Historical Record of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of Foot

Chapter V: Part 5

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The regiment advanced from St. Sebastian to the frontiers of France; and on the 7th of October forded the _Bidassoa_ at low water for the purpose of driving the enemy from the mountain of La Rhune. A body of Spaniards and Portuguese co-operated on this occasion with the first and fifth divisions; and the French had scarcely formed in line before they were driven from their works, with the loss of several guns.

Thus, after chasing the boasted invincible legions of Bonaparte from the gates of Lisbon to the utmost limits of the Spanish boundary; after rescuing millions from the grasp of the oppressor, and after restoring the affrighted inhabitants of the Peninsula to their homes in peace and safety, the British soldiers had burst the barriers of the Pyrenees and planted their triumphant ensigns in France; where additional laurels awaited them.

On the 10th of November the battle of the _Nivelle_ was fought; the fifth division being on the left, was not seriously engaged, and the KING'S OWN had no opportunity of signalizing themselves in action: they had Lieutenant Salvin and several men wounded.

After its retreat from Nivelle, the French army occupied an entrenched position in front of Bayonne; the allies passed the _Nive_ on the 9th of December, and the enemy having been dislodged from a post at Ville Franque, withdrew his out-posts to Bayonne. But issuing from thence on the following day, he attacked a Portuguese brigade stationed on the high road from Bayonne to St. Jean de Luz. The KING'S OWN, and other regiments of the second brigade of the fifth division, advancing to the assistance of the Portuguese, were sharply engaged, and evinced great bravery and steadiness in action. Major-General Robinson was wounded, and the French gained some advantage; but they were eventually driven back and suffered severely. The attempt was renewed, but the attacking columns were repulsed, and night closed on the combatants.

The enemy again attacked the division on the 11th of December, but was repulsed; in the afternoon of the 12th there was also some sharp skirmishing; and the KING'S OWN acquired, by their intrepid bearing and gallantry in action, the honour of bearing the word NIVE on their colours.

At the passage of the Nive, on the 9th of December, the regiment had one man killed; Brevet Major Robert Anwyl, Lieutenant Fraser, and nine rank and file wounded: Lieutenant Fraser died of his wounds. On the 10th of December one serjeant and five rank and file were killed; Brevet Major Timothy Jones, Lieutenants Edward Guichard and Frederick Hyde, with five serjeants, one drummer, and thirty-nine rank and file wounded; and twenty-two rank and file missing. On the 11th of December the KING'S OWN had six rank and file killed; Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Piper, Lieutenants John Staveley, C. H. Farrington, William Clarke, Edward Rawlins, John Sutherland, James Marshal, and Ensign James Gardner, with eight serjeants, and ninety rank and file wounded.

During the winter additional honours were conferred on the officers who had commanded regiments in the late actions; and Lieut.-Colonel BROOKE, of the KING'S OWN, obtained a cross inscribed BADAJOZ, SALAMANCA, VITTORIA, and ST. SEBASTIAN. Brevet Lieut.-Colonel PIPER, two clasps inscribed ST. SEBASTIAN and NIVE. Captain KEPPING, who succeeded to the command of the regiment after Lieut.-Colonel Piper was wounded, on the 11th of December, received the brevet rank of MAJOR, and a medal inscribed NIVE.

[Sidenote: 1814]

Severe weather obliged the allied army to keep in its cantonments during the month of January and part of February, 1814; and operations having recommenced in the middle of February, after several movements the KING'S OWN were employed in the blockade of _Bayonne_, in which service they were engaged upwards of six weeks.

Meanwhile important events had taken place in other parts of Europe, and the officers and soldiers of the British army, who had received the blessings of the unoffending nations whom they had delivered from the power of their enemies, and had transferred to France the calamities of domestic war, had the delight of witnessing the conflicts, toils, and sufferings they had endured for the good of Europe, followed by the enjoyments of peace.

The KING'S OWN were afterwards rewarded with the word PENINSULA, as an additional honorary inscription for their colours; but, although tranquillity was restored to Europe, they were allowed only a few days of repose before they were called upon to transfer their services to another scene of conflict, and were destined to fight the battles of their country beyond the Atlantic ocean.

During the Peninsular War, the decrees of Bonaparte to destroy the commerce of Great Britain were followed by regulations designed to counteract the enemy's plans. These regulations, with the pressing of British seamen on board of American ships, brought on a war between Great Britain and the United States. When the KING'S OWN were separated from the second brigade of the fifth division, in order to embark for America, Major-General Robinson addressed the following letter to Major Faunce, who then commanded the regiment:--

"_Lower Anglet, near Bayonne, 14th May, 1814._

"SIR,

"The event of the KING'S OWN being about to be separated from the
second brigade, brings strongly to my recollection the many and
great obligations I am under to the officers, non-commissioned
officers, and privates, for repeated instances of such gallant
conduct in the field, as never failed to draw forth the
unqualified approbation of the higher ranks of this army.

"The excellent system of discipline maintained in the regiment,
and the attention paid by each individual to its reputation, is
also a source of real satisfaction.

"Impressed deeply with these sentiments, let me request you
will do me the honour to make my most sincere thanks acceptable
to all, with assurances of my warmest wishes for their future
welfare and prosperity; and may I add, I shall feel myself
peculiarly fortunate if I should ever again be united with them
on service.

(Signed) "F. P. ROBINSON,
"Major-General commanding second brigade
"fifth division.

"_To Major Faunce_,
"_Fourth, or King's Own Regiment_."

