Part 16

On the 22nd of July, while the French army was manœuvring and extending to the left, the British commander commenced the attack at a favourable moment. The 3rd battalion of the ROYAL SCOTS, with the remainder of the 5th division, formed behind the village of Arapiles; and, advancing from thence, attacked the enemy in front with distinguished bravery, and, engaging in a fierce combat of musketry, drove the French from one height to another. Lieut.-General Leith, commanding the division, was carried out of the field wounded. Lieut.-Colonel Barns was severely wounded while leading the battalion to the charge, and obliged to withdraw, and the command of the ROYAL SCOTS devolved on Major Colin Campbell. The battalion continued to press forward, and forced the legions of Napoleon to give way. A decisive victory was ultimately gained; and the valour of the ROYAL SCOTS was rewarded with the Royal permission to bear the word SALAMANCA on their colours. Major Campbell signalized himself at the head of the battalion after the fall of Lieut.-Colonel Barns, and was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel in the army. The loss of the battalion in action was,--Lieutenant Neils Falks, 1 serjeant, and 22 rank and file, killed; Lieut.-Colonel Barns, Captain Logan, Lieutenants Kellett, O'Neil, M'Killigan, and Clark, Ensign Stoyte,[114] 7 serjeants, 2 drummers, and 120 rank and file, wounded. Volunteer M'Alpin, who was attached to the ROYAL SCOTS, was also wounded.

After this victory the battalion advanced with the army to Madrid, and was present at the surrender of the Retiro on the 14th of August. From Madrid the battalion proceeded to _Burgos_, where it remained during the siege of that fortress, in which Lieutenant Rea of the regiment, who was acting as engineer, was again wounded. When the British Commander found himself unable to withstand the overwhelming numbers which were advancing against him, he retired, and while on the retreat the ROYAL SCOTS were detached to _Palencia_, to protect the men employed in the destruction of the bridges over the Carrion. The enemy assembled a considerable force at this point, and Lieut.-Colonel Campbell retreated to Villa Muriel; the battalion was sharply engaged during this day's manœuvres, and had 2 serjeants and 6 rank and file, killed; 1 serjeant and 7 rank and file wounded; and 1 serjeant and 26 rank and file missing. The retreat was continued to the frontiers of Portugal, where the ROYAL SCOTS passed the winter.

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

During this contest the tyrannical decrees published by Napoleon, with the view of destroying the commerce of Great Britain, had occasioned the government to issue orders in council respecting the trade of neutral nations, for the purpose of counteracting the intentions of the French Emperor. The enforcing of these orders, and the pressing of British seamen on board of American ships, eventually brought on a war between the British Crown and the United States of North America; and the 1st battalion of the ROYAL SCOTS was withdrawn from the West Indies, where it had been stationed since 1801, to strengthen the British force in Canada. Five companies and the head-quarters embarked from Demerara[115] on the 24th of April, and sailed for Barbadoes. During their passage a remarkable eruption of Mount Souffre, in the island of St. Vincent, took place on the 1st May, when a total darkness ensued, which continued for nearly six hours, accompanied by a fall of volcanic ashes which covered the decks and rigging of the vessels. The five companies stationed at Tobago and Berbice had previously arrived at Barbadoes; and on the 24th of June the whole battalion, mustering 1094 rank and file, under the command of Major John Gordon, sailed in seven transports for Quebec. During the passage one of the transports was captured by an American frigate; but it was afterwards allowed to proceed on its voyage on conditions of not serving against the United States until regularly exchanged. In the early part of August the battalion arrived at Quebec; and on the 14th of that month the flank companies, under Major Gordon, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery with a light three-pounder, proceeded in bateaux to Point Levi, but returned to Quebec towards the end of the same month.

In the beginning of September the flank companies sailed up the St. Lawrence to Montreal, and proceeded from thence to Chambly, a fort on the river Sorel, which issues from Lake Champlain. In November the head-quarters and five battalion companies marched, under the command of Major Gordon, for St. John's; but on their route they received orders to proceed direct to Montreal, to resist the threatened attack of an American force under General Dearborn. The plans of the enemy were disconcerted, and General Dearborn retreated without making the attack, when the five companies of the ROYAL SCOTS proceeded to their original destination.

