Part 7
“Sir,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, conveying the kind expression of the Mayor, Justices, and Inhabitants at large, on the conduct of the detachment under my command, and am much gratified that their constant good conduct should have called forth the approbation of those among whom they have so long been quartered, requesting you to accept my best thanks for the handsome manner you have communicated their sentiments to me.
“Believe me, Sir, “Your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) “MARTIN ORR, Capt. 88th regt.
“_To B. Chapman, Esq., Town Clerk._”
In June, 1834, the depôt marched in _two_ divisions from Sheerness, and returned to Chatham, where, soon after, one of those incidental riots took place between some soldiers and some of the seamen and labourers in the Dock-yard, which, as in most cases of the kind, originated from some trifling cause, and was in the first instance considered of no importance; but unhappily it shortly after assumed a more grave and serious form, as very frequent opportunities were taken to grossly insult and assault the soldiers, who, though fully impressed with that good sense of discipline which commands forbearance, were forced in self-defence to retaliate. Again, on the 21st August, after the races, an altercation took place between some soldiers and sailors, the origin of which could not be ascertained, but the sailors were joined by a vast rabble of the lowest kind, who aided in seriously maltreating the soldiers, whose numbers being comparatively few, acted alone in self-defence, until some of the well-disposed of the inhabitants ran to the barracks and gave notice to the guard of what was passing: when the soldiers in barracks were made aware of it, they rushed therefrom to the aid of their comrades, some of whom they met, in appearance frightfully maimed, the consequences of which might have been most serious, had not the Officers of the depôt hurried forward and arrested the advance of the soldiers, who in obedience to orders immediately returned to the barracks. In the course of this proceeding, no interference was made by the civil authorities, nor on the following day when a party of seamen in a state of intoxication, accompanied by a vast rabble armed with bludgeons, and preceded by persons with musical instruments, marched up to the barrack-gate and called for the soldiers of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, to come out for fight, and decide the affray of the previous day, a challenge which no doubt would have been readily accepted, more especially as the men were termed cowards, &c. had not the serjeant of the barrack-guard and his men done their duty by keeping their comrades within the walls, until the Commanding Officer and Officers were made aware of what was passing, and ordered the barrack-gates to be closed, and thus terminated this threatened fight. A detailed report of these proceedings was made by the Officer commanding the depôt to the Commandant of Chatham, and a complaint against the military having been forwarded in the name of the inhabitants of that place, a Court of Enquiry of _five_ Officers (Major Dubourdieu of the Provisional Battalion, President) was assembled on the 1st September for the investigation of the complaints, of which due notice was given to the complainants, with an invitation to attend and support the charges they had preferred: notwithstanding which, not one individual appeared before the court; and however blameable the civil authorities may be considered for their non-interference to check the scenes which took place, it may be justly inferred that no guilt could be established against the military, more especially, as such a report was made for the General Commanding-in-Chief’s information, as brought a letter from the Adjutant-General, expressive of Lord Hill’s satisfaction at the exertions of Major O’Hara and that of the Non-Commissioned Officers, in supporting his exertions to prevent and stop the irregular proceedings which took place, of which letter the following is a copy, viz.:—
“_Horse-Guards, 20th September, 1834._
“Sir,—Having had the honour to submit to the General Commanding-in-Chief, your letter of the 5th inst., and that of Major O’Hara of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH Regiment therewith received, I have it in command to say, that Lord Hill learns with great satisfaction from the detailed explanation which the Major has submitted on the present occasion, that he did not fail to exert himself to the very utmost to prevent and put a stop to the irregular proceedings to which that explanation alludes; and that his Lordship’s satisfaction is greatly enhanced, from learning, also, that the Non-Commissioned Officers of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH did their duty in supporting their Commanding Officer’s exertions on that occasion, as the contrary line of conduct had been calumniously imputed to them.
“I have the honour to be, Sir, “Your very obedient humble Servant, (Signed) “JOHN MACDONALD, Adjt.-Gen.
