Chapter II: Part 2

The progress of military organization in Portugal and Spain, with the arrival of reinforcements from England, enabled the British commander to take the field in May, 1813, with a formidable army. He drove the French from Salamanca, turned their positions on the Douro, and forced them back in disorder upon Burgos, when they destroyed the castle and retreated to the Ebro, the passage of which river they were prepared to defend; but he turned their position by a flank march, and obliged them to fall back upon Vittoria, where they formed for battle. The sixth division was left behind at Medina de Pomar, to cover the march of the magazines, and the SIXTY-FIRST were thus prevented sharing in the victory at Vittoria on the 21st of June. They were sufficiently near to hear the firing, and arrived at the field of battle on the following day, to take charge of the captured artillery and stores.

The regiment was subsequently employed in attempting to intercept the French division under General Clausel, and when this force had escaped to France, the regiment proceeded to Pampeluna, to take part in the blockade of that fortress, from which duty it was relieved by a Spanish corps, on the 14th of July, and advanced into the Pyrenean Mountains to San Estevan, situated in a beautiful valley, where it halted. Thus, after marching nearly six hundred miles in seven weeks, passing six great rivers, gaining one decisive battle, and investing the two fortresses of Pampeluna and San Sebastian, the allied army stood triumphant on the lofty Pyrenees, and the officers and soldiers panted for opportunities to acquire additional honors.

The French army having been reinforced, and reorganized, advanced under Marshal Soult, and attacked the British posts in the mountains, when the allied army fell back to a position in front of Pampeluna. The sixth division, to which the SIXTY-FIRST continued to belong, quitted San Estevan to support the troops first attacked; but when advancing, Lord Wellington rode up to the division, and ordered it to halt for the night. It afterwards retired through the mountain passes, and bivouacked, during the night of the 27th of July, in a pine-wood. At daybreak on the following morning it resumed its march, and joining the army in position in the mountains, formed for battle across the valley in the rear of the left of the fourth division, its right on the village of Oricain, and its left on some heights.

Soon after the regiment had taken its post, columns of attack were seen in motion to commence the battle of the _Pyrenees_, where the SIXTY-FIRST had another opportunity of distinguishing themselves. A body of French troops moved along the valley of Lanz towards the mountain at its extremity, and the SIXTY-FIRST, with two other British corps, were ordered to move at a running pace and occupy the mountain. The SIXTY-FIRST hastened up the hill on one side, as the French skirmishers ascended on the other; but the British gained the summit first, and opened their fire with terrible effect. The French were encompassed in the valley; two brigades smote them from the left, the Portuguese smote them from the right, and the sixth division forced them back with a terrible carnage. The enemy retreated behind the village of Sauroren. The SIXTY-FIRST, and two other regiments, advanced to a post near the village, and the fire of small-arms was kept up until dark.

No serious fighting occurred on the 29th of July; but on the morning of the 30th the British batteries opened from the heights, and a cloud of skirmishers advanced against Sauroren. The firing at this point afterwards subsided; but was eventually renewed, and the SIXTY-FIRST had the honor to participate in storming the village and heights of Sauroren, and in forcing the French from a position, which, from its natural strength and advantages, appeared almost impregnable. The pursuit was continued until night, and many prisoners were taken.

The regiment had seventy men killed and wounded; Captains Charleton and McLean, Lieutenants Wolfe and O’Kearney, and Volunteer Leebody, were wounded.

Lieut.-Colonel Coghlan received a gold medal; and the word “PYRENEES” was placed upon the colours of the regiment, as a mark of royal approbation of its gallant conduct.

Continuing the pursuit of the enemy to the extremity of the Pyrenees, the regiment ascended the summit of one of the highest mountains on the 2nd of August, and as the soldiers beheld the beautiful plains of France, which Napoleon had often declared to be inviolable, spread in rich landscape scenery before them, they experienced emotions of exultation in the anticipation of future conquests. In the afternoon the regiment encamped on a piece of high ground, surrounded by inaccessible rock, the only entrance to which was through a chasm; a beautiful stream ran along the hollow below, with a cannon foundry on its banks. Two days afterwards it marched to the vale of Los Alduides: and afterwards penetrated France some distance; but withdrew towards Maya, and relieved the second division on the heights commanding the pass of Maya, where the soldiers threw up breastworks. The prospect from these heights was particularly interesting: on the left was seen the sea, and the fortress of Bayonne; on the right the thickly wooded plains of Gascony, interspersed with towns and villages; in front was the French army; and in the rear of the right and left, the lofty Pyrenees crowned with the tents of the British army.

On the 1st of September the division drove the enemy from two heights in its front; and on the 9th of October, it again attacked the French, to favour the operations of the British troops which had passed the Bidassoa. Three companies of the SIXTY-FIRST were engaged on this occasion.

