Chapter III: Part 3

In the same year the second battalion was stationed at Chichester, and recruited successfully in Petworth, Steyning, Midhurst, Lewes, and Rye; in February, 1806, it was sent to Guernsey, and from thence in August following, it was removed to Alderney.

[Sidenote: 1806]

In November, 1805, the first battalion embarked at Deal, with the forces under Lord Cathcart, destined for the defence of Hanover. During the voyage the "Helder" transport, containing the left wing of the battalion, was unfortunately wrecked off the Helder, and the officers and men were made prisoners by the Dutch. The right wing returned to England in 1806, and was stationed at Rye, in Sussex, where it was joined in September, by the left wing, which had been liberated by an exchange of prisoners.

[Sidenote: 1807]

In 1806, the first battalion sailed in the expedition under Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd, to join the British forces at Monte Video, in the province of Buenos Ayres, in South America; and after being embarked upwards of nine months, landed on the 28th of June, 1807, at Ensenada de Barragon, and was formed in Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Achmuty's brigade, for the attack made by Lieutenant-General Whitelocke, on the capital of the province.

After some fatiguing marches through a country much intersected by swamps and deep muddy rivulets, the troops crossed the Rio Chuelo, and formed in the suburbs of _Buenos Ayres_, when the FIFTH had its post towards the convent of Recoleta; and in the plan for the general attack, the regiment was formed in two divisions, and directed to penetrate the streets immediately in its front. Accordingly, at half-past six o'clock on the morning of the 5th of July, the regiment advanced: the streets were found deserted by the inhabitants; the houses and shops closed; and a death-like silence, interrupted only by the firm tread of the British soldier, reigned in the midst of this populous city; but at a given signal, the whole male population suddenly appeared, and the windows and tops of the flat-roofed houses were crowded with armed men, who commenced a destructive fire; at the same time the streets were found intersected by ditches, and protected by cannon; but the FIFTH, pressing onward with a conquering might which overcame all resistance, forced its passage through the streets with fixed bayonets, and, after penetrating to the river, took possession of the church and convent of St. Catalina, from whence it moved to the Plaza de Toros, where thirty-two pieces of cannon and a quantity of ammunition were captured. In the mean time several other corps, not able to overcome the opposition they met with, had been repulsed or overpowered, and made prisoners by the Spaniards; and on the following day Lieutenant-General Whitelocke agreed to vacate the place. In this affair the FIFTH sustained a loss of fourteen killed, also forty-seven wounded, amongst the latter was Major the Honourable Henry King; and twenty-four missing. On the conclusion of the treaty between General Whitelocke and General Liniers, the English army re-embarked, and, after a tedious voyage, during which it was exposed to considerable want both of provisions and water, the 1st battalion of the FIFTH Regiment landed at Cork, in December, 1807, where the 2nd battalion also arrived from Alderney on the 3rd of the same month.

In the same year, the sanction of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent was obtained for clothing the drummers of the regiment in white, with white and red lace, instead of gosling green.

[Sidenote: 1808]

The second battalion was quartered at Charles Fort, Kinsale, from whence it marched in February, 1808, to Fermoy. In the summer of the same year, the first battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Mackenzie, was ordered to proceed to the aid of the Portuguese in their resistance to the tyrannical power of Buonaparte; it accordingly embarked at Cork, and sailed on the 12th July for Portugal; where it landed on the 9th of August, and immediately joined the army of Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley. In the action at _Roleia_, on the 17th, it was one of the few corps whom circumstances and the nature of the ground permitted to come to actual engagement with the enemy; and advancing by the right-hand path to the heights of Zambugeira, it climbed the rugged rocks in the face of a French force, which, after a gallant resistance, was driven from the heights. Thus by its conduct on that day, wherein two of its officers, Major Emes and Lieutenant Doyle were wounded, it earned the Royal permission to have the word "ROLEIA" inscribed on its colours. Its further loss was three killed, and two serjeants and thirty-nine rank and file wounded. Sir Arthur Wellesley, in his despatch, observed, "I cannot sufficiently applaud the conduct of the troops throughout this action. The enemy's positions were formidable, and he took them up with his usual ability and celerity, and defended them most gallantly. I must observe, that although we had such a superiority of numbers employed in the operations of this day, the troops actually engaged in the heat of the action were, from unavoidable circumstances, only the FIFTH, Ninth, Twenty-ninth, the riflemen of the Sixtieth and Ninety-fifth, and the flank companies of Major-General Hill's brigade, being in number by no means equal to that of the enemy;--their conduct therefore deserves the highest commendation."

In the subsequent battle of _Vimiera_, fought on the 21st of August, the first battalion of the FIFTH forming, with the Ninth and Thirty-eighth Regiments, the first brigade, was posted on the mountain on the right of the village. The enemy was defeated, and the regiment was rewarded by royal permission to inscribe the word "VIMIERA" also upon its colours.

These successes being followed by the Convention of Cintra, and the evacuation of Portugal by the French, the first battalion of the FIFTH was afterwards stationed in Lisbon, where it remained several weeks.

Portugal being now free from the presence of an enemy, an army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, was sent up the country in the autumn, to assist the Spaniards in their resistance to the armies of France, and the first battalion of the FIFTH Regiment was selected to form part of this expedition.

[Sidenote: 1809]

Passing through Portugal by a rapid march, the troops traversed four hundred miles in a short time, and were soon engaged in operations in Spain; but the Spaniards, who were to have co-operated, had in the mean time been defeated and dispersed; and the little British army was eventually obliged to retire before the superior numbers of the enemy. The FIFTH Regiment took its full share in the disasters and privations of the retreat from Sahagun to _Corunna_, as well as in the glories of the 16th of January, 1809, when the steady firmness of the British army, by repulsing at all points an assailant, superior in numbers and artillery, and commanded by one of the ablest generals[39] that France could boast, proved to the world that even a forced retreat of two hundred and fifty miles, made under circumstances the most disheartening, and accompanied by privations the most appalling, though it might wear the sinews and exhaust the physical strength of the British soldier, had no power to shake his resolution or daunt his courage.

