Part 21

The detachment under Lieut.-Colonel Wetherall passed the river Richelieu by the upper ferry at Chambly; but the severity of the weather, and the bad state of the roads, impeded the march, and information having been received of the increased numbers of the rebels at St. Charles, the detachment halted at St. Hilaire until joined by another company of the ROYALS from Chambly. On the 26th of November the detachment resumed its march, and on arriving within a mile of St. Charles it was fired upon by the insurgents on the opposite side of the river, and one man of the ROYAL Regiment was wounded. Several rifle shots were also fired from a barn in front, which was burnt by the detachment. On arriving at the vicinity of St. Charles 1500 rebels were found posted in a close stockaded work, which was attacked; and after firing a few rounds, the troops assaulted and carried the defences by storm, killed a number of the rebels, took sixteen prisoners, and burnt the buildings. The ROYALS had 1 Serjeant and 1 rank and file killed; 8 rank and file severely, and 7 slightly, wounded. Lieut.-Colonel Wetherall's horse was shot under him during the action, and Major Warde's horse was severely wounded, and died afterwards. The detachment of the 66th had 1 man killed and 3 wounded.

Lieut.-Colonel Wetherall observed in his despatch:--"Every officer and man behaved nobly. Major Warde carried the right of the position in good style, and Captain Glasgow's artillery did good execution. He is a most zealous officer. Captain David's troop of Montreal cavalry rendered essential service during the charge."

After this success the detachment retired, on the 27th of November, to St. Hilaire, and advanced on the following day towards _Point Olivière_, to attack a body of rebels who had taken post at that place, and constructed an abatis, for the purpose of cutting off the retreat of the detachment; but when the troops formed for the attack, the rebels, after exchanging a few shots, fled, leaving two guns mounted on carts behind them. The detachment returned on the same day with 25 prisoners to Chambly, the men having suffered much from heavy rains, roads knee-deep in mud, and also from frost and snow.

In the meantime the detachments under Colonel Gore had, from obstructions of a formidable nature, and from the severe state of the weather, failed in the attempt on St. Denis, and had retired. The conduct of Lieutenant Lysons of the ROYAL Regiment, attached to the Quarter-Master General's department, who was employed on this service, was spoken of in terms of commendation, and also the exertions of Surgeon Farnden, in rendering assistance to the wounded. After the success of the ROYALS at St. Charles, the rebels broke up from their post at St. Denis.

The rebellion was, however, not arrested in its progress, and the troops had much harassing duty to perform in severe weather. On the 13th of December Lieut.-General Sir John Colborne proceeded with all his disposable force (including the companies of the ROYAL Regiment) towards _St. Eustache_, to put down the revolt in the country of the Lake of the Two Mountains, where the insurgents had driven the loyal inhabitants from their homes, and had pillaged an extensive tract of country. The ROYALS, with the Montreal rifles, and Captain Globinsky's company of volunteers, formed a brigade under Lieut.-Colonel Wetherall. The volunteers were detached to the woods bordering on the upper road to St. Eustache, to drive in and disperse the rebel piquets. The remainder of the brigade, with the other disposable troops, crossed the north branch of the Ottawa river on the ice, on the 14th of December, advanced upon St. Eustache, and entered the village at several points. The ROYALS and Montreal rifles advanced up the main street, and took possession of the most defensible houses. An officer was detached to bring up the artillery; but he was driven back by the fire of the rebels, who had taken post in the church. The artillery entered the village by the rear, and opened their fire on the church door, while some companies of the ROYALS and rifles occupied the houses nearest to the church. After about an hour's firing, and the church doors remaining unforced, a party of the ROYALS assaulted the presbytery, killed some of its defenders, and set it on fire. The smoke soon enveloped the church, and the remainder of the battalion advanced; a straggling fire opened upon them from the Seignior's house, forming one face of the square in which the church stood, and Lieut.-Colonel Wetherall directed the grenadiers to carry it, which they did, killing several, taking many prisoners, and setting it on fire. At the same time part of the battalion commanded by Major Warde entered the church by the rear, drove out and slew the garrison, and set the church on fire. 118 prisoners were made in these assaults. The ROYALS had 1 man killed and 4 wounded in this service.

