Chapter II: Part 2

The regiment was inspected on the 14th of April, 1796, at Bastia, by Lieut.-General Thomas Trigge, commanding at Corsica, who expressed his gratification at the appearance of the men, and the very correct manner in which they performed the different movements.

On the 14th of May, His Excellency the Viceroy, Lieut.-General Sir Gilbert Eliott reviewed the regiment, and signified his highest approbation of its appearance.

On the following day, the greater portion of the regiment, under the command of Major Alexander Napier, to which rank he had been promoted in March of this year, proceeded to _Corte_, in order to suppress a serious rebellion which broke out in that part of the island, and upon the return of the troops, a general order was issued by Lieut.-General the Honorable John Thomas De Burgh, who had succeeded to the command of the forces in Corsica, expressive of his best thanks for the exertions and good conduct displayed during the above fatiguing service.

Lieut.-Colonel Commandant the Marquis of Huntly was promoted to the rank of colonel of the regiment on the 3rd of May, 1796; Major Charles Erskine was also promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, the commission of the latter being ante-dated 1st May of the previous year.

In July Lieut.-Colonel Erskine obtained leave of absence, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Major Napier.

On the 14th of August, a detachment, consisting of one field officer, two captains, four subalterns, seven serjeants, eight corporals, and two hundred privates, was ordered to be held in readiness at a moment’s notice, to embark upon a secret expedition. The zeal and spirit of the corps showed itself in a most conspicuous manner, by the unanimous wish of the whole to be employed upon it; and in consequence of which, Major Napier, then commanding the regiment, made an offer to that effect to the Commander-in-Chief, who was pleased to give the following answer:—

“The Commander-in-Chief is sensible of the zeal and laudable motive, which have induced the officers and men of the Hundredth regiment to offer their services on the present occasion, and he desires Major Napier to express his best thanks to them, as well as his assurance, that he will be ready at all times to testify his satisfaction at their general good conduct and appearance, although circumstances will not at this time allow him to avail himself of their services to the extent they offer them.”

This expedition proved to be against _Porto Ferrajo_, in the Isle of Elba, and was completely successful, without any loss on the part of the troops employed.

Meanwhile the brilliant career of General Bonaparte in Italy had produced a change of sentiment among the inhabitants of Corsica, of which island he was a native. The Corsicans, therefore, gloried in him as a man who reflected honor on their country, and they regretted that the island had been annexed to Great Britain, as this event placed them in hostility to their victorious countryman, and they began to concert measures to effect its separation. It appearing evident that the expense of the defence would exceed the advantage derived from the possession of the island, the British troops were withdrawn, and on the 6th of September the regiment embarked for Gibraltar.

The regiment mustered one major, five captains, seven lieutenants, five ensigns, three staff, thirty-seven serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and six rank and file.

The following General Order was issued upon this occasion:—

_5th September, 1796._

“The Hundredth regiment being to embark for Gibraltar,
Lieut.-General De Burgh cannot suffer them to leave Corsica,
without testifying his approbation and satisfaction of their
general good conduct and soldier-like behaviour, since he had
the honor to command them; at the same time he desires they will
accept of his best wishes for their success and welfare on all
occasions.”

During the voyage, the British Admiral fell in with a large fleet of Spanish men-of-war, and the first intimation he had of Spain being at war with Great Britain, was their firing upon his ships. Perceiving this, and the enemy being so superior in force, he made signal to crowd all sail. The Spaniards, however, captured the “Granby” transport, having on board two staff officers, three serjeants, and forty-eight rank and file of the regiment.

The regiment landed at Gibraltar on the 4th of October, and on the 10th of that month was inspected by the Lieut.-Governor, who was much pleased with its appearance.

In the previous year, Prussia had concluded a peace with the French Republic, and in consequence of the United Provinces of Holland having leagued with France, England had taken possession of the Cape of Good Hope and of Ceylon. The former allies of England now became converted into enemies. War was declared by Holland, which had been constituted the Batavian Republic, against Great Britain, in May, and Spain followed the example in October. In the same month, Lord Malmsbury was sent to Paris to negociate a peace on the part of the British Government; but the French insisted upon retaining, as integral parts of the Republic, the conquests lately made; these terms could not be acceded to consistently with the general interests of Europe, and the negociation was discontinued.

[Sidenote: 1797]

In April, 1797, Lieut.-Colonel Erskine arrived at Gibraltar, and assumed the command of the regiment.

In April, the preliminaries of peace were signed at Leoben, in Styria, between Austria and the French Republic, so that Great Britain was left to continue the contest single-handed with France and her allies. In July Lord Malmsbury was sent a second time to negociate a peace, but the demands of the French Directory rendered the attempt abortive. On the 17th of October the definitive treaty of peace between Austria and the French Republic was signed at Campo Formio.

[Sidenote: 1798]

The regiment embarked in transports for England on the 16th of March, 1798. The ships put into the Tagus on the 9th of April, and sailed again on the 15th. After a tedious and boisterous passage, the regiment disembarked at Portsmouth on the 15th of May, and occupied Hilsea Barracks.

The effective strength of the regiment at this period consisted of two field officers, four captains, eleven subalterns, three staff, thirty-seven serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and seven hundred and forty-two rank and file.

By a General Order, dated 26th of May, 1798, it was directed that the coats of the army should be worn buttoned over the body down to the waist.

On the 31st of May, the regiment embarked in ships of war at Southsea Beach, Portsmouth, for Ireland, and arrived at Dublin, on the 15th of June, where it went into barracks.

His Majesty King George III., appointed Colonel the Marquis of Huntly to serve as a Brigadier-General upon the Staff of the Army in Ireland, in which country a spirit of discontent had been fomented by a party of unprincipled men, who had expected aid from France to carry out their designs. On the 21st of June, Lieut.-General Lake defeated the main body of the rebels at Vinegar hill, and the troubles in Ireland would have subsided, had it not been for the expected aid to be derived from France.