In the battle of _Corunna_, Colonel Mackenzie particularly distinguished himself: after having one horse shot under him, he remounted another, and was at length mortally wounded, whereupon the command of the battalion devolved on Major Emes, who received a medal for this service, while the regiment itself acquired another honorary inscription for its colours, 'CORUNNA' being by royal permission borne upon them. The number of killed and wounded of the first battalion of the FIFTH, in the battle of Corunna, has never been exactly ascertained; but on mustering after its return to England, one serjeant, two corporals, three drummers, and one hundred and twenty-six rank and file were found to be missing.

The first battalion landed in February, 1809, at Ramsgate, and after a halt of a few days at Margate, was ordered to Steyning, in Sussex, where it was fully equipped and completed to upwards of one thousand rank and file, and embarked in July following at Portsmouth, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, to form part of the expedition under the Earl of Chatham designed to effect the destruction of the enemy's shipping and arsenal on the Scheldt.

During the siege of _Flushing_, on the Island of Walcheren, the first battalion of the FIFTH was very actively employed, and although bivouacked without tents during the whole time (with the exception of one week that it was in garrison in Flushing, after its surrender) had very few sick; but on being embarked to proceed up the Scheldt for the projected attack upon Antwerp, the Walcheren fever broke out in its ranks with dreadful violence, attacking about six hundred men. In the active operations it lost one captain (Talbot) killed, and Captain M. Hamilton and Lieutenant Galbraith were wounded, the former losing a leg: its loss from disease was much more severe, for before its return to England, in December following, two captains (Philips and William Hamilton), and three lieutenants (Brown, MacDonough, and Cary) and many men had been carried off by the fever. On its return to England, the battalion was stationed at Bexhill.

In the mean time a detachment of the regiment left in Portugal, when the first battalion advanced into Spain, had been added to a battalion of detachments under Lieutenant-Colonel Copson of the FIFTH, and warmly engaged at the battle of _Talavera_, on the 27th and 28th of July, for which Lieutenant-Colonel Copson received a medal.

The second battalion had been removed from Fermoy, in April of this year, to Coloony in the King's County, and from thence in June to Cork, and, embarking at Cove, landed on the 4th of July at Lisbon; and on the 3rd of August marched, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry King, to join the army in the field under Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, and take its share in the subsequent operations of the campaign. About the end of September it was reinforced by nearly one hundred men of the first battalion, who had been left behind as before stated, and it passed the winter in quarters near the Portuguese frontiers.

[Sidenote: 1810]

The immense preparations of the enemy for the ensuing campaign induced Lord Wellington[40] to limit his operations in 1810 to the defence of Portugal. The second battalion of the FIFTH formed part of Major-General Lightburn's brigade of the third (Sir Thomas Picton's) division of the army, and was stationed for some time behind the Mondego river, from whence it advanced to Pinhel behind the Coa to support the light division; and was afterwards employed in a series of operations to retard the advance of the overpowering numbers of the enemy. At length Lord Wellington made a stand on the rocks of _Busaco_; and the third division had its post on the heights near the village of St. Antonio de Cantara. Here the second battalion of the FIFTH was first under fire, and its light company, under Lieutenant Shadwell Clerke, was thrown out to repulse the advancing skirmishers of the enemy, a service which it most promptly and gallantly performed.

The French, after astonishing efforts, gave way before the superior valour and tactics of the British troops. For this victory, Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry King, commanding the battalion, received a medal, and the word "BUSACO" was authorized, on the 31st of December, 1825, to be inscribed upon the colours of the regiment. Its loss in the battle of Busaco was one killed and seven wounded.

After the battle, the French having made a flank movement, Lord Wellington retired to the celebrated lines of _Torres Vedras_, where he posed an insurmountable barrier to the further progress of the enemy; and the second battalion of the FIFTH passed the remainder of the year in these stupendous works.

The first battalion remaining on home service was removed, in March, 1810, from Bexhill to Lewes, and on the 12th of August was, with several other corps, reviewed on Brighton Downs by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, attended by his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, (afterwards King William IV.,) who expressed themselves in terms of approbation of its appearance and discipline. Two days afterwards the battalion marched to Portsmouth, where it embarked for Ireland, and on its arrival was quartered at Fermoy.

[Sidenote: 1811]

During the early part of 1811, the second battalion remained in the lines of Torres Vedras, where Major-General the Honourable Charles Colville took command of the brigade. The enemy, defeated in his purpose, reduced in numbers by sickness, and in want of provisions, was obliged to retreat; and the second battalion of the FIFTH, moving with its division from the lines, was employed in the pursuit of Marshal Massena towards the frontiers of Portugal. It was frequently engaged with the enemy's rear guards, and on the 12th of March had a sharp affair at _Redinha_, where, descending from the woody heights on the enemy's left, it cleared the grounds in its front in fine style, and forded a deep and rapid river, under the fire of the enemy, when Lieutenant Clerke, already mentioned as commanding the light company at Busaco, was severely wounded in the leg, which he lost in consequence.

The battalion continued to take an active part in the pursuit; and in the action at _Sabugal_, on the 3rd of April, it forded the river Coa, and immediately afterwards, on ascending the heights, and while the brigade was forming on one of the centre companies of the FIFTH, the skirmishers were rapidly driven in. The FIFTH, commanded by Major Ridge, suddenly found itself in presence of a strong French column, upon which it instantly advanced, opening at the same time a heavy fire; the enemy was repulsed with severe loss, and driven precipitately, and in the greatest disorder, down the hill. In this affair Lieutenant Sinclair was killed, and Ensign Williams, one serjeant, and five rank and file, wounded.