Invigorated by the mountain air, and impatient to win the fair plains of France before them, the soldiers received with joyful anticipations the orders to advance, and attack the enemy’s positions on the _Nivelle_. The SIXTY-FIRST descended from the mountains by moonlight on the night of the 9th of November, and lay concealed near the enemy’s piquets until the following morning. The day broke with great splendour, and as the first rays of light gilded the summits of the mountains, three guns gave the signal for the attack, and the French beheld with astonishment the allied army rise from its concealment, and rush to battle with an impetuosity they were not prepared to withstand. The SIXTY-FIRST passed the Nivelle river, and marched through a rugged country towards the bridge of Amotz, to attack the works at that place; the skirmishers of the regiment were in front under Lieutenant Harris. Advancing up a difficult ascent, covered with bushes, under a sharp fire, the regiment drove a body of French troops from a semicircular breastwork; several officers of the regiment outran the men, who had knapsacks to carry, and first jumped into the works:--Captain William Henry Furnace, who had repeatedly distinguished himself, fell a sacrifice to his gallantry; and Lieutenant Christopher Kellet was killed about the same time. The regiment pressed resolutely forward to storm a redoubt at the top of the hill; its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Coghlan, received a shot through the cap, which grazed the top of his head,--several officers and men fell, but the regiment continued its rapid advance, and Lieutenant Harris jumped across the ditch of the redoubt, when the French fled in dismay, and many of them were intercepted in the rear of the redoubt. Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill came up to the regiment, and thanked the officers and soldiers repeatedly for the very gallant manner in which they had ascended under the enemy’s fire. A second redoubt was captured at this part of the enemy’s line, and afterwards a third. The SIXTY-FIRST penetrated the enemy’s camp, which had been abandoned and set on fire. The light company of the regiment was detached on this occasion, and distinguished itself. A decisive victory was gained, and the British army established itself in the French territory. Captains James Horton, Marcus Annesley, and Hugh Eccles, Lieutenants Robert Belton, and Archer Toole, were all severely wounded.

Lieutenant-Colonel Coghlan received an honorary distinction; Major Oke was promoted to the rank of lieut.-colonel; and the gallantry displayed by the regiment on this occasion, was rewarded with the word “NIVELLE” on its colours.

After this success, the regiment occupied quarters at Ustaritz, which was found an agreeable change; the bleak summits of the mountains, on which it had been long stationed, having become extremely cold. The moral and physical energies of the men were in full power, and nothing could have withstood their conquering progress had the weather been favourable.

Early in December a forward movement was ordered; and on the morning of the 9th of that month a beacon lighted on the heights above Cambo gave the signal for the attack, when the passage of the river _Nive_ was forced, and the enemy driven back towards Bayonne. The sixth division passed the river on floating bridges. The advanced-guard (in which was the light company of the SIXTY-FIRST, formed in a light battalion under Captain Greene, of the regiment,) evinced great gallantry, and surprised the first French piquet, which fled in dismay. Some sharp fighting occurred; Captain Greene was wounded, and Captain Charleton was sent from the regiment to take command of the light battalion. The swampy nature of the country retarded the advance of the division, and gave time for the French troops to effect their retreat towards Bayonne. The enemy advanced and attacked the British troops on the three following days, but were repulsed.

At the passage of the “NIVE” the regiment earned another honorary inscription for its colours; and Captain Greene received a medal. Its loss was limited to Captains Greene and Charleton wounded, and a few private soldiers killed and wounded.

[Sidenote: 1814]

The regiment was stationed at Ville-Franque from the middle of November until the 22nd of February, 1814, assisting in the blockade of _Bayonne_. On one occasion, when the regiment had gone out for field exercise, leaving the officers, bât-men, pioneers, and the quartermaster-serjeant in quarters, a heavy fall of rain so swelled the stream of the Nive, that the pontoon-bridge of communication was detached from its moorings, and was seen floating down the stream. Quartermaster-Serjeant Rose (who distinguished himself at Talavera) and Private Thomas Dawson got hold of the bridge, and, at the hazard of their lives, succeeded in securing it, by which much inconvenience to the service was prevented. The quartermaster-serjeant was rewarded with a commission, and a sum of money was given to Private Dawson.

Quitting Ville-Franque, the regiment advanced up the country, and passing the river near Bereux, by a pontoon-bridge, on the morning of the 27th of February, it afterwards ascended by a narrow way between high rocks to the great road to Peyrehorade, which brought it into the presence of the French army, under Marshal Soult, in position near _Orthes_. The action commenced in the forenoon. The third and sixth divisions won, without difficulty, the lower part of the ridges opposed to them, and endeavoured to extend their left along the French front with a sharp fire of musketry. On the other flank the French defended their post with more resolution. During the early part of the day, the skirmishers only of the SIXTY-FIRST were engaged, and the regiment was in reserve; when the French army gave way, two fine battalions were seen attempting to cover the retreat, and Lieut.-Colonel Coghlan led the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment against them at a running pace. The two battalions fired a volley and retreated, pursued by the British light cavalry.

Lieut.-Colonel Coghlan received another honorary distinction for this battle; and the word “ORTHES,” on the colours, commemorates the gallant bearing of the regiment on this occasion. Its loss was limited to one serjeant and ten men, killed and wounded.

Pursuing the retreating enemy on the following day, the regiment took some prisoners, and, being in advance, discovered part of the French army on an eminence near St. Sever; the enemy again retreated after dark, and was followed on the succeeding days. On one occasion the regiment lost a serjeant and seven men in a skirmish; and Lieutenant Furnace, of the light company, had a narrow escape, a ball having passed through the collar of his coat.

The regiment again came up with the enemy on the 16th of March, near Tarbes, and had a few men wounded. The weather was fine, the soldiers healthy, vigorous, and animated with their uninterrupted career of success, so that they were ready for any service; but the French continued their retreat without hazarding a serious engagement.