On the 16th the ROYALS advanced with the remainder of the disposable force to St. Benoit, where no opposition was offered; and the rebels sent delegates to say they were prepared to lay down their arms unconditionally. The ROYALS returned to Montreal, where they arrived on the 17th of December with the prisoners. The good results of these movements were the return of the peasantry to their usual occupations, and the disappearance of armed parties of the rebels.

[Illustration: First, or Royal Regiment of Foot, 1838.

[To face page 261.]

[Sidenote: 1838]

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

In May, 1838, the first battalion proceeded from Ireland to Scotland.

[Sidenote: 1839]

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

In November, 1839, the first battalion was again directed to prepare for foreign service, and the six service companies were embarked from Greenock for Gibraltar on the 11th and 25th of that month, on board the troop ships Athol and Sapphire.

[Sidenote: 1841]

The four depôt companies remained in Scotland until May, 1841, when they were embarked for Ireland.

[Sidenote: 1843]

[Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]

In September, 1843, three companies of the second battalion were embarked at Toronto for the West Indies; and on the 28th October the head-quarters, with the other three companies, under the command of Major Bennett, were embarked at Quebec for the same destination on board of the Premier transport, which was wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but fortunately no lives were lost, and the three companies returned to Quebec on the 12th November.

On the 18th December, 1843, General Lord Lynedoch died, and the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred by Her Majesty on General the Right Honourable Sir George Murray, G.C.B., from the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment.

[Sidenote: 1844]

The head-quarters and the three companies of the second battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bell, again embarked from Quebec on the 20th May 1844, and arrived on the 1st June at Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they remained until November, when they proceeded from Halifax to the West Indies, and arrived at Barbadoes on the 8th and 17th November.

[Sidenote: 1846]

The service companies of the second battalion returned from the West Indies in January, 1846, and arrived at Leith on the 21st March, from whence they proceeded to Glasgow, where they were joined by the depôt companies, which embarked from Belfast in May, 1845.

[Sidenote: 1st Batt.]

The service companies of the first battalion embarked from Gibraltar for the West Indies, on the 17th February, 1846, and arrived at Barbadoes on the 21st March. The depôt companies, which proceeded from Glasgow to Dublin in 1841, remained in Ireland.

On the 28th July, 1846, General the Right Honourable Sir George Murray, G.C.B. died, and Her Majesty was pleased to confer the colonelcy of the First or Royal Regiment of Foot on General the Right Honourable Sir James Kempt, G.C.B., from the Second, or Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot.

The head-quarters of the first battalion are at Trinidad: the depôt companies at Newbridge: the second battalion is at Edinburgh, at the close of the year 1846, at which period this record is concluded.

1846.

The foregoing account proves the antiquity of the FIRST, OR ROYAL REGIMENT OF FOOT, and gives a statement of its services for a period of more than 200 years, during which it has acquired laurels under the great GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS, king of Sweden, and under the French Marshals, TURENNE, the Prince of CONDÉ, LUXEMBOURG, and DE CREQUI: it has since formed a part of the British army which has fought and conquered under King WILLIAM III., MARLBOROUGH, ABERCROMBY, MOORE, and WELLINGTON, the most celebrated warriors and consummate generals of their periods; thus establishing a fame and distinction which, it is presumed, few, if any, other military bodies in Europe can claim. The career of the ROYAL REGIMENT has not evinced a feverish and uncertain valour, sometimes emitting sudden flashes which startle and surprise, and at others betraying weakness and pusillanimity, but it has proved uniform and invincible; and whether employed against the barbarous tribes of Asia, Africa, and America, or the disciplined legions of Europe, the officers and men of the ROYAL REGIMENT have, on all occasions, displayed the native energy, firmness, and contempt of danger peculiar to Britons; and by their victories in every quarter of the globe, they have established a reputation for future ages to emulate.

Posterity, looking back at the splendid achievements of the British arms in various parts of the world, will naturally inquire what regiments won honour and fame in the several fields of glory where British valour was sternly proved. To this it may be answered that, in the seventeenth century, when GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS stood forth the champion of the Protestant princes of Germany, this regiment fought and conquered in that glorious cause; and it claims the honour of having fought at the battle of LEIPSIC, famous in the history of Sweden, and at ROUCROY, celebrated in the annals of France.

