Chapter I: Part 1

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

Some minor changes are noted at the end of the book.

HISTORICAL RECORDS

OF THE

BRITISH ARMY.

PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE
ADJUTANT-GENERAL.

THE FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT;

OR,

NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS.

LONDON:

Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS
14, Charing Cross.

GENERAL ORDERS.

_HORSE-GUARDS_,
_1st January, 1836_.

His Majesty has been pleased to command, that, with a view of doing the fullest justice to Regiments, as well as to Individuals who have distinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action with the Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regiment in the British Army shall be published under the superintendence and direction of the Adjutant-General; and that this Account shall contain the following particulars, _viz._,

---- The Period and Circumstances of the Original Formation of
the Regiment; The Stations at which it has been from time to time
employed; The Battles, Sieges, and other Military Operations,
in which it has been engaged, particularly specifying any
Achievement it may have performed, and the Colours, Trophies,
&c., it may have captured from the Enemy,

---- The Names of the Officers and the number of Non-Commissioned
Officers and Privates, Killed or Wounded by the Enemy, specifying
the Place and Date of the Action.

---- The Names of those 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 Names of all such Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers
and Privates as may have specially signalized themselves in
Action.

And,

---- The Badges and Devices which the Regiment may have been
permitted to bear, and the Causes on account of which such Badges
or Devices, or any other Marks of Distinction, have been granted.

By Command of the Right Honourable
GENERAL LORD HILL,
_Commanding-in-Chief_.

JOHN MACDONALD,
_Adjutant-General_.

PREFACE.

The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly depend upon the zeal and ardour, by which all who enter into its service are animated, and consequently it is of the highest importance that any measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation, by which alone great and gallant actions are achieved, should be adopted.

Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this desirable object, than a full display of the noble deeds with which the Military History of our country abounds. To hold forth these bright examples, to the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those who have preceded him in their honourable career, are among the motives that have given rise to the present publication.

The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced in the 'London Gazette,' from whence they are transferred into the public prints: the achievements of our armies are thus made known at the time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute of praise and admiration to which they are entitled. On extraordinary occasions, the Houses of Parliament have been in the habit of conferring on the Commanders, and the Officers and Troops acting under their orders, expressions of approbation and of thanks for their skill and bravery, and these testimonials, confirmed by the high honour of their Sovereign's Approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier most highly prizes.

It has not, however, until late years, been the practice (which appears to have long prevailed in some of the Continental armies) for British Regiments to keep regular records of their services and achievements. Hence some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments, an authentic account of their origin and subsequent services.

This defect will now be remedied, in consequence of His Majesty having been pleased to command, that every Regiment shall in future keep a full and ample record of its services at home and abroad.

From the materials thus collected, the country will henceforth derive information as to the difficulties and privations which chequer the career of those who embrace the military profession. In Great Britain, where so large a number of persons are devoted to the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and where these pursuits have, for so long a period, been undisturbed by the _presence of war_, which few other countries have escaped, comparatively little is known of the vicissitudes of active service, and of the casualties of climate, to which, even during peace, the British Troops are exposed in every part of the globe, with little or no interval of repose.

In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the country derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agriculturist and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be supposed not often to reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor,--on their sufferings,--and on the sacrifice of valuable life, by which so many national benefits are obtained and preserved.

The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endurance, have shone conspicuously under great and trying difficulties; and their character has been established in Continental warfare by the irresistible spirit with which they have effected debarkations in spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the gallantry and steadiness with which they have maintained their advantages against superior numbers.

In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders, ample justice has generally been done to the gallant exertions of the Corps employed; but the details of their services, and of acts of individual bravery, can only be fully given in the Annals of the various Regiments.

These Records are now preparing for publication, under His Majesty's special authority, by Mr. RICHARD CANNON, Principal Clerk of the Adjutant-General's Office; and while the perusal of them cannot fail to be useful and interesting to military men of every rank, it is considered that they will also afford entertainment and information to the general reader, particularly to those who may have served in the Army, or who have relatives in the Service.

There exists in the breasts of most of those who have served, or are serving, in the Army, an _Esprit du Corps_--an attachment to every thing belonging to their Regiment; to such persons a narrative of the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions of the great,--the valiant,--the loyal, have always been of paramount interest with a brave and civilized people. Great Britain has produced a race of heroes who, in moments of danger and terror, have stood, "firm as the rocks of their native shore;" and when half the World has been arrayed against them, they have fought the battles of their Country with unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of achievements in war,--victories so complete and surprising, gained by our countrymen,--our brothers--our fellow-citizens in arms,--a record which revives the memory of the brave, and brings their gallant deeds before us, will certainly prove acceptable to the public.

Biographical memoirs of the Colonels and other distinguished Officers, will be introduced in the Records of their respective Regiments, and the Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testifying the value and importance of its services, will be faithfully set forth.

As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record of each Regiment will be printed in a distinct number, so that when the whole shall be completed, the Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.

[_To face page 1._
]

HISTORICAL RECORD

OF THE

FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT,

OR

NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS;

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT
IN THE YEAR 1674,
AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1837.

_PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION UNDER THE DIRECTION
OF THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL._

LONDON:
PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, 14, CHARING-CROSS.

MDCCCXXXVIII.

THE

FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT,

OR

NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS,

BEARS ON ITS COLOURS

"ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON,"

WITH THE MOTTO,

"QUO FATA VOCANT,"

AND THE FOLLOWING DISTINCTIONS:

"_Wilhelmsthal_"--"_Roleia_"--"_Vimiera_"--"_Corunna_"--"_Busaco_"--
"_Ciudad Rodrigo_"--"_Badajoz_"--"_Salamanca_"--"_Vittoria_"--
"_Nivelle_"--"_Orthes_"--"_Toulouse_"--"_Peninsula_."

CONTENTS.