[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]

The 2nd battalion, in the East Indies, remained at Trichinopoly; and in July, 1812, four companies, commanded by Captain John Gordon, were ordered to suppress a mutiny amongst the Company's native troops at Quilon, which then threatened most serious consequences to the British possessions in India. After performing this service, the four companies returned to their former quarters at Trichinopoly.

[Sidenote: 1813]

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

Three of the companies and the head-quarters of the 1st battalion in Canada were withdrawn from St. John's in April, 1813, to Montreal, where two other companies also arrived from Quebec. Soon afterwards an attack on the American post at _Sackett's Harbour_, on Lake Ontario, was resolved upon; and 2 serjeants and 25 rank and file of the ROYAL SCOTS were placed under the orders of Colonel Baynes, to take part in this service. The grenadier company was also ordered from Chambly to engage in the expedition; but before its arrival, the other troops sailed from Kingston, and, having effected a landing on the 29th of May, advanced with great gallantry along a causeway connecting the island with the main land, dashed into a thick wood, and, encountering the Americans, drove them from amongst the trees. The detachment afterwards set fire to the American storehouses near the fort, and retired. The ROYAL SCOTS had 2 private men killed, 7 wounded, and 1 taken prisoner by the enemy, in this service.

During the same month, the light company of the ROYAL SCOTS was sent from Chambly to Kingston, for the purpose of instructing the flank companies of the Canada militia regiments, which had been formed into a light battalion, in light infantry drill.

On the 4th of June the head-quarters and one company arrived at Kingston, from Montreal; on the 17th seven companies advanced to Four-Mile Creek; and on the following day two companies embarked from Kingston, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, to attack a strong post occupied by the Americans at _Sodius_. The detachment made good its landing on the 20th of June, captured a great quantity of stores, and burnt the public buildings; and re-embarking on the same day, sailed to Four-Mile Creek; having sustained a loss of 3 private men killed, and 1 serjeant and 3 private men wounded.

While the battalion lay at _Four-Mile Creek_, frequent skirmishes occurred between the British and Americans; and on the 12th of August the ROYAL SCOTS had several private men wounded.

From Four-Mile Creek the battalion proceeded to St. David's, and went into cantonments at that place until the 1st of September, when it marched to _Cross-roads_, and was there partially engaged with a body of Americans, but experienced little loss. The battalion encamped a short time at Cross-roads; and on the 8th of October some sharp fighting took place, in which the ROYAL SCOTS had 5 private men wounded, and 1 taken prisoner. On the 11th the battalion went into quarters at Burlington.

Notwithstanding the severity of a Canadian winter, military operations were continued; and on the 17th of December the grenadier and one battalion companies of the ROYAL SCOTS marched from Burlington, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, towards Niagara; and on the 19th the grenadiers, commanded by Captain Bailey, assisted at the storm and capture of _Fort Niagara_ without sustaining any loss; and the battalion company advanced to dislodge the enemy from the heights of Lewiston. Colonel Murray, in his report of this transaction to Lieut.-General Drummond, observes--"I have to express my admiration of the valour of the grenadier company of the ROYALS under Captain Bailey, whose zeal and gallantry were very conspicuous;" and in a general order published at the time, Lieut.-General Drummond stated--"The troops employed on this occasion were the grenadier company of the ROYAL SCOTS, 100th regiment, and flank companies of the 44th. Their instructions were, not to fire, but to carry the place at the point of the bayonet. These orders were punctually obeyed--a circumstance that not only proves their intrepidity, but reflects great credit on their discipline.

"Lieut.-General Drummond will perform a most gratifying duty in bringing under the notice of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, through his Excellency the Commander of the Forces, the admirable execution of this brilliant achievement on the part of every individual concerned.

"The Lieut.-General has received from Major-General Riall a very favourable report of the zeal and alacrity of the detachment of the ROYAL SCOTS under Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, and the 41st battalion companies under the command of Major Friend, who advanced under the Major-General's command to dislodge the enemy from the heights of Lewiston. The Lieut.-General has only to regret that the enemy's rapid retreat from Lewiston heights did not afford to Major-General Riall an opportunity of leading them to victory."