Marching through Bayonne on the 15th of May, the regiment proceeded to Bourdeaux, embarked on the 29th at Pauillac on the river Garonne, under the command of Major Alured D. Faunce, and quitted the coast of France in the early part of June. The expedition consisted of the fourth and forty-fourth, about eight hundred bayonets each; the eighty-fifth, about six hundred bayonets; with a brigade of artillery and a detachment of sappers and miners: the whole under the command of that very gallant and experienced leader, Major-General Patrick Ross: the navy, consisting of one seventy-four, two sixty-fours, five frigates, and two bomb-vessels, was under the orders of Rear-Admiral Malcomb.

After twenty days' sailing, the fleet approached the Azores, and the high land of St. Michael's appeared like a blue cloud rising out of the water: as the shipping drew near, the troops were delighted with the view of the numerous villages, seats, and convents which ornamented the beach, and the lofty mountains adorned with groves of orange trees and green pasturage rising behind. After remaining a short time at this pleasant island to take in provisions, the fleet again put to sea, and anchored on the evening of the 24th of July opposite the tanks in the island of Bermuda in the West Indies, where the expedition was joined by the twenty-first fusiliers, mustering nine hundred bayonets.

The fleet remained at Bermuda, taking in stores, and establishing a magazine for the future supply of the expedition, until the 3d of August, when it once more put to sea, and directing its course towards North America, entered the bay of Chesapeake, where reinforcements joined, and Rear-Admiral Cockburn took charge of the navy. On the arrival of this squadron, a powerful American flotilla fled for refuge up the Patuxent river, and was followed by the British fleet. In order to insure the destruction of the enemy's vessels, the troops were directed to land: on the 19th of August the stream was suddenly covered with boats crowded with soldiers, and by three o'clock in the afternoon the army was in position about two miles above the village of St. Benedict, on the right bank of the Patuxent. The troops were divided into three brigades; the first, consisting of the eighty-fifth regiment, with the light companies of the FOURTH, twenty-first, and forty-fourth, a company of marines, and a party of disciplined negroes, was commanded by Colonel Thornton; the second, consisting of the FOURTH and forty-fourth regiments, was commanded by Colonel Brooke; and the third, consisting of the twenty-first fusiliers, and a battalion of marines, was commanded by Colonel Patterson; for want of horses only one six-pounder, and two small three-pounders were brought on shore.

The army remained in position near St. Benedict until four o'clock on the afternoon of the following day, when the bugles sounded, the regiments turned out in marching order, and proceeded in the direction of Nottingham, a town on the banks of the Patuxent, which was found deserted, while the appearance of the furniture, and in some places the bread left in the ovens, showed it had been abandoned in haste. On the 22d the army proceeded to the delightful village of Upper Marlborough, situate in a well-cultivated valley about two miles broad; and during the march loud explosions were heard, which proved to be the enemy destroying his flotilla to prevent its falling into the hands of British seamen.

The object of the expedition had thus been accomplished; but, as the army had advanced within sixteen miles of Washington, and the enemy's force was ascertained to be such as would authorize an attempt to carry the capital, the troops moved forward on the 23d of August. They had scarcely proceeded three miles when the advance-guard encountered a party of American riflemen, who maintained a sharp contest before they gave way; and arriving at a point where two roads meet, the one leading to Washington and the other to Alexandria, twelve hundred Americans and some artillery appeared on the slope of a height opposite. The army turned along the road leading towards Alexandria, and the Americans fled before the detachment sent against them. Having deceived the enemy respecting the real design of the expedition, the route was changed, and the troops proceeded in the direction of Washington.

About noon on the 24th a heavy cloud of dust was seen to arise at a distance, and the British troops turning a sudden angle in the road and passing a small cluster of trees, discovered above eight thousand American infantry, with a numerous artillery and three hundred dragoons, commanded by General Winder, occupying a formidable position beyond the village of _Bladensburg_, where they were awaiting the advance of their opponents.

The British, though not half so numerous as their adversaries, advanced boldly to the attack; on entering the village the enemy's artillery opened a tremendous fire, and as the light brigade traversed the bridge across the eastern branch of the Potomac river, from whence a strait road ran through the enemy's position to the capital, numbers fell before a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. The survivors having gained the opposite side of the stream, carried a fortified house which commanded the bridge, then dashed into the thickets on the right and left of the road, and drove back the American riflemen, who fled with such precipitation that they threw their first line into disorder, and it fell back in confusion, leaving two guns on the road. The British light infantry, throwing off their knapsacks, pushed forward in extended order to attack the enemy's second line; but a heavy fire of musketry and artillery checked the assailants, and the Americans advancing in force to recover the lost ground, drove the first brigade back to the thickets on the brink of the river, where an obstinate fight was maintained. Meanwhile the second brigade passed the river; the forty-fourth moving to the right, turned the enemy's left flank; and the FOURTH, emulating their gallant companions, advanced in firm array, preceded by a flight of rockets, to charge the enemy's right, which was broken and driven from the field: many of the American sailors who acted as gunners were bayoneted, and eight guns were captured. The American infantry fled in dismay, and diving into the recesses of the forests, were quickly beyond the reach of their pursuers; and their cavalry turned their horses' heads and galloped off: thus in one hour the battle was won, and the third brigade, which had formed the reserve, pushed forward at a rapid rate for _Washington_.

The three British regiments which had thus defeated about nine thousand adversaries (three times their own number) halted a short time on the field of battle to reform their ranks. The loss of the KING'S OWN was Lieutenant Thomas Woodward, killed; Lieutenants E. P. Hopkins, J. K. Mackenzie, John Staveley, Peter Bowlby, and Frederick Field, with Ensigns J. A. Buchanan, and William Reddock, wounded; also seventy-nine serjeants and rank and file killed and wounded.

