Chapter 3 of 13 · 3981 words · ~20 min read

Part 3

Costume of the regiment _to face page_ 1

Colours of the regiment ” 28

Plan of Arroyo-del-Molinos ” 54

Two soldiers on duty ” 126

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS

OF THE

NINETY-SECOND REGIMENT,

(HIGHLANDERS.)

Year Page

1796 George, Marquis of Huntly, G.C.B. 127 1806 John, Earl of Hopetoun, G.C.B. 129 1820 Sir John Hope, G.C.B. 131 1823 Honorable Sir Alexander Duff, G.C.B. 132 1831 John, Earl of Stair, K.T. — 1843 Sir William Macbean, K.C.B. —

SUCCESSION OF LIEUTENANT-COLONELS 133

SUCCESSION OF MAJORS 134

APPENDIX.

Page

General Order, dated 16th of May, 1801, relating to the campaign in Egypt, and the death of General Sir Ralph Abercromby 137

List of regiments, and names of the Commanding Officers, employed in Egypt in 1801 139

List of regiments employed in the expedition to Copenhagen in 1807 141

General Orders, dated 18th of January, and 1st of February, 1809, relating to the _Battle of Corunna_, and the death of Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, on the 16th of January, 1809 142 & 144

List of regiments, and the names of the Commanding Officers, which composed the army under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore at Corunna 146

List of the British and Hanoverian regiments, as formed in brigades and divisions, and the names of the General Officers, and of the Commanding Officers of Regiments, at the _Battle of Waterloo_, on the 18th of June, 1815 147

[Illustration: 92nd REGIMENT (GORDON HIGHLANDERS.)

_For Cannon’s Military Records._

_Madeley Lith. 3, Wellington St. Strand._]

HISTORICAL RECORD

THE NINETY-SECOND REGIMENT,

(HIGHLANDERS.)

[Sidenote: 1793]

The French Revolution, which commenced in the year 1789, by its destroying and sanguinary course, menaced Europe with universal anarchy. On the 21st of January, 1793, Louis XVI. was decapitated, and on the 1st of February the National Convention declared war against Great Britain and Holland.

Augmentations were in consequence made to the army; volunteer companies were formed by the patriotism of the British people, and every exertion was made to defend those institutions which had raised England to a high position among the nations of Europe.

[Sidenote: 1794]

To these events the NINETY-SECOND regiment owes its origin. A letter of service was addressed to the Duke of Gordon on the 10th of February, 1794, authorizing him to raise a regiment in Scotland, and the commission of Lieut.-Colonel Commandant was conferred upon his son the Marquis of Huntly.

The establishment of the regiment was directed to consist of one lieut.-colonel commandant, two majors, ten captains, one captain-lieutenant, twenty-one lieutenants, eight ensigns, one adjutant, quarter-master, surgeon, assistant-surgeon, chaplain, serjeant-major, quarter-master serjeant, forty serjeants, twenty drummers, two fifers, and one thousand rank and file.

On the 24th of June, 1794, the regiment was embodied at Aberdeen, and was generally known as “_The Gordon Highlanders_;” the regiment was inspected on the following day by Lieut.-General Sir Hector Munro, K.B., who expressed himself highly pleased with the general appearance of the corps.

The following officers were present, namely:—

_Lieut.-Colonel Commandant_ George Marquis of Huntly. _Major_ Charles Erskine.

_Captains._

Alexander Napier. | William McIntosh. John Cameron. | Alexander Gordon. Honorable John Ramsay. | Simon McDonald. Andrew Patton. | John Gordon (_Capt.-Lieut._)

_Adjutant_ John Henderson. | _Surgeon_ William Findlay. _Quarter-Master_ Peter Wilkie. | _Assistant-Surgeon_ John Clark.

_Chaplain_ William Gordon.

On the 9th of July, the regiment embarked at Fort George for England, and landed at Southampton on the 16th of August, when it was encamped on Netley Common. About this period it was numbered the _Hundredth_ regiment.

The uniform of the officers was as follows:—

JACKET.—Scarlet, facings yellow, with lappels turned back, and laced two and two; lace, silver, with a blue silk-worm in the centre; flat buttons, silver or plated, with the number of the regiment ‘100’ in the centre.

