Chapter 12 of 13 · 3998 words · ~20 min read

Part 12

Succession of MAJORS of NINETY-SECOND Regiment (HIGHLANDERS).

FOOTNOTES:

[20] Inserted in Appendix, pages 142 and 143.

APPENDIX.

“_Horse Guards_, “_16th May, 1801._

“GENERAL ORDERS.

“The recent events which have occurred in Egypt have induced His Majesty to lay his most gracious commands on His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, to convey to the troops employed in that country His Majesty’s highest approbation of their conduct; and at the same time His Majesty has deemed it expedient that these his gracious sentiments should be communicated to every part of his army, not doubting that all ranks will thereby be inspired with an honorable spirit of emulation, and an eager desire of distinguishing themselves in their country’s service.

“Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes the successes that have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and most forcibly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of _order_, _discipline_, and _military_ system, which has given its full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty.

“The illustrious example of their Commander cannot fail to have made an indelible impression on the gallant troops, at whose head, crowned with victory and glory, he terminated his honorable career; and His Majesty trusts that a due contemplation of the talents and virtues which he uniformly displayed in the course of his valuable life, will for ever endear the memory of SIR RALPH ABERCROMBY to the British army.

“His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief having thus obeyed His Majesty’s commands, cannot forbear to avail himself of this opportunity of recapitulating the leading features of a series of operations so honorable to the British arms.

“The boldness of the approach to the coast of Aboukir, in defiance of a powerful and well-directed artillery; the orderly formation upon the beach, under the heaviest fire of grape and musketry; the reception and repulse of the enemy’s cavalry and infantry; the subsequent charge of our troops, which decided the victory, and established a footing on the shores of Egypt, are circumstances of glory never surpassed in the military annals of the world.

“The advance of the army, on the 13th of March, towards ALEXANDRIA, presents the spectacle of a movement of infantry through an open country, who, being attacked upon their march, _formed_, and _repulsed_ the enemy; then advanced in line for three miles, engaged along their whole front, until they drove the enemy to seek his safety under the protection of his entrenched position. Such had been the order and regularity of the advance.

“Upon the 21st of March, the united force of the French in Egypt attacked the position of the British army.

“An attack, begun an hour before daylight, could derive no advantage over the vigilance of an army ever ready to receive it. The enemy’s most vigorous and repeated efforts were directed against the right and centre. Our infantry fought in the plain, greatly inferior in the number of their artillery, and unaided by cavalry.

“They relied upon their discipline and their courage. The desperate attacks of a veteran cavalry, joined to those of a numerous infantry, which had vainly styled itself ‘_Invincible_,’ were everywhere repulsed; and a conflict the most severe terminated in one of the most signal victories which ever adorned the annals of the British nation.

“In bringing forward these details, the Commander-in-Chief does not call upon the army merely _to admire_ but _to emulate_ such conduct. Every soldier who feels for the honor of his country, while he exults in events so splendid and important in themselves, will henceforth have fresh motives for cherishing and enforcing the practice of discipline, and by uniting, in the greatest perfection, order and precision with activity and courage, will seek to uphold, and transmit undiminished to posterity, the _Glory_ and _Honor_ of the _British Arms_.

“Nor is a less useful example to be derived from the conduct of the distinguished Commander who fell in the field. His steady observance of discipline, his ever-watchful attention to the health and wants of his troops, the persevering and unconquerable spirit which marked his military career, the splendour of his actions in the field, and the heroism of his death, are worthy the imitation of all who desire, like him, a life of honor and a death of glory.

“By Order of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief,

“HARRY CALVERT, “_Colonel and Adjutant-General_.”

The following Regiments were employed in EGYPT, in 1801, and were permitted by His Majesty King George the Third, to bear on their colours the _Sphinx_, with the word “EGYPT,” as a distinguished mark of His Majesty’s Royal approbation, and as a lasting memorial of the glory acquired to His Majesty’s arms by the zeal, discipline, and intrepidity of his troops in that arduous and important campaign, _viz._:—

