Part 13

Leaving Dominico in December, the four companies of the ROYALS proceeded to Barbadoes, where a body of troops was assembled, under the orders of Major General the Hon. Robert Monckton, for an attack on the French island of _Martinico_. A landing was effected in the early part of January, 1762, and the island was reduced in the succeeding month. "I cannot," observes the general, in his despatch, "find words to render that ample justice which is due to the valour of His Majesty's troops which I have the honour to command. The difficulties they had to encounter in the attack of an enemy possessed of every advantage of art and nature were great; and their perseverance in surmounting these obstacles furnishes a noble example of British spirit."

While the contest at Martinico was in progress, the four companies of the ROYALS which had been engaged in the war with the Indians embarked from Charleston, and sailed to the West Indies under the orders of Colonel Grant. War had, in the meantime, been declared against Spain; an attack on the Spanish settlements in the West Indies had been resolved upon; and the four companies of the ROYALS were placed under the orders of General the Earl of Albemarle, to proceed against the valuable settlement of the _Havannah_, in the island of Cuba. Proceeding through the Straits of Bahama, the expedition arrived within six leagues of the Havannah on the 6th of June; a landing was effected on the following day; and on the 9th the troops took up a position between Coximar and the Moro. The Moro fort being the key-position of the extensive works which covered the town, the capture of this place was of great importance; and the four companies of the ROYAL Regiment formed part of the force destined to make the attack on this formidable fortress. The hardships endured in carrying on the operations were very great: a thin soil, hardly sufficient to cover the troops in their approaches, a scarcity of water, and the labour of dragging the artillery several miles over a rocky country, and under a burning sun, were happily overcome by the unanimity which existed between the land and sea forces. The progress made in erecting batteries, carrying forward approaches, and sapping and mining the works, with the fire of the artillery, having alarmed the Spanish governor, he resolved to attempt to relieve the Moro. 1500 men were ferried over the harbour, and they made three separate attacks on the British line; the four companies of the ROYALS were brought forward to sustain the posts, and the Spaniards were repulsed, with considerable loss. The siege was afterwards continued with vigour; two mines were sprung; a practicable breach was made, and a detachment of the ROYALS was ordered to form part of the storming party,[101] under Lieut.-Colonel Stuart, of the 90th Regiment. The attack was made on the 30th of July. LIEUT. CHARLES FORBES, of the ROYALS, led the assault, and, ascending the breach with signal gallantry, formed his men on the top, and soon drove the enemy from every part of the ramparts. The garrison was taken by surprise; the Spanish commander, Don Louis de Velasco, exerted himself to save the fortress; and, while endeavouring to rally his men, he was mortally wounded. The confusion amongst the ranks of the enemy was thus augmented; nearly 150 Spaniards were killed, 400 threw down their arms and were made prisoners, and the rest were either killed in the boats, or drowned in attempting to escape to the Havannah. As Lieutenants Forbes, of the ROYALS, Nugent, of the 9th, and Holroyd, of the 90th Regiments, were congratulating each other on their success, the two latter were killed by a party of desperate Spaniards, who fired from the light-house. Lieutenant Forbes, being exasperated at the death of his companions, attacked the light-house with a few men, and put all in it to the sword.

The capture of the Moro facilitated the attack on the Havannah; and on the 11th of August a new series of batteries opened so well-directed a fire that at two o'clock in the afternoon the guns of the garrison were silenced, and flags of truce were hung out from every part of the town and from the ships in the harbour. The capitulation was signed on the 13th, and on the following day the British troops took possession of this valuable settlement. Three Spanish men-of-war, with a company's ship, were found sunk at the entrance of the harbour, nine men-of-war were delivered up to the victors, and two were found upon the stocks. The loss sustained by the ROYAL Regiment in this important service was Lieutenants Cook and Ashe, 1 serjeant, and 31 rank and file, killed; Captain Balfour, Lieutenant Ruth, Ensign Keating, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 75 rank and file, wounded; two rank and file missing; 3 men dead of their wounds, and 12 from diseases arising from the climate and severe exertions in carrying on the siege.

The British government having withdrawn many troops from North America to the West Indies, the French sent an armament across the Atlantic, and took possession of St. John's, Newfoundland. Detachments were immediately ordered from the British garrisons to dislodge the enemy; and the two flank companies of the second battalion of the ROYAL Regiment, having been left in North America, were employed in this service, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel William Amherst. A landing was effected, on the 13th of September, at Torbay, and the troops gained possession of the strong post of Kitty Vittiy. A detachment was sent to the top of a high rock which commanded the ford, and under cover of the fire of these men the light companies of the ROYAL and Montgomery's Highlanders passed the river. The grenadiers of the ROYAL and 77th Regiments supported the attack; and the French were driven from their post on a hill beyond the river. Two other heights were afterwards carried; and on the 17th, a battery being ready to open its fire on the fort, the French commander surrendered.