“_To Colonel Sir Leonard Greenwell, K.C.H., Chatham._”
The depôt marched in two divisions to Dover, on the 6th and 8th of September, and arrived on the 10th and 12th. They occupied the Western Height Barracks, giving a detachment to the Castle until the 3rd of January, 1835, when the entire of the depôt were moved to the Castle. Soon after its arrival in Dover it actively assisted with the Artillery in extinguishing a fire, for which the thanks of the inhabitants were received; and after being quartered in Dover for eleven months, it embarked for Ireland in the Messenger steamer, the 5th August. The feeling of the inhabitants at its departure will be best understood by reading the following description thereof, extracted from the “Dover Telegraph,” which, with a letter from the Magistrates, and a garrison order, on the occasion, sufficiently refute the calumny cast on the corps when at Chatham.
_From the Dover Telegraph._
DEPARTURE OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH.
The official documents which follow this article, so justly embody the sentiments of the chief civil and military authorities of the town and garrison, on the uniform good conduct of the depôt companies of the CONNAUGHT RANGERS, since they have been stationed here, as to leave us but the alternative of referring to our humble testimony in their favour on the first arrival of their route for Ireland.
That the inhabitants of all ranks fully concur in these testimonies, is best proved by the voices of the _thousands_ assembled to greet them with a farewell cheer. At five o’clock on Wednesday evening, the depôt marched from their quarters in the Castle through the town to the new cross wall, where they were immediately embarked on board the Messenger steamer, and from that hour till nearly half-past eight, the piers and quays were literally crowded with the largest concourse of persons witnessed there for many years. During the flowing of the tide the brass band gave their final entertainment, by performing several national and appropriate airs in their acknowledged excellent style, and considerable amusement was afforded to those near the vessel by the leave-takings of the soldiers’ female friends, most of whom seemed more desirous of taking leave to accompany them. At nearly half-past eight the Messenger was warped into the middle of the harbour, and presently afterwards the paddle wheels were in motion. At this moment the most perfect silence was observed by the troops, an arrangement that seemed necessary for every order being distinctly heard, relative to navigating in the harbour a vessel of eight hundred tons, propelled by machinery of two hundred horse power. But no sooner had she passed the boom-house jetties, than the cheers of the troops burst forth in a genuine Hibernian hurra, which was immediately answered most cordially by the multitude assembled on the piers, and continued for some minutes. The band played “Rule Britannia” as the ship glided majestically to sea, and in a few minutes the CONNAUGHT RANGERS were out of sight and progressing towards their native land.
[Sidenote: 1835]
We have entered more into detail than is usual on the embarkation of a single corps, but the peculiarly disadvantageous circumstances under which the EIGHTY-EIGHTH arrived at Dover, thus contrasted with the interest excited by their departure, after a stay of nearly twelve months amongst us, we think may warrant our doing so, as a proof that the odium attached to the corps at Chatham was undeserved. We now turn cheerfully to the documents before alluded to, the communication from the town clerk, and the garrison order of Colonel Arnold, viz.:—
“_Dover, 3rd August, 1835._
“Sir,—I am directed by the Mayor and Magistrates to express to you their regret that the town is shortly to be deprived of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH depôt under your command. When the peculiar circumstances attending its removal to this town are taken into consideration, the Mayor and Magistrates deem it but an act of justice to the regiment, to state their great satisfaction with the general good conduct of all parties connected with it during the period it has been stationed in this garrison.
“I am, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) “G. W. LEDGER, Town-Clerk.
“_To Major O’Hara, Commanding Depôt Eighty-Eighth Regiment, Dover Castle._”
“_Dover Castle, 4th August, 1835._
“Sir,—I have received with much satisfaction your letter of the 3rd inst. expressive of the regret of the Mayor and Magistrates at our departure from this garrison. In the present instance its value is much enhanced from the circumstance to which it refers, and their favourable opinion is the best refutation to those unfounded calumnies which were disseminated to our disadvantage at Chatham. Here we have found no unjust prejudice; on the contrary, we are much indebted to the inhabitants for their invariable kindness and attention, and we feel a pride and satisfaction in having elicited this testimony of approbation from so highly respectable a body as the Mayor and Magistrates of Dover, to whom, as well as to the inhabitants, we sincerely bid farewell.
“I have the honour to be, Sir, “Your obedient servant, (Signed) “ROBERT O’HARA, Major 88th, “Commanding Depôt.
