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diff --git a/old/66621-0.txt b/old/66621-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 8930766..0000000 --- a/old/66621-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2989 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Historical Record of the Fifty-sixth, or the -West Essex Regiment of Foot : containing an account of the formation of the -regiment in 1755, and of its subsequent services to 1844., by Richard -Cannon - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Historical Record of the Fifty-sixth, or the West Essex Regiment - of Foot : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in - 1755, and of its subsequent services to 1844. - -Author: Richard Cannon - -Release Date: October 27, 2021 [eBook #66621] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Brian Coe, John Campbell and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was - produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital - Library.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE -FIFTY-SIXTH, OR THE WEST ESSEX REGIMENT OF FOOT : CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF -THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT IN 1755, AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES TO -1844. *** - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - A superscript is denoted by ^x or ^{xx}, for example Esq^{re}. - - Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been - placed at the end of the book. - - The tables in this book are best viewed using a monospace font. - - Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. - - - - -[Illustration: - - BY COMMAND OF His late Majesty WILLIAM THE IV^{TH}. - _and under the Patronage of_ - Her Majesty the Queen. - - HISTORICAL RECORDS, - _OF THE_ - British Army - - _Comprising the_ - _History of every Regiment_ - _IN HER MAJESTY’S SERVICE_. - - _By Richard Cannon Esq^{re}._ - - _Adjutant-General’s Office, Horse Guards._ - London. - _Printed by Authority._ - -] - - - - - HISTORICAL RECORDS - - OF - - THE BRITISH ARMY. - - - - -GENERAL ORDERS. - - - _HORSE GUARDS_, - _1st January, 1836_. - -His Majesty has been pleased to command, that, with a view of doing -the fullest justice to Regiments, as well as to Individuals who -have distinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action with the -Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regiment 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 Original 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. - ----- The Names of those Officers, who, in consideration 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-Commissioned 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 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 -of their 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 command, 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 henceforth -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 country -derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agriculturist -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 valuable life, by which -so many national benefits are obtained and preserved. - -The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endurance, -have shone conspicuously under great and trying difficulties; 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 maintained 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_--an attachment -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 civilized 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. - - - - - HISTORICAL RECORD - - OF - - THE FIFTY-SIXTH, - - OR - - THE WEST ESSEX REGIMENT - - OF - - FOOT: - - CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF - - THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT - IN 1755, - - AND OF - - ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES - TO 1844. - - _ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES._ - - LONDON. - PARKER, FURNIVALL, AND PARKER, - _MILITARY LIBRARY, WHITEHALL_. - - M.DCCC.XLIV. - - - - -LONDON: HARRISON AND CO., PRINTERS, ST. MARTIN’S LANE. - - - - - THE FIFTY-SIXTH, - - OR - - THE WEST ESSEX - - REGIMENT OF FOOT, - - BEARS ON ITS REGIMENTAL COLOURS, THE WORD - - “MORO,” - - TO COMMEMORATE ITS GALLANTRY AT THE CAPTURE OF THE - MORO FORT, AT THE HAVANNAH, IN 1762; - - ALSO THE WORD - - “GIBRALTAR,” - - WITH THE - - CASTLE AND KEY; - - AND THE MOTTO - - _MONTIS INSIGNIA CALPE_, - - TO COMMEMORATE ITS DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN DEFENCE OF - THE FORTRESS OF GIBRALTAR DURING THE YEARS - 1779, 1780, 1781, AND 1782. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - Year Page - - 1755 Formation of the Regiment 9 - - 1756 Uniform--Names of Officers 10 - - 1757 Marches to Scotland 11 - - 1760 Returns to England -- - - 1762 Embarks for the West Indies -- - - ---- Siege of the Moro Fort, and capture of the Havannah 12 - - 1763 Proceeds to Ireland 14 - - 1770 Embarks for Gibraltar -- - - ---- A light company added to the establishment 15 - - 1779} - 1780} Engaged in the successful defence of the important { 15 - 1781} fortress of Gibraltar { to - 1782} { 21 - - ---- Styled the West Essex Regiment -- - - 1783 Embarks for England -- - - 1784 Proceeds to Scotland 22 - - 1788 Embarks for Ireland -- - - 1793 Riot at Wexford--Major Valloton killed -- - - ---- Embarks for the West Indies 23 - - 1794 Capture of Martinico -- - - ---- ---- ---- St. Lucia -- - - ---- ---- ---- Guadeloupe 24 - - 1795 Returns to England--Proceeds to Ireland -- - - 1796 Embarks for the West Indies 25 - - 1796 Detached for St. Domingo 25 - - ---- Capture of Bombarde -- - - 1797 Attack on Port Jack Thomas -- - - ---- Defence of Irois -- - - ---- Attack on St. Mary’s -- - - ---- Proceeds to Jamaica -- - - 1798 Embarks for England -- - - 1799 Expedition to Holland -- - - ---- Battles of Bergen and Egmont-op-Zee 26 - - ---- Returns to England 27 - - 1800 Embarks for Ireland -- - - 1801 Recruited with men raised for European service - only, who volunteer to extend their services - to any part of the world 28 - - 1804 A _Second Battalion_ added to the establishment 29 - - 1805 First Battalion proceeds to the East Indies -- - - 1807 Second Battalion proceeds to the East Indies 30 - - 1809 Detachment to Bourbon and the Mauritius -- - - ---- Capture of Mallia 31 - - ---- Capture of St. Paul’s on the Island of Bourbon 33 - - ---- Detachments serve as Marines 34 - - ---- Services in consequence of disaffection in Native Corps 35 - - 1810 Capture of the Island of Bourbon 36 - - ---- ---- ---- Mauritius 37 - - 1811 New Colours presented by the East India Company 38 - - 1813 Services with the Guicwar’s subsidiary Force 39 - - ---- A _Third Battalion_ added to the establishment 40 - - ---- Capture of Canool and Raree -- - - 1814 Third Battalion serves in Holland 41 - - ---- ---- ---- Action at Merxem, &c. -- - - ---- ---- ---- returns to England 43 - - ---- ---- ---- disbanded at Sheerness -- - - 1815 First Battalion proceeds to the Mauritius 44 - - 1816 Second Battalion serves with the Poonah Subsidiary Force 45 - - 1817 Second Battalion returns to England and is disbanded 46 - - 1826 The Regiment returns to England 48 - - 1827 Embarks for Ireland -- - - 1829 Court of Enquiry to investigate Regimental Books and - Registries 49 - - 1831 Embarks for Jamaica 50 - - 1840 ---- ---- North America 51 - - ---- Detachments employed in the Disputed Territory - during the unsettled state of the Boundary Question -- - - 1842 Embarks for Ireland 52 - - 1844 The Conclusion 53 - - - SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. - - 1755 Lord Charles Manners 55 - - 1761 The Honorable William Keppel -- - - 1765 James Durand 56 - - 1766 Hunt Walsh -- - - 1795 Samuel Hulse 57 - - 1797 The Honorable Chapple Norton 58 - - 1818 Sir John Murray, Baronet 59 - - 1827 Matthew Lord Aylmer, K.C.B. 60 - - 1832 Sir Hudson Lowe, K.C.B. -- - - 1842 The Earl of Westmorland, K.C.B. & G.C.H. -- - - - SUCCESSION OF LIEUT.-COLONELS 61 - - - SUCCESSION OF MAJORS 62 - - - PLATES. - Page - - Colours of the Regiment _to face_ 9 - - Uniform of 1843 52 - - -[Illustration: FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.] - - - - -HISTORICAL RECORD - -OF THE - -FIFTY-SIXTH, - -OR - -THE WEST ESSEX REGIMENT - -OF - -FOOT. - - -[Sidenote: 1755] - -The aggressions of foreign Princes, possessing extensive military -establishments, have repeatedly rendered considerable augmentations -to the British army necessary, for the preservation of the kingdom -and its numerous colonial possessions; and a circumstance of this -character occasioned the formation of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, -during the winter of 1755-6. - -The unjustifiable claims of France on certain portions of North -America,--the forcible expulsion of a company of British settlers -from a tract of land beyond the Allegany Mountains, and near the -river Ohio, by a body of French troops,--and the building of a -fort to command the entrance into the country on the Ohio and -Mississippi rivers, thus excluding the English from a valuable -portion of their possessions, gave indication of an approaching war. - -In December, 1755, an order was issued for adding ten regiments of -infantry to the regular army. The seventh of these new regiments -was raised in the north of England, under the superintendence of -LORD CHARLES MANNERS, who was nominated to the colonelcy, his -commission bearing date the 26th of December, 1755. It was numbered -the FIFTY-EIGHTH Foot; but two inefficient colonial corps being -soon afterwards disbanded, (viz., Major-General Shirley’s and -Major-General Sir William Pepperel’s,) it obtained the rank of the -FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment. - -[Sidenote: 1756] - -Active measures were adopted in the beginning of 1756, for -completing the numbers of the regiment to its establishment of -ten companies, of seventy-eight non-commissioned officers and -soldiers each; and its quarters were established at Newcastle and -Gateshead. Its costume was scarlet, faced, lined, and turned up -with deep crimson; a few years afterwards the facing was changed to -a _purple_, which had been denominated “_Pompadour_” colour: this -circumstance gave rise to the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment being commonly -styled “_The Pompadours_.” - -The following officers received commissions in the regiment:-- - - _Colonel_, LORD CHARLES MANNERS. - _Lieut.