Marshal Soult concentrated the French troops under his command in a fortified position at _Toulouse_; and on the morning of the 10th of April, the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment was in motion with the fourth and sixth divisions, under Marshal Beresford, to turn the enemy’s right flank. The regiment being halted beyond the river Ers, while Lord Wellington and his staff reconnoitred the enemy, Lieut.-Colonel Coghlan took that opportunity to address the officers and men in a short and animated speech, which made a great impression on their minds. Immediately afterwards the regiment advanced; it crossed the river Ers, and marched along the left bank exposed to the enemy’s cannonade. On arriving at its destined point, the brigade was wheeled into line by Major-General Lambert, who led it forward to attack a formidable height occupied by French troops. The enemy descended with loud shouts to meet the advancing line, and opened a heavy fire of musketry; the SIXTY-FIRST rushed forward without firing a shot, the officers animating the men by their example, and answering the French shouts with a loud and confident huzza! They carried the height with fixed bayonets, but sustained severe loss. Many of the officers having outrun their men, who were retarded by the weight of their knapsacks, entered a French redoubt at the moment the defenders were quitting it, when a number of French soldiers turned round and fired with fatal effect: of the SIXTY-FIRST, Lieut.-Colonel Oke, Captain Charleton (who was calling to the enemy to surrender), and Lieutenant Arden, were wounded,--the latter mortally. The regiment advanced along the height until it was ordered to halt under an earthen fence, which partially sheltered it from the enemy’s guns. Early in the action its gallant commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Coghlan, was mortally wounded[6]. In the afternoon the regiment, much reduced in numbers, supported the attack of the Scots brigade on a range of redoubts, from which the enemy was driven with loss: and the SIXTY-FIRST were directed to occupy one of the captured redoubts. The French advanced to recover the redoubts; when Major-General Lambert directed a division of the SIXTY-FIRST to cross the road, which was commanded by the enemy’s fire, and reinforce the troops in another redoubt. This was a perilous movement; but Captain CHARLETON, whose wound was dressed in the field in time to enable him to rejoin and command the regiment in its second attack, placed himself in front of the division, exclaiming, “I will show the way!” Serjeant _Fraser_ stepped to follow his captain, and, encouraged by this example, the division made the movement at a running pace; several officers and soldiers were, however, hit by the French marksmen. The regiment defended the post committed to its charge, and the French were driven from their works, and forced to take refuge in the suburbs of the city of Toulouse. At the termination of the action, the surviving men of the regiment were brought out of the field by Adjutant Bace, assisted by two ensigns and Serjeant Robert Hogg, whose name merits notice from his zealous exertions during the action.

The SIXTY-FIRST was included, in Lord Wellington’s despatch, among the corps which had sustained severe loss, and were highly distinguished throughout the day.

Lieut.-Colonel Coghlan, Lieutenant H. Arden, and Ensign W. A. Favell, were killed on this occasion; Major J. Oke, Captains W. Greene and E. Charleton, Lieutenants A. Porteus, N. Furnace[7], T. Gloster, D. O’Kearney, J. Wolfe, E. Gaynor, W. White[8], J. Harris, G. Stewart, and J. H. Ellison, Ensigns J. Wright, Cuthbert Eccles, and S. Bartlett, wounded. The regiment had also eight serjeants and one hundred and fifty-three rank and file killed and wounded.

Medals were conferred on Lieut.-Colonel Oke, Captain Charleton (who was twice wounded), and Adjutant Bace: and the word “TOULOUSE” was added to the inscriptions on the colours of the regiment.

The French retreated from Toulouse, followed by the British army, and at St. Felix five officers and seventy men joined the SIXTY-FIRST, from the second battalion in Ireland, under the orders of Captain Hamilton.

Hostilities were terminated a few days afterwards; the power of Bonaparte had been destroyed, and the Bourbon dynasty was restored to France. The gallant veterans of the SIXTY-FIRST were thus gratified with a complete triumph over the enemies of their country. They had traversed kingdoms, fought battles, and conquered powerful armies for the good of Europe; their valour had exalted the glory of the British arms, and preserved their native country from the presence of war: and the word “PENINSULA” was added to the numerous inscriptions on their colours, to commemorate their heroic conduct.

After reposing a short period in quarters, the regiment marched for Bordeaux; and at Bazas the Portuguese brigade, which had long served with the sixth division, was separated from it to return to Portugal; a feeling of respect for these brave companions in war pervaded all ranks of the British army: many reciprocal acts of kindness had marked the estimation in which the soldiers of the British and Portuguese armies held each other.

On the 30th of June, the regiment embarked for Ireland, when the following order was issued:--“Major-General Lambert cannot allow the regiments composing the left brigade of the sixth division of the army under the Duke of Wellington, to separate without requesting the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, to accept his best thanks for their services while under his command. Though the period has not been long, yet it will be ever memorable; and the distinguished good conduct of the brigade, so repeatedly mentioned during this period, especially in the action of the 10th of April, will ever make him consider his appointment to the brigade as one of the most fortunate events of his military life.”

At the close of the services of the regiment in the Peninsula and South of France, the names of the following non-commissioned officers, whose meritorious services had been rewarded with commissions, were inserted in the Record Book,--

William Douglas.
William Hack.
James Nevin.
John Abraham.
John Robinson.
William Fortune.
George Armstrong.
John Thompson.
Simon Musgrave.
William Hall.
John McKay.
William Bace.
Patrick Melvin.
Andrew Connell.
Thomas Williams.
William Scott.
Francis Begg.
Christmas Knight.
John Bell.
George Tyrrell.
Samuel Rose.

The regiment landed at Cork in July, and marched to Dundalk, where the second battalion was disbanded on the 24th of October; the men fit for duty being transferred to the first battalion.

[Sidenote: 1815]

From Dundalk the regiment marched to Newry, where it was stationed during the year 1815,--a period memorable in the history of Europe, on account of the return of Bonaparte to France,--his overthrow on the field of Waterloo,--and his removal to St. Helena.