On the 2nd of July, the regiment marched at a moment’s notice, in consequence of the disturbed state of the country, the urgency of the service being such that the troops were conveyed in carriages.

The regiment encamped in the vicinity of Gorey on the 7th of July, and on the 18th marched suddenly to Blessington, where it encamped. On the 29th it marched and encamped at the Glen of Emall.

On the 10th of August, Lieut.-Colonel Erskine and three hundred men were detached and encamped at Torbay.

The following letter, expressive of the good conduct of the regiment during their stay at Gorey, was addressed by the Dean of Ferns, to Colonel the Marquis of Huntly:—

“MY LORD,

“I have the honor of enclosing to you that part of the
proceedings in the last vestry, held in Gorey, wherein your
Lordship and your regiment are mentioned. This mark of our
respect and gratitude should have been sooner expressed and
conveyed to you, had not our calamitous situation delayed the
calling of a vestry, which we conceived the most regular mode of
expressing our sentiments collectively.

“It may be pleasing to your Lordship to hear that, in the
attendance of my parish, I have heard all the poor loud in the
praise of the honesty and humanity of the privates of your
regiment. They not only did not rob them of the wretched pittance
that was left by the rebels, but refused such trifling presents
(of provisions, &c.,) as were offered them, saying their King
paid them nobly, and enabled them to supply every want at their
own expense.

“I have the honor to be,
“With great respect,
“Your Lordship’s obedient Servant,
(Signed) “PETER BROWN,
“_Dean of Ferns_.”

“We the loyal inhabitants of the parish and vicinity of Gorey,
in vestry assembled, beg leave thus publicly to acknowledge the
goodness and humanity evinced by the Marquis of Huntly, during
his short stay amongst us. We are proud to add, that during that
short stay, rapine ceased to be a system, and the confidence
of the people in the honor of government began to revive. We
should be wanting in gratitude if we omitted our testimony, that
the humanity of the colonel was emulated by the soldiers, and
we request the Hundredth regiment to accept our thanks for the
moderation and honor which marked the conduct of every individual
officer and private who composed it.

(Signed) “PETER BROWN, _Rector_.
“J. JERMAN, _Churchwarden_.”

The French, to the number of about nine hundred men, commanded by General Humbert, landed at Killala, and being joined by a few malcontents marched to Castlebar.

On the 24th of August the regiment marched to Blessington; on the 26th encamped at Kilbeggan; on the 28th at Athlone; on the 29th at Ballymore, in a position in front of the town; on the 1st of September it encamped at Crophill, and moved every day until the 16th, when it encamped near Moat.

Meanwhile the united French and rebel force had been attacked by Lieut.-General Lake, at Ballinamuck, on the 8th of September, and the French troops were compelled to surrender at discretion.

Major-General John Moore, in brigade orders, dated 25th of September, 1798, after detailing some irregularity on the part of the troops, added—

“The Major-General must, in justice to the Hundredth regiment,
state, that hitherto he has had no complaint of any one of them,
nor has he ever met them in town after the retreat beating.”

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were, on the 15th of October, conveyed to the troops, “for their meritorious exertions on the present important crisis.”

While the regiment was encamped near Moat, the following order was received, by which the corps was numbered the NINETY-SECOND regiment.[6]

_Adjutant-General’s Office, Dublin, 16th October, 1798._

“It is His Majesty’s pleasure, that the Hundredth regiment shall
in future be numbered the NINETY-SECOND, and that it be placed
on the same establishment with regard to field officers as other
regiments of the line.

(Signed) “G. HEWITT, _Adjutant-General_.”

On the 30th of October, 1798, the regiment broke up from camp, and went into quarters at Athlone.

Napoleon Bonaparte, against whose legions in Egypt and the Peninsula, the NINETY-SECOND regiment, in subsequent years, acquired great renown, was now rising, step by step, to that imperial sway which he afterwards attained. The National Convention had been succeeded in October, 1795, by the French Directory, and the latter, jealous of Bonaparte’s popularity, sent him, in May, 1798, on the expedition to Egypt. Napoleon took Alexandria by storm, and soon established himself at Cairo. The Sublime Porte, incensed by the invasion of Egypt, declared war against France, and formed an alliance with Russia. The fleet which had conveyed the expedition to Egypt, was almost destroyed by Admiral Nelson in Aboukir Bay, on the 1st of August. So large a portion of the French army, being thus secluded in a distant land, gave fresh impulse to the allies, and in November the island of Minorca surrendered to the British arms. In December, 1798, the co-operation of Russia against France was secured by Great Britain.

[Sidenote: 1799]

War was declared by the French Directory against Austria, in March, 1799, and the combined Austrian and Russian armies recovered the greater portion of Italy.

Great Britain now determined to make a corresponding attempt, in conjunction with Russia, to recover Holland from the dominion of France, and a numerous army was selected to proceed to that country under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, previous to whose arrival, the troops were to be commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

A plan of co-operation was concerted between Great Britain and Russia, in the expectation that the Dutch would rise in arms against the French, in favour of the Prince of Orange, and, aided by the Anglo-Russian force, would exert themselves to effect their emancipation.

On the 15th of June, the NINETY-SECOND regiment, which had been selected to embark on the expedition to Holland, commenced its march by divisions for Cork, on which day the following address was received by the commanding officer:—

“At a numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Athlone and its
vicinity on the 15th June, 1799, Thomas Mitchell, Esq., in
the chair: the following Address to Lieut.-Colonel Erskine,
commanding His Majesty’s NINETY-SECOND regiment in this garrison,
was unanimously agreed to:—

“SIR,

“We heard with concern, that His Majesty’s NINETY-SECOND
regiment, which you have commanded in this garrison, has been
ordered to march for the purpose of joining those troops intended
for a foreign expedition: but however we may regret your
departure, we are not surprised that a regiment, so eminently
conspicuous for its steadiness and discipline, should be selected
for an arduous enterprise.

