Chapter M: DCCC XLVIII (1)

THE THIRTEENTH,

THE FIRST SOMERSET REGIMENT OF FOOT,

OR

THE PRINCE ALBERT’S REGIMENT OF
LIGHT INFANTRY,

Bears on its Regimental Colour

THE SPHINX, WITH THE WORD “EGYPT,”

In Commemoration of its Services in Egypt in 1801;

THE WORD “MARTINIQUE,”

In Commemoration of its Services at the Capture of that Island
on the 24th February, 1809;

AND THE WORDS

“AVA,”--“AFFGHANISTAN,”--“GHUZNEE,”--“JELLALABAD,”
_WITH THE MURAL CROWN_,

AND

“CABOOL, 1842,”

In Commemoration of its Arduous and Meritorious Services in the
Asiatic Territories from 1839 to 1842.

THIRTEENTH, PRINCE ALBERT’S REGIMENT OF LIGHT INFANTRY.

CONTENTS.

Year Page

1685 Formation of the Regiment 1

---- Station and Establishment -

---- Earl of Huntingdon, and other officers appointed
to Commissions 2

---- Encamped on Hounslow Heath -

1686 Establishment of the Regiment -

---- Uniform of the Regiment -

---- Marched into Yorkshire and Cumberland -

---- Removed to Chester -

1687 List of Officers 3

1688 Declaration of the Regiment in favour of the
Protestant Interest 4

---- Colonel F. Hastings appointed in the place of
the Earl of Huntingdon -

1689 Proceeded to Edinburgh 5

---- Engaged at Killicrankie 6

---- Embarked for Ireland 8

1690 Engaged at the Battle of the Boyne 9

---- Embarked for England -

---- Re-embarked for Ireland -

---- Engaged at Cork and Kinsale 10

1691 Engaged at Drumaugh and Ballycleugh 11

---- Took possession of Drummaneer --

1691 Engaged at Lismore 11

---- Termination of hostilities in Ireland --

---- Embarked for England --

1692 Selected to form part of an Expedition against
the French Coast 12

---- Proceeded to Ostend --

---- Returned to England --

1693 Detachment sent to Flanders to replace the
casualties of the Army after the Battle of
Landen --

1695 Colonel F. Hastings cashiered, and Colonel Sir
John Jacob appointed to succeed him 13

1697 Termination of the War in Flanders and the
Establishment reduced --

1699 Proceeded to Ireland --

1700 Hostile measures of King Louis XIV. of France --

1701 Embarked from Cork for Flanders 14

---- Landed at Helvoetsluys --

---- Reviewed at Breda by King William III. --

1702 Encamped at Rosendael --

---- Colonel the Earl of Barrymore appointed by
purchase to succeed Sir John Jacob --

1702 Engaged in the siege of Kayserswerth --

---- The Earl of Marlborough assumed the command
of the Army in Flanders --

---- Formed in brigade under Brigadier-General
Frederick Hamilton 15

1702 Engaged in the siege and capture of Venloo --

---- ---- ---- ---- of Fort St. Michael --

---- ---- ---- ---- of Ruremonde 16

---- ---- ---- ---- of Liege --

---- Entered winter-quarters at Breda 17

1703 Engaged in the siege of Huy --

---- ---- ---- ---- of Limburg --

1703 Spanish Guelderland delivered from France 17

---- Embarked for England --

---- Proceeded to Portugal --

1704 Encamped at Estremos 18

---- Embarked for Gibraltar 19

1705 Engaged in defence of Gibraltar 20

---- Re-embarked for Spain 21

---- Engaged in the siege of Barcelona 22

---- ---- in storming Fort Montjuich --

---- ---- in relief of St. Matheo in Valencia 23

1706 Formed by the Earl of Peterborough into a
Regiment of Cavalry commanded by Colonel
Edward Pearce 24

---- Marched to Oropeso and formed into eight troops 25

---- Remainder of the Regiment sent to England to
recruit --

---- Pearce’s Regiment of Dragoons engaged in
Valencia 26

1707 ---- ---- ---- ---- at Almanza --

1708 Thirteenth Regiment, having been recruited,
again embarked for Portugal, and encamped
between Elvas and Campo Mayor 27

1709 Proceeded to the banks of the Caya --

---- Engaged at the attack on the Caya --

---- Colonel the Earl of Barrymore taken prisoner 28

1710 Served the Campaign on the frontiers of Portugal --

1711 Embarked from Portugal for Gibraltar --

1713 Received volunteers from several Corps disbanded
after the peace of Utrecht --

1715 Colonel the Earl of Barrymore succeeded by
Colonel Stanhope Cotton, then Lieutenant-Governor
of Gibraltar 29

1725 Colonel Cotton died, and succeeded as Colonel of
the Thirteenth Regiment by Lord Mark Kerr --

1727 Engaged in a second successful defence of
Gibraltar against the Spaniards 29

1728 Relieved from duty at Gibraltar, after foreign
service for twenty years 30

1730 Reviewed on Winkfield-plain, with the Twelfth
foot, by King George II. --

1732 Colonel Lord Mark Kerr removed to the Eleventh
Dragoons, and succeeded by Colonel John Middleton --

1739 Colonel John Middleton died, and succeeded by
Colonel Henry Pulteney --

---- War declared against Spain, and augmentation
took place --

1740 Encamped on Windsor Forest --

1741 Encamped on Lexden Heath 31

1742 Embarked for Flanders under the Earl of Stair --

1743 War declared against France --

---- Encamped at Aschaffenburg --

---- Engaged at the battle of Dettingen --

1744 Engaged under Field Marshal Wade on the
banks of the Scheldt 32

1745 Engaged at the battle of Fontenoy --

---- Encamped on the plains of Lessines 33

---- Arrival of Charles Edward, elder son of the
Pretender, in Scotland --

---- Thirteenth Regiment returned from Flanders,
and landed at Blackwall 34

---- Proceeded to Doncaster and Newcastle --

1746 Engaged at Falkirk-moor --

---- ---- at Culloden-moor 35

---- Rebellion in Scotland suppressed 36

---- Flight of the Young Pretender --

---- Regiment returned to Holland --

1746 Advanced to Maestricht, and thence to Liege 36

---- Engaged at Roucoux --

1747 Engaged at Val 37

1748 Employed in Limburg, and in North Brabant 39

---- Treaty of Peace at Aix la Chapelle --

---- Returned to England --

1751 Royal Warrant issued regulating the clothing,
and colours of Regiments --

1754 Embarked for Gibraltar --

1762 Returned to England --

1766 His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester appointed
Colonel in succession to Honorable Henry Pulteney 40

