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GENERAL ORDERS.

HORSE-GUARDS, \st January, 1836.
His Majesty has been pleased to command,
that, with a view of doing the fullest justice to Regi
ments, as well as to Individuals who have distin
guished themselves by their Bravery in Action with
the Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regi
ment in the British Army shall be published under
the superintendence and direction of the Adjutant-
General ; and that this Account shall contain the
following particulars : viz.,
 The Period and Circumstances of the Ori

ginal Formation of the Regiment; The Stations at
which it has been from time to time employed; The
Battles, Sieges, and other Military Operations, in
which it has been engaged, particularly specifying
any Achievement it may have performed, and the
Colours, Trophies, &c., it may have captured from
the Enemy.
 The Names of the Officers and the number of

Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, Killed or
Wounded by the Enemy, specifying the Place and
Date of the Action. a 2

general orders.

 The Names of those Officers, who, in con
sideration of their Gallant Services and Meritorious
Conduct in Engagements with the Enemy, have been
distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other Marks of
His Majesty's gracious favour.
 The Names of all such Officers, Non-Com

missioned Officers and Privates as may have specially
signalized themselves in Action.
And,
 The Badges and Devices which the Regiment

may have been permitted to bear, and the Causes
on account of which such Badges or Devices, or any
other Marks of Distinction, have been granted.
By Command of the Right Honourable
GENERAL LORD HILL,
Commanding'in- Chief.

John Macdonald,
Adjutant- General.

PREFACE,

The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly
depend upon the zeal and ardour, by ¦which all who enter
into its service are animated, and consequently it is of the
highest importance that any measure calculated to excite the
spirit of emulation, by which alone great and gallant actions
are achieved, should be adopted.
Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this
desirable object, than a full display of the noble deeds with
which the Military History of our country abounds. To hold
forth these bright examples to the imitation of the youthful
soldier, and thus to incite him to emulate the meritorious
conduct of those who have preceded him in their honourable
career, are among the motives that have given rise to the
present publication.
The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced
in the ' London Gazette,' from whence they are transferred
into the public prints : the achievements of our armies are thus
made known at the time of their occurrence, and receive the
tribute of praise and admiration to which they are entitled.
On extraordinary occasions, the Houses of Parliament have
been in the habit of conferring on the Commanders, and the

PREFACE.
Officers and Troops acting under their orders, expressions of
approbation and of thanks for their .skill and bravery, and these
testimonials, confirmed by the high honour oftheir Sovereign's
Approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier most
highly prizes.
It has not, however, until late years, been the practice (which
appears to have long prevailed in some of the Continental
armies) for British Regiments to keep regular records of their
services and achievements. Hence some difficulty has been
experienced in obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments,
an authentic account of their origin and subsequent services.
This defect will now be remedied, in consequence of His
Majesty having been pleased to comraand, that every Regiment
shall in future keep a full and ample record of its services at
home and abroad.
From the materials thus collected, the country will hence
forth derive information as to the difficulties and privations
which chequer the career of those who embrace the military
profession. In Great Britain, where so large a number of
persons are devoted to the active concerns of agriculture,
manufactures, and commerce, and where these pursuits have,
for so long a period, been undisturbed by the presence of war,
which few other countries have escaped, comparatively little
is known of the vicissitudes of active service, and of the
casualties of climate, to which, even during peace, the British
Troops are exposed in every part of the globe, with little or
no interval of repose.
In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the

PREFACE.
country derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agri
culturist and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be supposed
not often to reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and
the sailor, — on their sufferings, — and on the sacrifice of valu
able life, by which so many national benefits are obtained
and preserved.
The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endur
ance, have shone conspicuously under great and trying diffi
culties ; and their character has been established in Continental
warfare by the irresistible spirit with which they have effected
debarkations in spite of the most formidable opposition, and
by the gallantry and steadiness with which they have main
tained their advantages against superior numbers.
In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders,
ample justice has generally been done to the gallant exertions
of the Corps employed ; but the details of their services, and
of acts of individual bravery, can only be fully given in the
Annals of the various Regiments.
These Records are now preparing for publication, under
His Majesty's special authority, by Mr. Richard Cannon,
Principal Clerk of the Adjutant-General's Office ; and while
the perusal of them cannot fail to be useful and interesting to
military men of every rank, it is considered that they will also
afford entertainment and information to the general reader,
particularly to those who may have served in the Army, or
who have relatives in the Service.
There exists in the breasts of most of those who have served,
or are serving, in the Army, an Esprit de Corps— ma attach-

PREFACE.

ment to every thing belonging to their Regiment ; to such
persons a narrative of the services of their own Corps cannot
fail to prove interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions
of the great,— the valiant,— the loyal, have always been of
paramount interest with a brave and civilised people. Great
Britain has produced a race of heroes who, in moments of
danger and terror, have stood, " firm as the rocks of their
native shore;" and when half the World has been arrayed
against them, they have fought the battles of their Country
with unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of
achievements in war, — victories so complete and surprising,
gained by our countrymen, — our brothers — our fellow-citizens
in arms, — a record which revives the memory of the brave,
and brings their gallant deeds before us, will certainly prove
acceptable to the public.
Biographical memoirs of the Colonels and other distinguished
Officers, will be introduced in the Records of their respective
Regiments, and the Honorary Distinctions which have, from
time to time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testifying
the value and importance of its services, will be faithfully
set forth.
As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record of each
Regiment will be printed in a distinct number, so that when
the whole shall be completed, the Parts may be bound up in
numerical succession.

INTRODUCTION

THE INFANTRY.

The natives of Britain have, at all periods, been
celebrated for innate courage and unshaken firmness,
and the national superiority of the British troops
over those of other countries has been evinced in
the midst of the most imminent perils. History con
tains so many proofs of extraordinary acts of bravery,
that no doubts can be raised upon the facts which
are recorded. It must therefore be admitted, that
the distinguishing feature of the British soldier is
Intrepidity. This quality was evinced by the
inhabitants of England when their country was
invaded by Julius Csesar with a Roman army, on
which occasion the undaunted Britons rushed into
the sea to attack the Roman soldiers as they de
scended from their ships ; and, although their dis
cipline and arms were inferior to those of their
adversaries, yet their fierce and dauntless bearing
intimidated the flower of the Roman troops, in
cluding Cgesar's favourite tenth legion. Their arms
consisted of spears, short swords, and other weapons
of rude construction. They had chariots, to the
axles of which were fastened sharp pieces of iron
b

INTRODUCTION TO

resembling scythe-blades, and infantry in long
chariots resembling waggons, who alighted and
fought on foot, and for change of ground, pursuit,
or retreat, sprang into the chariot and drove off
with the speed of cavalry. These inventions were,
however, unavailing against Caesar's legions : in
the course of time a military system, with dis
cipline and subordination, was introduced, and
British courage, being thus regulated, was exerted
to the greatest advantage; a full development of
the national character followed, and it shone forth
in all its native brilliancy.
The military force of the Anglo-Saxons consisted
principally of infantry: Thanes, and other men of
property, however, fought on horseback. The
infantry were of two classes, heavy and light.
The former carried large shields armed with spikes,
long broad swords and spears ; and the latter
were armed with swords or spears only. They had
also men armed with clubs, others with battle-axes
and javelins.
The feudal troops established by William the
Conqueror, consisted (as already stated in the Intro
duction to the cavalry) almost entirely of horse;
but when the warlike barons and knights, with their
trains of tenants and vassals, took the field, a pro
portion of men appeared on foot, and, although
these were of inferior degree, they proved stout-

the infantry. 3
hearted Britons of stanch fidelity. When stipen
diary troops were employed, infantry always con
stituted a considerable portion of the military force ;
and this arme has since acquired, in every quarter
of the globe, a celebrity never exceeded by the
armies of any nation at any period.
The weapons carried by the infantry, during the
several reigns succeeding the Conquest, were bows
and arrows, half-pikes, lances, halberds, various
kinds of battle-axes, swords, and daggers. Armour
was worn on the head and body, and in course of
time the practice became general for military men
to be so completely cased in steel, that it was
almost impossible to slay them.
The introduction of the use of gunpowder in the
destructive purposes of war, in the early part of the
fourteenth century, produced a change in the arms
and equipment of the infantry-soldier. Bows and
arrows gave place to various kinds of fire-arms, but
British archers continued formidable adversaries;
and owing to the inconvenient construction and
imperfect bore of the fire-arms when first introduced,
a body of men, well trained in the use of the bow
from their youth, was considered a valuable acqui
sition to every army, even as late as the sixteenth
century. During a great part of the reign of Queen Eliza
beth each company of infantry usually consisted of
b 2

4 introduction to
men armed five different ways; in every hundred
men forty were " men-at-arms," and sixty " shot ;"
the " men-at-arms" were ten halberdiers, or battle-
axe men, and thirty pikemen ; and the " shot" were
twenty archers, twenty musketeers, and twenty
harquebusiers , and each man carried, besides his
principal weapon, a sword and dagger.
Companies of infantry varied at this period in
numbers from 150 to 300 men ; each company had
a colour or ensign, and the mode of formation re
commended by an English military writer (Sir John
Smithe) in 1590, was : — the colour in the centre of
the company guarded by the halberdiers; the pike-
men, in equal proportions, on each flank of the
halberdiers ; half the musketeers on each flank of
the pikes ; half the archers on each flank of the mus
keteers ; and the harquebusiers (whose arms were
much lighter than the musket then in use) in equal
proportions on each flank of the company for skirmish
ing.* It was customary to unite a number of com
panies into one body, called a Regiment, which
frequently amounted to three thousand men; but

¦* A company of 200 men would appear thus : —
c
20 20 20 30 2 0 30 20 20 20
Harquebuses. Aichers. Muskets. Pikes, Halberds. Pikes. Muskets. Archets. Harquebuses.
The musket carried a ball which weighed i^ of a pound ; and the
harquebus a ball which weighed jfe of a pound.

the INFANTRY. 5
each company continued to carry a colour. Numer
ous improvements were eventually introduced in the
construction of fire-arms, and, it having been found
impossible to make armour proof against the muskets
then in use (which carried a very heavy ball) without
its being too weighty for the soldier, armour was
gradually laid aside by the infantry in the seven
teenth century : bows and arrows also fell into dis
use, and the infantry were reduced to two classes,
viz.: musketeers, armed with matchlock muskets,
swords, and daggers; siad. pikemen, armed with pikes,
from fourteen to eighteen feet long, and swords.
In the early part of the seventeenth century
Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, reduced the
strength of regiments to 1000 men ; he caused the
gunpowder, which had heretofore been carried in
flasks, or in small wooden bandaliers, each contain
ing a charge, to be made up into cartridges, and
carried in pouches ; and he formed each regiment
into two wings of musketeers, and a centre division
of pikemen. He also adopted the practice of form
ing four regiments into a brigade ; and the number
of colours was afterwards reduced to three in each
regiment. He formed his columns so compactly that
his infantry could resist the charge of the celebrated
Polish horsemen and Austrian cuirassiers ; and his
armies became the admiration of other nations. His
mode of formation was copied by the English,

6 introduction to
French, and other European states ; but, so great
was the prejudice in favour of ancient customs, that
all his improvements were not adopted until near a
century afterwards.
In 1664 King Charles II. raised a corps for sea-
service, styled the Admiral's regiraent. In 1678
each company of 100 men usually consisted of 30
pikemen, 60 musketeers, and 10 men armed with
light firelocks. In this year the king added a com
pany of men armed with hand-grenades to each of
the old British regiments, which was designated the
" grenadier company." Daggers were so contrived
as to fit in the muzzles of the muskets, and bayonets
sirailar to those at present in use were adopted about
twenty years afterwards.
An Ordnance regiment was raised in 1685, by
order of King James II., to guard the artillery, and
was designated the Royal Fusiliers (now 7th Foot).
This corps, and the companies of grenadiers, did
not carry pikes.
King William III. incorporated the Admiral's
regiment in the Second Foot Guards, and raised
two Marine regiraents for sea-service. During the
war in this reign, each corapany of infantry (ex
cepting the fusiliers and grenadiers) consisted of 14
pikeraen and 46 musketeers; the captains carried
pikes; lieutenants, partisans; ensigns, half-pikes;
and Serjeants, halberds. After the peace in 1697 the

the INFANTRY. 7
Marine regiments were disbanded, but were again
formed on the breaking out of the war in 1702.*
During the reign of Queen Anne the pikes were
laid aside, and every infantry soldier was arraed
with a rausket, bayonet, and sword ; the grenadiers
ceased, about the same period, to carry hand-gren
ades ; and the regiments were directed to lay aside
their third colour : the corps of Royal Artillery was
first added to the army in this reign.
About the year 1745, the men of the battalion
companies of infantry ceased to carry swords;
during the reign of George II. light companies were
added to infantry regiments ; and in 1764 a Board
of General Officers recoraraended that the grenadiers
should lay aside their swords, as that weapon had
never been used during the seven years' war. Since
that period the arms of the infantry soldier have been
limited to the musket and bayonet.
The arms and equipment of the British troops have
seldom differed materially, since the Conquest, from
those of other European states ; and in some respects
the arming has, at certain periods, been allowed to
be inferior to that of the nations with whom they
* The 30th, 31st, and 32nd Regiments were formed as Marine
•corps in 1702, and were employed as such during the wars in the
reign of Queen Anne. The Marine corps were embarked in the
Fleet under Admiral Sir George Rooke, and were at the taking of
Gibraltar, and in its subsequent defence in 1704; they were after
wards employed at the siege of Barcelona in 1705.

8 introduction to
have had to contend ; yet, under this disadvantage,
the bravery and superiority of the British infantry
have been evinced on very raany and most trying
occasions, and splendid victories have been gained
over very superior nurabers.
Great Britain has produced a race of lion-like
champions who have dared to confront a host of
foes, and have proved theraselves valiant with any
arras. At Crecy, King Edward III., at the head of
about 30,000 raen, defeated, on the 26th of August,
1346, Philip King of France, whose army is said to
have araounted to 100,000 raen ; here British valour
encountered veterans of renown : — the King of Bo
hemia, the King of Majorca, and many princes and
nobles were slain, and the French array was routed
and cut to pieces. Ten years afterwards, Edward
Prince of Wales, who was designated the Black
Prince, defeated at Poictiers, with 14,000 raen,
a French array of 60,000 horse, besides infan
try, and took John I., King of France, and his son
Philip, prisoners. On the 25th of October, 1415,
King Henry V., with an army of about 13,000
men, although greatly exhausted by marches, pri
vations, and sickness, defeated, at Agincourt, the
Constable of France, at the head of the flower of
the French nobility and an army said to amount to
60,000 men, and gained a complete victory.
During the seventy years' war between the United

THE INFANTRY. 9
Provinces of the Netherlands and the Spanish rao
narch, which coraraenced in 1578 and terrainated
in 1648, the British infantry in the service of the
States General were celebrated for their uncon
querable spirit and firraness;* and in the thirty
years' war between the Protestant Princes and the
Emperor of Germany, the British troops in the ser
vice of Sweden and other states were celebrated for
deeds of heroism. f In the wars of Queen Anne,
the farae of the British array under the great
Marlborough was spread throughout the world ;
and if we glance at the achieveraents perforraed
within the raemory of persons now living, there is
abundant proof that the Britons of the present age
are not inferior to their ancestors in the qualities
which constitute good soldiers. Witness the deeds
of the brave men, of whom there are many now
surviving, who fought in Egypt in 1801, under the
brave Abercrombie, and compelled the French array,
which had been vainly styled Invincible, to eva-

* The brave Sir Roger Williams, in his discourse on war, printed
in 1590, observes : — " I persuade myself ten thousand of our nation
would beat thirty thousand of theirs (the Spaniards) out of the field,
let them be chosen where they list." Yet at this time the Spanish
infantry was allowed to be the best disciplined in Europe. For
instances of valour displayed by the British Infantry during the
Seventy Years' War, see the Historical Record of the Third Foot,
or Buffs.
t Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of
Foot.

10 INTRODUCTION TO
cuate that country; also the services of the gallant
Troops during the arduous campaigns in the Penin
sula, under the immortal Wellington; and the
determined stand made by the British Array at
Waterloo, where Napoleon Bonaparte, who had
long been the inveterate eneray of Great Britain,
and had sought and planned her destruction by
every raeans he could devise, was compelled to
leave his vanquished legions to their fate, and to
place himself at the disposal of the British govern
ment. These achievements, with others of recent
dates in the distant climes of India, prove that the
same valour and constancy which glowed in the
breasts of the heroes of Cr^cy, Poictiers, Agin-
court, Blenheim, and Ramilies, continue to animate
the Britons of the nineteenth century.
The British soldier is distinguished for a robust
and muscular frame, — intrepidity which no danger
can appal, — unconquerable spirit and resolution, —
patience in fatigue and privation, and cheerful obe
dience to his superiors. These qualities, united with
an excellent systera of order and discipline to reo-u-
late and give a skilful direction to the energies and
adventurous spirit of the hero, and a wise selection
of officers of superior talent to comraand, whose
presence inspires confidence, — have been the lead
ing causes of the splendid victories gained by the

THE infantry. 11
British arms.* The fame of the deeds of the past
and present generations in the various battle-fields
where the robust sons of Albion have fought and
conquered, surrounds the British arms with an halo
of glory ; these achievements will live in the page
of history to the end of tirae.
The records of the several regiraents will be found
to contain a detail of facts of an interesting cha
racter, connected with the hardships, sufferings,
and gallant exploits of British soldiers in the vari
ous parts of the world where the calls of their Coun-
* " Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes
the successes which 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 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 the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has
enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national mili
tary character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circum
stances of peculiar difficulty.'' — General Orders in 1801.
In the General Orders issued by Lieut .-General Sir John Hope
(afterwards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the
successful result of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January,
1809, it is stated: — " 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 encoun
tered. These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops
themselves ; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advan
tages of position or of numbers he may possess, 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."

12 INTRODUCTION, &C.
try and the comraands of their Sovereign, have
required thera to proceed in the execution of their
duty, whether in active continental operations, or
in maintaining colonial territories in distant and
unfavourable climes.
The superiority of the British infantry has been
pre-eminently set forth in the wars of six centuries,
and admitted by the greatest coraraanders which
Europe has produced. The formations and move
ments of this arme, as at present practised, while
they are adapted to every species of warfare, and
to all probable situations and circurastances of ser
vice, are calculated to show forth the brilliancy of
railitary tactics calculated upon raatheraatical and
scientific principles. Although the movements and
evolutions have been copied from the continental
armies, yet various iraproveraents have frora time
to time been introduced, to ensure that simplicity
and celerity by which the superiority of the national
military character is maintained. The rank and in
fluence, which Great Britain has attained among
the nations of the world, have in a great measure
been purchased by the valour of the Army, and to
persons, who have the welfare of their country at
heart, the records of the several regiraents cannot
fail to prove interesting. 1838.

HISTORICAL RECORD

THE FOURTH.

KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF FOOT

CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF

THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT IN 1680,

ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1839.

ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.

PUBLISHED BY LONGMAN, ORME, AND CO.,
PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON;
AND BY W. CLOWES AND SONS,
14, Charing Cross;
AND TO BE_HAD OF ALI, BOOKSELLERS,
1839.

HISTORICAL RECORDS

BRITISH ARMY.

PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE
ADJUTANT-GENERAL.

THE FOURTH, OR
THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF FOOT.

LONDON:
Printed by William Cloives anil Sons,
14, Charing Cross.

THE
FOURTH, OH
THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF FOOT,
BEARS ON ITS COLOURS, AB A REGIMENTAL BADGE,
THE LION OF ENGLAND;
WITH THE FOLLOWING INSCRIPTIONS,
"CORUNNA," "BADAJOZ," "SALAMANCA,"
"VITTORIA," "ST. SEBASTIAN,"
"NIVE," "PENINSULA," " BLADENSBURG,"
"WATERLOO."

CONTENTS.

Anno
1680 The origin of the regiment
 Designated the Second Tangier Regiment
 Embarks for Tangier in Africa
1684 Returns to England
 Designated Her Royal Highness the Duchess
of York and Albany's regiment
1685 Styled The Queen's regiment
 Battle of Sedgemoor
 Twelve new colours presented to the regiment
1688 The Revolution .
1690 Embarks for Ireland .
 Battle of the Boyne
 Returns to England
 Embarks with the forces under the Earl of Marl
borough for Ireland
 Sieges of Cork and Kinsale .
1691 Siege of Limerick
 Returns to England
1692 Embarks for the Netherlands .
 Battle of Steenkirk
1693 Relief of Fumes .
 Battle of Landen .
1694 Covering the siege of Huy
1695 Siege of Namur .
1696 Returns to England
1697 Embarks for the Netherlands .
 Returns to England
1702 Expedition to Cadiz and destruction of the French
and Spanish shipping at Vigo
1703 Constituted a corps oi Marines

Page 1
3 57

8
9
10
1215
16
17 18
19

2021222325
26

2830

CONTENTS.

1703 Embarks on board the fleet
1704 Attempt on Barcelona .
 Capture of Gibraltar
 Defence of Gibraltar
17091 !• Returns to England
1711 Ceases to be a corps of Marines
 Expedition to Canada .
1715 Obtains the title of The King's Own
1725 Proceeds to Scotland
1731 Returns to England
1736 Proceeds to Scotland . ,
1737 Returns to England
1744 Embarks for the Netherlands .
1745 Returns to England
 Marches to Scotland
1746 Battle of Falkirk
 Culloden
1747 Returns to England
1751 Colours, and regimental distinctions
1754 Embarks for Minorca .
1756 Defence of Fort St. Philip .
 Returns to England, and augmented to two bat
talions .
1758 The second battalion constituted the sixty-second
regiment
 Embarks for the West Indies
1759 Attack on Martinico
 Capture of Guadaloupe .
1761 ¦  Dominico
1762  Martinico .
 Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Lucie
 the Havannah
1764 Returns to England
1 768 Proceeds to Scotland

Page
32
33
34
38

4143

44

4546
48
49 5053

54 5758
59
60

CONTENTS.

VH

1773 Returns to England
1774 Embarks for North America .
1775 Actions at Concord and Lexington
 Battle of Bunkers Hill .
1776 Proceeds to Nova Scotia
 Staten Island
 Capture of Long Island
 Proceeds to New York .
 ¦ Skirmishes at Pell's Point and White Plains
 Capture of Fort Washington .
1777 Expedition to Danbury .
 against Philadelphia
 Action at Chad's Ford .
 i  Germantown .

-White Marsh

1778

1780
1787 1793 1794
1797 1799

1802 1803
1804 180518061807

Retreat to New York
Proceeds to the West Indies .
Capture of St. Lucie
Returns to England
Proceeds to Ireland
Embarks for Nova Scotia
Capture of Miquelon and St. Pierre
Proceeds to Lower Canada
Returns to England — One transport
a French privateer .
Augmented to three battalions
Embarks for Holland ,
Battle of Egmont-op-Zee
Returns to England
Second and third battalions disbanded
Preparations to repel the French invasion .
A second battalion added to the regiment .
Embarks for Hanover . . . .
Returns to England . . . .
Expedition to Copenhagen

captured by

Page
60 6264 65

6667 69 70
71 7273
7475 76 7778
79
808889
90

CONTENTS.

Anno
1806 Returns to England
1808 Embarks for Sweden
 Returns to England
 Proceeds to Portugal
 Advances into Spain
 Retreats to the coast
1809 Battle of Corunna
 Returns to England
 Expedition to Walcheren
1810 Second battalion proceeds to Gibraltar
 First battalion proceeds to Portugal
 Lines of Torres Vedras
1811 Battle of Sabugal
 Skirmish near Barba del Puerco
1812 Covering the siege of Ciudad Rodrigi
 ¦ Storming of Badajoz
 Battle of Salamanca
 Siege of Burgos
 Skirmish near the Carion
1813 Battle of Vittoria
 Siege of St. Sebastian .
 Passage of the Bidassoa
 Battle of the Nivelle
 Nive
1814 Blockade of Bayonne
 Embarks for the West Indies .
 Expedition to the Chesapeake
 Battle of Bladensburg .
 Capture of Washington .
 Expedition against Baltimore .
 Battle of Godly Wood .
 Returns to the West Indies
 Expedition against New Orleans
1815 Capture of Fort Bowyer
 Returns to England

Page 91
91
92

93
94 95
96

97 9899
105106
108 109
112 113
114 116117 118
119121
123
124 128

CONTENTS. 1.^L
¦*-°"» Page
1815 Embarks for Flanders .... 129
 Battle of Waterloo . . . —
 Advances to Paris . . . 130
 Second battalion disbanded . . . 131
1816 Forms part of the army of occupation in France . —
1818 Returns to England . . . . 133
1819 Embarks for the West Indies . . —
1826 Returns to England . . .137
 Embarks for Portugal ... 138
1828 Returns to England . . .139
 ¦ Proceeds to Scotland ... —
1829 Embarks for Ireland . . —
1830 Returns to England ..... —
18311 .„„-> Embarks by detachments for New South Wales
1838 J
1839 The Conclusion

140

CONTENTS,

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.

1680 Charles Earl of Plymouth
 Piercy Kirke
1682 Charles Trelawny
1688 Sir Charles Orby -
 Charles Trelawny
1692 Henry Trelawny .
1702 William Seymour
1717 Hon. Henry Berkeley
1719 Charles Cadogan
1734 William Barrell .
1749 Robert Rich
1756 Alexander Duroure
1765 Hon. Robert Brudenell
1768 Studholme Hodgson
1782 John Burgoyne .
1792 George Morrison .
1799 John Earl of Chatham
1835 John Hodgson

Page 142144146

147
148 149
150
151 152

LIST OF PLATES
The Regimental Colours to follow the Regimental title page.
The landing at Gibraltar, to face .... page

34

Colours of the 4tli B egiment of Foot.

HISTORICAL RECORD
OP
THE FOURTH, OB
THE KING'S OVi^N, REGIMENT OF FOOT.

The city of Tangier on the coast of the kingdom of 1680
Fez, in Africa, having been ceded in 1661, by Portugal,
to King Charles II., as part of the marriage portion of
the Infanta, Donna Catherina, this fortress, with a por
tion of the adjoining territory, had constituted a part of
the possessions of the British crown for a period of nearly
twenty years, when circumstances occurred, which gave
rise to the formation of the regiment which is the sub
ject of this memoir, for service in that part of His Ma
jesty's dominions.
This ancient and renowned city had been successively
in the power of the Phcenicians, Romans, Vandals, Sara
cens, Portuguese, and Spaniards, and it had been the scene
of armed contentions and sanguinary wars, in remote ages
as well as in modern times. It had formerly been cele
brated as one of the most splendid cities in that quarter
of the world, but had fallen from its ancient power and
magnificence ; and when it came into the possession of the
British crown, fragments of ruins were all that remained to
indicate its former grandeur. It had been much strength
ened and improved by the English after their possession
of it ; detached forts had been constructed, and large
suras of money had been granted by the parliament for
improving the harbour and enlarging the defences.

2 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1680 Much opposition had, however, been met with from the
native chiefs, who availed themselves of all the means
M'ithin their power for exterminating the Christian
occupants of this part of Africa. The garrison had
already resisted many attempts of its daring and inveterate
enemies, particularly in the time of Gaylan, the usurper
of Fez ; but in 1680 the city was besieged by an im
mense force, and the Moors had the advantage of having
several European renegades in their army, by whom
they had been taught the art of mining and of carrying on
approaches under ground. Not only the national honour
and the credit of His Majesty's arms were concerned in the
preservation of this fortress, but, in the event of its cap
ture by the Moors, the Levant trade was likely to suffer
some interruption from its harbour becoming the resort
of pirates.
King Charles II., therefore, sent thither a battalion of
foot guards and sixteen companies of Dumbarton's regi
ment, (now first royals,) and issued, in July, 1680, war
rants for raising six independent troops of horse and a
regiment of foot, to augment the garrison, and to enable
it to chase from under the walls the native forces by
which it was menaced.
The first troop of horse was raised by Major-General
the Earl of Ossory, who was nominated governor of His
Majesty's possessions in Africa ; and the others by Lieut-
Colonel Sir John Lanier, and Captains Robert Pulteney,
John Coy, Charles Nedby, and Thomas Langston.
The regiraent of foot was ordered to consist of sixteen
companies of sixty-five private men eachj besides officers
and non-commissioned officers ; and the colonelcy was
conferred on Charles Fitz-Charles, Earl of Ply
mouth, a daring aspirant to military fame, who had
already distinguished himself against the Moors in the

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 3
character of a volunteer, and was serving at Tangier at I68O
the time the regiment was raised.
The royal authority for raising this regiment was given
on the 13th of July, 1680, and the sixteen companies of
which it was composed, were raised by the following
officers; Lieut-Colonel Piercy Kirke,* Major Charles
Trelawny, and Captains Zachariah Tiffin, Henry Tre
lawny, Edward Hastings, Charles Fox, Edward Griffin,
John Strode, Edward Saville, Roger Pope, 'Walter Fitz-
gerard, John Grimes, Robert Ansley, Arthur Cheffbrs,
and John Southcote, and the captain-lieutenant of the
colonel's company. Eight companies were raised in Lon
don and in its vicinity under the immediate superintend
ence of Lieut. -Colonel Kirke, aud had their general
rendezvous in Clerkenwell; and the other eight com
panies were raised in the west of England, with their
general rendezvous at Plymouth, under the superin
tendence of Major Trelawny.
The corps thus raised obtained the title of the
Second Tangier Regiment,! and after serving the
British crown in various parts of the world, through the
eventful period of one hundred and fifty-eight years, it
continues a distinguished corps, and bears the designation
of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of
Foot. Although the particulars of its origin and forma
tion have been distinctly given, yet it was in sorae
measure connected with another corps, of whose services
a few words are introduced into this record.
On the breaking out of the war between England aud
* Piercy Kirke held the commission of captain-lieutenant of
the Earl of Oxford's troop in the royal regiment of horse guards,
at the time he was appointed lieut.-colonel of this regiment,
and for several months afterwards.
t The flrst Tangier regiment was raised in 1661, and is
now the second, or queen's royal regiment of foot.
B 2

HISTORICAL RECORD OF

1680 Holland in the early part of 1672, a regiment of foot
was raised, of which James Duke of Monmouth was
appointed colonel. This regiment was sent to France, and
taken into the pay of Louis XIV. ; it served during the
carapaigns of 1672 and 1673, under the Duke of Mon
mouth, in the Netherlands, and during the four succeed
ing years it served with the French army in Alsace and
on the Rhine, together with Douglas's or Dumbarton's
regiment, now first royals, Churchill's, and Hamilton's.
In these carapaigns Monmouth's regiment distinguished
itself on several occasions under Marshals Turenne, De
Crequi, and Luxemburg. In 1678 it was ordered to
return to England, and after the peace of Nimeguen it
was disbanded.
When the Earl of Plymouth's regiment was raised,
many of the officers of Monmouth's late regiment were
appointed to commissions in this new corps, through
whose influence many of the non-commissioned officers
and soldiers, who had served in the Netherlands, France,
and Germany, were induced to enter the sarae regi
ment. By these raeans, and by the aid of a few men
from the Holland regiment, now third foot, or the buffs,
the Earl of Plymouth's, or Second Tangier Regi
ment, was completed in numbers, equipped,* instructed

* The expense of

equipping

the regiment was estimated at

the following rates.

Clothing.
Appointments.
£. *.
d.
£. *.
d.
Coat and breeches .
1 16
0
Waist belts ... 0 4
6
Serjeant's ditto .
4 10
0
Swords .... 0 4
6
Hats . . .
0 7
0
Pikeraen's Swords . 0 5
0
Serjeant's ditto
0 15
0
Grenadier hangers . 0 6
6
Grenadier caps
0 9
6
Serjeant's Swords . 0 10
0
Neckcloths .
0 1
0
Collars or Bandaliers 0 5
6
Serjeant's ditto
0 2
0
Cartouch boxes . .02
6
Shirts . . .
0 3
6
Match boxes ... 0 1
0
THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 5
in the simple exercises practised at the tirae, and ready 1680
to embark for foreign service in less than four months
after the order for its being raised was issued.
The service for which these forces were raised being
urgent, three of the troops of cavalry (Langston's,
Nedby's, and Coy's) were provided with horses from the
life guards and royal regiment of horse guards, and
sailed as soon as possible ; the Earl of Plymouth's
regiment also embarked with all possible expedition, and
sailed in November.
In the mean tirae the garrison of Tangier had over
powered the Moorish array in a sharp action under the
walls, and a truce had been agreed upon for six months ;
and when information of this event arrived in England,
the other three troops of horse (viz. Ossory 's, Lanier's,
and Pulteney's) were disbanded.
This truce was in operation when the Earl of Ply
mouth's regiment arrived at Tangier; and the officers
and men learned that their colonel had died a few weeks
previously of dysentery. He was succeeded in the
colonelcy by the lieut.-colonel, Piercy Kirke, who was
also appointed comraander-in-chief of the garrison.
Shortly afterwards an ambassador from the court of
Fez arrived, and raade his public entry into the city of
Tangier on the 2nd of December; his reception is thus
described in the London Gazette : — " Colonel Kirke, our
" coraraander-in-chief, went out to meet him between

£. s.
. 0 6

Clothing.
Serjeant's shirt
Shoes, per pair . . 0
Stockings, per pair . 0
Serjeant's ditto . . 0
Sashes foi the Pikemen 0

Appointments.

