers’ Names. Non-Commissioned
of Action. Officers and Privates.
Killed. Wounded. Killed. Wounded.

Serjts. Serjts.
R.&F. R.&F.
Major Ironmonger
Capt. M‘Pherson
” Dunn
” Chisholm
” Seton
” Peshall
Lieut. Thompson Lieut. Adair
BUENOS AYRES ” Hale ” R. Nickle — 100 — 120
5th July, 1807. Ensign M‘Gregor ” Graydon
Asst.-Sur. ” Whittle
Fergusson ” Stewart
” Buller
” Mackie
” Gregg
” Bury
Adjut. Robertson

TALAVERA, Capt. Blake
27th and 28th Lieut. Graydon Capt. Brown 3 22 12 93
July, 1809 ” Whittle Lieut. Whitelaw
” Mc. Carthy

Maj. R. B. M‘Gregor

Capt M‘Dermott
BUSACO, Major Silver ” G. H. Dansey 1 29 2 92
27th Sept. Lieut. Johnston(1) ” Bury
1810. Ensign Leonard Lieut. W. Nickle
” Fitzpatrick

FOZ-D’ARRONCE,
15th March, Lieut. Heppenstall .. .. .. .. 0 0 0 0
1811.

Lieut. Stewart
FUENTES D’ONOR, Capt. Irwin ” M‘Alpin 1 6 3 50
5th May, 1811. ” Halket
Ensign Owgan

Lieut. W. Flack
CIUDAD RODRIGO, Lieut. Beresford ” Armstrong — 20 2 54
19th January, ” W. Kingsmill
1812. ” Johnston

Major Thompson Brev.-Major Murphy
Capt. Lindsay Capt. Peshall
Lieut. North Lieut. Stewart
BADAJOZ, ” Johnston(2) ” Faris
24th March, to ” Mansfield Capt. Oates 5 42 10 166
6th April, 1812. ” Cottom Lieut. Armstrong
” Mc. Alpin ” Davern
” Whitelaw Ensign Grattan

Capt. Adair
Lieut. Nickle, Wm.
SALAMANCA, Brev.-Major Murphy ” Meade 1 18 1 109
22d July, 1812. Capt. Hogan ” Grattan
” Kingsmill

Capt. M‘Dermott
VITTORIA, Ensign Saunders Lieut. Flood
21st June, 1813. ” Fitzpatrick — 30 2 195
” Faris

Colonel Taylor
Capt. Oates
” Bunworth
Lieut. Fitzpatrick
Capt. Mc. Dermott ” Davern
ORTHES, Lieut. Moriarty ” Faris 5 36 13 201
27th Feb. 1814. Ensign Reynolds ” Creswell
” Holland
” Stewart
Ensign M‘Intosh
Lt. & Adjt. Mitchell

TOULOUSE, .. .. .. Capt. Robert Nickle 1 29 1 53
10th April, 1814 Lieut. Poole
—— ——— —— ————
17 332 46 1133

RETURN of OFFICERS of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, or CONNAUGHT RANGERS, who died of Wounds, Fatigue, &c., from 1807 to 1814.

+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Rank and Name. | Place and Date of Decease. |
+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| Major Vandeleur | Died at Campo Mayor in 1809. |
| | |
| Captain Brown | ” Pinhel in 1810. |
| | |
| Lieut. Shaw } | ” sea when returning from South |
| ” Lawson } | America in 1807. |
| ” Smith | ” Salamanca in 1812. |
| ” Rutledge | ” Lesan in 1813. |
| | |
| Ensign Jackson | ” sea, proceeding to South America, |
| | in 1807. |
| ” Hall | ” Madeira in 1808. |
| ” Fawcett | ” near Salamanca in 1812. |
| | |
| Asst.-Surgeon | ” at Lisbon in 1811. |
| Cunningham | |
| | |
| Paymaster Rogers | ” Belem in 1812. |
| | |
| Captain Adair | After lingering upwards of two years, died |
| | in consequence of a severe wound |
| | received at Salamanca. |
| | |
| Lieut. Stewart | Died immediately after his return from South |
| | America. |
| Ensign M‘Gregor | ” at Portsmouth, after landing from Cadiz. |
| ” Hacket | ” Berry-head soon after his return from |
| | Portugal. |
+-------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| ABSTRACT. —Killed, 28 —Died Abroad, 11 —Died in England, 4. |
| —Total, 43. |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