After a short halt, the KING'S OWN, with the remainder of the first and second brigades, moved towards Washington, where the third brigade had already arrived and had commenced destroying the arsenal, docks, magazines, and other public property. The sun had set, and as the two brigades approached the American capital, the conflagration of buildings, ships, and stores illuminated the sky, while the exploding of magazines shook the city, and threw down houses in their vicinity, and the scene exhibited the awful reality of the horrors of war, from which Great Britain has happily been preserved by the enterprise and gallantry of her army and navy.

As it was not the intention of the British government to attempt permanent conquests in this part of America, and as it was impossible for this small body of troops to establish themselves in the enemy's capital, the destruction of the public property, which by the customs of war is the just spoil of the conqueror, was completed; and the army marched back to St. Benedict, where it re-embarked without molestation. The conduct of the KING'S OWN was commended by Major-General Ross in his public despatches, and they were rewarded with the honour of displaying the word BLADENSBURG on their colours.

After remaining a few days in the Patuxent river, the fleet weighed anchor; the coast was menaced at several points, and the shipping approached so near the shore at Annapolis, that the inhabitants were discovered flying from their houses, waggons loaded with furniture were seen hurrying along the roads, alarm guns were fired, beacons were blazing, and the people were apparently oppressed with all the horrors of doubt and apprehension. _Baltimore_ was, however, selected as the point of attack, and towards the river upon which that town is built the fleet hastened under a heavy press of sail. During the night of the 11th of September the troops cooked three days' provision, and each man received eighty rounds of ammunition; at three o'clock on the following morning the boats were lowered; a landing was effected at North Point, thirteen miles from Baltimore, and the army moving forward, a division of Americans fled from an entrenched position they were preparing across a neck of land towards which the troops were advancing. About two miles beyond this post the country was closely wooded, and the enemy's riflemen opening a sharp fire from behind the trees, Major-General Ross rode forward to ascertain the disposition and numbers of the opposing force, and mingling with the skirmishers, he was mortally wounded. "Thus fell at an early age one of the brightest ornaments of his profession; one who, whether at the head of a regiment, a brigade, or a corps, had alike displayed the talents of command; who was not less beloved in his private, than enthusiastically admired in his public character; and whose only fault, if it may be so deemed, was an excess of gallantry, enterprise, and devotion to the service."

The command devolved on Colonel Brooke; and the army moving forward, found itself in a few moments in front of a strong position, near Nip Church in _Godly wood_, occupied by six thousand adversaries, with six pieces of artillery and a corps of cavalry. The light brigade immediately extended, and driving in the American skirmishers, menaced the whole front of their army; the forty-fourth, a party of seamen, and the marines of the fleet formed line behind the light infantry; the twenty-first, and the second battalion of marines formed column in reserve; and the soldiers rested themselves on the ground, while the KING'S OWN, led by Major Faunce, moved to the right along some hollow ways and woodlands, and gained, unperceived, a thicket on the enemy's left flank. Meanwhile the deep tones of the artillery echoed in the woods; and the instant the FOURTH gained the thicket, the charge was sounded and repeated by every bugle in the army; the soldiers started from the ground, and moving forward with a firm and resolute tread, in the face of a shower of grape and canister shot, approached their adversaries, who raised a loud shout, and afterwards opened a heavy fire of musketry. This was answered with a British huzza,--a volley of small arms, and a rush forward at double-quick time with the bayonet; and when the Americans saw the ranks of gleaming steel draw near, they faced about and fled in dismay into the thick woods, leaving two pieces of cannon behind them. Fifteen minutes had sufficed to decide the fortune of the day; several hundreds of killed and wounded adversaries lay scattered over the field, a number of fugitives was intercepted and made prisoners, and many of the American riflemen being discovered in the trees, which they had climbed, to be enabled to take sure aim and escape danger, the British soldiers called this _unfair_, and shot them on their perches. The KING'S OWN had twenty-one men killed and wounded in this action.

Halting on the field of battle, the bivouac fires were lighted, and the victorious army reposed a short time under the canopy of heaven. Two hours after midnight the soldiers were again under arms; as the first glimmering of dawn appeared, they resumed their march, and arrived in the evening at the foot of the range of hills in front of Baltimore, where the grand American army of upwards of fifteen thousand men appeared occupying a chain of pallisaded redoubts connected by a breast-work, and defended by a numerous train of artillery. Trusting to the innate valour and excellent discipline of his little army, which did not amount to one-third of the number of the opposing host, Colonel Brooke made arrangements for storming the hills after dark; but having received intimation from the commander of the naval forces that the entrance of the harbour was closed up by vessels sunk for that purpose, and that a naval co-operation against the town and camp was impracticable, the enterprise was abandoned. The troops retreated three miles on the 14th of September, and then halted to see if the Americans would venture to descend from the hills; but though so superior in numbers, they had no disposition to quit their entrenchments, and the British forces retired leisurely to their shipping and re-embarked.

The KING'S OWN were commended in the public despatches for their excellent conduct and discipline; and their commanding officer. Major Faunce, was included among the officers who distinguished themselves.

The armament remained a short time on the American coast, and information having been received of the formation of an American camp a few miles from the Potomac river, the KING'S OWN, with the remainder of the second and third brigades, landed on the night of the 4th of October, and pushed forward to attack the enemy, who, however, had notice of the movement and fled. The regiment returned on the 5th, and the season having arrived when active operations could no longer be continued in the Chesapeake, the fleet sailed for the West Indies, and anchored in Port Royal harbour, Jamaica, on the 31st of October, the troops remaining on board, while the vessels took in a supply of provisions, &c.

While in the West Indies, reinforcements arrived; Major-General John Keane joined and took the command of the expedition; and Lieut.-Colonel Brooke of the KING'S OWN arrived from England, where he had been absent on account of ill health.