Grenade bags .
Knapsacks

£. *. d.
0 6 0
0 1 6

6 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1680 " eleven and twelve. Four troops of horse marched first ; —
" after them fifty chosen grenadiers of the Earl of Dum-
" barton's regiment ; then thirty gunners with their lin-
" stocks ; followed by thirty negros in painted coats, with
" their brown-bills (a sort of battle-axe) ; and after these
"rid Colonel Kirke, surrounded with twenty gentlemen
" well mounted, and having six men of the tallest stature,
" with long fusils, on each side of his horse ; in which
" order, having proceeded a good distance beyond Foun-
" tain Fort, the party of Moors, which was about two
" hundred horse with their lances, being now within mus-
" ket shot of us, raade a halt. The ambassador with
" about thirty persons advanced towards Colonel Kirke,
" who received him with those compliments which are
" customary. Colonel Kirke then went to make his salu-
" tations to the alcaid, Aley Benanbdala, vice roy of
"those countries, who remained at the head of the Moor-
"ish party; which being ended, the alcaid and the
" ambassador with each of their parties began a skir-
" mish, it being their manner of rejoicing and expressing
" their satisfaction. Having shown their horsemanship
" and skill in managing their lances and fusils, they parted,
"the alcaid going off with his men, and the ambas-
"sador with his train proceeding with Colonel Kirke to
" the town ; where all the regiments in garrison were
"formed up to augment the splendour of his public
"entry."
j5gj In the succeeding year Colonel Kirke proceeded on an
embassy to the court of the vice-roy of Fez, and also to
that of the Emperor of Morocco, and a treaty of peace
between the English and Moors was concluded. A
diary of Colonel Kirke's journey, with a description of his
reception, and of the court of the African potentate, was
published at the tirae, and appears more like an airy

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 7
vision of the imagination, or a few pages from an eastern 1681
romance, than a narrative of facts.
After the decease of Sir Palmes Fairborne (who was 1682
killed in an engagement with the Moors on the 24th of
September, 1680), Colonel Kirke was reraoved to the
colonelcy of the first Tangier (now the second or queen's
royal) regiraent, and was succeeded by the lieut.-colonel,
Charles Trelawny, by commission dated the 23d of
April 1682.
The improved military system of the Moors, introduced
by the employraent of European renegades, having ren
dered it necessary to raaintain a much stronger garrison
at Tangier than formerly, His Majesty brought the sub
ject before parliament ; but the people of England were
more alarmed at the prospect of a popish successor to the
throne than at the danger of losing this fortress, which they
considered as an asylum for popish recusants, and conse
quently no further grant was voted.
A free intercourse had been established with the Moors, 1683
and a traffic by barter was carried on to the benefit
of the town ; but all the advantages expected to be de
rived from the possession of this fortress had not been
realized, and King Charles II. was unwilling to bear,
without any pecuniary aid from parliament, the expense
of the fortifications and troops. He accordingly sent,
towards the end of 1683, Admiral Lord Dartmouth with
a fleet, to destroy the fortifications, and to bring away the
British inhabitants and garrison.
The regiment arrived in England frora Tangier in 1684
February, 1684, and wasplacedin garrison at Portsmouth,
where it remained upwards of twelve months ; and its
establishment was reduced from sixteen to twelve com
panies. In the autumn of this year His Majesty conferred upon
the regiment the title of Her Royal Highness the

8 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1684 Duchess of York and Albany's Regiment. What
its distinguishing colour, or livery (which is now called
facing), was on its formation, has not been ascertained ;
but in October of this year it was yellow. This ap
pears to have been a favourite colour of the Duke of
York, (afterwards James II.) as his troop of life guards
had yellow horse furniture, belts covered with yellow
velvet, yellow ribands on the horses' heads and tails, and
also ydlow ribands in the men's hats; and his marine
regiment, called the Admiral's Regiment, was clothed in
yellow. The colours of the regiment were of yellow silk, with
the red cross of St. George bordered with white ; the rays
of the sun issuing from each angle of the cross, or ; and
Her Royal Highness's cypher in the centre.
1685 On the 6th of February, 1685, King Charles II. died,
and was succeeded by his brother, James Duke of York ;
and the Duchess of York having become Queen of Eng
land, this regiment was styled the Queen's Regiment
OF Foot : the first Tangier regiment had previously been
styled the Queen's, and was now designated the Queen
Dowagers regiment.
The much dreaded event — the accession of a papist to
the throne — had now occurred ; but the minds of the
people were partially set at ease by the King's declaration
of his determination to maintain the protestant religion
as by law established. This did not, however, prevent
several rash adventurers from urging James Duke of
Monmouth, to make an attempt to gain the throne. This
nobleman was the illegitimate son of the late king, — was
of prepossessing appearance and address, — a steady advo
cate for the protestant religion, — had gained a reputation
for military virtues, — and had become a favourite with
the people. Being urged to this enterprise by his des
perate associates, he raised the standard of rebellion in

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 9
the west of England in June, 1685 ; and, having been 1685
joined by a number of miners and other persons, pro
claimed himself king.
The Queen's Regiment of Foot was reposing in
quarters at Portsmouth and performing the duties of the
garrison, when the news of Monmouth's rebellion pro
duced an electric sensation throughout the country. The
regular army was augmented ; the militia was called out ;
and this regiment was ordered to recruit its numbers
to one hundred men per company. Soon afterwards five
companies, under the comraand of Lieut. -Colonel Charles
Churchill, were ordered to march in charge of a train of
artillery, consisting of seven field pieces, to join the array
under the command of Lieut.-General the Earl of Fever-
sham, which was assembling to oppose the rebels.
The five companies of the Queen's Regiment having
joined the other forces with the artillery, the army
advanced to the village of Weston, and the infantry en
caraped on Sedgemoor, the two Tangier regiments
taking the left of the line. The rebel army lay at
Bridgewater, and during the night of the Sth of July the
Duke of Monmouth advanced with the view of surprising
the King's troops in their camp ; but his approach was
discovered, and the camp was alarmed by the cavalry
out-guards. The rebels, however, rushed forward, and
a fierce conflict of musketry ensued in the dark. The
first attack was made against the royals on the right ;
and extending along the front to the left, the companies
of the Queen's Regiment becarae sharply engaged, and
" perforraed good service." Soon after day-break the
King's cavalry charged the flanks of the rebel army
and put it into confusion. An entire rout ensued,
and the insurgents were pursued across the moor and
adjoining fields with great slaughter ; many were taken
prisoners; and their leader, the Duke of Monmouth,

10 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1685 was captured two days afterwards near Ringwood, in
Hampshire, and was reijioved to London, and beheaded.
After the suppression of the rebellion, the five com
panies of the Queen's Regiment returned to Ports
mouth : their ppnduct was highly approved by his Ma-^
jesty, and soon afterwards the regiment was presented
with a set of new colourS' — one to each company ; and
it continued to display twelve colours for several years
from that period. Two of the new colours were pre
sented by the Queen, and the other ten by his Majesty ;
of the expense of the former no account has been met
with ; but some idea raay be formed of the splendid ap
pearance of these colours, from the fact that the ten pre
sented by the King cost upwards of twenty pounds each-*
A copy of the bill, amounting to ,£206 5*. 6d., is pre
served in the official records in the War Office, A copy
of the royal warrant, dated 21st of August, 1686, for the
payraent of this sura, is inserted below.f

* The usual charge for regimental colours, was from £6 to
£10 each.
f Jambs R. " Our will and pleasure is. That out of
For £206 5». 6rf. to .. gygj, moneys as shall corae into your
Thomas Hollord tor <i u j /, i, i i- i .
Ten Colours for The hands for the pay and contingent uses of
Queen's Regiment of "Our guards and garrisons, you pay to
Foot. "Thomas Holford the sum of Two Hun-
" dred and Six Pounds Five Shillings and
" Six Pence, for Ten Colours made and provided by him for Our
" dearest Consort, The Queen's Regiment of Foot, and fpr so doing
"this, together with the acquittance of the said Thomas Holford,
" shall be your warrant and discharge.
" Given at Our Court at Windsor this 21st day of August 1686.
" By His Majesty's command,
"To Our Trusty and well-beloved
" Cousin and Councillor Richard
"Earl of Ranelagh, Our Pay-^ " W. Blathwayt."
"master-General, &c. &c. &c.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. H
During the summer ten companies of the regiment 1685
were ordered to proceed from Portsmouth to Taunton
in Somersetshire, to attend the Lord Chief Justice
Jefixeys, who was appointed by King James II. to try
the prisoners taken at the battle of Sedgemoor, and a
number of other persons who were charged either with
being concerned in the rebellion, or with countenancing
or aiding the ill-fated duke and his adherents. The
narrative of the proceedings of the Lord Chief Justice,
and of the painful duties which the troops who attended
on him had to perform, forms one of the black pages of
the history of this country ; and the remorseless and
sanguinary character of the judge has occasioned him
to be held up to deserved execration. Colonel Kirke
and his regiment have also been charged with acts of
cruelty, although the accounts may have been exagge
rated ; but the conduct of the ten companies of the
Queen's Regiment escaped censure, as their services
appear to have been limited to the guarding of prisoners,
and the preserving of order at executions, which were so
numerous that these were termed the bloody assizes.
The Queen's Regiment reraained in extensive canton- 1686
ments in the western counties until the spring of 1686,
when it was ordered to march to Plymouth, where it
passed the succeeding twelve months. It was withdrawn
from Devonshire in March, 1687, and was stationed a 1687
short time at Salisbury and Wilton, from whence it
marched to Hounslow in June of the same year, and
pitched its tents on the heath. After having been twice
reviewed by King Jaraes IL, the regiment struck its
tents on the 5th of August, and marched to Bristol,
Bath, and Keynsham.
In the spring of 1688, the regiraent proceeded to Ports- 1688
mouth, and passed the summer months in that garrison;
but in September it was ordered to march to London.

12 historical record OF
1688 The short period during which King Jaraes II. had oc
cupied the throne, had been pregnant with events of a raost
alarraing character to the nation, and every evil which
the people had feared would follow the accession of a
popish prince to sovereign power, appeared on the eve of
transpiring. The rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth
had furnished the King with a pretext for augmenting
the regular army, which he continued on a high establish
ment, and increased, from time to tirae, without the con
sent of parliament. The troops were embodied by the
authority of the crown only, and were paid, either from
the civil list, or by diverting moneys, intended for other
objects, to that purpose; and the King even appeared to
have forraed the design of governing without parliaments,
of rendering himself absolute, and of subverting the re
formed religion. His Majesty's principal dependence for
the success of his unconstitutional projects was placed
in the devotedness of his troops ; but his conduct dis
gusted the military as well as his other subjects ; and
the cheers of the soldiers on Hounslow Heath at the
acquittal of the bishops, whom the King had imprisoned
and brought to trial for opposing his raeasures, proved
that he had entirely lost their syrapathy, and could no
longer trust to them for support.
The King's proceedings having filled the nation with
alarm and consternation, the Prince of Orange, who was
the King's nephew and son-in-law, and a zealous advocate
for the Protestant interest, was solicited to come to Enff-
land with a body of troops to assist the nobility and gentry
in opposing the proceedings of the court. At the same
tirae, raany of the superior officers of the English army,
who were most zealous for the welfare of the kingdom
and the preservation of the reformed religion, seeing the
danger to which the constitution in church and state was
exposed, forraed themselves into a secret association, and

the fourth REGIMENT OF FOOT. 13
engaged not to fight in the cause of papacy and arbitrary 1688
power, but to further the objects of the Prince of Orange ;
and Brigadier-General Charles Trelawny, Colonel of the
Queen''s regiment of foot, was one of the members of
this association.
When the Prince of Orange had landed at Torbay (Sth
of November) the regiment proceeded by forced marches
to Salisbury, and afterwards to Warminster, which was
the most advanced post of the King's army, and was occu
pied by the third troop of life guards, the Queen's, and
Major-General Werden's regiments of horse, the Queen's
regiment of dragoons, with two battalions of the royals,
and the Queen Dowager's and Queen Consort's regi
ments of foot,* commanded by Major-General Kirke and
Brigadier-Generals Trelawny and Maine.
The Kingarrived atSalisbury on the 20th of Noveraber,
and on the 21st reviewed his forces stationed in and near
that city ; and a number of officers and soldiers having
already deserted to the Prince of Orange, His Majesty
addressed the troops on the subject, and gave liberty to
all who were unwilling to serve him, to depart without
molestation. This appeal to their loyalty was followed
with such shouts and assurances of attachment, that the
King's confidence, which had been much shaken, was in
a great measure restored. On the following day His
Majesty designed to have visited the advanced post at
Warminster, but was prevented by a bleeding at the nose.

* Third troop of life guards; disbanded in 1746.
Queen's horse; now first dragoon guards,
M. G. Warden's horse ; disbanded in 1690.
Queen's dragoons ; now third light dragoons.
Royals ; now flrst foot.
Queen Dowager's ; now second foot.
Queen Consort's ; now fourth foot.

14 historical RECORD OF
1688 to which he was constitutionally subject. The Duke of
Berwick states in his meraoirs, — " The King intended
" to go from Salisbury in my coach to visit the quarter
" commanded by Major-General Kirke ; but was pre-
" vented by a prodigious bleeding of the nose, which
" seized him on a sudden, and it is said, that a scheme
" was laid and measures taken by Churchill and Kirke,
" to deliver up the King to the Prince of Orange ; but
" this accident frustrated the design." Brigadier-General
Trelawny is also charged with participating in this design ;
but no direct proof on the subject has been adduced by
any historian.
The number of desertions increasing, the King ordered
the army to retire towards London, when the cavalry
was withdrawn from Warminster by Brigadier- General
Maine of the third troop of life guards ; and -orders were
sent to Major-General Kirke to march with the infantry
to Devizes, but he refused, and was placed in arrest and
sent under a guard to London. Brigadier-General Tre
lawny, expecting a similar fate, withdrew, with his
lieut.-colonel, Charles Churchill, and about thirty non
commissioned officers and soldiers, and joined the Prince
of Orange. The King sent LieUt.- General the Earl of
Dumbarton to Warminster with two squadrons of horse,
and he brought off the remaining officers and men of the
four battalions without interruption.
After Brigadier-General Trelawny had joined the
Prince of Orange, the King gave the colonelcy of the
Queen's regiment of foot to Sir Charles Orby from the
commission of lieut.-colonel in the third troop of life
guards. But His TVIajesty, finding the army, on which he
had depended, would not be subservient to his designs,
fled from London with the view of escaping to France ;
the Prince of Orange assumed the reins of government.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 15
and ordered the regiment to march to Hertford and 1688
Ware; and His Highness restored Brigadier- General
Trelawny to the colonelcy, and promoted Lieut.-Colonel
Charles Churchill to the command of the Holland regi
ment, now the third foot.
The regiment continued to occupy quarters in the iQsg
south of England after the accession of William and
Mary, and passed the winter of 1689 at Exeter.
In the mean time Ireland had become the scene of 1690
conflict between the Roman Catholics and Protestants,
and King James, having proceeded thither with a body
of French troops, had reduced the greater part of that
kingdom under his sway, and had maltreated the Pro
testants in various ways. In 1689 King William sent
Duke Schomberg, with a body of troops, to aid the Pro
testants, and in 1690 His Majesty resolved to take the
field in person. The Queen's regiraent of foot was
selected to form part of the army in Ireland, and having
embarked from Barnstaple in the middle of April, put
to sea, but was driven by severe weather to Pembroke.
Here the regiment remained about a week, and having
again put to sea on the SOth of April, landed at Belfast
on the 2d of May. King William arrived in Ireland on
the 14th of June, and placing himself at the head of the
army, advanced to the banks of the Boyne, on the oppo
site side of which rivef King James's army was formed
in order of battle.
At day-break on the morning of the 1st of July, the
regiment was under arms, every man displaying a green
branch in his hat, to distinguish him from the enemy,
who wore pieces of white paper in tbeir hats, and the
cheerful countenances of the musketeers, pikemen, and
grenadiers seemed to give presage of victory. About
six o'dlock the regiment, with the remainder of Brigadier-

16 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1690 General Trelawny's brigade, forming part of the force
under Count Schomberg and Lieut.-General Douglas,
filed to the right, and having marched about two miles
up the river, forded the stream between the King's
camp and Slane bridge. Sir Neal O'Neal's regiment
of Irish dragoons, in the service of King James, ofiered
sorae opposition ; but was speedily routed and its com
manding officer was mortally wounded. After passing
the river, Trelawny's brigade halted a short time until
additional forces arrived ; then advancing through corn
fields, over deep ditches, and aCross a difficult bog, drove
the enemy's left wing frora its ground in a spirited
manner, and forced it to make a precipitate retreat
towards Duleek. When the enemy's left flank was thus
turned. King Wilham passed the river with the other
divisions of his army, and King James's forces were
overpowered and chased from the field. Thus a decisive
victory was gained, and the troops halted during the
night near Duleek.
The regiment advanced with the army upon Dublin,
and at the review at Finglass, on the 7th and 8th of
July, it mustered (according to the official rolls) five
hundred and fifty-three private men, besides officers and
non-commissioned officers. The enemy having fled from
Dublin, the regiment was stationed several weeks in
garrison in that city, of which its colonel was appointed
governor. Meanwhile the combined English and Dutch fleets,
commanded by Lord Torrington and Admiral Evertsen,
had engaged (SOth of June) the French fleet under
the Count de Tourville, off the Beachy, and the Dutch,
being in the van, suffered so severely, that the enemy
not only claimed the victory, but actually gained the
ascendancy at sea, and menaced England with an

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 17
invasion. A body of French landed on the western 1690
coast, and destroyed a village, and this event having pro
duced considerable alarra, King William ordered this
regiment and several other corps to return to England.*
After its arrival in England the regiment was encamped
on Southsea common, near Portsmouth, and in the auturan,
the danger of foreign invasion having passed away,
it was selected to form part of an expedition to Ireland
under the Earl of Marlborough, (afterwards the great
Duke of Marlborough.) The troops employed on this
service f embarked about the middle of September, and
arrived in Cork roads on the 21st of that month. The
fleet entered the harbour on the following day, and the
co-operation of part of the army on shore having been
secured, the troops landed on the 23d and besieged the
city of Cork. A breach having been made, four Enghsh
regiments, under Brigadier-General Churchill and a body

* The following corps were sent to England on this occa
sion: —
First troop of life guards ; now first regiment of life guards.
Count De Schomberg's horse ; now seventh dragoon guards.
Royal Dragoons ; now first, or royal dragoons.
The Queen's regiment of foot ; now fourth, or King's Own.
Hastings' ; now thirteenth foot.
t The Earl of Marlborough's force consisted of the following
corps : —
The Queen's regiment ; now fourth, or King's Own.
Royal fusiliers ; now seventh foot.
Princess Anne's ; now eighth foot.
Hastings' ; now thirteenth foot.
Hales's, afterwards disbanded.
Sir David Collier's, ditto.
Fitz-patrick's, ditto.
100 men of the Duke of Bolton's, ditto.
200 of the Earl of Monmouth's, ditto.
Lord Torrington's marine regiment, ditto.
Lord Pembroke's, ditto.

18 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1690 of Danes, passed the river on the 28th of September,
wading up to the arm-pits to the east marsh, in order
to storm the city wall on that side. The grenadiers
under Lord Colchester led the attack, and, while ad
vancing, the Duke of Grafton, who accompanied the
storming party in the character of a volunteer, received
a mortal wound. Before the storming party gained the
breach, the enemy hung out a white flag, and agreed to
surrender, Kinsale was afterwards besieged, and the enemy
immediately vacated the town and retired into the Old
and New Forts. The Old Fort was taken by storm on
the 2d of October ; and a breach having been made in
the New Fort, the garrison surrendered on the 15th of
October. After the capture of these fortresses the regiment was
placed in garrison in Cork, where it remained during
the winter.
1691 In the spring of 1691, when the army took the field
under General De Ginkell, (afterwards Earl of Athlone,)
this regiment was left in reserve in the county of Cork,
to secure the garrisons, and to keep in check the bands
of armed Roman Catholic peasantry, who prowled about
the country committing every description of depredation ;
and, while employed in this service, detachments of the
regiment had occasional encounters with the enemy's
parties. After the overthrow of the Irish and French
forces at Aughrim, the regiment was ordered to raarch
from the county of Cork, and it joined the main army in
the wild and desolate part of the country called Shalley.
Advancing from thence to Limerick, it was engaged in
the siege of this place, which was terrainated by the
surrender of the garrison in September, on condition of
being permitted to proceed to France. Indemnity was

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 19
also granted to the Roman Catholics who had engaged 1691
in this contest, and the power of King James was finally
suppressed in Ireland.
After so many of the Irish regiments as were willing
had proceeded to France, where they were taken into the
service of Louis XIV., the other Irish corps which had
fought in King Jaraes's cause were disbanded, and the
regiment which forms the subject of this memoir returned
to England, and immediately commenced recruiting its
numbers. On the 1st of January, 1692, the colonelcy was con- 1692
ferred on the lieut.-colonel, Henry Trelawny, vice
Major-General Charles Trelawny, who was appointed
Governor of Plyraouth.
The regiment was allowed but a short period for the
purpose of recruiting, before it was ordered to hold itself
in readiness to proceed to the Netherlands, and having
embarked at Portsmouth, sailed on the 31st of March,
1692 ; contrary winds, however, forced the transports to
anchor in the Downs until the middle of April, when
they sailed to Ostend, After landing, the regiment went
into cantonments among the Belgic peasantry, and sub
sequently took the field with the array commanded by
King William in person.
The regiment took part in the operations of the main
army and in the advance to relieve the siege of Namur,
which was frustrated by heavy rains. On the 29th of
June, it was reviewed by King William and the Elector
of Bavaria at the camp on the undulating grounds
between Genappe and the forest of Soignies.
It was also present at the battle of Steenkirk, fought
on the 24th of July, when the army of King William
was repulsed in an atterapt to force the position occupied
by the French under Marshal Luxemburg. This
c 2

20 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1692 regiment forraed part of the main body, and, owing to
the narrow and difficult defiles which lay between the
two armies, it was not brought into action, and conse
quently had no opportunity of distinguishing itself. A
detachment of the regiment, sent forward on the preced
ing evening, joined the advance-guard, and was sharply
engaged. The loss on both sides was nearly equal.
The Queen's regiment of foot formed part of a detach
ment of ten battalions sent from the raain array on the
22d of August, under Lieut.-General Talraash, to join
a body of troops which had arrived at Ostend from
England, under the orders of the Duke of Leinster.
These forces were afterwards joined by a body of cavalry,
and, having suramoned between two and three thousand
of the country people with spades and shovels, took and
repaired the fortifications of Furnes, a sraall town situated
upon the canal, two leagues from Nieuport and five
from Dunkirk. After placing this town in a condiiion
to resist an assault, the troops proceeded to Dixmude,
and fortified and garrisoned the town. The regiment
subsequently marched to Bruges, and went into canton
ments in the villages near the banks of the canal between
that place and Ghent ; but the French having advanced
to Charleroi, the regiment quitted its village cantonments
and joined the main army at Drongen. The French
Marshal, Boufflers, bombarded the lower town of Char
leroi, and afterwards retreated, when this regiment
returned to its former quarters.
1693 During the winter a detachment was ordered to
advance to the relief of Furnes, which was besieged by
a French force under Marshal Boufflers ; but the roads
were so bad from heavy rains that, according to D'Au-r
vergne, " several soldiers sunk almost to the middle in
" mud, and several horses remained stuck in it." This

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 21
occasioned some delay, and the garrison surrendered on 1693
the 4th of January, 1693. The Dutch garrison at Dix
mude, being alarmed at having the eneray so near thera,
withdrew from the place.
The detachment afterwards returned to its quarters,
and in May the Queen's regiment took the field with
the army, and was posted in the second line at the cele
brated position of Parck camp, the possession of which
enabled King William to defeat the enemy's designs on
Brabant. In the movements which preceded the battle of Lan
den, which was fought on the 19th of July, 1693, the
regiment also took part ; and on the night before the
battle it was posted in the village of Neer-Landen, on
the left of the position ; but on the following morning,
when the French columns were seen advancing to the
attack, the Queen's and Prince George of Denmark's
(now third) regiraents were withdrawn from Neer-
Landen, and ordered to take post in the village of La^r;
to reinforce Brigadier-General Ramsay's brigade.
Scarcely had the regiment gained its post, when the
glistening of bayonets and pikes, perceived at intervals
above the undulations, gave indication of the approaching
eneray ; a cloud of light musketeers and grenadiers
soon cleared the intervening space and attacked the vil
lage with great fury ; and the defenders opened a most
galling and destructive fire on their assailants. The enemy,
by continually reinforcing the corps engaged, succeeded,
after a severe struggle, in gaining some advantage ; but
the British troops renewed the conflict and regained their
lo|t ground. Again the enemy brought forward his ral
lied forces, and a brigade of dragoons dismounting and
joining in the attack, the village of Laer was carried.
Brigadier-General Ramsay rallied his brigade, and after a

22 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1693 short address, led the regiments to the attack. The
French were exulting in their success, when suddenly a
loud British huzza burst like a clap of thunder on their
astonished ears, and the next moraent the charging Britons
broke through all opposition, forced the village, and in a
short time cleared it of opponents.
The enemy, by his great superiority of numbers, was
enabled to bring forward fresh troops, and he eventually
succeeded in forcing the position at the village of Neer-
Winden. The village of Laer was then no longer tenable,
and the regiments were forced to retire, fighting, across
the river Gheet. The King ordered the army to make
a retrograde raoveraent, which was not effected without
considerable confusion and loss. The Queen's regiraent
had Captain Crofts and Lieutenant Woodstock killed ;
Captain Wharton wounded; and Captain Carroll and
Lieutenant Cole wounded and taken prisoners : of its
loss in non-comraissioned officers and private men, no
account appears to have been preserved.
The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was so great
that he derived little advantage from the victory.
The Queen's regiraent continued with the main
army until the autumn, when it marched into garrison at
Malines.
1694 The regiment marched out of Malines in May 1694,
and pitched its tents near the cloister of Terbank, where
three English and thirty-six Dutch battalions were en
camped. During the campaign of this year two magni
ficent armies manoeuvred on the plains of Flanders and
Brabant, but no general engagement occurred. In Sep
tember the Queen's regiment of foot formed part of
the covering army during the siege of Huy, which place
was taken by capitulation, and the regiment subsequently
marched to its forraer station at Malines.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 23
In 1695 the regiment again took the field, and was era- 1695
ployed in the movements which preceded the siege of the
important fortress of Namur. The attack of this city ex
cited universal attention throughout Europe. The strength
of the place both by nature and art, — the extent of the
castle, situated on a rock, with the works by which it was
surrounded, — the number of veteran troops in the town, —
the character of their commander (Marshal Boufflers),' —
the fact that this was one of the most iraportant of the
French king's conquests, and consequently strenuous
exertions would be used for its preservation, — with the
immense armies employed in covering and carrying on
the siege, or in attempting to relieve the garrison, gave
an iraportant character to this undertaking, which pro
duced a lively feeling of interest throughout Christen
dom; and the Queen's was one of the regiments which
had the honor of taking part in the enterprise.
When Namur was first invested, this regiment remained
with the covering army under the veteran Prince of
Vauderaont ; but it forraed part of the force detached
on the 24th of June under Lord Cutts, and joined the
besieging troops on the 1st of July. During the night
of the 8th of that month a detachment from the grenadier
company was engaged in storming the covered way which
the enemy had constructed on the hill of Bouge, in which
service Captain Selby was wounded, and several private
men were killed and wounded.
The regiment was on duty in the trenches on the 9th,
and also on the 13th of July ; on the 17th the grenadiers
were engaged in storming the counterscarp. The as
saulting party of 500 grenadiers was commanded by Colo
nel Collingwood, with Major Carryle of the Queen's
regiment second in coramand. The attack was made
about five o'clock in the evening; the enemy defended

24 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1695 their post with great bravery ; every inch of ground Was
disputed; but the counterscarp was eventually carried.
The regiment lost many men on this occasion ; Captain
Carter (son of Rear- Admiral Carter who was killed at
Barfleur) was killed in the covered-way, and Major
Carryle was wounded.
On the night of the 23rd of July a detachment of the
regiment was engaged in extending the lodgement on the
right of the bastion of St, Roche, and had Ensign Nuby
killed; also Captain Mitchell and Lieutenant Cole
wounded. On the succeeding day the batteries kept up
an incessant fire, and preparations were made for a ge
neral assault ; but this was prevented by the enemy agree
ing to surrender the town, which they vacated on the 25th,
and retired into the castle.
This regiment having sustained considerable loss during
the siege of the town, marched from the lines of circum-
vallation on the 27th of July towards Brussels, forming
part of the division under Lieut.-General Count Nassau,
sent to reinforce the covering army under the Prince
of Vauderaont, to enable him to oppose the immense
French army commanded by Marshal Villeroy. The
enemy advanced to Brussels and bombarded the city, and
subsequently marched towards Namur ; when this regi
ment was withdrawn from its camp between Genappe and
Waterloo, and advanced to oppose the enemy's design of
relieving the castle of Namur. The position which the
army took up before Namur frustrated the purposes of
the French marshal ; and on the 20th of August, a de
tachment of the regiment was engaged under Lord Cutts
in storming the counterscarp and breach of Terra Nova,
in which service it had Lieutenant D'Arneau and several
men killed. Preparations were subsequently made for a
second assault on the castle ; when Marshal Boufflers

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 25
agreed to surrender on honourable terms, and thus this 1695
stupendous fortress was captured ; the achievement re
flected glory on the British arms and those of the several
nationscomposingthe array commanded by King William.
The most brilliant feature in this enterprise, however, de
rived its lustre from the fact, that other monarchs had
made conquests for themselves, to oppress their neigh
bours, or to raise a powerful monarchy out of the ruins
of other states ; but the King of England waged war for
the good of Europe, and to establish liberty and peace
upon a lasting foundation. After the damage done to
the works of Namur had been repaired, the regiraent re
turned to its forraer quarters at Malines.
The King of France finding that not only had an ef- 1696
fectual stop been given to his arras, but that he was likely
to lose raany of his conquests, endeavoured to weaken the
confederates by causing England to becorae the theatre
of civil war. A party favourable to the Stuart dynasty
still remained in England ; the Duke of Berwick and
several French officers were sent across the Channel to
persuade the friends of King James to rise in arms ; at
the same tirae a plot for the assassination of King William
was formed ; and a French army marched to the coast
to be in readiness to embark with King James for Eng
land. Information of these events having been obtained, the
Queen's regiment of foot was suddenly ordered from its
cantonments in the city of Malines to embark for Eng
land. It marched to Sas Van Ghent, where it went on
board of transports, and sailed to Flushing, from whence
a convoy of Dutch men-of-war accompanied the fleet to
England. In the mean time the conspirators had been
discovered, a British fleet was sent to blockade the French
ports, and the designs of Louis XIV. were frustrated.