“_To Mr. G. W. Ledger, Town-Clerk, Dover._”
Copy of a Garrison Order issued by the Commanding Officer at Dover, on the departure of the depôt of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment:—
“_Dover, 3rd August, 1835._
“The depôt of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment being about to embark for Cork, Colonel Arnold cannot suffer it to leave Dover without expressing his high sense of its excellent and exemplary conduct since it has been stationed here, and which he has frequently had much satisfaction in reporting to his Lordship the General Commanding-in-Chief. By its correct and soldier-like behaviour, the depôt of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment has fully supported in garrison the high character which that distinguished corps has always maintained in the field, and conciliated the respect and regard of the inhabitants generally, by whom Colonel Arnold is confident its departure will be greatly regretted, and he sincerely wishes the depôt health and prosperity.
(Signed) “T. B. ARNOLD, Colonel, “Royal Engineers, Commg. the Garr.”
[Sidenote: 1836]
On the arrival of the Messenger steamer at the Cove of Cork, orders were received to convey the depôt to Kinsale, where it disembarked the 10th September, and went into barracks at Charles Fort, from which a company was detached to Bandon on the 14th. On the 6th October, the depôt was inspected by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B., commanding the southern district, who expressed himself highly satisfied with it in every particular. On 19th October, Assistant-Surgeon Douse, Lieutenant Mackie, with one serjeant, and twenty-one privates, proceeded to Spike Island, where (with the exception of Surgeon Douse, promoted to the 14th foot, who was replaced by Assistant-Surgeon Dalmage) they remained until the 9th February, 1836, when they embarked in the Bristol freight ship to join the service companies at Corfu. On the 31st March, a company was detached to Dunmanway.
The depôt received the route for Nenagh, and two companies, with head-quarters, marched from Charles Fort on the 19th of April, detaching, _en route_, a company to Killaloe, and relieved the depôt of the 27th regiment at Nenagh, on the 27th. The companies at Bandon and Dunmanway joined head-quarters on the 12th May, and the depôt was inspected by Major-General Sir James Douglas, K.C.B., commanding the south-western district, on the 14th, who was pleased to say, “he had seen no depôt of which he should make a more favourable report.”
A letter, of which the following is a copy, was received by Captain Rutherford, commanding the detachment at Bandon, on his departure from that town:—
“_Bandon, 2nd May, 1836._
“Sir,—We the undersigned inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Bandon, having learned with regret that you are about to be removed with the detachment under your command of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment, consider it but justice to express to you before your departure, our perfect satisfaction at the regular and strict propriety of conduct of the men of your distinguished corps while they have been stationed here, now upwards of seven months; thus proving to their friends at home, as they have often done to their enemies abroad, what can be effected by uniform steadiness and high discipline.
“We beg you to accept and express to your men, our very best wishes for yours and their happiness and success, and the great satisfaction we shall feel, should the CONNAUGHT RANGERS at any future period be quartered among us.”
Signed by the Honourable WM. BERNARD, Provost of Bandon, eight Magistrates, ten Clergymen, and one hundred and forty-eight of the most respectable and influential inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood.
To the foregoing Captain Rutherford made the following reply:—
“To the Provost, Magistrates, Clergymen, and Inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Bandon.
“_Bandon, 3rd May, 1836._
“Gentlemen,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your very flattering address of the 2nd inst.
“That the conduct of the men of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment, since they have been quartered here, has elicited the approbation of so numerous and highly respectable a body of the inhabitants, is to me, as I am sure it will be to every officer of the corps, a source of the greatest gratification.
“The regret you express at the departure of the detachment, and the satisfaction it would afford, should the CONNAUGHT RANGERS at any future period return to Bandon, must be fully participated in by every individual who has had the good fortune to be stationed here, where the officers have received such general and friendly attention, and where the men have witnessed such cordiality and good feeling.
“With a deep sense of the honour you have conferred, not only on me, but the EIGHTY-EIGHTH regiment if generally,
“I have the honour to remain, “Your very obedient humble servant, (Signed) “H. W. RUTHERFORD, “Capt. 88th, Commandg. Detach.”
The depôt marched from Nenagh to Buttivant on the 9th June, where it arrived on the 14th, and received orders to hold itself in readiness to embark for England, which it did in September following, on board the Athol troop ship, and joined the service companies at Portsmouth, on the 23rd of that month, when they landed from Corfu.