The next enterprise undertaken was of a most difficult character, namely, an attempt on _New Orleans_, a town of some note, standing on the eastern bank of the great river Mississippi, one hundred and ten miles from the gulph of Mexico, and so situated that the approach of an hostile force was almost impossible. The fleet having put to sea, anchored on the 10th of December off the coast of Louisiana, opposite the Chandeleur Islands, where the troops were removed into light vessels, and entering Lake Borgne on the 13th, five of the enemy's large cutters, mounting eleven guns each, were captured by a flotilla of launches and ships' barges. Having proceeded a short distance along the lake, all the vessels ran aground; the soldiers were then conveyed twenty miles in open boats, during a heavy rain, to a barren spot called Pine Island, which consisted of a swamp with a piece of firm ground at one end. Here the regiments remained without tents or huts, exposed to heavy rains by day, and to frost by night, until the 22d of December, when the KING'S OWN, eighty-fifth, and five companies of the ninety-fifth, embarked in open boats, and proceeding up the lake a distance of more than fifty miles, were so cramped up in the boats, drenched with a heavy rain during the day, and exposed to a sharp frost in the night, that the men were almost deprived of the use of their limbs. On the following morning they landed, unobserved by the enemy, on a desert spot on the verge of a large morass about eight miles from New Orleans, and when the men had regained the use of their benumbed limbs, they advanced along an indistinct path on the bank of a ditch or canal, their movements being concealed by the tall reeds of the morass. After passing several streams by bridges constructed at the moment, the troops entered a cultivated region where the fields were found covered with the stubble of the sugar-cane, and groves of orange trees were numerous. About noon the regiments entered a green field on the banks of the Mississippi, where they halted to await the arrival of the remainder of the army.

Late in the evening, while many of the men were cooking, and others were asleep, a large vessel was seen stealing quietly up the river until she arrived opposite the bivouac fires, and before it was ascertained whether she was British or American a broadside of grape-shot swept down many soldiers in the camp. Having no means of attacking this formidable adversary, the soldiers took shelter behind a bank: the night was dark, and the only light to be seen was the flashes of the enemy's guns, as he continued to pour showers of shot into the camp. At length a firing was heard from the advance posts, and before the import of this was known a loud shout, followed by a semicircular blaze of musketry, proved that the piquets were surrounded by a very superior enemy. The KING'S OWN were instantly ordered to form in column behind the camp, while the eighty-fifth, and five companies of the ninety-fifth, flew to the support of the piquets. The enemy had brought forward about five thousand men, thinking to overwhelm this solitary brigade in the dark; but the British, regardless of the superior numbers of their antagonists, rushed upon the opposing legions and fought, bayonet to bayonet, and sword to sword, with a degree of energy and resolution impossible to describe. Some of the soldiers having lost their bayonets in the strife, laid about them with the butt-ends of their firelocks; numerous feats of individual gallantry were performed, and the Americans eventually gave way before this furious and desperate charge, and fled with the loss of many men killed, wounded, and prisoners. The KING'S OWN had Captain Francis Johnston and Lieutenant John Sutherland killed; also Lieutenant Thomas Moody severely wounded; and a number of private men killed and wounded.

Notwithstanding this victory, the troops were unable to return to their camp, as it was completely commanded by the fire of the American schooner, and no provision could be procured. Meanwhile the other brigades arrived from Pine Island, and the whole were in position before dark on the 24th of December. Major-General the Hon. Sir Edward Pakenham also joined to take the command, and he was accompanied by Major-General Gibbs.

[Sidenote: 1815]

During the night a battery was constructed, and opening a fire of red-hot shot, it destroyed the American schooner; but when the troops proceeded towards the town, they encountered so many local difficulties, were opposed by such immense bodies of Americans, with extensive fortified lines and batteries, and armed vessels on the river, that the advance was checked and considerable loss sustained. Attempts were made to overcome these difficulties; the canal from Bayo de Catiline was cleared out, widened, and opened to the river, to admit the boats from the lake; and while the soldiers were labouring at this work Major-General Lambert joined with two additional regiments. Arrangements were made for attacking the enemy's fortified lines at day-break on the morning of the 8th of January, 1815. The boats were to be brought along the canal in the night, part of the army was to embark, and proceeding up the river with muffled oars, to gain the flank and rear of the works unperceived; and simultaneous attacks were to be made on different parts of the enemy's fortified position. This plan was, however, partly disconcerted by the tardy arrival of the boats; and at the moment of attack the scaling ladders and fascines had to be sent for. Day-light arriving, the troops were visible to the enemy, who opened a tremendous fire, with dreadful execution. Under these disadvantages, the British rushed forward to storm the position in front. A detachment of the KING'S OWN, twenty-first, and ninety-fifth, captured a three-gun battery, and advanced to attack a body of Americans who were forming for its recovery; but having to pass a deep ditch by a single plank, they were repulsed; and the enemy forcing his way into the battery, re-captured it with immense slaughter. Meanwhile the remainder of the KING'S OWN were exposed to a dreadful fire, and the regiment was nearly annihilated by the tempest of bullets by which it was assailed. Major-General Pakenham having galloped to the front to encourage the men, was shot on the top of the glacis. Major-Generals Gibbs and Keane were borne from the field dangerously wounded; and success being found impracticable, the troops withdrew from the unequal contest. The KING'S OWN had upwards of four hundred men killed and wounded in this desperate service: also, Lieutenant Edward Field, and Ensign William Crowe, killed; and Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Brooke, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonels Alured D. Faunce, and Timothy Jones, Brevet Major John Williamson, Captains John Wynne Fletcher, Robert Erskine, and David S. Craig, Lieutenants J. P. Hopkins, Jeffrey Salvin, W. H. Brooke, Benjamin Martin, George Richardson, Peter Bowlby, George H. Hearne, William Squires, C. H. Farrington, James Marshall, Henry Andrews, and Adjutant William Richardson, with Ensigns Arthur Gerard, Thomas Benwell, J. L. Fernandez, and Edward Newton, wounded.