RETURN of the OFFICERS who, in consideration of their gallant services and meritorious conduct in engagements with the Enemy, have been distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other marks of His Majesty’s gracious favour.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| The nature of the gallant The Titles, Medals, or |
|Rank and Names. services or meritorious other marks of His |
| conduct of the Officers. Majesty’s gracious |
| favour. |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Lt.-Col. Beresford } } |
| ” Duff } } |
|Major Houghton } } |
|Captain Vandeleur } } |
| ” Silver } } |
| ” Beresford } } |
| ” Trotter } } |
| ” M‘Gregor }For their services in the } |
|Lieut. Blake } Indian army which crossed }A Medal from the Grand |
| ” Murphy } the Desert to Egypt in } Seignor. |
| ” Browne } 1801. } |
| ” Canilac } } |
| ” Oates } } |
| ” Atkinson } } |
| ” Irwin } } |
| ” Adair } } |
| ” M‘Dougall } } |
|Ensign Rogers } } |
|Adjt. Thompson } } |
|Surgeon M‘Gregor } } |
|Asst.-Surg. Taunry } } |
| |
| |
| {A Cross and Seven Clasps,|
| {For his distinguished { and appointed G.C.B, |
| { conduct at Corunna, { K.G., Cross of the Royal|
|Lieut.-Gen. { Busaco, Albuera, Badajoz, { Hanoverian Guelphic |
| Viscount { Salamanca, Vittoria, { Order, Grand Cross, |
| Beresford { Pyrenees, Nivelle, { Tower & Sword, St. |
| { Nive, Orthes, and { Ferdinand, and of Merit,|
| { Toulouse. { and of St. Hernunegeld |
| { and St. Fernando. |
| |
| {In command of the regiment } |
|Lt.-Gn. J. A. { at the actions of Busaco, }A Medal and two Clasps, |
| Wallace { Fuentes d’Onor, and } and appointed C.B. |
| { Salamanca. } |
| |
| {In command of the regiment }A Medal and two Clasps, |
|Lieut.-Gen. Sir { at the actions of Nivelle,} and appointed C.B. |
| John Taylor { Orthes, and Toulouse. } |
| |
| {In command of the advance } |
|Col. James { of the light division at }A Medal. |
| Fergusson { Badajoz, when Captain in } |
| { the 43rd regiment. } |
| |
| {For services as a } |
| { Subaltern in the 13th }A Medal from the Grand |
| { regiment with the army } Seignor. |
|Col. Geo. O’Malley { in Egypt in 1801. } |
| {For commanding Second } |
| { Battalion 44th regiment }A Medal, and appointed |
| { in the battle of } C.B. |
| { Waterloo in 1815. } |
| |
| {A Medal and one Clasp, |
|Lt.-Col. Rt. }In command of the regiment { and appointed C.B. |
| Barclay Macpherson} at Vittoria and Orthes. { and K.H. |
| |
|Major W. C. Seton {In command of the regiment }A Medal and one Clasp, |
| { at Badajoz and Salamanca } and appointed C.B. |
| |
| {Assistant-Adjutant-General } |
|Lt.-Col. C. Tryon { with the army in the }A Medal. |
| { Pyrenees. |
| |
| {For his distinguished } |
|Major B. Murphy { services at Buenos Ayres }Received the Brevet rank |
| { in 1807, on the staff of } of Major in the army. |
| { the army. } |
| |
| {For his conduct in the } |
| ” G. H. Dansey { action at Busaco, 27th }Ditto. |
| { Sept., 1810. } |
| |
| {In command of the light }The Brevet rank of |
| ” R. N. Nickle { battalion of the third } Major, a Medal, and |
| { division at Nivelle. } appointed K.H. |
| |
| {For his distinguished } |
| ” John Stewart { services at Fuentes }Received the Brevet rank |
| { d’Onor, on the 3rd and } of Major in the Army. |
| { 5th May, 1811. } |
| |
| {Received the Brevet rank |
| { of Major in the army, |
| ” Oates For services in the Field. { and appointed to the |
| { third class of the |
| { Royal Hanoverian Order. |
| |
| {Appointed to the third |
| ” Mackie For services in the Field. { class of the Royal |
| { Hanoverian Order. |
| |
|Lt. & Adj. D. {As Lieutenant in the 71st } |
| Souter { Light Infantry at }A Medal. |
| { Waterloo. } |
| |
|Paym. P. V. {As Paymaster in the Second } |
| Robinson { Battalion 69th regiment }A Medal. |
| { at Waterloo. } |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