In the succeeding century, when the balance of power in Europe was destroyed by the union of France and Spain, and LOUIS XIV. sought to dictate laws to Christendom, this regiment was one of the first which appeared at the scene of conflict, and it shared in the victories of BLENHEIM, RAMILIES, OUDENARDE, and MALPLAQUET, also in the honour of capturing the fortresses which that ambitious monarch had erected as bulwarks to his kingdom; and thus purchased peace for Europe.

When BONAPARTE, whose hatred and jealousy of England were unalterable, sought to become more than the dictator of Europe, this regiment met the legions of the usurper, and fought and triumphed in battles, which are inscribed on its colours as monuments to stimulate to deeds of valour the men of future generations, who shall enrol themselves under the banners of the ROYAL REGIMENT. Besides these leading features of its career, in which the national character and influence have been elevated, this regiment has evinced equally brilliant qualities in

## actions which, though less important in their bearing on the affairs

of Europe, have attested the intrinsic merit of the corps, and have purchased numerous advantages to the commerce, power, stability, and happiness of Britain.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] Bishop Lesley; and Abercromby's Martial Achievements of the Scots Nation.

[7] L'Escosse Françoise, par A. Houston; and the Translator's Preface to Beauge's History of the Campaigns in 1548 and 1549.

[8] Milan, a military publisher remarkable for correct dates, states, in an account of the French army printed in 1746, that the _Scots Gendarmes_ were instituted in 1422, and the _Scots Garde du Corps_ in 1440. Père Daniel, the French military historian, adduces proof that they were instituted by Charles VII., but does not give the dates.

[9] Bishop Lesley; and Philip de Commines.

[10] List of the French army printed at the time.

[11] L'Ecosse Françoise, par A. Houston.

[12] Histoire de la Milice Françoise, par Le Père Daniel. 2 tom. 4to. Paris, 1721.

[13] The companies obtained from the Netherlands were part of a distinguished body of Scots, who had been many years in the service of the States-General of the United Provinces; and were, in consequence of a truce having been concluded for 12 years, at liberty to engage in the service of Sweden. Vide _Historical Record of the Third Foot_.

[14] Introduction de Puffendorf, tome iv. p. 84.

[15] Harte's Life of Guslavus Adolphus.

[16] The regiment alluded to was raised by Donald Mackay, Lord Reay, in 1626, for the service of the King of Denmark; it was afterwards in the service of the King of Sweden, and was reduced in 1634 to one company. In 1637, Colonel Robert Monro, who had served in the regiment from the time it was raised, published an historical account of its services, under the title of _Monro's Expedition_; from which history much valuable information has been obtained relating to the ROYAL REGIMENT, and its first Colonel, Sir John Hepburn, who had lived in terms of intimacy and strict friendship with Colonel Monro from the time they were schoolfellows.

[17] Monro's expedition; and Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus.

"He maintained his post for nine weeks, repulsing every attempt to retake it, till he was relieved by a Scotch regiment (the Royals) under Colonel Hepburn, and a body of Swedish troops."--_General David Stewart's History of the Highland Regiments_, published in 1822.

[18] Swedish Intelligencer.

[19] Monro's Expedition.

[20] The Imperialists had previously enacted a cruel tragedy on a party of Scots at Old Brandenburg.

[21] Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus; Monro's Expedition; and the Swedish Intelligencer.

[22] In a list of Gustavus's army published at the time, in the _Mercure François_, the regiment is stated to have displayed four colours at the battle of Leipsic.

[23] "The King having noticed that the Duke of Saxony was leaving the field, and that Count Tilly was ready to charge his main body, selected 2,000 musketeers of the brave Scots nation, and placed 2,000 horse on their flanks. The Scots formed themselves in several bodies of six or seven hundred each, with their ranks three deep (the King of Sweden's discipline being never to march above six deep;) the foremost rank falling on their knees, the second stooping forward, and the third standing upright, and all giving fire together, they poured, at one instant, so much lead amongst the enemy's horse, that their ranks were broken, and the Swedish horse charging, the enemy were routed."--_Account of the battle of Leipsic published at the time._

[24] "We were as in a dark cloud, not seeing the half of our actions, much less discerning either the way of our enemies, or the rest of our brigades; whereupon, having a drummer by me, I caused him to beat the _Scots March_, till it cleared up, which re-collected our friends unto us."--_Monro's Expedition._

[25] Monro's Expedition.