1767 Reviewed in Hyde Park with the Twelfth Foot,
by King George III. --

---- The Duke of Gloucester appointed to the Third
Foot Guards, and succeeded in the Colonelcy
by Honorable James Murray --

1768 Proceeded to Ireland --

1769 Embarked for Minorca --

1776 Returned to England --

1781 Embarked for the West Indies 41

1782 The war with America ceased and the regiment
returned to England --

---- The Regiment directed to assume the County
title of First Somersetshire Regiment --

1784 Embarked for Ireland --

1789 General George Ainslie appointed Colonel in
succession to Honorable James Murray --

1790 Embarked for Jamaica 42

1793 Embarked for St. Domingo --

1794 Proceeded on an expedition under Colonel John
Whitaker to Cape Tiburon 43

---- Engaged at the Post of L’Acal 44

1794 Engaged at Port-au-Prince 44

---- ---- at Fort Bizzeton 45

1796 Re-embarked for England --

1797 Proceeded to Ireland --

1800 Embarked for England 46

---- Embarked on an expedition to the Coast of Spain --

---- Proceeded to Gibraltar and Malta 47

1801 Joined the expedition to Egypt under General
Sir Ralph Abercromby --

---- Landed at Aboukir 48

---- Advanced to Alexandria, and engaged the French
on 12th March --

---- Engaged a second time at Alexandria against
“Buonaparte’s Invincibles” on the 21st of
March 49

---- French Army expelled from Egypt --

---- The Grand Seignior conferred orders of Knighthood
and Gold Medals on the Officers 50

---- Authorized to bear the “Sphinx,” and the word
“Egypt” on the Colours and Appointments --

1802 Embarked from Egypt for Malta 51

1803 Embarked for Gibraltar --

1804 General Ainslie died, and Lieut.-General A.
Campbell appointed to the Colonelcy --

---- Epidemic fever prevailed at Gibraltar which
occasioned many casualties 52

1805 Embarked for England --

1806 Proceeded from Portsmouth to Ramsgate --

1807 Embarked for Ireland --

---- Completed by Militia Volunteers, and re-embarked
for England --

1808 Embarked for the West Indies and proceeded to
Bermuda --

1808 Joined an expedition against Martinique 53

1809 Stationed at Martinique 54

1810 Joined an expedition against Guadaloupe --

1811 }
1812 } Stationed at Martinique --

1813 Lieut.-General Edward Morrison appointed to the
Colonelcy in succession to General Campbell,
removed to the thirty-second regiment --

---- Embarked from Martinique for Canada 55

---- Proceeded on an expedition to Plattsburg --

1814 Defended a post on the La Cole river against a
numerous Corps of Americans 56

1815 Peace concluded with the United States of
America 57

---- Embarked from Canada and landed at Portsmouth
58

---- Proceeded to Jersey --

1817 Presentation of new Colours --

---- Proceeded to Guernsey 59

1819 Embarked for Portsmouth 60

---- ---- ---- Scotland 61

1820 ---- ---- Ireland --

1822 ---- ---- Liverpool 62

---- Proceeded to Edinburgh --

---- Furnished Guards of Honour to King George IV.
on his visit to Scotland --

---- Proceeded to Chatham to prepare for embarkation
for India --

---- Constituted a regiment of Light Infantry --

1823 Embarked for Bengal --

1824 Employed in the war with the King of Ava 63

---- Capture of _Rangoon_, the principal city of the
Burmese Empire --

---- Detached against the Island of Cheduba --

1824 Advanced against formidable stockades erected
by the Burmese 64

---- Repeated attacks of the Burmese on the British
possessions 65

---- Attack on the Burmese in the neighbourhood of
Rangoon 66

---- Another victorious attack under Majors Dennie
and Sale 67

---- Further attacks followed up 68

1825 Proceeded against the city of Bassein 69

---- Embarked for Rangoon 70

---- Proceeded to join the army at Prome --

---- Advanced to attack the Burmese at Simbike 71

---- Again marched to attack the enemy at Napadee
Hills --

1826 Advanced and took post at Melloon 72

---- Engaged with the Burmese at Pagahm Mew 73

---- Advanced upon the capital, Ummerapoora --

---- Treaty of peace concluded with the King of Ava --

---- Order of thanks from the Governor-General of
India for services performed in this arduous
campaign 74

---- Authorized to bear the word “AVA” on its colours
and appointments --

---- Embarked for Calcutta --

---- ---- ---- Berhampore --

1827 Arrived at Dinapore --

1831 Proceeded to Agra --

1836 Marched to Kurnaul --

1837 A detachment proceeded to Lahore with the
Commander-in-Chief on a visit to Runjeet Singh,
the ruler of the Sikhs 75

---- Detachment returned to Kurnaul --

1838 War with the chiefs of Affghanistan 76

---- Joined the army of the Indus, proceeded to Ferozepore,
and encamped on the banks of the river Gharra --

---- Marched to Bhawulpore 77

1839 Arrived at Roree, and took possession of Bakkur 78

---- Crossed the river Indus and arrived at Shikarpore --

---- Continued its march to Beloochistan --

---- Penetrated the Bolan Pass 79

---- Marched through the Vale of Shawl --

---- Arrived at Candahar --

---- Advanced to Ghuznee 80

---- Stormed and captured the citadel of Ghuznee 81

---- Shah Shoojah-ool-Moolk restored to his dominions
in Affghanistan 82

---- Rewards to the conquerors of Affghanistan 83

---- Remained in Affghanistan to support the government
of the restored Shah 84

---- Encamped near Cabool --

1840 Advanced against Dost Mahomed in the Kohistan
of Cabool --

---- Assisted in carrying the town and forts of Tootumdurra --

---- Engaged in the attack of Julgar 85

---- ---- ---- ---- of Babookooshghur 86

---- ---- ---- ---- at Purwan --

---- Returned to Cabool --

1841 War recommenced with the Affghans --

---- Attempt of the Affghans to expel Shah Shoojah --

---- Marched to the Khoord Cabool Pass --

---- ---- ---- Tezeen 87

---- ---- ---- Gundamuck 88

---- Engaged at the Jugdulluck Pass --

1841 Captured the Fort of Mamoo Khail 88

---- Returned to Gundamuck --

---- Captured the town of Jellalabad 89

1842 Defended the town --

---- Defeated the Affghans --

---- Renewed attempts of the Affghans to expel the
British from the Cabool territory 90