After this success five companies of the battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, crossed the Niagara river, and were employed, on the 29th of December, in storming the enemy's batteries at _Black Rock_ and _Buffalo_, and in burning and laying waste the enemy's frontier between these places and Fort Niagara; in which service 2 corporals and 13 private men were killed, and 3 serjeants and 27 rank and file wounded, and 6 rank and file were missing. The conduct of the troops on this service was described in general orders as follows:--

"The conduct and bravery of the officers and soldiers of the advance-corps of the right division having been crowned with the most complete success by the capture of Fort Niagara, with all the enemy's guns and stores, and the destruction of four armed vessels, and of the cover along the whole of their frontier from that fort to Buffalo Creek--a measure dictated not only by every consideration of military policy, but authorised by every motive of just retaliation--it only remains for Lieut.-General Drummond to thank the troops for their exertions, and to express his admiration of the valuable qualities which they have displayed in the course of that short but severe service, in which they have cheerfully borne the absence of almost every comfort, and the rigours of a climate for which they were far from being prepared. The immediate reward of their gallant conduct the Lieut.-General trusts will be felt in the repose which they have so well earned for themselves, by depriving the enemy of all the means of present annoyance; the more remote recompense of their exertions will be found in the approbation of their king and country."

[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]

While the 1st battalion was actively employed in Canada, the 2nd battalion marched to Bangalore; and in April, 1813, the right wing, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel M'Kellar, took the field, and joined the force in the southern Mahratta country, under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Dowse, and remained in the field twelve months.

[Sidenote: 3rd Batt.]

Meanwhile the 3rd battalion, advancing from the frontiers of Portugal into Spain, was actively employed in operations. The French army, disconcerted by the superior tactics of the British commander, retreated, and took up a position in front of Vittoria. The allied army followed the retreating enemy in full career, traversing rocks and mountains, passing rivers, and overcoming difficulties heretofore deemed insurmountable, still hovering round the retiring enemy, and attacking his columns when an opportunity offered. On one of these occasions the ROYAL SCOTS were engaged (18th June) near _Osma_, and had 3 rank and file killed, 9 wounded, and 4 missing.

On the 21st of June the army advanced in three columns to attack the enemy in his position in front of _Vittoria_. The ROYAL SCOTS, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, being in the left column under Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham, afterwards Lord Lynedoch, advanced against the enemy's right flank. This portion of the army carried the heights commanding the village of Abechuco, and then advanced against the village of Gamarra Major, which was carried in gallant style, the enemy being dislodged at the point of the bayonet with great slaughter, and the loss of three guns. Lieut.-Colonel Campbell of the ROYAL SCOTS was severely wounded, and the command of the battalion devolved on Major Peter Fraser. Towards the close of the action the ROYAL SCOTS, with the remainder of the division, crossed the river Zadora, turned the enemy's right, and cut off his retreat by the Bayonne road. The other divisions were also successful at their several points of attack; the French army was completely routed, with the loss of its cannon, ammunition, baggage, and military chest; and it fled a mere wreck to the frontiers of France. The gallant conduct of the ROYAL SCOTS in this memorable action was rewarded with the Royal permission to bear the word "VITTORIA" on their colours. The battalion lost Captain Hay and Lieutenant Glover, who died of their wounds; 11 rank and file killed; Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, Lieutenants Armstrong, Rea, M'Killigan, and Cross, Ensign Green, Volunteer Dobbs, 4 serjeants, and 92 rank and file, wounded.

After this victory the ROYAL SCOTS marched towards the coast, and were engaged in the siege of the strong fortress of _St. Sebastian_. A breach having been made on the left flank, Major-General Hay was directed to storm the fortress with his brigade, of which the ROYAL SCOTS formed a part.