Anno Page

1674 The Dutch Government obtains permission to
entertain British Troops in its service 1

---- Ten Companies formed--the siege of Grave 2

---- The FIFTH, and three other regiments, formed --

1676 Siege of Maastricht 3

1677 Battle of Mont-Cassel 7

1678 Battle of St. Denis --

1685 The Regiment proceeds to England 10

---- Returns to Holland 11

1688 Accompanies the Prince of Orange to England 12

---- Revolution--Placed on the English Establishment 14

1690 Proceeds to Ireland --

---- Battle of the Boyne 15

1691 Skirmish near Castle-Cuff, &c. --

---- Siege of Athlone 17

---- Siege of Limerick 18

---- Returns to England --

1692 Proceeds to Flanders --

---- Returns to England 19

1693 Expedition to Martinico --

---- Returns to England --

---- Proceeds to Flanders --

1695 Covering the siege of Namur 20

1697 Returns to England 22

1698 Proceeds to Ireland --

1707 Embarks for Portugal --

1709 Battle of Caya 24

1710 Capture of Xeres de los Cabaleros 25

1713 Embarks for Gibraltar 27

1727 Defence of Gibraltar --

1728 Proceeds to Ireland 28

1735 Embarks for England --

1737 Returns to Ireland 29

1755 Proceeds to England --

1758 Expedition to the Coast of France--destruction
of Shipping, &c., at St. Maloes --

---- Capture of Cherbourg, &c.--Returns to England 30

1760 Proceeds to Germany --

---- Skirmish at Corbach 31

---- Battle of Warbourg --

---- Surprise at Zirenberg 32

---- Skirmish at Campen --

1761 Battle of Kirch-Denkern --

---- Affair at Capelnhagen 33

---- Skirmish at Eimbeck --

---- Skirmish at Foorwohle --

1762 Battle of Groebenstien, &c. --

---- Skirmish at Lutterberg 36

---- Skirmish at Homburg --

---- Covering the siege of Cassel --

1763 Marches through Holland and embarks for England --

---- Proceeds to Ireland 37

1767 The "Order of Merit" introduced --

1771 Suppression of disturbances in Ireland 39

1774 Embarks for Boston in North America --

1775 Affair at Concord and Lexington 40

---- Attack on Bunker's Hill 42

1776 Embarks from Boston for Nova Scotia 44

---- Reduction of Long Island --

---- Action at White Plains 45

1776 Capture of Forts Washington and Lee 45

---- Reduction of New Jersey --

1777 Expedition to Pennsylvania--actions at Brandywine
Creek and Germantown 46

1778 Retreat through the Jerseys--skirmish at Freehold 48

---- Expedition to Little Egg Harbour --

---- Reduction of the Island of St. Lucie 49

---- The men equipped with White Plumes 51

1779}
1780} In various actions in the West Indies --

1780 Proceeds to England 51

1781 Embarks for Ireland 52

1787 Proceeds to Canada 54

1797 Returns to England 56

1799 Second battalion formed--both battalions embark
for Holland --

---- Action at Walmenhuysen, Shoreldam, and Egmont-op-Zee 57

---- Action at Winkle 58

---- Returns to England --

1800 Proceeds to Gibraltar 59

1802 Returns to England--Second battalion disbanded --

1803 Proceeds to Guernsey --

1804 Returns to England--a Second battalion raised --

1805 Second battalion to Guernsey--First battalion
embarks for Hanover --

1806 First battalion returns to England--embarks for
South America 60

1807 Attack on Buenos Ayres --

---- Both battalions proceed to Ireland 61

1808 First battalion embarks for Portugal --

---- ---- ---- Battle of Roleia 62

---- ---- ---- Battle of Vimiera --

---- ---- ---- Advances into Spain--Retreats to
the coast 63

1809 First battalion, battle of Corunna 63

---- ---- ---- Returns to England--proceeds on
the Walcheren expedition 64

---- First battalion returns to England 65

---- ---- ---- Detachment at the battle of Talavera --

---- Second battalion from Ireland to Portugal --

1810 ---- ---- Battle of Busaco--Lines of Torres
Vedras 66

---- First battalion proceeds from England to Ireland --

1811 Second battalion, affair at Redinha 67

---- ---- ---- Battle of Sabugal --

---- ---- ---- Battle of Fuentes d'Onor 68

---- ---- ---- Siege of Badajoz --

---- ---- ---- Action at El Bodon --

1812 ---- ---- Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo 74

---- ---- ---- Siege of Badajoz 76

---- First battalion from Ireland to Portugal 78

---- Both battalions at the battle of Salamanca --

---- ---- ---- advance to Madrid 79

---- Chivalrous spirit of James Grant --

---- Second battalion proceeds to England 80

---- First battalion retreats from Madrid to Portugal --

1813 ---- ---- Battle of Vittoria 81

---- ---- ---- Battle of the Pyrenees 82

---- ---- ---- Enters France--battle of Nivelle --

---- ---- ---- Passage of the Nive --

1814 ---- ---- Affair near the Gave d'Oleron 83

---- ---- ---- Battle of Orthes --

---- ---- ---- Battle of Toulouse --

---- ---- ---- Embarks for North America 84

---- ---- ---- Action near Plattsburg --

1815 ---- ---- Proceeds from America to Flanders 85

---- ---- ---- Advances to Paris --

---- ---- ---- Forms part of the Army of Occupation
in France --

1818 First battalion proceeds to England 85

---- Reduced to one battalion in 1816 86

---- Proceeds to the West Indies --

1821 Reduced from ten to eight companies --

1824 Privilege of wearing a distinguishing feather
confirmed 87

1825 Augmented from eight to ten companies --

1826 Embarks for England --

1827 Proceeds to Ireland 88

1829 To wear a red and white feather 90

1830 Good conduct during the Galway election 91

1831 Six companies embark for Gibraltar, and four
companies remain in Ireland 95

1832 The "Order of Merit" sanctioned 96

1833 Colours destroyed by fire 97

1834 Service companies from Gibraltar to Malta 98

---- Facings changed to a lively green 99

1835 Correspondence relative to an additional banner 100

---- The reserve companies proceed to England 101

1836 Equipped as Fusiliers, and styled the FIFTH REGIMENT
OF FOOT, OR NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS --

---- "Wilhelmsthal" inscribed on the Colours 102

---- New Colours presented to the regiment 103

1837 Service companies proceed to Corfu 106

---- The Conclusion --

PLATES.