---- Means adopted for a general attack on the
Affghan camp 91

---- Death of Colonel Dennie 92

---- Defeat of Mahomed Akbar 93

---- Expression of approbation and thanks by the
Governor-General of the conduct of Major-General
Sir Robert Sale, and of the army under his command 94

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- of the houses of Parliament to
the army in Affghanistan 95

---- Arrival at Jellalabad of the forces under Major-General
Pollock 97

---- Major-General Sir Robert Sale’s report of the
services and privations of the troops for five
months 98

---- Her Majesty’s approbation and marks of distinction
conferred on the Thirteenth regiment 101

---- Marched from Jellalabad to Gundamuck 102

---- The Affghans defeated at Jugdulluck 103

---- Actions at Tezeen, and in the Huft Kotul Pass 104

---- Re-occupied Cabool --

---- Detachment marched to meet the prisoners detained by
Akbar Khan on their release and return to Cabool --

---- Quitted the Affghan territory on return to India 105

---- Marched to Jellalabad --

---- Proceeded to Peshawur --

1842 Proceeded across the Punjaub to Ferozepore 105

---- Received with military honours by the troops at
the several stations on the route to India, by
orders of the Governor-General --

---- Received the Queen’s authority to bear
“CABOOL, 1842” on the colours and appointments 106

1843 Marched from Ferozepore to Mowbarukpore 107

---- Proceeded to Kussowlie --

---- Marched to Ferozepore --

---- Embarked for Sukkur --

---- Major-General Sir Robert Sale appointed to the
colonelcy of the Thirteenth regiment, in succession
to General Morrison, deceased --

1844 Moved to Kurrachee 108

---- Embarked for Bombay --

1845 Embarked for England 109

---- Arrived at Gravesend --

---- Proceeded to Walmer --

1846 Lieutenant-General Sir William M. Gomm appointed
to the colonelcy in succession to Major-General
Sir Robert Sale, killed at the battle of Moodkee,
on the 18th December, 1845 --

---- Marched to Portsmouth --

---- Presentation of new colours by Field Marshal
His Royal Highness the Prince Albert --

1847 Embarked for Ireland 112

---- The Conclusion 113

Description of the Flags captured from the Affghans in the Year 1842 115

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.

Year Page

1685 Theophilus Earl of Huntingdon 117

1688 Ferdinand Hastings 118

1689 Sir John Jacob, Bart. --

1702 James Earl of Barrymore 119

1715 Stanhope Cotton --

1725 Lord Mark Kerr 120

1732 Lord Middleton 121

1739 Henry Pulteney --

1766 William Henry Duke of Gloucester 122

1767 Hon. James Murray 123

1789 George Ainslie --

1804 Alexander Campbell 124

1813 Edward Morrison 125

1843 Robert Henry Sale 126

1846 William Maynard Gomm 128

PLATES.

Page.

Colours of the Regiment _to face_ 1

Costume of the Regiment ” 62

Standards captured from the Affghans in the
Action at Jellalabad on the 7th April, 1842 ” 116

QUEEN’S COLOR.

REGIMENTAL COLOR.

FOR CANNON’S MILITARY RECORDS.]

HISTORICAL RECORD

OF

THE THIRTEENTH,

FIRST SOMERSETSHIRE REGIMENT;

OR

PRINCE ALBERT’S REGIMENT OF LIGHT INFANTRY.

[Sidenote: 1685]

When JAMES DUKE OF MONMOUTH denounced the character and pretensions of King James II., asserted his own claims to the throne, and organized a military force to establish his authority, the small regular army then in England was not deemed sufficiently numerous for the protection of the crown and kingdom against lawless usurpation, and a number of additional corps of cavalry and infantry were embodied. Among the noblemen who stood forward in support of the throne at this important juncture, was THEOPHILUS, EARL OF HUNTINGDON, who was appointed colonel of one of the regiments ordered to be raised,--now THIRTEENTH LIGHT INFANTRY,--by commission dated the 20th of June, 1685.

This regiment was raised in the southern counties of England, and its general rendezvous was at Buckingham, where the Earl of Huntingdon established his head-quarters; it consisted of ten companies, which were raised by Colonel the Earl of Huntingdon, Lieut-Colonel Francis Villiers, Major Charles Morgan, Captains Watson Dixey, Thomas Condon, Thomas Skipworth,--Hildibran, John Tidcomb, Bryan Turner, and Charles Hatton; and a number of loyal men coming readily forward to enrol themselves under the colours of the regiment, it was speedily formed and quartered at Buckingham and Aylesbury. In the middle of July it was employed to guard prisoners taken after the overthrow of the rebel army at Sedgemoor.

The rebellion being suppressed, and the Duke of Monmouth beheaded, the King assembled many of the newly-raised corps on Hounslow Heath, where the Earl of Huntingdon’s regiment encamped in the beginning of August: it was reviewed on the Heath by His Majesty; the officers and soldiers received the expression of the King’s royal approbation of the ready manner in which they had come forward to support the throne at the hour of danger, and they afterwards marched into garrison at Hull.

On the 6th of January, 1686, the establishment was fixed at the following numbers and rates of pay, viz. (_see_ p. 3).

[Sidenote: 1686]

The uniform of the regiment was, round hats with broad brims, the brim turned up on one side, and ornamented with yellow ribands; scarlet coats lined with yellow; yellow breeches, and gray stockings; the pikemen were distinguished by white sashes tied round their waists.