EPAULETS.—Two for all ranks, of silver bullion, having two stripes of yellow silk in the centre of the strap, with a thistle, and a binding of blue round the edge.

WAISTCOAT.—Scarlet, with regimental buttons, and laced with silver.

BELTED PLAID.—Twelve yards of blue, black, and green tartan, with a narrow yellow stripe.

PURSE, SHOES, AND HOSE.—Badger skin, ornamented with six white tassels, mounted with silver, and having a rim of silver round the top. The shoes were low-quartered, with silver buckles. The rosettes and garters were of red tape. The hose were tartan of white and red chequer.

The sword was the Highland claymore; the sword belt of buff leather, and the breastplate oval, of silver, ornamented with a crown and thistle, encircled by the words “_Gordon Highlanders_.”

The sash was of crimson silk, and was worn across the left shoulder. The bonnet was ornamented with black ostrich feathers, and the dirk was silver mounted.

The dress of the serjeants and privates was similar, the arms of the former being the claymore and halbert, and the latter had muskets; queues were worn by officers and men.

On the 5th of September, the regiment embarked at Southampton for Gibraltar, where it landed on the 27th of October: at this station the drill of the regiment was completed, and it was immediately placed on the garrison roster. The effective strength consisted of three field officers, seven captains, nine lieutenants, six ensigns, four staff, twenty-nine serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and twenty-seven rank and file.

In December the regiment received its colours on Windmill Hill, after being consecrated by the garrison chaplain; the regiment was marched under them by files in ordinary time, previously to which the Marquis of Huntly made a very impressive address, calling the attention of the officers and men to the duties which their King and Country expected from them, and to the honors which he trusted they would acquire under these banners.

The first or King’s Colour was, as usual, the Great Union. The second, or Regimental Colour, was composed of yellow silk; in the centre of both, the number ‘100,’ surmounted with a crown, and the words “_Gordon Highlanders_,” the whole within a wreath of thistles and roses.

[Sidenote: 1795]

On the 11th of June, 1795, the regiment embarked for Corsica, and landed at Bastia on the 11th of July.

In February of the previous year a landing was effected in Corsica by the allied troops, and, through the influence of General Paoli, the Commander-in-Chief of the island, a decree was made by the Assembly of Deputies, declaring the separation of Corsica from France, and its union to the British dominions.

In December, 1795, Lieut.-Colonel the Marquis of Huntly obtained leave of absence, and the command of the regiment devolved on Major Erskine.

[Sidenote: 1796]

The regiment was inspected on the 14th of April, 1796, at Bastia, by Lieut.-General Thomas Trigge, commanding at Corsica, who expressed his gratification at the appearance of the men, and the very correct manner in which they performed the different movements.

On the 14th of May, His Excellency the Viceroy, Lieut.-General Sir Gilbert Eliott reviewed the regiment, and signified his highest approbation of its appearance.

On the following day, the greater portion of the regiment, under the command of Major Alexander Napier, to which rank he had been promoted in March of this year, proceeded to _Corte_, in order to suppress a serious rebellion which broke out in that part of the island, and upon the return of the troops, a general order was issued by Lieut.-General the Honorable John Thomas De Burgh, who had succeeded to the command of the forces in Corsica, expressive of his best thanks for the exertions and good conduct displayed during the above fatiguing service.

Lieut.-Colonel Commandant the Marquis of Huntly was promoted to the rank of colonel of the regiment on the 3rd of May, 1796; Major Charles Erskine was also promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, the commission of the latter being ante-dated 1st May of the previous year.

In July Lieut.-Colonel Erskine obtained leave of absence, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Major Napier.

On the 14th of August, a detachment, consisting of one field officer, two captains, four subalterns, seven serjeants, eight corporals, and two hundred privates, was ordered to be held in readiness at a moment’s notice, to embark upon a secret expedition. The zeal and spirit of the corps showed itself in a most conspicuous manner, by the unanimous wish of the whole to be employed upon it; and in consequence of which, Major Napier, then commanding the regiment, made an offer to that effect to the Commander-in-Chief, who was pleased to give the following answer:—

“The Commander-in-Chief is sensible of the zeal and laudable motive, which have induced the officers and men of the Hundredth regiment to offer their services on the present occasion, and he desires Major Napier to express his best thanks to them, as well as his assurance, that he will be ready at all times to testify his satisfaction at their general good conduct and appearance, although circumstances will not at this time allow him to avail himself of their services to the extent they offer them.”