The Vignette--Badge--to follow Title Page

The Colours to face Page 1

The Uniform of 1688 to face Page 12

The Uniform of 1835 to face 100

The Uniform of 1837 to face 106

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.

Anno Page

1674 Daniel Viscount of Clare 107

1675 John Fenwick 108

1676 Henry Wisely --

1680 Thomas Monk 109

1688 Thomas Tollemache --

1689 Edward Lloyd 110

1694 Thomas Fairfax --

1704 Thomas Pearce --

1732 John Cope 111

1737 Alexander Irwin 112

1752 Charles Whiteford --

1754 Lord George Bentinck 113

1759 Studholme Hodgson --

1768 Hugh Earl Percy 114

1784 Honourable Edward Stopford --

1794 Sir Alured Clarke, G.C.B. 115

1801 Richard England 116

1812 William Wynyard --

1819 Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., G.C.B. 117

1835 The Hon. Sir Charles Colville, G.C.B, and G.C.H. --

HISTORICAL RECORD

OF THE

FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT,

OR

NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS.

[Sidenote: 1674]

When the treaty of peace between England and Holland was being negotiated at London in February 1674,[1] the Dutch Government, remembering the advantages which had been derived from the Auxiliary British troops in former wars, obtained permission again to entertain in its service certain regiments.

Peace having been concluded, King Charles II. disbanded part of his army in the same year, when many of the officers and men proceeded to Holland, and the formation of the British division was commenced. The original design was to have a division of ten thousand men, to be commanded-in-chief, under the Prince of Orange, by Major-General Sir Walter Vane; but while the organization of this force was in progress, Sir Walter was killed at the battle of _Seneffe_, which was fought on the 11th of August, 1674; and Sir William Ballandyne was appointed to succeed him in the command of the British troops.

The formation making rapid progress, in the autumn, when the Prince of Orange was besieging _Grave_ in North Brabant, he was informed that ten English and Irish companies, complete and fit for service, were at Bois-le-Duc, about 18 miles distant, and his Highness, eager to avail himself of their services, immediately ordered them to join the army. In this siege the ten companies gave presage of that gallantry for which they afterwards became celebrated; they lost several men, and Sir William Ballandyne was also killed by a cannon-ball.

The capture of _Grave_, which took place on the 28th of October, terminated the campaign; the troops were sent into quarters; and during the winter four regiments of British subjects were formed at Bois-le-Duc;--two English,--one Scots,--and one Irish;--the latter is now designated the FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT, OR NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS, and its services form the subject of this narrative. Its first Colonel was Daniel O'Brien, Viscount of Clare; but this nobleman resigned soon afterwards, and quitted Holland. The regiment was commanded, _ad interim_, by Lieutenant-Colonel Anselmne, who had previously served with much honour in the Spanish service.

[Sidenote: 1675]

In 1675 the command of this regiment was conferred on Colonel John Fenwick, who had distinguished himself at the battle of Seneffe; at this period the regiment discontinued the designation of "Irish," and many English gentlemen received commissions in it.

After leaving its quarters at Bois-le-Duc in the spring of 1675, the regiment was encamped for a short time on one of the beautiful plains of Louvain, and it was subsequently employed in manœuvring near the frontiers of France and in the Principality of Liege. The progress of the campaign was impeded by the severe indisposition of the Prince of Orange; no engagement of importance occurred, and in the autumn the regiment marched to the Dutch Netherlands and passed the winter in garrison at Utrecht.

[Sidenote: 1676]

In the summer of 1676 the regiment marched to Brabant, and was stationed at Bois-le-Duc, preparatory to some expedition of importance. This occurred in the early part of July, and the men were in high spirits, anticipating some splendid adventure. About two o'clock in the morning the drums beat "to arms;" the regiment immediately assembled at the alarm-post, and commenced its march for the province of Limburg, being joined by other corps every day. On the fifth day, the Prince of Orange appeared at the head of the troops, and, to the surprise of the enemy, the famous city of _Maestricht_ was besieged. This city, which was well fortified with all the works which art could suggest, was defended by 8000 chosen men commanded by Monsieur Calvo, a resolute Catalonian. The Prince of Orange attended to the progress of the siege; and after the arrival of the battering train, the works were carried on with vigour.

The three English regiments[2] were formed in one Brigade, and they soon distinguished themselves, beating back the sallies of the garrison with great slaughter. On the 30th of July, a storming party of two hundred men, furnished in equal proportions by the three regiments, attacked the Dauphin Bastion, and after a severe contest effected a lodgment, but afterwards lost their ground: this proved a sanguinary affair, and 150 men were killed and wounded out of the two hundred. On the 2nd of August the Brigade was again on duty in the trenches, when Colonel Fenwick was wounded.