26 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1696 The greater part of the forces which were ordered home
on this occasion returned to Flanders without landing in
England ; but the Queen's was one of the corps which
disembarked at Gravesend, and was selected to remain
on home service that year.
1697 In the summer of 1697 the regiment again erabarked
for the Netherlands; and having joined the army com
manded by King Wilham near Brussels on the 14th of
July, was reviewed by His Majesty on the 16th. Soon
afterwards the King had the satisfaction of seeing his
exertions in behalf of the liberties of, and balance of
power in, Europe, crowned with a treaty of peace, which
was concluded at Ryswick in September; and in the
succeeding month this regiraent was ordered to return to
England. It landed in the beginning of December at
Woolwich ; from whence it marched to Plymouth and
Penryn, where its establishment was reduced frora nine
hundred and twenty-five to five hundred and seventy-
two officers and soldiers.
1698 The danger arising from the exercise of so unconsti
tutional a prerogative as the raising of troops and the
maintaining of a large army on the authority of the
Crown only, as practised in the reign of King Jaraes II. ,
was provided against at the Revolution. In the Bill of
Rights, the raising or keeping of a standing army within
the kingdom, in time of peace, unless with the consent
of parliament, was declared to be contrary to law, and
from that period to the present time the army has been
maintained under the authority of an Act, annually
renewed, called an " Act for punishing mutiny and
desertion, and for the better payment of the army and
their quarters." This Act specifies the number of soldiers
to be kept up ; the conditions under which they are
enlisted, paid, billeted, &c. ; and lays down a system of

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 27
martial law for their governraent. Owing to the jealousy 1699
with which a standing array was regarded, and the cost
of its maintenance, it was confined, after the peace of
Ryswick, within very narrow limits ; and in 1699 it was
reduced, in opposition to the most obvious considerations
of expediency, and in despite of the efforts of the King,
to so few as seven thousand men. These troops were
limited to " His Majesty's natural born subjects," and
King William, who had been the instrument, under
Divine Providence, of establishing a free governraent in
these realms, and of fixing the balance of power in
Europe, was obliged to submit to the mortification, which
he felt most acutely, of dismissing his favourite regiments
of Dutch guards and French refugees. When this
reduction took place, the establishment of the Queen's
regiment was decreased to ten companies of thirty-six
private men each. It continued to occupy Plymouth and
Penryn, with one corapany detached to the Isle of Scilly.
The success which had attended the exertions of King 1701
o
William to prevent the aggrandizement of France by
conquest, and to establish the balance of power in Europe
upon an apparently solid foundation, was suddenly coun
tervailed by the accession of the Duke of Anjou, grand
son of Louis XIV., to the throne of Spain ; and two
years had scarcely elapsed, before the signs of approaching
war appeared, and the short-sighted policy of placing
the army upon so low an establishment proved a source
of great inconvenience.
The strength of the Queen's regiment of foot was 1702
again increased to twelve companies, and in February,
1702, King William conferred the colonelcy on Bri
gadier-General William Seymour from the twenty-
fourth regiment.
His Majesty having died in the following month, was

28 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1702 succeeded by Queen Anne,* who declared war against
France; and the first service in which the Queen's regi
raent of foot was called upon to engage in this reign, was
the expedition to the coast of Spain under the coramand
of General the Duke of Ormond, a nobleman more
remarkable for generosity and personal bravery, than
for abihty as commander-in-chief of an army.
Information had been received in England that the
garrison of the city of Cadiz was weak in numbers, the
fortifications out of repair, and that the inhabitants
of that part of Spain were favourable to the house of
Austria. This fortress had been captured by a British
armaraent in the reign of Queen Elizabeth,f and, in the
anticipation of a similar result, an expedition was fitted
out, and the Queen's (now fourth) regiraent of foot em-
barkedj from Plymouth (mustering upwards of eight
hundred raen) to join in the enterprise.
When the fleet arrived on the Spanish coast, some
delay was occasioned by the Admiral, Sir George Rooke,
on pretence of seeking for inforraation ; but the troops
landed in the middle of August, and dispersed a body
of Spanish cavalry which was drawn up to oppose them,
on which occasion the grenadier company of this regi
ment was engaged.
After landing, the Queen's regiment took part in the
operations by which the capture of the towns of Rota and
* On the accession of Queen Anne, the eighth foot, which
had been designated the Princess Anne's regiment from the time
of its formation in 1685, obtained the title of the Queen's regi
ment, the Fourth also continued to be distinguished by the same
title; and during this reign two regiments were designated
Queens regiments.
t Vide the Historical Record of the Third Foot, or Buffs.
I The embarkation return of fhe regiment is preserved among
the Harleian MSS. No. 7025.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 29
Port St. Marys, and also Fort St. Catherine, was 1702
effected ; it also took part in the siege of the fort of Mata
gorda ; but the delay in landing had given the Spaniards
time to recover from their first surprise, and Cadiz was
found better prepared for resistance than was expected.
The expedition proving too weak for the capture of this
fortress, the troops retired to Rota, where they re-em
barked, and afterwards sailed for England.
Nothing gives rise to more painful feelings in the
breasts of British soldiers than the failure of an attempt
of this nature. Though their honour and fame were
untarnished, and their personal bravery had been con
spicuous throughout, yet their fondly cherished hopes
and sanguine expectations were blighted ; the palm of
victory and glory of conquest, which had appeared
almost within their grasp, had vanished, and they were
returning to England (where the anticipations of the
people had been incautiously heightened by paragraphs
in the Gazette expressive of the certainty of success)
without having achieved anything to answer the expec
tations of their sovereign and country. The remem
brance of their disappointraent, however, suddenly
vanished on the receipt of information of the arrival
of a Spanish fleet from the West Indies, under a French
convoy, at the harbour of Vigo in Gallicia. The prospect
of capturing this prize gave new life to the seamen and
troops, and the squadron immediately bent its course
thither. The French Admiral, M. Chateaurenaud, had placed
his shipping and the galleons within a narrow passage,
the entrance to which was defended by a castle on
one side, and by platforms raounted with cannon on
both sides of the river ; and a strong boom was laid
across the entrance. These obstructions, instead of

30 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1 702 daunting the British and Dutch, raised their energies
and gave new vigour to their movements. The fleet
passed Vigo under a heavy cannonade from the works,
and anchored within four miles of Rondendella. The
Duke of Ormond landed with two brigades, in one of
which was the Queen's regiment of foot, in a sandy bay
on the south side of the river, two leagues from Vigo ;
and captured the platforms and castle by storm in a
most intrepid and gallant manner ; while the fleet forced
the boom, and bore down upon the enemy's men-of-war
and galleons, which were all captured or destroyed. In
this brilliant enterprise the troops had only two officers
and forty men killed, and four officers and thirty men
wounded; among the latter was Colonel Seymour of
the Queen's regiment.
The Duke of Ormond took possession of the town of
Rondendella, and being inspired with confidence from
this success, he was desirous of capturing Vigo, and of
passing the winter with the troops in Spain, in order to
follow up the advantage he had acquired in the spring ;
but the admiral could only supply the troops with two
months' provision, and could not leave more than six
frigates on the coast ; the design was consequently laid
aside and the expedition returned to England with its
booty. Queen Anne went in state to St. Paul's cathedral
to return thanks for this success, and each of the regi
ments of infantry received £561. 10s. prize money.
1703 After its return to England, the regiment was again
stationed at Plymouth with four detached companies
in village cantonments ; a thirteenth company was added
to its establishment, and in the suraraer of 1703 the
nature of its services was changed, and it became a corps
of Marines.
A corps was raised for sea service by King Charles II.,

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 31
in 1664, and designated the admiral's regiment ; and 1703
during this reign battalions for sea service were formed
as the occasions of the state required, of drafts from the
land forces, and embarked on board the fleet. In 1689
King Williara III. incorporated the adrairal's regiment
in the second foot guards, and two marine regiments
were established for service on board the fleet. These
regiraents were disbanded in 1698; but on the breaking
out of the war of the Spanish succession, six regiraents
of marines were raised, and six regular regiraents of foot
were placed on the establishraent of the navy for sea
service.* In May, 1703, the Queen's regiment, com
manded by Colonel Seymour, was constituted a corps of
Marines ; and its colonel was appointed to the care and
comraand of Her Majesty's raarine forces.
The uniforra of the regiment underwent some altera
tion on this occasion, and the three-cornered cocked hats,
worn by the officers and raen, were replaced by high-
crowned leather caps, covered with cloth of the same
colour as the facing of the regiment, and ornamented
with devices, the same as the caps worn at this period
by the grenadiers, f
* The six regiments of marines were : —
Colonel Thomas Saunderson's ; now thirtieth foot.
Colonel George Villiers' ; now thirty-first foot.
Colonel Edward Fox's ; now thirty-second foot.
Colonel Harry Mordaunt's ; disbanded.
Colonel Henry Holt's ; disbanded.
Colonel Viscount Shannon's ; disbanded.
The six regiments of foot for sea service were : —
Colonel Ventris Columbine's ; now sixth foot.
Colonel Thomas Earl's ; now nineteenth foot.
Colonel Gustavus Hamilton's ; now twentieth foot.
Colonel Lord Lucas's; now thirty-fourth foot.
Colonel Earl of Donegal's ; now thirty-fifth foot.
Colonel Lord Charlemont's ; now thirty-sixth foot.
+ The grenadiers, on their institution in 1678, wore fur caps

32 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1703 The first service in which the Queen's (now fourth)
regiment was called upon to engage after it was consti
tuted a corps of Marines, was embarking on board the
fleet commanded by Admiral Sir George Rooke, for the
purpose of conducting to Portugal the Archduke
Charles of Austria, who had been acknowledged by the
British, Dutch, Imperial, and Portuguese governments as
sovereign of Spain by the title of Charles III., an
event which excited a lively interest at the time, and
from which most important results were anticipated.
His Catholic Majesty arrived at Portsmouth on the
26th of December, and was received by the fleet and
town with the honours paid to crowned heads ; after
visiting Queen Anne at Windsor, he went on board,
and put to sea, but was driven back by a storm.
1704 The fleet again set sail on the 12th of February, 1704,
arrived at Lisbon on the 25th of that month, and was
followed by transports having a British and Dutch force
on board under the command of Duke Schomberg, which
force was designed to assist King Charles in his atterapt
to gain the throne of Spain.
It was customary at this period to employ marines
occasionally in the field ; but this regiment did not land.
It remained on board the fleet, which, having put to sea,
proceeded to the city of Barcelona, and expecting the
Catalonians would declare in favour of King Charles III.
as soon as they should be assured of protection and
support, the governor was required to surrender ; but
he refused to receive the summons. Although the fleet
was not prepared to capture the place, yet a body of

with high crowns; these were soon afterwards replaced by
leather caps covered with cloth and ornamented with regimental
devices, which were continued until the adoption of bear skin
caps in the reign of George III.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 33
Marines was landed, and the town was bombarded. 1704
This producing no alteration in the governor's resolution,
and the people exhibiting no raarks of attachment to the
house of Austria, the Marines were re-embarked. The
British and Dutch squadron subsequently proceeded in
quest of the French fleet under the Count of Thoulouse,
and, although the latter had the advantage in point of
numbers and other particulars, yet the French admiral
avoided an engagement.
Being unable to force the enemy to fight, the British
and Dutch admirals resolved to make a sudden attempt
on Gibraltar, and the Queen's Regiment of Marines,
now the Fourth or King's Own Regiment of Foot,
had the proud distinction of taking part in the capture
of this stupendous fortress, a conquest from which the
kingdom has probably derived as much advantage as frora
any previous achievement of the British arms, and which
remains a monument of the national glory. The com
bined fleet arrived in the bay of Gibraltar on the 21st of
July ; a body of English and Dutch Marines were
landed on the neck of land northward of the town under
the orders of the Prince of Hesse d'Armstadt, to cut off
the communication of the garrison with the country, and
the governor was summoned to surrender the fortress for
His Catholic Majesty King Charles III. This being
refused, a heavy cannonade was opened on the 23d, by
which the Spaniards were driven from their guns at the
head of the south mole. The boats were manned, a
body of men from the fleet, climbing up the difficult
acclivity, with signal gallantry captured the fortifications
on the mole, but had two lieutenants and forty men
killed, and sixty wounded, by the explosion of a mine.
Another body of men landed, and, urged forward by their
innate valour and thirst for glory, captured a detached

34 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1704 bastion between the mole and the town ; and the gover
nor, having been again summoned, agreed to surrender
on condition of being permitted to march out with all
the honours of war. On taking possession of the fortress,
the searaen and Marines were astonished at their own
success ; and they viewed, with a mixed feeling of wonder
and delight, fortifications which a comparatively small
nuraber of raen might have defended against a numerous
army. The capture of Gibraltar gave rise to new
hopes and expectations to the friends of the house
of Austria, and it derived additional interest from the
fact that it preceded, but a very few days, the glorious
victory gained by the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim.
The loss of Gibraltar disconcerted the measures of
Philip II., and his grandfather Louis XIV. Eight thou
sand men, under the Marquis de Villadarias, were imme
diately detached from the Spanish army to retake the
fortress; and the French admiral received orders to
engage the British and Dutch fleet, and to co-operate in
the re-capture of Gibraltar.
At this period the French monarch possessed a naval
force of considerable magnitude, and his fleet under the
Count of Thoulouse exceeded in nurabers and power the
corabined British and Dutch squadron. The hostile
fleets engaged on the 24th of August, about eleven
leagues south of Malaga, and, after both sides had
suffered severely, they were separated in the night.
The Marquis de Villadarias, having been joined by
four thousand French from the fleet, coraraenced the
siege of Gibraltar on the 22d of October ; and part of
the Queen's Regiment of Marines, being in garrison,
had now the honour of defending that magnificent fortress
which they had so nobly assisted to capture. The garri
son was weak in numbers ; but Sir John Leake and

Landing of the British and Dutch troops at Gibraltar on the 21st Jaly, 1704. [To face paga 34, in 4tli Foot.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 35
Rear-admiral Vander Dussen arrived in the bay from 1704
Lisbon, with thirteen English and six Dutch men-of-war,
and, thus securing the besieged from an attack from the
sea, gave them an opportunity to direct all their energies
to the repulsing of the attacks frora the land side.
During the night of the llth of Noveraber, five
hundred of the eneray contrived, by means of rope-ladders
and other inventions, to ascend the mountain by a way
which was deemed impracticable, and were supported
by another body of three thousand raen. The raen
engaged in this daring enterprise were, however, soon
discovered, and were charged by five hundred of the
Marines in garrison with such resolution, that two
hundred of the enemy were killed on the spot, upwards
of two hundred were taken prisoners, and the reraainder,
endeavouring to escape, fell down the rock and were
dashed to pieces.
The fire of the enemy's batteries having damaged the
works, a body of men was landed from the fleet to assist
in the defence, and Brigadier-General Fox with several
other officers and a number of raen having been killed,
(Sth of December, 1704,) aid was solicited from the
army in Portugal. Meanwhile the enemy had made
several breaches, and the garrison was held in constant
readiness to resist an attack on the works by storra.
British courage and endurance were now sternly proved.
The governor, the Prince of Hesse d'Armstadt, spent his
days in the works, and the greatest part of every night
in the covered way, and his example produced so good
an effect, that the conduct of the troops exceeded all
expectation, and "The English Marines gained im-

Boyer's Annals of Queen Anne. D

36 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1704 within those already damaged, mines were prepared, and
every raeans used to give the French and Spaniards a
warm reception if they attempted to assault the fortress.
In the midst of these preparations the garrison was rein
forced by a battalion of foot guards, part of the English
regiments of Barrymore (thirteenth foot) and Donegal
(thirty-fifth foot), and of the Dutch regiment of Waes; and
during the night of the 22d of December, a body of raen
issued from the fortress in the dark, forced the Spanish
lines, routed a body of cavalry, levelled part of the
works, burnt the fascines and gabions, and retired with
little loss. The success which attended this display of
British intrepidity, with the discovery of a conspiracy
which several residents in the garrison had entered into
with the enemy, disconcerted the measures of the
besiegers and retarded their operations.
1705 The siege was, however, prosecuted with vigour, and
the Marquis of Villadarias, having received a considerable
reinforcement, attacked the round tower in the begin
ning of February, 1705. On this occasion a chosen band
of French grenadiers climbed the rock with hooks in
one hand and their swords in the other, but were re
pulsed with loss.
A second attempt was raade about four days after
wards. Six hundred select French and Walloon grena
diers, supported by a large body of Spaniards, ascended
the hill with great silence during the night, and concealed
theraselves in the cliffs and hollow grounds until day
break. When the night-guard had been withdrawn from
the breach near the round tower, they raade a sudden
rush at the wall, and with a shower of hand-grenades
drove the ordinary guard frora its post. At the same
tirae two hundred French grenadiers attacked the round
tower by storm. The troops in garrison were soon

THE FOURTH REGIiVIENT OF FOOT. 37
alarmed. Captain Fisher of the Queen's Regiment 1705
OF Marines, an oflScer of a most daring and heroic
spirit, charged the enemy at the head of seventeen men ;
but his small party was soon overpowered and himself
taken prisoner. Major Moncall, of Lord Barryraore's
regiment, rushed to the scene of the conflict at the head
of four hundred men, and being seconded by Colonel
Rivett of the foot guards, who had climbed the rock on
the right of the covered way with twenty grenadiers, he
charged the eneray sword in hand, retook the round
tower, and hberated Captain Fisher of the Queen's
Marines. Additional troops were brought forward, and
the French and Walloon grenadiers were chased frora
the works with the loss of more than half their numbers ;
but the gallant Captain Fisher, being foremost in the
pursuit, was again made prisoner.
The French and Spaniards continued their attempts
against this fortress with unavailing assiduity, until their
formidable army was half ruined, and towards the end
of March, 1705, they raised the siege, and retired.
" Arid thus," observes the author of the Annals of Queen
Anne, " the siege of that important place, after six
" months' toil and fruitless atterapts, was at last raised,
'' by the obstinate and valiant defence of our brave
" Englishmen f and the Queen's Marinp;s had their
share in the glory of this brilliant success. The irapor
tance of Gibraltar occasioned the siege to become a sub
ject of great interest throughout , Christendom, but
especially in England ; the result gave rise to the most
lively feelings of joy and exultation ; and the conduct of
the British troops was the subject of merited coraraen
dation. In the subsequent actions during this war, the regi
ments of Marines gained additional honour. They had

38 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1705 their share of the glory acquired in the capture of Bar
celona in the autumn of 1705, and in the gallant defence
1706 of that city in 1706; they fought at the unfortunate
1707 battle of Almanza in 1707 ; took part in the capture and
defence of several fortified towns in Spain, and in the
1708 capture of the island of Minorca in 1708. In some of
these services, detachments of the Queen's Marines were
probably engaged; but, after the defence of Gibraltar,
the regiment appears to have been employed, generally,
on board the fleet.
Six companies of the regiment, having landed from on
1709 board the fleet, were stationed, during the winter of 1709,
in Devonshire, and after reposing a few months in quar-
1710 ters, were removed, in March, 1710, to garrison duty at
Plyraouth. In July of the sarae year, the other seven
companies, having arrived at Spithead, landed on the
Isle of Wight, where they encamped until September,
and afterwards proceeded to Portsmouth.
About this period the regiment was removed from the
establishment of the navy, its title of Marines was dis
continued, and it resumed its station among the regular
regiments of infantry ; it was, however, included in the
estimate for 1711, in the list of regiments for sea-service ;
but this did not prevent its being eraployed on other
duties.
1711 In January, 1711, the six companies at Plymouth
having been relieved by Colonel Andrew Windsor's
(now twenty-eighth) regiment, marched to Portsmouth ;
and on the 23d of that month the regiment received
orders to hold itself in readiness to proceed to Portugal ;
but its destination was soon afterwards changed.
During the nine years which this war had been raging
in Europe, British blood and treasure had been expended
in making conquests for the house of Austria. The only

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 39
advantage which had accrued to Great Britain was, that 1711
the power of the house of Bourbon had been diminished
and that of Austria augmented: even Gibraltar and
Minorca, though subsequently ceded to Great Britain,
had been captured for the house of Austria. The new
ministry chosen by Queen Anne in 1710 resolved to act
upon a different principle. Colonel Nicholson having
made a successful attack on Port Royal in Nova
Scotia, on his return to England he submitted to the
government a plan for the reduction of Placentia and
Quebec, as a preparatory measure in order to secure
Canada to the British Crown, to drive the French out
of Newfoundland, and regain the fishery.
Canada is stated to have been discovered by the famous
Italian adventurer, Sebastian Cabot, who sailed under
a commission from Henry VIL, and as the English
monarch did not make any use of the discovery, the French
soon attempted to derive advantage from it. Several
small settlements were established, and in the early part
of the seventeenth century the city of Quebec was
founded for the capital of the French possessions in this
part of the world. Although the colony continued in a
very depressed state for some time, and the settlers were
often in danger of being exterminated by the Indians,
yet, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, it had
become of such importance, that its capture was consi
dered one of the best means of weakening the power of
the ambitious Louis XIV. An expedition was placed
under the orders of Brigadier-General Hill, with a
naval force under Commodore Sir Hovenden Walker ;
and the Queen's regiraent was selected to take part in
this enterprise. On arriving at North America the fleet
called at Boston for a supply of provisions, and the troops
landed and encaraped a short time on Rhode Island ;

40 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1711 but on the 20th of July they re- embarked, and, having
been joined by two regiraents of provincial troops, sailed
on the intended expedition.
While the brave men who adopt the profession of
arms are engaged in the service of their sovereign and
country, they are exposed to nuraerous dangers ;
their hopes of conquest and prospects of fame are often
suddenly terrainated by adverse fortune, and sucb
was the case in the expedition to Quebec. As the fleet
was proceeding up the river St. Lawrence, it became
enveloped in a thick fog, and encountered a severe gale
of wind ; and the veterans who had fought the battles
of their country found themselves in the dangerous
navigation of this immense river, in a dark and stormy
night, with inexperienced raen collected on a sudden to
act as pilots. Eight transports crowded with men were
dashed upon the rocks, and a number of officers and
soldiers, who but a few hours before had meditated
scenes of conquest, victory, and glory, were entombed in
the deep. At the head of the list of officers and men
lost by the regiment which forras the subject of this
meraoir, is Major Fisher,'' who is probably the same
officer who displayed such heroism in the defence of
Gibraltar. The other officers lost by the Queen's regi
ment were, — Brevet Major Walker ; Captains Stringer
and Bush; Captain-Lieutenant L'Hulle ; Ensigns Hyde
Hawker, Richardson, and Loggan ; Quartermaster
Redix; and Surgeon Jones; with ten seijeants, eigh
teen corporals, thirteen drummers, one hundred and
sixty-seven private soldiers, and twenty woraen. This
laraentable disaster occasioned all thoughts of prosecuting

* In some accounts this officer's name is stated to be Fish, in
others Fisher.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 41
the enterprise to be laid aside. The fleet returned to 1711
England, and the Queen's regiment, having landed at
Portsraouth on the 10th of October, marched into dis
persed quarters in Hampshire, and coraraenced recruiting
its diminished numbers.*
In the auturan of 1712 the regiraent was reraoved 1712
from country quarters to garrison duty at Portsraouth
and Plymouth, where it passed the succeeding year.
From Portsmouth the regiment proceeded in Sep
tember, 1713, to the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and 1713
Scilly, with two companies at the town of Pendennis. A
treaty of peace having been concluded at Utrecht, its
establishraent was reduced to ten companies of three offi
cers, two Serjeants, two corporals, one drummer, and
thirty-six private men, each ; but after several of the
newly-raised corps had been disbanded, its numbers
were augmented to forty private men per company.
While the regiment occupied these stations Her Ma- 1714
jesty Queen Anne died, and was succeeded by King
George I., on the 1st of August, 1714,
In the autumn of 1715 the regiment was withdrawn 1715
from the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and Scilly, and
proceeded to the town of Windsor, and the adjacent

* The following regiments were employed on this expedi
tion, viz. : —
Kirke's regiment, now second foot.
The Queen's ,, „ fourth foot.
Hill's „ „ eleventh foot.
Desney's „ „ thirty-sixth foot.
Windress's „ „ thirty-seventh foot.
Clayton's „ disbanded in 1712.
Kane's „ „ 1713.
Churchill's Marines „
Walton's I North American militia, joined the expedition
Vetch's I at Boston.

42 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1715 villages; and for several months it furnished the guard
at Windsor Castle. While on this duty His Majesty
was graciously pleased to confer upon it the title of The
King's Own, an honorary distinction which it has con
tinued to bear to the present time. The regiment occu
pied these quarters during the rebellion of the Earl of
1716 Mar, and in July, 1716, marched into garrison at Ports
mouth.
1717 The regiment remained at Portsmouth untilMay,1717,
when it proceeded to Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of
Wight ; with two companies detached, one to Windsor,
and one to Hampton Court. These corapanies were,
however, relieved frora duty at the residence of their
Sovereign in November, by the foot guards, and joined
the head-quarters at Jersey in the same month.
Lieut.-General William Seymour, after commanding
the regiment nearly sixteen years, was succeeded by
Colonel the Hon. Henry Berkeley, third son of Charles
second Earl of Berkeley, by a commission dated the 25th
of December, 1717.
1718 The King's Own remained at the islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, and the Isle of Wight during the succeeding
1719 year, and in the spring of 1719 they were removed to
Plyraouth. While at this station, their Colonel, the
Hon. Henry Berkeley, was reraoved to the second, or
Scots, troop of horse grenadier guards; and was suc
ceeded by the Hon. Charles Cadogan, afterwards Lord
Cadogan, Baron of Oakley, by commission dated the 21st
of April, 1719.
In June of the same year the regiment was removed
from garrison duty at Plymouth, and marched to Exeter ;
. -2Q and it occupied various stations in the south and west of
1721 England until the summer of 1722, when, the govern-
1722 nient having received information that the friends of the

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 43
Stuart dynasty were conspiring to effect the elevation of 1722
the Pretender to the throne, it formed part of a body of
troops encamped on Salisbury Plain, to be in readiness
to act on any emergency. It was reviewed with the other
forces encamped on the plain, by King George I. and
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (afterwards
George II.) on the SOth of August, and in September
struck its tents and marched into quarters at Exeter.
In the following summer the King's Own were en- 1723
camped near Newbury ; and in 1724 they occupied 1724
quarters at Newbury and Reading ; from whence they
occasionally furnished detachments for duty at Windsor
Castle and Hampton Court Palace. In the suraraer of
1725 they marched to Berwick, and frora thence pro- 1725
ceeded to Perth, and were placed under the orders of
the commander-in-chief in North Britain.
Returning to England in 1731, the regiment was 1731
stationed that year at Bristol : from whence it marched
in July, 1732, to Exeter. In 1738, and the two succeed- 1732
ing years, it furnished detachments on coast duty in 1733
Sussex, and also in Cornwall.
In the summer of 1734 Lord Cadogan was removed 1734
from the King's Own\ to the sixth or Inniskilling regi
ment of dragoons, and was succeeded by Brigadier-
General William Barrell from the twenty-second regiment
of foot, by commission dated the Sth of August, 1734.
Having called in its detachments, the regiment marched
to the north of England in May, 1736 ; and after halting i73(>
two months at Newcastle and Durham, proceeded to
Edinburgh ; but returned to England in July, 1737, and 1737
was stationed at York.
The regiment continued to be employed on home
service : its establishment in this year was seven hundred
and five officers and men ; and in 1739 it was augmented 1739

44 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1739 to eight hundred and fifteen officers and men ; at which
number it continued until after the decease of Charles
1740 VI., Emperor of Germany, in 1740, when a war broke out
between the Archduchess Maria Theresa and the Elector
of Bavaria, respecting the kingdoms of Bohemia and
Hungaria, and England became involved in the contest.
During the suraraer of that year the regiraent was en
camped near Newbury, and in the autumn marched into
quarters in Lancashire and Cheshire.
1741 France took part with the Elector of Bavaria, and
1742 Great Britain with the house of Austria, and in 1742 a
British army proceeded to Flanders ; but the King's
1744 Own were eraployed on home service until June, 1744,
when they erabarked for Flanders, and joined the allied
army at its camp near the banks of the Scheldt. The
regiment served the campaign of this year under Field-
Marshal Wade, and was employed in several operations ;
but no general engagement occurred, and it had no
opportunity of distinguishing itself
1745 In the following year, when the French besieged
Tournay, and the allied army commanded by His Royal
Highness the Duke of Cumberland advanced to the
relief of the town, the King's Own were left in garrison
at Ghent, and were consequently not at the battle of
Fontenoy. The Duke of Cumberland, having failed in
his atterapt to relieve Tournay, retreated ; and the King's
Own were relieved by one of the regiments which suffered
severely at Fontenoy, and joined the army at its camp
on the plains of Lessines on the 21st of May.
The King's Own remained in Flanders until the
rebellion broke out in Scotland, and Charles Edward,
eldest son of the Pretender, advanced at the head of
several highland clans and captured Edinburgh. The
regiment was then ordered to return to England, and it

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 45
formed part of the array under the veteran Field-Marshal 1745
Wade, which was assembled in Yorkshire.
When the young Pretender and his adherents pene
trated into England, this regiment was employed in
covering Yorkshire, and, after the retreat of the rebel
army from Derby, the regiment marched in pursuit of
the enemy towards Scotland, and arrived at Newcastle-
on-Tyne on the 26th of December.
The King's Own were afterwards ordered to march to 1746
Edinburgh, where they arrived on the 10th of January,
1746, and the appearance of the royal forces at that city
was hailed with illuminations and public rejoicings.
The rebels undertook the siege of Stirling Castle, and
a detached party of Highlanders under Lord George
Murray advanced to Linlithgow, from whence they
were driven on the 13th of January by a body of troops
under Major-General Huske. On the following day the
Buffs, King's Own, and Pulteney's (now thirteenth)
regiment, advanced to Barrowstownness ; and on the 16th,
these troops having pitched their tents near Falkirk,
were joined by the remainder of the army under Lieut.-
General Hawley.
On the 17th of January, as the King's troops were
at dinner in the camp, the advance of the enemy was
discovered ; the royal forces seized their arms, and
proceeded along some rugged and difficult grounds to a
large moor, where the rebel array appeared in order of
battle. Success or failure in the hour of battle has sometimes
been found to depend upon accidental circumstances
over which the commanders of armies have no control.
Such was the case at the battle of Falkirk, where a
tempest of wind and rain beat so violently in the faces

46 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1746 of the royal forces at the moment when they engaged
their adversaries, that the ammunition was spoiled in the
act of loading ; the soldiers could not see their opponents,
and several regiments gave way. The King's Own,
however, evinced the same valour and intrepidity which
were so successfully displayed at the fortress of Gibraltar ;
they were formed in brigade with Price's (now four
teenth) regiment under the orders of Brigadier-General
Cholmondeley, and these two corps withstood the fury
of the charging Highland host with a firmness which
redounded to their honour. * Having been joined by the
Royals, Buffs, and Ligonier's (now forty-eighth), these
five regiments repulsed one wing of the rebel army,
and continued on the field of battle until night, when
they returned to the camp, and subsequently proceeded
to Edinburgh.
The King's Own formed part of the army under His
Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland which advanced
from Edinburgh, on the 31st of January, towards Stirling;
when the Highlanders made a precipitate retreat. The
royal forces followed in pursuit, but were delayed in
their advance by severe weather. The King's Own
formed part of the advance-guard under Major-General
Bland which proceeded to Inverary on the 12th of
March, and on the 17th advanced towards Strathsbogie
to attack a thousand rebel foot and sixty hussars, posted
at that place under Roy Stewart ; but the eneray fled on
the approach of the King's troops, and were pursued for
* " The behaviour of the officers in general was very brave,
" nor are some regiments unworthy of great praise ; viz., Barrell's
" (King's Own), Price's, and some others."— General Advertiser.
" The regiments which distinguished themselves were Barrell's
" (King's Own) and Ligonier's foot." — Ibid.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 47
several miles: the Marquis of Granby, Colonel Conway, 1746
Captain Holden, and several other officers, displayed
their zeal for the royal cause by the spirited manner in
which they pursued the Highlanders.
On the 12th of April the array crossed the river Spey,
and on the 16th of that month the King's Own were en
gaged in the action with the rebels on Culloden Moor. The
regiment was posted on the left of the front line of the
royal army. After a sharp cannonade several select clans
of mountaineers sprang forward, and with shouts and
disraal yells attacked the King's forces sword in hand.
This regiment had to bear the brunt of the furious onset
of the clans : for a moment it was disordered by the
weight of the attacking column, and the men stag
gered ; but only for a moment : two battalions advanced
to sustain them, and recovering, they rushed upon their
kilted adversaries with a resolution and valour which
proved they were not unworthy of their distinguished
title of the King's Own. A furious conflict ensued ;
the Highlanders with their swords and targets were
unable to withstand the ruthless charge of the royal forces ;
the carnage was dreadful, and the ground was literally
covered with slaughtered rebels.* A decisive victory

* " General Barrell's regiment (the King's Own) gained the
" greatest reputation imaginable at the late engagement, the
" best of the clans having inade their strongest efPorts to break
" them, but without effect ; for the old Tangiereenes bravely
" repulsed those boasters with a dreadful slaughter, and con-
•' vinced them that their broad sword and target are unequal to
" the musket and bayonet when in the hands of veterans who
" are determined to use them. After the battle there was not a
" bayonet of this regiment but was either bloody or bent."
" The battle was so desperate that the soldiers' bayonets were
" stained with blood to the muzzles of their musquets."
" There was scarce an officer or soldier of Barrell's (King's