[Sidenote: 1816]

In June, 1816, the regiment embarked from Ireland, and proceeded to Portsmouth, where it landed, and was stationed during the summer months at Fort Cumberland. In the autumn it embarked for Jamaica, and arrived at Spanish-town in December.

[Sidenote: 1817]

[Sidenote: 1821]

The regiment was stationed at Spanish-town, Uppark camp, Stony-hill, and Kingston, in Jamaica, upwards of five years, during which period it lost by disease seven officers, and three hundred and fifty-six non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

[Sidenote: 1822]

Having transferred the men who volunteered to remain in the country to other corps, the regiment embarked from Jamaica in March, 1822, and landed at Plymouth in May following.

[Sidenote: 1824]

The regiment performed garrison duty at Plymouth until the spring of 1824, when it proceeded to Ireland; it was stationed at Cork until October, when it marched to Limerick.

[Sidenote: 1825]

Leaving Limerick in 1825, the regiment proceeded to the counties of Roscommon, Leitrim, Longford, and Westmeath.

[Sidenote: 1826]

In 1826 the head-quarters were established at Athlone, with detachments at various stations in the neighbouring counties.

[Sidenote: 1827]

The regiment was assembled at Birr, in June, 1827, and in July marched to Richmond Barracks, Dublin, where it was divided into six service and four depôt companies; the service companies embarked in October for Liverpool, from whence they proceeded by canal to Fenny Stratford, and afterwards marched to Chatham.

[Sidenote: 1828]

On the 30th of June, 1828, the service companies, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. E. P. Barlow, embarked from Gravesend for the island of Ceylon where, they arrived in November, and landed at Colombo.

Lieut.-General Sir Edward Barnes inspected the SIXTY-FIRST on their arrival at Ceylon, and inserted the following statement, in his own hand-writing, in the Record Book of the regiment:--

“Having inspected the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, commanded by
Lieut.-Colonel Barlow, it affords me much gratification to place
upon the Records of the Regiment an expression of my admiration
of its appearance and high order,--of the coolness, celerity,
and precision, with which it performed the several evolutions,
and of its system of interior economy: such a state of things
evinces the great ability, assiduity, and perseverance of the
commanding officer, and the able support of Major Wolfe and the
rest of the officers, and is in the highest degree creditable to
the non-commissioned officers and soldiers; and greatly enhances
the pleasure which I feel in the renewal of my long acquaintance
with the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, and adds very materially and
essentially to my satisfaction in having it under my command.

“E. BARNES, _Lieut.-General_.

“_Colombo, December 18, 1828._”

[Sidenote: 1833]

[Sidenote: 1836]

The depôt companies were withdrawn from Ireland in November, 1833, and proceeded to Chatham; they returned to Ireland in 1836.

[Sidenote: 1834]

The service companies remained at Colombo until 16th October, 1834, when they embarked for Trincomalee.

[Sidenote: 1837]

On the 22nd May, 1837, the regiment sustained a loss of three officers, viz., Lieutenants Shaw and Harkness and Ensign Walker, who were unfortunately drowned, while on a shooting excursion, by the upsetting of a boat, in a squall off Cottiac.

The service companies re-embarked for Colombo in July, and after being inspected by Major-General Sir John Wilson, they marched for Kandy, where they arrived on the 22nd August, 1837.

[Sidenote: 1838]

On the promotion of Colonel Edward Darley to the rank of major-general, on the 28th June, 1838, Major Charles Forbes was advanced to the lieutenant-colonelcy, and the command of the service companies devolved on Major Simmonds.

While on duty at Kandy, the following order was inserted in the Regimental Record Book, by Lieutenant-General Sir John Wilson, K.C.B., in his own hand-writing, viz:--

“Being on the eve of my departure from Ceylon, I feel much
pleasure in adding to the honourable testimonies contained in
the regimental records, the expression of my approbation of the
general good conduct and military discipline manifested by the
SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, during a period of seven years that it has
served under my orders, it having been, during a great part of
that time, under the command of the present Major-General Darley.

“It is gratifying to me to be able to state, that at the present
half-yearly inspection, after a lapse of so many years, I find
the regiment in the same high state of moral and military
discipline, in which I had the satisfaction of finding it on my
arrival to assume this command, and which had previously called
forth the highest eulogiums from my predecessor.

“To have maintained this character during a period of more than
ten years’ service in this colony, is a circumstance which cannot
but be considered to reflect great credit on the officers,
non-commissioned officers, and privates of this distinguished
corps, and will, no doubt, meet with a just appreciation in their
own country, to the shores of which (as the regiment is about to
return home) I earnestly wish them a speedy and prosperous voyage.

“I cannot conclude without requesting the present commanding
officer, Major Simmonds, to accept my best acknowledgments for
the zeal and attention displayed by him in the command of the
SIXTY-FIRST Regiment.”

(Signed) “JOHN WILSON, _Lieut.-General_,
“_Commanding the Forces_.”

_Dated “Kandy, 27th December, 1838.”_

[Sidenote: 1839]

On the 12th February, 1839, the regiment marched to Colombo, preparatory to its embarkation for England; and on the 3rd March, Her Majesty’s troop-ship ship “Jupiter” came to anchor in Colombo roads, having on board the service companies of the Ninety-fifth Regiment, under the command of Colonel James Campbell, intended for the relief of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment; but in consequence of disturbances in India, the embarkation of the regiment was directed to be delayed.