_Corps._ _Commanding Officers._

‡8th Light Dragoons, 1 Troop Captain Hawkins. 11th Light Dragoons, 1 Troop Captain A. Money. 12th ” Colonel Mervyn Archdall. †22nd ” Lieut.-Col. Hon. Wm. Lumley. 26th (afterwards 23rd) Light } Lieut.-Colonel Robert Gordon. Dragoons } Hompesch’s Hussars (detachment) Major Sir Robert T. Wilson. Coldstream Guards, 1st Battalion Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Brice. 3rd Foot Guards, 1st Battalion Lieut.-Colonel T. Hilgrove Turner. Royals, 2nd Battalion Lieut.-Colonel Duncan Campbell. 2nd Queen’s Royal Colonel the Earl of Dalhousie. 8th Foot, King’s Colonel Gordon Drummond. *10th ” Lieut.-Colonel Richard Quarrell. 13th ” ” Hon. Chas. Colville. 18th, Royal Irish ” Henry T. Montresor. †20th Foot, 1st and 2nd Battalions ” George Smith. 23rd, Royal Welsh Fusiliers ” John Hall. †24th Foot Lieut.-Colonel John R. Forster. †25th ” Colonel William Dyott. †26th ” ” Lord Elphinstone. 27th, Inniskilling, 1st & 2nd Bns. Lieut.-Colonel Samuel Graham. 28th Foot Colonel Hon. Edward Paget. 30th ” Lieut.-Colonel Wm. Wilkinson. 40th ” (Flank Companies) Colonel Brent Spencer. 42nd, Royal Highland Regt. Lieut.-Colonel William Dickson. 44th Foot ” David Ogilvie. 50th Foot Colonel Patrick Wauchope. 54th ” 1st and 2nd Battalions Lieut.-Colonel John Thos. Layard. 58th ” ” William Houston. ‡61st ” ” Francis Carruthers. 79th ” Colonel Alan Cameron. *80th ” Lieut.-Colonel John Montresor. *86th ” ” James P. Lloyd. *88th ” Colonel Wm. Carr Beresford. 89th ” ” William Stewart. 90th ” ” Rowland Hill. 92nd ” Lieut.-Colonel Charles Erskine. †De Watteville’s Regiment Lieut.-Col. Louis de Watteville. The Queen’s German Regiment Lt.-Col. Peter John James Dutens. De Roll’s Regiment ” The Baron De Dürler. Dillon’s Regiment ” The Baron Perponcher. Royal Corsican Rangers Major Hudson Lowe. †Ancient Irish Fencibles †Chasseurs Britanniques Colonel John Ramsay. Staff Corps (detachment)

* The 10th, 80th, 86th, and 88th Regiments proceeded from the East Indies, under the orders of Major-General David Baird, to join the army in Egypt.

† The 22nd Light Dragoons, 20th (two battalions), 24th, 25th, and 26th Regiments, the Ancient Irish Fencibles, and the foreign corps of De Watteville and Chasseurs Britanniques, joined the Army in Egypt in July, 1801.

‡ One troop of the 8th Light Dragoons and the 61st Regiment, embarked from the Cape of Good Hope, joined the army under Major-General Baird at Cosseir in July, 1801, and proceeded through the Desert to Ghench, or Kenneh, on the Nile, where the troops embarked for Cairo.

List of Regiments which composed the army under Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart, employed in the Expedition to COPENHAGEN in the year 1807.

Corps. Officers. Men. Royal Artillery 65 1,545 Royal Engineers 15 53 Coldstream Guards, 1st Battalion 44 1,300 Scots Fusilier Guards ” 40 1,292 4th Regiment of Foot ” 46 1,061 7th Royal Fusiliers ” 37 786 8th Foot ” 36 859 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers ” 46 1,054 28th Regiment ” 48 1,158 32nd ” ” 36 727 43rd ” ” 51 1,065 50th ” ” 36 957 52nd ” 2nd Battalion 31 712 79th ” 1st Battalion 44 1,044 82nd ” ” 38 826 92nd ” ” 38 1,039 95th (Rifle Brigade) part of 1st and 2nd Battalions 49 967 --- ------ Total British 700 16,445 === ======

KING’S GERMAN LEGION. Officers. Men. 1st Light Dragoons 36 610 2nd ” 41 620 3rd ” 40 621 Royal Artillery 34 675 1st Battalion of the Line 39 824 2nd ” 38 837 3rd ” 41 815 4th ” 41 813 5th ” 41 802 6th ” 42 835 7th ” 39 830 8th ” 41 726 1st Battalion Light Infantry 40 825 2nd ” 24 532 Depôt Company 3 130 Garrison Company 2 60 --- ------ Total King’s German Legion 542 10,555 --- ------ General Total 1,242 27,000 ===== ======

“_His Majesty’s Ship, ‘Audacious,’_ “_18th January, 1809._

“GENERAL ORDERS.

“The irreparable loss that has been sustained by the fall of the Commander of the Forces (Lieut.-General Sir John Moore), and the severe wound which has removed Lieut.-General Sir David Baird from his station, render it the duty of Lieut.-General Hope to congratulate the army upon the successful result of the action of the 16th instant.

“On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered.

“These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position, or of numbers he may employ, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers, a bravery that knows not how to yield, that no circumstances can appal, and that will ensure victory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.

“The Lieut.-General has the greatest satisfaction in distinguishing such meritorious services, as came within his observation, or have been brought to his knowledge.

“His acknowledgments are, in a peculiar manner, due to Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck, and the brigade under his command, consisting of the fourth, forty-second, and fiftieth regiments, and which sustained the weight of the attack.