The battalion had passed the night of the 24th of July in the trenches. At day-break on the following morning it led the attack under the orders of Major Peter Fraser, and, though exposed to a most destructive shower of grape and musketry, which thinned the ranks, it advanced in the teeth of this storm of fire, in the most cool and determined manner. Major Peter Fraser, while gallantly encouraging his brave followers by his example, was killed; and Captain Mullen, being next in seniority, assumed the command of the battalion, which duty he performed with much credit. Though the cannon of the fortress thundered in front, the French soldiers poured down their volleys of musketry, and hand-grenades, shells, and large stones, flew in showers through the darkened air; yet onward went the ROYAL SCOTS, and assailed the breach with a degree of valour and intrepidity which rivalled the gallant exploits of their predecessors under the great Gustavus Adolphus. But the defences round the breach had not been destroyed, and success was found to be impossible; the storming party was consequently ordered to retire.[116] The battalion lost, on this occasion, Major Fraser, Captain Cameron, Lieutenants Anderson, Clark, Massey, and Adjutant Cluff, 6 serjeants, and 75 rank and file, killed; Captains Arguimbeau, Logan, Stewart, Macdonald, and Buckley, Lieutenants O'Neil, Eyre, and Reynolds, Volunteer Miller, 7 serjeants, and 230 rank and file, wounded; Lieutenant Reynolds died of his wounds, and Lieutenant Eyre was taken prisoner.

The siege was afterwards prosecuted with vigour, and on the 31st of August the fortress was again attacked by storm. The ROYAL SCOTS, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Barns, were directed to make their attack on the left of the second breach, and were supported by the 38th regiment. The assault was made with great gallantry; some of the traversers of the semi-bastion were carried by the leading companies, but were retaken by the enemy. Nothing could exceed the bravery and steadiness of the troops employed at this point; and the enemy, observing the whole division in motion, sprung a mine on the top of the curtain; but the explosion was premature, and only a few of the leading men of the ROYAL SCOTS suffered from it. Yet undismayed by the bursting mine, and fierce opposition of the enemy, the ROYAL SCOTS pressed forward upon their adversaries, and carried the coverlain; the troops crowded into the town in every direction, and in the course of an hour were masters of the place, excepting the citadel.[117]

On the 8th of September batteries mounting fifty-four pieces of ordnance opened a tremendous fire upon the citadel. In less than three hours the enemy hoisted a flag of truce, and, after some discussion, surrendered. As a testimony of the royal approbation of the signal valour evinced by the ROYAL SCOTS during this siege, and of the value attached to their services, they were permitted to bear the words "ST. SEBASTIAN" on their colours. Their loss in the successful storm of the town was, Ensign Boyd, 3 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 48 rank and file, killed; Lieutenants Armstrong, Holebrooke, Macdonnell, Clark, and Suckling, 7 serjeants, and 133 rank and file, wounded. Captain James Stewart, who was performing the duty of aide-de-camp to Major-General Hay, was killed from the castle while reconnoitring the works on the 4th of September. Captain Robert Macdonald was promoted to the rank of Major in the army, for his distinguished services at the storm of St. Sebastian.

After the capture of this fortress the troops advanced to the frontiers; and on the 7th of October the light company of the ROYAL SCOTS, commanded by Lieutenant J. N. Ingram, crossed the _Bidassoa_, followed by the remainder of the battalion and that portion of the army which had reduced St. Sebastian; the ROYAL SCOTS being the first British corps of the allied army which entered France. Thus, after driving the legions of Napoleon out of Portugal and Spain, the seat of war was transferred to the enemy's country; and the interior of France became the scene for the display of British prowess. After crossing the Bidassoa the troops drove the enemy to the heights of Irun, a distance of about three miles.

On the 10th of November the enemy's formidable line of works on the river _Nivelle_ were attacked, and the ROYAL SCOTS, with the other regiments of the 5th division, drove the enemy from a field redoubt, and pursued them under the guns of Bayonne. The battalion lost, on this occasion, 1 rank and file, killed, and 4 serjeants and 15 rank and file wounded. Further operations were retarded by snow and rain; but in the early part of December the army passed the river _Nive_, and drove the French into their entrenched camp in front of Bayonne; from whence they issued on the three following days, and attacked the allies, but were repulsed. The ROYAL SCOTS were warmly engaged on these occasions, and their gallantry was rewarded with the royal permission to bear the word "NIVE" on their colours. Their loss was 3 rank and file killed, and 1 serjeant and 3 rank and file wounded.