This expedition proved to be against _Porto Ferrajo_, in the Isle of Elba, and was completely successful, without any loss on the part of the troops employed.

Meanwhile the brilliant career of General Bonaparte in Italy had produced a change of sentiment among the inhabitants of Corsica, of which island he was a native. The Corsicans, therefore, gloried in him as a man who reflected honor on their country, and they regretted that the island had been annexed to Great Britain, as this event placed them in hostility to their victorious countryman, and they began to concert measures to effect its separation. It appearing evident that the expense of the defence would exceed the advantage derived from the possession of the island, the British troops were withdrawn, and on the 6th of September the regiment embarked for Gibraltar.

The regiment mustered one major, five captains, seven lieutenants, five ensigns, three staff, thirty-seven serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and six rank and file.

The following General Order was issued upon this occasion:—

_5th September, 1796._

“The Hundredth regiment being to embark for Gibraltar, Lieut.-General De Burgh cannot suffer them to leave Corsica, without testifying his approbation and satisfaction of their general good conduct and soldier-like behaviour, since he had the honor to command them; at the same time he desires they will accept of his best wishes for their success and welfare on all occasions.”

During the voyage, the British Admiral fell in with a large fleet of Spanish men-of-war, and the first intimation he had of Spain being at war with Great Britain, was their firing upon his ships. Perceiving this, and the enemy being so superior in force, he made signal to crowd all sail. The Spaniards, however, captured the “Granby” transport, having on board two staff officers, three serjeants, and forty-eight rank and file of the regiment.

The regiment landed at Gibraltar on the 4th of October, and on the 10th of that month was inspected by the Lieut.-Governor, who was much pleased with its appearance.

In the previous year, Prussia had concluded a peace with the French Republic, and in consequence of the United Provinces of Holland having leagued with France, England had taken possession of the Cape of Good Hope and of Ceylon. The former allies of England now became converted into enemies. War was declared by Holland, which had been constituted the Batavian Republic, against Great Britain, in May, and Spain followed the example in October. In the same month, Lord Malmsbury was sent to Paris to negociate a peace on the part of the British Government; but the French insisted upon retaining, as integral parts of the Republic, the conquests lately made; these terms could not be acceded to consistently with the general interests of Europe, and the negociation was discontinued.

[Sidenote: 1797]

In April, 1797, Lieut.-Colonel Erskine arrived at Gibraltar, and assumed the command of the regiment.

In April, the preliminaries of peace were signed at Leoben, in Styria, between Austria and the French Republic, so that Great Britain was left to continue the contest single-handed with France and her allies. In July Lord Malmsbury was sent a second time to negociate a peace, but the demands of the French Directory rendered the attempt abortive. On the 17th of October the definitive treaty of peace between Austria and the French Republic was signed at Campo Formio.

[Sidenote: 1798]

The regiment embarked in transports for England on the 16th of March, 1798. The ships put into the Tagus on the 9th of April, and sailed again on the 15th. After a tedious and boisterous passage, the regiment disembarked at Portsmouth on the 15th of May, and occupied Hilsea Barracks.

The effective strength of the regiment at this period consisted of two field officers, four captains, eleven subalterns, three staff, thirty-seven serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and seven hundred and forty-two rank and file.

By a General Order, dated 26th of May, 1798, it was directed that the coats of the army should be worn buttoned over the body down to the waist.

On the 31st of May, the regiment embarked in ships of war at Southsea Beach, Portsmouth, for Ireland, and arrived at Dublin, on the 15th of June, where it went into barracks.

His Majesty King George III., appointed Colonel the Marquis of Huntly to serve as a Brigadier-General upon the Staff of the Army in Ireland, in which country a spirit of discontent had been fomented by a party of unprincipled men, who had expected aid from France to carry out their designs. On the 21st of June, Lieut.-General Lake defeated the main body of the rebels at Vinegar hill, and the troubles in Ireland would have subsided, had it not been for the expected aid to be derived from France.