RETURN of the Non-Commissioned Officers, Drummers, and Privates of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, or CONNAUGHT RANGERS, who received Medals under the sanction of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, per Adjutant-General’s Letter, dated the 20th day of June, 1818, for their Services during the Peninsular War from the year 1809 to the year 1814.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Consisting of the first battalions of the Fifth, Thirty-Sixth, Forty-Fifth, and EIGHTY-EIGHTH Foot; five companies of the Rifle Corps, two squadrons of the Sixth Dragoon Guards, and two companies of artillery.

[2] It may not be improper, in this place, to notice and correct an erroneous report which became prevalent in England, that the troops engaged in the assault of Buenos Ayres were ordered, not only to advance unloaded, but actually to take the flints out of their muskets. The fact is, that two companies of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH only were thus deprived of every means of offence or defence except their bayonets; they had been on a piquet the night before at “White’s House,” and, consequently, joined their corps in the morning with loaded arms; the order to draw their charges occasioning some delay, General Gower, who was present, became impatient, and directed those who had not drawn to take their flints out. The consequence was, that several of these men were killed in the streets while in the act of screwing in new flints.

[3] General Reid was head of an ancient Scotch family, and served as a Lieutenant in Loudon’s Highlanders in 1745. In 1759 he was appointed Major of the Forty-Second, in which regiment he continued until 1771. In 1780 he was appointed Colonel of the Ninety-Fifth Foot, a newly-raised regiment, and continued to command it until it was disbanded in 1783. In 1794, as stated in the text, he became Colonel of the Connaught Rangers. His commissions as a General Officer were, Major-General 19th October, 1781; Lieutenant-General 12th October, 1793; and General 1st January, 1798.

[4] Colonel Napier.

[5] Ibid.

[6] 17th October.—He was succeeded by Captain Robert B. M‘Gregor.

[7] The French army had recently been reinforced by their victorious troops from Germany.

[8] Lieutenant-General Sir John A. Wallace, Bart., and K.C.B.

[9] Robert Cahill was transferred as Serjeant to the Thirty-First regiment, for the purpose of being Pay-Serjeant to Captain Bray, who exchanged from the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, with Captain Hutton. Cahill was on board the Kent East Indiaman, when she took fire in the Bay of Biscay, and from the account given by Captain Bray, his conduct and extraordinary exertions on that trying occasion were most exemplary and conspicuous. Having lost his Medal (which was of the First Class) and all his necessaries, the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the Light Company (in which Company Cahill served during the whole of the Peninsular war) made a subscription amongst them of Five Pounds to purchase him a kit, which sum was sent to him by Lieutenant and Adjutant Souter, who at the same time made him the present of a Medal, which he forwarded through the Horse Guards.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.

Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added,
when a predominant preference was found in the original book.

Some wide tables in the Appendix have had { and } bracketing removed,
some have had the column divider | removed, to reduce the width.

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Historical record of the Eighty-eighth Regiment of Foot, or Connaught RangersChapter IV: Part 4

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