[26] "His Majesty, accompanied by a great and honourable train of cavaliers, alighted from his horse at the head of our brigade; the officers coming together about his Majesty in a ring, his Majesty made a speech of commendation of the brigade, thanking them for their good service, and exhorting them to the continuation thereof, promised he would not forget to reward them; and turning towards the superior officers, they did kiss his Majesty's hand; the inferior officers and soldiers crying aloud, they hoped to do his Majesty better service than ever they had done."--_Monro's Expedition._

"His Majesty bestowed particular encomiums on the Swedish and Finland horse, conducted by Horne; as also on that brave body of Scottish infantry which Hepburn commanded."--_Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus._

[27] Harte.

[28] "The foot brigades were commanded to their several posts. Colonel Hepburn's brigade (according to custom) was directed to the most dangerous post, next the enemy; and the rest to theirs. The night coming on, we began our approaches, and prepared for making ready our attacks, when certain men were ordered to make cannon baskets, some to provide materials, some to watch, some to dig, some to guard the artillery, some to guard the workmen, and some to guard the colours before the brigade. The day approaching, we having made ready the batteries in the night, the service on both sides beginneth with cannon and musket."--_Monro's Expedition._

[29] Monro gives the name of every British officer above the rank of Captain in the Swedish army. Many Scots officers had been promoted to the command of Swedish, Finland, and Dutch regiments.

[30] "Here also we see the valour of Hepburn and his brigade praiseworthy, being, first and last, the instruments of the enemy's overthrow."--_Monro's Expedition._

"The King returned Hepburn public thanks for suggesting the idea of crossing the Wernitz, and for executing his plan with such judgement and valour."--_Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus._

[31] In some accounts of the battle of Lützen the _Green Brigade_, of which Hepburn's regiment formed a part, is mentioned by mistake amongst the troops engaged, instead of the _White Brigade_. As Colonel Monro commanded the brigade at the time the battle was fought, his narrative is considered sufficient authority for stating that it was not present.

[32] Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden was born on the 9th of December, 1594. He learnt the duty of a musketeer as soon as he could carry a musket; and when seventeen years of age he was Colonel of a Cavalry corps, and served a campaign against the Danes. In the same year (1611) his father died, and the young Gustavus succeeded to the throne of Sweden; and he soon afterwards evinced, to the surprise of all Europe, the most distinguished abilities as a commander, a hero, and a politician. The discipline which he introduced into his army was strict beyond all precedent, and to this many of his victories may be attributed. His improvements in arms, equipment, and in military tactics, were particularly important; and he was brave even to rashness. He was wounded in action on six different occasions, had three horses killed under him, and was several times in the power of the enemy, but was rescued by his own men. On the fatal 6th of November, 1632, he fought sword in hand at the head of the Smoland cavalry, and was shot through the left arm, but continued fighting until his voice and strength failed from loss of blood, when he attempted to retire. At that instant an Imperial cavalier came galloping forward, and, crying "_Long have I sought thee_," shot the King through the body; and the next moment one of his Majesty's attendants shot the cavalier dead on the spot. As the King and his attendants were retiring, they were charged by a troop of cuirassiers; his Majesty was held for a few moments on the saddle, but his horse, being shot in the shoulder, made a desperate plunge, and threw the rider to the ground. After his fall the King received five wounds in different parts of his body, and was shot through the head. Thus fell the brave Gustavus, the most distinguished warrior of his age; with whose life the early services of HEPBURN'S regiment, now represented by the FIRST, OR ROYAL REGIMENT OF FOOT, are intimately connected.

[33] Monro's Expedition.

[34] In the _Mercure François_ and other French works he is called _Colonel Hebron_ and _Le Chevalier d'Hebron_; Père Daniel, the French historian, gives the following reason for this change--"On l'appelloit en France 'le _Chevalier d'Hebron_,' son nom d'_Hepburn_ étant difficile à prononcer."

[35] This transfer of men from the service of the Crown of Sweden to that of France was not peculiar to Hepburn's veterans; but the German and Swedish forces which, after the defeat at Nordlingen, retreated, under the Duke of Saxe-Weimar, towards the Rhine, were nearly all taken into the pay of France.