On the 2nd of July, the regiment marched at a moment’s notice, in consequence of the disturbed state of the country, the urgency of the service being such that the troops were conveyed in carriages.

The regiment encamped in the vicinity of Gorey on the 7th of July, and on the 18th marched suddenly to Blessington, where it encamped. On the 29th it marched and encamped at the Glen of Emall.

On the 10th of August, Lieut.-Colonel Erskine and three hundred men were detached and encamped at Torbay.

The following letter, expressive of the good conduct of the regiment during their stay at Gorey, was addressed by the Dean of Ferns, to Colonel the Marquis of Huntly:—

“MY LORD,

“I have the honor of enclosing to you that part of the proceedings in the last vestry, held in Gorey, wherein your Lordship and your regiment are mentioned. This mark of our respect and gratitude should have been sooner expressed and conveyed to you, had not our calamitous situation delayed the calling of a vestry, which we conceived the most regular mode of expressing our sentiments collectively.

“It may be pleasing to your Lordship to hear that, in the attendance of my parish, I have heard all the poor loud in the praise of the honesty and humanity of the privates of your regiment. They not only did not rob them of the wretched pittance that was left by the rebels, but refused such trifling presents (of provisions, &c.,) as were offered them, saying their King paid them nobly, and enabled them to supply every want at their own expense.

“I have the honor to be, “With great respect, “Your Lordship’s obedient Servant, (Signed) “PETER BROWN, “_Dean of Ferns_.”

“We the loyal inhabitants of the parish and vicinity of Gorey, in vestry assembled, beg leave thus publicly to acknowledge the goodness and humanity evinced by the Marquis of Huntly, during his short stay amongst us. We are proud to add, that during that short stay, rapine ceased to be a system, and the confidence of the people in the honor of government began to revive. We should be wanting in gratitude if we omitted our testimony, that the humanity of the colonel was emulated by the soldiers, and we request the Hundredth regiment to accept our thanks for the moderation and honor which marked the conduct of every individual officer and private who composed it.

(Signed) “PETER BROWN, _Rector_. “J. JERMAN, _Churchwarden_.”

The French, to the number of about nine hundred men, commanded by General Humbert, landed at Killala, and being joined by a few malcontents marched to Castlebar.

On the 24th of August the regiment marched to Blessington; on the 26th encamped at Kilbeggan; on the 28th at Athlone; on the 29th at Ballymore, in a position in front of the town; on the 1st of September it encamped at Crophill, and moved every day until the 16th, when it encamped near Moat.

Meanwhile the united French and rebel force had been attacked by Lieut.-General Lake, at Ballinamuck, on the 8th of September, and the French troops were compelled to surrender at discretion.

Major-General John Moore, in brigade orders, dated 25th of September, 1798, after detailing some irregularity on the part of the troops, added—

“The Major-General must, in justice to the Hundredth regiment, state, that hitherto he has had no complaint of any one of them, nor has he ever met them in town after the retreat beating.”

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were, on the 15th of October, conveyed to the troops, “for their meritorious exertions on the present important crisis.”

While the regiment was encamped near Moat, the following order was received, by which the corps was numbered the NINETY-SECOND regiment.[6]

_Adjutant-General’s Office, Dublin, 16th October, 1798._

“It is His Majesty’s pleasure, that the Hundredth regiment shall in future be numbered the NINETY-SECOND, and that it be placed on the same establishment with regard to field officers as other regiments of the line.

(Signed) “G. HEWITT, _Adjutant-General_.”

On the 30th of October, 1798, the regiment broke up from camp, and went into quarters at Athlone.

Napoleon Bonaparte, against whose legions in Egypt and the Peninsula, the NINETY-SECOND regiment, in subsequent years, acquired great renown, was now rising, step by step, to that imperial sway which he afterwards attained. The National Convention had been succeeded in October, 1795, by the French Directory, and the latter, jealous of Bonaparte’s popularity, sent him, in May, 1798, on the expedition to Egypt. Napoleon took Alexandria by storm, and soon established himself at Cairo. The Sublime Porte, incensed by the invasion of Egypt, declared war against France, and formed an alliance with Russia. The fleet which had conveyed the expedition to Egypt, was almost destroyed by Admiral Nelson in Aboukir Bay, on the 1st of August. So large a portion of the French army, being thus secluded in a distant land, gave fresh impulse to the allies, and in November the island of Minorca surrendered to the British arms. In December, 1798, the co-operation of Russia against France was secured by Great Britain.