In November of this year General the Hon. James St. Clair died at Dysart; and the Colonelcy of the ROYAL Regiment was conferred on his cousin, Sir Henry Erskine, from the Twenty-fifth Regiment.

[Sidenote: 1763]

[Sidenote: 1764]

At the peace in 1763 the Havannah was restored to Spain; and the several companies of the second battalion were withdrawn from North America and the West Indies, and sailed for England. In 1764 this battalion proceeded to Scotland, where it remained four years.

[Sidenote: 1765]

Sir Henry Erskine died in August, 1765, and was succeeded in the Colonelcy of the ROYAL Regiment by John Marquis of Lorne, afterwards Duke of Argyle.

[Sidenote: 1768]

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

In January, 1768, the first battalion embarked from Ireland for Gibraltar, and was stationed in garrison at that important fortress for several years.

[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]

[Sidenote: 1771]

The second battalion remained in Scotland until the spring of 1768, when it returned to England; and in April, 1771, it embarked with the 51st and 63rd Regiments for the island of Minorca, to relieve the 3rd, 11th, and 67th Regiments.

[Sidenote: 1775]

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]

[Sidenote: 1776]

The first battalion was relieved from garrison duty at Gibraltar in the autumn of 1775, and arrived in England in December of the same year. The second battalion was also relieved at Minorca in a few weeks afterwards, and arrived in England in February, 1776; and both battalions remained in Britain until the autumn of 1780.

[Sidenote: 1780]

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

The contest on the subject of taxation between Great Britain and her North American Colonies having given rise to hostilities in 1775, the insurgents were abetted by France, Spain, and Holland. The French monarch openly declared in favour of the rebellious colonists in 1778, the Spaniards in 1779, and a secret treaty between the Dutch and Americans was discovered in 1780. Thus the contest assumed a formidable character; hostile proceedings extended from North America to the West Indies; and in November, 1780, the first battalion of the ROYAL Regiment embarked from Portsmouth to take part in the contest.

[Sidenote: 1781]

On arriving in the West Indies the ROYALS proceeded, with other troops commanded by Major-General Vaughan, and a naval force under Sir George Brydges Rodney, against the Dutch island of _St. Eustatia_, which surrendered on the 3rd of February, 1781, together with the neighbouring isles of _St. Martin_ and _Saba_. Property to an immense amount was captured on this occasion, and a severe blow was thus inflicted on the Dutch.

[Sidenote: 1782]

The first battalion was afterwards stationed on the island of _St. Christopher_, together with the flank companies of the 15th, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery, which, with a few militia, constituted the whole military force on the island, and was commanded by LIEUT.-COL. THOMAS FRASER of the ROYALS, "a brave old officer,"[102] who acted as Brigadier-General under the Governor, Major-General Thomas Shirley.

In the early part of January, 1782, a French naval force, and a fleet of transports with an army on board, appeared before the island; and the commander of the British troops, being unable to oppose so formidable a host, retired to Brimstone Hill, where he was joined by the governor with a few militia. Unfortunately, the principal inhabitants were in the interest of the enemy; so much so, that twelve brass 24-pounders, two 13-inch mortars, and a quantity of ammunition, sent from England for their defence, were suffered, by the Council and Assembly of the island, to lie in a useless state at the foot of Brimstone Hill. The French Commander, the Marquis de Bouillé, immediately landed 8000 men and a formidable train of artillery, and advanced towards the hill on which the garrison had taken post. The ground occupied by the ROYALS, flank companies of the 15th, and militia, was about 200 yards in diameter, and remarkably strong; but the fortifications were old and in a ruinous state, and the troops had no intrenching tools: they, however, resolved to defend the place as long as possible, in hopes of being relieved.

Although the French had so great a superiority of numbers they did not venture to attack the little band of stout-hearted Britons on Brimstone Hill by storm, but commenced the siege in regular form,--breaking ground on Sommerfall's estate on the north-west side, and on Rawlin's estate on the old road-side. The French artillery opened its fire on the 19th of January, and from that day a storm of balls and bombs rattled round Brimstone Hill with increasing fury, until the houses on the heights were battered to pieces, and the old works were nearly destroyed.

During this period Rear-Admiral Hood appeared before the island with a British naval and land force, and a body of troops effected a landing on the 29th of January; but the French had so great a superiority of numbers, and they had completely surrounded Brimstone Hill, so that these few troops could not be of any use in attempting to save the island, and they re-embarked.