In June the regiment was again encamped on Hounslow Heath, and in August it marched into Yorkshire and Cumberland; the head-quarters being at York, where it passed the winter.

From York the head-quarters were removed, in February, 1687, to Chester, where they remained during the following twelve months.

+-----------------------------------------+-----------------+
| THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON’S REGIMENT. | Pay per Day. |
+-----------------------------------------+-----------------+
| STAFF. | £. _s._ _d._ |
| | |
| The Colonel, _as Colonel_ | 0 12 0 |
| Lieut.-Colonel, _as Lieut.-Colonel_ | 0 7 0 |
| Major, _as Major_ | 0 5 0 |
| Chaplain | 0 6 8 |
| Chirurgeon 4_s._ and Mate 2_s._ 6_d._ | 0 6 6 |
| Adjutant | 0 4 0 |
| Quarter-Master and Marshal | 0 4 0 |
| +-----------------+
| Total Staff | 2 5 2 |
| | |
| THE COLONEL’S COMPANY. | |
| | |
| The Colonel, as Captain | 0 8 0 |
| Lieutenant | 0 4 0 |
| Ensign | 0 3 0 |
| Two Serjeants, 1_s._ 6_d._ each | 0 3 0 |
| Three Corporals, 1_s._ each | 0 3 0 |
| One Drummer | 0 1 0 |
| Fifty Soldiers, 8_d._ each | 1 13 4 |
| +-----------------+
| Total for one Company | 2 15 4 |
| +-----------------+
| Nine Companies more at the same rate | 24 18 0 |
| +-----------------+
| Total per day | 29 18 6 |
| | |
| Per Annum £10,922 12_s._ 6_d._ | |
+-----------------------------------------+-----------------+

[Sidenote: 1687]

LIST OF OFFICERS IN 1687.

_Captains._ _Lieutenants._ _Ensigns._

Earl of Huntingdon, Thomas Carleton. William Delavale.
(col). William Rhodesley. Ralph Cudworth.
Ferdinando Hastings John Hook. Deacon Garrett.
(lieut.-colonel). John Fry. Henry Fern.
Robert Ingram (major). John Sheldon. John Orefeur.
Watson Dixie. Talbot Lacells. Ambrose Jones.
John Tidcomb. George Comly. Hussey Hastings.
Owen Macarty. Michael Dunkin. Joseph Byerley
Charles Hatton. George Keyworth. Thomas Knivetton.
Sir John Jacob. Henry Walrond. William Callow.
Thomas Condon.
Charnock Heron.
Christopher Viscount } Bernard Ellis { Company of grenadiers
Hatton. } William Hawley { added to the regiment
{ in 1687.
Gabriel Hastings, _Chaplain_. Talbot Lacells, _Adjutant_.
Claudius Gilbert, _Chirurgeon_. John Evans, _Quarter-Master_.

[Sidenote: 1688]

The regiment left Chester in April, 1688, and in June it pitched its tents on Hounslow Heath. In the meantime, the proceedings of the King, to establish Papacy and arbitrary government, had filled the country with alarm, and many of the nobility and gentry had solicited the Prince of Orange to come to England with a Dutch army, to aid them in opposing the measures of the court. The Earl of Huntingdon continued, however, faithful to the interests of the King, and his regiment was ordered into garrison at Plymouth, together with the Earl of Bath’s (now Tenth) regiment. When the Prince of Orange landed, the garrison of Plymouth was divided in its political views: the governor, the Earl of Bath, and Lieut.-Colonel Hastings, of the THIRTEENTH (cousin of the Earl of Huntingdon), were in the Protestant interest; the Earl of Huntingdon, who was present, and performing the duties of commanding officer, with Lieut.-Colonel Sir Charles Carney, of the Tenth, were devoted to the Roman Catholic interest; but nearly all the officers and soldiers had espoused the Protestant cause. The Earl of Bath, Lieut.-Colonel Hastings, and several other officers, arrested the Earl of Huntingdon, Captain Owen Macarty, Lieutenant Talbot Lacells, and Ensign Ambrose Jones, of the THIRTEENTH, who were Roman Catholics, and afterwards declared for the Prince of Orange, in which the two regiments in garrison concurred. When the fortress of Plymouth was established in the Protestant interest, the arrested officers were released.

The army refusing to fight in the cause of Papacy and arbitrary government, King James fled to France and the Prince of Orange promoted Lieut.-Colonel FERDINANDO HASTINGS to the colonelcy of the regiment, by commission, dated 1688.

[Sidenote: 1689]

The accession of the Prince and Princess of Orange to the throne having met with some opposition in Scotland, the regiment was ordered thither; and on arriving at _Edinburgh_, in the spring of 1689, it was employed in the blockade of the _castle_, which the Duke of Gordon held for King James; at the same time Viscount Dundee was arousing the clans to arms.

While the regiment was at Edinburgh, Major-General Hugh Mackay, commanding-in-chief in Scotland, was watching the motions of Viscount Dundee, and he sent orders for Colonel Ramsay to join him with six hundred men of the Scots Brigade, in the Dutch service. The colonel commenced his march, but was intimidated by the menacing attitude of the Athol men, and returned to Perth; when a hundred men of Berkeley’s (now Fourth) dragoons, a hundred of the THIRTEENTH foot, and two hundred of Leven’s newly-raised regiment (now Twenty-fifth), were ordered to join him. Thus reinforced, the Colonel commenced his march through Athole and Badenoch for Inverness; and with the aid of this detachment, Major-General Mackay chased the clans, under Viscount Dundee, from the low country, and compelled them to take refuge in the wilds of Lochaber: the detachment of the THIRTEENTH foot was afterwards stationed at Inverness; and the regiment was relieved from the blockade of Edinburgh Castle by the surrender of that fortress on the 13th of June.