“We have during your continuance amongst us, experienced a
polite attention from the officers of your regiment, and the
uninterrupted peace and tranquillity, which have prevailed in
this town and neighbourhood, evince the attention of the soldiers
under your command.

“Permit us, therefore, to return you our thanks, and to request
that you will convey the same to the officers, non-commissioned
officers, and soldiers of your regiment.

“By order of the meeting,
(Signed) “THOMAS MITCHELL.”

The regiment arrived at Cork on the 24th and 25th of June, and encamped at Monkstown, until orders for its embarkation should arrive. On the 19th of July, the regiment embarked at Cove, and arrived at Dover on the 30th, when it encamped on Barham Downs, where the troops were assembling for the expedition to Holland under the orders of Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

The NINETY-SECOND regiment was placed in the fourth brigade, commanded by Major-General, afterwards Sir John Moore, which consisted of the Royals (second battalion), twenty-fifth, forty-ninth, seventy-ninth, and NINETY-SECOND regiments.

The regiment marched for Ramsgate on the 7th of August, and on the following day embarked in transports, which sailed on the 11th for the coast of Holland. Its effective strength consisted of one colonel, one lieut.-colonel, two majors, six captains, twelve lieutenants, seven ensigns, five staff, forty serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and thirty rank and file.

The British troops landed on the Dutch coast, near the _Helder_, on the 27th of August. A considerable body of French and Dutch troops assembled near the point of debarkation; some sharp fighting occurred, and in the evening the enemy retreated to a position six miles in his rear. Although one of the first to get a footing on the Dutch shores, it did not fall to the lot of the NINETY-SECOND to be materially engaged this day in the affairs on the sand-hills. The regiment had one serjeant and fourteen rank and file drowned in the landing on the Dutch coast. The enemy having abandoned his fortifications, and evacuated the town during the night, the regiment moved into Helder on the 28th of August. A numerous train of heavy and field artillery was found in this important post; two days afterwards the Dutch fleet surrendered without striking a blow, and hoisted the colours of the Prince of Orange.

On the 1st of September, the regiment marched out of Helder, and on the 2nd advanced to Oude Sluys, on the Zuyder Zee, where the army took up a position, along which the troops were placed in cantonments, the NINETY-SECOND being in advance of the right.

The Dutch did not manifest a disposition to rise against the French. At daylight, in the morning of the 10th of September, the united French and Dutch forces, under General Brune, attacked the piquets; the troops repaired to their alarm-posts, and the action soon became general: the British troops repulsed the attack, and the orders of that day directed the regiment to its cantonments at Oude Sluys, and conveyed the thanks of General Sir Ralph Abercromby[7] for its “noble and steady conduct during the day.”

Captain the Honorable John Ramsay was wounded in this action, which was fought near the villages of _Crabbendam_ and _Schagen_.

Field Marshal His Royal Highness the Duke of York arrived at the Helder on the 14th of September, and, having been reinforced by a corps of twelve thousand Russians, under Lieut.-General Hermann, resolved on attacking the French position in advance of _Alkmaar_, reaching from Zuyder Zee, on the right, to Camperdown on the left, and embracing the town of Bergen. The attack was made on the 19th of September, in four columns, but the Russians having failed in holding Bergen, after having entered it in gallant style, the places, which had been acquired by the other columns, were abandoned, and His Royal Highness withdrew his army to its former position on the Zuype.

From the 20th of September until the 1st of October both armies remained within their entrenchments, strengthening their lines of defence: the French had received reinforcements, and had inundated a large tract of country on their right by cutting the sluices, thus contracting the ground of operations to six or seven miles.

The Duke of York, on the 2nd of October, made another attempt on the French position, between Bergen and _Egmont-op-Zee_. The combined attacks were made in four columns: the division under General Sir Ralph Abercromby being on the right, marched along the beach. The left of the French army was posted and concentrated about Bergen, a large village surrounded by extensive woods, through which passed the great road leading to Haarlem; between which and the sea was an extensive region of high sand-hills, impassable for artillery. Behind the sand-hills, and to the enemy’s right, through the whole extent of North Holland, lies a wet and low country, intersected with dykes, canals, and ditches.

The army advanced before daylight to attack the enemy. The NINETY-SECOND regiment was ordered to escort twenty pieces of artillery to the front, along the sea-shore. In the performance of this duty it was attacked by a column of nearly six thousand men at _Egmont-op-Zee_, where a most sanguinary conflict ensued, immediately under the eye of General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

Trusting to their superior numbers the French advanced with resolution, and fairly met the bayonets of the regiment, now commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, Colonel the Marquis of Huntly having been wounded in the charge, which completely overthrew the enemy, and preserved the guns.[8]

The French centre was supported by the town of _Alkmaar_, and General Sir Ralph Abercromby had passed Bergen in order to turn the French position at Alkmaar, to which place the NINETY-SECOND, immediately after the brilliant affair, before recorded, advanced. As the men fought hand-to-hand, the conflict was signalized by many feats of individual bravery and devoted courage.

The action was maintained with great obstinacy on both sides until night, when the enemy retired, leaving the British masters of the field of battle.

In the despatch of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, dated Zuyper Sluys, 4th of October, it was stated that, “the points where this well-fought battle were principally contested, were from the sea-shore in front of Egmont, extending along the sandy desert, or hills, to the heights above Bergen, and it was sustained by the British columns, under those highly distinguished officers, General Sir Ralph Abercromby, and Lieut.-General Dundas, whose exertions, as well as the gallantry of the brave troops they led, cannot have been surpassed by any former instance of British valour.”