[Sidenote: 1799]

War was declared by the French Directory against Austria, in March, 1799, and the combined Austrian and Russian armies recovered the greater portion of Italy.

Great Britain now determined to make a corresponding attempt, in conjunction with Russia, to recover Holland from the dominion of France, and a numerous army was selected to proceed to that country under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, previous to whose arrival, the troops were to be commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

A plan of co-operation was concerted between Great Britain and Russia, in the expectation that the Dutch would rise in arms against the French, in favour of the Prince of Orange, and, aided by the Anglo-Russian force, would exert themselves to effect their emancipation.

On the 15th of June, the NINETY-SECOND regiment, which had been selected to embark on the expedition to Holland, commenced its march by divisions for Cork, on which day the following address was received by the commanding officer:—

“At a numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Athlone and its vicinity on the 15th June, 1799, Thomas Mitchell, Esq., in the chair: the following Address to Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, commanding His Majesty’s NINETY-SECOND regiment in this garrison, was unanimously agreed to:—

“SIR,

“We heard with concern, that His Majesty’s NINETY-SECOND regiment, which you have commanded in this garrison, has been ordered to march for the purpose of joining those troops intended for a foreign expedition: but however we may regret your departure, we are not surprised that a regiment, so eminently conspicuous for its steadiness and discipline, should be selected for an arduous enterprise.

“We have during your continuance amongst us, experienced a polite attention from the officers of your regiment, and the uninterrupted peace and tranquillity, which have prevailed in this town and neighbourhood, evince the attention of the soldiers under your command.

“Permit us, therefore, to return you our thanks, and to request that you will convey the same to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of your regiment.

“By order of the meeting, (Signed) “THOMAS MITCHELL.”

The regiment arrived at Cork on the 24th and 25th of June, and encamped at Monkstown, until orders for its embarkation should arrive. On the 19th of July, the regiment embarked at Cove, and arrived at Dover on the 30th, when it encamped on Barham Downs, where the troops were assembling for the expedition to Holland under the orders of Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

The NINETY-SECOND regiment was placed in the fourth brigade, commanded by Major-General, afterwards Sir John Moore, which consisted of the Royals (second battalion), twenty-fifth, forty-ninth, seventy-ninth, and NINETY-SECOND regiments.

The regiment marched for Ramsgate on the 7th of August, and on the following day embarked in transports, which sailed on the 11th for the coast of Holland. Its effective strength consisted of one colonel, one lieut.-colonel, two majors, six captains, twelve lieutenants, seven ensigns, five staff, forty serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and thirty rank and file.

The British troops landed on the Dutch coast, near the _Helder_, on the 27th of August. A considerable body of French and Dutch troops assembled near the point of debarkation; some sharp fighting occurred, and in the evening the enemy retreated to a position six miles in his rear. Although one of the first to get a footing on the Dutch shores, it did not fall to the lot of the NINETY-SECOND to be materially engaged this day in the affairs on the sand-hills. The regiment had one serjeant and fourteen rank and file drowned in the landing on the Dutch coast. The enemy having abandoned his fortifications, and evacuated the town during the night, the regiment moved into Helder on the 28th of August. A numerous train of heavy and field artillery was found in this important post; two days afterwards the Dutch fleet surrendered without striking a blow, and hoisted the colours of the Prince of Orange.

On the 1st of September, the regiment marched out of Helder, and on the 2nd advanced to Oude Sluys, on the Zuyder Zee, where the army took up a position, along which the troops were placed in cantonments, the NINETY-SECOND being in advance of the right.

The Dutch did not manifest a disposition to rise against the French. At daylight, in the morning of the 10th of September, the united French and Dutch forces, under General Brune, attacked the piquets; the troops repaired to their alarm-posts, and the action soon became general: the British troops repulsed the attack, and the orders of that day directed the regiment to its cantonments at Oude Sluys, and conveyed the thanks of General Sir Ralph Abercromby[7] for its “noble and steady conduct during the day.”

Captain the Honorable John Ramsay was wounded in this action, which was fought near the villages of _Crabbendam_ and _Schagen_.