After performing duty in various parts of the island of Ceylon for eleven years, during which period the regiment lost six officers and three hundred non-commissioned officers and privates, it embarked for England on board of Her Majesty’s ship “Jupiter,” and the following general order was issued by the General Officer commanding, dated “Head Quarters, Colombo, 22nd October, 1839:”--

“In taking leave of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, which will embark
to-morrow for England, Major-General Sir Robert Arbuthnot should
not do justice to his own feelings, and this distinguished corps,
whose gallantry he has so often witnessed in the field, if he
did not express the great satisfaction he felt in assuming the
command of this island, to find at his first and last inspection,
that the same excellent system, discipline, steadiness under
arms, and interior arrangements existed in time of peace, which
had been the means of gaining them so great honour in time of war.

“In wishing Major Simmonds, the officers and soldiers of the
regiment, a prosperous and speedy voyage to England, the
major-general must express his warm acknowledgment to the former
for the anxious zeal displayed by him while in command of the
regiment; to the officers for the able support they have given
him, ‘and which is so essential to the well-being of any corps,’
and to the non-commissioned officers and privates, who merit all
the praise he can bestow, and who, in quitting the colony, leave
behind them the regrets and good wishes of all classes, which of
itself, after a residence of eleven years, is sufficient proof
of the good system, discipline, and general respectability of a
corps.”

[Sidenote: 1840]

In consequence of meeting with stress of weather in the British Channel, Her Majesty’s ship “Jupiter” put into the Cove of Cork, on the 4th of March, 1840, and was towed over to Southampton, by the steam-frigate “Cyclops,” having on board the depôt companies from Ireland. The whole regiment landed at Southampton on the 12th of March, and proceeded by railroad to Winchester; where it was inspected by Major-General the Honorable Sir Hercules Pakenham, commanding the South-West district, and subsequently by Lord Hill, the General Commanding in Chief, both of whom were pleased to express their entire approbation of its appearance, discipline, and interior economy.

In August following it was removed to Woolwich, and performed the dockyard duties there, and at Deptford, until the summer of the following year.

General the Right Honorable Sir George Hewett, Bart., G.C.B., died a few days after the arrival of the regiment in England, and Her Majesty was pleased to confer the colonelcy of the regiment on Major-General Sir John Gardiner, K.C.B., Deputy Adjutant-General of the Forces.

[Sidenote: 1841]

In June 1841, the regiment proceeded by railroad to the Northern district, and was detached in the counties of Northumberland, York, and Lancaster.

In consequence of the reverses sustained by the British troops in Affghanistan, in the winter of 1841, the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment was ordered to recruit to the Indian establishment of one thousand rank and file, and to prepare, with the Fifty-eighth Regiment, to embark for India.

[Sidenote: 1842]

The successful campaign of the following season, and the withdrawal of the troops from the Affghan territory, occasioned an alteration in the destination of the regiment.

In August, 1842, two companies, under the command of Major Burnside, were called upon by the civil authorities of Halifax, to suppress a formidable and organised riot which broke out in that town: numbers of the rioters had assembled from the adjacent towns, and were so confident in their strength and numbers as to attack a party of the Eleventh Hussars, several of whom were severely injured. The detachment of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment was fired on by the mob, and Captain Hoey and five men were wounded with slugs. The order was then given to the Military to fire, when the peace of the town was speedily restored. The owners and occupiers of the mills and other property at Halifax, and in the neighbourhood, conveyed a vote of thanks to Major Burnside for his services on this occasion.

[Sidenote: 1843]

In March, 1843, the regiment was directed to furnish, by volunteers, two hundred men to the Ninety-eighth Regiment, in China: the required number were immediately produced; and the detachment embarked on the 1st of April, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, for Winchester, to join the depôt of the Ninety-eighth Regiment.

In the spring of 1843, the regiment proceeded by railway to Carlisle, where it embarked for Ireland, and landed at Dublin on the 6th of April; and was shortly afterwards inspected by Lieutenant-General the Right Honorable Sir Edward Blakeney, Commander of the Forces in Ireland, who was pleased to express his approbation of the appearance of the regiment in the field, and of its conduct in quarters.

On the 3rd June, five companies, under the command of Major McLeod, embarked on board of Her Majesty’s steamer “Rhadamanthus” for Waterford, on a particular service: the detachment landed on the following day, and re-inforced the garrison in barracks until the 6th June, when it re-embarked and returned to Dublin.

During the stay of the regiment in the garrison of Dublin, Lieutenant-Colonel Forbes died after a protracted illness. This distinguished officer had commanded the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment five years, and by his impartial and temperate exercise of authority, he had rendered himself respected and beloved by all who had the good fortune to serve under his command. Upon his decease, Major Henry Burnside was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy on the 9th May, 1843.

In July, 1843, the regiment proceeded from Dublin to Limerick, where it is stationed at the commencement of the year 1844, to which period this record of its services is brought.

[Sidenote: 1844]

On the 20th January, 1844, Her Majesty was pleased to remove Lieutenant-General Sir John Gardiner from the SIXTY-FIRST to the Fiftieth Regiment, in succession to Lieutenant-General Sir Hudson Lowe, deceased, and to appoint Major-General Sir Jeremiah Dickson, K.C.B., to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment.

Few regiments have been engaged in services which have called into exercise the moral and physical energies of the officers and soldiers to a greater extent than the duties in which the SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT has been employed; and none have displayed the heroic virtues of the British military character more fully than this meritorious corps.

Whether at the Fort of ST. PHILIP, in Minorca,--in the valley of the Tagus, at TALAVERA,--on the plains of SALAMANCA,--on the lofty PYRENEES,--or in the southern provinces of FRANCE, the same valour, constancy, patience, and perseverance, have shone forth with a splendour which has elevated the reputation of the corps; and its conduct in quarters has also elicited the commendations of the general officers under whom it has served. Deriving its origin from the Third Regiment of Foot, or the BUFFS, the SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT has inherited the same spirit which animated the officers and soldiers of that veteran corps during the wars of three centuries.