The NINETY-SECOND had Captain William McIntosh, Lieutenants George Fraser, Gordon McCardy, and sixty-five rank and file killed; Colonel the Marquis of Huntly, Captains John Cameron, Alexander Gordon, John McLean, and Peter Grant, Lieutenants Norman McLeod, Charles Chad, Donald McDonald, Charles Cameron, and John McPherson, Ensigns George William Holmes, James Bent, and two hundred and eight rank and file wounded.

The gallant conduct evinced by the NINETY-SECOND on this occasion was afterwards rewarded with the Royal authority to bear the word _Egmont-op-Zee_ on the regimental colour and appointments.

His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, in the General Order of the 5th of October, at Alkmaar, expressed “his warmest thanks for the steady persevering gallantry of their conduct in the general action of the 2nd instant, and to which he ascribes the complete victory gained over the enemy;” and, with the rest of the army, the regiment received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament.

The regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, subsequently shared in the general operations of the army, but was not engaged in any very serious affair.

The gallant exertions made on behalf of the Dutch were not seconded by them; and in the meantime the French army had been reinforced. Instead, therefore, of fighting for a people who were not resolved to be free, it was decided that the British troops should be withdrawn from Holland. A convention was ultimately concluded with General Brune at Alkmaar on the 18th of October, and on the following day a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed.

The regiment marched on the 28th of October to Colenzugby, near the Helder, embarked the same day on board of His Majesty’s ships “Kent” and “Monarch,” and landed at Yarmouth on the day following. Its effective strength consisted of twenty-four serjeants, twenty drummers, and four hundred and forty-six rank and file.

During the campaign from the 27th of August to the 28th of October, the regiment sustained a loss of three officers and ninety-three rank and file, several of the wounded soldiers having died.

On the 4th of November the regiment marched _en route_ to Chelmsford, where it arrived on the 10th, and was placed in the eighth brigade, the command of which Major-General Moore assumed on the 25th of December 1799.

Here the regiment received canvas knapsacks, painted yellow, having a circle of red in the centre, in which the Crown and Thistle, with the words “_Gordon Highlanders_,” were inserted.

[Sidenote: 1800]

Napoleon Bonaparte having returned from Egypt to Paris in the previous year, had been appointed First Consul of France, and made overtures for peace; but the British Ministry, considering that the French government had not acquired sufficient stability, showed no desire to accede to the proposal.

On the 10th of April, 1800, orders were issued for the regiment to hold itself in readiness to march at the shortest notice; the first division marched on the 12th, and was followed by the others on the 14th and 15th, for the Isle of Wight, where it arrived on the 23rd of April.

The regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, marched for Cowes on the 27th of May, and embarked on the same day in vessels of war. The head-quarters, and five companies in His Majesty’s ship “Diadem,” sailed on the 30th. The officers and men present with the regiment consisted of one lieut.-colonel, two majors, seven captains, sixteen lieutenants, six ensigns, six staff, thirty-six serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and six hundred rank and file.

The regiment disembarked at the Isle de Houat, on the coast of France, on the 7th of June, where it encamped, under the command of Brigadier-General the Honorable Thomas Maitland.

On the 18th of June, the NINETY-SECOND regiment embarked on board His Majesty’s ship “Terrible,” destined with others to make an attack on Belle-Isle, but which was abandoned; on the 20th the regiment disembarked, and occupied its former encampment on the Isle de Houat.

The NINETY-SECOND embarked on the 23rd of June, with other regiments for the Mediterranean, under the command of Colonel the Earl of Dalhousie, of the Second, or the Queen’s Royals, in His Majesty’s ship “Diadem,” and arrived at Port Mahon, in the Island of Minorca, on the 20th of July.

General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., arrived at Minorca on the 4th of August, and took the command of the troops there assembled. The regiment disembarked on the 7th, and was inspected, on the 11th of August, by Sir Ralph Abercromby.

The NINETY-SECOND regiment embarked at George’s Town on the 30th of August, and sailed on the following day. After touching at Gibraltar, it proceeded to _Cadiz_, arrived in the bay on the 3rd of October,—and made preparations to land. The enemy, however, sent a flag of truce, but a disease was ravaging the city at the time, and the fleet quitted the coast in order to avoid infection, proceeding afterwards to Gibraltar, where it arrived on the 29th of October.

The regiment arrived at Minorca on the 6th of November, sailed again on the 21st, and anchored at Malta on the 1st of December. This island, after a blockade of two years, had been compelled by famine, to surrender in September, 1800, to Great Britain.

The British Government having resolved to effect the expulsion of the French from Egypt, an army[9] amounting to about fifteen thousand men, of which the NINETY-SECOND formed part, was assembled under General Sir Ralph Abercromby, at Marmorice Bay, on the coast of Asiatic Turkey. The regiment sailed from Malta on the 26th of December, and arrived at Marmorice Bay on the 29th. During the foregoing period, the regiment was occasionally landed for exercise and practice, as if before an enemy.

[Sidenote: 1801]

Some weeks were lost at Marmorice, in expectation of receiving reinforcements of Greeks and Turks; and the expedition did not proceed to its final destination until the 23rd of February, 1801. On the 2nd of March, it anchored in the Bay of Aboukir, eastward of Alexandria; but notwithstanding all the exertions of the navy, under Admiral Lord Keith’s orders, the necessary arrangements could not be made for landing the troops, until a week afterwards, in consequence of unfavorable weather, and other obstructions.

A landing was effected on the 8th of March; a body of French troops, supported by several batteries, awaited the arrival of their opponents, but were forced to give way in defiance of every exertion, and after severe loss on both sides.