Almeida having been blockaded by the British, the French advanced to relieve the place, and crossed the frontiers of Portugal on the 2nd of May. On that day the battalion of the FIFTH was again in sight of the enemy, and on the 5th of the same month it was present, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel King (who had rejoined), at the battle of _Fuentes d'Onor_, where the enemy was defeated, and his design to relieve Almeida frustrated. In this action the battalion had four rank and file wounded.

Immediately after the battle of Fuentes d'Onor, the second battalion of the FIFTH was detached to the south to join the forces under Marshal Beresford, and it was employed in the second siege of _Badajoz_, where it was one of the first corps to break ground. In the operations of this siege, which was raised on the morning of the 17th of June, Lieutenant Sedgwick of the FIFTH (acting as engineer) and three rank and file were killed, and one serjeant and three rank and file were wounded.

Returning to the north, the battalion commanded by Major Ridge was stationed, during the month of August and part of September, in the village of Fuente Guinaldo, then the head-quarters of Lord Wellington: it was the only British corps in the village, and was considered such a favourite as to have acquired the _nom de guerre_ of "Lord Wellington's body-guard."

It was afterwards employed in the blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo; and on the 24th of September it was ordered to a position on the heights near the village of _El Bodon_, on the left of the Agueda and within a few miles of Ciudad Rodrigo. The enemy, having assembled an immense force to relieve the place, advanced on the morning of the 25th, and the second battalion of the FIFTH sustained an attack from a vastly superior French force, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, in so distinguished a manner, that its conduct was held up in General Orders as an example to the whole army. The behaviour of the battalion on this proud occasion is described by Lord Wellington in his public despatch as follows:--

"The enemy's attention was principally directed during this day
(the 25th) to the portion of the third division on the hills
between Fuente Guinaldo and Pastores. About eight in the morning
they moved a column, consisting of between thirty and forty
squadrons of cavalry, and fourteen battalions of infantry, and
twelve pieces of cannon, from Ciudad Rodrigo, in such a direction
that it was doubtful whether they would attempt to ascend the
hills by Encina, El Bodon, or by the direct road towards Fuente
Guinaldo, and I was not certain by which road they would make
their attack till they actually commenced it upon the last. As
soon as I saw the direction of their march, I had reinforced
the second battalion of the FIFTH regiment, which occupied the
post on the hill, over which the road passes to Guinaldo, by the
Seventy-seventh regiment, and by the Twenty-first Portuguese
regiment, under the command of Major-General the Honourable
Charles Colville, and Major-General Alten's brigade, of which
only three squadrons remained, which had not been detached,
drawn from El Bodon, and I ordered there a brigade of the fourth
division, from Fuente Guinaldo, and afterwards from El Bodon the
remainder of the troops of the third division, with the exception
of those at Pastores, which were too distant. In the mean time,
however, the small body of troops at this post sustained the
attack of the enemy's cavalry and artillery. One regiment of
French dragoons succeeded in taking two pieces of cannon, which
had been posted on a rising ground on the right of our troops;
but they were charged by the second battalion of the FIFTH
regiment, under the command of Major Ridge, and the guns were
immediately re-taken.

"While this operation was going on on the flank, an attack was
made on the front by another regiment, which was repulsed in a
similar manner by the Seventy-seventh regiment, and the three
squadrons of Major-General Alten's brigade charged repeatedly
different bodies of the enemy, which ascended the hill on the
left of the two regiments of British infantry, the Portuguese
regiment being posted in the rear of their right.

"At length the division of the enemy's infantry, which had
marched with the cavalry from Ciudad Rodrigo, was brought up to
the attack on the road to Fuente Guinaldo. The second battalion
of the FIFTH regiment, and the Seventy-seventh regiment, were
formed into one square, and the Twenty-first Portugese regiment
into another, supported by Major-General Alten's small body of
cavalry and the Portuguese artillery.

"The enemy's cavalry immediately rushed forward, and obliged our
cavalry to retire to the support of the Portuguese regiment, and
the FIFTH and Seventy-seventh regiments were charged, on three
faces of the square, by the French cavalry, but they halted and
repulsed the attack with the utmost steadiness and gallantry.
We then continued the retreat, and joined the remainder of the
third division, also formed in squares, on their march to Fuente
Guinaldo; and the whole retired together in the utmost order, and
the enemy never made another attempt to charge any of them, but
were satisfied with firing upon them with their artillery, and
with following them.

"I cannot conclude this report of the occurrence of the last
week, without expressing to your Lordship my admiration of
the conduct of the troops engaged in the affair of the 25th
instant. The conduct of the second battalion of the FIFTH
regiment, commanded by Major Ridge, in particular, affords a
memorable example of what the steadiness and discipline of the
troops, and their confidence in their officers, can effect, in
the most difficult and trying situations. The conduct of the
Seventy-seventh regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Bromhead was
equally good; and I have never seen a more determined attack
than was made by the whole of the enemy's cavalry, with every
advantage of the assistance of a superior artillery, and repulsed
by these two weak battalions."

The following are extracts from General Orders issued by command of Lord Wellington on this memorable occasion.

"_Head-Quarters, Regidsa, 2nd October, 1811._

No. 3. "The commander of the forces is desirous of drawing the
attention of the army to the conduct of the second battalion
of the FIFTH regiment, and Seventy-seventh regiment, and
Twenty-first Portuguese regiment, and Major Arentschildt's
Portuguese artillery, under the command of the Honourable
Major-General Colville, and of the Eleventh Light Dragoons and
First Hussars, under Major-General Alten, in the affair with the
enemy on the 25th of September ultimo. These troops were attacked
by between thirty and forty squadrons of cavalry, with six pieces
of cannon, supported by a division, consisting of fourteen
battalions of infantry, with cannon."