-Colonel_, PETER PARR. - _Major_, JOHN DOYNE. - - - _Captains._ - - James Stewart - William Skipton - William Playstowe - Wm. Earl of Sutherland - Thomas Hargrave - John Heighington - John Deaken - - - _Lieutenants._ - - Wilson Marshall - John Forster - Thomas Harrison - Edwin Eyre - John White - James Perrin - John Ingram - John Archer - David Dundas[1] - St. John Pierce Lacy - - - _Ensigns._ - - John Brereton - Edward Jenkins - James Lyons - Archibald Wight - Joseph Baillie - William Sandys - Fiennes Jenkinson - Christopher Hales - John Woodford - - - _Captain-Lieutenant._ - - Francis Gregor - - _Chaplain_, John Halsted; - _Adjutant_, John Hardy; - _Quarter-Master_, William Lamplow; - _Surgeon_, William Pitman. - -[Sidenote: 1757] - -[Sidenote: 1758] - -[Sidenote: 1759] - -In April, 1757, the regiment marched to Berwick, from whence it -afterwards continued its route to Scotland, where it was stationed -several years, occupying quarters at Aberdeen, and its vicinity, -in 1758; and in the following year at Edinburgh, from whence a -detachment proceeded to Germany, to recruit the regiments serving -in that country. - -[Sidenote: 1760] - -[Sidenote: 1761] - -Embarking from Leith, in July, 1760, the regiment proceeded to -Hilsea barracks, where it was stationed during the year 1761. - -On the 17th of December, Lord Charles Manners was succeeded in the -colonelcy by Colonel the Honorable William Keppel, fourth son of -William-Anne, second Earl of Albemarle, from the First Foot Guards. - -[Sidenote: 1762] - -In the mean time, France had been deprived of all her possessions -in North America, and British troops, then employed in Germany, -were opposing formidable resistance to the schemes of the court of -Versailles; but the celebrated treaty, called the “Family Compact,” -between the sovereigns of France and Spain (both Bourbon princes), -gave a new character to the war. Confiding in the prowess of his -seamen and soldiers, the British monarch did not shrink from the -unequal contest, but proclaimed war against Spain on the 4th of -January, 1762; and an expedition was afterwards prepared for the -attack of the valuable Spanish settlement of the _Havannah_, in -the island of Cuba. The FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, being selected to -take part in this enterprise, sailed from Portsmouth on the 5th of -March, and on arriving in the West Indies, it joined the armament -under General the Earl of Albemarle: the colonel of the FIFTY-SIXTH -Regiment, the Honorable William Keppel, had the local rank of -Major-General in the expedition. - -Passing through the dangerous navigation of the Straits of Bahama -without accident, the fleet arrived off the Havannah on the -6th of June, and a landing was effected on the following day. -The FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment mustered nine hundred and thirty-three -officers and soldiers, under Lieut.-Colonel James Stewart, and -were formed in brigade with four companies of the Royals, and a -battalion of the Sixtieth, under Brigadier-General Haviland. - -The Havannah, from its great importance, had been carefully -fortified; the entrance to the harbour, which is one of the finest -in the world, was secured on one side by the _Moro_ fort, built -of solid masonry on a projecting point of land, and having an -immense ditch cut out of the rock. The west side of the harbour -was defended by the Puntal fort, and the town was surrounded by -a rampart, flanked with bastions, and strengthened by a ditch. -The reduction of the Moro fort was the first object which engaged -the attention of the troops, and this service was intrusted -to Major-General the Honorable William Keppel (colonel of the -FIFTY-SIXTH), his own regiment forming part of the force placed -under his orders, and having repeated opportunities of evincing -its spirit and perseverance in this arduous undertaking, rendered -particularly difficult by the oppressive heat, a scarcity of water, -the necessity of dragging the artillery along a rocky coast, and -from the thinness of the soil; so great was the labour in carrying -on the approaches, that several men were daily lost by diseases -produced by their extraordinary exertions. The destruction of -the grand battery by fire augmented the labours of the besieging -troops; but they resumed their work, repulsed a sortie of the -Spaniards, and erected new batteries. On the 30th of July, a -storming party was formed under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel -Stewart, of the late Ninetieth Regiment (disbanded on 18th March, -1763): two mines were sprung, a small practicable breach made, -and the British soldiers rushed in at the aperture with so much -impetuosity, that the Spaniards were instantly overpowered. Nearly -one hundred and fifty of the enemy were killed; four hundred threw -down their arms and were made prisoners; upwards of two hundred -endeavoured to escape in boats, but lost their lives in the attempt. - -The spirited capture of the Moro fort was followed by the erection -of a line of batteries on Cavannos Hill, commanding the eastern -side of the city, and the guns of the captured fort were also -turned against the Spaniards. On the 11th of August the batteries -opened a well-directed fire on the Puntal fort and the town; and so -severe was the cannonade, that in less than six hours the enemy’s -guns were silenced, and the white flag hoisted. A capitulation was -concluded on the 13th, and possession was taken of the town and -Puntal fort on the following day. - -This valuable conquest was achieved by a division of the royal -navy, and a land force of fourteen thousand men; and it cost -upwards of a thousand officers and soldiers in killed and deaths -from extraordinary exertions. - -The FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment had twelve rank and file killed; one -officer and twenty-three rank and file wounded: the regiment also -sustained the loss of many brave men from diseases. - -For its distinguished conduct on this occasion, the regiment was -honored with the royal authority to bear the word “MORO” on its -regimental colours, which forms a conspicuous feature in its -Record; few corps having acquired an honorary inscription for their -colours on their first service. - -[Sidenote: 1763] - -The regiment remained at the Havannah several months, the garrison -being under the order of its colonel, Major-General the Honorable -William Keppel. A treaty of peace was soon afterwards concluded; -and the Havannah was restored to Spain in exchange for Florida: it -was, accordingly, delivered up to the Spanish troops on the 7th of -July, 1763. - -In September, the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment embarked for Ireland, and -landing in the following month, marched to Limerick, its numbers -being completed by volunteers from other corps. - -[Sidenote: 1764] - -At this period, several changes were made in the clothing and -equipment of certain regiments of cavalry and infantry; and a -communication, dated Dublin, 9th October, 1764, made known to the -FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment--“His Majesty’s pleasure, that the facings of -the clothing of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment of Foot, under the command -of Major-General Keppel, be changed to a _purple_ colour; that the -men have white breeches; that the accoutrements be white; and that -the grenadier caps be plated instead of embroidered,” &c. - -[Sidenote: 1765] - -Leaving Limerick on the 2nd of May, the regiment proceeded to -Dublin, where it was stationed two years. - -On the 15th of May, 1765, Major-General the Honorable William -Keppel was removed to the Fourteenth Foot; and in June His Majesty -conferred the colonelcy of the FIFTY-SIXTH on Lieut.-General James -Durand, from the lieut.-colonelcy of the First Foot Guards. - -[Sidenote: 1766] - -Lieut.-General Durand died in 1766, and was succeeded by Colonel -Hunt Walsh, from the lieut.-colonelcy of the Twenty-eighth Regiment. - -[Sidenote: 1767] - -[Sidenote: 1768] - -The regiment quitted Dublin in October, 1767, and proceeded to -Waterford, where it remained seven months, and in May, 1768, it -returned to Dublin. - -By the Royal Warrant, dated 19th December, 1768, the facings of the -FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment were continued to be _purple_. - -[Sidenote: 1769] - -[Sidenote: 1770] - -After performing Dublin duty two years, the regiment received -orders to transfer its services to Gibraltar. It accordingly -marched to Cork in May, 1770, and embarked from thence for that -important fortress. - -In December an order was received for augmenting the regiment, by -the addition of a light infantry company of three serjeants, three -corporals, two buglers, and sixty-two private soldiers; also an -addition of twenty-one rank and file to each of the other companies. - -[Sidenote: 1771] - -[Sidenote: 1775] - -[Sidenote: 1778] - -[Sidenote: 1779] - -The regiment was stationed at Gibraltar during the following twelve -years. The American war commenced in 1775, and three Hanoverian -regiments afterwards joined the garrison of Gibraltar. In 1778 -France united with the revolted British subjects, and