The NINETY-SECOND, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, landed during the action, and took up a position for the night on the heights of Aboukir. The regiment mustered one lieut.-colonel, two majors, six captains, ten lieutenants, six ensigns, six staff, fifty serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and six hundred and seventy-two rank and file.

On the 9th of March, the regiment advanced about a mile further towards _Alexandria_. On the day following, it marched to the heights of _Mandora_, and remained in position, while the artillery and stores were being landed. Nothing of importance occurred this day, beyond a smart skirmish, as the enemy slowly retired.

The army again moved forward on the 12th of March, and came in sight of the enemy, who was strongly posted with his right to the canal of _Alexandria_, and his left to the sea.

About six o’clock in the morning of the 13th of March, the British army advanced to attack the enemy’s position on the heights in front of _Mandora_, the NINETY-SECOND being directed to lead the left column into action. The enemy having opened a most destructive fire from his artillery, enfiladed the column to its whole depth: orders were consequently given to deploy into line. The enemy thought this a favorable moment, and immediately advanced to the attack. The NINETY-SECOND, being in advance of the line, was exposed to a very galling fire of grape-shot, and at the same time was attacked by the 61st Demi-Brigade; the regiment, however, continued unshaken in its advance to the very muzzles of the guns, and succeeded in taking two field-pieces, and one howitzer, completely routing the enemy who defended them, and possessing itself of the right of his position. He was forced, therefore, to retire to the fortified heights of Nicopolis, under the walls of Alexandria, to which they form the principal defence from that side.

Lieut.-Colonel, afterwards General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, in his History of the British Expedition to Egypt, stated that—

“The British had not advanced out of the wood of date trees, which was in front of Mandora Tower, before the enemy left the heights on which they had been formed, and moved down by their right, commencing a heavy fire of musketry, and from all their cannon, on the NINETY-SECOND regiment, which formed the advanced guard of the left column.” After eulogising the gallantry of the ninetieth regiment, which formed the advanced guard of the right column, Lieut.-Colonel Wilson, added:—

“The conduct of the NINETY-SECOND had been no less meritorious.
Opposed to a tremendous fire, and suffering severely from the
French line, they never receded a foot, but maintained the
contest alone, until the marines and the rest of the line came to
their support.”

The gallantry and good conduct of the regiment this day were most conspicuous, and in commemoration thereof, the NINETY-SECOND afterwards received the Royal Authority to bear the word “_Mandora_” on the regimental colour and appointments.

His Majesty’s service, and the NINETY-SECOND regiment in particular, sustained a great loss in the death of Lieut.-Colonel Charles Erskine, who was mortally wounded early in the action, when the command of the regiment devolved on Major Alexander Napier.

The following officers were wounded: Captains Hon. John Ramsay and Archibald McDonell; Lieutenants, Norman McLeod, Charles Dowle (mortally), Donald McDonald, Tomlin Campbell (mortally), Alexander Clarke (mortally), and Ronald Macdonald; Ensigns, Peter Wilkie and Alexander Cameron; twenty-two rank and file were killed, and seventy-seven were wounded.

On the 14th of March, the army occupied the position, from which the enemy was driven the day before, and the troops were employed in throwing up works. On this day, General Sir Ralph Abercromby thanked the troops for their soldier-like and intrepid conduct, in the action of yesterday, and particularised the NINETY-SECOND regiment. It may not be irrelevant to state, that he selected the regiment to furnish the guard at his head-quarters from his first landing in Egypt, to the hour of his death; and the regiment was continued by Lieut.-General (afterwards Lord) Hutchinson, on that duty, until its final departure from that country.

In consequence of the reduced state of the regiment from sickness, and the casualties of the 13th of March, it was ordered on the 20th of March (with the exception of the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard), to march at three o’clock next morning to relieve the battalion of marines at Aboukir Castle; where the following Brigade Order was issued:—

“Major-General Coote feels extreme concern, that the
NINETY-SECOND regiment is ordered to march to Aboukir; he hopes
they will soon return to the army, and cannot part with that
corps without requesting, that the officers and men will accept
his best thanks, for their attention to their duty since they
have been under his command.”

About half an hour after the regiment commenced its march on the 21st of March for Aboukir, when the French forces at _Alexandria_, having been augmented by the arrival of additional troops from the interior, advanced under General Menou, to attack the British position. Major Alexander Napier, upon hearing the firing, immediately countermarched the regiment, and resumed his former station in the line, in which it was hotly engaged throughout the day: no sooner had the enemy retired from this struggle, and resigned the victory to the British army, than the army became aware of the loss it had sustained in the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Ralph Abercromby, who received a mortal wound at the commencement of the action, but which he concealed until the battle was decided. Sir Ralph Abercromby died on the 28th of March, and was buried at Malta.

The NINETY-SECOND had Captain John Cameron, and Lieutenant James Stewart Mathison wounded; three rank and file killed; and forty-four wounded.

Orders were again issued for the march of the regiment on the following morning, provided no attack was made by the enemy, and it accordingly marched to _Aboukir_.

On the 2nd of May, the regiment marched from Aboukir for _Rosetta_, where a Turkish force joined the British; on the 5th it advanced along the banks of the Nile, and continued in motion until the 16th of June, when it arrived before _Grand-Cairo_.

The regiment moved to the right on the 21st of June, and encamped before the town of _Gizeh_; one of the gates of which place was delivered up by the French on the 28th of June.

A convention with the garrison of _Cairo_, was on the following day announced as finally adjusted, by which that place was to be delivered up to the allied army, and the French troops to be transported to France.

On the 14th of July, Lieut.-General Hutchinson communicated to the army the thanks of His Majesty, and of both Houses of Parliament, for its determined bravery at the landing, and in the actions of the 13th, and 21st of March, and concluded by a warm eulogium from himself.