No. 4. "The Portuguese artillery-men were cut down at their guns
before they would quit them; but the second battalion of the
FIFTH regiment attacked the cavalry, which had taken their guns,
and retook them; at the same time the Seventy-seventh regiment
was attacked in front by another body of cavalry, upon which body
they advanced, and repulsed them."

No. 5. "While those actions were performed, Major-General Alten's
brigade, of which there were only three squadrons on the ground,
was engaged on the left with numbers infinitely superior to
themselves. These squadrons charged repeatedly, supporting each
other, and took about twenty prisoners, and, notwithstanding
the immense superiority of the enemy, the post would have been
maintained, if the commander of the forces had not ordered the
troops to withdraw from it, seeing that the action would have
been still more unequal, as the enemy's infantry were likely to
be engaged in it before the reinforcements ordered to support the
post could arrive."

No. 6. "The troops then retired with the same determined spirit,
and in the same good order, with which they had maintained their
post--the second battalion of the FIFTH and Seventy-seventh
regiments in one square, and the Twenty-first Portuguese in
another, supported by Major-General's Alten's cavalry, and the
Portuguese artillery. The enemy's cavalry charged three faces of
the square of the British infantry, but were beaten off; and,
finding from their fruitless efforts that those brave troops
were not to be broken, they were content with following them at
a distance, and firing upon them with artillery, till the troops
joined the remainder of the third division, and were afterwards
supported by a brigade of the fourth division. Although the
Twenty-first Portuguese regiment was not actually charged by
the enemy's cavalry, their steadiness and determination were
conspicuous, and the commander of the forces observed with
pleasure the order and regularity with which they made all their
movements, and the confidence they showed in their officers."

No. 7. "The commander of the forces has been particular in
stating the details of this action in the general orders, as
in his opinion it affords a memorable example of what can be
effected by steadiness, discipline, and confidence. It is
impossible that any troops can be exposed at any time to the
attack of numbers relatively greater than those which attacked
the troops under Major-General Colville and Major-General
Alten, on the 25th of September; and the commander of the
forces recommends the conduct of these troops to the particular
attention of the officers and soldiers of the army, as an example
to be followed in all such circumstances."

No. 8. "The commander of the forces considers Major-General
Alten and Major-General Colville, and the commanding officers
of regiments under their command respectively, _viz._
Lieutenant-Colonel Cummins, Lieutenant-Colonel Arentschildt,
Lieutenant-Colonel Bromhead, Major Ridge, and Colonel Bucella,
of the Twenty-first Portuguese, and the officers and soldiers
under their command, to be entitled to his particular thanks, and
assures them that he has not failed to report his sense of their
conduct, in the action of the 25th of September, to those by whom
he trusts that it will be duly appreciated and recollected."

Further eulogium, or even comment, on the brilliant conduct of the second battalion of this regiment at EL BODON it must be felt, is unnecessary, and would be supererogatory: its loss was five rank and file killed, and Captain Ramus, one serjeant, and twelve rank and file, wounded. The army moved forward on the 26th to occupy other positions, and the battalion, for the remainder of 1811, was posted in the village of Payo, near the pass of Perales.

[Sidenote: 1812]

The first operation of the year 1812 was the siege of _Ciudad Rodrigo_, in the storming of which fortress, on the 19th of January, the second battalion of the FIFTH had another glorious opportunity of distinguishing itself and earning one more honourable inscription for the regimental colours. On this occasion, moving from its post behind the convent of Santa Cruz, it entered the ditch at the extremity of the counterscarp, then, after escalading the wall and scouring the _fausse braye_ to the great breach, it rushed forward in the face of a thundering discharge of shells, grape, and musketry, which thinned the ranks; yet, continuing its course with unabated fury, it drove the French, with fixed bayonets, behind the entrenchments. Here the enemy rallied, some hard fighting occurred, but at length the British, by a mighty effort, burst through the entrenchment. In the mean time the other attacks had also succeeded. The garrison fought for a moment in the streets; but eventually fled to the castle and surrendered. The Commander-in-Chief, in his despatch to the Earl of Liverpool, dated Gallegos, 20th of January, 1812, says:--

"Major Ridge, of the second battalion, FIFTH regiment, having
escaladed the _fausse braye_ wall, stormed the principal breach
in the body of the place, together with the Ninety-fourth
regiment[41], commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, which
had moved along the ditch at the same time, and had stormed the
breach in the _fausse braye_, both in front of Major-General
Mackinnon's brigade. Thus these regiments not only effectually
covered the advance from the trenches of Major-General
Mackinnon's brigade by their first movements and operations, but
they preceded them in the attack.

"The conduct of all parts of the third division in the operations
which they performed with so much gallantry and exactness, on
the evening of the 19th in the dark, affords the strongest proof
of the abilities of Lieutenant-General Picton and Major-General
Mackinnon, by whom they were directed and led; but I beg
particularly to draw your lordship's attention to the conduct
of Lieutenant-Colonel O'Toole, of the second Caçadores; of
Major Ridge, second battalion FIFTH Foot; of Lieutenant-Colonel
Campbell, Ninety-fourth regiment; of Major Manners, of the
Seventy-fourth; and of Major Grey, second battalion FIFTH Foot,
who has been twice wounded during the siege."

The loss of the battalion during the siege, and at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, was heavy, Captain McDougal, one serjeant, and thirty-four rank and file, being killed, and Major Grey, Captain Dubourdieu, Lieutenants Wylde, McKenzie, D. E. Johnson, Fitzgerald, and Fairtclough, Ensigns Ashford and Canch (who carried the colours at the assault), and Volunteer Hillyard, with three serjeants, and fifty-five rank and file, wounded. Major Ridge obtained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and the words 'CIUDAD RODRIGO' are authorized, under date October the 25th, 1817, to be borne on the colours of the regiment.