The Prince of Orange resolved to make a second attack on the Dauphin Bastion on the 4th of August, when a detachment from the Brigade, commanded by Captain Anthony Barnwell of Fenwick's regiment, with another from the Dutch Foot Guards, commanded by Baron Sparr, formed the storming party.[3] At three o'clock the Brigade was under arms with the storming party in front; and at five the gallant little band, advancing under a tempest of bullets, went cheering to the attack and carried the bastion in gallant style--the English, gaining the lead of the Dutch, first made a lodgment. Scarcely, however, had the soldiers gained a footing, when the French sprung a mine and blew many of the men into the air, and following this up with a fierce attack, regained possession of the works. The heroic English were, however, "resolute to win;"--they returned to the attack, and fighting with a strength and majesty which nothing could withstand, drove back the French, and re-established themselves on the bastion; but their commander, Captain Barnwell, was killed, and more than half the officers and men of the party were killed and wounded.

About five in the morning of the 6th of August a desperate sally was made by three hundred Swiss Infantry, and, owing to the neglect of a sentry, they surprised and made prisoners the English guard on the bastion; but a reinforcement from the Brigade came forward to their rescue, and, after saluting the assailants with a few volleys, and a shower of hand-grenades, made a furious charge, retaking the bastion and chasing the Swiss Infantry with prodigious slaughter to the palisadoes of the counterscarp, destroying the whole detachment, except about twenty men who escaped into the town. The Prince of Orange complimented the Brigade on its distinguished bravery, and made each of the three regiments a present of a fat ox and six sheep.[4]

On the 15th of August Colonel Fenwick's regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Wisely (the Colonel not having recovered from his wounds) was on duty in the trenches, when the enemy made another furious sally; but they were nobly received by the regiment; a fierce combat ensued, in which the strength and unconquerable spirit, of the English again excited the admiration of the Prince of Orange, and a reinforcement arriving, the French were driven back with great loss.

The progress of the siege had been marked by surprising energy, but it was prolonged by the resolute defence of the garrison; and when all things were ready for a general assault, a French army of overwhelming numbers, commanded by Marshal Schomberg, advanced to its relief. The Prince of Orange immediately raised the siege and retired; and the three English regiments, having sustained a severe loss, and having nearly half the number of the surviving officers and men wounded, were sent into quarters of refreshment in Holland. At the same time a misunderstanding occurred between Colonel (afterwards Sir John) Fenwick and the Prince, and the Colonel resigned his commission; when his Highness gave the Colonelcy of the regiment to the Lieutenant-Colonel, Henry Wisely.

[Sidenote: 1677]

The French, while amusing the Allies with negotiations for a peace, commenced the campaign of 1677, with great vigour, and with such an immense army, that the feeble preparations of the Dutch, and the apathy of the Spaniards, left the Prince of Orange without an army capable of resisting the enemy. He, however, resolved to attempt the relief of St. Omers, which was besieged by the French; the English Brigade was ordered to West Flanders, to take part in the enterprise, and it was encamped a short time on the plains of the Yperlee. In the early part of April, the Prince advanced with his little army, and on the 11th of that month he fought the battle of _Mont-Cassel_ under great disadvantages in numbers, and in the nature of the ground. The English Brigade behaved with its usual gallantry; but the army was defeated, and the Prince retreated with the loss of his baggage and artillery. The Brigade was afterwards employed in manœuvring and in defensive operations until the autumn, when it went into quarters. The Prince of Orange proceeded to England, and was married to the Princess Mary on the 14th of November, 1677.

[Sidenote: 1678]

Before the following spring, Major-General the Earl of Ossory arrived from England to command the six British regiments in the Dutch service, and ten thousand English troops, commanded by the Duke of Monmouth, were ordered to proceed to Flanders to take part in the war.

The Earl of Ossory's brigade was early in the field: it was employed a short time on detached services in the Netherlands, and was afterwards encamped near the ground where the battle of Waterloo was fought in June, 1815. In the mean time the French besieged _Mons_, the capital of the province of Hainault, and their covering army occupied a strong position, with its right at the Abbey of _St. Denis_, and its left at Mamoy St. Pierre. The Prince of Orange assembled his army, and after advancing several stages, he encamped near the little river Senne, about seven miles from Mons; and on the morning of the 14th of August, 1678, his Highness put the troops in motion to attack the enemy.

The British Brigade, led by the Earl of Ossory, moved from its camp along a difficult tract of country, until it came in front of a hill occupied by the enemy's left wing, where it was destined to make its attack, in conjunction with the Dutch Foot Guards. The signal for the attack was given, when the British Grenadiers, springing forward with lighted matches, threw a shower of hand-grenades, which, bursting amongst the ranks of the enemy, did much execution. The Musqueteers followed, and opening a sharp fire, were answered by the volleys of the enemy; their fire was soon succeeded by the charge of the Pikemen, who went cheering onward to the attack, while the Musqueteers, drawing their swords, joined in the onset with admirable spirit and resolution,--and the enemy gave way. One attack was succeeded by another; the French, driven from field to field, still rallied and returned to the fight. Pike to pike and sword to sword, the combatants maintained a fierce conflict, while the hand-grenades flew in every direction, and the heights of Castehau presented a varied scene of turmoil and slaughter, in the midst of which the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Monmouth appeared, mixed with the combatants, and urging forward the storm of battle.[5] A French captain levelled his pistol at the Prince, but General D'Auverquerque killed the captain before he had time to fire, and thus saved his Highness's life, for which service the States made him a present of a valuable sword. Night at length put an end to the fight, and the French afterwards made a precipitate retreat.

The regiment lost in this action Lieutenant-Colonel Archer, Lieutenant Charlton, and about fifty men killed: also Major Hales, Captain Charlton, Captain Coleman, Captain Floyd, Captain Dupuy, Lieutenant Augerne, Lieutenant Marchany, Lieutenant Wilson, Ensign Barnwell, Ensign Arnesby, and upwards of a hundred men wounded. The loss in the other regiments of the Brigade was also equally great.

In the mean time preliminary articles for a treaty of peace had been agreed upon at Nimeguen; a cessation of hostilities took place on the day after the battle; and the Brigade, after encamping a few months in Flanders, marched to Holland, where it received the thanks of the States-General for its meritorious services.