The capture of New Orleans appearing impracticable, a temporary road was constructed through the morass, and the regiments having reached the lake by a night march, embarked in boats and returned to the fleet.

An attack on Mobile was afterwards resolved on, and the KING'S OWN were engaged in the siege of _Fort Bowyer_, which commanded the entrance to the harbour; this place surrendered on the 12th of February, and the second American regiment of the line having marched out with the honours of war, delivered its arms and colours to the KING'S OWN.

Further hostilities against the Americans were, however, prevented by a treaty of peace, and the FOURTH being ordered to return to England, arrived on the 16th of May at Portsmouth, from whence they sailed to the Downs; and having landed on the 18th, were stationed in Deal barracks.

On the extension of the Order of the Bath, in the beginning of this year, Lieut.-Colonel FRANCIS BROOKE and Brevet Lieut.-Colonels JOHN PIPER and ALURED DODSWORTH FAUNCE, of the KING'S OWN, were nominated Companions of that Order.

On the arrival in England of the surviving officers and men of the KING'S OWN from these difficult enterprises in America, they found Europe involved in another war. Bonaparte had violated the treaty of 1814; he had quitted Elba; had invaded France with a few guards; had been received with acclamations by the French army; and while Louis XVIII. fled to Flanders, Napoleon had re-ascended the throne of France. The nations of Europe declared war against the usurper; and the KING'S OWN were immediately ordered to proceed to Flanders to engage in the approaching contest. The effective men of the second battalion were added to the first battalion, which again embarked for foreign service on the 10th of June, and having landed at Ostend on the 12th, proceeded up the country. Bonaparte attacked the advanced-posts of the army commanded by Field-Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington in the middle of June; and the KING'S OWN, by forced marches, arrived at the position in front of the village of _Waterloo_ on the morning of the 18th of June, about an hour before the battle commenced.

The regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, and being formed in brigade with the twenty-seventh and fortieth regiments, under the orders of Major-General Lambert, took part in the gigantic contest which followed. On this occasion the stern valour and undaunted character of the British troops were pre-eminently displayed; whether assailed by the thunder of artillery, volleys of musketry, the bayonets of infantry, or the furious charges of the French cavalry, the British regiments stood firm, and repulsed with sanguinary perseverance the legions of Bonaparte, and drove them back in confusion. After resisting the attacks of the superior numbers of the enemy for many hours, the Prussians arrived to co-operate; when the allied army assumed the offensive, and by a general charge of the whole line, overthrew the French host, and drove it from the field with dreadful slaughter, and the loss of its artillery, ammunition waggons, &c.

The KING'S OWN had one hundred and thirty-four men killed and wounded in this hard-contested and glorious battle; also the following officers wounded,--Brevet Major G. D. Willson, Captain James Charles Edgell, Lieutenants John Brown, B. M. Collins, Hygat Boyd, George Richardson, William Squire, Arthur Gerard, Adjutant William Richardson, and Ensign W. M. Matthews.

The honour of bearing the word WATERLOO on the colours was conferred on the regiment; every officer and man present received a silver medal; and Major Willson, being second in command, was promoted to the rank of lieut.-colonel, and nominated a companion of the Order of the Bath.

The FOURTH advanced with the army in pursuit of the enemy, and were present at the surrender of _Paris_ on the 7th of July. They were afterwards encamped at Neuilly; on the 27th of October they went into quarters at St. Germain-en-Laye; and being selected to form part of the British contingent of the army of occupation appointed to remain in France, they were formed in brigade with the fifty-second and seventy-ninth regiments, under Major-General Sir Denis Pack. On this occasion the Duke of Wellington observed in general orders:--

"Upon breaking up the army which the field marshal has had the honour of commanding, he begs leave again to return thanks to the general officers, and the officers and troops, for their uniform good conduct. In the late short but memorable campaign they have given proofs to the world that they possess in an eminent degree all the good qualities of soldiers; and the field marshal is happy to be able to applaud their regular good conduct in their camps and cantonments, not less than when engaged with the enemy in the field. Whatever may be the future destination of those brave troops of which the field marshal now takes his leave, he trusts that every individual will believe that he will ever feel the deepest interest in their honour and welfare, and will be happy to promote either."

Major-General Lambert, also, in taking leave of the FOURTH, expressed his approbation of their conduct, particularly at the "ever memorable battle of WATERLOO, which afforded him an opportunity of personally observing that the high character the KING'S OWN always bore in the field has been most justly merited."

In consequence of a reduction in the army, the second battalion transferred its private men to the first, and was disbanded at Deal on the 25th of December, 1815.

[Sidenote: 1816]

In January, 1816, the regiment was quartered at Franquemberg and adjacent villages in the Pas de Calais, where it was presented with a new pair of colours. In August it encamped near St. Omer, and was reviewed on the 7th of September by the Duke of Wellington, who expressed his approbation of its appearance and discipline.

On the 15th of October, the FOURTH quitted the vicinity of St. Omer, and encamping near Mastaing, was reviewed on the 22d with the remainder of the British, Danish, and Saxon forces, on the plain of St. Denain, by their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Kent and Cambridge; the regiment afterwards returned to Franquemberg, &c.; and its establishment was reduced to forty officers, forty-five serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and eight hundred rank and file.

[Sidenote: 1817]

The regiment again pitched its tents in July, 1817, near St. Omer, where it was reviewed on the 5th of August by Lieut.-General Lord Hill; on the 3d of September it encamped on the glacis of Valenciennes, and on the 6th it was reviewed with the remainder of the army commanded by the Duke of Wellington, by the King of Prussia.