As soon as the breaches in Ciudad Rodrigo were repaired, and the place put in a state of defence, the Earl of Wellington undertook, for a third time, the siege of _Badajoz_, and on the 16th of March the second battalion of the FIFTH, with the remainder of Sir Thomas Picton's division, having marched to the Alentejo, crossed the Guadiana, and took up its position in the investing force. In the assault, which took place at ten o'clock on the night of the 6th of April, General Picton's division was directed to file out of the trenches, cross the Rivillas river, and scale the castle walls, which were from eighteen to twenty-four feet high; furnished with all means of destruction, and so narrow at the top that the defenders could easily overturn the ladders. The second battalion of the FIFTH led the brigade to which it belonged, and, passing the Rivillas by a narrow bridge under a hot fire of musketry, the troops reared their ladders against the lofty castle, and with undaunted courage ascended amidst a shower of heavy stones, logs of wood, and bursting shells from the parapet, while the enemy plied a heavy fire from the flanks, and with pikes or bayonets stabbed the leading assailants in front, or pushed the ladders from the wall. Yet, amidst the deafening noise of musketry, the crash of breaking ladders, and the sound of falling weights, the men were seen striving who should first ascend, until, all being overturned, a pause ensued, and the French shouted "Victory."--A vain shout:--for in a few moments the heroic Lieutenant-Colonel Ridge, who commanded the FIFTH, springing forward, and calling on his men to follow, raised a ladder against the castle on the right of the former attack, Ensign Canch raised a second, and the next moment these two, with Colonel Campbell of the Ninety-fourth (commanding the brigade), followed by the grenadiers, were on the rampart. The remainder of the men followed cheering, and, when a sufficient number had succeeded in gaining the summit of the wall, the gallant Ridge, calling out "Come on, my lads, let us be the first to seize the governor," led them along the ramparts and drove the garrison before them with terrible slaughter through the double gate into the town. The enemy sent a reinforcement, but it was driven back. Thus the castle was nobly won, and the grenadiers of the FIFTH had the honour of having led the successful escalade, under circumstances which gave an interesting character to this daring exploit. A shot in the breast unfortunately closed the mortal career of Lieutenant-Colonel Ridge even in the moment of victory, and deprived the regiment, and the service in general, of a most valuable officer[42]. His family had the melancholy satisfaction of receiving the medal which, had he survived, would have graced his own breast: another medal was given to Major Bishop, who, on the death of his Lieutenant-Colonel, succeeded to the temporary command of the battalion; and, in reward and commemoration of its services on this occasion, the word "BADAJOZ" is, by authority dated July the 4th, 1818, borne on the colours. During the siege and assault, the battalion lost, besides its lamented Lieutenant-Colonel, one Lieutenant (Fairtclough), one serjeant, and sixteen rank and file, killed; and two captains, Bennett (aide-de-camp to Major-General Kempt) and Doyle, Lieutenant John Pennington, and Ensign Hopkins, with three serjeants, and twenty-seven rank and file, wounded.

After the capture of Badajoz, the second battalion accompanied the army towards the north of Portugal and into Spain; it was in position on the heights of St. Christoval until after the capture of the forts at Salamanca. It was afterwards in position on the Douro, and was for a time posted, with the remainder of the third division, to observe the ford of Pollos, while the opposite bank of the river was occupied by the French army; and it was occasionally under the enemy's fire in the course of the movements which preceded the battle of Salamanca.

During this period, the first battalion, which had embarked at Cork in May, landed at Lisbon, and, advancing by forced marches, joined the army about the 20th of July, a few leagues in front of Salamanca, taking the right of that brigade of the third division which had been hitherto formed by the second battalion of the FIFTH, the Eighty-third, and the Ninety-fourth regiments.

The two battalions of the FIFTH were thus united in time for the whole regiment to share in the honours and triumphs of the 22nd of July, 1812, the glorious victory of _Salamanca_. In the course of this day, while the French were manœuvring, the third division, being suddenly ordered to cross their line of march, sprang forward with an energy and force which broke the half-formed French lines into fragments, and drove them in confusion upon the support. The shock of this gallant and unexpected attack threw the enemy into confusion; and the division continuing its spirited advance, the right flank of the first battalion of the FIFTH was threatened by a charge of cavalry, when three companies were thrown back _en potence_, and, coolly allowing the enemy's horse to advance so close that every shot would tell, opened so steady and well-directed a fire, that they were instantly repulsed, and they fled in disorder. The division again bearing onwards in its victorious course, its attack was rendered decisive by a brilliant charge of the heavy cavalry; and finally the enemy sustained an entire overthrow. Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, of the first battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry King, of the second (who in the course of the day succeeded to the temporary command of the brigade), and Captain Bishop (on whom at the same time the temporary command of the second battalion devolved), obtained medals; and the good conduct of the regiment in general was rewarded by authority, under date October the 25th, 1817, to bear the word "SALAMANCA" inscribed on its colours. Its loss amounted to one serjeant and ten rank and file killed; and Captain Simcocks, Lieutenants Bird, McPherson, O'Dell, Gunn, Hamilton, and Hillyard, Ensign Pratt, and eleven serjeants, one drummer, and one hundred and nineteen rank and file, wounded.

The loss of the second battalion in the brilliant but severe service in which it had now for three years[43] been constantly engaged was so serious, that, on the arrival of the army in Madrid, the capture of which capital was the first fruit of the victory of Salamanca, it was ordered to England to recruit its thinned ranks. After transferring the effective privates to the first battalion, it took leave of the army at Madrid on the 3rd of September, embarked at Lisbon in November, and on the 1st of December landed at Plymouth, from whence it marched, on the following day, to Kingsbridge, to join its depôt, and finally, in January, 1813, took up its quarters in Exeter. The estimation in which this battalion was held by the Earl of Wellington will be best shown by the following extracts from general orders, dated Arcala, July 27th, 1812.