48 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1746 was gained ; and the rebellion was effectually suppressed.
When the news of this event reached England, the
nation was transported with joy ; both houses of parlia
raent addressed His Majesty on the subject, and passed
a vote of thanks to the Duke of Cumberland and the
brave troops who had fought under his orders.
The regiment lost in this action Captain Lord Robert
Kerr and seventeen men killed ; and had Lieut.-Colonel
Rich, Captain Homer, Lieutenant Edmonds, Ensigns
Campbell and Brown, and one hundred and eight non-
comraissioned officers and private raen, wounded.
After halting a short time at Inverness, the army
advanced into the highlands, and encamped in the gloomy
valley surrounded by rugged precipices near Fort
Augustus, from whence detachments were sent out to
search for arms, and for persons who had been engaged
in the rebellion, and also to execute sumraary punishment
on the guilty clans. This regiment afterwards marched
1747 back to Stirling; and it was eraployed in horae duties
for a period of eight years.
1749 Lieut-General Barrell died on the 9th of August, 1749 ;
and King George II. conferred the colonelcy of the regi
raent on the lieut.-colonel, Robert Rich, who highly
distinguished himself at the battle of Culloden, where he
was wounded.
1751 In 1751 a warrant was issued regulating the clothing and
colours of the regiments of the line. In this warrant the
regiment is styled the " Fourth, or the King's Own
Royal Regiment ;" and the facing is directed to be
blue ; the King's Own are also authorized to bear —

" Own) and that part of Munro's (now thirty-seventh) which
" engaged, who did not kill one or two men each with their
" bayonets," &c. — Particulars of the Battle of Culloden published
at the time.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 49
" In the centre of their colours the King's cipher on 1751
" a red ground within the garter, and crown over it ; in
" the three corners of their second colour the Lion of
" England,* being their ancient badge.
" On the grenadier caps the King's cypher, as on the
" colours, and crown over it ; white horse and motto on
" the flap.
" The drums and bells of arras to have the King's
" cypher painted on them, in the sarae manner, and the
" rank of the regiment underneath."
The regiment remained in Great Britain until the year 1754
1754, when it proceeded to the island of Minorca to
relieve the thirty-third regiment, which returned to
England. The island of Minorca, at which the King's Own were
stationed, and where they were eventually called upon to
jierform most arduous and trying services, is the second
of the Balearic islands, situated in the Mediterranean
near the coast of Spain. This island had fallen succes
sively under the dominion of the Carthaginians, the
Romans, the Vandals, the Moors, the Arragonese, and
the Castilians, and in 1708 it was captured by the British
for the house of Austria ; but at the peace of Utrecht,

* The exact time when the regiment obtained the Lion
OF England for its badge has not been ascertained. A tradition
has long existed in the corps that it was conferred by King Wil
liam IIL, in consequence of its being the flrst corps which joined
him after he landed at Torbay, in November, 1688 ; but on
searching the details of the events which occurred at that period,
it appears that this was not the first regiment which joined his
Majesty ; that only the colonel, lieut.-colonel, a few other officers,
and about thirty soldiers, joined King William; and that the
regiment adhered to King James until he vacated the throne.
It is probable, however, that this distinguished badge was con
ferred by King WiUiam III. for the attachment which the regi
ment evinced to his person and government and to the protestant

50 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1754 when the Austrian family was excluded from the throne
of Spain, it was ceded to Great Britain ; it had remained
a part of the possessions of the British crown, and was
garrisoned by a company of artillery and four regiments
of foot. In this small island, which is diversified with
hills and valleys, and in some parts rich in vegetation and
abounding with the necessaries and many of the luxuries
1755 of life, the King's Own passed two years, during which
1756 time a dispute between the governments of France and
England, respecting the extent of their possessions in
North America, had occasioned a war between the two
kingdoms, and in the early part of 1 756 the French
made preparations at Toulon and Marseilles for the
capture of Minorca.
At this period the King's Own occupied extensive
quarters in the several towns on the island, and their
regimental head-quarters were at Ciudadella. the capital.
The other corps were at Port-Mahon, which is stated to
be one of the finest harbours in the world, and at Fort
St. Philip ; and the brave Lieut.-General Blakeney was
lieut. -governor and commander-in-chief on the island.
The regiments on the island were not discouraged at the
preparations making in France ; on the contrary, an
officer, in a letter published at the time, observed, — " Our
" spirits are so good, our garrison so hearty, and our
" supplies so ample, that if our works do not defend us,
" and we defend our works until we can be relieved by a
" strong hand, we deserve to be buried in their ruins."
The French armament, commanded by Marshal Duke
de Richelieu, arrived at Minorca in the middle of April,
and effected a landing at Ciudadella on the 18th of that
month ; and as no part of the island was fortified to resist
so powerful a force, excepting Fort St. Philip, situate
on a rocky promontory at the entrance to the harbour of
Port Mahon, the King's Own were withdrawn from the

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 5]
interior, and eft'ected their retreat to the fort with the 1756
loss of one corporal taken prisoner by the enemy.
Preparations were made for a vigorous defence of the
fort, and the French commander encountered so gallant
and determined a resistance, that he was obliged to send
for additional forces. The perseverance and endurance
of the garrison became the subject of much admiration,
and the vigilance and bravery of the officers inspired
the troops with confidence. On the 19th of May the
British fleet was descried bearing towards the island,
and the men having become much exhausted by hard
duty, looked forward for the expected relief with anxiety ;
but were disappointed : Admiral Byng, after skirmishing
with the French squadron, retired, and was afterwards
brought to trial for his conduct and shot. Lieut.-General
Thoraas Fowke, then commanding at Gibraltar, was also
brought to trial for not sending a reinforcement from that
garrison to Minorca, and was sentenced to be suspended
frora his appointment for one year. King George II.
confirmed the sentence, but directed Lieut.-General
Fowke to be dismissed from the service.
Although abandoned to their fate, Lieut.-General
Blakeney and the four regiments under his orders de
fended their post with great gallantry ; the men were
nearly worn out with incessant duty and watching, so
that they frequently fell asleep under a heavy cannonade ;
yet they persevered with astonishing resolution. About
midnight on the 27th of June, a general assault was
made at several different points ; the garrison met the
assailants with great courage, and repulsed them several
times with much slaughter; raany of the sick and
wounded men came out of the hospital to join in the
defence. Though repulsed at several points, the enemy,
after much hard fighting, gained three of the out-works.
Upon this subject a military historian observes, — " So
e 2

52

HISTORICAL RECORD OF

1756 " many attacks made at one time against so small a body
" of men, who had such a variety of works to defend, it
" is rather a matter of surprise that the enemy were
" repulsed at so many, aud succeeded at so few places."*
On the following day conditions of capitulation were
tendered. " Thus did four regiments, and one company
" of artillery, maintain the fort against such numbers of
" the enemy by sea and land for such a length of time
" as can, perhaps, scarcely be paralleled in history. The
" terms on which the fort was at last surrendered by a
" handful of men, so distressed, ; so shattered, and so
" neglected, reraain a lasting raonument to their honour." j
* Beatson's Naval and Military Memoirs.
t Return of regiments in garrison at Minorca, 1 756 —

Corps.

Strength at the

Loss.

commencement of
the siege.

During
the siege.

At the
general assault.

i
5E O

i
en

&S
o

a

J

-a3

¦a11

¦a

•a1

11

Fourth, or King's Own
Twenty-third, or Royal
Welsh Fusileers . .
Twenty-fourth Regiment
Thirty-fourth Regiment
Total ....

25 24 2526

28
24 23 29

27 262729

1817 16 19

616 615623 650

14 19 6
12

68
83 6177

8 769

79 1

7 77
3

100

104

109

70

2504

51

289

30

17

24

Officers Killed.
Fourth, or Kings Own, — Lieut. Whitehead.
Thirty-fourth regiment, — Captain Hobby.
„ „ Lieut. Armstrong.
Officers Wounded.
Twenty-third regiment, — Lieut. Young.
Twenty-fourth regiment,— Major Godfrey.
„ „ Lieut. Francis.
Thirty-fourth regiment, — Capt. Sir Hugh Williams.
Engineer, — Major Cunningham.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 53
The following is an extract from the articles of capitu- 1756
lation. " The noble and vigorous defence which the English
'¦' have made, having deserved all the marks of esteem and
" veneration which every military man ought to show to
*' such actions, and Marshal Richelieu, being desirous
" also to show to General Blakeney the regard due to
" the defence he has made, grants to the garrison all the
" honours of war they can enjoy under the circumstances
" of going out for an embarkation ; to wit, firelock on
" their shoulders, drums beating, colours flying, twenty
" cartridges each man, and also lighted match. He
" consents also that General Blakeney and his garrison
" carry away all the effects that belong to thera."
During the period the King's Own were engaged in
the defence of Fort St. Philip, the colonelcy of the regi
raent was conferred on Alexander Diiroure from the
thirty-eighth regiment, by commission dated the 12th
of May, 1756.
The regiment embarked from Minorca immediately
after the surrender of Fort St. Philip, and proceeded to
Gibraltar, where it remained a few weeks, and subse
quently embarked for England. It landed at Torbay in
Noveraber, and immediately on its arrival it was aug
mented to two battalions.
On the 21st of April, 1758, the second battalion 1758
of the King's Own was constituted the Sixty-second
Regiment, under the coraraand of Colonel Wilham
Strode. The war with France being continued, an armament
was fitted out in the autumn of 1758 for the attack of
the French settlements in the West Indies ; the King's
Own were selected to take part in this service, and em
barked nine hundred strong under the command of
Lieut.-Colonel Crump, an officer of distinguished merit.

54 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1758 whose services proved of great value to his king and
country : the land forces were under the orders of Major-
General Hopson, and the navy under Captain Hughes.
This expedition sailed from England in November,
and arrived at Carlisle bay in the island of Barbadoes in
the beginning of the following year.
1759 In the middle of January, 1759, the fleet arrived off
the French island of Martinico, and a landing was
effected between the bay of Cas des Navieres and Point
Negro ; but numerous difficulties were experienced ; the
enemy had ten thousand men, including the railitia, to
oppose an invading army of about four thousand five
hundred men, and the nature of the ground facihtated
the defence.
On the 17th of January, the grenadiers, under the
command of Colonel Crump of the King's Own, attacked
a large body of the enemy, who retired into a thick wood,
from whence the colonel could not force them. The sixty-
first regiraent (late second battalion of the third foot)
advanced to support the grenadiers ; but the trees and
bushes afforded such excellent cover, that after repeated
attempts, it was found impracticable to dislodge the
enemy- The numerous obstructions occasioned the King's
Own and other corps to be re-embarked ; and the fleet
subsequently bent its course to Guadaloupe, one of the
Caribbee or Leeward islands, settled by the French in
1635. Basse Terre, the capital of the island, with the
batteries near the shore, having been destroyed by the
fleet, the King's Own and other troops landed on
the 24th of January : the French governor, M. Nadan
D'Etreil, abandoned the citadel, and trusting to the
natural strength of the country and the unwhole-
someness of the climate, retired to the mountains, and
summoned the militia of the island, with all the settlers

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 55
and their armed negroes, to join him. An irregular 1759
warfare of detachments followed, in which the British
troops were usually victorious ; but they purchased every
advantage at an immense sacrifice of life. At length
Major-General Hopson died, and the command devolved
on Major-General Barrington, who embarked the troops
on board of transports, (excepting the sixty -third regi
ment, late second battalion of the eighth foot, and a
detachment of artillery left in garrison,) to attack other
parts of the island.
Colonel Crump of the King's Own landed, and took
aS'^. Anne and St. Francois, and reduced both towns to
ashes; and the strong post of Gosier was carried by
another part of the army.
The King's Own having afterwards re-embarked, were
detached, with other forces, under the comraand of
Brigadier-Generals Clavering and Crurap, to a bay near
Arnonville, where they landed without opposition ; the
enemy retiring to a very strong position behind the river
Le Corn. This post covered the whole country to Bay
Mahaut, where provisions were landed for the inhabitants
from St. Eustatia, and it was strengthened by every
means the enemy could devise, though its situation was
such as to require little assistance from art. The river,
on account of a morass covered with mangroves, was
only accessible at two narrow passes, and those places
were occupied with a redoubt, and well-pallisadoed
entrenchments, defended with cannon, and all the militia
of that part of the island.
The KiNft's Own, and a battalion of Highlanders,
advanced to attack this difficult post with coolness and
resolution, and the intrepid bearing of the two corps
intimidated the enemy, who abandoned the first entrench
ment after a few vollies ; the Highlanders and part of
the King's Own rushed forward aud chased their adver-

56 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1759 saries into the redoubt, and the post was eventually
carried. The King's Own, and Highlanders, afterwards
advanced against another fortified post at Petit Bourg ;
the enemy kept about two hundred yards in front, and
setting fire to the sugar canes, obliged the troops occa
sionally to leave the road to avoid accidents to their
ammunition. Arriving at the river Lezard, the enemy
was found strongly entrenched behind the ford ; but the
troops having procured two canoes, a body of men passed
the river in the night, and advanced at daybreak to
attack the enemy in flank, while the remainder prepared
to attack the front, and the enemy instantly fled in dismay.
Pursuing their adversaries to Petit Bourg, the King's
Own there encountered fortified lines, and a redoubt
filled with cannon ; but the regiment diverging to the
right and left to gain the heights round the lines, the
enemy fled from the post.
Two days afterwards the lieut.-colonel of the King's
Own was detached with seven hundred men against Bay
Mahaut, and he took the batteries and town, which he
reduced to ashes, and rejoined the division on the follow
ing day.
From Petit Bourg the King's Own advanced with
their division against St. Maries, where the eneray had
collected their whole force, and had thrown up entrench
ments and constructed barricades on the road ; but from
these works the British troops forced their opponents
to retire, and also from the town ; and the array entered
a part of the island said to be the most rich and beautiful
of any part of the West Indies.
The inhabitants, being convinced of the superior
bravery and discipline of the British troops, and seeing
the best part of their country on the point of being given
up to fire and sword, capitulated, and their possessions.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 57
with their civil and religious privileges, were granted 1759
thera. Thus this valuable island came into the possession of
the British crown in May, 1759; and throughout these
arduous and trying services the King's Own and other
corps forming the expedition, evinced all the qualities of
good soldiers. The comraanding officer of the King's
Own signalized himself on various occasions, and was
appointed governor of the island ; his conduct, which
reflected honour on his corps, is thus spoken of by Major-
General Barrymore in his public despatch.
" I have appointed Colonel Crump to the government,
" who, since governor Haldane left us, I have made act
" as a brigadier ; his raerit is very great, both as a soldier
" and a man of judgment; he is of this part of the
" world ; understands the trade, custoras, and genius of
" the people ; and as he thinks nobly and disinterestedly,
" he would not have accepted of the government, but in
" hopes of advancing himself in the army by that means.
" I cannot express how very useful he has proved, and
" how ranch our successes are owing to his good conduct
" and great zeal."
After the reduction of Guadaloupe the regiment was 1760
stationed at that island ; and in 1761 a detachment was 1761
employed under Colonel Lord Rollo in the capture of
Dominico. The troops landed on the 6th of June on
the beach near Roseau, under cover of the guns of the
fleet, and while part of the army took possession of the
town, the grenadier companies of the King's Own and
twenty-second regiments seized a flanking battery and
part of an adjoining entrenchment. During the night
the grenadiers, supported by the battalion companies,
stormed and carried with the bayonet the entrenchments
on the heights above the town, and took the governor
and several of the principal inhabitants prisoners. The

58 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1761 whole island immediately submitted; and Captain Robert
Douglas of the King's Own was the bearer of the news
of this conquest to England. The detachment of this
regiment afterwards returned to Guadaloupe.
1762 The British government having resolved to make a
powerful attack upon such of the West India islands as
still remained subject to the French monarch, four
corapanies of the King's Own were selected to take part
in the enterprise, and proceeded for this purpose from
Guadaloupe to the general rendezvous of the expedition
at Barbadoes ; where the several corps were assembled
under the orders of Major-General Monckton. The
armament sailed from Carlisle bay on the 5th of January,
1762, and another attack was made on Martinico, which
place was settled by the French about the year 1635.
This island is extremely raountainous in the centre, from
whence issue numerous streams of water, which, in the
hurricane mouths, are swelled to violent torrents ; these
have, in their way to the sea, worn deep channels, so that
the country is intersected with a great number of deep
ravines, with steep rocky sides, having water running at the
bottom ; and these ravines are rendered difficult to pass
frora the number of stones which the torrents have rolled
from the sides of the mountains. Thus, in attacking the
island, difficulties almost insurmountable are met with in
transporting cannon, ammunition, and stores across the
country. With these obstructions the array had to
contend ; but they were overcome by British skill, disci
pline and valour.
After several attempts on other parts of the island,
a landing was effected on the 16th of January in Cas
des Navieres bay, and the troops pitched their tents on the
heights above the landing place. Advancing from thence
through a country fortifled by nature, an attack was made
on the heights of Morne Tortenson on the 24th of

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 59
January, and the four companies of the King's Own had 1762
the glory of taking part in the capture of these for
midable works; also in the capture of Morne Gamier on
the 27th of that month ; and in the reduction of the
citadel of Fort Royal, which surrendered on the 4th of
February : these captures were followed by the surrender
of the opulent city of St. Pierre, and the subraission of
the whole island to the British crown.
The capture of Martinico was succeeded by that of
Grenada, St. Lucie, and St. Vincent ; and the acqui
sition of these islands gave additional honour to the
expedition of which the four companies of the King's
Own formed part.
These achievements were followed by another enter
prize of a most important character, in which a detach
ment of the King's Own had the honour to share ;
namely, the reduction of the Havannah, a wealthy and
important city in the island of Cuba.
The island of Cuba was first discovered by the cele
brated Columbus, but was not conquered by the Spaniards
until the early part of the sixteenth century, from which
period it had continued rising in wealth and importance.
St. Jago was the capital ; but the city of Havannah held
the first place in point of wealth and commerce. During
the early part of this war, Spain had continued neutral ;
but in 1762 His Catholic Majesty united his interests
with France, and war was declared between Great
Britain and Spain. This was immediately followed by
a resolution of the British government to attack the im
portant city of Havannah, and an expedition was pre
pared for this purpose under the orders of General the
Earl of Albemarle.
On this occasion the King's Own were left in garrison
at Guadaloupe, excepting a detachment of two hundred
and twenty-five raen under the command of Captain Ken-

60 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1762 nedy, which joined the expedition at Martinico, and
formed part of Brigadier-General Grant's brigade. In
the landing five leagues eastward of the Havannah on the
6th of June, in the advance upon the city, in the siege
and capture of the Moro Fort, and in the other opera
tions by which the final reduction of this wealthy settle
ment was accomplished, and twelve men-of-war captured
in the harbour, the detachraent of the King's Own had
the honour to take part. The loss of the detachraent on
this service, including the killed and those who died from
fatigue and the effects of climate, was two officers and
twenty-four men.
After the completion of this conquest, the detachment
returned to Guadaloupe, and the regiment remained
in the Leeward Islands until the peace of Fontain-
1763 bleau, when these acquisitions were restored to the French
and Spanish monarchs.
1764 In the spring of 1764 the regiment quitted the West
Indies, arrived in England in July of that year, and
commenced recruiting its diminished nurabers,
1765 After the decease of Lieut.-General Duroure, King
George III. conferred, on the 23d of January, 1765,
the colonelcy of the regiraent on the Hon. Robert Bru
denell, from the sixteenth foot ; who was succeeded, on
1768 the 7th of November, 1768, by Lieut.-General Stud-
holme Hodgson, from the fifth foot.
In 1768, the King's Own proceeded to Scotland,
where they were stationed during the four succeeding
1773 years, but returned to England in the spring of 1773,
1774 and remained on home service until the following year,
when they were again ordered to hold themselves in
readiness to proceed abroad.
The war in which the regiment was about to engage
was of a most iraportant character, involving the desti
nies of millions, and was followed by the construction

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 61
of a new and powerful state in the world. As the popu- 1774
lation of the British North Araerican colonies increased,
and the inhabitants beheld their own rising power and
importance, the idea of their country eventually be
coming a great and independent erapire would doubtless
frequently occur ; and while contemplating such an
event, men would naturally become impatient of their
condition : hence the dehght produced by the anticipa
tion of future greatness would prepare the minds of men
for a change. That these states should become inde
pendent so early as the eighteenth century could, how
ever, scarcely have been expected ; but this event was
hastened by the system of policy pursued towards the
colonies by the British governraent, which alienated the
affections of the inhabitants from the mother country.
The disputes which resulted frora these proceedings, and
the spirit which the colonists evinced to resist the acts of
the British parliaraent for raising a revenue in their
country, took a most serious turn in the years 1 773 and
1774; a body of troops was in consequence sent to
Boston, the place which had been the scene of the
greatest outrages, and the King's Own, being one of the
corps selected to proceed to North America, embarked
for that service on the 17th of April, 1774.
After landing at Boston the King's Own were en
camped for some time near the town ; and the violent
revolutionary spirit which raany of the colonists dis
played, occasioned a detachment of the regiment to be
sent during the winter to Marshfield, for the protection
of a number of the friends of the government in that
town and neighbourhood.
The hostile feelings to the British government previ- 1775
ously evinced by the Americans appeared to increase
during the winter and succeeding spring ; and the pre-

62 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1775 parations which they raade for open resistance indicated
a design to make a speedy appeal to arms. General
Gage, who commanded the troops at Boston, sent the
flank companies of the King's Own, and other regiments
under his orders, up the country to Concord, to destroy
a quantity of military stores which the inhabitants were
collecting at that place. This circumstance occasioned
the first blood to be shed in the contest.
The flank companies were placed under the orders of
Lieut.-Colonel Francis Smith, of the tenth foot, and
having embarked on the night of the 18th of April, in
the boats of the men-of-war in the harbour, proceeded to
the entrance of the Cambridge River, where they landed,
and afterwards advanced up the country. While on the
march, the troops heard the ringing of bells, firing of
guns, and other sounds of alarm spreading over the
country ; and when the light corapanies, which were in
advance, arrived at the village of Lexington, they
descried a body of provincials forraed upon the green.
These men fired several shots at the soldiers, who imme
diately retaliated, and the Americans were dispersed with
the loss of about ten men killed, and several wounded.
The troops continued their march to Concord, and
while the search for military stores was taking place, the
light companies of the King's Own and tenth regiment
were posted on some heights in the vicinity of a bridge
beyond the town. Meanwhile armed countrymen were
assembling in crowds on the high grounds near the town,
and a large body proceeding towards the bridge, the
light companies of the King's Own and tenth regiment
descended from the heights and joined the troops posted
at the bridge. The provincials advanced in great nura
bers, and firing on the troops, killed three raen, and
wounded several others ; the fire was returned, and

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 63
the detached companies joined the main body in the 1775
town. After destroying three pieces of ordnance, burning a
number of carriage-wheels, and throwing a quantity of
gunpowder and musket -balls into the river, the troops
commenced their march back to Boston. On emerging
from the town, the soldiers were fired upon from the
walls, fences, trees, barns, &c., on both sides of the road;
the country appeared swarming with arraed men, and
the troops were engaged fighting and retreating until
they were exhausted, and had expended nearly all
their ammunition ; at the same time the numbers of
their antagonists were constantly increasing. Fortu
nately, they were met at Lexington by the battalion
companies of the King's Own, twenty-third and forty-
ninth regiments, with a party of marines and two field-
pieces, under the comraand of Colonel Earl Percy of the
fifth foot. The fire of the field-pieces checked the Arae
ricans ; Earl Percy forraed his brigade into a square,
with the exhausted flank companies in the centre, and
after the men had rested a short time, commenced his
march for Boston. The Araericans hung upon his
rear in crowds, and kept up a constant fire ; but the
troops continued their march in excellent order to
Charlestown, from whence they crossed the river in
boats to Boston, under the cover of the guns of a man-
of-war stationed near the ferry. The loss of the King's
Own on this occasion was Lieutenant Knight and seven
private men killed ; Lieutenant Gould wounded and
taken prisoner ; three Serjeants, one drummer, and
twenty-one private men wounded ; and eight men
missing. This was the commencement of open hostilities ; the
whole country round Boston was in the utmost agitation.

g4 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1775 and multitudes of countrymen equipped for battle re
paired to Cambridge and Roxburg, and there threw up
entrenchments. All intercourse between the garrison
of Boston and the adjacent country was cut off, and the
town was completely blocked up on the land side.
Soon after this event the party of the King's Own
stationed at Marshfield was withdrawn, and rejoined the
regiment at Boston.
The rapid and judicious movements of the Americans
appeared to be the result of a preconcerted plan, and
having a very great superiority of nurabers, they medi
tated driving the King's troops out of Boston. During
the night of the 16th of June an immense body of pro
vincials proceeded to the heights on the peninsula of
Charlestown called Bunker s Hill, and commenced
throwing up entrenchments with great diligence. General
Gage resolved to dislodge the enemy from this post im
mediately, and a body of troops, of which the grenadier
and light companies of the King's Own formed part,
was embarked in boats for this purpose about mid-day
on the 17th of June.
About three o'clock in the afternoon the attack com
menced, and in this contest British valour and discipline
were eminently displayed. The Americans were in great
force, strongly posted, and entrenched up to the teeth.
The King's troops had to advance in a hot summer's
day, in the face of a sharp and well-directed fire, and
to ascend a steep hill covered with grass reaching to
their knees, and intersected with walls and fences of
various enclosures : twice they were stopped, and twice
they returned to the charge, and by their undaunted
resolution and steady perseverance they eventually tri
umphed over thrice their own numbers, and carried the
heights at the point of the bayonet. This proved one of

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 65
the most sanguinary battles on record, and the supe- 1775
riority of the British troops was pre-eminently dis
played. The two flank corapanies of the King's Own
had one serjeant and thirteen rank and file killed ;
Captains Balfour and West, Lieutenants Baron and
Brown, one serjeant, one druramer, and twenty-nine
rank and file wounded.
Although the valour and discipline of the small
British force in North Araerica were so conspicuous as
to excite the admiration and applause of their country,
yet the circurastances in which the army at Boston was
eventually placed rendered it irapossible for these excel
lent qualities to be exercised with the prospect of ulti
mate success. The immense superiority of numbers of 1776
the enemy, the great strength of the works thrown up on
Phipp's farm, Dorchester heights, and other places, with
the want of provisions, induced the commander of the
troops, Lieut.-General Sir WiUiam Howe, to vacate the
town, and proceed with the army to Halifax, in Nova
Scotia. This resolution was carried into effect in the
middle of March, 1776 ; and on their arrival at Halifax
several regiments were landed.
A reinforcement being expected from England, and
the general being anxious to commence operations against
the revolted Americans as early as possible, the fleet
sailed from Halifax on the 12th of June, arrived at
Sandy Hook on the 29th of that month, and on the 3d of
July landed on Staten Island, near New York. Here the
troops were disposed in cantonments for refreshment, and
the head-quarters were estabhshed at Richmond.
Additional troops having arrived, a landing was effected
at Utrecht, on Long Mand, on the 22d of August ;
and after dusk on the evening of the 26th, the King's
F

66 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1776 Own, commanded by Major James Ogilvie, forming
part of the first brigade under Major-General Pigot,
moved across the country to seize a pass in the heights
extending from east to west along the middle of the
island, to turn the eneray's left flank at Flat Busk.
This pass was taken possession of on the following
morning ; the main body of the army advanced, and the
Americans were driven from their position with consi
derable loss. In this day's skirmish the battalion com
panies of the regiment did not sustain any loss ; but the
flank corapanies, being formed in grenadier and light
infantry battalions, had several men killed and wounded.
The Americans retreated to their lines at Brooklyn ;
but, fearing the consequences of an attack, they quitted
their post during the night of the 28th of August, and
crossed the East River in boats to New York ; thus the
reduction of Long Island was effected in a few days
with trifling loss.
After this success the army was embarked in flat-
bottomed boats, and crossed the East River to York
Island, and the King's Own were engaged in the move
ments by which General Washington was forced to
abandon New York ; which city was imraediately taken
possession of by the British.
General Washington having taken up a position in
another part of the country, the British troops were
again embarked in flat-bottomed boats and landed near
West- Chester ; thence re- embarking on the 18th of
October, passed Frogs-neck and landed at PeU's-point,
at the mouth of Hutchinson's river. Advancing from
thence, the troops encountered a detachment of pro
vincials; a sharp skirmish ensued, in which several men
were killed and wounded ; and the King's Own lost a

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 67
most valuable and gallant officer, Captain W. Granville 1776
Evelyn, who was mortally wounded, and whose fall was
much regretted.
In the subsequent operations of the army, by which
the Americans were forced to evacuate their lines on
White Plains, the King's Own took part, but did not
sustain any loss ; they were also present at the siege and
capture of Fort Washington, in which service they lost
only one raan : and they passed the succeeding winter in
quarters in the city of New York.
During the winter the Americans were engaged in 1777
collecting stores and forming magazines for the ensuing
campaign, which they were careful to place as far as pos
sible out of the reach of His Majesty's land and sea
forces. Extensive depots had been established at the
town of Danhury, and other places on the borders of
Connecticut, contiguous to Courland Manor ; and the
King's Own were withdrawn frora the city of New York
to forra part of a detachment under the coramand of
Major-General Tyron, for the destruction of these
stores. The detachment sailed from New York in transports,
passed through the Sound, and on the evening of the
25th of April, 1777, arrived off Norwalk, a town in the
province of Connecticut, about twenty miles south of
Danbury. As the troops were quite unexpected, they
landed without opposition, and by ten o'clock that night
began their march for Danbury, where they arrived
about two in the afternoon of the following day ; on
their approach the American troops fled, and gave the
alarm to the country people, who took arms, and made
preparations to cut off the retreat of the British de
tachment. As no carriages could be procured to bring off any
f2

68 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1777 part of the raagazines, Major-General Tyron was under
the necessity of setting them on fire, and in the progress
of the flames the town was unavoidably burnt. The
magazines having been all destroyed, the detachment
commenced its march back early oh the morning of the
27th of April ; a body of Americans under General
Wooster hung upon its rear, and at every eminence a
corps of militia was found ready to oppose its march ;
but the British troops attacked and routed their adver
saries, and in one of these skirmishes General Wooster
was killed.
Arriving at Ridgefield, a strong force under General
Arnold was found posted at that place, and busily
employed in throwing up entrenchments; these were
instantly attacked by the artillery, and the British troops
rushing forward to the charge with their native valour
and intrepidity, the Americans were driven from their
ground. The British halted at Ridgefield during the night, and
resumed their march on the following day. The enemy
having collected additional forces and some field pieces,
harassed the detachment exceedingly during its march,
which brought on several skirmishes. Arriving at the
Hill of Compo, contiguous to the place of embarkation,
the Americans renewed their attack with greater deter
mination and spirit than ever ; the British troops, facing
about, fired a volley, and then charged with the bayonet
with such impetuosity and courage, that the enemy,
unable to withstand the shock, retreated. The detach
ment afterwards erabarked without molestation, and
returned to New York.
The King's Own lost two men in this enterprise ; and
had Captain Thorne, one serjeant, and fifteen rank and
file wounded.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 69
The regiment afterwards formed part of the array 1777
assembled in the Jerseys, and was engaged in the move
ments designed to bring on a general engagement ; but
the enemy keeping close in his strong position in the
mountains, an expedition against the populous and
wealthy city of Philadelphia was resolved upon. The
King's Own were employed in this enterprise, and formed,
with the twenty-third, twenty-eighth, and forty-ninth
regiments, the first brigade of the army.
Having embarked from Sandy Hook, the troops sailed
to Chesapeake Bay, and landed on the 25th of August
on the northern shore of the Elk River ; from whence
they advanced on the 28th, in two columns, to Elk Head.
The enemy having taken up a position at Brandywine,
the royal army advanced on the llth of September to
give their opponents battle, and the King's Own formed
part of the force selected to attack the American troops
posted at Chad's Ford. After a sharp cannonade the
troops advanced to the charge; the King's Own com
manded by Lieut. -Colonel James Ogilvie, and sup
ported by the fifth foot, led the attack in gallant style,
and rushing through the stream with fixed bayonets,
overpowered all opposition and captured three brass field-
pieces, and a five and a half inch howitzer.* The regi
ment pressed upon the retiring enemy, but darkness
coming on before the troops could reach the heights, the
action ceased. The loss of the regiment on this occasion
was two rank and file killed ; and Captain Rawdon and
twenty rank and file wounded.