1844.

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS

OF

THE SIXTY-FIRST,

OR,

THE SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT OF

FOOT.

GRANVILLE ELLIOTT.

_Appointed 21st April, 1758._

GRANVILLE ELLIOTT served with distinction in the army of the Emperor of Germany, and returned to England with the reputation of a brave and experienced officer; he was admitted into the British service, by King George II., in 1758, with the rank of major-general, and was appointed colonel of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, on its formation from the second battalion of the Third Foot, or the Buffs. He commanded a brigade, under Charles, Duke of Marlborough, in the expedition to St. Maloes in 1758; and afterwards proceeded to Germany, where he served as major-general, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. His experience in continental service induced him to suggest to the British government the advantage of having a considerable portion of light cavalry in the army. The subject was previously under consideration, and the formation of regiments of light dragoons was commenced in the following year. He died in Germany in 1759.

GEORGE GRAY.

_Appointed 19th July, 1759._

GEORGE GRAY was many years an officer in the household cavalry, and in July, 1749, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the first troop, now first regiment, of Life Guards. In 1759, King George II. rewarded him with the colonelcy of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, from which he was removed, in 1768, to the Thirty-seventh. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1761, and to that of lieut.-general in 1770. He died in 1773.

JOHN GORE.

_Appointed 9th May, 1768._

The early services of this officer were in the third regiment of Foot Guards, in which corps he was promoted captain and lieutenant-colonel, in 1750, first major, with the rank of colonel, in 1760, and lieutenant-colonel in 1771 On the 10th of July, 1762, he was advanced to the rank of major-general; and in 1768 he was nominated to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment: in 1772 he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general, and was removed to the Sixth Foot in February of the following year. He died in November, 1773.

JOHN BARLOW.

_Appointed 19th February, 1773._

JOHN BARLOW was many years an officer in the Third regiment of foot, or the Buffs, with which corps he served at the battle of Dettingen. He was promoted captain of a company on the 22nd of February, 1745, and afterwards served with the Buffs at the battles of Fontenoy, Falkirk, and Culloden; also at the battle of Val in 1747. In 1755 he was promoted major of the Buffs, and on the formation of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, from the second battalion of the Third Foot, he was nominated to the lieut.-colonelcy of that corps, which he commanded in the expedition to the West Indies, and distinguished himself on several occasions at the reduction of Guadeloupe in 1759. His services were rewarded with the colonelcy of the regiment in 1773; and in August, 1777, he was promoted to the rank of major general. He died in 1778.

STAATES LONG MORRISS.

_Appointed 14th May. 1778._

This officer served with reputation in the reign of King George II; was promoted to the rank of captain in the Thirty-sixth Regiment in May, 1756; and in 1758 he was employed in the expedition to St. Maloes, under Charles, Duke of Marlborough. He took great interest in the formation of the Eighty-ninth Regiment, of which he was appointed lieutenant-colonel commandant in October, 1759: he served at the head of this corps until 1763, when it was disbanded. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1772; to that of major-general in 1777; and in the following year he was nominated to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment. He was advanced to the rank of lieut.-general in 1782, and to that of general in 1796. He died in 1800.

SIR GEORGE HEWETT, BART., G.C.B.

_Appointed 4th April, 1800._

GEORGE HEWETT was many years an officer of the Seventieth Foot, in which corps he was promoted to the rank of captain in June, 1775, and he served in North America during the war of independence. In December, 1781, he was promoted to a majority in the Forty-third Regiment, with which corps he served with reputation, and was advanced to the rank of colonel in March, 1794: in May, 1796, he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and on the 5th of August, 1799, he was nominated colonel commandant of the second battalion of the Fifth Foot; in 1800, King George III. conferred upon him the colonelcy of the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment. He served in the East Indies, and also in the West Indies; was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general in September, 1803. He was inspecting general of the Recruiting Department in 1803; and at the commencement of the war with France, the Government placed under his orders all the corps raised under the provisions of the Army of Reserve Act. He was subsequently commander-in-chief in Ireland; and in 1806 he was appointed commander-in-chief in the East Indies, the duties of which important situation he performed five years. On the 4th of June, 1813, he was promoted to the rank of general, and in November of the same year he was created a baronet: he was afterwards honoured with the dignity of Knight Grand Cross of the most honourable Order of the Bath. He performed the duties of barrack-master-general for a short period. He was of a kind and benevolent disposition, was highly esteemed for his social virtues, and distinguished as a benefactor to the poor. He took an interest in the SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, of which he was colonel forty years, and expressed a wish to see his corps once more; but took his bed on the day it landed at Southampton, from the island of Ceylon, and died on the 21st of March, 1840, at his seat at Freemantle Park, near Southampton. He was a member of the privy council for Ireland at the time of his decease.

SIR JOHN GARDINER, K.C.B.

_Appointed 30th March 1840._

Removed to the Fiftieth Regiment in 1844.

SIR JEREMIAH DICKSON, K.C.B.

_Appointed 20th January, 1844._

APPENDIX.

_Journal of a March of a Detachment of Troops under the command
of_ LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN JAMES BARLOW, SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT,
_from Cosseir in Upper Egypt to Kenè on the Nile_.

I arrived in His Majesty’s ship the “Wilhelmina,” Capt. Sind, at Cosseir, from Mocha, on the 14th July, 1801, after a passage, _against the monsoon_, of two months.