the Spanish -monarch contrived to introduce himself into the dispute, in the -character of a mediator; but his proposals were of so injurious -a character to the interests of Great Britain, that they were -instantly rejected. The King of Spain then seized on what appeared -to be a favorable opportunity to declare war, and to wrest from -Great Britain the important fortress of _Gibraltar_, which had -resisted every attempt to retake it, since its capture by the -British in 1704. - -In June, 1779, the intercourse of the garrison of Gibraltar with -the Spanish territory was suddenly stopped, so that several -officers on leave of absence, experienced difficulty in rejoining -their corps. A numerous Spanish army speedily blockaded the -fortress on the land side, and the garrison became insulated from -the rest of the world. Resolving on a desperate defence of the -fortress intrusted to their care, the troops undertook the task -with cheerfulness, and severe toil and spare diet were sustained -without complaint. The works were increased; the pavement of the -streets was taken up; the towers of conspicuous buildings pulled -down; the stone sentry-boxes removed; guard-houses unroofed; -traverses were raised in different places, and a covered way begun. -Several staff appointments took place; among others, Major Hardy, -of the FIFTY-SIXTH, was nominated quarter-master-general: Captain -Valloton, aide-de-camp to the governor; and Lieutenant S. Wood, -assistant town-major: the regiment was commanded by Major Bulleine -Fancourt[2]. - -[Sidenote: 1780] - -A rigorous blockade being established by sea and land, a scarcity -of provision was soon experienced; the soldiers, being resolutely -determined to defend their position, submitted to privations which -were unavoidable, although the scurvy made great ravages among -them, and reduced their numbers. Early in 1780 Admiral Sir George -Rodney arrived with a convoy, to the great joy and relief of the -garrison, which was augmented by the second battalion of the -Seventy-third Regiment. - -The British fleet having departed, the Spaniards renewed the -blockade by sea, and attempted to destroy the vessels in the -harbour by fire-ships, but failed. Towards the close of the year, -provision again became short; a limited supply was occasionally -obtained from the Moors; the effects of the scurvy were mitigated -by cultivating vegetables on the rock; and the gallant defenders -of Gibraltar maintained their attitude of defiance to the power of -Spain. - -[Sidenote: 1781] - -In April, 1781, the garrison was again relieved by the arrival of a -numerous fleet under Vice-Admiral Darby. - -This success occasioned the Spaniards to lose all hope of being -able to reduce the fortress by blockade, and they resolved to try -the power of their numerous artillery. Scarcely had the fleet -cast anchor, when the enemy’s batteries opened, and the fire of -upwards of one hundred guns and mortars enveloped the fortress in -a storm of war; a number of gun-boats augmented the iron tempest -which beat against the rock, and the houses of the inhabitants were -soon in ruins. Surgeon Thomas Chisholm, of the FIFTY-SIXTH, was -severely wounded by the splinter of a shell, on the 15th of April; -Lieutenant Edward Vicars of the regiment was also wounded on the -26th of October, and Ensign Richard Edgar on the 3rd of November. - -Europe watched, with intense interest, the heroic conduct of the -garrison; and the English governor deliberately observed the -approaches of the enemy, and seized, with the keenest perspection, -the proper moment to make a sortie with success. This occurred on -the night of the 26th of November, when the flank companies of -the FIFTY-SIXTH had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves. -The moon shone bright on the sands as the soldiers assembled at -midnight; between two and three o’clock, darkness overspread -the country, and the troops issued silently from the fortress. -They were challenged and fired upon by the enemy’s sentries; but -the British soldiers rushed forward with their native ardour, -overpowered the Spanish guards, and captured the batteries in -gallant style; the defenders of the works flying in dismay, and -communicating the panic to the troops in their rear. The wooden -batteries were soon prepared for fire; the flames spread with -astonishing rapidity, and a column of fire and smoke arose from -the works, illuminating the surrounding objects, and shedding a -fiery lustre upon this unparalleled scene. In an hour the object -of the sortie was effected; trains were laid to the enemy’s -magazines, and the soldiers withdrew: as they entered the fortress -tremendous explosions shook the ground, and rising columns of -smoke, flame, and burning timber, proclaimed the destruction of -the enemy’s immense stores of gunpowder to be completed. General -Eliott declared in orders,--“The bearing and conduct of the whole -detachment,--officers, seamen, and soldiers,--on this glorious -occasion, surpass my utmost acknowledgments.” - -The Spaniards appeared astounded at this disgrace; they made no -attempt to extinguish the flames; but appeared at a loss how to -proceed. Early in December they began to arouse themselves, and -to restore the batteries; but were retarded by the fire of the -garrison. While the besiegers were using diligence in repairing -the old works, and constructing new ones, the gallant defenders of -the fortress were equally indefatigable,--every serjeant, drummer, -musician, officer’s servant, and private soldier was required to -use the musket, shovel, and pickaxe, as his services were necessary. - -[Sidenote: 1782] - -All ordinary means of attack appearing to be unavailing against -the resolute garrison of Gibraltar, stupendous preparations were -made on a new principle, and floating batteries were constructed -with great art and labour, and were accounted the most perfect -contrivance of the kind ever seen. The combined power of France -and Spain was directed against the fortress; the Duke of Crillon -took the command of the besieging army, and he was assisted by a -celebrated French engineer, Monsieur d’Arcon. As the summer of 1782 -progressed, the garrison was aware that a crisis was approaching, -and awaited with cool determination the hour of trial. Sickness and -the enemy’s fire thinned their numbers (Lieutenant White, of the -FIFTY-SIXTH, being among the wounded); yet their efforts were not -relaxed. New subterraneous works were constructed; and furnaces -prepared for heating red-hot shot. - -A trial of hot shot was made in the early part of September, -and some of the enemy’s works were set on fire. This unexpected -disaster provoked the Duke of Crillon to hurry the attack of a -number of new batteries, which opened with a volley of sixty -shells, and was followed by the fire of one hundred and seven -guns of large calibre. A tremendous storm of bullets and shells -thundered against the fortress; and soon after, the immense -battering ships approached and took their station: princes of the -royal blood of France,--Spanish nobility,--dignified characters of -Europe,--and an amazing concourse of persons filling the enemy’s -camp, and covering the adjacent hills, to witness the fall of the -fortress under the fire of these stupendous vessels. - -The batteries of the garrison opened their fire, and the roar of -four hundred heavy guns proclaimed the dreadful conflict. The -battering ships proved powerful; the heaviest shells rebounded -from their tops, and a thirty-two pound shot scarcely seemed -to make an impression on them. Sometimes smoke arose, but the -engines in the ships soon caused it to disappear. The effect of -the red-hot shot was doubted; the result uncertain; but the fire -was persevered in, and showers of balls, shells, and carcasses, -flew through the air. For some hours the attack and defence were -so equally well supported, as scarcely to admit of any appearance -of superiority in the cannonade on either side. The wonderful -construction of the battering ships appeared to bid defiance to -the powers of the heaviest ordnance and of red-hot balls. In the -afternoon (13th September) the face of things began to change, -and the smoke issuing from the upper part of the enemy’s flagship -became more voluminous. A second ship soon appeared in the same -condition. Confusion prevailed. The enemy’s cannonade began to -abate. Signals of distress were made to their fleet; and groans -and cries of suffering came from the burning ships. Soon after -midnight one battering ship was in flames; in a short time a second -appeared in the same state; and between three and four o’clock six -more exhibited the effects of the red-hot shot. A dreadful scene -of conflagration illuminated the bay of Gibraltar, and the British -seamen were seen rescuing their enemies from impending destruction. - -Although defeated in this grand effort, the Spaniards entertained -some hope of being able to reduce the garrison to submission -from the want of provision; and the siege was continued: but in -October the combined fleets of France and Spain were damaged by a -storm. After this event the garrison was again relieved; supplied -with provisions, and reinforced with troops; and the officers and -soldiers were encouraged to persevere in their gallant efforts, -by a letter from the principal Secretary of State, published -in orders, in which it was stated,--“I am honored with His -Majesty’s commands to assure you, in the strongest terms, that no -encouragement shall be wanting to the brave officers and soldiers -under your command. His Majesty’s Royal approbation of the past -will, no doubt, be a powerful incentive to future exertion: and I -have the King’s authority to assure you, that every distinguished -act of emulation and gallantry, which shall be performed in the -course