The restoration of peace was followed by a reduction in the numbers of the Dutch Army; but the Prince of Orange, and the States-General of the United Provinces, were so sensible of the advantages they had derived from the services of the British troops, that they were desirous of retaining the six regiments in their service. A new treaty was concluded on this subject, and the States agreed to send the regiments to England, whenever the King required them to do so.

[Sidenote: 1679]

[Sidenote: 1680]

Colonel Wisely's regiment was marched to Grave, where it was employed on garrison duty four years; and in 1680, its Colonel having been drowned when on his passage to England, the Colonelcy was conferred on Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Monk, of Sir Henry Bellasis' regiment (now Sixth Foot).

[Sidenote: 1684]

Upon the prospect of hostilities with France, in 1684, the regiment marched from Grave, and was encamped for a short time near Brussels, and afterwards on the banks of the Dender; but no war breaking out, it proceeded into quarters at Mechlin.

[Sidenote: 1685]

In the succeeding year the death of King Charles II. and the accession of James II., a professed Papist, being followed by a rebellion in Scotland, headed by the Earl of Argyle, and another in England, headed by the Duke of Monmouth, the six British regiments were applied for by the King, and they were accordingly embarked for England under the command of the following officers:--

{ Colonel Thomas Monk,--now Fifth Foot.
Three English { Colonel Sir Henry Bellasis,--now Sixth Foot.
Regiments. { Colonel Alexander Cannon,--afterwards disbanded.

{ Colonel Kirkpatrick.
Three Scots { Colonel Sir Alexander Colyear.
Regiments. { Colonel Hugh Mackay.

The three Scots regiments were, in the first instance, ordered for Scotland, but the rebellion in the North having been suppressed, they landed at Gravesend on the 30th of June, 1685, and having been reviewed on Blackheath by the King, marched through London towards the West.[6] The three English regiments landed a few days afterwards; but the rebel army having been defeated at Sedgemoor, on the 6th of July, they encamped on Blackheath, and afterwards on Hounslow Heath, where the Brigade was assembled and reviewed by his Majesty, and the efficiency, discipline, and appearance of the several corps, excited universal admiration.[7] The rebellion having been suppressed, the six regiments returned to Holland, and were again employed in garrison duty. The three English regiments were on the English establishment from the 5th of June, to the 3rd of August, 1685, and the Scots' regiments a few days longer.

[Sidenote: 1686]

[Sidenote: 1687]

The arbitrary proceedings of King James, with his advances towards the subversion of the Protestant religion, occasioned much anxiety to the Prince of Orange, who was married to the presumptive heiress to the throne; at the same time, the King was jealous of the attachment of the nation to his son-in-law, and in 1687 his Majesty demanded the return of the British regiments in the Dutch service. The States-General, in concert with the Prince, resolved not to part with these favourite corps, for whose services they expected soon to have urgent occasion; at the same time they laid no constraint upon the officers, but allowed them either to remain in Holland or to return to England, at their own free choice. Out of two hundred and forty officers,[8] only sixty[9] embraced the latter alternative; the rest bound themselves "to stand by and defend the Prince of Orange against all persons whatsoever."

[Sidenote: 1688]

[Sidenote: 1689]

The colonelcy of the regiment having become vacant by the death of Colonel Monk, it was conferred by the Prince of Orange on Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Tollemache,[10] formerly of the Coldstream Guards.

The violent proceedings of the British Court at length occasioned many of the nobility to solicit the Prince of Orange to come with an armed force to their aid; and as the fate of all the other Protestant States in Europe appeared to depend on the preservation of Great Britain from Papal domination, the Prince and the States-General acquiesced. Thus the six British regiments had the honourable and glorious privilege of engaging in an enterprise for the deliverance of their native land from the attempts to establish Popish ascendancy, and the consequent chances of civil war. On receiving positive advice of the preparations in Holland, "the King was speechless, and, as it were, thunderstruck. The airy castle of a dispensing arbitrary power raised by the magic spells of jesuitical councils vanished away in a moment, and the deluded monarch, freed from his inchantment by the approach of the Prince of Orange, found himself on the brink of a precipice, whilst all his flatterers stood amazed and confounded."[11] The King at length assembled an army of about 30,000 men, and sent Lord Dartmouth to sea with the fleet.

The Prince of Orange's army, consisting of about 15,000 men, of which "the most formidable were the six British regiments,"[12] put to sea, after some delay from tempestuous weather, on the 1st of November, 1688; "the trumpets sounding, the hautboys playing, the soldiers and seamen shouting, and a crowd of spectators on the shore breathing forth their wishes after them."[13] Sailing in three divisions, the first, consisting of the English and Scots, commanded by Major-General Mackay, under a red flag; the second, being the Prince's Guards and the Brandenburgers, commanded by Count Solms, under a white flag; and the Dutch with a corps of French Protestants, commanded by the Count of Nassau, under a blue flag: they passed triumphantly through the British Channel and landed on the Devonshire coast on the 5th of November. Colonel Tollemache's regiment (the Fifth) landed at Brixham key, two miles from Dartmouth, from whence it marched to Exeter and afterwards to Honiton, where, on the night of the 13th, it was joined by a number of men of the Earl of Oxford's and Duke of St. Alban's regiments of horse, and of the Royal Regiment of Dragoons, who had quitted the service of King James to espouse the national cause. These desertions were followed by others of a more important character; and King James, discovering that his army would not be subservient to his designs against the kingdom, fled to France, William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange, were solicited to ascend the throne; and thus the Revolution was happily effected without that sacrifice of human life which such events usually occasion. Colonel Tollemache's regiment had, in the mean time, marched to the vicinity of London, and it afterwards proceeded into quarters in the western counties. It was now permanently placed on the English establishment, and taking date from the 5th of June, 1685, the day on which it first received pay from the British crown, as before stated, it obtained rank as FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT in the British Line.