* " Major-General Grant crossed the ford with the Fourth and
" fifth regiments, and the Fourth Regiment, passing the ford
" first, drove the enemy from an entrenchment and battery, and
" took from them three brass field-pii'ces and a 5^ inch bowit-
" zer." — London Gazette.

j-Q HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1777 The victory at Brandywine was followed by the flight
of the American troops frora Philadelphia, which city
was taken possession of by a British force of which the
grenadier company of the King s Own formed part,
The remainder of the army took up a position at
Germantown, and the King's Own were encamped on
the right flank. The Araericans attacked this post on
the morning of the 4th of October, and drove in the
piquets of the right wing. The Fourth were moved
forward to support the light infantry, and the assault
was sustained with such determined bravery, that the
enemy could make no impression at this point of attack.
After the Americans had been repulsed at other parts of
the field, Major-General Grant moved the forty-ninth
regiment, and four pieces of cannon, to the left of the
King's Own, and then advancing with the right wing,
forced the eneray's left to give way. The Americans
were afterwards pursued four or five miles through a
woody country of difficult access. The fight company of
the regiment, forming part of the first light infantry
battalion, highly distinguished itself on this occasion,
and had Lieutenant Champaigne wounded ; also several
private men killed and wounded. The battalion com
panies also acquired new laurels ; and had one serjeant
and eight rank and file killed ; Captain Thorne, Lieu
tenants Arbuthnot and Kerable, Ensigns Dickson, Shoen,
Hadden, and Bleraen, with Adjutant H unt, two Serjeants,
and forty-six rank and file wounded ; also three rank
and file missing. When the action commenced, the
grenadier company marched, with the remainder of its
battalion, out of Philadelphia with all possible expedition,
and arrived at the scene of contest at the moment when
the enemy was giving way, and consequently was not
engaged.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 71
Lieut.-General Sir William Howe, speaking of these 1777
actions in his public despatch, observes, — " In the several
" engagements, the successes attending them are far
" better vouchers than any words can convey, of the
" good conduct of the general officers, and the bravery
" of the other officers and soldiers. The fatigues of a
" march exceeding one hundred miles, supported with
" the utmost cheerfulness by all ranks, without tents,
" and with very little baggage, will, I hope, be esteemed
" as convincing proofs of the noble spirit and emulation
" prevailing in the army to promote His Majesty's
" service."* While the army coraraanded by Sir Williara Howe
was victorious in Pennsylvania, another British force
under the orders of Lieut.-General Burgoyne penetrated
the United States from the frontiers of Canada ; but the
difficulties encountered by this army were so great, that
its commander concluded a convention with the American
General Gates, who was thus enabled to detach a body
of troops to reinforce General Washington. On the
arrival of these forces the Araerican army advanced
nearer Philadelphia, and encaraped at White Marsh.
The British general moved forward, and took post on the
morning of the 5th of December on Chestnut Hill, with
the view of inducing the enemy to offer battle, or of
finding a vulnerable part in their fortified camp. A
sharp skirmish occurred on the same day, between two
British battalions and a thousand Americans, who were
routed in a short time. On the 7th of Deceraber another
action occurred on Edgehill, a raile frora the enemy's
left, on which occasion the native intrepidity and firmness
of the British were conspicuous. Several other skirmishes
* London Gazette.

72 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1777 also took place; and in every instance the Araericans
were defeated ; but their position was found so strong
with entrenchments, abbatis de bois, and other defences,
that the array returned to Philadelphia on the 8th of
December, without venturing to attack it. The King's
Own lost in these skirmishes, two men killed ; and Lieu
tenant West, three Serjeants, and nine rank and file
wounded.
1778 The regiraent passed the winter in comfortable quarters
in the city of Philadelphia, while the Americans lay in
huts in the woods near Valley Forge. Iramediately on
the return of spring a succession of detachraents ranged
the country for many miles round Philadelphia and the
province of Jersey, and opened comraunications for
bringing in supplies of provision and forage.
Meanwhile the French monarch had acknowledged the
independence of the revolted provinces, and had con
cluded a treaty with them ; thus the nature of the contest
was so completely changed, that Lieut.-General Sir
Henrv Clinton, who bad succeeded to the coramand of
the troops at Philadelphia, was ordered to vacate that
city and retire to New York. The King's Own under
went with the reraainder of the army the fatigues of this
long and toilsome journey, crossing rivers, traversing a
wild and woody country, overcoming numerous difficulties,
and repulsing the enemy's attempts to interrupt the
progress of the march, with signal gallantry, particularly
on the 28th of June ; and arrived at New York in the
beginning of July.
The French monarch having sent a powerful arma
raent to sea, some danger was apprehended to the West
Indian colonies ; a body of troops, of which the King's
Own formed part, was sent from North America to the
island of Barbadoes, under the command of Major-

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 73
General Grant ; and the land and sea commanders at 177J
that station being in a condition to act offensively, resolved
to attack the French island of St. Lucie. The grenadiers
of the King's Own, under the orders of Captain West,
formed part of the grenadier battalion under the com
mand of Major Harris of the fifth ; and the light cora
pany under Captain Thorne was in the light infantry
battalion commanded by Major Sir James Murray of
the Fourth, and these battalions forraed part of the
reserve coraraanded by Brigadier-General Medows, which
landed on the 13th of December, forced sorae heights
with signal intrepidity, and captured a field piece and a
four-gun battery. The remainder of the troops having
landed, the strong post of Morne Fortune, with the
governor's house, the hospital, barracks, stores and maga
zines were captured, and although the passes were
remarkably strong and difficult of access, yet with such
impetuosity did the troops advance, that the French
governor was obliged to retire from post to post, after
doing all in his power to defend them. Scarcely were
the enemy's colours struck, and the British head-quarters
established at the governor's house, when the approach
of a powerful French fleet was descried. The soldiers,
already fatigued with a hard day's service, immediately
commenced strengthening the posts they had won, with
cheerful alacrity ; and the naval force was disposed in
line of battle across the entrance of the Cui de Sac. The
island of St. Lucie presents no regular face, but a suc
cession of confused steep and abrupt hills scattered among
greater mountains, everywhere intersected by narrow
winding valleys, long defiles, and deep ravines ; and by
unremitting labour during one night the troops and
shipping were placed in such admirable order as to be

74 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1 778 enabled to withstand the repeated attacks of a very
superior force.
In a naval action fought on the 15th of December,
which has been regarded as one of the most brilliant
displays of British skill and valour on record, the enemy
was twice repulsed with serious loss ; and being unable
to force the line of battle, nine thousand French troops,
commanded by M. de Bouille and Lavendahl, landed
and attacked the post of La Vigie, where the grenadier
and light companies of the King's Own were stationed.
The attack was made with that impetuosity for which
the French are distinguished ; the British reserved their
fire until their adversaries were mounting the trenches,
when they threw in a volley, and instantly charging with
the bayonet, the enemy was broken and driven back with
a fearful slaughter. Three furious attacks having been
repulsed, the eneray re-embarked and quitted the island,
and the governor surrendered imraediately afterwards.
1779 Soon after the surrender of St. Lucie, the King's Own
proceeded to the island of Antigua, where they reraained
during the succeeding year ; and having become much
reduced iu numbers by their service in North America
1780 and the West Indies, they returned to England in 1780,
and shortly afterwards proceeded to Ireland.
1782 General Hodgson having been reraoved in the summer
of 1782 to the command of the fourth Irish horse, now
seventh dragoon guards, the colonelcy of the King's
Own was conferred on Lieut.-General John Burgoyne,
his commission bearing date the 7th of June, 1782.
1787 The regiment remained in Ireland seven years, and on
the 24th of May, 1787, embarked for Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland; and served in various parts of these
islands until the breaking out of the French revolutionary

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 75
In 1792 General Burgoyne died, and was succeeded 1792
in the colonelcy of the regiment on the 8th of August,
1792, by Lieut.-General Morrison.
The violent spirit of republicanism which was exhibited 1793
in France at this period, having led to confusion, anarchy,
and a dreadful catalogue of crimes of the most cruel and
inhuman character, including the murder of the King,
which was followed by that of the queen, war was
declared against the regicide government of that country ;
and the capture of Miquelon and St. Pierre, two islands
in the Atlantic Ocean near the south coast of Newfound
land, used by the French as stations for curing and drying
fish, was resolved upon. A detachraent of the royal
artillery and three hundred and ten rank and file of the
Fourth and sixty-fifth regiments, coraraanded by Briga
dier-General Ogilvie, sailed on this enterprise on the 7th
of May, 1793, frora Newfoundland, and having landed
on the 14th of that raonth in the Ance-a-Savoyard,
advanced upon the principal town, when the governor
imraediately surrendered at discretion. Although no
opportunity occurred for the troops to distinguish them
selves in action, their conduct elicited the commendations
of the commander of the expedition in his public despatch,
and to their great credit not one act of depredation was
committed on the inhabitants. Major Peregrine Francis
Thorne of the King's Own was appointed commandant
of the two islands, but the detachment of the regiment
returned to its forraer stations.
Frora Nova Scotia and Newfoundland the regiment
was removed in 1794 to Canada, and was stationed in 1'''941795
garrison at Quebec ; in the early part of 1796 it pro- yj^^
ceeded up the country and occupied St. John's, Chambly,
and Isle-aux-Noix, and in November it was ordered to
Montreal, in which garrison it passed the succeeding

76 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1797 winter: in June, 1797, it proceeded down the river to
Quebec. The regiments in Canada being very weak in
numbers, the Fourth, fifth, and first battalion of the
sixtieth, were ordered to transfer their serviceable men
to the twenty-fourth, twenty-sixth, and second battalion of
the sixtieth regiments. The men of the King's Own were
transferred to the twenty-sixth ; and the officers, Serjeants,
and drummers, erabarked at Quebec on the 24th of Sep
teraber, and sailed on the following day for England.
When near the land's end the transport having on board
twelve officers, including the coramanding officer, (Lieut.-
Colonel Hodgson,) the staff, colours, Serjeants, and drum
mers, was chased by a French privateer (La Vengeance) ;
several officers and raen were wounded in endeavouring
to defend the ship, and when frora the superior metal and
power of the enemy, no hope of escape remained, the
regimental colours were sunk in the sea, and the transport
surrendered. This portion of the regiment was afterwards
conveyed to France, and detained in that country above
a year before it was exchanged.
1798 In May, 1798, such of the officers of the regiment as
had arrived safe in England, received at Chatham barracks
a draft of between three and four hundred Irish youths,
and in July following proceeded to Botley ; where they
were joined in the beginning of the succeeding year by
the officers, Serjeants, and drummers from France.
1799 Leaving Botley in April, 1799, the regiment proceeded
to Worcester, and from thence to Horsham barracks in
July ; in the following raonth it marched to the camp on
Barbara downs.
The militia being perraitted this year to transfer their
services to the regular regiments, two thousand seven
hundred raen volunteered to the King's Own, in conse
quence of which the regiment was formed into three

the FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 77
battalions ; Major-General the Earl of Chatham was 1799
appointed colonel commandant of the second battalion,
and Major-General Lord Charles Somerset colonel com
mandant of the third battalion.
On the 3d of Septeraber the Prince of Wales was
pleased to present a pair of new colours to the first bat
talion on Barbara downs ; the regiment was formed in a
square, and His Royal Highness addressed the officers
and men as follows : —
" It affords rae the highest satisfaction to have the
" honour of presenting this gallant and distinguished
" corps with their colours. Nothing but a blaraeless
" accident could have deprived you of those you pos-
" sessed before, and I now replace them, under the firmest
" conviction that there is not a regiment in His Majesty's
*' service that will ever support and defend its colours
" with more valour and gallantry than the Fourth, or
" THE King's Own. It considerably enhances the pleasure
" I feel on this occasion that the ceremony has happened
" on a day when every British heart must be filled with
" gladness at the tidings which have just been received
" of the heroic actions our brave countryraen have
" achieved in endeavouring to rescue Holland frora the
" detestable tyranny of France, and I perceive with true
" pride that every countenance I now behold partakes of
" this noble ardour, and that every heart is panting to
" share in their laurels and glory."
In a few days after the presentation of the new colours
the regiment was ordered to proceed on foreign service :
it embarked at Deal, and after landing in Holland joined
the Anglo-Russian army coraraanded by His Royal
Highness the Duke of York : when the three battalions
of the King's Own, and the thirty-first regiment, were

78 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1799 formed in brigade under the orders of Major-General the
Earl of Chatham.
This brigade formed part of the column under Lieut.-
General Dundas, in the attack of the enemy's position
near Bergen and Egmont-op-zee, on the 2d of October.
The King's Own were engaged araong the sand-hills,
and evinced the sarae intrepidity and firraness for which
the regiraent had been distinguished on former occasions ;
the enemy was driven from his positions, and the troops
received the thanks and approbation of the coraraander-
in-chief. The regiment had three men killed ; Ensign
Carruthers, one serjeant, and eight private men wounded ;
one Serjeant and six men missing.
In the attack of the enemy's position between Bever-
wyck, and Wyck-op-zee, on the 6th of October, the three
battalions of the King's Own were sharply engaged ; the
action was most severe, and was continued with san
guinary obstinacy until night, when the enemy retreated
leaving the allies masters of the field. The King's Own
had Lieut.-Colonel Dickson, Lieutenant Forster, and
twenty-five men killed ; Major-General the Earl of
Chatham, Lieut.-Colonel Hodgson, Captain Palmer,
Ensigns Johnston, Carruthers, Nichols, Highmore, and
Archibald, with four Serjeants, and one hundred and
eight rank and file wounded; Majors Wynch and
Horndon, Captain Gillraour, Lieutenants Deare and
Wilson, wounded and taken prisoners; Lieut.-Colonel
Cholmondeley, Major Pringle, Captains Archdall, Brodie,
and Chaplain, Lieutenants Gazeley and Wilbraham,
Ensigns Browne, Ellis, Hill, Anderson, M'Pherson, and
Tyron, with twelve Serjeants, one drummer, and five
hundred and two rank and file prisoners of war and
missing.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 79
Several circumstances having occurred to render further 1799
operations in Holland unadvisable, the army re-embarked
and returned to England. The three battalions of the
King's Own landed at Yarmouth and marched to
Ipswich, where they passed the winter.
After the decease of General Morrison, the colonelcy
of the regiment was conferred on Major-General the
Earl of Chatham, by coraraission dated the 5th of
Deceraber, 1799.
In the summer of 1800 the King's Own were encamped 1800
on Swinley downs, near Windsor, where they were reviewed
by King George III. They passed the succeeding
winter and summer at Winchester; in September, 1801, 1801
the first and second battalions proceeded to Horsham
barracks, and the third battalion to Lewes. This year
the cocked hats were replaced by caps.
In the raean time great alterations had taken place in
the affairs of Europe ; while several states which in forraer
periods had nobly fought for their civil and religious
liberties, were seen crouching beneath the iron rule of
republican despotisra, the British troops had triuraphed
in Egypt and the West Indies, and the conditions of a
treaty of peace were taken into consideration. The men
of the King's Own having been engaged to serve only
during the war, they were offered a farther bounty to
enlist for unlimited service, and upwards of nine hundred
volunteered an extension of their services, and were con
stituted the first battalion.
In April, 1802, the second and third battalions proceeded 1802
to Portsmouth, and in May the first was reraoved to
Chatham. The treaty of Amiens having been concluded,
the third battalion was disbanded at Portsmouth on the
24th of May, and the second at Winchester in October

80 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1802 of that year. In November the regiment marched to
Dover Castle.
1803 The short respite from the horrors of war ceded to
Europe by the treaty of Amiens proved, like the calm
which precedes a storra, the harbinger of a raighty
struggle which shook the basis of the constitution of the
states of Christendom. The ambitious designs of Bona
parte, first consul of France, were ripening for execution,
and hostile preparations were secretly" made under the
deceptive cloak of pacific designs. The conditions of
the peace were evaded, and, while Britain was reducing
the numbers of her land and sea forces, and cultivating
amicable relations, Bonaparte was preparing, under the
pretence of colonial purposes, a gigantic naval and raili
tary power with which he designed to crush, by one
raighty effort, the British people, who appeared as a
barrier to his schemes of aggrandizement, and were ever
ready to oppose his progress.
The formidable preparations carried on in the ports of
France and Holland, pending the discussion of an im
portant negociation, occasioned the British governraent
to adopt raeans of preservation, and King George III.,
actuated by a concern for the security and welfare
of his subjects, exercised the power vested in him by act
of parhament, and issued on the llth of March, 1803,
warrants for calling out and embodying the militia. The
establishraent of the regiments of the regular army was
also augmented, the amount of levy money for recruits
was increased, and vigorous measures were adopted for
completing the numbers of the several corps. In May the
negociations with France terminated, the King's ambas
sador was recalled from Paris, hostilities recommenced,
and Bonaparte made public declaration of his intention

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 81
to invade this kingdom, and assembled an army near 1803
Boulogne which was insultingly termed, L'armee d' An
gleterre. This proceeding was met by the British government
with suitable measures; the supplementary militia
was embodied ; an Act was passed to enable his Majesty
to assemble an additional mihtary force, called the Army
OF Reserve ; also an act for indemnifying persons who
might suffer in their property from the measures it might
be found necessary to adopt ; and an Act to enable his
Majesty more effectually and speedily to exercise his
ancient and undoubted prerogative in requiring the
military aid of his liege subjects in case of invasion of
the realm, called the Levy-en-masse Act. The captain-
general of the army, Field-Marshal His Royal Highness
the Duke of York, was also active in making the neces
sary preparations. The country was divided into mili
tary districts ; general and staff officers were appointed
to each district, and arrangements were raade, and regu
lations issued, for the conduct of all ranks in the event
of an invasion taking place.
The raoment the enemy landed, all the regulations
of civil government and restraint of forms were to cease
in that part of the country, and everything was to give
way to the supplying and strengthening of the army ;
the troops were directed to move in the lightest manner,
and without baggage ; the eneray was to be attacked at
the moment of landing, and when his numbers became
too great for any chance of success, the troops were to
withdraw a short distance to give time for the forces of
the country to asserable ; correct intelligence was to be
circulated ; the inhabitants were to withdraw with their
cattle, horses, and provision ; and all provision tardy in
its removal was to be destroyed ; the roads were to be

82 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1803 broken up, and the country driven and abandoned on
the line of the eneray's route.
As soon as the invading array quitted the coast, the
troops were to hover on its front, flanks, and rear ; it
was to be obliged to fight for every article of sustenance ;
advantage was to be taken of the intricate and enclo,sed
nature of the country ; every inch of ground, every field,
was to be to a degree disputed even by inferior numbers ;
should the enemy enter the strong woodland countries,
trees were to be felled on the roads for railes around to
impede his progress ; incessant attacks were to be kept
up by night with corps of various description and strength ;
the men were never to fire but when they had a good mark
and a decided aira, and to use the national weapon, the
bayonet, as rauch as possible, while every Individual with
a pike or pitchfork in his hand was required to unite his ef
forts to overwhelm and extirpate the unprincipled invaders,
who, spurning at those generous modes of warfare esta
blished between civilized and rival countries, openly avowed
their design to be the utter destruction of Great Britain as
a nation. Against such an eneray the people were called
upon to become raore ferocious than hiraself, and their
indignation being raised to the highest pitch would hurl
back upon him that terror which he had struck into
weak and degraded nations which had not the same
liberty, renown, and constitution to contend for as Great
Britain. The measures of the government were nobly seconded
by the people ; the British spirit was roused ; a sudden
burst of patriotic enthusiasra pervaded the country ; it
animated the nobility, gentry, yeomanry, — all orders
and conditions of men, — all felt alike on this momentous
occasion ; the danger was great, and it was met with
corresponding resolution and exertions ; the whole coun-

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 83
try, fi-om the throne to the cottage, was animated with a 1803
determination to crush the French army, if it should dare
to invade the British territory ; — the Act for the levy-en-
MAssE was rendered unnecessary by their spontaneous
zeal ; the designs of the governraent were anticipated ;
voluntary associations were forraed ; loyal meetings took
place in the metropolis and in the principal towns through
out the country ; and large subscriptions were raised to
bear the expenses of the volunteer corps. The unani
mity and harmony which pervaded all ranks were asto
nishing ; every city, town, and village, from the Lands-end
to the Orkney Islands, poured forth its volunteer legions
in defence of their country, and of their king ; it was
difficult to say, whether th'e people were more liberal in
offering their persons, or their property, in defence of a
country and constitution so dear to their affections ; and
the British monarch stood in a situation glorious and
unexampled on the surface of the earth : he was not
defended by mercenaries always sparing of their blood,
not supported by tributary states impatient oftheir yoke,
not assisted by allies envious of his prosperit}', (Europe
stood aloof leaving Britain to her own resources at the
tirae of her utraost need) ; but in the moment of danger,
his Majesty saw himself protected by the united efforts
of all his people, by the persons of those who were able to
wield a weapon, by the prayers of the aged and of the
sick, by the purses of the rich, and by the hearts of all :
the people knew for whom, and for what, they were pre
paring to fight ; they knew they were not conscripts
driven in chains to be sacrificed on the altar of an ambi
tious leader, but loyal subjects voluntarily engaging to
encounter danger for a beloved sovereign, for the preser
vation of that limited monarchy which they viewed as
g 2

84 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1803 the primary source of all the blessings they enjoyed as
members of civil society. They were not preparing to
fight from the base motive of desire to plunder other
men's property, but to defend their own ; not to fight
ingloriously to subvert the liberties of others, but to
prevent the yoke of slavery being fastened round their
own necks ; not in contempt of- national character, in
despite of the civil order of the world, in derision of
religion, or in mockery of heaven ; but to preserve their
happy land from atheism, despotism, and anarchy, from
that moral contamination of principle and practice which
outrages the very nature of mankind. Actuated by such
sentiraents the aged, who had becorae indifferent to pro
fessional emolument and to professional ambition, ap
peared with renewed vigour ready for active service ;
and the youth stood forward in crowds ready to shed
their blood for the good of their country. Thus exer
tions unknown in the history of this country, and unpre
cedented in the most illustrious nations of antiquity, were
made, and Britain exhibited to the world the glorious
spectacle of a nation rising simultaneously to assert its
freedom and independence.
While the din of hostile preparation resounded
throughout the country, the regiment which forms the
subject of this memoir had the honour of forraing part
of an advanced -corps to the forces selected to cover the
coast opposite Boulogne where Bonaparte was expected to
land ; for this purpose it was encamped at Shorncliffe,
and was brigaded with the fifty-second, fifty-ninth, and
seventieth regiments and five companies of the rifle corps,
under the command of that distinguished officer, Major-
General (afterwards Sir John) Moore. This corps was
conspicuous for a high state of discipline ; and the officers

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.

85

and men felt a degree of honest pride at being selected 1803
to commence the attack of the invaders whenever they
appeared. The noble attitude which the nation assumed, the
strength* and energy it evinced while breathing defiance
to the gigantic military power by which it was menaced,
caused the spirit even of Napoleon to quail, and his
legions did not venture to cross the British channel.
Thus the daring project of subjugating Britain, a
project suited to that spirit of enterprise and ambition
which characterized the martial leader of the French
nation, was defeated by the vigour and proraptitude of
the government, and of the people, at the only period
when it was likely to prove successful. If Bonaparte
could have assembled in the ports of France and Hol
land a naval arraament for the transport of one hundred
thousand raen across the channel, before the British
fleets had been manned, the militia called out, and the

The effectives of the British army in 1803 were as follows : —

Cavalry 
Artillery and engineers .
Foot guards 
Infantry of the line .
Militia 
Yeomanry and volunteers : —
Cavalry 
Artillery 
Infantry 
General Total . . .

In
Great
Britain.

10,436 9,0006,916
41,981 66,189

137,522

29,000 7,000
290,000

463,522

In
Ireland.

3,4662,000
21^790 18,508

45,764

10,000
65i000

120,764

On
Foreign
Stations.

2,263
3,000 i .
42,951

48,214

48,214

Total.

16,16514,000 6,916
109,722 84,697

231,500

39,000 7,000
355,000

632,500

The above numbers of " Fighting men " are exclusive of the
Royal N avy and Marines.

86 HISTORICAL RECORD 01'
1803 people arranged in military array, the mischief he might
have effected is incalculable. The immense preparations
which were made on the opposite side of the Channel, parti
cularly at Boulogne, the assembling of a large army in that
quarter, the construction of vessels calculated to cross
the Channel and approach near the shore, and his utter
disregard of the loss of men, so that he accomplished his
designs, prove beyond doubt Bonaparte's determination
of invading the British territory ; but the unanimous
and glorious resolution evinced by the people to preserve
their country, their freedom, and their privileges from
the contamination of republicanism, and to shed their
blood in the defence of what they valued above life,
deterred him from carrying the threats he had so often
repeated into execution.
The King's Own remained encamped at Shorncliffe ;
Martello towers were constructed along the shore, and
batteries were raised to comraand the important points ;
and the soldiers, imbibing the spirit of their distinguished
coraraander, calmly awaited the arrival of their vaunting
adversaries. The Right Honourable William Pitt, who
was at this period warden of the Cinque Ports, raised
two regiments of a thousand men each ; he frequently
rode over to ShorncHffe, and Major-General Moore ex
plained to this great statesman all his plans. On one
occasion Mr. Pitt observed, — " Well, Moore, but as on
" the very first alarra of the enemy's coming I shall join
" you with ray Cinque Porte regiments, you have not
" told me where you will place us ?" " Do you see," said
Moore, " that hill ? you and yours shall be drawn up on
" it, where you will make a most formidable appearance
" to the enemy, while I with the soldiers shall be fighting
" on the beach." Mr. Pitt was exceedingly araused with
this reply. On the 28th of November, the King's

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. §7
Own proceeded into the newly - built barracks at 1803
Hythe. In 1 804 the preparations for invasion were augmented ; 1804
the King's Own were again encamped at Shornchffe, and
were brigaded with the forty-third, fifty-second, fifty-
ninth, and five companies of the rifle corps, commanded by
Major-General Moore. The nation preserved the attitude
of defence and defiance to the power of Bonaparte ; the
several corps were regularly exercised, and inspected, and
kept ready for active service ; and the King's Own,
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Brinley, attained so high
a state of discipline and efficiency as to excite -the special
notice and approbation of his Royal Highness the Duke
of York, who reviewed the regiment, with the remainder
of its brigade, on the 24th of August.* Bonaparte's
* " Horse Guards, 5th September, 1804.
" My dear Lord,
" I have been so extremely occupied since my return from
" my tour through the southern district that I have never been
" able, till this day, to write to you, and to express to you, in the
" warmest manner possible, the thorough satisfaction I expe-
" rienced at the appearance and state of discipline of the King's
" Own regiment, which does the highest credit to the com-
" manding officer, and every individual in it. I beg your lordship
" to convey these sentiments from me to the regiment, and at
" the same time to be assured that I shall, in consequence, recora-
" mend to his Majesty to allow a greater promotion to take place
" in the King's Own upon the present occasion, than has been
" allowed to other regiments, the fifty-second excepted. I shall
" therefore be happy to receive any recommendations that your
" lordship may think proper to make." (Signed) " Frkdkrick."
" To Lieut.-General the Earl of Chatham.
" Lieut.-General the Earl of Chatham has the greatest pleasure
" in communicating to the King's Own regiment the distin-
" guished approbation which his Royal Highness the commander-
" in-chief has been pleased to convey to him of their soldierlike
" appearance and high state of discipline when his Royal Highness

88 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1804 army remained inactive at Boulogne, consuming his- re
sources ; but he obtained from the French nation the
dignity of Emperor. Another season passed away
without an invasion ; and on the 2d of November, the
Fourth proceeded to the barracks at Hythe ; a second
battalion was added to its establishment, and the ofiicers
who had eminently distinguished themselves by their
zeal and attention to the good of the service, were
rewarded with promotion.
1805 The regiment left Hythe on the 9th of March, 1805,
for Canterbury, and while stationed at this place Colonel
Brinley was appointed quartermaster-general in the West
Indies. On his leaving the regiment, the officers evinced
their esteem for him by inviting him to an entertainment
prepared for the occasion, and by presenting him with a
sword valued at fifty guineas.*
" lately saw them at Shorncliffe camp. Lord Chatham desires
" lo offer his particular thanks to Lieut.-Colonel Brinley^as well
" as to Ihe ofiicers, non-commissioned ofiicers, and privates, for
" their conduct and unremitted exertions, so well attested by the
" superior appearance of the regiment, and he trusts that a per-
" severance in the same exemplary conduct, will ensure to them
" a continuance of his Royal Highness's favourable opinion.
" Lord Chatham assures the regiment that it is with the warmest
" satisfaction he has seen a corps, whose zeal and whose bravery
" it has been his good fortune to witness in the field, a'tain that
" degree of discipline, correctness, and precision, which when
" combined must ever render British soldiers invincible."
* After dinner Colonel Brinley was addressed by Major Dales
as follows -. —
" The King's Own have directed me ta inform you that, while
" they rejoice at your promotion, they feel much distressed at
'' parting with an ofiicer whose whole time has been so zealously
¦' and successfully employed for the general welfare of the corps.
" It is their intention to beg your acceptance of a small mark of
" their universal esteem, and it naturally suggested itself to them
" that a SWORD was the most appropriate token ; and, while it
" will keep alive your attachment to them, opportunities will pro-

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 89
During the summer of this year both battalions were 1605
encamped on Beachy Head, where they were reviewed in
brigade, with the twenty-third regiment, commanded by
Major-General the Honourable Edward Paget, by their
Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of
York. Bonaparte, after having been crowned King of Italy,
and having added Genoa to his empire, proceeded to Bou-
logne;and reviewed his army ; and immediately afterwards
marched against the forces of Russia and Austria, to crush
at once the coalition forraing against his interests, in
which the British cabinet was taking a decided part. At
the sarae tirae the French troops were withdrawn from
Hanover, which country they had seized on soon after
the resuming of hostilities in 1803. On the 2lst of
October the glorious victory at Trafalgar was won by
the fleet, which gave Great Britain the uncontrolled
sovereignty of the sea : and on the 27th of that month
the first battalion of the King's Own embarked at Rams-
gate for Hanover. Having landed at Cuxhaven on the
1 9th of November, it marched up the country and was
cantoned at Blumenthal, where it was formed in brigade

" bably occur when it will be drawn in defence of the best of
" Kings and best of governments."
To which the colonel replied : — " I beg leave to express in
" the warmest terms, how much I feel the marked attention showed
" me by this very elegant entertainment, I return you a thou-
" sand thanks for the testiniony of your attachment, esteem, and
" regard, manifested by the proposed present of a superb sword,
" which I shall wear with pride, and I hope with honour to the
" end of my life. To your assistance alone, during the three
" years I have had the honour to command you, am I indebted
" for enabling me to bring the King's Own regiment to its present
" state of perfection ; and I attribute the recent mark of favour
" which his Majesty has heen graciously pleased to confer on me,
" to your generous aid."

90 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
J 805 with the twenty-third and twenty-eighth regiments under
Major-General Honourable E. Paget ; the British troops
in Hanover designed to co-operate with the continental
powers being under the orders of Lieut.-General Lord
Cathcart. Meanwhile the Austrians had been over
powered by Bonaparte, who had taken possession of
Vienna; and the united Austrian and Russian armies
were defeated in the beginning of December at Austerhtz,
which established the preponderance of French power.
In a subsequent treaty concluded at Vienna, it was stipu
lated, that Hanover should be occupied by the Prussians,
and the British troops under Lord Cathcart retreated to
Bremen and embarked for England.
1806 The first battalion of the King's Own landed at Yar
mouth in February, 1806, and marched to Woodbridge
barracks ; from whence it proceeded in May to Col
chester : the second battalion was quartered at Chelms
ford.
1807 The influence of French councils at the court of Den
mark, with the expectation that its navy would be
employed by Bonaparte against Great Britain, occasioned
the British court to resolve to obtain possession of the
Danish fleet either by treaty or force, and to retain it
until the conclusion of the war. An armament was fitted
out for this service, and the first battalion of the King's
Own erabarked at Harwich on the 25th of July, to form
nart of the land force under the orders of Lieut.-General
Lord Cathcart. The Danish governraent not acceding
to the proposed conditions, the array landed on the
island of Zealand, and took up a position before Copen
hagen, the King's Own being formed in brigade with
the twenty-third regiment, under the orders of Major-
General Grosvenor. After a bombardraent of three days
the city surrendered, and the fleet was given up. The

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 91
King's Own, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Wynch, occu- 1807
pied the citadel, where Lord Cathcart fixed his head
quarters. On the evacuation of Copenhagen, the King's
Own re-embarked, and after landing at Deal on the Gth
and 7th of November, raarched to Colchester. The
second battalion had, in the mean time, proceeded to
Jersey.* Although the forces of Russia and Prussia had been ] 808
defeated, and a most humiliating peace concluded at
Tilsit, yet Sweden still resisted the power of Bonaparte ;
and the first battalion of the Fourth, or King's Own,
after receiving the thanks of parliament for its conduct
at Copenhagen, was selected to forra part of a body of
troops placed under the coraraand of Lieut.-General Sir
John Moore, to support the Swedish monarch. The
King's Own, having erabarked at Harwich on the 28th
of April, 1808, arrived at Gottenburg; but, to the sur
prise of the troops, they were interdicted landing by the
decree of the King of Sweden, who, though desirous of
obtaining British aid (like his predecessor, the Great.
Gustavus Adolphus, who in 1632 had eighteen British
regiraents in his army), yet he proved so imbecile of
mind, and purposed to employ his British auxiliaries in
so absurd a manner, that the expedition returned to
England. Meanwhile important events had transpired in the
Peninsula. Bonaparte, after reducing to submission to
his inexorable will all Germany, and forcing Russia to
accede to his decrees, was prompted by his restless am
bition to attempt the subjugation of Spain and Portugal.
Having resolved to comraence with the latter, he cora-

* In 1808 the ofiicers' lace, epaulettes, and buttons, were
directed to be changed from silver to gold.