After forcing Viscount Dundee to take refuge in Lochaber, Major-General Mackay proceeded to Edinburgh, where he learned that the clans expected to be joined by a reinforcement from Ireland, and would probably soon descend from the hilly country; the major-general, therefore, assembled the THIRTEENTH foot, and several other corps, and marched from Edinburgh, to watch the motions of the insurgent Highlanders. Arriving at Dunkeld, he received an express from Lord Murray, son of the Marquis of Athol, stating that part of Viscount Dundee’s army had arrived at Blair; and in consequence of this information, he commenced his march at daybreak on the morning of Saturday, the 27th of July, towards the pass of Killicrankie,[6] to confront his opponents, and on this occasion the THIRTEENTH foot, commanded by their colonel, Ferdinando Hastings, formed the rear-guard, to cover the march of twelve hundred pack-horses, which carried the baggage of the army.

Entering the pass of Killicrankie, the troops moved along the east bank of the river Garry, by a narrow road, confined between a range of craggy precipices on one hand, and on the other the river, considerably below the road, rushing from rock to rock with a murmuring sound; and as the THIRTEENTH regiment emerged from this difficult defile with the baggage, the royal army was seen in order of battle, on some rising ground at the foot of a hill, on the summit of which appeared the insurgent host, under Viscount Dundee. The THIRTEENTH foot formed on the right of the line, the grenadier company on the flank, with a supply of hand-grenades, the musketeers formed two wings; and the pikemen stood in column in the centre. During two tedious hours of a bright summer evening the armies stood looking at each other; and about half an hour before sunset, the Highlanders moved slowly down the hill, barefooted, and stripped to their shirts, to commence the battle: as they descended, they quickened their pace, uttered a loud shout, and commenced an irregular fire of musketry, which produced little effect. The King’s troops reserved their fire until the clans came within a few paces, and then by a regular discharge, with a sure aim, produced great havoc on the thick masses opposed to them; but at that moment the Highlanders threw down their muskets, drew their swords, and closed upon their opponents, who had not time to fix their bayonets in the muzzles of their muskets,[7] and being thus attacked, under peculiar disadvantages, many of the king’s troops gave way.

The THIRTEENTH foot, commanded by Colonel Hastings, stood their ground with great gallantry, and the Highlanders were unable to make any impression on this brave regiment. After being repulsed in their attack on its front, the Highlanders attempted to turn its right flank, when Colonel Hastings wheeled his pikemen to the right, and by a determined charge routed the clans at that point. As the conquering pikemen of the THIRTEENTH were returning to their post in the centre of the regiment, they discovered that the other corps of the royal army were overpowered, and the soldiers flying in every direction; at the same time the Highlanders had discontinued the pursuit, to plunder the baggage. At that moment Major-General Mackay galloped to the regiment; he collected the fragments of other corps to it, and retreated. In his memoirs of this war, published in 1833, Major-General Mackay commends the conduct of this regiment;[8] and in his life, published in 1836, the author (John Mackay, Esq., of Rockfield) states, ‘HASTINGS, on the right, sustained the reputation of the English lion, but all to no purpose, so far had the panic extended.’ Yet it was to great purpose, for one corps was preserved entire, which enabled the commander-in-chief to make good his retreat to Stirling.

Viscount Dundee was killed in the action; and the loss of the clans, in killed and wounded, was much greater than that of the king’s troops. Major-General Mackay called to his aid additional corps, resumed the offensive, and by a series of active and skilful operations, restricted the movements of the Highlanders so much, that they separated to their homes.

In the meantime King James had arrived in Ireland with a body of French troops, and all the country, excepting Inniskilling and Londonderry, was subjected to his dominion. To rescue Ireland from his power, an army was sent to that country, under the veteran Marshal Duke Schomberg, and the THIRTEENTH foot were ordered to take part in this enterprise.

The regiment embarked from Scotland in the beginning of October, landed at Carlingford on the 9th of that month, and received orders to join the army encamped at Dundalk; but these orders were countermanded, and the regiment marched into quarters at Armagh and Clownish, where it was stationed during the winter.

[Sidenote: 1690]

In April, 1690, the THIRTEENTH were stationed at Belfast, and they had the gratification of serving in the campaign of that year, under King William III., who commanded his army in Ireland in person. They had the honour to contribute towards the gaining of the battle of the _Boyne_, on the 1st of July, when the army of King William forced the passage of the river Boyne, overthrew the French and Irish forces under King James, and gained a decisive victory.

After this victory, the regiment advanced with the army towards Dublin, and it was stationed several weeks in garrison in that city, under Brigadier-General Trelawny.

In the meantime, considerable alarm had been produced in England by the defeat of the combined English and Dutch fleets, under Admirals Lord Torrington and Evertsen, by the French navy, under the Count de Tourville. After this disaster, England was menaced with invasion, and a body of French troops landed on the western coast, and destroyed a village; when the THIRTEENTH, and several other corps, were ordered to return to England.

After landing at Portsmouth, the regiment was encamped, for several weeks, near that fortress; and when the alarm of invasion had passed away, it was ordered to join the expedition against _Cork_ and _Kinsale_, under Lieut.-General the Earl of Marlborough, (afterwards the celebrated Duke of Marlborough). It embarked on this service in the middle of September, arrived in Cork roads on the 21st of that month, and the co-operation of part of the army on shore having been secured, the troops landed on the 23rd, and besieged the city of Cork. A breach having been made, the THIRTEENTH regiment was selected to form part of the storming party, which advanced to assault the town on the 28th of September; but before the soldiers gained the breach, the enemy hung out a white flag, and agreed to surrender.

The troops marched out of Cork on the 1st of October, arrived before _Kinsale_ on the following day, and commenced the siege of the two forts. The old fort was taken by storm immediately, and the new fort surrendered on the 15th of October.

After taking part in these services, the regiment was stationed in garrison at Cork. The health of the men suffered from having been employed in sieges during inclement weather, and in the official returns the regiment is stated to have had 462 rank and file fit for duty, and 216 sick.

[Sidenote: 1691]

In the spring of 1691, when the army took the field under General de Ginkell (afterwards Earl of Athlone), the THIRTEENTH were left in garrison at Cork, from whence they frequently sent out detachments in quest of the bands of Roman Catholic peasantry who prowled about the country in arms, committing every description of depredation. On one of these occasions, when Colonel Hastings was out with two hundred men of the regiment, and five hundred militia, he was informed that a party of the royal dragoons was surrounded by a numerous body of the enemy at _Drumaugh_, and he instantly marched to their relief. On arriving at the vicinity of _Ballycleugh_, he found the hedges on both sides of the road lined with opponents; when the soldiers of the THIRTEENTH rushed into the inclosures, killed fifty adversaries, and chased the remainder some distance. On the following morning the soldiers of the THIRTEENTH drove the Irish from Drumaugh, and liberated the party of the royal dragoons at that place.

