III.
1808–1824.—PENINSULAR WAR. 60TH THE ROYAL AMERICAN REGIMENT BECOMES 60TH THE DUKE OF YORK’S OWN RIFLE CORPS.
In 1808 Great Britain determined to take the offensive against France, and, by occupying Portugal, endeavour to drive Napoleon and the French from the Peninsula of Spain and Portugal.
[Sidenote: Aug. 17th, 1808, ROLEIA]
[Sidenote: Aug. 21st, 1808, VIMIERA.]
Thus began the Peninsular War, so full of glorious memories for the British Army. The 5th Battalion, under the command of Major Davy,[13] formed part of the force despatched under _Sir Arthur Wellesley_ to Portugal, and in conjunction with the 2nd Battalion of the 95th[14] opened the campaign at Obidos on the 15th of August; and two days later took part in the fight of ROLEIA. The services of the Battalion as Light Troops or Riflemen were valued so highly by the Commander of the forces, and so important was their example, that in a very complimentary order he directed its distribution by companies among the several brigades of the army. Thus it came to be engaged in nearly all the great battles throughout the war, starting brilliantly with the battle of VIMIERA,[15] where a signal victory was gained over the French under General Junot.
_Wellesley_ was shortly afterwards superseded by Sir Harry Burrard[16] and _Sir Hew Dalrymple_, who ended the campaign by the Convention of Cintra, under the terms of which the French evacuated Portugal.
[Sidenote: Jan. 16th, 1809, CORUNNA.]
The three commanders were then ordered home, and Sir John Moore[17] assumed charge of the troops. _Sir David Baird_ landed at Corunna with reinforcements, including the 2nd Battalion, and on the 20th of December he joined Moore near Mayorga. By the masterly dispositions of Napoleon himself, an overwhelming force of French was concentrated under Soult, and this forced the British to retire on Corunna. Soult, following in pursuit, attacked them in the act of embarking, but met with a crushing defeat. The British, however, paid a high price for their victory: _Baird_ was severely wounded, and the gallant Sir John Moore was killed—his death being a heavy loss to the British Army. At this juncture General Hope[18] took over the command and completed the embarkation of the troops. The Regiment, having been allotted to the defence of the town of Corunna, was not actually engaged in the battle.
[Sidenote: July 27th and 28th, 1809, TALAVERA.]
In 1809 _Wellesley_, for the second time, landed in Portugal and assumed command. After some delay, on May the 12th he forced the passage of the Douro in the face of a large army under Soult, a most brilliant feat of arms. On the 27th and 28th of July he attacked the French and Marshals Jourdan and Victor, under King Joseph, and thereupon ensued the great British victory of TALAVERA. “Upon this occasion,” wrote _Sir Arthur Wellesley_ in his despatch, “the steadiness and discipline of the 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment, were conspicuous.”
[Sidenote: Sept. 27th, 1810, BUSACO.]
On September the 27th, 1810, the British Commander, _Sir Arthur Wellesley_, recently created _Lord Wellington_, signally defeated the French under Massena at the battle of BUSACO; the conduct of the 60th (at this time commanded by Colonel Williams[19]), being specially noted by _General Picton_.
Yielding to superior numbers and to stress of circumstances, _Wellington_ retreated, and, falling back upon the famous lines of Torres Vedras, was closely followed by the French, who, on being stopped by the fortifications and unable to procure supplies, were soon forced in turn to retreat.
[Sidenote: May 3rd and 5th 1811, FUENTES D’ONOR.]
[Sidenote: May 16th, 1811, ALBUHERA.]
In March, 1811, the British again advanced, driving Ney from Pombal and Redinha, and Massena from Casal Nova and Sabugal. While following up his successes, _Wellington_ was attacked by Massena at FUENTES D’ONOR, on the 3rd of May, and again on the 5th, but he held his ground in spite of severe fighting. In the meanwhile Marshal Beresford,[20] who had four companies of the 60th with his division, had in April taken Olivenza, and on the 16th of May had defeated Soult at ALBUHERA; and the campaign of 1811 was brought to a close by the brilliant action of Arroyo dos Molinos by _General Hill_ on October the 28th, 1811, when the Regiment specially distinguished itself.
[Sidenote: 1812, CIUDAD RODRIGO. BADAJOZ.]
[Sidenote: July 22nd, 1812, SALAMANCA.]
The next year, 1812, opened with the siege, assault, and capture of CIUDAD RODRIGO, and immediately afterwards ensued the successful siege of BADAJOZ. Sending _Hill_ to destroy the bridge of Almarez, _Wellington_ proceeded northwards, and on the 22nd of July defeated Marmont at the battle of SALAMANCA, the crowning feat of a long series of brilliant manœuvres. The English General thereupon marched towards Madrid, and, driving King Joseph before him, entered the capital in triumph on the 12th of August. But the French were so strongly reinforced that the British troops were obliged to retire for the winter to Portugal.