[Sidenote: 1837]
The regiment continued to do duty in the garrison of Portsmouth nearly eleven months, in the course of which time it was twice inspected by Major-General Sir Thomas M‘Mahon, K.C.B., who, on each occasion, expressed his most unqualified approbation of it in every particular, and his intention to report accordingly to the General Commanding-in-Chief. Whilst at Portsmouth the regiment discharged nine serjeants and ninety-two rank and file, most of them after long service, worn out and unfit for further service; those numbers were, however, recruited in the course of fourteen weeks, forty-one of whom were chosen from disbanded soldiers of Evans’s legion on their return from Spain, and the regiment discontinued to recruit. It marched for Weedon Barracks, Northamptonshire, in three divisions, on the 14th, 15th, and 16th August, 1837, and on the 20th of September, it was inspected by Lord Hill, General Commanding-in-Chief, when his Lordship was pleased to express himself in high terms of approbation. After a stay of only seven weeks at this most desirable station, it again marched in four divisions into Lancashire, on 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, of October, to Bolton (head-quarters), Wigan, Haydock Loch, and Liverpool.
The EIGHTY-EIGHTH, or CONNAUGHT RANGERS, though comparatively a young regiment, has performed much arduous service. A few months after it was embodied, it was engaged in operations against the enemy in Flanders and Holland, and shared in all the difficulties and privations of a winter campaign in 1794. A portion of the corps was afterwards employed in active operations in the West Indies. In a few years it appeared on the shores of India; and it formed the van of the Indian army through the deserts of Egypt. In South America the CONNAUGHT RANGERS performed their duty as gallant soldiers: and throughout the Peninsular campaigns their services are associated with the _Third Division_ of the British army, which was eminently distinguished for gallantry. After a series of victories in Europe, the services of the regiment were transferred to North America, where it was distinguished for a praiseworthy national feeling, which is inherent in brave men, and was evinced by the absence of desertion. Its services may be estimated from the circumstance, that in a period of six years it lost forty-three Officers, twenty-eight of whom fell in the field; the remainder died from wounds, from the effects of climate, or from fatigue; and its loss in Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates during the same period, and from the same causes, was above two thousand. Since the termination of the war, this regiment, whether on home service, or in garrison abroad, has been eminent for good conduct; and its past services furnish a laudable incentive to perseverance in well-doing, to all who have the honour of being enrolled under its Colours.
_In compiling this Record of the_ EIGHTY-EIGHTH _Regiment, or_ CONNAUGHT RANGERS, _in conformity to the King’s Command, as conveyed in the General Orders of the Army, great credit is due to Colonel O’Malley, who, with much diligence, has obtained a very circumstantial and correct statement of the services of the regiment; and Colonel O’Malley has acknowledged his obligations for much valuable information which has been furnished to him by the late Captain Robertson, and several other Officers who formerly served in the regiment;—particularly by Lieutenant Grattan, who served with the regiment in the Peninsular Campaigns and in North America, and has evinced the most indefatigable zeal and perseverance in contributing to the completion of this Memoir._
SECOND BATTALION OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
This battalion was composed of recruits raised in Ireland, for limited service, under the authority of the Additional Force Act, which passed 4th of July, 1804, and was placed on the establishment of the army, December 25th of the same year. It was formed at Dumfries, in Scotland, in November, 1805, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Alexander Wallace, embarked at Leith for the Thames, and landing at Gravesend, marched into Sussex, where it occupied various quarters, and furnished, from time to time, reinforcements for the First Battalion. In January, 1807, it returned to Ireland, and was quartered principally in Connaught, where it recruited numerous volunteers from the Irish militia regiments.
In the summer of 1809 it embarked from Cork for Lisbon; but on its arrival, and subsequent inspection there, it was sent, in consequence of the youth of the men, to Gibraltar, and did duty in that garrison for a few months. From Gibraltar it was ordered, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, to Cadiz, in which city it was quartered during the operations against Fort Matagorda. After the reduction of that fort it was encamped for two or three months in the Isla de Leon, under the command of Major (afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel) Macpherson, and assisted in the construction of the lines thrown up for the defence of that island against the French. A short time before Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham engaged in the expedition which led to the battle of Barossa, the Second Battalion of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH was ordered again to Lisbon, where Colonel Taylor resumed the command.