Soon after this exploit, Colonel Hastings marched out of Cork with a party of the regiment and some militia, and seized upon _Drummaneer_, an important post near the Blackwater.

On the 12th of September, Captain John Orefeur left Cork, with a detachment of the regiment, to scour the country; and arriving in the vicinity of _Lismore_, he encountered a numerous body of armed partisans of King James, whom he instantly attacked, killed twenty of their number upon the spot, and put the remainder to flight, which so alarmed the armed bands of Roman Catholic peasantry, that they did not again appear in that part of the country for some time.

While the regiment was engaged in these services, the Irish army was defeated at Aghrim, and the city of Limerick was besieged by King William’s forces. The surrender of this fortress, completed the deliverance of Ireland from the power of King James, and terminated the war in that country.

The THIRTEENTH regiment was relieved from garrison duty at Cork on the 22nd of December, and embarked for England, where it arrived towards the end of that month.

[Sidenote: 1692]

At this period, the desire of conquest, with the disposition, by adding city to city and province to province, to form a vast empire, and to control the nations of Europe with despotic sway, marked the policy of the French court: this rendered it necessary for the British monarch to engage in war to preserve the civil and religious liberties of Europe; and while the army of the confederate states, commanded by King William, confronted the forces of Louis XIV. in the Netherlands, the THIRTEENTH were selected to form part of an expedition against the French coast, under Lieut.-General the Duke of Leinster (afterwards Duke Schomberg). The French fleet had been defeated a short time previously off La Hogue, and Louis XIV. had anticipated a descent, and had assembled so many forces on the coast, that the Duke of Leinster did not venture to land his troops. After menacing the coast of France at several points, the fleet sailed to Ostend, where the regiment landed on the 22nd of August. The THIRTEENTH and a number of other corps advanced a few stages up the country, when the French withdrew from Furnes and Dixmude, and the English took possession of, and fortified these towns.

When the army went into winter quarters, the THIRTEENTH were ordered to return to England, and they were employed on home service during the remainder of the war.

[Sidenote: 1693]

After the loss of the battle of Landen, in July, 1693, by the confederate army under King William, the THIRTEENTH regiment sent a draft of one hundred and fifty men to Flanders, to replace the losses of the regiments which had suffered most on that occasion.

[Sidenote: 1695]

In the early part of 1695, an accusation was preferred against Colonel Ferdinando Hastings, of charging the soldiers too high a price for certain articles which he, as Colonel, was in the habit of providing for them; an investigation afterwards took place, he was proved guilty of extortion, and deprived of his commission on the 4th of March. On the 13th of March, King William conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on the Lieut.-Colonel, SIR JOHN JACOB, Baronet, who had served in it several years, and distinguished himself in Scotland and Ireland.

[Sidenote: 1697]

[Sidenote: 1698]

[Sidenote: 1699]

In 1697 the war was terminated by the treaty of Ryswick, and King William saw his efforts to arrest the progress of French conquests attended with complete success. The regiment was placed upon a peace establishment in 1698; the army was further reduced in 1699, and the THIRTEENTH proceeded to Ireland to replace one of the corps ordered to be disbanded in that country.

[Sidenote: 1700]

When a powerful monarch adopts measures of unprincipled aggression, and pursues schemes of aggrandizement without regard to the stipulations of treaties, to the rights of nations, or to the privileges of individuals, peace is not of long duration; but princes of a pacific disposition, and people devoted to the interests of industry and commerce, are forced to assume the profession of arms, and to fight in defence of their just rights and privileges. Such was repeatedly the case during the reign of Louis XIV., who terminated the repose granted to Europe by the treaty of Ryswick, by procuring the elevation of his grandson, the Duke of Anjou, to the throne of Spain;--by taking possession of the Spanish Netherlands,--making prisoners the Dutch garrisons in the barrier towns, and other acts of aggression. The interests of every state in Europe being affected by the change in the dynasty of Spain, the preparations for war were universal, and King William sent thirteen British battalions to Holland, to act as auxiliaries.

[Sidenote: 1701]

The THIRTEENTH regiment was selected to proceed on foreign service: it was augmented to eight hundred and thirty officers and soldiers; and sailing from Cork in the middle of June, 1701, arrived at Helvoetsluys, in South Holland, on the 8th of July. The British troops were afterwards sent up the Maese to Breda, and other fortified towns; and on the 21st of September they were reviewed on Breda heath by King William III.

[Sidenote: 1702]

After passing the winter in garrison in Holland, the regiment quitted its quarters on the 10th of March, 1702, and proceeded to Rosendael, where the British infantry encamped under Brigadier-General Ingoldsby, then Colonel of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Colonel Sir John Jacob, Baronet, being desirous of retiring from the active duties of commanding officer of the regiment, which were performed by all colonels not having higher rank, procured permission to dispose of the colonelcy of the regiment for fourteen hundred guineas, to his brother-in-law, JAMES EARL of BARRYMORE, whose appointment was dated the 15th of March, 1702, being seven days after the death of King William III., and the accession of Queen Anne.

In the middle of April, the Imperialists besieged the strong fortress of _Kayserswerth_ on the Lower Rhine, and the THIRTEENTH regiment was one of the corps which traversed the country to the duchy of Cleves, and joined the covering army, under the Earl of Athlone, encamped at Cranenburg.

A French army of superior numbers proceeded, by forced marches, through the forest of Cleves and plain of Goch, to cut off the communication of the troops at Cranenburg, with Grave and _Nimeguen_. In consequence of this movement, the British and Dutch struck their tents on the evening of the 10th of June, and retreating throughout the night, arrived, about eight o’clock on the following morning, within a few miles of Nimeguen, at which time the French columns appeared on both flanks and in the rear. Some sharp skirmishing occurred: the British corps forming the rear guard behaved with great gallantry, and the army effected its retreat under the works of Nimeguen. Kayserswerth surrendered three days afterwards.