"The Commander of the Forces cannot part with the officers and
non-commissioned officers of the second battalion of the FIFTH
regiment, without again requesting them to accept his thanks for
their uniform good conduct and brilliant and important services
since they have been under his command."

The first battalion remained stationary in Madrid, while the Marquis of Wellington marched with part of the army and commenced the siege of Burgos; and, when the advance of the enemy's immense force rendered a retreat necessary, the battalion marched on the 24th of October, with the rest of the third division, to join the army, then retiring from the siege, and, returning with it into Portugal, was stationed for the winter in the villages of Ferrerina and Faya.

Lieutenant-General Richard England died on the 7th of November this year, and on the 27th of the same month Major-General William Wynyard, from the Royal West India Rangers, was appointed to the Colonelcy of this regiment.

[Sidenote: 1813]

On the 16th of May, 1813, the first battalion of the FIFTH broke up from its cantonments, and (brigaded with the Eighty-third, Eighty-seventh, and Ninety-fourth, under the Honourable Sir Charles Colville,) advanced with the rest of the army into Spain. At the memorable and decisive battle of _Vittoria_, it forded the river, and advancing against the right of the French army at Margarita and Hermanded, displayed its usual spirit and intrepidity, driving in a superior force of the enemy in gallant style. The Marquis of Wellington, in his despatch, notices the conduct of the brigade in these terms:--"Major-General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville's brigade of the third division was seriously attacked in its advance by a very superior force, well formed, which it drove in, supported by Major-General Inglis's brigade of the seventh division, commanded by Colonel Grant, of the Eighty-second. These officers, and the troops under their command, distinguished themselves." In this battle, the battalion had Captain Adams, Lieutenant Higgins, Ensign Bolton, Volunteer Rees, and twenty-two rank and file, killed; with Captain Bateman, Lieutenants Galbraith, Welch, and Arthur Johnson, six serjeants and one hundred and twenty-seven rank and file, wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt obtained a medal, and by authority, dated October the 25th, 1817, the word "VITTORIA" is borne upon the colours of the regiment.

After the battle of Vittoria, the FIFTH pursued the enemy in the direction of Pampeluna; if was subsequently sent against a French force under General Clausel, which however escaped to France. The battalion afterwards proceeded to Pampeluna, and was engaged towards the end of July near the village of Hörte del Reigen in front of that fortress. Having advanced along the gloomy passes of the lofty Pyrenean mountains, the regiment was stationed a short time at Olaque, in the pass of Roncesvalles, from whence it retired, on the advance of the enemy under Marshal Soult, to a position in the _Pyrenees_, in front of Pampeluna. Here the troops were attacked by the enemy, and after much hard fighting had occurred, the third division advanced across the heights in its front to turn the enemy's left flank, when the French were driven from their ground and pursued along the defiles in the mountains.

After passing through the Pyrenees the troops crossed the frontiers, and the interior of France resounded to the firm tread of the conquering British soldier. At the battle of _Nivelle_, on the 10th of November, the third division, under Major-General Colville (in the absence of Sir Thomas Picton), formed the right centre of the combined army, and advancing by the left of the village of Sarré carried the redoubts on the left of the enemy's centre, driving the French from their ground, and afterwards moving by the left of the river Nivelle upon St. Pé; in which affairs, the usual gallant conduct of the battalion earned a medal for its Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, and permission by authority, dated October the 25th, 1817, for the word "NIVELLE" to be borne on the colours. In this battle, its loss consisted of one serjeant and fourteen rank and file, killed; Captain Clarke, Lieutenant Bird, three serjeants, and one hundred and nine rank and file, wounded; and Captain John Hamilton taken prisoner.

The regiment was afterwards employed in the operations connected with the passage of the river _Nive_; and was partially engaged in the action, on the 13th of December; after which it was cantoned in and about Hasparen, a town in the south of France, 13 miles from Bayonne.

[Sidenote: 1814]

On the 14th of February, 1814, the battalion broke up from its cantonments, and on the 24th, it was sharply engaged with the enemy. Captain Culley, of the FIFTH, with the light companies of his own battalion, the Eighty-seventh, and Ninety-fourth, was ordered to force a deep ford of the river _Gave d'Oleron_; he effected the passage, but, being attacked by superior numbers, was driven back with considerable loss. Captain Culley, and Lieutenant R. Pennington, of the FIFTH, were severely wounded on this occasion, and the battalion lost seven rank and file, killed, and thirteen taken prisoners.

The battalion took part in the battle of _Orthes_, on the 27th of February; also in frequent and successful skirmishes with the French rear guard during its retreat through the vineyards between Pau, Vicq, and Tarbes, and finally, in the battle of _Toulouse_, the closing struggle and crowning victory of the Peninsular war, on which occasion the first battalion of the FIFTH behaved with its usual gallantry; its commanding officer, Colonel Pratt, received medals for the battles of Orthes and Toulouse, and by authority, dated July the 4th, 1818, the names of these battles are inscribed upon the colours. The loss of the battalion in the battle of Orthes was one Lieutenant, Hopkins, and eleven rank and file, killed; and thirty-three wounded: in subsequent actions it had one rank and file, killed, and twelve wounded.

The gallant exploits of the British troops having caused the overthrow of the tyrannical power of Buonaparte, hostilities ceased on the continent: the regiments went into quarters of refreshment, and the veterans of the FIFTH could now look back with exultation at the scenes of victory and triumph which had attended their career in this war. They could reflect with delight on the fame they had acquired, but especially at the glorious result, that their valour had preserved their native land from the presence of war, and their efforts had acquired peace for Europe.