[Sidenote: 4th Batt.]

In the meantime important events had transpired on the continent of Europe. The invasion of Russia by Napoleon, the burning of Moscow, the disastrous retreat of the French army from the north, and the separation of Prussia, Austria, and other states, from the interest of Napoleon, were followed by a treaty of alliance and subsidy between Great Britain and Sweden, in which it was stipulated that a Swedish army commanded by the Crown Prince should join the allies; and on the 2nd of August, 1813, the 4th battalion of the ROYAL SCOTS embarked under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Muller for Stralsund, in Swedish Pomerania, forming part of an expedition sent thither under the orders of Major-General Gibbs. Thus a battalion of the regiment proceeded to the same part of the world to which a body of daring Scots, who formed the nucleus of this distinguished corps, proceeded exactly 200 years before, to engage in the service of the Swedish monarch. The battalion remained at Stralsund until the middle of December, when it advanced to support the army of the Crown Prince of Sweden on the Elbe, and halted on the 24th of December at Lubeck.

Thus at the conclusion of the year 1813 the regiment had four battalions on foreign service in three different quarters of the globe; namely--

1st battalion in Upper Canada, America. 2nd " the East Indies, Asia. 3rd " France, Europe. 4th " Germany, "

[Sidenote: 1814]

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

The services of the 1st battalion were limited, during the early part of 1814, to the usual duties of a corps stationed on an enemy's frontier. On the night of the 3rd of March, Captain Stewart received information of the appearance of a strong body of Americans in _Longwood_, in advance of Delaware town; and he directed the light companies of the ROYAL SCOTS, and 89th regiment, to march at day-break, to support the advance posts. At five o'clock on the evening of the 4th the Americans were discovered, in very superior force, posted on a commanding eminence, protected with breastworks formed of logs of wood. The companies of the ROYAL SCOTS and 89th instantly attacked the enemy in front, "in the most gallant manner," while a company of rangers, and a detachment of Canadian militia, made a flank movement to the right, and a small band of Indians made a similar movement to the left, with a view of gaining the rear of the position. "After repeated efforts to dislodge the enemy in an arduous and spirited contest of an hour and a half's duration, which terminated with the daylight, the troops were reluctantly withdrawn, having suffered severely, principally in officers."[118] The ROYAL SCOTS had Captain David Johnstone, 1 serjeant, and 9 private men killed; Lieutenant Angus Macdonald, 2 serjeants, and 37 private men, wounded; and a bugler taken prisoner.

The battalion assembled at Fort George on the 1st of June; and on the 3rd of July two flank and five battalion companies marched from that place towards _Chippewa_. In the meantime a body of Americans had landed at Black Rock, and had driven in the garrison of Fort Erie. On the 4th the enemy advanced in force by the river, and the light company of the ROYAL SCOTS was engaged in a skirmish with the American riflemen. On the 5th of July a severe engagement with very superior numbers of the enemy took place.[119] The attack was not attended with success. Major-General Riall, speaking of the conduct of the troops in general orders, observed--"Although their efforts were not crowned with the success they deserved, yet he has the greatest satisfaction in saying it was impossible for men to have done more, or to have sustained with greater courage the heavy and destructive fire with which the enemy, from his great superiority in numbers, was enabled to oppose them." The ROYAL SCOTS had Captain E. P. Bailey, 5 serjeants, and 71 rank and file killed; Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, Lieutenants W. Campbell, A. Macdonald, A. Campbell, J. T. Connell, B. Fox, George Jackson, and Charles Hendrick, 12 serjeants, and 132 rank and file, wounded; Captains E. M. Bird and John Wilson severely wounded and taken prisoners; 5 serjeants and 72 rank and file missing.

Fort Erie afterwards surrendered to the superior numbers of the enemy; the ROYAL SCOTS returned to Fort George; and on the 13th of July seven companies took up a position at Fifteen-mile Creek.