92 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1808 pelled Spain to join in the enterprise; and when Portugal
was subdued, he seized on the Spanish monarchy. The
inhabitants revolted against his authority. A British
force, coraraanded by Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wel-
lesley, proceeded to their aid : and on the return of the
King's Own from Gottenburg, they were immediately
ordered to proceed to the Peninsula. Having landed in
Maceira Bay, in Portugal, on the 25th of August, they
advanced on Lisbon, and after the French army capitu
lated and vacated Portugal, they encamped within two
leagues of Lisbon.
When Lieut.-General Sir John Moore was appointed
to the coramand of the British troops in Portugal, and
directed to advance to the assistance of the Spaniards,
the King's Own, coraraanded by Lieut.-Colonel Wynch,
were formed in brigade with the twenty-eighth and forty-
second regiments, under the orders of Major-General
Lord William Bentinck ; the Fourth led the right
column in the march through Portugal into Spain, and
arrived at Salamanca on the 14th of November. Al
though the Spanish forces, which were to have co
operated with Sir John Moore, were defeated and dis
persed, and Bonaparte had three hundred thousand men
in Spain, yet the British general, with that intrepidity
which marked his character, advanced with his army
into the heart of Spain, braved the numerous legions of
the eneray, and produced a diversion favourable to
the Spanish cause. When Napoleon directed eighty
thousand raen and two hundred cannon against
Sir John Moore, he raarched towards the coast ;
and by superior skill escaped from the overwhelming
numbers by which he was menaced. Great privation
and suffering were endured by the troops during this re
treat of two hundred and fifty miles, in the depth of

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 93
winter, over mountains and rivers, exposed to snow- 1808
storms and heavy rains, and pursued by an enemy of
superior numbers. During the retreat the King's Own
preserved their efficiency, and their grenadier company,
coraraanded by Captain Faunce, did not lose a raan.
At length the army arrived at Corunna, and the war- 1809
worn British soldiers obtained shelter, warm food, and a
short repose, at the town and neighbouring villages,
where their wasted strength was recruited, and their
damaged arras were exchanged for new, while they
awaited the arrival of shipping to transport thera to
England. The shipping arrived, and while arrangeraents were
raaking for the erabarkation, the British troops, amount
ing to fourteen thousand five hundred men, were in po
sition on an inferior range of heights in front of Corunna ;
and the Fourth were on the right of Lieut.-General Sir
David Baird's division, behind the village of Elvina.
On the 16th of January, 1809, twenty thousand
French troops assembled on the opposite hills; about
two in the afternoon a heavy battery opened its fire ; and
three columns of the enemy, covered by clouds of skir
mishers, descended the raountains, and drove in the
British piquets. The first column carried the village of
Elvina; then dividing, attempted to turn the right of
Lieut.-General Sir David Baird's division by the valley,
and to break its front ; at the same time the second column
advanced against the British centre ; and the third at
tacked the left at the village of Palavia Abaxo. The brunt
of the battle on the right was sustained by the Fourth,
forty-second, and fiftieth regiments, coraraanded by
Major-General Lord Williara Bentinck, and this brigade
resisted the furious onset of the enemy with a firmness
which proved the unconquerable spirit and excellent dis-

94 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1809 cipline of the troops. The enemy's attempt to turn the
right flank by the vall'ey occasioned the right wing of the
Fourth to be thrown back, and the regiment opening a
heavy flanking fire with terrible effect, it forced its oppo
nents back in confusion ; while the forty-second and
fiftieth attacked those breaking through the village of
Elvina. Sir John Moore watching this manoeuvre with
care, saw the noble exhibition of valour made by the
King's Own, and the repulse of the enemy by the flank
ing fire, with feelings of exultation, and called out,
" That is exactly what I wanted to be done. I am glad
" to see a regiment the7-e in which I have so much con-
" fidence ;" but in a short tirae afterwards this distin
guished commander was mortally wounded by a cannon-
ball, and died regretted by the army. Eventually the
French were defeated on all sides, and they sought refuge
on the high ridge of hills from which they^ had descended.
Thus ended a conflict which was glorious to the British
arms ; the army having repulsed its adversaries, embarked
during the night and succeeding day, and returned to
England. The King's Own had their commanding officer,
Lieut.-Colonel Wynch, with Captain John Williamson,
Lieutenant Vere Hunt, Ensigns J. P. Jameson and
Reardon, wounded ; Ensign Reardon died of his
wounds. Lieut.-Colonel Wynch was rewarded with a
medal; and the distinguished conduct of the regiment
procured for it the honourable privilege of bearing the
word Corunna on its colours.
Having landed at Portsniouth on the 31st of January,
the King's Own marched to Colchester Barracks, where
the second battahon, which had returned from Jersey,
was also stationed. The militia being again allowed to
extend their services to the line, upwards of seven

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 95
hundred volunteered for the Fourth, and the establish- 1809
ment of the first battahon was raised to twelve hundred,
and the second to a thousand men.
An attack on Holland by a body of troops commanded
by General the Earl of Chatham having been resolved
upon, both battalions of the King's Own, — the first
coraraanded by Lieut,-Colonel Wynch, and the second by
Lieut.-Colonel Espinasse, marched for Deal and em
barked on the 16th of July ; they were formed in brigade
with the twenty-eighth regiment, under Major-General
the Earl of Dalhousie. This brigade formed part of the
reserve under Lieut.-General Sir John Hope, and landed
on the 1st of August on the island of South Beveland,
where it was stationed during the attack and capture of
Flushing, on the island of Walcheren. Some delay
taking place in the naval arrangements, the enemy had
time to make preparations for a powerful resistance ; at
the sarae tirae a severe epidemic fever broke out among
the English troops, and the attack on Antwerp was re
linquished. In September the regiment was withdrawn from South
Beveland, and having landed at Harwich on the 16th of
that month, returned to Colchester Barracks much re
duced in numbers by the Walcheren fever.
The second battalion left Colchester in January, 1810, I8I0
embarked at Portsmouth for Gibraltar, and was subse
quently stationed in garrison at Ceuta.
In the autumn the first battalion was again called upon
to transfer its services to the Peninsula, where the war
continued to rage, and Marshal Massena was advancing
with a powerful army to complete the conquest of
Portugal. Having erabarked at Harwich on the 24th of
October on board the Agincourt, of 64 guns, and Brune
frigate, the King's Own, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel

96 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1810 Wynch, sailed for Portugal ; they landed at Lisbon on
the 4th of Noveraber, and advancing up the country to
join the array commanded by Lord WelHngton, then in
the lines of Torres Vedras, were brigaded with the
second battalions of the thirtieth and forty-fourth regi
ments, commanded by Major-General Dunlop, in the
fifth division, under the orders of Major-General James
Leith, and were stationed at Alcoentra, from whence they
proceeded in Deceraber to Torres Vedras.
1811 Colonel Wynch was appointed to command a brigade
in the light division ; but, unfortunately for the service,
and to the deep regret of all who knew him, this excellent
and distinguished oflScer died at Lisbon on the 6th of
January following, of a fever, caught in the discharge of
his duty at the advanced-posts of the army. Lieut.-
Colonel Bevan succeeded to the comraand of the first bat
talion, and Major Brooke was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant-colonel, and appointed to the second battalion.
The King's Own remained at Torres Vedras until the
French array, having been reduced by sickness and other
causes, retreated towards Spain ; — the regiment then
raoved forward in pursuit, and the eneray's rear was
harassed and attacked with varied success.
On the 2d of April the Fourth marched through
Guarda; on the following day they passed the Coa with
their division by the bridge of Sabugal ; and the enemy,
having been previously attacked by the light division,
was forced to raake a precipitate retreat, and he fell back
upon Alfayates.
The French having retreated on Ciudad Rodrigo, the
allied army stood triuraph nt on the confines of Portugal,
from whence the King's Own advanced into Spain, and
were cantoned at Aldea de Bispo from the 9th of April
to the beginning of May.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 97
When Marshal Massena advanced to the relief of A I- 1811
meida, the allied army went into position to oppose his
progress, and the fifth division taking post near Fort
Conception, on the left of the line, was not attacked ; the
Fourth regiment was consequently not engaged in the
action at Fuentes d'Onor.
After the repulse of the French army, the garrison of
Almeida lost all hope of assistance, and the commandant
made preparations for destroying the works, and for
vacating the place. At midnight, on the 10th of May,
he exploded the mines, and sallying forth in a compact
column, broke through the blockading force; but was
followed by a few men collected on the instant, and by
the thirty-sixth regiment. Early on the following
morning, as the King's Own were on the march to
Barba del Puerco, they heard the firing of musketry at a
distance, and hastened towards the scene of conflict. The
enemy was on the march ; but the British soldiers,
throwing off their knapsacks, followed at such a pace, that
they overtook the rear of the column in the act of de
scending the deep chasm of Barba del Puerco. Many
were killed and wounded, and three hundred were taken ;
but the remainder escaped. The King's Own had two
rank and file killed, and one lieutenant and ten rank and
file wounded.
On the 15th of June the regiraent was stationed at
Nava de Aver, in Portugal, where it remained three
weeks, forraing part of the four divisions of infantry left
behind the Agueda to observe the raoveraents of the
French army under Marshal Marmont during the time
the second siege of Badajoz was undertaken. When the
enemy moved southwards, the regiraent directed its raarch
by Castello Branco for the Alentejo; and went- into po
sition on the Caya, being hutted near the wood and town

98 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1811 of Aronches until the 2d of July, when it proceeded to
Portalegre, While at this station the Fourth had the raisfortune
to lose their comraanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Bevan,
who died on the Sth of July, and was buried with mih
tary honours in the castle- yard, all the oflScers of the di
vision attending. He was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel
Brooke, and brevet Lieut.-Colonel Faunce was appointed
lieutenant-colonel in the regiment and placed at the head
of the second battalion.
The regiment left its quarters in Portalegre on the 21st
of July, and was hutted near that town seven days, when
it proceeded into cantonments at Castel de Vide. When
Lord Wellington raoved towards the Agueda with the
view of rescuing Ciudad Rodrigo from the power of the
enemy, the Fourth crossed the Tagus by the bridge of
boats, and proceeding by Castello Branco, entered Spain
on the llth of August at Navas Frias. After passing
seven days in huts near St. Payo, they proceeded into
cantonments at Pena Parda ; but returned to their huts
on the 26th of August, and back to quarters on the 2d of
Septeraber, where they remained until the 26th of that
month : meanwhile Ciudad Rodrigo was blockaded, and
Lord Wellington's head quarters were at Fuentes Gui-
naldo. When Marshal Marmont advanced to relieve this
fortress, the Fourth remained with their division at St.
Payo, watching the passes from Estremadura. In the
subsequent manoeuvres they were not brought into action
with the enemy ; and after the retreat of the French
army, they were stationed at Guarda, in Portugal.
1812 The enemy being deceived by the seemingly careless
winter attitude of the allied army, left Ciudad Rodrigo
to the protection of its garrison ; and the British com
mander, profiting by this omission, coraraenced the siege

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 99
of this important fortress in the early part of January, 1812
1812 with four divisions ; the King's Own remained in
quarters at Bobadela, where they had proceeded on the
7th of December. On the receipt of inteUigence that
Marshal Marmont was collecting his forces to succour
the place, the whole army was brought forward and
posted in the villages on the Coa, ready to cross the
Agueda and give battle. Ciudad Rodrigo was captured
by storm during the night of the 19th of January ; and
the Fourth were cantoned in the suburbs of that fortress
from the 20th of January to the 23d of February.
In consequence of the great diflBculty experienced in
procuring land carriage for the supplies of the army,
many of the regiments had to proceed a considerable dis
tance for their clothing, and the King's Own marched
for that purpose from Ciudad Rodrigo to Penacova,
where the clothing arrived by water from Coimbra ; that
in use having been in wear during two years of hard service.
Meanwhile the fifth division was proceeding towards
the Alentejo to engage in the siege of Badajoz, and the
regiment joined its brigade at Campo Mayor on the 24th
of March. On the 30th of that month it proceeded to
Elvas ; on the 4th of April it bivouacked near the city of
Badajoz, and three breaches, which were deemed prac
ticable, having been made, the regiment was formed on
the evening of the 6th ready to take part in the storm
ing of this strong fortress. On this occasion the fifth
division was directed to raake a false attack on the Par-
daleras, and a real assault on the bastion of San Vincente ;
the King's Own, headed by Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, led
the assault of the bastion.
The division advanced in silence from its bivouac-
ground towards the remote side of the town ; the sky was
clouded and the air thick with watery exhalations, and as
h2

100 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1812 the troops approached the lofty fortress, a low murraur
was heard in the trenches, lights were seen passing to and
fro along the ramparts, and the loud voices of the French
sentinels proclaimed that all was well in Badajoz. The
garrison watching from its lofty station the approach of
its adversaries, stood prepared with every means of de
struction which art could devise, and each soldier had
three loaded muskets beside him, that the first fire might
be quick and fatal. As the British soldiers approached
the fortress with ladders and weapons, the sight of the
formidable works and towering walls awakened in their
resolute hearts an eagerness for the assault, and they ad
vanced with audacity to meet that fiery destruction which
their adversaries were prepared to pour down upon them.
Major-General Walker's brigade, led by the King's
Own, having gained the bank of the Guadiana, advanced
along the margin of the river, and the sound of their foot
steps being rendered inaudible by the rippling of the
waters, they reached the French guard-house at the
barrier-gate of the Olivenqa road undiscovered ; but at
that moment an explosion took place at the breach, and
the moon emerging from behind the clouds, the French
discovered the column and gave the alarm. The glacis
was mined, the ditch deep, the scarp thirty feet high, and
the parapet fined with bold troops ; yet the British
soldiers springing forward under a sharp fire commenced
hewing down the wooden barrier at the covered way.
The Portuguese, being panic-stricken, threw down the
scaling-ladders, but others snatched them up again, and
having forced the barrier, jumped into the ditch. The
guiding engineer was killed, and the ladders were found
too short, for the walls were generally above thirty feet
high ; at the same time a raine was sprung beneath the
soldiers' feet, bearas of wood and live shells were rolled

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. IQl
over on their heads, showers of grape swept the ditch, 1812
and man after man dropped dead from the ladders. At
1-ength three ladders were reared against a corner of the
bastion, where the scarp was only twenty feet high, and
one man climbing an embrasure which had no gun, and
was only stopped by a gabion, was pushed to the top by
his comrades ; he drew others after hira until many had
gained the summit ; and although the French opened a
sharp fire against them from both flanks, and from a
house in front, yet their numbers increased and they
could not be driven back. Half the King's Own regi
ment entered the town to dislodge the enemy from the
houses, while the others pushed along the ramparts, and,
by hard fighting, won three bastions. Major-General
Walker, leading the attack of the last bastion, fell covered
with wounds ; and several of the soldiers observing a
lighted match on the ground, cried out, "A mine." The
troops retiring hastily for fear of an explosion, were at
that moment attacked by a French reserve, and driven
back with great loss as far as the San Vincente, where
the pursuing enemy was destroyed by the fire of a bat
tahon of the thirty-eighth, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel
Nugent, posted in reserve. The storming party rallied,
and, returning to the attack, once more charged along the
breaches, and were engaged with the enemy.
In the meantime, the men of the King's Own who had
entered the town, finding the streets empty, the houses
illuminated with lamps, and no appearance of opposition
excepting a few shots fired by the Spaniards from under
neath the doors, they advanced with bugles sounding
towards the great square of the town, capturing in their
progress several mules laden with ammunition proceeding
towards the breaches. Arriving at the square, it was

102 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1812 found empty as the streets, the houses decorated with
lamps; a low whispering was heard, and the lattices were
occasionally opened and shut, but no troops appeared to
be in the buildings. The castle had been won by the
British troops; but at the breaches the fight was still
raging, and dreadful sounds like the deep tones of distant
thunder echoed through the town ; the King's Own
rushed to the scene of conflict to attack the garrison in
reverse, but were assailed by a heavy fire of musketry
and forced back by superior numbers. At length the
garrison was forced from the breaches, partial actions
afterwards took place in various quarters, and eventually
the governor, finding all lost, escaped with part of his
garrison to the fort of St. Christoval, on the opposite side
of the river, where he surrendered.
In the storming of Badajoz the Fourth had Captain
H. T. Belhngham and Lieutenant Francis Staveley
killed ; Lieutenants Williara Sheppard and Martin Dane
died of their wounds ; Major Alured W. Faunce, Cap
tains John Williarason, G. W. Wilson, Robert Anwyl,
and Thomas Burke, with Lieutenants W. S. L. Alley,
J. Salvin, Patrick Conroy, John Browne, John Craster,
Hygat Boyd, and Ensigns Robert Arnold and Edward
Rawlings, wounded : the regiment also sustained a loss
of two hundred and thirteen Serjeants, drummers, and
rank and file, killed and wounded.
The excellent conduct of the brigade was mentioned in
Lord Wellington's despatch ; and Lieut.-Colonel Brooke,
who commanded the regiment, was also spoken of in
terms of coraraendation.
During the assault. Private George Hatton, of the
light company of the King's Own, bayonetted the oflBcer
who carried the colours of the regiraent of Hesse d'Arm-

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 103
stadt, in the French service, and captured the colours, 1812
which he had the honour of presenting on the following
day to Lord Wellington, who rewarded him with a present
of money, and desired that he might be proraoted.
The King's Own acquired by its gallantry on this oc
casion the honour of the royal permission to bear the
word Badajoz on its colours.
Shortly after the capture of Badajoz the Fourth
marched with the army towards the Agueda ; on the 14th
of May, the second battalion joined from Ceuta ; and
the brigade, consisting of the two battalions of the King's
Own, and second battalions of the thirtieth and forty.
fourth regiments, was commanded by Major-General
Pringle; Major-General Walker having returned to
England in consequence of his wounds received at the
storming of Badajoz.
The Fourth advanced with the array to Salaraanca,
and this city being rescued from the power of the enemy,
exhibited a scene of tumultuous joy and rejoicing ; the
houses were illuminated, and the people, shouting and
singing, welcomed their deliverers ; while the army took
up a position on the raountain of St. Christoval a few
railes in advance ; but the Fourth reraained behind the
Torraes, and the forts which the enemy occupied at
Salamanca were besieged. Marshal Marmont advancing
on the 20th of June, to succour the forts, the regiment
crossed the Torraes and was formed with the army in
order of battle on the top of the mountain. After the
capture of the forts, the enemy retired towards the
Douro, and the regiment descended the heights and fol
lowed the French army, which took up a new position
near Tordesillas.
The Kings Own bivouacked in front of Tordesillas

104 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1812 from the 2d to the 9th of July, and at Nava del Rey
until the 16th ; the weather being fine, the country rich,
rations regularly supplied, and wine abundant, the soldiers
fared luxuriously; but the enemy having passed the
Douro and the Trabancos, turned the left of the allies,
and raarched on the 18th of July towards the Guarena,
when the British retired. The two arraies directing their
march towards the Guarena as to one comraon goal, and
important results depending on which should first pass
the stream, a strife of speed arose. Several of the hostile
columns, proceeding in parallel lines a distance of ten
miles, within musket-shot of each other, marched im
petuously towards the stream in perfect order, while
clouds of dust arose, and a most interesting spectacle
presented itself; for the oflScers on each side, being
strangers alike to malice and to fear, were seen pointing^
with their swords, touching their caps, or waving their
hands in courtesy as they urged their course towards the
river. The British gained the stream first ; the soldiers
being ,torraented with thirst, raany of thera drank as they
marched, and others halting in the river a few moments,
were saluted with a shower of bullets ; but they passed
on, and the French marshal's designs were frustrated.
He, however, passed the river on the 20th of July higher
up, turned the right flank of the allied array, and gained
a new range of hills; when Lord Wellington made a
corresponding raoveraent, and an evolution similar to that
on the 1 8th was repeated, and it ended in the British re
suming their position on the heights of St. Christoval.
The King's Own forded the Tormes on the following
day, and were posted in position with the army near
Salamanca. These bold manoeuvres of the enemy were watched by

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 105
the British commander, who waited patiently for an op- 1812
portunity to strike a decisive blow, and this occurring on
the 22d of July, a sanguinary battle was fought. In the
early part of the day the King's Own were posted on the
slope of one of the heights, called the Arapiles, where
they remained until the afternoon, when they raoved to
the rear of the village of Arapiles ; Lord WeUington
having detected a fault in his adversaries' raoveraents,
ordered his divisions forward, and the battle commenced.
In this action the fifth division, commanded by Major-
General Sir Jaraes Leith, attacking the eneray in front,
distinguished itself; and the King's Own, — the first bat
talion being coraraanded by Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, and
the second by Major David Williarason — had their share
in the glories of the day. During the action the first bat
talion raade a brilliant charge on a considerable body of
the eneray, and nobly sustained its reputation. The skill
of the British coraraander was bravely seconded by the
resolute valour and discipline of the troops ; the action
lasted until dark, a decisive victory was gained over the
eneray, and eleven pieces of cannon, two eagles, and six
colours were captured. The gallantry evinced by the
King's Own was afterwards rewarded by the privilege of
bearing the word Salamanca on their colours ; the com
manding oflScers of both battalions were rewarded with
raedals ; Major David Williarason was also proraoted to
the rank of lieutenant-colonel on the occasion. Major
Piper, who succeeded to the coraraand of the first bat
talion during the action in consequence of Lieut.-Colonel
Brooke* being called upon to take the comraand of the
* Lieut.-General Leith was wounded during the action, when
Major-General Pringle assuraed the command of the fifth division,
and Lieut.-Colonel Brooke that of the brigade.

106 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1812 brigade, was likewise rewarded with a medal and the
rank of lieutenant-colonel; and Major Alured Faunce,
who commanded the light infantry corapanies of the
brigade, also received a medal. The regiment had Major
O'Halloran wounded, and forty-eight Serjeants and rapk
and file killed and wounded.
The troops pursued the flying enemy on the following
day, and after numerous marches and evolutions, the
first battalion of the King's Own proceeded with the
army to Madrid, where the British were received with
acclamations of joy. Meanwhile the second battalion was
in cantonments at Cuellar, with the sixth division under
Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton ; but in September
the two battalions were united in front of Burgos during
the siege of the castle.
When the concentration of the enemy's forces and the
failure of the attack on Burgos rendered a retrograde
movement necessary, the army withdrew in the night,
and the French following in full career, several skirmishes
occurred. On the 24th of October the army was in
position behind the Carion, and the King's Own were
bivouacked near Villa Muriel. The position was attacked
on the following day, and a French column having passed
the river, took some prisoners at the village and lined the
bed of a canal; the brigade under Major-General Prin-
gle's orders was directed to clear the canal, and the
Fourth advanced against their adversaries. The French
troops were driven back, the village was re-occupied in
force, and the canal was lined by the alhed troops ; but the
array withdrew before day-break on the 26th and the
retreat was resumed.
The army took up positions from time to time to
retard the advance of the enemy ; and having crossed

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 107
the Douro and the Tormes, it was posted behind the 1812
latter river until the middle of November ; when a
further retreat to Ciudad Rodrigo took place. The
King's Own having entered Portugal went into winter
quarters at the villages of Valdigeen and Saude, in the
vicinity of Lamego.
Both battalions having sustained considerable loss
during this carapaign, the second transferred its private
men fit for duty to the first battalion on the 24th of
December, and, proceeding to England, was sta
tioned in Colchester barracks, where it was shortly
afterwards recruited in nurabers by volunteers frora the
railitia. The second battalions of the thirtieth and forty-fourth
regiraents being also reduced in numbers were sent to
England, and the first battalion of the King's Own
reraaining in cantonraents on the northern frontiers of
Portugal, was united in brigade with the second battalions
of the forty-seventh and fifty-ninth regiments, under the
orders of Major-General F. P. Robinson.
The campaign of 1813 was opened in May, when the 1813
army, entering Spain, advanced against the enemy ; the
Fourth formed part of the force which traversed the
mountainous country of Tras-os-Montes, turned the
enemy's position on the Douro, and forced hira to retreat ;
the rear of the retiring array was closely followed in its
retrograde raoveraent ; and the enemy, having blown up
the castle of Burgos, took a position on the Ebro, frora
which he was forced by a flank raoveraent.
The King's Own, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel
Brooke, shared in the privations and fatigues consequent
upon a march of several hundred miles, sometimes tra
versing romantic mountain scenery, ascending rugged

108 historical RECORD OF
1813 precipices, or crossing rivers ; on the 20th of June,
they were bivouacked at Margina, from whence they
advanced on the following day to attack the French
army coraraanded by Joseph Bonaparte in its position in
front of Vittoria.
The regiment forraed part of the force under Lieut.-
General Sir Thoraas Graham, which advanced against
the right of the French army by the Bilboa road, and
having taken possession of Gamara Minor, the Fourth,
forty-seventh, and fifty-ninth regiraents were sent forward
in colurans of battalions, with the heroic Major-General
Robinson at their head, to storm the village of Gamara
Major, which was occupied as a tete-de-pont to the bridge
across the Zadora. Supported by two guns of Major
Lawson's brigade of artillery, the three regiments advanced
with a determined countenance/, the French artillery
opened a destructive fire, and volleys of rausquetry assailed
the brigade in front ; yet, undismayed by the storra of
bullets which rent chasms in the ranks, the British regi
ments bore down upon their adversaries with fixed bayo
nets, drove the enemy from the village with great slaughter,
and captured three guns.
This success was followed by an attack on the village
of Abechuco, by the first division. Meanwhile the
French made great efforts to repossess theraselves of
Gamara Major; but were repulsed, and Abechuco was
carried. The possession of these villages enabled the troops to
attack the bridges across the Zadora ; but these bridges
were coraraanded by a division of the enemy posted on
the heights beyond the river. Here the King's Own,
led by the gallant Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, had another
opportunity of displaying their native valour ; they

the fourth REGIMENT OF FOOT. 109
charged three times across the bridge of Gamara Major ; i813
and when the centre columns of ^e British army had
penetrated to the vicinity of Vittoria, the enemy
vacated the heights, the river was passed, and the retreat
of the French array by the high road to France was
intercepted. Finally the French army was thrown into
confusion, and driven from the field with the loss of its
artillery, aramunition-waggons, and all its baggage and
equipages. The Fourth had Lieutenant George Thorne, and
Lieutenant and Adj utant Thomas Barker killed ; with
Captains John Williarason, John E. Kipping, Jaraes
Ward, Charles James Edgell, and Ensign John M'Cro-
hon, wounded ; also seventy-five non-commissioned oflS
cers and soldiers killed and wounded. Their gallant
conduct was afterwards rewarded with the honour of
bearing the word Vittoria inscribed on their colours.
After this victory the King's Own were detached, with
the remainder of the left column, towards Bilboa,
with the view of intercepting a body of French under
General Foy, who retreated on Bayonne. After the
enemy was driven beyond the frontiers of Spain, the
regiment was engaged in the siege of the strong and
important fortress of St. Sebastian, and supported the
unsuccessful assault of the works on the 25th of July :
it also had the honour of taking a conspicuous and im
portant part in storming the breach on the 31st of
August. When the assaulting party, led by the King's Own,
filed out of the trenches, it was saluted with a terapest
of shells and grape-shot which blazed in the air, tore up
the ground, and menaced the brigade with instant de
struction ; yet, urged forward by their native ardour and

110 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1813 thirst for glory, the soldiers rushed through this dreadful
storra of bullets tow^ds the breach, where they encoun
tered diflSculties almost insuperable. Many of the King's
Own, evincing their inborn valour and contempt of
danger, rushed up the breach and perished ; others
following, shared the same fate. Every exertion and
device which the most determined bravery could inspire
were repeatedly tried in vain, no raan outliving the attempt
to gain the ridge. Lieutenant Le Blanc of the Fourth,
who led the light infantry corapany of the regiment
immediately after the forlorn hope, particularly distin
guished hiraself, and was the only surviving officer of
the advance. At length the British heavy guns were
turned against the curtain, and the bullets, which passed
a few feet only above the heads of the soldiers at the
breach, having produced some effect, another strenuous
effort was raade to gain the high ridge. The officers and
soldiers rushing forward with enthusiastic gallantry, were
favoured by the explosion of a raine, and the breach was
forced. The town was iramediately captured, and the
citadel surrendered a few days afterwards.
The gallant behaviour of the King's Own on this
occasion is set forth in the following copy of a letter
frora Major-General Robinson to the colonel of the regi
ment. St. Sebastian, 5th September, 1813.
" My Lord,
" 1 feel it my duty to inform your lordship of the
" gallant conduct of the first battalion of the King's
" Own at the attack of the breach of these works on the
" Slst August. The first attack was the exclusive duty
" of the second brigade, consisting of the Fourth, forty-

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. m
' seventh, and fifty-ninth, with a company of Brunswick 1813
' Oels sharp-shooters ; or rather of a thousand raen of
' the brigade ; the remainder, to the amount of two hun-
' dred and fifty, were in the trenches and waited further
' orders. " The Fourth led, and perhaps in the whole history
' of war there cannot be found a stronger instance of
' courage and obedience to orders, for the instructions
' were to make a lodgement on the breach only ; there
' to wait support. The lodgement was effected under
' the raost tremendous fire of grape and rausquetry that
' can be imagined, and our loss was dreadful, that of the
' Fourth only is twelve officers, nineteen Serjeants, and
' two hundred and thirty rank and file killed and wounded.
' The other regiments emulated the Fourth, and called
' forth the acclamations of the generals, and thousands
' who were looking on. It was not until after three hours
' hard fighting that the lodgement was certain, after
' which, by the premature springing of one of the enemy's
' mines, the town was soon carried.
" This action, so soon after that of Vittoria, requires
' that I should report the conduct of the regiment in the
warmest manner to your lordship, and I feel it but
justice to a few individuals, who from accidental causes
had opportunities of doing more than others, to raention
their names. Captain Williamson commanded the
regiraent, and was twice wounded after he had reached
' the top of the breach. Captain Jones succeeded, not
' only to the coramand of the regiment, but on my being
' obliged to quit the field, to that of the brigade, and ,
' acquitted himself most admirably. My acting aide-
' de-camp, Captain Wood, left me at my request, and
' by his judgment and example contributed materially
' to the success of the daring attempt. The three are

112 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1813 " excellent officers, and will ere long, I hope, prove
" theraselves equal to the duties of a higher station.
" I have, &c.
" F. P. Robinson,
Major-general, commanding second brigade,
fifth division.
" To General the Earl of Chatham, Sfc."
This brilliant display of British valour and heroism by
the second brigade, was attended with the loss of two
majors, eight captains, twenty-six lieutenants, twelve
ensigns, forty-seven Serjeants, six drummers, and five
hundred and eighty-nine rank and file killed and wounded ;
among whom were the following oflScers of the King's
Own : — Lieutenants Francis Maguire, Jonas Fawson,
W. S. A. Carrol, J. P. Jameson, and Ensign Charles
Montford killed ; with Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Piper,
Captains John Williamson, John Wynne Fletcher, Lieu
tenants Francis Le Blanc, George Heywood, William
Clarke, and Frederick Hyde, wounded.
By their gallantry on this occasion the King's Own
acquired the honour of bearing the word St. Sebastian
inscribed on their colours.
The regiment advanced from St. Sebastian to the
frontiers of France ; and on the 7th of October forded
the Bidassoa at low water for the purpose of driving the
enemy from the mountain of La Rhune. A body of
Spaniards and Portuguese co-operated on this occasion
with the first and fifth divisions ; and the French had
scarcely formed in line before they were driven from their
works, with the loss of several guns.
Thus, after chasing the boasted invincible legions of
Bonaparte from the gates of Lisbon to the utmost limits
of the Spanish boundary ; after rescuing millions from
the grasp of the oppressor, and after restoring the