Having been again reviewed by Lord Hill on the 20th of September, and having received the expressions of his lordship's approbation, the regiment went into barracks at Valenciennes; but it was again encamped in October, near St. Denain, and reviewed, with the remainder of the British, Saxon, Danish, and Hanoverian troops in France, by his grace the Duke of Wellington, on which occasion all the evolutions of an engagement were performed in presence of a number of distinguished personages. The KING'S OWN subsequently returned to their former winter quarters at Franquemberg, &c.

[Sidenote: 1818]

On the 4th of June, 1818 the FOURTH were again encamped near St. Omer, and received the thanks of Lord Hill for their appearance and correct discipline at the review on the 24th of June; also the expression of the Duke of Wellington's approbation at the review on the 31st of July: they were subsequently encamped on the horn-work of Valenciennes; they formed a guard for the Duke of Kent during his residence at that city, and were reviewed on the 10th of September, with the remainder of the army commanded by his grace the Duke of Wellington, in presence of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Kent; when a number of evolutions were gone through, and during the manœuvres the army crossed the Scheldt by pontoon bridges.

The KING'S OWN having returned to Valenciennes on the 21st of October, furnished guards of honour for the Emperor of Russia, King of Prussia, Prince of Orange, and Grand Dukes Constantine and Michael, who reviewed the Russian, British, Danish, Saxon, and Hanoverian contingents of the army of occupation, on the 23d of October. This force amounted to between fifty and sixty thousand men; the evolutions of a mock engagement were gone through, and two rivers were passed by pontoon bridges.

The Emperor of Russia was so well pleased with the conduct of the KING'S OWN, that on quitting Valenciennes he presented one hundred and nineteen Napoleons (pieces of twenty francs each) to be divided among the men of the grenadier company composing his guard; also ten Napoleons each to the two serjeants who were his orderlies; and directed the aide-de-camp to give them his feather to keep in remembrance of the Emperor's regard for the corps. The King of Prussia also gave money to the men of the light company of the KING'S OWN forming his guard.

On the breaking up of the army of occupation in France, the KING'S OWN received, with the other corps, the expressions of the approbation of the Duke of Wellington, in general orders; also of Lieut.-General Lord Hill in general orders to the two divisions under his command; of Lieut.-General Sir Charles Colville in division orders; and of Major-General Sir Denis Pack in brigade orders.

The regiment embarked at Calais on the 29th of October, landed at Dover on the following morning, and proceeding from thence to Winchester barracks, was immediately afterwards ordered to hold itself in readiness to embark for the West Indies; at the same time the establishment was reduced to seven hundred and forty-six officers and men.

[Sidenote: 1819]

In the early part of January, 1819, the regiment marched to Cumberland fort; on the 1st of February it embarked at Portsmouth, and having landed at Barbadoes on the 5th of April, was reviewed by Lieut.-General Lord Combermere on the same day, and afterwards returned on board the transports. His lordship expressed in general orders his approbation of the appearance and discipline of the regiment.

On the following day six companies sailed for Grenada (head-quarters) under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Piper; two companies to Trinidad under Lieut.-Colonel Faunce; and two to Tobago under Captain Fletcher.

At the half-yearly inspection in July, Major-General Sir Frederick Robinson expressed in brigade orders "the very high satisfaction he had enjoyed in the military appearance and the report of the good conduct of the KING'S OWN regiment, which he perceives has not lost any of its former character,--hitherto a subject for praise and admiration with officers of the highest rank and military reputation."

[Sidenote: 1820]

The two companies at Tobago suffered very severely from fever, and having lost four officers and eighty-four serjeants and rank and file, the remaining one officer, four serjeants, two drummers, and thirty-five rank and file were relieved in September 1820 by the twenty-first regiment, and sent to Barbadoes, from whence they were removed to Grenada.

[Sidenote: 1821]

A general change of quarters took place among the troops stationed in the Windward and Leeward Islands in March 1821, when the KING'S OWN proceeded to Barbadoes. On leaving Grenada Major-General Riall expressed in brigade orders his approbation of the conduct of the KING'S OWN, and the satisfaction he experienced at hearing from the magistrates and principal inhabitants of the island their esteem for the corps, and their regret at its departure.

The loss from disease during the short period the regiment had been in the West Indies was great. Quarter-Master Thomas Richards and fifty-four men had died at Grenada; Lieutenant William Blagrave, Ensign Robert Gamble, and seven men at Trinidad, which had proved a comparatively healthy station, the two companies having occupied the barracks at St. Joseph's and the hospital had frequently been without a patient; at Tobago, Lieutenants John Westby, Frederick P. Robinson, and Isaac Beer, with Ensign Frederick Clarke, and eighty-four men, had fallen victims to the climate; Captain Charles James Edgell died on the passage, near Barbadoes: the total loss of life in one year and eleven months was eight officers and one hundred and forty-five soldiers.

The regiment was, however, still in an efficient state, and having been inspected by Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde on the 27th of August, an order was issued on the same day, expressing "the great satisfaction felt by the lieut.-general at the appearance of that old and respectable corps under arms, as well as the steadiness of the regiment, the correct advance in line, and the close firing, which evince that great attention has been paid to its discipline, and is highly creditable to Lieut.-Colonel Piper and to the officers generally."

In October the establishment was reduced to eight companies, making a total of thirty-three officers and six hundred and seventeen men.

[Sidenote: 1822]

[Sidenote: 1823]

Lieut.-Colonel Piper died at Barbadoes soon afterwards, and was succeeded in January, 1822, by Brevet Lieut.-Colonel A. D. Faunce. In the following year this officer obtained permission to return to England for the benefit of his health, on which occasion Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde observed in general orders--"He was aware that no encomium of his could add lustre to the already well-established and high military character of Lieut.-Colonel Faunce, yet the particularly exemplary state of discipline, in every respect, which the FOURTH or KING'S OWN regiment has attained since he assumed the command, calls loudly on the lieut.-general, as an imperious duty to the service, to express his warmest praise and thanks to Lieut.-Colonel Faunce, for the truly able and unremitted attention which he has daily and hourly paid to his regiment, the effect of which confers on him the highest credit and honour as its commander, and at the same time reflects them strongly on every individual, both officer and private, composing the corps under his command."