The army marched, and retraced its steps towards _Rosetta_. The promotion of Major Alexander Napier to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, killed in the action of the 13th of March, was announced in a manner most flattering to the corps on the 15th of July, as will appear from the following extract of a letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of York, the Commander-in-Chief, dated—

“_Horse Guards, 30th May, 1801._

“MY LORD,

“I need not assure you how sincerely I unite with you
in regretting the loss of so deserving an officer as
Lieutenant-Colonel Erskine, of the NINETY-SECOND regiment. I have
ever entertained too high a sense of the gallant services of
that corps, not to have recommended upon this occasion, that the
succession should go in the regiment, of which His Majesty has
been pleased to approve.

“I am, &c.
(Signed) “FREDERICK,
“_Commander-in-Chief_.

“_Major-General The Marquis of Huntly._”

The regiment arrived on the heights of _Aboukir_ on the 8th of August, and on the following day marched to the same position which it had left on the 22nd of March, and encamped before Alexandria.

The brigade under the orders of Brigadier-General John Doyle, Colonel of the eighty-seventh regiment, advanced before daylight on the 17th of August to attack two redoubts, situated on the green-hill in front of the enemy’s right, which the thirtieth and fiftieth regiments were directed against, while the NINETY-SECOND was placed as a reserve, and ready to support either. This service was successfully performed with little loss to the regiment.

Troops having been sent in boats on the 26th of August to land, and break ground to the westward of _Alexandria_, the enemy this day sent out a flag of truce, and hostilities ceased; on the 2nd of September, Alexandria surrendered by capitulation, which event terminated the campaign in Egypt.

The British troops received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament, and His Majesty King George III., conferred upon the NINETY-SECOND, and other regiments, which had thus exalted the military fame of Great Britain, by the expulsion of the “invincible” legions of Bonaparte from Egypt, from whence he had expected to extend his conquests throughout Asia, the honor of bearing on their colours and appointments the “SPHINX,” and the word “EGYPT,” as a distinguished mark of His Majesty’s royal approbation of their conduct during the campaign.[10]

_For Cannon’s Military Records_

Mssr M^cDonald del^t _Madeley Lith. 3 Wellington S^t._
]

The Grand Seignior established the Order of Knighthood of the Crescent, of which the General Officers were made members; and large gold medals were presented to the field officers, captains, and subalterns. As a further proof of the estimation in which the Grand Seignior held the services of the British soldiers in Egypt, he ordered a palace to be built at Constantinople, for the future residence of the British Ambassadors.

Names of the officers of the NINETY-SECOND regiment, who received gold medals for service in Egypt.

_Lieutenant-Colonel_ Alexander Napier.
_Major_ John Gordon.

_Captains._

John Cameron. | Archibald McDonell.
The Hon. John Ramsay. | Peter Grant.
Andrew Patten. | Patrick Gordon.

_Lieutenants._

Norman McLeod. | James Bent.
Charles Dowle. | Ronald Macdonald.
Donald McDonald. | James Stewart Mathison.
John Forman. | Charles Straubenzie.
James Lee. | William Phipps.
George W. Holmes. |

_Ensigns._

Peter Wilkie. | Charles Duddingstone.
William Mackay. | Alexander Cameron.
Alexander Anderson. | William Logie.

_Paymaster_ Archibald Campbell.
_Adjutant_ Dugald Campbell.
_Quarter-Master_ Peter Wilkie.
_Surgeon_ Archibald Hamilton.
_Assist.-Surgeons._ { Wm. Cook.
{ J. R. Hume.

The regiment marched for Aboukir on the 6th of October, 1801, and embarked in ships of war, which sailed on the following day.

Upon the guard of the NINETY-SECOND, which had been doing duty at head-quarters, being ordered to rejoin, the officer commanding the regiment received a letter expressive of Lieut.-General Hutchinson’s “entire approbation of the exemplary conduct of the guard, and of Serjeant Mark in particular.”

On the 19th of October, the regiment arrived at Malta, and remained in harbour until the 15th of November, when the ships sailed for the shores of Great Britain.

[Sidenote: 1802]

The regiment arrived at Cork on the 30th of January, 1802, and remained under quarantine at Cove, until the 12th of February, when it landed and marched to Kilkenny. The effective strength consisted of one lieut.-colonel, two majors, four captains, fifteen lieutenants, five ensigns, six staff, forty-two serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and five hundred and fifty-nine rank and file.

On the 27th of March, 1802, a definitive treaty of peace was signed at Amiens between the French Republic, Spain, and the Batavian Republic, on the one part, and Great Britain on the other. The principal features of the treaty were, that Great Britain restored all her conquests during the war, excepting Trinidad and Ceylon, which were ceded to her, the former by Spain, and the latter by the Batavian Republic. Portugal was maintained in its integrity, excepting that some of its possessions in Guiana were ceded to France. The territories of the Ottoman Porte were likewise maintained in their integrity. The Ionian Republic was recognised, and Malta was to be restored to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. The French agreed to evacuate the Neapolitan and Roman States, and Great Britain all the ports that she held in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean.

The regiment on the 5th of April received orders to fire a _feu-de-joie_, in consequence of the treaty of peace concluded at Amiens. On the 12th of April, the regiment marched from Kilkenny, and arrived at Belfast on the 28th of that month, where it remained until the 2nd of June, when it embarked for Scotland.

On the 4th of June, the regiment arrived in Scotland for the first time since it was raised, and proceeded to Glasgow.