In the pursuit of Massena’s army from the lines of Torres Vedras, the second battalion, under the command of Major Dunne, was attached to the third division of the army. It was engaged in the action at Sabugal, and was present in the operations of the army down to the storming of Badajoz, after which, it furnished, as formerly stated, a large draft of men to the First Battalion and returned to England. In the end of 1813 it was ordered to Ireland, for the greater facility of recruiting. The very liberal encouragement which Lieutenant-General Lord Beresford afforded to this service, enabled Major Dunne to obtain a number of volunteers from the Irish militia; the liberality of the Colonel, and the judicious management of the Commanding Officer, were so successful, that in two months the battalion was increased from one hundred and forty to eight hundred strong. It continued in Ireland, furnishing occasional drafts to the First Battalion until January, 1816, when it was finally reduced at Clare Castle, after transferring all the men who were fit for service to the 1st battalion, then quartered in France.
SUCCESSION OF FIELD OFFICERS;
THE
NAMES OF OFFICERS, &c., KILLED AND WOUNDED;
WITH A
LIST OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, &c.,
WHO HAVE RECEIVED MEDALS FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE.
SUCCESSION OF FIELD OFFICERS.
COLONELS.
Date of Appointment. Date of Removal, &c.
The Honourable John Thomas } { Removed to the 66th De Burgh, afterwards } Sept. 25th, 1793. { Regt., 27th Nov. Major-General the } { 1794. Earl of Clanricarde }
General John Reid Nov. 27th, 1794. Died in 1807.
Colonel William Carr } { Removed to the 16th Beresford, now General } Feb. 9th, 1807. { regiment of foot Viscount Beresford } { in 1819.
Lieut.-General Sir Gordon } { Removed to the 71st Drummond, G.C.B. } Mar. 11th, 1819. { regiment of foot { in 1824.
Lieut.-General Sir Henry } { Removed to the 25th Fred. Campbell, K.C.B. } Jan. 16th, 1824. { regiment of foot { in 1831.
Lieut.-General Sir John } Alexander Wallace, Bt. } Oct. 20th, 1831. and K.C.B. }
LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.
Date of Appointment. Date of Removal, &c.
Robert Brownrigg September 25, 1793. Coldstream Guards. Frederick Keppell March 28, 1794. 49th foot. Wentworth Serle June 21, 1795. To half-pay. Wm. Carr Beresford September 16, 1795. { Promoted to the { Colonelcy in 1807. Alexander Duff April 14, 1798. To half-pay. John Alex. Wallace February 6, 1805. { Promoted to { Major-General, 1819. John Taylor May 18, 1809. To half-pay. James Ferguson August 12, 1819. To 52nd foot. George N. O’Malley June 2, 1825.
MAJORS.
Date of Appointment. Date of Promotion or Removal. J. T. Harvey Elwes March 28, 1794. To 4th foot. Alexander Duff March 28, 1794. To Lieut.-Col. 88th. Alexander Houstoun July 15, 1795. To 57th foot. F. W. Buller June 27, 1796. To half-pay. Daniel Hoghton April, 1798. To 8th foot. Richard Vandeleur April 1, 1804. Died in Portugal, 1809. William Ironmonger September 18, 1804. To 2nd foot. John Silver September 19, 1804. Killed at Busaco, 1810. Daniel Colquhoun November 23, 1804. To 7th garrison batt. Christopher Vowell March 10, 1810. Retired. R. B. M‘Pherson March 17, 1808. To half-pay. R. B. M‘Gregor November 23, 1809. To half-pay. John Dunne October 25, 1810. To half-pay. Joseph Thompson August 4, 1811. Killed at Badajoz. W. C. Seton October 30, 1812. To half-pay. C. M. Graham November 28, 1816. Retired. R. N. Nickle November 28, 1822. To Lieut.-Col. in 1825. Henry Heathcote October 6, 1825. Died in 1829. Harris Hailes May 25, 1826. To Lieut.-Col. 28th foot. William Onslow February 15, 1827. To half-pay. Robert O’Hara May 14, 1829. To Lieut.-Col. unatt. W. H. Eden July 2, 1829. William Mackie Nov. 10, 1837.
RETURN of the NAMES of the OFFICERS, and the Number of Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, Killed and Wounded by the Enemy, at the Places and Dates specified.