[36] Mercure Françoise; Anderson's History of the Reign of Louis XIII.; and the Complete History of Europe.

[37] "The most deplorable accident was the death of the Scottish "Colonel Hepburn, who, with his usual coolness, surveying the breach, received a ball in his neck, and died, extremely regretted in the army, and by the Court of France."--_Anderson's History of France_, vol. v. p. 90.

"Le combat fut fort opiniâtre en ceste prise, et de telle façon; que le Colonel Hebron Escossois, y fut tué d'une mousquetade dans le col, qui luy passoit dans les reins, ayant laissé une reputation digne de sa valeur, fidelité, et experience au fait de la guerre."--_Mercure François_, tom. xxi. p. 277.

[38] The following return of the establishment of the regiment in 1637 was procured by its Colonel, General Lord Adam Gordon, who died in 1801:--

Colonel (Lord James Douglas) 1 Lieutenant-Colonel (Colonel Monro) 1 Major (Sir Patrick Monteith) 1 Captains 45 Captain-Lieutenant 1 Lieutenants 45 Ensigns 48 Surgeons 4 Adjutants 6 Chaplains 2 Drum-Major 1 Piper 1 Sergeants 88 Corporals 288 Lance-Parade 288 Drummers 96 48 Companies of 150 Privates each 7200 ---- Total 8316 ----

[39] Mercure François.

[40] In a plan of the siege of Hesdin, published at Paris in 1639, _Douglas' Scots Regiment_ appears formed in brigade with the Regiment of Champaigne.

[41] The three Scots regiments in the service of France at this period, are designated by the French historians, the regiments of DOUGLAS, CHAMBERS, and PRASLIN.

[42] Père Daniel.

[43] Mercure François; and Le Histoire Militaire de Louis le Grand, par M. Le Marquis de Quincy.

[44] This division consisted of the following corps; viz.: The French Guards, the Swiss Guards, the regiments of Picardy, DOUGLAS, La Meilleraie, Grancy, and Molondin.--_Mercure François._

[45] Account of the battle of Lens, published at the time; Life of the Prince of Condé; and Histoire Militaire de Louis le Grand.

[46] A detailed account of this action is given in the Life of King James II., from the memoirs written with his own hand, and published by the Rev. J. S. Clarke in 1818. His Majesty was then (1652) Duke of York, and was serving with the French Army, of which DOUGLAS' Regiment formed part.

[47] Life of King James II., from the Memoirs written with his own hand.

[48] The forces were designated by the following titles:--

HORSE GUARDS

The Duke of York's Troop afterwards the third troop of Life Guards, and disbanded in 1746.

FOOT.

The King's Regiment of Guards, afterwards constituted, with a battalion of Guards raised in England in 1661, the FIRST FOOT GUARDS.

{ The few remaining men of these The Duke of York's Regiment { regiments were, in 1660, placed The Duke of Gloucester's Regt. { in garrison at Dunkirk; they The Earl of Bristol's Regiment { were afterwards removed to Lord Newborough's Regiment { Tangier, and incorporated in Colonel Richard Grace's Regt. { the SECOND, or QUEEN'S REGIMENT { OF FOOT.

[49] "Ce Régiment de Douglas, étant en garnison à Avesnes en 1661, eut ordre de passer en Angleterre, où il rendit des services très considerables au Roy Charles II.

"Il n'était que de huit compagnies en partant de France, et se trouva en y revenant, un an aprés, de trente-trois compagnies, qui étoient composées pour le moins de cent hommes chacune. Mylord George Douglas l'a toujours commandé en France."--_Père Daniel._

[50] London Gazette; and Military Records in the State Paper Office.

[51] "_Le Régiment de Douglas Escossois._ Ce Régiment a servi plusieurs années en France, et s'y est fort distingué. Je trouve dans l'Ordonnance de Louis XIV., de l'an 1672, pour le rang des Régimens, qu'il étoit un des premiers."--_Père Daniel._

[52] Comte de Chamilly's despatch, in the original correspondence respecting the campaign of 1672, published in France.

[53] See the Historical Record of the Life Guards, p. 43.

[54] Histoire du Vicomte de Turenne par L'Abbé Raguenet.

[55] Mémoires de deux dernieres Campagnes de Monsieur de Turenne en Allemagne.

[56] London Gazette.