In December the regiment was withdrawn from Barbadoes, and proceeded,--four companies and head-quarters to the Ridge at Antigua, three to Brimstone-hill, St. Kitt's, and one to Montserrat and Nevis. Previous to its embarkation Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde expressed in general orders his "high approbation of the conduct of the corps." During the two years and nine months it was stationed at Barbadoes, it was in a healthy state, excepting towards the end of 1821, when a fever carried off Lieut.-Colonel John Piper, Ensigns H. N. Shipton, and H. J. Loraine, with Quarter-Master Doran, and Assistant-Surgeon Morrow; its total loss in serjeants and rank and file was fifty-eight.

[Sidenote: 1824]

The detachment at Nevis suffered from the unhealthy situation of the barracks, and lost seventeen men out of thirty; it was subsequently withdrawn. In October, 1824, the regiment lost Brevet Major John Wynne Fletcher.[34]

[Sidenote: 1825]

In April, 1825, the regiment was augmented to ten companies, and the total establishment to eight hundred and thirty-six officers and men.

[Sidenote: 1826]

The regiment was relieved from duty at Antigua, St. Kitt's, and Montserrat, in February, 1826, by the ninety-third, and sailed for England. The first division landed at Gosport on the 16th of March, the second on the 1st of April, and the last on the 6th of April.

During the seven years the regiment was in the West Indies its total loss was sixteen officers, twenty-one serjeants, one drummer, and two hundred and forty-five rank and file. It brought home four hundred and twenty rank and file, (without leaving a sick man behind;) and on the 25th of April sent out thirteen recruiting parties, twelve to different parts of England, and one to Ireland.

On the 8th of August the Adjutant-General of the Forces, Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, inspected the regiment, and expressed his approbation of its appearance and discipline, adding that he should make a most favourable report to His Royal Highness the Duke of York. In the autumn it quitted Winchester, and proceeding to Portsmouth, was employed in the duty of that garrison. At the half-yearly inspection, Major-General Sir James Lyon expressed his perfect approbation of its appearance and discipline.

The regiment was soon afterwards called upon to transfer its services to the Peninsula, the scene of many of its toils and triumphs. After Spain and Portugal had been delivered by British skill and valour from the power of Bonaparte, these kingdoms became convulsed by opposing interests, one party striving for the liberties possessed by other nations, and another for a return to ancient usages; and the granting of a constitution to Portugal, which conferred on the people privileges previously unknown in that country, was followed by internal commotions; at the same time the kingdom was menaced with an invasion from Spain. The Portuguese government applied for the aid of a body of British troops; six companies of the KING'S OWN formed part of a force of five thousand men, commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Sir William H. Clinton, ordered for this service, and embarking from Portsmouth on the 15th of December, arrived at Lisbon towards the end of that month.

[Sidenote: 1827]

Having landed on the 1st of January, 1827, the KING'S OWN occupied the barracks of Valle de Pereiro, and were formed in brigade with the tenth, twenty-third, and first battalion of the sixtieth rifles, under the command of Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney. The brigade having been inspected by Sir William Clinton on the 14th of January, advanced up the country nine stages to Coimbra, and was quartered in convents, the KING'S OWN occupying the convent of St. Bernard. On the advance of the British, the Spaniards withdrew from the frontiers, and declared a friendly disposition towards the Portuguese government; a mutiny in the Portuguese army was also suppressed; and there being no further occasion for the British troops, they marched back to Lisbon, where the KING'S OWN arrived on the 12th of July, and occupied the barracks of La Lippe at Belem. Three companies of the regiment were subsequently stationed at Oeiras, a small town on the right bank of the Tagus, two leagues from Lisbon, and the other three at Feitovia barracks, near Fort St. Julian.

[Sidenote: 1828]

In these quarters the KING'S OWN remained until the spring of 1828, when the British troops were withdrawn from Portugal; the six companies having received the expressions of the approbation of Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney in brigade orders, for their exemplary conduct, embarked from Belem stairs on the 31st of March, and on their arrival at Portsmouth, they were ordered to proceed to Scotland: they landed at Leith on the 26th and 29th of April, and proceeded to Edinburgh Castle, where the remainder of the regiment had previously arrived.

The regiment marched in July to Glasgow, where it received a new pair of splendid regimental colours, which cost £150, with belts which cost £21, and a richly-mounted staff, &c., for the drum-major; which were presented by the colonel, General the Earl of Chatham.

[Sidenote: 1829]

From Glasgow, the regiment embarked, in July, 1829, in steam-vessels for Ireland, and after landing at Belfast in the early part of August, marched to Newry, with detached companies at Cavan and Clones.

[Sidenote: 1830]

In June, 1830, the regiment marched to Dublin, and occupied Richmond-barracks; in September it embarked from Dublin, and having landed at Liverpool, the two flank companies remained there a short time to attend on the occasion of the opening of the railroad from that town to Manchester, while the battalion companies proceeded to Stockport, Bolton, and Oldham; the flank companies arrived at Stockport on the 18th of September.

[Sidenote: 1831]

In January, 1831, the head-quarters were at Ashton-under-Lyne; in March at Northampton; and in April at Chatham.

Part of the regiment embarked in this year for New South Wales, in detachments, as guards to convict-ships.

[Sidenote: 1832]

The head-quarters, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel M'Kenzie, embarked for the same destination at Deptford, on board the Clyde, on the 14th of April, 1832, and arrived on the 30th of August.