Additional forces arrived in Holland, the EARL OF MARLBOROUGH assumed the command, and the Eighth, THIRTEENTH, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth regiments, were formed in brigade under Brigadier-General Frederick Hamilton. This brigade took part in the manœuvres by which the French army was forced to withdraw from the frontiers of Holland; and when the siege of the fortress of _Venloo_--a town in the province of Limburg, situate on the east side of the Maese, with fortifications beyond the river--was undertaken, Brigadier-General Hamilton’s brigade formed part of the force of thirty-two battalions of infantry and thirty-six squadrons of cavalry, detached from the main army for this enterprise, under Prince Nassau Saarbruck.

The THIRTEENTH regiment carried on its attacks against the detached fortress of _St. Michael_, on the west side of the river; and on the 18th of September, the grenadier company of the regiment was ordered to take part in storming the covered-way, which, from the extraordinary gallantry of the soldiers, ended in the capture of the fort. Between five and six o’clock in the evening the signal was given, when the grenadiers rushed forward;--the French fired a few rounds and fled;--the British leaped into the covered-way, and pursued their opponents so closely, that friends and foes entered the ravelin together. The French in the ravelin were soon sabred; those who escaped fled across a small wooden bridge, and were followed so closely that they had not time to remove the bridge, and after a sharp struggle, the English and French entered the fort together. The British got over the fausse-braye, climbed up the rampart with great difficulty,--pulled up the palisades from the parapet, ascended the rampart, and captured the fort sword in hand, making thirty officers and one hundred and seventy soldiers prisoners; the remainder of the garrison, which consisted of six hundred men, were either killed in the attack, or drowned in attempting to escape across the river, excepting twelve men, who passed the stream in small boats.

In a few days afterwards, information arrived of the capture of Landau by the Germans, when the army before Venloo assembled to fire three rounds for that event, and the batteries were ordered to fire three volleys. When the garrison and inhabitants saw the preparations in the besieging army, they imagined it was for attacking the place by storm: the magistrates begged the governor to surrender, and the town was delivered up.

After the surrender of Venloo, the THIRTEENTH regiment was engaged in the siege of _Ruremonde_, which fortress was invested towards the end of September, and surrendered on the 7th of October.

The army afterwards advanced towards _Liege_; the city was immediately delivered up, and the citadel was captured by storm on the 23rd of October: on which occasion the grenadiers of the army distinguished themselves. A detached fortress, called the Chartreuse, surrendered soon afterwards, and these conquests terminated the campaign.

Quitting the valley of Liege on the 3rd of November, the regiment marched back to Holland, and was stationed in garrison at Breda during the winter.

[Sidenote: 1703]

From Breda the regiment marched, in April, 1703, towards Maestricht. The French attempted to surprise the British troops in their quarters, but the gallant resistance of two regiments, at Tongres (the second, or Queen’s Royals, and Elst’s), gave time for the army to assemble in order of battle at Maestricht. The regiment served this campaign in brigade with the same corps as in 1702: it was employed in several movements designed to bring the enemy to a general engagement; but the French withdrew behind their fortified lines, where the DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH was desirous of attacking them, to which the Dutch generals would not consent.

In August, the fortress of _Huy_, situate on the Maese above the city of Liege, was besieged, and it was captured in ten days. Another proposal to attack the French lines having been declined by the Dutch, _Limburg_, in the Spanish Netherlands, was besieged, and on the 27th of September, the garrison surrendered, which completed the deliverance of Spanish Guelderland from the power of France.

[Sidenote: 1704]

After taking part in these captures, the regiment was selected to transfer its services from the Netherlands to Portugal, to take part in the attempt to place Archduke Charles of Austria on the throne of Spain by force of arms; several states of Europe having acknowledged him as king of Spain, the British, Dutch, and Portuguese had engaged to aid him in gaining possession of the throne. The regiment embarked from Holland in October, and sailed to Portsmouth; but it was detained so long by contrary winds, that it did not arrive at Lisbon, before March, 1704, when it landed, and marched to Abrantes; but was afterwards removed to the Alemtejo.

The British troops in Portugal were commanded by General Mainhard Duke Schomberg, and he suggested active measures; but tardiness and inability were manifested by the Portuguese authorities, to so great an extent, that the Duke of Berwick invaded Portugal with a French and Spanish army, before the allies were prepared to take the field. The court of Lisbon was alarmed; Duke Schomberg solicited to be recalled; and the Earl of Galway was sent with reinforcements to Portugal.

In the early part of the campaign, the THIRTEENTH foot were employed in the Alemtejo: they were reviewed at the camp at Estremos on the 21st of July, and were afterwards removed to Vimiera.

After the summer heat had abated, the regiment joined the army, and penetrated into Spain as far as the bank of the Agueda, near Ciudad Rodrigo; but the Duke of Berwick had made so skilful a disposition of the French and Spanish forces under his orders, on the opposite side of the river, that the allies were prevented passing the stream, and the British troops returned to Portugal for winter quarters.

In the meantime the important fortress of _Gibraltar_[9] had been captured by the combined English and Dutch fleets, and garrisoned by a body of marines under the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt. The capture of this fortress revived the hopes and expectations of the allies, and disconcerted the measures of King Philip, of Spain, and his grandfather Louis XIV.; a combined French and Spanish army was assembled to retake Gibraltar, and the French monarch, who possessed, at that period, a naval force of great magnitude, directed his fleet to co-operate in this service. The troops under the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt defended the fortress with great gallantry, and eventually applied to the commander of the forces in Portugal for aid, when a battalion of the first and second foot guards, the THIRTEENTH and thirty-fifth regiments, the Dutch regiment of Waes, and the Portuguese regiment of Algarve, were selected to reinforce the garrison.