“Major-General Manningham, with his brigade, consisting of the Royals, the twenty-sixth and eighty-first regiments, and Major-General Warde, with the brigade of Guards, will also be pleased to accept his best thanks for their steady and gallant conduct during the action.

“To Major-General Paget, who, by a judicious movement of the reserve, effectually contributed to check the progress of the enemy on the right; and to the first battalion of the fifty-second and ninety-fifth regiments, which were thereby engaged, the greatest praise is justly due.

“That part of Major-General Leith’s brigade which was engaged, consisting of the fifty-ninth regiment, under the conduct of the Major-General, also claims marked approbation.

“The enemy not having rendered the attack on the left a serious one, did not afford to the troops stationed in that quarter an opportunity of displaying that gallantry which must have made him repent the attempt.

“The piquets and advanced posts, however, of the brigades under the command of _Major-Generals Hill and Leith_, and _Colonel Catlin Craufurd_, conducted themselves with determined resolution; and were ably supported by the officers commanding these brigades, and by the troops of which they were composed.

“It is peculiarly incumbent upon the Lieut.-General to notice the vigorous attack made by the second battalion of the _fourteenth_ regiment under _Lieut.-Colonel Nicolls_, which drove the enemy out of the village, of the left of which he had possessed himself.

“The exertions of _Lieut.-Colonel Murray_, Quarter-Master General, and of the other officers of the General Staff, during the action, were unremitted, and deserve every degree of approbation.

“The illness of _Brigadier-General Clinton_, Adjutant-General, unfortunately deprived the army of the benefit of his services.

“The Lieut.-General hopes the loss in point of numbers is not so considerable as might have been expected; he laments, however, the fall of the gallant soldiers and valuable officers who have suffered.

“The Lieut.-General knows that it is impossible, in any language he can use, to enhance the esteem, or diminish the regret, that the army feels with him for its late Commander. His career has been unfortunately too limited for his country, but has been sufficient for his own fame. Beloved by the army, honored by his Sovereign, and respected by his country, he has terminated a life devoted to her service, by a glorious death,—leaving his name as a memorial, an example, and an incitement, to those who shall follow him in the path of honor, and it is from his country alone that his memory can receive the tribute which is its due.

(Signed) “JOHN HOPE, _Lieut.-General_.”

“_Horse Guards_, “_1st February, 1809._

“GENERAL ORDERS.

“The benefits derived to an army from the example of a distinguished Commander, do not terminate at his death; his virtues live in the recollection of his associates, and his fame remains the strongest incentive to great and glorious actions.

“In this view, the Commander-in-Chief, amidst the deep and universal regret which the death of Lieut.-General Sir JOHN MOORE has occasioned, recalls to the troops the military career of that illustrious officer for their instruction and imitation.

“Sir JOHN MOORE from his youth embraced the profession with the feelings and sentiments of a soldier; he felt that a perfect knowledge, and an exact performance of the humble, but important duties of a subaltern officer, are the best foundations for subsequent military fame; and his ardent mind, while it looked forward to those brilliant achievements for which it was formed, applied itself, with energy and exemplary assiduity, to the duties of that station.

“In the school of regimental duty, he obtained that correct knowledge of his profession so essential to the proper direction of the gallant spirit of the soldier; and he was enabled to establish a characteristic order and regularity of conduct, because the troops found in their leader a striking example of the discipline which he enforced on others.

“Having risen to command, he signalized his name in the West Indies, in Holland, and in Egypt. The unremitting attention with which he devoted himself to the duties of every branch of his profession, obtained him the confidence of Sir Ralph Abercromby, and he became the companion in arms of that illustrious officer, who fell at the head of his victorious troops, in an action which maintained our national superiority over the arms of France.

“Thus Sir JOHN MOORE at an early period obtained, with general approbation, that conspicuous station, in which he gloriously terminated his useful and honorable life.

“In a military character obtained amidst the dangers of climate, the privations incident to service, and the sufferings of repeated wounds, it is difficult to select any one point as a preferable subject for praise; it exhibits, however, one feature so particularly characteristic of the man, and so important to the best interests of the service, that the Commander-in-Chief is pleased to mark it with his peculiar approbation—

“THE LIFE OF SIR JOHN MOORE WAS SPENT AMONG THE TROOPS.

“During the season of repose, his time was devoted to the care and instruction of the officer and soldier; in war he courted service in every quarter of the globe. Regardless of personal considerations, he esteemed that to which his country called him, _the post of honor_, and by his undaunted spirit and unconquerable perseverance, he pointed the way to victory.

“His country, the object of his latest solicitude, will rear a monument to his lamented memory, and the Commander-in-Chief feels he is paying the best tribute to his fame by thus holding him forth as an EXAMPLE to the ARMY.

“By order of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, “HARRY CALVERT, _Adjutant-General_.”