THE fourth regiment OF FOOT. 113
affrighted inhabitants of the Peninsula to their homes in 1813
peace and safety, the British soldiers had burst the bar.
riers of the Pyrenees and planted their triumphant ensigns
in France, where additional laurels awaited them.
On the 10th of November the battle of the Nivelle was
fought; the fifth division being on the left, was not
seriously engaged, and the King's Own had no oppor
tunity of signaHzing themselves in action : they had
Lieutenant Salvin and several raen wounded.
After its retreat from Nivelle, the French army occu
pied an entrenched position in front of Bayonne ; the
allies passed the Nive on the 9th of Deceraber, and the
eneray having been dislodged frora a post at ViUe
Franque, withdrew his out-posts to Bayonne. But
issuing from thence on the following day, he attacked a
Portuguese brigade stationed on the high road from
Bayonne to St. Jean de Luz. The King's Own, and
other regiraents of the second brigade of the fifth division,
advancing to the assistance of the Portuguese, were
sharply engaged, and evinced great bravery and steadiness
in action. Major-General Robinson was wounded, and
the French gained some advantage ; but they were
eventually driven back and suffered severely. The
attempt was renewed, but the attacking colurans were
repulsed, and night closed on the combatants.
The enemy again attacked the division on the 1 1th of
December, but was repulsed ; in the afternoon of the
12th there was also sorae sharp skirraishing; and the
King's Own acquired, by their intrepid bearing and gal
lantry in action, the honour of bearing the word Nive on
their colours.
At the passage of the Nive, on the 9th of Deceraber,
the regiment had one man killed ; Brevet Major Robert
Anwyl, Lieutenant Eraser, and nine rank and file
I

114 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1813 wounded : Lieutenant Eraser died of his wounds. On
the 10th of December one serjeant and five rank and file
were killed ; Brevet Major Timothy Jones, Lieutenants
Edward Guichard and Frederick Hyde, with five Ser
jeants, one drummer, and thirty-nine rank and file
wounded; and twenty-two rank and file missing. On
the llth of December the King's Own bad six rank and
file kiUed; Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Piper, Lieu
tenants John Staveley, C. H. Farrington, William
Clarke, Edward Rawlins, John Sutherland, Jaraes
Marshal, and Ensign Jaraes Gardner, with eight Ser
jeants, and ninety rank and file wounded.
During the winter additional honours were conferred
on the oflScers who had commanded regiments in the late
actions ; and Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, of the King's
Own, obtained a cross inscribed Badajoz, Salamanca,
Vittoria, and St. Sebastian. Brevet Lieut.-Colonel
Piper, two clasps inscribed St. Sebastian and Nive.
Captain Kepping, who succeeded to the command of the
regiment after Lieut.-Colonel Piper was wounded, on the
llth of December, received the brevet rank of major,
and a medal inscribed Nive.
1814 Severe weather obliged the allied army to keep in its
cantonments during the month of January and part of
February, 1814 ; and operations having recoraraenced in
the middle of February, after several movements the
King's Own were employed in the blockade of Bayonne,
in which service they were engaged upwards of six weeks.
Meanwhile iraportant events had taken place in other
parts of Europe, and the oflScers and soldiers of the
British army, who had received the blessings of the unof
fending nations whom they had delivered from the power
of their enemies, and had transferred to France the cala
mities of domestic war, had the delight of witnessing the

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. H5
conflicts, toils, and sufferings they had endured for the 1814
good of Europe, followed by the enjoyments of peace.
The King's Own were afterwards rewarded with the
word Peninsula, as an additional honorary inscription
for their colours ; but, although tranquillity was restored
to Europe, they were allowed only a few days of repose
before they were called upon to transfer their services to
another scene of conflict, and were destined to fight the
battles of their country beyond the Atlantic ocean.
During the Peninsular War, the decrees of Bonaparte
to destroy the comraerce of Great Britain were foUowed
by regulations designed to counteract the enemy's plans.
These regulations, with the pressing of British seamen on
board of American ships, brought on a war between
Great Britain and the United States. When the
King's Own were separated from the second brigade of
the fifth division, in order to embark for America, Major-
General Robinson addressed the following letter to Major
Faunce, who then commanded the regiment : —
" Lower Anglet, near Bayonne, \Ath May, 1814.
" Sir, " The event of the King's Own being about to
" be separated from the second brigade, brings strongly
" to my recollection the many and great obligations I am
" under to the oflScers, non-commissioned officers, and
" privates, for repeated instances of such gallant conduct
" in the field, as never failed to draw forth the unquali-
" fied approbation of the higher ranks of this army.
" The excellent system of discipline maintained in the
" regiment, and the attention paid by each individual to
" its reputation, is also a source of real satisfaction.
" Impressed deeply with these sentiments, let me re-
" quest you wiU do me the honour to make my most
" sincere thanks acceptable to' all, with assurances of my
i2

116 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1814 " warmest wishes for their future welfare and prosperity ;
" and may I add, I shall feel myself pecuUarly fortunate
" if I should ever again be united with them on service.
(Signed) " F. P. Robinson,
" Major-General comraanding second brigade
" fifth division.
" To Major Faunce,
" Fourth, or King's Own Regiment.'''
Marching through Bayonne on the 15th of May, the
regiment proceeded to Bourdeaux, embarked on the 29th
at Pauillac on the river Garonne, under the command of
Major Alured D. Faunce, and quitted the coast of France
in the early part of June. The expedition consisted of
the FOURTH and forty-fourth, about eight hundred bayo
nets each ; the eighty-fifth, about six hundred bayo
nets; with a brigade of artillery and a detachment of
sappers and miners : the whole under the coraraand of
that very gallant and experienced leader, Major-General
Patrick Ross : the navy, consisting of one seventy-four,
two sixty-fours, five frigates, and two borab-vessels, was
under the orders of Rear- Adrairal Malcorab.
After twenty days' sailing, the fleet approached the
Azores, and the high land of St. Michael's appeared like
a blue cloud rising out of the water : as the shipping
drew near, the troops were deUghted with the view of the
numerous villages, seats, and convents which ornamented
the beach, and the lofty mountains adorned with groves
of orange trees and green pasturage rising behind. After
reraaining a short tirae at this pleasant island to take in
provisions, the fleet again put to sea, and anchored on
the evening of the 24th of July opposite the tanks in
the island of Berrauda in the West Indies, where the ex
pedition was joined by the twenty-first fusiliers, mustering
nine hundred bayonets.

THE FOURTH regiment OF FOOT. I17
The fleet remained at Berrauda, taking in stores, and 1814
establishing a magazine for the future supply of the expe
dition, until the 3d of August, when it once more put to
sea, and directing its course towards North America,
entered the bay of Chesapeake, where reinforcements
joined, and Rear- Adrairal Cockburn took charge of the
navy. On the arrival of this squadron, a powerful
American flotilla fled for refuge up the Patuxent river,
and was foUowed by the British fleet. In order to insure
the destruction of the enemy's vessels, the troops were
directed to land : on the 19th of August the stream was
suddenly covered with boats crowded with soldiers, and
by three o'clock in the afternoon the array was in position
about two miles above the village of St. Benedict, on the
right bank of the Patuxent. The troops were divided
into three brigades ; the first, consisting of the eighty-
fifth regiment, with the light companies of the Fourth,
twenty -first, and forty -fourth, a company of marines, and
a party of disciplined negroes, was commanded by
Colonel Thornton ; the second, consisting of the Fourth
and forty-fourth regiraents, was commanded by Colonel
Brooke; and the third, consisting of the twenty-first
fusiliers, and a battalion of marines, was coraraanded by
Colonel Patterson ; for want of horses only one six-
pounder, and two small three-pounders were brought on
shore. The army remained in position near St. Benedict until
four o'clock on the afternoon of the following day, when
the bugles sounded, the regiments turned out in marching
order, and proceeded in the direction of Nottingham, a
town on the banks of the Patuxent, which was found de
serted, while the appearance of the furniture, and in
some places the bread left in the ovens, showed it had
been abandoned in haste. On the 22d the army pro-

118 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1814 ceeded to the delightful village of Upper Marlborough,
situate in a well-cultivated valley about two miles broad ;
and during the raarch loud explosions were heard, which
proved to be the enemy destroying his flotilla to prevent
its falling into the hands of British searaen.
The object of the expedition had thus been accom
plished ; but, as the array had advanced within sixteen
miles of Washington, and the enemy's force was ascer
tained to be such as would authorize an attempt to carry
the capital, the troops moved forward on the 23d of
August. They had scarcely proceeded three miles when
the advance-guard encountered a party of American
riflemen, who maintained a sharp contest before they
gave way ; and arriving at a point where two roads meet,
the one leading lo Washington and the other to Alex
andria, twelve hundred Americans and some artillery
appeared on the slope of a height opposite. The army
turned along the road leading towards Alexandria, and
the Americans fled before the detachment sent against
them. Having deceived the enemy respecting the real
design of the expedition, the route was changed, and the
troops proceeded in the direction of Washington.
About noon on the 24th a heavy cloud of dust was
seen to arise at a distance, and the British troops turning
a sudden angle in the road and passing a small cluster of
trees, discovered above eight thousand American infantry,
with a numerous artillery and three hundred dragoons,
commanded by General Winder, occupying a formidable
position beyond the village of Bladensburg, where they
were awaiting the advance of their opponents.
The British, though not half so numerous as their ad.
versaries, advanced boldly to the attack ; on entering the
village the eneray's artiUery opened a tremendous fire,
and as the light brigade traversed the bridge across the

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 119
eastern branch of the Potomac river, from whence a 1814
strait^ road ran through the enemy's position to the
capital, numbers fell before a heavy fire of musketry and
artillery. The survivors having gained the opposite side
of the stream, carried a fortified house which commanded
the bridge, then dashed into the thickets on the right and
left of the road, and drove back the Araerican rifleraen,
who fled with such precipitation that they threw their
first line into disorder, and it fell back in confusion,
leaving two guns on the road. The British light infantry,
throwing off their knapsacks, pushed forward in extended
order to attack the enemy's second Une ; but a heavy fire
of musketry and artillery checked the assailants, and the
Americans advancing in force to recover the lost ground,
drove the first brigade back to the thickets on the brink
of the river, where an obstinate fight was maintained.
Meanwhile the second brigade passed the river ; the
forty-fourth moving to the right, turned the enemy's left
flank ; and the Fourth, eraulating their gallant cora-
panions, advanced in firra array, preceded by a flight of
rockets, to charge the eneray's right, which was broken
and driven from the field : many of the American sailors
who acted as gunners were bayoneted, and eight guns
were captured. The American infantry fled in dismay,
and diving into the recesses of the forests, were quickly
beyond the reach of their pursuers; and their cavalry
turned their horses' heads and galloped off : thus in one
hour the battle was won, and the third brigade, which
had formed the reserve, pushed forward at a rapid rate
for Washington.
The three British regiments which had thus defeated
about nine thousand adversaries (three times their own
number) halted a short time on the field of battle to re
form their ranks. The loss of the King's Own was

120 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1814 Lieutenant Thomas Woodward, killed ; Lieutenants
E. P. Hopkins, J. K. Mackenzie, John Staveley, Peter
Bowlby, and Frederick Field, with Ensigns J. A.
Buchanan, and WiUiam Reddock, wounded ; also
seventy-nine Serjeants and rank and file killed and
wounded. After a short halt, the King's Own, with the remainder
of the first and second brigades, moved towards Washing
ton, where the third brigade had already arrived and had
commenced destroying the arsenal, docks, magazines, and
other public property. The sun had set, and as the two
brigades approached the American capital, the conflagra
tion of buildings, ships, and stores illuminated the sky,
while the exploding of magazines shook the city, and
threw down houses in their vicinity, and the scene ex
hibited the awful reality of the horrors of war, from
which Great Britain has happily been preserved by the
enterprise and gallantry of her army and navy.
As it was not the intention of the British governraent
to atterapt perraanent conquests in this part of America,
and as it was impossible for this small body of troops to
establish themselves in the eneniy's capital, the destruc
tion of the public property, which by the customs of war
is the just spoil of the conqueror, was completed ; and
the army marched back to St. Benedict, where it re-
embarked without molestation. The conduct of the
King's Own was comraended by Major-General Ross in
his public despatches, and they were rewarded with the
honour of displaying the word Bladensburg on their
colours. After remaining a few days in the Patuxent river, the
fleet weighed anchor ; the coast was menaced at several
points, and the shipping approached so near the shore at
Annapolis, that the inhabitants were discovered flying

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 121
from their houses, waggons loaded with furniture were 1814
seen hurrying along the roads, alarm guns were fired,
beacons were blazing, and the people were apparently op
pressed with all the horrors of doubt and apprehension.
Baltimore was, however, selected as the point of attack,
and towards the river upon which that town is built the
fleet hastened under a heavy press of sail. During the
night of the llth of September the troops cooked three
days' provision, and each man received eighty rounds of
amraunition ; at three o'clock on the following morning
the boats were lowered ; a landing was effected at North
Point, thirteen miles from Baltiraore, and the army moving
forward, a division of Araericans fled frora an entrenched
position they were preparing across a neck of land towards
which the troops were advancing. About two railes be
yond this post the country was closely wooded, and the
enemy's riflemen opening a sharp fire from behind the
trees, Major-General Ross rode forward to ascertain the
disposition and numbers of the opposing force, and
mingling with the skirmishers, he was mortally wounded.
'' Thus fell at an early age one of the brightest ornaments
" of his profession ; one who, whether at the head of a
" regiment, a brigade, or a corps, had alike displayed the
" talents of command ; who was not less beloved in his
" private, than enthusiastically admired in his public
" character; and whose only fault, if it may be so
" deemed, was an excess of gallantry, enterprise, and
" devotion to the service."
The command devolved on Colonel Brooke ; and the
army moving forward, found itself in a few moments in
front of a strong position, near Nip Church in Godly wood,
occupied by six thousand adversaries, with six pieces of
artillery and a corps of cavalry. The Ught brigade im
mediately extended, and driving in the American skir-

122 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1814 raishers, menaced the whole front of their army; the
forty-fourth, a party of seamen, and the marines of the
fleet formed line behind the light infantry ; the twenty-
first, and the second battalion of marines formed column
in reserve ; and the soldiers rested themselves on the
ground, while the King's Own, led by Major Faunce,
moved to the right along some hollow ways and wood
lands, and gained, unperceived, a thicket on the enemy's
left flank. Meanwhile the deep tones of the artiUery
echoed in the woods; and the instant the Fourth
gained the thicket, the charge was sounded and repeated
by every bugle in the army ; the soldiers started from
the ground, and moving forward with a firm and resolute
tread, in the face of a shower of grape and canister shot,
approached their adversaries, who raised a loud shout,
and afterwards opened a heavy fire of musketry. This
was answered with a British huzza, — a volley of small
arms, and a rush forward at double-quick tirae with the
bayonet; and when the Americans saw the ranks of
gleaming steel draw near, they faced about and fled in
dismay into the thick woods, leaving two pieces of cannon
behind them. Fifteen minutes had sufficed to decide
the fortune of the day ; several hundreds of killed and
wounded adversaries lay scattered over the field, a
number of fugitives was intercepted and made prisoners,
and many of the American riflemen being discovered in
the trees, which they had climbed, to be enabled to take
sure aim and escape danger, the British soldiers called this
unfair, and shot them on their perches. The King's Own
had twenty-one men killed and wounded in this action.
Halting on the field of battle, the bivouac fires were
lighted, and the victorious array reposed a short time
under the canopy of heaven. Two hours after midnight
the soldiers were again under arms ; as the first glimmer-

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 123
ing of dawn appeared, they resuraed their march, and 1814
arrived in the evening at the foot of the range of hills in
front of Baltimore, where the grand American army of
upwards of fifteen thousand raen appeared occupying a
chain of pallisaded redoubts connected by a breast-work,
and defended by a numerous train of artillery. Trusting
to the innate valour and exceUent discipline of his little
array, which did not amount to one-third of the number
of the opposing host. Colonel Brooke made arrangements
for storming the hills after dark ; but having received in
timation from the commander of the naval forces that
the entrance of the harbour was closed up by vessels sunk
for that purpose, and that a naval co-operation against
the town and carap was impracticable, the enterprise was
abandoned. The troops retreated three miles on the 1 4th
of September, and then halted to see if the Americans
would venture to descend from the hills ; but though so
superior in numbers, they had no disposition to quit their
entrenchments, and the British forces retired leisurely to
their shipping and re-embarked.
The King's Own were commended in the public
despatches for their excellent conduct and discipline;
and their commanding oflBcer, Major Faunce, was in
cluded among the oflScers who distinguished theraselves.
The arraaraent remained a short time on the Araerican
coast, and inforraation having been received of the for
mation of an Araerican camp a few miles from the
Potomac river, the King's Own, with the reraainder of
the second and third brigades, landed on the night of the
4th of October, and pushed forward to attack the eneray,
who, however, had notice of the raoveraent and fled.
The regiment "returned on the 5th, and the season having
arrived when active operations could no longer be con
tinued in the Chesapeake, the fleet sailed for the West

124 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1814 Indies, and anchored in Port Royal harbour, Jamaica, on
the 31st of October, the troops remaining on board,
while the vessels took in a supply of provisions, &c.
While in the West Indies, reinforcements arrived ;
Major-General John Keane joined and took the comraand
of the expedition; and Lieut.-Colonel Brooke of the
King's Own arrived from England, where he had been
absent on account of ill health.
The next enterprise undertaken was of a most diflScult
character, namely, an atterapt on New Orleans, a town
of some note, standing on the eastern bank of the great
river Mississippi, one hundred and ten miles from the
gulph of Mexico, and so situated that the approach of
an hostile force was alraost irapossible. The fleet having
put to sea, anchored on the 10th of Deceraber off the
coast of Louisiana, opposite the Chandeleur Islands,
where the troops were removed into light vessels, and
entering Lake Borgne on the 13th, five of the eneray's
large cutters, mounting eleven guns each, were captured
by a flotilla of launches and ships' barges. Having pro
ceeded a short distance along the lake, all the vessels ran
aground ; the soldiers were then conveyed twenty miles
in open boats, during a heavy rain, to a barren spot
caUed Pine Island, which consisted of a swamp with a
piece of firm ground at one end. Here the regiraents
reraained without tents or huts, exposed to heavy rains
by day, and to frost by night, until the 22d of Deceraber,
when the King's Own, eighty-fifth, and five companies
of the ninety -fifth, embarked in open boats, and proceed
ing up the lake a distance of more than fifty miles, were
so cramped up in the boats, drenched with a heavy
rain during the day, and exposed to a sharp frost in the
night, that the men were almost deprived of the use of
their limbs. On the following morning they landed, un-

TIIE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 125
observed by the enemy, on a desert spot on the verge of 1814
a large morass about eight miles from New Orleans, and
when the men had regained the use of their benumbed
limbs, they advanced along an indistinct path on the
bank of a ditch or canal, their movements being concealed
by the tall reeds of the morass. After passing several
streams by bridges constructed at the moment, the
troops entered a cultivated region where the fields were
found covered with the stubble of the sugar-cane, and
groves of orange trees were numerous. About noon the
regiments entered a green field on the banks of the Mis
sissippi, where they halted to await the arrival of the re
mainder of the army.
Late in the evening, while many of the men were
cooking, and others were asleep, a large vessel was seen
stealing quietly up the river until she arrived opposite
the bivouac fires, and before it was ascertained whether
she was British or American a broadside of grape-shot
swept down raany soldiers in the carap. Having no
means of attacking this formidable adversary, the soldiers
took shelter behind a bank : the night was dark, and the
only light to be seen was the flashes of the eneray's guns,
as he continued to pour showers of shot into the camp.
At length a firing was heard from the advance posts, and
before the iraport of this was known a loud shout, fol
lowed by a seraicircular blaze of musketry, proved that
the piquets were surrounded by a very superior eneray.
The King's Own were instantly ordered to form in
column behind the camp, while the eighty-fifth, and five
companies of the ninety-fifth, flew to the support of the
piquets. The enemy had brought forward about five
thousand men, thinking to overwhelm this solitary bri
gade in the dark ; but the British, regardless of the su
perior numbers of their antagonists, rushed upon the op-

126 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1814 posing legions and fought, bayonet to bayonet, and sword
to sword, with a degree of energy and resolution impos
sible to describe. Some of the soldiers having lost their
bayonets in the strife, laid about them with the but-ends
of their firelocks ; numerous feats of individual gallantry
were performed, and the Americans eventually gave way
before this furious and desperate charge, and fled with
theloss of many men killed, wounded, and prisoners. The
King's Own had Captain Francis Johnston and Lieu
tenant John Sutherland killed ; also Lieutenant Thomas
Moody severely wounded; and a number of private men
killed and wounded.
Notwithstanding this victory, the troops were unable
to return to their camp, as it was completely commanded
by the fire of the American schooner, and no provision
could be procured. Meanwhile the other brigades
arrived from Pine Island, and the whole were in position
before dark on the 24th of December. Major-General
the Hon. Sir Edward Pakenham also joined to take the
command, and he was accompanied by Major-General
Gibbs. During the night a battery was constructed, and
opening a fire of red-hot shot, it destroyed the American
schooner ; but when the troops proceeded towards the
town, they encountered so many local diflSculties, were
opposed by such imraense bodies of Americans, with
extensive fortified Unes and batteries, and armed vessels
on the river, that the advance was checked and conside
rable loss sustained. Attempts were made to overcome
these diflSculties ; the canal from Bayo de Catiline was
cleared out, widened, and opened to the river, to admit
the boats frora the lake; and while the soldiers were
labouring at this work Major-General Lambert joined
with two additional regiments. Arrangements were

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 127
made for attacking the eneray's fortified lines at day- 1815
break on the morning of the 8th of January, 1815.
The boats were to be brought along the canal in the
night, part of the army was to embark, and proceeding
up the river with muflBed oars, to gain the flank and rear of
the works unperceived ; and simultaneous attacks were
to be raade on different parts of the enemy's fortified
position. This plan was, however, partly disconcerted
by the tardy arrival of the boats ; and at the moment of
attack the scaling ladders and fascines had to be sent for.
Day-light arriving, the troops were visible to the enemy,
who opened a tremendous fire, with dreadful execution.
Under these disadvantages, the British rushed forward to
storm the position in front. A detachment of the King's
Own, twenty-first, and ninety-fifth, captured a three-
gun battery, and advanced to attack a body of Arae
ricans who were forming for its recovery ; but having to
pass a deep ditch by a single plank, they were repulsed ;
and the enemy forcing his way into the battery, re-cap
tured it with iraraense slaughter. Meanwhile the re
mainder of the King's Own were exposed to a dreadful
fire, and the regiment was nearly annihilated by the
terapest of bullets by which it was assailed. Major-
General Pakenham having galloped to the front to
encourage the men, was shot on the top of the glacis.
Major-Generals Gibbs and Keane were borne from the
field dangerously wounded; and success being found
impracticable, the troops withdrew from the unequal
contest. The King's Own had upwards of four hundred
men killed and wounded in this desperate service : also.
Lieutenant Edward Field, and Ensign WiUiara Crowe,
killed; and Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Brooke, Brevet
Lieutenant-Colonels Alured D. Faunce, and Tiraothy
Jones, Brevet Major John WiUiaiuson, Captains John

128 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1815 Wynne Fletcher, Robert Erskine, and David S. Craig,
Lieutenants J. P. Hopkins, Jeffrey Salvin, W. H.
Brooke, Benjamin Martin, George Richardson, Peter
Bowlby, George H. Hearne, William Squires, C. H.
Farrington, Jaraes Marshall, Henry Andrews, and Ad
jutant Williara Richardson, with Ensigns Arthur Gerard,
Thomas Benwell, J. L. Fernandez, and Edward Newton,
wounded. The capture of New Orleans appearing impracticable,
a teraporary road was constructed through the morass,
and the regiments having reached the lake by a night
march, embarked in boats and returned to the fleet.
An attack on Mobile was afterwards resolved on, and
the King's Own were engaged in the siege of Fort
Bowyer, which commanded the entrance to the harbour ;
this place surrendered on the 12th of February, and the
second American regiment of the line having marched
out with the honours of war, delivered its arras and
colours to the King's Own.
Further hostilities against the Americans were, how
ever, prevented by a treaty of peace, and the Fourth
being ordered to return to England, arrived on the 16th
of May at Portsraouth, from whence they sailed to the
Downs ; and having landed on the 18th, were stationed
in Deal barracks.
On the extension of the Order of the Bath, in the be
ginning of this year, Lieut.-Colonel Francis Brooke
and Brevet Lieut.-Colonels John Piper and Alured
Dodsworth Faunce, of the King's Own, were nomi
nated Companions of that Order.
On the arrival in England of the surviving oflScers and
men of the King's Own from these diflBcult enterprises
in America, they found Europe involved in another war.
Bonaparte had violated the treaty of 1814 ; he had

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 129
quitted Elba; had invaded France with a few guards ; 1815
had been received with acclamations by the French
army ; and while Louis XVIII. fled to Flanders, Napo
leon had re-ascended the throne of France. The nations
of Europe declared war against the usurper; and the
King's Own were iramediately ordered to proceed to
Flanders to engage in the approaching contest. The
effective men of the second battalion were added to the
first battalion, which again embarked for foreign service
on the 10th of June, and having landed at Ostend on
the 12th, proceeded up the country. Bonaparte attacked
the advanced-posts of the army commanded by Field
Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington in the
middle of June; and the King's Own, by forced
marches, arrived at the position in front of the village of
Waterloo on the raorning of the 18th of June, about an
hour before the battle commenced.
The regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel
Brooke, and being forraed in brigade with the twenty-
seventh and fortieth regiments, under the orders of
Major-General Lambert, took part in the gigantic con
test which followed. On this occasion the stern valour
and undaunted character of the British troops were pre
eminently displayed ; whether assailed by the thunder of
artillery, volleys of musketry, the bayonets of infantry,
or the furious charges of the French cavalry, the British
regiments stood firm, and repulsed with sanguinary per
severance the legions of Bonaparte, and drove them back
in confusion. After resisting the attacks of the supe
rior numbers of the eneray for raany hours, the Prussians
arrived to co-operate ; when the allied array assumed
the offensive, and by a general charge of the whole line,
overthrew the French host, and drove it from the field

130 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1815 with dreadful slaughter, and the loss of its artiUery,
araraunition waggons. Sec.
The King's Own had one hundred and thirty-four
men killed and wounded in this hard-contested and glo
rious battle ; also the following oflScers wounded, —
Brevet Major G. D. WUlson, Captain James Charles
EdgeU, Lieutenants John Brown, B, M. Collins, Hygat
Boyd, George Richardson, WUUam Squire, Arthur
Gerard, Adjutant WiUiam Richardson, and Ensign
W. M. Matthews.
The honour of bearing the word Waterloo on the
colours was conferred on the regiment ; every oflScer and
raan present received a silver medal ; and Major Willson,
being second in comraand, was promoted to the rank of
lieut.-colonel, and norainated a corapanion of the Order
of the Bath.
The Fourth advanced with the army in pursuit of
the enemy, and were present at the surrender of Paris
on the 7th of July. They were afterwards encamped at
, Neuilly ; on the 27th of October they went into quarters
at St. Germain-en-Laye ; and being selected to form part
of the British contingent of the army of occupation ap
pointed to reraain in France, they were formed in brigade
with the fifty-second and seventy-ninth regiments, under
Major-General Sir Denis Rack. On this occasion the
Duke of WeUington observed in general orders : —
" Upon breaking up the army which the field marshal
" has had the honour of commanding, he begs leave
" again to return thanks to the general oflScers, and the
" oflScers and troops, for their uniform good conduct. In
" the late short but memorable campaign they have given
" proofs to the world that they possess in an eminent
" degree all the good qualities of soldiers ; and the field

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 13I
" marshal is happy to be able to applaud their regular 1815
" good conduct in their camps and cantonments, not less
" than when engaged with the enemy in the field. What-
" ever may be the future destination of those brave
" troops of which the field marshal now takes his leave,
" he trusts that every individual will believe that he will
" ever feel the deepest interest in their honour and wel-
" fare, and will be happy to promote either."
Major-General Lambert, also, in taking leave of the
Fourth, expressed his approbation of their conduct,
particularly at the " ever memorable battle of Waterloo,
" which afforded him an opportunity of personally ob-
" serving that the high character the King's Own always
" bore in the field has been most justly merited."
In consequence of a reduction in the army, the second
battalion transferred its private men to the first, and was
disbanded at Deal on the 25th of December, 1815.
In January, 1816, the regiment was quartered at I8I6
Franquemberg and adjacent villages in the Pas de Calais,
where it was presented with a new pair of colours. In
August it encaraped near St. Omer, and was reviewed
on the 7th of September by the Duke of WeUington,
who expressed his approbation of its appearance and
discipline. On the 15th of October, the Fourth quitted the vici
nity of St. Omer, and encamping near Mastaing, was
reviewed on the 22d with the remainder of the British,
Danish, and Saxon forces, on the plain of St. Denain, by
their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Kent and Cam
bridge ; the regiment afterwards returned to Franquem
berg, &c. ; and its establishment was reduced to forty
oflScers, forty-five Serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and
eight hundred rank and file.
The regiment again pitched its tents in July, 1817, 1817
K 2

132 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1817 near St. Omer, where it was reviewed on the 5th of
August by Lieut.-General Lord Hill ; on the 3d of
September it encamped on the glacis of Valenciennes,
and on the 6th it was reviewed with the remainder of
the army commanded by the Duke of Wellington, by
the King of Prussia.
Having been again reviewed by Lord Hill on the 20th
of Septeraber, and having received the expressions of his
lordship's approbation, the regiraent went into barracks at
Valenciennes ; but it was again encaraped in October,
near St. Denain, and reviewed, with the remainder of the
British, Saxon, Danish, and Hanoverian troops in France,
by his grace the Duke of WeUington, on which occasion
all the evolutions of an engagement were perforraed in
presence of a nuraber of distinguished personages. The
King's Own subsequently returned to their forraer winter
quarters at Franqueraberg, &c.
1818 On the 4th of June, 1818 the Fourth were again
encamped near St, Omer, and received the thanks of
Lord Hill for their appearance and correct discipline at
the review on the 24th of June ; also the expression of
the Duke of Wellington's approbation at the review on
the Slst of July : they were subsequently encaraped on
the horn-work of Valenciennes ; they formed a guard
for the Duke of Kent during his residence at that city,
and were reviewed on the 10th of September, with the
remainder of the army commanded by his grace the
Duke of WeUington, in presence of their Royal High
nesses the Duke and Duchess of Kent; when a number
of evolutions were gone through, and during the manoeu
vres the array crossed the Scheldt by pontoon bridges.
The King's Own having returned to Valenciennes
on the 21st of October, furnished guards of honour
for the Emperor of Russia, King of Prussia, Prince of

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 133
Orange, and Grand Dukes Constantine and Michael, 1818
who reviewed the Russian, British, Danish, Saxon, and
Hanoverian contingents of the army of occupation, on
the 23d of October. This force amounted to between
fifty and sixty thousand men ; the evolutions of a mock
engagement were gone through, and two rivers were
passed by pontoon bridges.
The Emperor of Russia was so well pleased with the
conduct of the King's Own, that on quitting Valenciennes
he presented one hundred and nineteen Napoleons (pieces
of twenty francs each) to be divided among the men of the
grenadier company composing his guard; also ten Napo
leons each to the two Serjeants who were his orderlies ; and
directed the aide-de-camp to give them his feather to keep
in remembrance of the Emperor's regard for the corps.
The King of Prussia also gave money to the raen of the
light company of the King's Own forming his guard.
On the breaking up of the army of occupation in
France, the King's Own received, with the other corps,
the expressions of the approbation of the Duke of Wel
lington, in general orders; also of Lieut.-General Lord
Hill in general orders to the two divisions under his com
mand ; of Lieut.-General Sir Charles Colville in division
orders ; and of Major-General Sir Denis Pack in brigade
orders. The regiment embarked at Calais on the 29th of
October, landed at Dover on the following morning,
and proceeding from thence to Winchester barracks, was
imraediately afterwards ordered to hold itself in readiness
to erabark for the West Indies ; at the same time the
establishment was reduced to seven hundred and forty-
six oflScers and men.
In the early part of January, 1819, the regiraent 1819
marched to Cumberland fort; on the 1st of February it
erabarked at Portsmouth, and having landed at Barbadoes

134 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1819 on the Sth of April, was reviewed by Lieut.-General
Lord Combermere on the sarae day, and afterwards
returned on board the transports. His lordship expressed
in general orders his approbation of the appearance and
discipline of the regiment.
On the following day six companies sailed for Grenada
(head quarters) under the coramand of Lieut.-Colonel
Piper; two companies to Trinidad under Lieut.-Colonel
Faunce ; and two to Tobago under Captain Fletcher.
At the half-yearly inspection in July, Major-General
Sir Frederick Robinson expressed in brigade orders
" the very high satisfaction he had enjoyed in the mili-
" tary appearance and the report of the good conduct of
'' the King's Own regiment, which he perceives has not
" lost any of its former character, — hitherto a subject
'' for praise and admiration with oflBcers of the highest
" rank and railitary reputation."
1820 The two companies at Tobago suffered very severely
from fever, and having lost four oflScers and eighty -four
Serjeants and rank and file, the remaining one oflScer,
four Serjeants, two drummers, and thirty-five rank and
file were reUeved in September 1820 by the twenty-first
regiment, and sent to Barbadoes, from whence they were
removed to Grenada.
1821 A general change of quarters took place among the
troops stationed in the Windward and Leeward Islands
in March 1821, when the King's Own proceeded to
Barbadoes. On leaving Grenada Major-General Riall
expressed in brigade orders his approbation of the
conduct of the King's Own, and the satisfaction he expe
rienced at hearing from the magistrates and principal
inhabitants of the island their esteera for the corps, and
their regret at its departure.
The loss frora disease during the short period the
regiment had been in the West Indies was great.