On the extension of the most honourable military order of the Bath in 1815, Colonel Charles Pratt, of the FIFTH, was nominated a Knight-Commander, and Colonels the Honourable Henry King, and Edward Copson, Companions of the Order. The regiment also, in reward and commemoration of its services throughout the Peninsular war, received permission by authority, dated April the 22nd, 1815, to inscribe, in addition to its other distinctions, the word "PENINSULA" upon its colours.

Although peace had been restored to Europe, war was continued in America, and the first battalion of the FIFTH was allowed but a few days repose, before it was ordered to the scene of conflict. It marched out of quarters on the 11th of May, and arrived on the 20th at Bourdeaux, from whence, after a halt of eleven days, it embarked, and sailed for Canada, disembarking on the 7th of August at Sorel, on the river St. Lawrence, about one hundred miles above Quebec. From Sorel it marched to Chambly to join the troops encamped there under Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, and formed, with the Third, Twenty-seventh, and Twenty-eighth regiments, the brigade of Major-General Sir Manley Power. It was present at the unsuccessful attack made by Sir George Prevost on the Americans near _Plattsburg_, in the early part of September, and afterwards went into barracks at La Prairie; in November it marched to Montreal, detaching five companies to Coteau du Lac.

[Sidenote: 1815]

Early in February, 1815, the first battalion moved from Montreal to Upper Canada, where three companies were stationed at Johnstown, and the remaining seven quartered at the farmers' houses along the St. Lawrence, and scattered over a space of nearly twenty-eight miles. But in May, these seven companies and head-quarters were re-assembled in Fort Wellington. Peace having been concluded with the Americans, early in June the battalion marched to Montreal, and sailing down the St. Lawrence in steam vessels to Quebec, it embarked on the 8th in four transports for Europe.

In the mean time the return of Buonaparte to France, in violation of the treaty of 1814, had rekindled the war on the continent, and the first battalion of the FIFTH was immediately ordered to France. After touching at Portsmouth, it disembarked on the 11th of July at Ostend; proceeded by the canal to Ghent, and marching from thence to Paris, joined the British troops encamped at St. Denis on the 24th of August, thus missing being present at the glorious and decisive victory of Waterloo, which, to a regiment, that had so conspicuously shared in all the peninsular campaigns, was at once a disappointment and a misfortune.

[Sidenote: 1816]

[Sidenote: 1817]

[Sidenote: 1818]

Peace having again been concluded, an army of occupation was directed to remain in France for a few years; and in January, 1816, the first battalion of the FIFTH formed part of the garrison of the fortified city of Valenciennes; in July, August, and September it was encamped in the vicinity of that town, but returned to Valenciennes in October, and remained there till the month of April, 1817, when it went to Bapaume and the adjacent villages, and thence in July into camp at Cambray. In October it returned to Bapaume, and in June 1818, again joined the camp near Cambray, where the army was reviewed by the allied sovereigns. In October the first battalion of the FIFTH marched to Calais, and having embarked on the 31st for England, landed at Dover on the 1st of November, and marched for Winchester, where it arrived on the 10th of the same month.

In the mean time the second battalion, after recruiting to nearly its full numbers, in Exeter barracks, marched in November, 1813, to Chelmsford, and thence in the following month to Windsor, where it remained till October, 1815, when it was ordered to Gosport, and was there finally disbanded on the 24th of June, 1816.

[Sidenote: 1819]

On the 4th of February, 1819, the regiment, now reduced to one battalion, embarked at Portsmouth for the West Indies; arrived on the 3rd of April in Carlisle bay, Barbadoes, and sailed again on the 5th (after being reviewed on the 4th by Lieutenant-General Lord Combermere) for the following destinations, _viz._, five companies and head-quarters to Antigua, four to St. Christopher's, and one company to Montserrat.

On the 10th of July, 1819, Lieutenant-General Wynyard died, and on the 12th General Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., G.C.B., was appointed Colonel of the FIFTH.

[Sidenote: 1820]

[Sidenote: 1821]

The regiment occupied the stations before mentioned, until March, 1821, when five companies with head-quarters were ordered to St. Vincent's, three to Dominica, and two to St. Lucia. On the 25th of October this year, the establishment of the regiment was reduced from ten to eight companies.

[Sidenote: 1822]

[Sidenote: 1823]

[Sidenote: 1824]

After remaining on the above station until January, 1824, two more companies with head-quarters were ordered to Dominica, and the remainder to St. Lucia.

The privilege which the corps for a long series of years enjoyed, of wearing a distinguishing feather, was this year confirmed to it by a letter from the Adjutant-General of the army, of which the following is a copy.

"_Horse-Guards, 2nd July, 1824._

"Sir,

"I have had the honour to receive and submit to the
Commander-in-Chief, your letter of 28th ultimo, and enclosure,
and in reply am directed to signify to you, that under the
circumstances therein stated, His Royal Highness has been pleased
to approve of the _White Feather_, which for a long series
of years has been worn as a mark of distinction by the FIFTH
Regiment of Foot, being continued to be used by that corps.

"I have, &c.
(Signed) "H. TORRENS, Adj.-Gen.

"Colonel Sir C. PRATT, K.C.B.,
"5th Foot."

[Sidenote: 1825]

On the 25th March, 1825, the regiment was augmented from eight to ten companies.

In May, 1825, Colonels the Honourable Henry King, C.B., and Sir Charles Pratt, K.C.B., who during the Peninsular war had led the corps in so many days of glory and of victory, were promoted to the rank of Major-Generals in the army: Sir Charles Pratt had been at the head of one or other of the battalions since 1808, and was succeeded in the command of the regiment by Lieutenant-Colonel William Sutherland, from the second West-India Regiment.