Colonel Tollemache having been promoted to the command of the Coldstream Guards, the Colonelcy of the FIFTH was conferred on Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Lloyd, by commission dated the 1st of May, 1689; and in the following month the regiment marched from the west of England for London, and was quartered in Southwark until October, when it embarked at Deptford and Greenwich for Plymouth, and in December marched into Cornwall, with detached companies in Devonshire.

[Sidenote: 1690]

In the mean time Ireland had become the seat of war, and King James was at the head of the Roman Catholics, and a French auxiliary force, in that kingdom, while the Duke of Schomberg commanded the Irish Protestants and English troops; and in the spring of 1690 the FIFTH FOOT was ordered thither. The regiment, accordingly, proceeded to Bristol, where it embarked; and having landed at Belfast on the 20th of April, marched to Lisburn, and encamped near the banks of the Lagan until the 9th June, when it proceeded to Armagh and erected its tents on the undulating grounds in that neighbourhood, where an encampment was formed of four regiments of English infantry, with three regiments of Danish horse and eight of foot.

King William having arrived in Ireland, the regiment marched to Dundalk, where the army was assembled; and on the 1st of July the enemy was attacked in his position on the banks of the river _Boyne_. The FIFTH was in Brigadier-General Trelawny's brigade, and by its gallant conduct it contributed to the signal victory gained on this occasion. The enemy evacuated Dublin a few days after the battle, when the regiment was ordered to proceed thither, and it remained in garrison in that city during the remainder of the campaign.

[Sidenote: 1691]

The regiment left Dublin in the early part of 1691, and in April it was stationed at Mountmelick. The troops quartered in that neighbourhood were frequently disturbed by bands of armed Roman Catholic peasantry, called _Rapparees_, who concealed themselves in the day-time, and at night prowled about the country, committing every description of depredation: to check these proceedings, a detachment of 200 men of the FIFTH, commanded by Major Rider, with 100 men of Lord George Hamilton's regiment, and 50 troopers of Colonel Byerley's Horse,--now 6th Dragoon Guards,--the whole commanded by Major Wood,[14] marched out of Mountmelick at nine o'clock on the evening of the 4th of May, and, dividing themselves into several small parties, they traversed the woods and bogs for several miles, frequently encountering lurking parties of the enemy, whom they attacked, killing seventy men and capturing a quantity of cattle, which Major Wood sent to Mountmelick under a guard of thirty men. The remainder continued their search until about ten o'clock on the following day, when Major Wood, with one party of 34 horsemen, and 30 foot, discovered two battalions of the enemy's regular army of about 400 men each, marching silently between the wood and mountains, not far from _Castle-Cuff_; at the same time the enemy espied Major Wood and his little detachment. The English, with a noble bearing and audacity, formed up in a ploughed field to oppose this formidable host, and the Irish instantly sent forward their grenadiers to commence the attack, but perceiving the undaunted countenance of the detachment, they halted at a distance. A sharp firing was at this instant heard beyond the forest, and Major Wood, apprehending that the party with the cattle was attacked, proceeded to its assistance; but Lieutenant Ellis and the thirty foot, behaved like valiant men; and, having repulsed a superior force, effected their retreat with the booty. The firing had brought a detachment of 80 men of the FIFTH from the opposite side of the forest, and Major Wood, having now 34 horsemen and 110 foot with him, resolved, notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, to attack the enemy's column. He accordingly divided his foot into two parties, and directed them to attack the enemy in front, while he himself with the horse made a short compass to gain the enemy's rear. This gallant little band, advancing boldly against the enemy's masses, commenced the attack with a fury and resolution which the Irish could not withstand, and they attempted to retreat; but at that moment Major Wood with his thirty-four troopers came galloping from amongst the trees and charged the flank of the column with admirable courage and resolution; the heavy horse, breaking through the ranks, trampled down the Irish in a terrible manner. The column was now become a confused rabble, scattered in wild disorder, and cut down by the English horsemen on every side; while the English foot, slinging their muskets and drawing their swords, joined in the pursuit and chased the enemy a considerable distance. One hundred and fifty of the Irish were killed on the spot; and 1 major, 5 captains, 9 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 1 adjutant, 1 surgeon, 6 serjeants, 17 corporals, 3 drummers, and 82 private men, were made prisoners; 150 muskets were also collected, which the Irish had thrown away to facilitate their flight. "And all this was done by 110 of our foot and 34 horse. With the foot were Major Rider, Captain Nenny, Captain Dixey, Lieutenant Barton, and Ensign Russel. With the horse, were Cornet Jocelyn, Cornet Hasleton, and Adjutant Robinson, with Quarter-masters Davies and Cadford; who all, both horse and foot, behaved extremely well, and with the loss only of one corporal killed, and Adjutant Robinson, with two foot soldiers and one trooper, wounded[15]."

On the 12th of May, another party of the regiment was out scouring the woods, when 18 Rapparees were killed and several made prisoners.

In June, the FIFTH advanced with the army to _Athlone_, and took part in the siege, which was commenced on the 19th of that month: on the 30th the Grenadier company formed part of the storming party commanded by Major-General Mackay. The attack was made at six in the evening, when the forlorn hope, consisting of Captain Sandys, with 2 Lieutenants and 60 Grenadiers, all in armour, entered the Shannon, which was breast high, under a sharp fire, and were followed by the remainder of the storming party, who passed, some at the bridge of boats, and others by planks laid across the broken arches of the stone bridge. The party, having gained the opposite shore, threw forward a shower of hand-grenades, which put the Irish in confusion; then gallantly ascending the breaches forced their way through every obstacle, and in less than half an hour were masters of the town, with the loss of only 12 men killed, and 5 officers with 30 men wounded; but the enemy had about 500 men killed. Colonel Lloyd was appointed Governor of Athlone, and when the army advanced, the FIFTH, and Lieutenant-General Douglas's regiments, were left in garrison; and the battering train was left in their charge.