The fire of the French batteries had, in the meantime, dismounted or disabled nearly all the guns on the hill; several large breaches had also been made in the works on the north-west side of the fort; the garrison was reduced by sickness and other casualties to about 500 men; the want of intrenching tools rendered it impossible for the men either to repair the damaged works or throw up intrenchments; the provision-stores had also been destroyed by the French batteries; and the few remaining men fit for service had to be under arms every night, expecting the enemy to storm the hill. Yet, under all these disasters, the garrison evinced that valour, firmness, and constancy, for which the British soldier has been distinguished at periods of extreme danger and privation.

At length the governor and commander of the forces "thought they should be wanting in humanity to the brave soldiers who had behaved so long with such fidelity and courage if they should subject them to all the horrors of an assault, which, from the superior numbers of the enemy, and the ruinous condition of the place, could not fail to succeed. They therefore proposed a cessation of arms on the 12th of February, for adjusting the terms of capitulation, which was done, as the Marquis de Bouillé did not impose hard terms on the soldiers of a garrison who had acquitted themselves so well and had suffered so much."[103]

The garrison marched through the breach with drums beating and colours flying, and, having laid down their arms, the militia proceeded to their homes, and the regular troops were sent to England, on condition that they should be considered as prisoners of war until exchanged. Brigadier-General Fraser observed, in his despatch:--"Notwithstanding the event has proved unfortunate, I should be wanting in doing justice to the troops under my command if I concluded without saying that both officers and soldiers deserve the highest commendation. Under a constant fire of shot and shells, night and day (that I doubt has, in any instance, been exceeded), the officers showed a constant and universal cheerfulness, and by their example the soldiers bore the greatest fatigue with a firmness that deserves my acknowledgments." The loss sustained by the battalion during this siege was, Lieutenants Wilson and Clerk, Quarter-master Shungar, 3 serjeants, 2 drummers, and 22 rank and file, killed; Captains Wallace and Buckeridge, Surgeon Young, 6 serjeants, 4 drummers, and 84 rank and file, wounded; 2 private men missing.

After the capitulation the battalion proceeded to England, where it arrived in May, and, its exchange having been settled, it resumed military duty.

[Sidenote: Both Batts.]

On the 9th of May, 1782, the Duke of Argyle was removed to the 3rd Foot Guards; and the Colonelcy of the ROYAL Regiment was conferred on Lord Adam Gordon, fourth son of Alexander, second Duke of Gordon.

[Sidenote: 1783]

[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]

[Sidenote: 1784]

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

[Sidenote: 1790]

Both battalions remained in England until the autumn of 1783, when, peace having been concluded, the second battalion embarked for Ireland, from whence it proceeded, in the following year, to Gibraltar to relieve the Hanoverian corps, which had been performing duty in that garrison during the war. At the same time the first battalion proceeded from England to Ireland, where it remained until January, 1790, when it embarked for the West Indies to relieve the 3rd Foot, and on its arrival at its destination it was stationed at Jamaica.

[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]

[Sidenote: 1793]

Meanwhile a revolution had broken out in France; and in 1793 the French Monarch, Louis XVI., was beheaded by his subjects. Anarchy, confusion, and bloodshed prevailed in that kingdom, and the revolutionary party sought to involve other nations in the like horrors. War was the result. A powerful party, with principles favourable to monarchy, still existed in France; and, although the kingdom was governed by republicans, who maintained their authority by the terrors of the guillotine, yet many patriots stood forward with boldness in the cause of royalty; and a union took place between the cities of Marseilles, Lyons, and Toulon, in favour of Louis XVII., which alarmed the ruling powers. A republican army was sent against them, and Marseilles immediately surrendered. At the same time the inhabitants of the celebrated port of _Toulon_, the principal station of the French navy, joined with Admiral Turgot in proposing a negotiation with Admiral Lord Hood, who commanded a British naval force in the Mediterranean, and the port was taken possession of in August, 1793, by the British, in the name of Louis XVII. The French general had no sooner obtained possession of Marseilles than he advanced against Toulon. Strenuous exertions were made to procure troops to defend the place: besides French loyalists and a few British troops, detachments of Spaniards, Neapolitans, and Sardinians, were procured, and the second battalion of the ROYAL Regiment embarked from Gibraltar to take part in this service.

The battalion landed at Toulon towards the end of October, and marched on the evening of the same day to an out-post called _Les Sablettes_, where it was partially engaged with the enemy. Three companies were afterwards detached to _Fort Mulgrave_, an important post on the heights of Balaguier, which covered the town and harbour. This post was attacked on the evening of the 15th of November by a strong body of French republicans, who were repulsed and driven back. Lieut.-General O'Hara stated in his despatch on this subject:--"I have particular pleasure in mentioning that, on this occasion, the very spirited exertions of the British troops stationed in Fort Mulgrave, consisting of a detachment of the second battalion of the First, or ROYAL Regiment of Foot, commanded by Captain Duncan Campbell, and of a detachment of the Royal Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Lemoine, were the principal means of repulsing the enemy, and of saving that important post. Our loss, including Spaniards, Neapolitans, and Sardinians, amounted only to 61. Among the wounded were Captain Duncan Campbell, of the ROYALS, and Lieutenant Lemoine, of the Artillery."