[Sidenote: 1803]

The peace of Amiens was of short duration; it inspired no confidence of ultimate tranquillity, and both parties remained prepared to renew the contest. The chief complaint on the part of France was the non-evacuation of Malta by the British troops, and the asylum afforded to the enemies of the French government. Circumstances had, however, occurred which would have rendered the restoration of Malta to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem equivalent to ceding that island to France. Other grounds of irritation existed, and the designs of Napoleon Bonaparte to raise the power of France by an extension of territorial dominion, to which England appeared a barrier, caused the struggle to be renewed; and the contest was not settled until the final defeat of the French at the battle of Waterloo, on the memorable 18th of June, 1815, by the allied troops under the Duke of Wellington.

On the 18th of May, 1803, war was declared against France; Hanover was overrun by the French, and severed for a time from the British crown; and the First Consul ordered the arrest of all British subjects in the territories of the French and Batavian republics.

Preparations were made by the British Government to meet the emergency; the “_Army of Reserve Act_” was passed in June, 1803, for raising men for home service by ballot, by which a second battalion was added to the NINETY-SECOND regiment. The second battalion was to be composed from the balloted men raised in Scotland for limited service, and was placed on the Establishment from the 9th of July following.

In June, the regiment was removed from Glasgow to Colchester, and on the 1st of July it marched to Weeley, where it encamped while the barracks were being prepared, which were occupied by the regiment during the winter.

The second battalion of the regiment was formed at Weeley, on the 24th of November, 1803; officers and non-commissioned officers, with a proportion of old soldiers, being posted to it from the first battalion for the purpose of instruction. Both battalions were commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Napier.

Each battalion was to have ten companies, consisting of fifty-four serjeants, twenty drummers, two fifers, and a thousand rank and file.

At this period Bonaparte was making preparations for the invasion of England, for which purpose he collected an immense flotilla at Boulogne. The threat of invasion aroused the patriotism of the British people, and the most strenuous measures were pursued to defeat the designs of the French Ruler; volunteer and yeomanry corps were formed in every part of the kingdom, and all parties united in one grand effort for the preservation of Great Britain.

[Sidenote: 1804]

In May, 1804, Napoleon was invested with the dignity of _Emperor of the French_, and on the 26th of May, of the following year, he was crowned at Milan as _King of Italy_.

Further measures of defence were adopted by Great Britain, and the “_Additional Force Act_” was passed on the 14th July, 1804.

Both battalions marched to Colchester on the 24th of July, and on the 6th of August were encamped on Lexden Heath.

On the 24th of October orders were issued for the march of one captain, one subaltern, four serjeants, four corporals, and one drummer to Elgin, from the second battalion, to receive the men to be raised under the “_Additional Force Act_.”

Both battalions broke up from Lexden camp on the 26th of October, and marched to Weeley barracks.

Orders were received on the 25th of November for the second battalion to be held in readiness to march from Weeley barracks, and proceed by the inland navigation to Liverpool, from whence it was to embark for Ireland. The second battalion accordingly marched in three divisions, on the 29th of November and on the two following days.

The first battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Napier, remained in Weeley barracks during the winter.

[Sidenote: 1805]

During the summer of 1805, the first battalion was brigaded with the forty-second, ninety-first, and ninety-fifth (Rifle) regiments. On the 2nd of September, the battalion marched from Weeley to Colchester; on the 4th of September the first battalion was ordered to hold itself in readiness for embarkation, but on the 6th of September it returned to Weeley barracks.

The first battalion marched, on the 7th of October, to Colchester with other troops, and was reviewed by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, the Commander-in-Chief, who expressed himself particularly pleased with the appearance of the battalion, which returned to its quarters at Weeley on the 18th of October.

While the French were pursuing their victorious career in Germany, they experienced great reverses from the British navy. On the 21st of October, the combined fleets of France and Spain were defeated off Cape Trafalgar; but the victory was purchased with the loss of Admiral Viscount Nelson, whose remains were honored with a public funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND regiment attended the ceremony.

On the 29th of October, the first battalion marched from Weeley, and arrived at Ospringe barracks on the 6th of November; on the 26th of November it marched to Canterbury.

[Sidenote: 1806]

The first battalion marched, on the 2nd of January, 1806, to London, to attend the public funeral of Admiral Viscount Nelson, whose remains were interred, on the 9th of January, in St. Paul’s Cathedral, where a monument was erected by authority of Parliament at the public expense.

Major-General the Hon. John Hope, from the sixtieth regiment, (afterwards the Earl of Hopetoun,) was appointed by His Majesty King George III. to be colonel of the NINETY-SECOND regiment, on the 3rd of January, 1806, in succession to Major-General the Marquis of Huntly, who was removed to the forty-second, or the Royal Highlanders, on the decease of General Sir Hector Munro, K.B.

The first battalion marched, on the 11th of January, from London for Colchester, where it arrived on the 15th of that month: it marched to Weeley barracks on the 29th of May, where it remained stationary, with the exception of occasional marches to and from Colchester, for the purpose of being exercised with other brigades.

[Sidenote: 1807]

On the 3rd of February, 1807, the first battalion marched from Weeley for Harwich, with the view of checking the infection of ophthalmia, which then prevailed among the troops at Weeley. The first battalion returned to Weeley on the 27th of April.

Information having been obtained that Napoleon purposed employing the navy of _Denmark_ against Great Britain, an armament was prepared for obtaining possession of the Danish fleet by treaty or force, on the assurance that it should be restored at the conclusion of the war with France. The first battalion was destined to share in this enterprise, and it received orders, on the 22nd of July, to be in readiness for foreign service.

The battalion, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Napier, marched for Harwich on the 26th of July, and embarked on the same day, after being inspected by Lieut.-General Sir David Baird. On the 27th a draft of one hundred and three rank and file joined from the second battalion: the effective strength of the first battalion consisted of forty-eight serjeants, nineteen drummers, and nine hundred and eighty-one rank and file.