The THIRTEENTH regiment, mustering thirty-nine serjeants, thirty-nine corporals, twenty-six drummers, and six hundred and fifty private soldiers, marched from the frontiers of Portugal to Lisbon, and embarked on board of transports on the 8th of December: two days afterwards the fleet sailed under the convoy of four frigates, and on the 17th it was becalmed, when the boats were hoisted out, and attempts made to gain some progress by the use of oars. A fleet of men of war appeared in sight, under English and Dutch colours, and it was supposed to be the squadron under Vice-Admiral Leake and Rear-Admiral Vander-Dussen; but observing the men-of-war forming a half-moon to surround the transports, a private signal was made, and the men-of-war being unable to answer it, instantly hoisted French colours. The danger was great, with a hostile fleet so near, but the transports put out every boat, and made some way by towing: the enemy was becalmed, and in the evening a breeze sprung up, which enabled the British vessels to escape, excepting one ship, which was captured. On the following day, the THIRTEENTH regiment landed at Gibraltar, at the moment when the garrison was beginning to despair of assistance.

The regiment was not long at Gibraltar before it had opportunities of distinguishing itself, and a detachment formed part of the body of troops which issued from the fortress during the night of the 22nd of December, forced the Spanish posts, routed a body of cavalry, levelled part of the works, burnt many fascines and gabions, and retired with little loss.

[Sidenote: 1705]

Still anticipating success, the French and Spaniards prosecuted the siege; and, in the beginning of February, 1705, a chosen band of French grenadiers attacked the round tower: they climbed the rock by the aid of hooks, but were repulsed with loss.

About four days afterwards, six hundred select French and Walloon grenadiers, supported by a large body of Spaniards, ascended the hill with great silence in the night, and concealed themselves until daybreak on the morning of the 7th of February; and when the night-guard had been withdrawn from the breach near the round tower, they made a sudden rush, and drove the ordinary guard from its post with a shower of hand-grenades: at the same time, two hundred grenadiers attacked the round tower. The troops in garrison were soon alarmed, and Captain Fisher, of the Queen’s marines (now fourth foot), charged the enemy at the head of seventeen men; but his party was soon over-powered and himself taken prisoner. Major MONCALL of the THIRTEENTH foot, a most gallant officer, collected between four and five hundred men, principally of his own regiment, and charged the enemy, sword in hand, so vigorously, that he soon drove them back, recaptured the round tower, after it had been in the possession of the enemy about an hour, and liberated Captain Fisher and several other prisoners. The soldiers of the THIRTEENTH regiment were aided, in this gallant effort, by Colonel Rivett of the foot guards, who climbed the rock on the right of the covered way with twenty grenadiers, and favoured Major Moncall’s success. Additional men were brought forward, and the French and Walloon grenadiers were driven from the works with severe loss. On the following day, the brave Major Moncall of the THIRTEENTH lost his leg by a cannon-shot.

The French and Spaniards continued their unavailing attempts on Gibraltar, and the siege became a subject of great interest throughout Europe; but towards the end of March, they withdrew the shattered remains of their formidable army from before the place, and left the English in quiet possession of the fortress they had so gallantly defended, and which they have preserved to the present period.

In a few weeks after the siege of Gibraltar was raised, an expedition sailed from England, under Charles Earl of Peterborough, either to aid the Duke of Savoy in driving the French out of Italy, to make an attempt on Sicily and Naples, or to further the progress of Archduke Charles in Spain, as should appear most advantageous for Her Majesty’s service; and the latter course was adopted. The expedition arrived at Gibraltar in the beginning of August; and the THIRTEENTH foot were relieved from duty in that garrison by a newly-raised regiment from England, and embarked on board the fleet, which put to sea in a few days afterwards.

The expedition appeared off the coast of Valencia: a thousand Catalonians and Valencians threw off their allegiance to King Philip, acknowledged Archduke Charles as sovereign of Spain, and seized on Denia, while others made demonstrations of giving effectual aid to the expedition. Thus encouraged, the Earl of Peterborough undertook the daring enterprise of besieging _Barcelona_, the capital of Catalonia, which assumed a romantic character, in consequence of his being unable to bring more than seven thousand men into the lines, the garrison consisting of nearly six thousand men, and of this fortress having resisted a French army of thirty thousand men, eight weeks, in 1697, and cost the French monarch twelve thousand men to take it. The troops landed on the 23rd and 24th of August, and the THIRTEENTH regiment took part in the siege. On the 13th of September, the grenadier company of the regiment left the camp, and after a night march among the mountains, appeared before the detached fortress of _Montjuich_, at daylight on the following morning, and took part in storming the outworks of that place, in which it had several men killed and wounded. Three days afterwards, the strong castle and citadel of Montjuich surrendered, which greatly facilitated the progress of the siege of Barcelona.

The besieging army was so very weak in numbers that extraordinary efforts were necessary: the soldiers and seamen were incessant in their exertions; cannon and mortars were dragged up steep precipices by men, and a practicable breach having been made, a detachment of the THIRTEENTH foot was in readiness to take part in storming the works, when the governor surrendered.

The capture of so important a fortress, by so small a body of men, produced a great sensation throughout Europe, and this splendid achievement was followed by the submission of nearly all Catalonia, the largest and richest province of Spain.

Elated by this success, the Earl of Peterborough resolved to undertake another enterprise of a more romantic character than the former, namely the invasion of Valencia, with a body of troops not sufficiently numerous to form the advance guard of the opposing army. The THIRTEENTH regiment being conspicuous for its efficiency, and for the gallant bearing of the officers and soldiers, was selected to form part of his Lordship’s force.

From Barcelona the regiment marched under the command of Lieut.-Col. EDWARD PEARCE, to Tortosa, on the river Ebro. In the meantime the Conde de las Torres having been sent by King Philip, with a numerous force, to retake the towns which had declared for Archduke Charles, he had besieged the fortress of _St. Matheo_, and the THIRTEENTH were ordered to march to the relief of this town. The troops employed in this service were very inferior in numbers to the besieging army; but by night marches among the woods and mountains, and circulating exaggerated reports of his numbers, the British general succeeded in surprising his opponents, and the Spanish commander, being deceived by spies, made a precipitate retreat.

After this service was performed, the officers and men were so exhausted by long marches, day and night over the mountains, that the regiment was ordered into quarters of refreshment at Vinaros, where it remained a short period, while the Earl of Peterborough was making preparations for the expedition to Valencia.

[Sidenote: 1706]