[Sidenote: June 21st, 1813, VITTORIA.]
[Sidenote: July 24th to Aug. 2nd, 1813, PYRENEES.]
[Sidenote: Nov. 10th, 1813, NIVELLE.]
[Sidenote: Dec. 9th to 13th, NIVE.]
In May, 1813, the Army finally quitted Portugal, and again advancing drove the French northwards by brilliant strategy. On the 21st of June _Wellington_ gained a splendid victory over King Joseph at VITTORIA, capturing 150 guns and his whole transport. The companies of the Regiment with _Picton_ and the 3rd Division played an especially brilliant part. Ignominiously driven from Spain the French Army rallied on the Bidassoa, where Soult assumed command, having been despatched by Napoleon to supersede his brother King Joseph and Marshal Jourdan. He immediately attacked the English, but was defeated with great slaughter at the battle of the PYRENEES, which lasted eight days, July the 24th to August the 2nd. The 5th Battalion was at this time commanded by Major Fitzgerald.[21] _Wellington_, then advancing into France, forced the passage of the Bidassoa on October the 7th, and defeated the French at the battle of NIVELLE, terminating the campaign by a victory on the NIVE after a battle lasting five days.
[Sidenote: Feb. 27th, 1814, ORTHES.]
In February, 1814, occurred one of the most brilliant manœuvres of the war—the famous passage of the Adour, which was forced in the teeth of a Division of the French Army, the company of the 60th leading the advance of the Guards’ Brigade, to which it was attached. On the 27th of the same month Soult was again totally defeated at ORTHES.
[Sidenote: April 10th, 1814, TOULOUSE.]
_Wellington_, following up this victory, advanced on Toulouse, where, on the 10th of April, the British troops won the last of the fourteen great battles fought in the Peninsular War, in twelve of which the Regiment had taken a glorious part. The repulse of a sortie from Bayonne was the final episode of this memorable war.
Thus closes a momentous record of gallant achievements of the Regiment. Among the officers of the 5th Battalion who distinguished themselves during the Peninsular War, besides those already mentioned, were Major Woodgate,[22] Lieutenant-Colonel Galiffe,[23] Captain Schoedde,[24] and Captain de Blacquière.
To continue the history of the other Battalions of the Regiment at this period, the 2nd Battalion, in January, 1809, after Corunna, had returned to the Channel Islands, and thence to the West Indies. The 1st Battalion, which had previously always been quartered in America, was in 1810, together with the 4th Battalion, brought to England, whence it shortly afterwards proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope, and the 4th Battalion was sent to Dominica.
A 7th and 8th Battalion were added in 1813, the former raised at Gibraltar and the latter at Lisbon. Both battalions were dressed in green, which colour at the end of 1815 was adopted for the whole Regiment.
[Sidenote: 1824, 60th ROYAL AMERICANS become 60th THE DUKE OF YORK’S OWN RIFLE CORPS.]
At the conclusion of the war with France the Regiment was reduced to two battalions, of which the 1st was called “The Rifles,” and the 2nd “The Light Infantry” Battalion. In 1824 the 2nd Battalion became also a Rifle Battalion, and the Regiment dropping its old title of “Royal Americans” was granted by George IV the name of “The Duke of York’s Own Rifle Corps,” dated June 4th.
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Footnote 13:
Afterwards General Sir William Gabriel Davy, C.B., K.C.H., Colonel Commandant, 60th Rifles, 1842–1856. He succeeded Baron de Rottenburg in command of the 5th Battalion in 1808.
Footnote 14:
Formed in 1800, and now The Rifle Brigade.
Footnote 15:
The Battalion was especially mentioned in Wellesley’s despatch.
Footnote 16:
Formerly a Captain in the 60th.
Footnote 17:
Formerly Major in the 4th Battalion 60th.
Footnote 18:
Afterwards General the Earl of Hopetoun, G.C.B., Colonel-Commandant 6th Battalion 60th.
Footnote 19:
Afterwards Major-General Sir William Williams, K.C.B., K.T.S., died 1832.
Footnote 20:
Afterwards General Viscount Beresford, G.C.B., G.C.H., Colonel-in-Chief of the 60th Rifles, 1852–54.
Footnote 21:
Afterwards Field-Marshal Sir John Foster Fitzgerald, G.C.B. Born 1786, died 1877, aged 91.
Footnote 22:
Afterwards Colonel and C.B., died 1861.
Footnote 23:
Afterwards Colonel and C.B., died 1848.
Footnote 24:
Afterwards Lieut.-General Sir James Holmes Schoedde, K.C.B., who received thirteen clasps with his war medal. Born 1786, died 1861.
Major-Generals Sir Henry Clinton, Sir George Murray, and Sir James Kampt, Colonels Commandant of the Regiment, also served with distinction.
## PART II.—1825–1870.