_July 17th._--I was ordered to hold myself in readiness to march across the desert to Kenè on the Nile, a distance of about 130 miles, and to take under my command four companies of His Majesty’s SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, and a detachment of His Majesty’s Tenth Regiment, infantry, together with a small party of the Eighth Light Dragoons,--these amounted to 582 soldiers;--twenty boxes of treasure were likewise put under my escort. The line of march consisted of upwards of 850 men, including Indian followers, Arab camel-drivers, &c., &c.

Before I proceed upon my journal of the very fatiguing march I underwent, I shall mention a few observations upon Cosseir, in Upper Egypt. This place is well known as a seaport, and it is, perhaps, one of the most miserable spots in the universe; a few wretched mud-houses placed along the beach, with some narrow lanes branching off at right angles, in all about two hundred _habitations_, compose this abominable little town. Just above it, stands a fort which the French had put into a tolerably defensible state; at all events, it was an _impregnable fortification_ against the combined native force of Upper Egypt. About three-quarters of a mile to the westward of it, was the ground where the Indian army was encamped; this situation is in nature the most sterile and arid, not a blade of any kind of verdure to be seen,--vegetation of every description is totally wanting,--and the wearied eye meets no object but the bare, rugged, and burnt-up hills which bound the view towards the desert. This frightful country appears quite unfit for the existence of human beings; nature has furnished it with no sources of fresh water, and that indispensable necessary of life is only to be obtained by digging wells in the sand, into which oozes a kind of bitter salt water, the most _offensive thing_ to the taste imaginable; and its effects are no less noxious,--as people who drink it are always (at first) attacked with a violent vomiting and purging, which is accompanied by the most intolerable and burning thirst. Our soldiers were nearly to a man, in a more or less degree, afflicted with this disease, and though it only proved fatal to a few, still it handled very roughly all those who were under the necessity of using this detestable water. The heat when I was at Cosseir was almost intolerable. Provisions were plentiful and cheap,--the fish excellent; but although the inhabitants possess as fine wheat as any in Europe, their bread was detestable, being a kind of dough cake half-baked, or rather burnt, in the dusty ashes.

_July 18th._--Every preparation having been made, I marched at six o’clock, P.M., with the troops, followers, drivers, &c., as already stated; and our line of march was considerably increased by a number of asses, the property of individuals, who had loaded these useful animals with an independent supply of water. We continued our route, keeping a large range of rocky and burnt-up hills on our left; a very fine moon shone only to render this dreary scene the more awful; the setting sun brought us little, if any, relief as to heat. After marching about five miles we came to some springs, or rather a black rivulet of water, very bitter, which crosses the valley through which the road leads. I endeavoured in vain to prevent the soldiers from drinking of this infernal brook; thirst was _too imperious_, and I soon found that my orders had been disregarded by all the rear. Many of the men soon felt the ill effects of their folly, and began to fall back faint and oppressed, and this was much aggravated by the very extraordinary closeness of the heat: what air did exist, was like the breathing of a furnace.

At twelve o’clock we reached the new wells. I reckon the distance about thirteen miles, where I found a subaltern officer and a few Sepoys stationed to take charge of, and protect them. After placing the necessary guards, &c., I ordered the detachment to lie down, and we enjoyed a most refreshing repose for about three hours. At this time the captain of the rear-guard came up, and reported that a great many stragglers were _still_ behind.

I ordered the drums to beat half an hour before day, when the camp was pitched, and the men sheltered from the sun, which rose with a most blazing and fiery aspect. From midnight, until a little after sunrise, the air in the desert is delightfully cool and refreshing (I mean comparatively with the rest of the twenty-four hours); nature, I suppose, has kindly ordained this comfort to the unfortunate travellers, and still more miserable inhabitants of this dreary waste.

_July 19th._--It was late in the day when all our stragglers came up. I was much concerned to find that the mussacks[9] (or water-bags) had leaked considerably, and that I should be under the necessity of replenishing them from the wells of this post. I must here observe, that General Baird had caused, both at this and other posts on the desert, wells to be dug, in order to procure a supply of that greatest of all necessaries of life (in such a climate as this)--water. In these scanty sources, it was thick and muddy; however, even this, could we have obtained it in abundance, would have been reckoned a luxury; but, alas! a very limited supply was all we could get: therefore, at half-past five, P.M., I marched. We passed for some hours through a long and winding valley; high, brown, rugged mountains, with here and there a solitary eagle perched upon a projecting crag, were the only gloomy objects that presented themselves. We continued our route northerly, through the same desolate wilderness, and at one o’clock I judged it necessary to halt; but this halting-place was not to be distinguished from any accommodations, not from a spring or rivulet of water, not from any shelter from the scorching sun, and more suffocating hot wind, but it became a place of repose merely from the total incapacity of the troops to move a mile further: here then I ordered the baggage to be unloaded, and the detachment to lie down to rest. I never suffered the tents to be pitched until just before sunrise, as I found the soldiers always marched more refreshed by letting them take their rest the instant they halted, than to undergo the fatigue and confusion of pitching their tents in the dark. No dew falls in the desert; the air is so greedy of moisture, that the least wet is instantly absorbed, and sleeping in the open air was here a luxury.