The enemy afterwards erected a battery on the heights of _Arenes_, which much annoyed one of the principal out-posts; and a detachment of the ROYALS formed part of the force, consisting of 400 British, 300 Sardinians, 600 Neapolitans, 600 Spaniards, and 400 French, commanded by Major-General David Dundas, which issued from Toulon on the morning of the 30th of November, crossed the river, traversed the olive-grounds, ascended the heights of Arenes, and carried the battery with signal gallantry. British valour was conspicuous on this occasion; but, unfortunately, an excess of ardour led to a disastrous result. The French fled in dismay down the hill; the British and other troops, following in full career, passed the valley, and ascended other heights at a considerable distance; and when out of breath, and exhausted with the chase, they encountered a superior body of fresh adversaries, and were forced to retreat, and Lieut.-General O'Hara was taken prisoner. Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bart., who was an eye-witness, observed, in a letter to the Secretary of State:--"It is a real consolation to know that the courage of the British was conspicuous from the beginning of the action to the end; and that an excess of that good quality was the true and only cause of the miscarriage." The ROYALS lost, on this occasion Lieutenant M'Kellar, 1 serjeant, and 9 rank and file, killed; Lieutenants Mackenzie and Colin M'Donald, with 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 32 rank and file, wounded; Captains Reeves and Finnay wounded, and taken prisoners; Lieutenant Bird, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 17 rank and file, missing.

The defence of Toulon with only 12,000 men of five different nations, against an army of between 30,000 and 40,000 men, was found a difficult service. The garrison had to occupy a circumference of fifteen miles, by a number of posts, which required 9000 men for their protection. In the middle of December the republican army attacked the line of posts with great fury, and forced a passage at several places. The ROYALS were engaged in the defence of _Fort Mulgrave_, and lost 1 serjeant, 1 drummer, and 18 rank and file. After the line of posts was forced it was found impossible to maintain the town; the French shipping, magazines, and arsenal, were consequently set on fire, and the men of the several nations embarked on board the fleet on the 19th of December. Detachments of the troops took part with the seamen in the work of destruction; and Lieutenant Ironmonger, of the ROYALS, is stated to have been the last officer who quitted the dock-yard gates. With the republican army which attacked Toulon was an officer of artillery, named NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, who afterwards arrived at the dignity of Emperor of France.

[Sidenote: 1794]

After the evacuation of Toulon the fleet remained five weeks in the bay of Hieres, during which time arrangements were made for attacking the island of _Corsica_: the fleet weighed anchor on the 24th of January, 1794, but was dispersed by a gale of wind, and the ROYALS were driven to one of the ports in the island of Elba, where they remained several days. On the 5th of February they again put to sea, and on the evening of the 7th landed, with the 11th, 25th, 30th, 50th, 51st, and 69th Regiments, in an open bay in the Gulf of Fiorenzo, in the island of Corsica. On the following day the ROYALS and 51st were detached, under Lieut.-Colonel (afterwards Sir John) Moore, with a small howitzer and a six-pounder carried on the shoulders of a party of seamen, against Fornelli Tower, and after traversing eight miles of rocky mountainous country, destitute of roads, arrived at the heights above the tower, but found the distance too great for the light artillery to reach it; and the two battalions afterwards retired. Batteries were subsequently erected against _Convention Redoubt_, which was considered the key to the works on this part of the island; and, the fire of the artillery having produced some effect, the ROYALS, commanded by Captain Mackenzie, and 51st Regiment, moved from their camp-ground on the morning of the 17th of February to attack the advanced point of the redoubt; at the same time the 50th Regiment marched against the centre of the work, and the 21st proceeded along the sea-shore; the whole commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Moore. After traversing some rocky grounds covered with myrtle-bushes with great caution, the troops arrived in the vicinity of the redoubt unperceived by the enemy; then, rushing forward, entered the works, and with their bayonets drove the French and Corsicans down the steep hill in the rear. The enemy soon afterwards evacuated the town of Fiorenzo, with the towers and batteries in the gulf, and retreated to the Tower of Tichine, situated on a high mountain between Fiorenzo and Bastia, an important sea-port and the capital of the island. Speaking of this event, Lieut.-General Dundas observed in his despatch,--"The conduct of Lieut.-Colonel Moore, of the several commanding officers, and of the officers and soldiers under his orders, was firm and judicious, and merits every commendation."