[Sidenote: 1833]

[Sidenote: 1834]

The regiment remained at New South Wales five years; its head-quarters being established at Paramatta until June, 1833, when they were removed to Sydney; but returned to Paramatta in June, 1834; where they remained upwards of twenty months.

[Sidenote: 1835]

On the decease of General the Earl of Chatham the colonelcy of the KING'S OWN was conferred on Lieut.-General John Hodgson, by commission dated the 30th of September, 1835.

[Sidenote: 1836]

[Sidenote: 1837]

In March, 1836, the head-quarters were again removed to Sydney; and in August of the following year two divisions embarked for the East Indies. One division landed at Madras on the 30th of September, 1837; the head-quarters arrived on the 7th of October, and were stationed at Fort St. George.

[Sidenote: 1838]

The third and last division embarked from New South Wales on the 26th of December, 1837, and arrived at Madras on the 9th of April, 1838.

[Sidenote: 1839]

Thus, after serving a period of nearly one hundred and sixty years, in every quarter of the globe, this celebrated corps, which has so often triumphed over foreign enemies in fields of conflict, has been appointed to guard the colonial possessions of its country in the distant clime of India, where it has remained to the beginning of 1839, which brings this record to a conclusion.

1839

FOOTNOTES:

[6] Piercy Kirke held the commission of captain-lieutenant of the Earl of Oxford's troop in the royal regiment of horse guards, at the time he was appointed lieut.-colonel of this regiment, and for several months afterwards.

[7] The _first Tangier regiment_ was raised in 1661, and is now the second, or queen's royal regiment of foot.

[8] The expense of equipping the regiment was estimated at the following rates.

[9] The usual charge for regimental colours, was from £6 to £10 each.

[10]

JAMES R.

For £206 5_s._ 6_d._ to
Thomas Holford for
Ten Colours for The
Queen's Regiment of
Foot.

"Our will and pleasure is, That out of such moneys as shall come into your hands for the pay and contingent uses of Our guards and garrisons, you pay to Thomas Holford the sum of Two Hundred and Six Pounds Five Shillings and Six Pence, for Ten Colours made and provided by him for Our dearest Consort, The Queen's Regiment of Foot, and for so doing this, together with the acquittance of the said Thomas Holford, shall be your warrant and discharge.

"Given at Our Court at Windsor this 21st day of August 1686.

"By His Majesty's command,

"To Our Trusty and well-beloved }
Cousin and Councillor Richard }
Earl of Ranelagh, Our Paymaster-General, } "W. BLATHWAYT."
&c. &c. &c. }

[11]

Third troop of life guards; disbanded in 1746.
Queen's horse; now first dragoon guards.
M. G. Warden's horse; disbanded in 1690.
Queen's dragoons; now third light dragoons.
Royals; now first foot.
Queen Dowager's; now second foot.
Queen Consort's; now fourth foot.

[12] The following corps were sent to England on this occasion:--

First troop of life guards; now first regiment of life guards.
Count De Schomberg's horse; now seventh dragoon guards.
Royal Dragoons; now first, or royal dragoons.
The Queen's regiment of foot; now fourth, or King's Own.
Hastings'; now thirteenth foot.

[13] The Earl of Marlborough's force consisted of the following corps:--

The Queen's regiment; now fourth, or King's Own.
Royal fusiliers; now seventh foot.
Princess Anne's; now eighth foot.
Hastings'; now thirteenth foot.
Hales's, afterwards disbanded.
Sir David Collier's, ditto.
Fitz-patrick's, ditto.
100 men of the Duke of Bolton's, ditto.
200 of the Earl of Monmouth's, ditto.
Lord Torrington's marine regiment, ditto.
Lord Pembroke's, ditto.

[14] On the accession of Queen Anne, the eighth foot, which had been designated the Princess Anne's regiment from the time of its formation in 1685, obtained the title of the _Queen's regiment_, the Fourth also continued to be distinguished by the same title; and during this reign _two_ regiments were designated _Queen's regiments_.

[15] Vide the Historical Record of the Third Foot, or Buffs.

[16] The embarkation return of the regiment is preserved among the Harleian MSS. No. 7025.

[17] The six regiments of marines were:--

Colonel Thomas Saunderson's; now thirtieth foot.
Colonel George Villiers'; now thirty-first foot.
Colonel Edward Fox's; now thirty-second foot.
Colonel Harry Mordaunt's; disbanded.
Colonel Henry Holt's; disbanded.
Colonel Viscount Shannon's; disbanded.

The six regiments of foot for sea service were:--

Colonel Ventris Columbine's; now sixth foot.
Colonel Thomas Earl's; now nineteenth foot.
Colonel Gustavus Hamilton's; now twentieth foot.
Colonel Lord Lucas's; now thirty-fourth foot.
Colonel Earl of Donegal's; now thirty-fifth foot.
Colonel Lord Charlemont's; now thirty-sixth foot.

[18] The grenadiers, on their institution in 1678, wore fur caps with high crowns; these were soon afterwards replaced by leather caps covered with cloth and ornamented with regimental devices, which were continued until the adoption of bear skin caps in the reign of George III.

[19] Boyer's Annals of Queen Anne.

[20] In some accounts this officer's name is stated to be Fish, in others Fisher.

[21] The following regiments were employed on this expedition, viz.:--

Kirke's regiment, now second foot.
The Queen's " " fourth foot.
Hill's " " eleventh foot.
Desney's " " thirty-sixth foot.
Windress's " " thirty-seventh foot.
Clayton's " disbanded in 1712.
Kane's " " 1713.
Churchill's Marines "
Walton's } North American militia, joined the expedition
Vetch's } at Boston.

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