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 135
Quarter-Master Thomas Richards and fifty-four men 1821
had died at Grenada ; Lieutenant WiUiam Blagrave,
Ensign Robert Gamble, and seven men at Trinidad,
which had proved a comparatively healthy station, the
two corapanies having occupied the barracks at St. Jo
seph's and the hospital had frequently been without a
patient ; at Tobago, Lieutenants John Westby, Frederick
P. Robinson, and Isaac Beer, with Ensign Frederick
Clarke, and eighty-four men, had fallen victims to the
climate; Captain Charles Jaraes Edgell died on the
passage, near Barbadoes : the total loss of life in one
year and eleven months was eight oflScers and one
hundred and forty-five soldiers.
The regiment was, however, still in an eflScient state,
and having been inspected by Lieut.-General Sir Henry
Warde on the 27th of August, an order was issued on
the same day, expressing " the great satisfaction felt
" by the lieut.-general at the appearance of that old and
" respectable corps under arms, as well as the steadiness
" of the regiment, the correct advance in line, and the
" close firing, which evince that great attention has been
" paid to its discipline, and is highly creditable to Lieut.-
" Colonel Piper and to the- oflScers generally.'"
In October the estabUshment was reduced to eight
companies, making a total of thirty-three ofiicers and six
hundred and seventeen men.
Lieut.-Colonel Piper died at Barbadoes soon after- 1822
wards, and was succeeded in January, 1822, by Brevet
Lieut.-Colonel A. D. Faunce. In the following
year this oflBcer obtained permission to return to Eng- 1823
land for the benefit of his health, on which occasion
Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde observed in general
orders — " He was aware that no encomium of his could
" add lustre to the already well-established and high mill-

136 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1823 " tary character of Lieut.-Colonel Faunce, yet the par-
" ticularly exemplary state of discipline, in every respect,
" which the Fourth or King's Own regiment has
" attained since he assuraed the coramand, calls loudly
" on the lieut.-general, as an imperious duty to the service,
" to express his warmest praise and thanks to Lieut. -
" Colonel Faunce, for the truly able and unremitted
" attention which he has daily and hourly paid to his
" regiment, the effect of which confers on him the
" highest credit and honour as its commander, and at
" the same time reflects them strongly on every indi-
" vidual, both officer and private, composing the corps
" under his command,"
In December the regiment was withdrawn from Bar
badoes, and proceeded, — four corapanies and head-quarters
to the Ridge at Antigua, three to Brirastone-hill, St. Kitt's,
and one to Montserrat and Nevis. Previous to its em
barkation Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde expressed in
general orders his " high approbation of the conduct
of the corps." During the two years and nine months
it was stationed at Barbadoes, it was in a healthy state,
excepting towards the end of 1821, when a fever carried off
Lieut.-Colonel John Piper, Ensigns H. N. Shipton, and
H. J. Loraine, with Quarter-Master Doran, and Assis
tant-Surgeon Morrow ; its total loss in Serjeants and rank
and file was fifty-eight.
1824 The detachraent at Nevis suffered from the unhealthy
situation of the barracks, and lost seventeen raen out of
thirty; it was subsequently withdrawn. In October,
1824, the regiment lost Brevet Major John Wynne
Fletcher.*

» Brevet Major John Wynne Fletcher was senior captain of
the regiment, in which he had served most zealously twenty-five

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 13/
In April, 1825, the regiraent was augraented to ten 1825
companies, and the total establishment to eight hundred
and thirty-six oflBcers and raen.
The regiraent was relieved from duty at Antigua, St. 1826
Kitt's, and Montserrat, in February, 1826, by the ninety-
third, and saUed for England. The first division landed
at Gosport on the 16th of March, the second on the 1st
of April, and the last on the 6th of April.
During the seven years the regiraent was in the West
Indies its total loss was sixteen oflScers, twenty-one Ser
jeants, one drummer, and two hundred and forty-five
rank and file. It brought home four hundred and twenty
rank and file, (without leaving a sick man behind ;) and
on the 25th of April sent out thirteen recruiting par
ties, twelve to different parts of England, and one to
Ireland. On the 8th of August the Adjutant-General of the
Forces, Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, inspected
the regiment, and expressed his approbation of its ap
pearance and discipline, adding that he should make a

years, and he was sincerely lamented by his brother ofiicers. He
was aide-de-camp to Lieut.-General Sir Henry "Warde, K.C.B.,
commander ot the forces in the Windward and Leeward Islands,
who followed his remains to the grave, and directed a marble
tablet, with the following inscription, to be placed in the church
at Bridgetown ; — SACRED TO THE MEMORY
of a good Christian, a gallant soldier, and an honest man,
in life beloved and in death lamented.
Near this spot rest the mortal remains of Brevet Major
JOHN WYNNE FLETCHER,
Captain in the Fourth, or the King's Own Regiment of Foot,
And Aide-de-camp to Lieut.-General Sir Henry Warde,
Who departed this life on the 24th of October, 1824,
Aged 39 years.

138 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1826 raost favourable report to His Royal Highness the Duke
of York. In the auturan it quitted Winchester, and
proceeding to Portsmouth, was eraployed in the duty of
that garrison. At the half-yearly inspection, Major-
General Sir James Lyon expressed his perfect approba
tion of its appearance and discipline.
The regiraent was soon afterwards called upon to
transfer its services to the Peninsula, the scene of many
of its toils and triumphs. After Spain and Portugal
had been delivered by British skill and valour from the
power of Bonaparte, these kingdoms became convulsed
by opposing interests, one party striving for the liberties
possessed by other nations, and another for a return to
ancient usages ; and the granting of a constitution to
Portugal, which conferred on the people privileges pre
viously unknown in that country, was followed by internal
commotions ; at the same tirae the kingdom was menaced
with an invasion from Spain. The Portuguese govern
raent applied for the aid of a body of British troops;
six companies of the King's Own formed part of a force
of five thousand men, coraraanded by Lieut. -Gen. Sir
William H. Clinton, ordered for this service, and em
barking from Portsmouth on the 15th of December,
arrived at Lisbon towards the end of that month.
1827 Having landed on the 1st of January, 1827, the
King's Own occupied the barracks of Valle de Pereiro,
and were formed in brigade with the tenth, twenty-
third, and first battalion of the sixtieth rifles, under the
coramand of Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney. The
brigade having been inspected by Sir WiUiam CUnton
on the 14th of January, advanced up the country nine
stages to Coimbra, and was quartered in convents, the
King's Own occupying the convent of St. Bernard. On
the advance of the British, the Spaniards withdrew from

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 139
the frontiers, and declared a friendly disposition towards 1827
the Portuguese governraent ; a mutiny in the Portu
guese army was also suppressed ; and there being no
further occasion for the British troops, they marched
back to Lisbon, where the King's Own arrived on the
12th of July, and occupied the barracks of La Lippe
at Belem. Three companies of the regiment were
subsequently stationed at Oeiras, a small town on the
right bank of the Tagus, two leagues from Lisbon,
and the other three at Feitovia barracks, near Fort
St. Julian.
In these quarters the King's Own remained until the 1828
spring of 1828, when the British troops were withdrawn
from Portugal ; the six companies having received the
expressions of the approbation of Major-General Sir
Edward Blakeney in brigade orders, for their exemplary
conduct, erabarked from Belem stairs on the 31st of
March, and on their arrival at Portsmouth, they were
ordered to proceed to Scotland : they landed at Leith on
the 26th and 29th of April, and proceeded to Edinburgh
Castle, where the remainder of the regiment had previ
ously arrived.
The regiment raarched in July to Glasgow, where it
received a new pair of splendid regiraental colours,
which cost £150, with belts which cost £21, and a
richly-mounted staff, &c., for the drum-major; which
were presented by the colonel. General the Earl of
Chatham. Frora Glasgow, the regiment embarked, in July, 1829, 1829
in steam-vessels for Ireland, and after landing at Belfast
in the early part of August,' marched to Newry, with
detached companies at Cavan and Clones.
In June, 1830, the regiment marched to Dublin, and igso
occupied Richmond-barracks ; in September it embarked

140 HISTORICAL RECORD OF
1830 frora Dublin, and having landed at Liverpool, the two
flank companies remained there a short tirae to attend
on the occasion of the opening of the raUroad from
that town to Manchester, while the battalion companies
proceeded to Stockport, Bolton, and Oldham ; the
flank corapanies arrived at Stockport on the 1 8th of
September.
1831 In January, 1831, the head-quarters were at Ashton-
under-Lyne ; in March at Northampton ; and in April
at Chatham.
Part of the regiraent erabarked in this year for New
South Wales, in detachments, as guards to convict-ships.
1832 The head-quarters, under the comraand of Lieut.-
Colonel M'Kenzie, erabarked for the sarae destination
at Deptford, on board the Clyde, on the 14th of April,
1832, and arrived on the 30th of August.
The regiraent reraained at New South Wales five
years ; its head quarters being established at Pararaatta
1833 until June, 1833, when they were reraoved to Sydney ;
1634 but returned to Pararaatta in June, 1834; where they
remained upwards of twenty months.
1835 On the decease of General the Earl of Chatham the
colonelcy of the King's Own was conferred on Lieut.-
General John Hodgson, by coraraission dated the 30th
of September, 1835.
1836 In March, 1836, the head-quarters were again removed
to Sydney ; and in August of the following year two
divisions embarked for the East Indies. One division
1837 landed at Madras on the 30th of September, 1837 ; the
head-quarters arrived on the 7th of October, and were
stationed at Fort St. George.
The third and last division embarked frora New South
Wales on the 26th of December, 1837, and arrived at
1838 Madras on the 9th of April, 1838.

Fourth (or King's Own) Regiment of Foot.

[To face page 141,

THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF FOOT. 141
Thus, after serving a period of nearly one hundred 1839
and sixty years, in every quarter of the globe, this cele
brated corps, which has so often triuraphed over foreign
enemies in fields of conflict, has been appointed to guard
the colonial possessions of its country in the distant
clime of India, where it has remained to the beginning
of 1839, which brings this record to a conclusion.
1839

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE FOURTH,
OR THE
KING'S OWN REGIMENT OF FOOT.

CHARLES EARL OF PLYMOUTH.
Appointed 13lhJuly, 1680.
Charles Fitz-Charles, natural son of King Charles XL, by
Catherine, daughter of Thomas Pegg, Esq., of Yeldersley, in
Derbyshire, was advanced to the peerage in July, 1675, by
the titles of Baron Dartmouth, Viscount Totness, and Earl of
Plymouth. Being a sprightly youth, and an aspirant to mili
tary fame, he obtained permission of the king, his father, to
proceed in the character of a volmiteer to the city of Tangier,
in Africa, where he was initiated in the first rudiments of
war. Having been educated abroad, he was familiarly styled
Don Carlos, and in the printed narratives of several skirmishes
with the Moors he is spoken of in terms of commendation.
While he was engaged in the defence of this fortress the
Second Tangier, now King's Own, regiment of foot was
raised in England, of which his lordship was appointed colonel.
During the siege he was attacked with a severe dysentery, of
which he died in October, 1680, in the twenty- third year of his
age. He was a very promising officer, of good natural abilities,
affable, generous, and brave, and his death was much regretted
by his companions in arms, also by the king, his father. His
body was embalmed, sent to England, and interred in West
minster Abbey. PIERCY KIRKE.
Appointed 21th November, 1680.
Piercy Kirke is represented by historians as an adventurous
soldier of fortune, distinguished for personal bravery and gross
immorality. He entered the army soon after the suppression

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 143
of the insurrection of the Millenarians (01 fifth-monarchy men)
in 1661, and was many years an officer in the royal regiment
of horse guards. During the Dutch war he obtained permis
sion of King Charles II. to proceed to France to join the Duke
of Monmouth's regiment of foot, — then in the service of Louis
XIV. With this corps he served under the Duke of Mon
mouth at the siege of Maastricht in 1673 ; and in the two suc
ceeding campaigns with the French army on the Rhine, com
manded by the celebrated Marshal Turenne, under whose
orders the English regiments of Monmouth and Churchill, and
the Scots regiments of Douglas (now first royal) and of Hamil
ton, highly distinguished themselves. These corps also ac
quired additional laurels under Marshal Luxemburg, in 1676;
and under Marshal De Crequi, in 1617 ; but the loose disci
pline which prevailed in the French army in Germany occa
sioned the troops to contract licentious habits, from which
Kirke was never afterwards thoroughly reclaimed. On the
formation of the Second Tangier, now King's Own, regi
ment, he was appointed to the lieut.-colonelcy, and in Novem
ber he succeeded the Earl of Plymouth in the command of the
corps; he was also appointed commander of the forces at
Tangier, and he subsequently performed the duties of governor
of that colony. While at Tangier, he was employed on an em
bassy to the Emperor of Morocco ; he is said to have con
tracted a friendship with several Moorish chiefs, and an inter
change of civilities took place between him and the emperor :
his connexion with these barbarians, among whom internal
feuds and the exercise of cruel propensities were frequent, was
not calculated to soften the rugged traits of his character In
1682 he was removed to the first Tangier (now second or
queen's royal) regiment ; which corps he commanded at the
battle of Sedgemoor, where the rebel army under the Duke of
Monmouth was overthrown. He was afterwards directed to
attend with his regiment Lord Chief Justice Jeffries and four
other judges, who were appointed to try the rebel prisoners ;
and while employed on this service he is said to have executed
a number of wounded rebels in a barbarous manner, and he
was also charged with the commission of numerous acts of
wanton cruelty, for which he afterwards pleaded the express
orders of the king and of Lieut.-General the Earl of Feversham.
Brigadier- General Kirke certainly did not exhibit on this occa-

144 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
sion the traits of a humane disposition, yet no doubt can exist
but that the barbarities said to have been committed by him
have been much exaggerated . The secretary-at-war summoned
him to appear at court and explain his proceedings, which he
did to the satisfaction of the king. He afterwards joined the
association in favour of the Prince of Orange ; this was, how
ever, not suspected by James 1 1., who promoted him to the
rank of major-general on the 8th of November, 1688, and
placed him at the head of the van-guard of the army appointed
to oppose the Prince. Kirke is reported to have formed the
design of seizing the king's person at Warminster, and of de
livering him into the hands of the Prince of Orange ; but this
plot was firustrated by the king's being prevented visiting that
quarter in consequence of an excessive bleeding at the nose, to
which his Majesty was subject. Major-General Kirke was
afterwards arrested and sent under a guard to London ; but the
flight of the king to France, and the elevation of the Prince of
Orange to the throne, following in rapid succession, he was libe
rated and received into the favour of his new sovereign . In 1 689
he was sent with two regiments of foot to the relief of London
derry, in which service he succeeded ; but he was accused of
cruelty to the inhabitants, and of augmenting their miseries
unnecessarily. He evinced ability andpersonal braveryin several
skirmishes with King James's forces ; he served under King
William at the battle of the Boyne, and at the siege of Limerick,
and on the 24th of December, 1690, he was promoted to the
rank of lieutenant-general. He was subsequently appointed to
the staff of King William's army in the Netherlands, and he
died at Breda on the Slst of October, 1691.
CHARLES TRELAWNY.
Appointed 23rd April, 1682.
Charles Trelawny was the fourth son of Sir Jonathan Tre
lawny, baronet, of an ancient famUy, which derived its name
from the lordship of Trelawny, in Alternon, in the county of
Cornwall ; he obtained a commission in the Duke of Mon
mouth's regiment of foot, raised in England in 1672, for the
service of the King of France against the Dutch. In his first
campaign he was engaged in the invasion of Holland ; in 1673
the famous city of Maestricht was besieged and captured ; and
during the four succeeding years he served on the Rhine under

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. I45
Marshals Turenne, Luxemburg, and De Crequi, and having
acquired the character of a brave and meritorious officer, he
was promoted to the majority of his corps. When Mon
mouth's regiment was disbanded in 1679, he was placed on
half-pay ; but in the summer of 1680 he was appointed major
of the Second Tangier regiment, for which corps he raised a
company of sixty-five men in Devonshire, &c. Soon after his
arrival in Afi'ica he was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy, and
in 1682 he succeeded Colonel Kirke in the colonelcy of the
regiment. He took an important part in bringing about the
Revolution in 1688; and having joined the association formed
in favour of the Prince of Orange, he induced his brother, the
Bishop of Bristol, to engage in the same cause. In November,
1688, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general ; after
he had joined the Prince of Orange, King James deprived him
of his regiment ; but it was restored by the Prince on the Slst
of December. He distinguished himself at the head of a bri
gade of infantry at the battle of the Boyne; and he was sub
sequently appointed governor of Dublin. His conduct while
in charge of the metropolis of Ireland, was marked by zeal for
the public good, and by the ability with which he performed
the duties of his government. On the 2nd of December, 1690,
he was promoted to the rank of major-general ; and in 1691 he
retired from his regiment, and was appointed to the government
of Plymouth. The following character is given of this distin
guished officer in history : —
" General Charles Trelawny was a gentleman of an ancient
" and honourable family, which he also ennobled by his actions.
" He served under the famous Turenne, and his gallantry and
" experience spoke him worthy of so great a master. His
" public actions in several instances redounded to his honour,
" but his modesty was too delicate to admit of his reciting them.
" He served with the troops which Charles II. sent to the assist-
" ance of France, when they and their country gained the
" greatest reputation, by covering the retreat of the French and
" repulsing the Germans, an action of such signal importance
" that it procured the thanks of Louis XIV. ; and this may he
" said to his and the nation's honour, that the armies of France
" have been protected as well as conquered by the English, Nor
" did he shine less in his private than his active life ; the repu-
" tation he acquired in public services he adorned with afl^hi-
L

146 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
" lity, tenderness, and charity to all about him ; the bravery of
" the soldier being tempered with the politeness of the accom-
" plished gentleman. In short, so generous and noble a spirit
" attended his whole course of life, and so much patience and
" resignation in his last illness, that he appeared in both equally
" the hero, and died great as he had lived." His decease oc
curred on the 24th of September, 1731.
SIR CHARLES ORBY.
Appointed llth December, 1688.
This officer was a stanch adherent to the Roman Catholic
cause ; he was lieut.-colonel of the third troop of life guards
and deputy adjutant-general, and King James II. rewarded him
with the colonelcy of the Queen's regiment of foot, from which
he was removed by the Prince of Orange.
CHARLES TRELAWNY.
Re-appointed Slst December, 1688.
HENRY TRELAWNY.
Appointed 1st January, 1692.
Henry Trelawny, seventh son of Sir Jonathan Trelawny,
and brother of General Charles Trelawny, raised a company
of foot in the summer of 1680, for the Second Tangier regi
ment, in which corps he was appointed captain, and he served
three years in Africa. In 1685, he was at the battle of Sedge
moor ; and in December, 1688, he was promoted to the lieut.-
colonelcy of the regiment. He served under King William in
Ireland, and was appointed colonel of the regiment on the 1st
of January, 1692. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-
general in 1696 ; and retired from the regiment in 1702.
WILLIAM SEYMOUR.
Appointed 12th February, 1702.
William Seymour obtained a commission in the royal regi
ment of fusiliers (now seventh foot) when that corps was raised
in the summer of 1685; and two years afterwards he com
manded a company. In 1691 he was appointed major, and
in 1692 lieut.-colonel of the second regiment of foot guards.
He served under King William in the Netherlands, and was
wounded at the battle of Landen in 1693. In the following
year he succeeded Lord Cutts in the colonelcy of one of the
regiments of foot raised in 1689. After the peace of Ryswick

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 147
his regiment was disbanded; and on the 1st of March, 1701,
he succeeded Louis Marquis of Puizar in the colonelcy of a
regiment, now the twenty-fourth foot, from which he was
removed in 1702 to the Queen's, now King's Own, regiment,
and promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. He com
manded a brigade before Cadiz in 1702, and was wounded at
Vigo. He was subsequently appointed to the command of the
six regiments of marines ; was promoted to the rank of major-
general in 1704, to that of lieut.-general in 1707, retired from
the regiment in 1717, and died in 1727.
THE HONOURABLE HENRY BERKELEY.
Appointed 2hth December, 1717.
Henry Berkeley, third son of Charles second Earl of Berkeley,
was page of honour to the Duke of Gloucester, son of Queen
Anne ; and after his Royal Highness's decease, he was page of
honour to her Majesty Queen Anne. He obtained a commis
sion in the army in December, 1709; in June, 1717, he was
appointed first commissioner for executing the office of master
of the horse to King George I. ; and in December following
he was promoted to the colonelcy of the King's Own, from
which he was removed in 1719, to the Scots troop of horse
grenadier guards. He was one of the King's equerries, and
a member of parliament for the county of Gloucester ; and
died at Bath in May, 1736.
CHARLES CADOGAN.
Appointed 2\st April, 1719.
Charles Cadogan entered the army in 1706, and served in
Flanders under the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough.
He was a member of parliament for the borough of Reading,
also for Newport in Southamptonshire. In 1715 he was
appointed captain and lieut.-colonel in the second foot guards ;
and in 1719 he purchased the colonelcy of the King's Own
regiment. He succeeded, on the decease of his brother, the
celebrated William Earl Cadogan, in 1726, to the dignity of
Lord Cadogan, Baron of Oakley; and in 1734 he was
removed to the Inniskilling dragoons. In 1739 he was pro
moted to the rank of major-general ; in 1742 he was appointed
colonel of the second troop (now second regiment) of life
guards, which gave him the privilege of taking the court duty
of gold stick ; and in 1 745 he was promoted to the rank of
L 2

148 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
lieutenant-general. The government of Sheerness was con
ferred upon his lordship in 1 749, that of Gravesend and Tilbury
in 1752, and in 1761 he was promoted to the rank of general.
His lordship was a fellow of the Royal Society, and one of the
trustees of the British Museum; he died in 1776.
WILLIAM BARRELL.
Appointed Sth August, 1734.
This officer entered the army in the reign of William III.;
he obtained the rank of captain in 1698, and his distinguished
conduct in the wars of Queen Anne was rewarded with the
brevet rank of colonel on the 1st of January, 1707. In 1715
he was promoted to the colonelcy of the twenty- eighth foot; in
1727 he was appointed brigadier-general; in 1730 he was
removed to the twenty-second regiment, and in 1734 to the
King's Own. In the following year he was proraoted to the
rank of major-general; in 1739 to that of lieut.-general ; and
he was also appointed governor of Pendennis castle. He died
on the 9th of August, 1749. ROBERT RICH.
Appointed 22nd August, 1749.
Robert Rich, second son of Sir Robert Rich, baronet, a dis
tinguished officer in the wars of Queen Anne, was promoted
by King George II. to the lieut.-colonelcy of the King's Own,
at the head of which corps he distinguished himself at the
battle of Culloden and was wounded ; and in 1 749 he succeeded
Lieut.-General Barrell in the colonelcy of the regiment, which
he held seven years. In 1758 he was promoted to the rank of
major-general, and in 1760 to that of lieut.-general ; he also
held the appointments of governor of Londonderry and Cul-
more-fort in Ireland ; and in 1768 he succeeded, on the decease
of his father, to the dignity of a baronet. He died in 1785.
ALEXANDER DUROURE.
Appointed Vlth May, 1756.
This officer was promoted on the 27th of February, 1751,
from the Ueut.-colonelcy of the twenty-fourth, to the colonelcy
of the thirty-eighth regiment; and was removed in 1756 to the
King's Own. In 1758 he was promoted to the rank of
major-general, and in 1760 to that of lieut.-general. He died
in 1765.

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 149
THE HONORABLE ROBERT BRUDENELL.
Appointed 23rd January, 1765.
Robert Brudenell, third son of George Earl of Cardigan,
was many years a member of parliament for Marlborough, also
groom of the bedchamber to his Royal Highness the Duke of
York, whose train he bore at the coronation of George III.
He was appointed captain and lieut.-colonel in the third foot
guards in 1758; was promoted to the colonelcy of the sixteenth
foot in 1763; and removed to the King's Own in 1765. He
died at Windsor in October, 1768.
STUDHOLME HODGSON.
Appointed Wi November, 1768.
Studholme Hodgson, after serving several years in the army,
was appointed, in 1745, aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumber
land, whom he attended at the battles of Fontenoy and Cullo
den. He obtained the command of a company, with the
rank of lieutenant-colonel in the first foot guards, on the 22d
of February, 1747 ; and on the 30th of May, 1756, he was
promoted to the colonelcy of the fiftieth foot. He obtained the
rank of major-general on the 25th of June, 1759; and was
removed to the colonelcy of the fifth foot in October of the same
year. In 1761 he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-
general, and he commanded the land forces of a successful
expedition against Belle Isle in the same year, for which he
obtained the approbation of the king, and received the expres
sion of the " warm sense of the great service he had done his
" king and country ;" also the congratulation, " on the com-
" pletion of so important and critical an operation which must
" ever be remembered to his honour," from the secretary of
state, the celebrated William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham.
He was appointed in 1765, governor of Forts George and
Augustus. In 1768 he was removed to the King's Own; in
1778 he was promoted to the rank of general; and in 1782
he was removed to the colonelcy of the fourth Irish horse,
now seventh dragoon guards. He was again removed, in 1789,
to the eleventh light dragoons, and on the SOth of July, 1796,
he was promoted to the rank of field-marshal. He enjoyed
this elevated rank two years, and died in the autumn of 1798,
at the advanced age of ninety years.

150 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
JOHN BURGOYNE.
Appointed 1th June, 1782.
John Burgoyne was a distinguished cavalry officer in the reign
of George II. On the 10th of May, 1758, he was promoted from
captain in the eleventh dragoons to captain-lieutenant and lieut.-
colonel in the second foot guards ; and his talents and experience
occasioned him to be selected, in the following year, to form
and discipline a corps of light cavalry, (now the sixteenth, or
the Queen's lancers,) of which he was appointed lieut.-colonel
commandant. Previous to this period light cavalry was little
known in the British army, the value of that arme had, how
ever, become appreciated; and the discipline, dexterity, and
efficiency of Burgoyne's horsemen soon attracted admiration,
and he received from his sovereign repeated and conspicuous
testimonies of his royal approbation. In 1762 he was sent
with his regiment to Portugal, where he served as brigadier-
general, and he acquired distinction under the Count La Lippe
and the Earl of Loudoun, whose despatches bore testimony of
his gallantry and zeal for the service, in the warmest terms.
He was appointed in 1 763 colonel of his regiment, which was
honoured with the title of the Queen's light dragoons ; and in
1772 he was promoted to the rank of major-general; he was
also appointed governor of Fort William. When the British
colonies in North America revolted against the mother country,
he was placed on the staff of the army in America, and he
joined the troops at Boston a short time before the battle of
Bunker's Hill. In 1776 he served under Lieut.-General
Carlton in Canada, .and in the autumn of that year he was
promoted to the local rank of lieut.-general in America.
In 1777 he was appointed to the command of an army
destined to proceed by Lakes Champlain and George to Hud
son's River, with the view of forcing its way to Albany. An
erroneous idea of the loyalty of the majority of the inhabitants
of this part of North America appears to have been prevalent ;
and the difficulties to be encountered in this enterprise fi-om
the wooded and but partially inhabited country, through which
the army had to march, with the state of the roads, and other
causes, appear to have been overlooked. After a series of hard
toil, incessant effort, and severe privation, the Indian warriors
who formed part of the army, and whose predatory habits and

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. ]51
disposition to use the tomahawk and scalping-knife had been
restrained, all deserted ; many of the Canadians and provincials
followed this example, while others were deterred from per
forming their duties by fear ; and after several stubborn
engagements, in which the British regiments fought gallantly
against an immense superiority of numbers, the lieut.-general
found himself on the banks of the Hudson's River, with an
army of three thousand five hundred men, reduced in physical
power by incessant toil and want of provision, invested by an
army of sixteen thousand Americans, disappointed of the hope
of timely co-operation from other armies, without provisions ;
and under these dismal circumstances he concluded a conven
tion with the American General Gates at Saratoga, in which
he agreed that the troops should lay down their arms on con
dition of being sent to England, and not serving in America
during the remainder of the war. These articles were, how
ever, violated by the American government, on frivolous pre
tences, and the gallant men who had fought so bravely, and who
did not submit until surrounded by five times their own number,
were detained in America. Lieut.-General Burgoyne was
exposed to the fate which usually attends unsuccessful com
manders, and his conduct was censured ; he defended himself
in parliament with great warmth, and courted investigation ;
this was followed by altercation with the members of the
government, which ended in his resigning, in 1779, the 'colonelcy
of the Queen's light dragoons, also his appointment on the
staff of the army in America, and the government of Fort
William ; but he retained his rank of lieut.-general in order to
be amenable to a court martial. He was afterwards restored
to royal favour ; appointed commander-in-chief in Ireland ;
and in 1782 he was appointed colonel of the King's Own regi
ment of foot ; he was also a member of the privy council, and
represented the town of Preston in parliament. He was an
accomplished gentleman ; also an able scholar, and author of a
much celebrated comedy called " The Heiress ;" and his cha
racter was further adorned with benevolence. He died on the
4th of August, 1792, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
GEORGE MORRISON.
Appointed Sth August, 1792.
This officer was appointed lieut.-colonel in the army, in

152 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
1761, he also held the appointment of deputy quarter-master-
general, and in 176S he was placed at the head of that depart
ment, where he remained many years. He was promoted to
the rank of colonel in 1772, to that of major-general in 1777,
lieut.-general in 1782, and general in 1796. He obtained
the colonelcy of the seventy-fifth foot in 1779; was removed
to the seventeenth foot in 1782; and to the King's Own, in
1792. He died in 1799.
JOHN EARL OF CHATHAM.
Appointed bth December, 1799.
John Pitt succeeded, in 1778, to the dignity of Earl of
Chatham. He served as a subaltern with the thirty-ninth
foot at Gibraltar and in 1779 he was appointed captain in the
eighty-sixth, or Rutland regiment, which was disbanded at the
termination of the American war. In 1782 he was promoted
to the rank of lieut.-colonel, and in 1788 he was appointed
first lord of the admiralty, which he held six years. He was
promoted to the rank of colonel in 1793, and to that of major-
general in 1795, and in 1796 he was appointed president of
the council. When the King's Own regiment was augmented,
in 1799, to three battalions, he was appointed commandant of
the second battalion ; he proceeded in the same year to
Holland, and commanded a brigade under the Duke of York in
the actions of the 2nd and 6th of October, when he was
wounded. In December he succeeded General Morrison in
the colonelcy of the King's Own. In 1801 he was appointed
master-general of the ordnance, which he held five years ; in
1 802 he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general, and, in 1 827,
he was re-appointed master-general of the ordnance, which he
held three years. His lordship was nominated in 1809 to the
command of an expedition against Walcheren and Antwerp,
which failed from the numerous delays which occurred in con
ducting the enterprise. In 1812 he was promoted to the rank
of general. He was subsequently honoured with the dignity
of knight of the garter; and, in 1820, he was appointed
governor of Gibraltar. He died in 1835.
JOHN HODGSON.
Appointed 30th September, 1835.

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