After the battle of Aghrim, when the army was about to besiege _Limerick_, the FIFTH, and a party of Militia, were ordered to advance with the heavy artillery; they, accordingly, left Athlone on the 12th of August, and joined the army at Cariganless on the 16th. The siege was commenced a few days afterwards, and the FIFTH was actively employed until the surrender of the place on the 3rd of October. This conquest terminated the war in Ireland, and the regiment, being immediately ordered to embark for England, landed at Highlake, near Chester, on the 29th of December, from whence it marched to Nottingham, Derby, and other inland towns, where it commenced recruiting its numbers.

[Sidenote: 1692]

Three weeks, however, only elapsed before it was ordered to march to London, where it remained but a few days, and towards the end of February 1692 embarked for Flanders to join the army of the Allies, who were engaged in a war with France. The regiment was scarcely placed in cantonments in West Flanders, when the King of France assembled about 20,000 men near La Hogue, and ordered his fleet to prepare to convey them to England, with the view of replacing King James on the throne; the Second, FIFTH, and Fourteenth regiments of Foot were consequently ordered to return: and these corps, having landed at Greenwich in the early part of May, were stationed along the southern coast. In the mean time the British and Dutch fleets had put to sea, and while England and France were gazing, in anxious expectation, at these preparations, the French fleet sustained a decisive defeat off La Hogue, and the alarm of invasion vanished. The FIFTH continued in extensive cantonments near the coast until October, when it marched to Portsmouth to perform duty in that garrison.

[Sidenote: 1693]

During the summer of 1693 the regiment was embarked on board the fleet, and, proceeding with an expedition to _Martinico_, it effected a landing, drove the enemy's troops from the coast, and laid waste several French settlements on that Island. In the autumn it landed at Portsmouth and marched into cantonments in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

The severe loss sustained this summer by the Allies at the battle of Landen, occasioned a strong reinforcement to be sent to Flanders during the winter, and the FIFTH was one of the regiments selected for foreign service. It accordingly embarked at Greenwich and Deptford in December, and, after landing at Ostend, marched to Sluys, a fortified town situated on an arm of the sea, where the regiment remained several months.

[Sidenote: 1694]

After leaving Sluys in the middle of May, 1694, the regiment pitched its tents on the levels near Ghent, and afterwards at Tirlemont in South Brabant, forming part of the army commanded by King William III. in person. On the 15th of June it was detached, with other corps, to take post near the Abbey of Lenthen. During the subsequent part of the campaign it was employed in several military operations, and in the autumn marched into barracks at Bruges. The death of its Colonel having taken place on the 26th of August, his Majesty conferred the vacant Colonelcy on Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Fairfax, by commission dated the 6th of November, 1694.

[Sidenote: 1695]

After remaining in garrison at Bruges until the 25th of May, 1695, the FIFTH took the field and was encamped a short time on the verdant plains near the river Lys; and when King William undertook the siege of the strong fortress of _Namur_, the regiment formed part of the covering army commanded by the Prince of Vaudemont.

While the King was carrying on the siege, a French force of superior numbers, commanded by Marshal Villeroy, advanced to attack the covering army. On the evening of the 14th of July the Allies were formed in order of battle; the immense columns of the enemy were seen in the open grounds in their front, and the hostile armies passed the night under arms, expecting to engage at the break of day; at the same time the French had detached a division under Monsieur de Montal to turn the right flank of the allied army. This occasioned the Prince to order a retreat, which he masked with excellent judgment: the cavalry advancing to the front, the dragoons dismounting and forming on foot; while the artillery, and infantry with their pikes trailed, quietly withdrew. The enemy, anticipating success, prepared for the attack; but in a moment, the British dragoons, retiring a few paces, mounted their horses, and when the enemy thought to have commenced the battle, the skeleton squadrons withdrew; presenting to the surprised French the magic spectacle of what appeared to be an army vanishing out of sight. The enemy's cavalry galloped forward in pursuit; but the Allies continued their retreat in good order, and at six o'clock on the morning of the 16th were in position in front of Ghent.

The FIFTH was afterwards engaged in a series of manœuvres for the preservation of the maritime towns of Flanders, and for the protection of the troops before Namur. In the early part of August it was encamped between Genappe and Waterloo, and subsequently before Namur, which capitulated on the 22nd of August. From Namur the regiment marched to Nieuport, and encamped on the sand-hills near that town; and, remaining in the field until late in the season, when the weather was particularly wet and cold, the men were ordered to build straw huts; but towards the end of October they marched to Bruges.

[Sidenote: 1696]

On the 12th of May, 1696, the regiment marched out of the barracks at Bruges, and encamped behind the banks of the canal near the town. During the campaign of this year its services were limited to the protection of Ghent and Bruges from an attack which the French commanders made several demonstrations of a design of making on these towns; and it passed the winter in its former station at Bruges.

[Sidenote: 1697]

From Bruges, the regiment marched, in the spring of 1697, to Brussels; and on the 12th of April proceeded through the forest of Soigne and pitched its tents near the village of Waterloo, where an encampment was formed of twelve regiments of infantry under the Count de Noyelles. The FIFTH was subsequently employed in a series of defensive operations until September, when the war was terminated by the treaty of Ryswick; and, being ordered to return to England immediately afterwards, it landed in December,--eight companies at Greenwich and two at Dover.

[Sidenote: 1698]

The regiment remained but a short time in England before it was ordered to proceed to Chester, where it embarked for Ireland, and in August, 1698, it arrived at Dublin.

[Sidenote: 1704]

On the 5th of February, 1704, Queen Anne appointed Colonel Thomas Pearce from a newly-raised regiment of foot (afterwards disbanded) to the Colonelcy of the FIFTH in succession to Thomas Fairfax.