_July 20th._--I was much grieved at daylight to find that about forty men were still behind. I trembled at the horrors these poor fellows would be exposed to, should they be left destitute and forlorn in the desert. After seriously reflecting upon this most melancholy circumstance, I sent for the chief Arab, who, as a kind of scheik, had some sort of control over the camel-drivers, and ordered him to collect some of the principal ones; as soon as they came to my tent, I told them the apprehensions I was under, and proposed to them to return in the track we had come the day before for at least seven miles, and promised to reward them liberally for every soldier they should bring up. All their attention was called forth by the mention of money, and they became eager to be useful. Twenty camels set off, and my brother, Captain Frederick Barlow, SIXTY-FIRST Regiment, very humanely volunteered, notwithstanding the _intolerable_ heat, to attend the camels. I filled a cag with a mixture of port wine and water, which he took with him, and it proved of the most essential service. At the distance of from four to six miles from camp, he picked up twenty-one poor exhausted fainting wretches, who, without this assistance, must have died in a very few hours: some not able to speak, and the whole totally incapable of walking a step further. One fine lad in particular, was so far gone, as to lay stretched out on the sand as if expiring; but upon pouring some of the wine and water down his throat, he gradually recovered, and he was brought into camp in a man’s arms on a camel. Water, and afterwards some wine, soon restored him to sufficient strength to enable him to proceed on a camel, with other sick men, that afternoon: before two o’clock all the absentees got into camp. This day we contrived to dine tolerably well; but for want of water to wet the bags, our wine was as hot as milk immediately from the cow,--the water we had to drink was the same, therefore to quench our thirst was impossible.

At half an hour past nine I marched, and we had not proceeded two miles, the heat absolutely suffocating, when we were met by a convoy of camels, loaded with most excellent water. This very seasonable supply had been forwarded to us from Moila, owing to my having sent on to the officer commanding at that post, to say how distressed I was for water from the leakage of our mussacks. Many of the soldiers quitted their ranks, and eagerly ran up to the camels to seize upon the water. I had no little difficulty in restraining them. I even told the officers to acquaint their men, that I would not permit the camels to be unloaded if the least irregularity took place. This had an immediate effect; and as the detachment stood in open column of half companies, the whole, in less than an hour, were regularly served with an ample supply, besides filling their canteens; as this water came in large earthern jars, it was quite cool, and had such an astonishing effect upon the troops, that we were enabled to get on with great vigour, and at half-past one on the 21st of July, we reached Moila.

This extraordinary spot is situated in a ravine between steep and rugged rocks, and is uncommonly romantic. Here, then, I found it absolutely necessary to halt, that is, to remain till the evening of the 22nd, as the men stood in the greatest need of a little repose. In the course of the day many Arabs came to the camp with various articles of provisions for sale. Mutton we received as rations in abundance,--indeed at every post in the desert where water was to be had, even in the smallest quantity, General Baird had made depôts of provisions; therefore we had only to carry the necessary supply for those halting-places where _no water was to be found_. All our stragglers reached the camp before two P.M. of this day.

_July 22nd._--I this day ordered the men to wash their persons, and otherwise to put themselves into as clean and good order as circumstances would permit. At six o’clock P.M. we marched. The road leads through a most romantic valley; at about six miles’ distance, under some craggy rocks on the left hand, are three wells or springs of water. Three miles from these are the nine mile wells, where we arrived at about ten P.M. Here I found an officer and a party of Sepoys, but was informed by him, that my detachment was so numerous it would very soon drain the pits or wells he was posted at; and the next day not a drop of water was to be got from them. At five P.M. I marched, and just before sun-set we saw a wild beast, which proved to be a lion. We continued our route over the dreary, desolate, and solitary waste for seven hours, when I found the men were excessively fatigued. Accordingly I gave orders to halt, although we had not arrived at the half-way distance between the nine mile wells and Legattah. We lay down upon a large and extensive desert plain, and at daylight, as usual, the camp was pitched. I had despatched a light camel or dromedary to Legattah with a letter to the officer stationed there, requesting him to send a supply of water to meet me on my march to that place; and relying upon his being able to comply with my request, I emptied the mussacks before I left this dreary halt, which was by much the worst we had as yet experienced. At six P.M. we marched from this abominable and burning spot. After six hours’ march the men began to complain grievously from the want of water, and I confess I almost feared the officer at Legattah had not found it possible to send a supply as I had required; however, a little after midnight, I had the inexpressible satisfaction to perceive a large escort coming towards us,--the first thing that attracted my attention was the glittering of the Sepoys’ arms, the moon shining in great splendour,--which proved to be twenty-eight camels loaded with water. Words cannot express the sensations of our poor fellows when I rode along the line of march, telling them a convoy of water was in front. I halted, and upon inquiry found that a great number had fallen behind; after supplying all the others in an ample way, I caused a captain’s guard, a surgeon, and seven camels’ load of water, together with every light and unloaded camel we could spare to remain in this spot, in order to bring up the stragglers. I then told the rest that those able to march might go on with me, as after an hour’s rest I was resolved to push on for Legattah (then distant nine miles) with the treasure and those of the troops capable of proceeding. To my great surprise, almost the whole said they could march from the comfortable supply of water they had first had, and the short repose I had given them; therefore, after leaving some of the most weakly with a captain, two subalterns, one surgeon, the water and camels as above stated, I continued my route, and after two hours’ march had the satisfaction to come in sight of the lights of Legattah camp. So fatiguing was this forced march, that I was frequently in danger of falling from my horse from sleep. An officer of the Tenth Regiment fell from an ass he rode, and hurt himself considerably. I got in just before the dawn of day, _all of us exceedingly exhausted_; and it was not until three P.M. that the captain with the rear-guard and stragglers came up; this made it impossible for me to leave the camp until the evening following,--the poor fellows who dropped in during the day, panting and fainting, were incapable of further exertions. The thermometer in my tent was here at 114°.