On the 1st of August, the expedition sailed, and on the 8th anchored in the Sound near Elsineur. On the following day, Lieut.-General Harry Burrard[11] directed the army assembling in the Sound to be formed in brigades and divisions, and that the forty-third, fifty-second, NINETY-SECOND, and ninety-fifth (Rifle) regiments should compose the reserve, under Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, until the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief.

Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart arrived on the 12th of August, and assumed the command of the army; on the 14th the fleet sailed towards _Copenhagen_, and on the 16th of August the army landed at Vedeck, in Zealand, situated about half-way between Elsineur and Copenhagen, without opposition, and on the following day the regiment went into cantonments in Hassan, and Broomskoy. Its movements were various, and dependent upon circumstances during this period.

The NINETY-SECOND regiment advanced towards Roeskelde on the 26th of August, in consequence of the enemy collecting a large force at the town of _Kioge_ and its vicinity, for the purpose of being thrown into _Copenhagen_, which was at this time invested by the British army.

On the 29th of August, the division under Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley advanced to attack the Danes in their position. The NINETY-SECOND regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Napier, was appointed to lead the infantry against the enemy’s camp, in which the regiment charged him, driving him out of it, and through the town of Kioge, with the loss of his artillery. The regiment had two rank and file killed, and one wounded.

On the 30th of August, the British troops marched to Osted, and went into cantonments. On this day, after expressing in orders his satisfaction at the conduct of the troops in the action of the 29th, Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, in particularizing those who had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves, alluded to the conduct of the NINETY-SECOND regiment, and of _Lieut.-Colonel Napier_, in the attack of the enemy in his camp, and to the regular and orderly manner in which the troops marched through Kioge, and formed beyond the town.

The conduct of the troops employed in the action before _Kioge_ was thus alluded to in General Orders by Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart:—

“_Head Quarters, Hellerup_,
_“1st September, 1807._

“The Commander of the Forces desires to express, in the strongest
manner, his thanks to Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, and to
the officers and men of the division under his command, for the
judgment, valour, and discipline exhibited in the two attacks
made upon the enemy in the general action of the 29th of August
at Kioge.

“The details of this affair, as reported by the Major-General,
will be laid before His Majesty by the earliest opportunity.”

The bombardment of Copenhagen induced the Crown Prince to listen to terms; and on the 7th of September the Danish fleet and stores were surrendered to the British government on condition of being restored, when a general pacification should take place.

The following General Order was issued to the troops on the same day:—

“_7th September, 1807._

“The Commander of the Forces congratulates the army on the
capitulation of Copenhagen, which includes the surrender of the
Danish fleet.”

A detachment of grenadiers took possession of the citadel, and hostilities ceased.

The object of the expedition having been accomplished, Copenhagen was evacuated, and the NINETY-SECOND regiment marched from Osted to Roeskelde Kroe on the 23rd of September, and on the next day joined the army before Copenhagen, and went into cantonments.

The approbation of His Majesty, King George III., for the services performed during the expedition, was expressed in the following extract from a despatch, dated 16th September, 1807, addressed to Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart by Viscount Castlereagh, Principal Secretary of State for the War Department:—

“His Majesty has received, with great satisfaction, the account
of the particular services rendered in their detached commands by
Major-General the Right Hon. Sir Arthur Wellesley, Major-General
Von Linsingen, and Brigadier-General Von Decken.

“I am further to express His Royal pleasure, that you do convey
to the general officers under your command His Majesty’s full
approbation of the zeal, ability, and valour they have displayed
in their several departments; and your Lordship will make it
known to the army, that the conduct of all his troops, both
British and Hanoverian, who have so much distinguished themselves
by their valour and good conduct, is highly acceptable to His
Majesty.[12]

“It is also a matter highly pleasing to His Majesty, that through
the whole of this expedition, such a perfect harmony, and such a
zealous spirit of co-operation, have pervaded all departments of
the naval and military service.”

Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart in communicating the above to the army under his command, on the 28th of September, 1807, added,—

“The Commander of the Forces cannot make this communication,
without renewing his thanks to the army, for the assistance
he has received from the zeal, advice, and active services
of the generals, staff, and commanding officers, and for the
patience, discipline, and exertions of all regiments, corps, and
departments, to which, under the blessing of Providence, he is
indebted for the complete success of the expedition, and for the
most gracious approbation, which His Majesty has been pleased to
declare of the whole service.”

On the 17th of October, the first battalion of the NINETY-SECOND regiment embarked for England in the _Minotaur_, _Neptunis_, and _Iris_, ships of war, and sailed on the 21st. During the passage they encountered very boisterous weather, in which the ships parted company: unfortunately the _Neptunis_, of ninety-eight guns (one of the captured Danish ships), with six hundred of the NINETY-SECOND regiment on board, got aground, and was totally lost. The men were landed on the island of Hewan, where they remained for fourteen days, until vessels arrived for them from England.

The men on board the head-quarter ship landed in England on the 12th of November; and on the arrival of the different detachments, orders were waiting for them to proceed to Weeley barracks. The effective strength of the first battalion at this period consisted of forty-nine serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and nine hundred and sixty-four rank and file.

[Sidenote: 1808]

The first battalion marched to Colchester barracks on the 23rd of March, 1808. Volunteers from the militia of the northern counties were, about this time, received, and taken on the strength of the second battalion, which continued in Ireland.

On the 19th of April, the first battalion of the regiment was directed to be held in readiness for immediate embarkation for foreign service, and on the 29th of April, it marched from Colchester, and embarked in transports at Harwich, under Lieut.-Colonel Napier.

The battalion sailed for Yarmouth on the 4th of May, and arrived there on the 6th, where an armament, under the command of Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, was assembling, destined to proceed to Sweden.