[Sidenote: 1826]

On the 16th of March, 1826, the head-quarters embarked at Dominica for England. The regiment landed at Portsmouth on the 12th and 22nd of April and 3rd of June, according as the transports arrived: marched in three divisions on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of June, from Cumberland Fort, and arrived on the 29th, 30th, and 31st, at Weedon, in Northamptonshire, where it was joined on the 24th of July by the depôt, consisting of four captains, four subalterns, one surgeon, one serjeant, and sixty-nine rank and file, from Tynemouth Castle. The corps remained at Weedon during the remainder of the year, and was joined during its stay in Northamptonshire, by one hundred and fifty-six recruits from its different recruiting parties.

[Sidenote: 1827]

The FIFTH regiment marched from Weedon barracks in three divisions, on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th of January 1827, by route, to Hull, in Yorkshire, where it arrived on the 10th, 12th, and 13th of the same month, detaching one company to Bradford, one to Halifax, and on the 27th, one company to Brigg. At Hull one hundred and twenty-four men joined as recruits.

On the 28th and 29th of March, and 4th of April the regiment marched from Hull and the detached stations, and arrived on the 5th of April at Bolton, in Lancashire, having one field-officer and three companies detached at Blackburn, one company at Haslington, and one company at Accrington. During its stay at Bolton, the regiment received seventy-seven recruits from its parties, &c., and arrived at its full establishment, having recruited nearly five hundred men during the eleven months which had elapsed since its return from the West Indies.

[Sidenote: 1828]

On the 10th and 17th of September, the regiment marched from Bolton, on route to Liverpool, and on the 19th and 20th the detached companies marched into Liverpool, in which town the regiment remained in billets until the morning of the 25th, when it embarked on board the "Britannia" and the "Birmingham" steam vessels for Ireland, and landed on the 26th at Dublin, where it was quartered in Richmond barracks. On the 15th of October it moved from the Richmond to the Royal barracks, and there remained until it was ordered to Athlone, for which station it marched on the 5th, 7th, and 17th of May, 1828, detaching one company to Shannon Bridge, from which a subaltern and twenty-five men were sent to Tullamore, one company to Ballymahon, (sending small parties to Ballinacarrig and Abbeyshrule,) and one company to Roscommon, having a subaltern and thirty rank and file at Strokestown. The detachment at Tullamore was ordered to head-quarters on the 6th of July.

[Sidenote: 1829]

A party of one hundred men under Major Tovey, marched from Athlone on the 6th of October to Shannon Bridge, and remained there during the fair at Ballinasloe. The detachment at Strokestown joined head-quarters on the 18th of October, and was again sent out on the 26th of January, 1829. On the 22nd of the same month, the company at Ballymahon was withdrawn, and joined the head-quarters at Athlone.

The colours of the regiment having been worn out in the course of its long and honourable service, a new set, after being solemnly consecrated in St. Peter's Church at Athlone, was presented on parade with the usual ceremonies, and a suitable address by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B., commanding the Connaught district. The General was pleased on this occasion to speak in the most flattering terms of the distinguished gallantry of the regiment in the field, and its good and orderly conduct in quarters.

The regiment marched to Castlebar, in the county of Mayo, on the 30th and 31st of March, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 9th of April, detaching two companies to Westport, under a field-officer; one company to Foxford, sending a subaltern and eighteen rank and file to Ballaghadareen, and one company to Dunmore. On the 2nd of May, two companies proceeded, per route, to Ballinrobe.

The distinction of wearing a white or grenadier feather, which the FIFTH regiment had proudly won for itself, having become extinct by the regulations of the 10th of February of this year (1829), which directed a white feather to be worn by the whole of the infantry of the army, rifle regiments and light infantry excepted, the commanding officer (Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland) lost no time in applying, through General Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., G.C.B., the Colonel of the regiment, for an equivalent; this was graciously conceded by his Majesty, George the Fourth, and the distinction of wearing a feather different from the rest of the army, was continued to the corps in the following handsome terms in a letter from Lieutenant-General Sir Herbert Taylor, G.C.H., Adjutant-General of the Forces.

"_Horse Guards, July 11, 1829._

"Sir,

"I have had the honour to receive and lay before the General
Commanding-in-Chief your letter of the 6th of May last, with
its enclosures, representing the anxiety felt by the officers
and men of the FIFTH regiment, of which you are Colonel, to be
allowed some distinction, as an equivalent for that which the
regiment has lost in consequence of the regulations of the 10th
of February last, prescribing a white feather to be worn by the
whole of the infantry of the army, rifle regiments and light
infantry excepted.

"On this occasion, Lord Hill commands me to say, that his
Lordship enters fully into the feelings of the FIFTH regiment,
and adverting to the gallantry of the exploits which obtained
for that corps its original distinction, his Lordship has been
pleased to submit to His Majesty, that the FIFTH regiment shall,
in future, wear a feather half red and half white, the red
uppermost, instead of the plain white feather worn by the rest
of the army, as a peculiar mark of honour, whereby its former
services will still be commemorated, and a perpetual incitement
be afforded to a continuance of its good conduct.

"I have, &c.
(Signed) "H. TAYLOR, Adj.-Gen.

"General Sir H. Johnson, Bart., G.C.B.
"&c. &c."

[Sidenote: 1830]

From Castlebar, Westport, and Foxford, the regiment marched on the 10th and 11th of September, agreeably to routes received, for Galway. Two companies, under a field-officer, were stationed at Oughterard; one company at Tuam, one at Ballinasloe, detaching one subaltern, one serjeant, and twenty rank and file to Mount Shannon, and a similar party to Kinavara. The company at Dunmore did not move on this change of the quarters of the regiment. On the 17th of November, the detachment at Kinavara joined the company at Ballinasloe, and on the 5th of April, 1830, one company from Oughterard proceeded to Banagher.