[Sidenote: 1706]

[Sidenote: 1707]

During the early part of the war of the Spanish succession, this regiment was stationed in Ireland; but the united English, Dutch, and Portuguese armies having, in 1706, advanced to Madrid, the enemy cut off their communication with Portugal; the troops retired from Madrid to Valencia and Catalonia, and from that period their only communication with Portugal was by sea. At the same time it was found necessary to have a small army on the frontiers of Portugal, and the FIFTH, Twentieth, Thirty-ninth, and a newly-raised regiment commanded by Colonel Stanwix, having been selected for this service, sailed from Cork on the 22nd of May, 1707, and landed at the capital of Portugal on the 8th of June[16]. This seasonable reinforcement arriving soon after the defeat of the allied army at Almanza, in the south-east of Spain, and at the moment when the enemy, having captured Serpa and Moura in the Alentejo, had seized on the bridge of Olivenza in Portuguese Estremadura, and menaced that important place with a siege, its presence revived the drooping spirits of the Portuguese. The four regiments, being the only British troops in that part of the country, were disembarked with every possible expedition, and marched to the frontiers under the command of the Marquis de Montandre, when the enemy immediately ceased to act on the offensive and retired[17]. The four regiments, having halted at Estremos, a strong town of the Alentejo, situate on an agreeable tract on the Tarra, remained in this pleasant quarter during the summer heats, and afterwards encamped in the fruitful valley of the Caya near Elvas, having detached parties on the flanks to prevent the enemy making incursions into Portugal, in which service the regiments were engaged until November, when they went into quarters in the towns on the frontiers of Portugal.

[Sidenote: 1708]

The regiment again took the field in the spring of 1708, and was encamped at Fuente de Sapatores between Elvas and Campo Mayor. The British division was soon afterwards increased to six regiments, by the arrival of the Thirteenth[18] and a newly-raised regiment (Paston's) from England; and the little army in the Alentejo was commanded by the Marquis de Fronteira; but the characteristic inactivity of the Portuguese occasioned the services of the FIFTH to be limited to defensive operations. It was encamped in the autumn at Campo Mayor, and afterwards proceeded into cantonments.

[Sidenote: 1709]

After moving from its quarters in the spring of 1709, the regiment was again engaged in active operations. It was first encamped near Estremos, from whence it proceeded on the 23rd of April to Elvas, and was subsequently encamped with the army on the banks of the Caya, where the Earl of Galway, who had been removed from the army in Catalonia, appeared at the head of the British division.

On the 7th of May the French and Spaniards, commanded by the Marquis de Bay, marched in the direction of Campo Mayor, when the Portuguese generals, contrary to the advice of the Earl of Galway, resolved to pass the _Caya_ and attack the enemy. The Portuguese cavalry and artillery took the lead, and, having passed the river and gained the opposite heights, opened a sharp cannonade; but upon the advance of their adversaries to charge, these squadrons faced about and galloped out of the field, leaving their cannon behind. The British division, arriving at the moment, repulsed the enemy; and the leading brigade, consisting of the Thirteenth, Stanwix's, and Galway's regiments, commanded by Brigadier-General Thomas Pearce, charging with great fury, recaptured the Portuguese guns; but the three regiments, pressing forward too far, were surrounded and made prisoners, and with them Major-Generals Sankey and the Earl of Barrymore, and Brigadier-General Thomas Pearce, fell into the hands of the enemy[19]. At the same time the FIFTH, Twentieth, Thirty-ninth, and Lord Paston's regiments, though deserted by the whole of the cavalry, made a determined stand, bearing the brunt of the enemy's reiterated attacks with admirable firmness, until the Portuguese infantry had retired; then moving to the rear in firm array--while the balls flew thick on every side, and the Earl of Galway's horse was shot under him,--the enemy coming on in full career, threatening the destruction of this little band; yet, with ranks unbroken and steady tread, these undaunted English calmly retraced their steps--exhibiting one of the most noble spectacles of war,--and occasionally punishing the temerity of their pursuers with a cool and deliberate resolution which laid a thousand Spaniards dead upon the field[20], and impressed the enemy, and also the Portuguese, with a sense of British courage and magnanimity. Thus they effected their retreat, with the loss of only one hundred and fifty men killed and wounded, and passed that night at Arronches.

The FIFTH acquired great honour by its signal gallantry on this occasion. It was afterwards encamped at Elvas, was subsequently in position on the banks of the Guadiana, and again passed the winter in cantonments in the Alentejo.

[Sidenote: 1710]

The casualties of the preceding campaign having been replaced by recruits from England, the FIFTH again took the field in the spring of 1710, and was employed in the Alentejo; but the army was weak and unequal to any important undertaking, and the French having had some success in the province of Tras os Montes, occasioned a detachment to be sent thither. In the autumn the army advanced across the Guadiana, and on the 4th of October arrived at the rich plains of _Xeres de los Cabaleros_ on the river Ardilla in Spanish Estremadura. It was resolved to attack this place by storm on the following day, and the FIFTH, Twentieth, and Thirty-ninth, British regiments, having been selected to perform this service under the command of Brigadier-General Stanwix[21], advanced at four in the afternoon to attack the works near St. Catherine's gate by escalade: a few minutes after the regiments had commenced the assault, the governor sent proposals to surrender, which were agreed to, and the garrison, consisting of 700 men, were made prisoners of war. The army afterwards retired to Portugal by the mountains of Orlor, and went into quarters. This summer the army on the other side of Spain gained two victories, and advanced to Madrid, when the most pressing instances were made by King Charles III. and General Stanhope, to induce the army of Portugal to advance upon the Spanish capital; but the Portuguese generals were unwilling to engage in so great an undertaking.

[Sidenote: 1711]