of the siege, by any, even of the lowest rank, will meet -with ample reward from his gracious protection and favour.” - -Thus encouraged, the brave garrison of Gibraltar stood firm and -determined in the defence of the fortress, and the enemy lost all -hopes of being able to gain possession of the place. - -[Sidenote: 1783] - -Preliminary articles for a treaty of peace having been signed, -hostilities ceased in February, 1783, and Gibraltar remained one of -the gems of the British Crown, after a determined siege of three -years, seven months, and twelve days, from the commencement of the -blockade. - -Thus terminated the celebrated siege of Gibraltar; the nations of -Europe were struck with admiration of the gallant defenders of the -fortress; the British people applauded their governor and his brave -garrison; and the officers and soldiers received the thanks of -Parliament and the approbation of their Sovereign. - - “In commemoration of the glorious defence made by the regiments - of infantry which composed the garrison of GIBRALTAR during the - late memorable siege of that fortress,” the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment - received the royal authority to bear on its regimental colours - the word “GIBRALTAR,” with the device of a “CASTLE AND KEY,” and - the motto “_Montis Insignia Calpe_.” - -In pursuance of an arrangement made by His Majesty’s command, the -several regiments were at this period directed to assume _County -Titles_, and to cultivate a connexion with such parts of the -kingdom, with the view of promoting the recruiting of the army. The -FIFTY-SIXTH received the title of the WEST ESSEX Regiment. - -In the month of October of this year, the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment was -relieved at Gibraltar, and embarked for England: having landed at -Portsmouth in December, it marched from thence to Chatham. - -[Sidenote: 1784] - -In the beginning of 1784 the regiment marched to St. Albans, and -in the spring commenced its route to Scotland, proceeding first to -Glasgow, and afterwards to Aberdeen. - -[Sidenote: 1785] - -[Sidenote: 1786] - -On the 8th of April, 1785, the regiment commenced its march from -Aberdeen for Fort George, where it was stationed twelve months, -and, in April, 1786, marched to Perth: in June it proceeded to -Edinburgh Castle. - -[Sidenote: 1787] - -Leaving Edinburgh in May, 1787, the regiment proceeded to Ayr, and -in September to Glasgow. Its establishment was reduced from eleven -to ten companies. - -[Sidenote: 1788] - -[Sidenote: 1789] - -In January, 1788, the regiment embarked from Glasgow for Ireland, -and, landing at Belfast, proceeded from thence to Galway, where it -was stationed during the following year. - -[Sidenote: 1790] - -[Sidenote: 1791] - -From Galway the regiment marched, in the autumn of 1790, to -Dublin, where it was stationed during the year 1791, its -lieutenant-colonel, Colonel Peter Craig, commanding the garrison. - -[Sidenote: 1792] - -From Dublin the regiment marched, in June, 1792, to Drogheda. In -the mean time a revolution of a violent and dangerous character -had taken place in France, and the French monarch was placed under -restraint. These proceedings, with the attempts made by the French -to promulgate their democratical doctrines in other countries, -appearing to render a war inevitable, the army was augmented, and -two companies were added to the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment. - -[Sidenote: 1793] - -Several changes of quarters took place in the early part of 1793. -Brevet-Major Valloton, being stationed with his company at Wexford, -was employed, on the 11th of June, 1793, in suppressing a tumult -at that place, and, advancing in front of his men, to expostulate -with the rioters, he was cut down by one of the mob with a scythe; -his men fired on the assassin, and several rioters were killed and -wounded. A monument was erected to the memory of Major Valloton -near the town of Wexford, where the occurrence took place. - -In August the regiment marched to Cork, and was held in readiness -to proceed on foreign service. The French republicans had added -to their other atrocities the decapitation of their sovereign; -war had commenced, and the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment was selected to -join an expedition to the West Indies, under General Sir Charles -(afterwards Earl) Grey, to deliver the French West India islands -from the power of the republicans. The regiment embarked for this -service in November, and sailed for Barbadoes, where it arrived in -January, 1794. - -[Sidenote: 1794] - -The flank companies of the regiment were formed in grenadier and -light infantry battalions, and, with the battalion companies, -proceeded against the island of _Martinico_. A landing was effected -at three different points in the early part of February, 1794, -and some sharp fighting occurred, in which the FIFTY-SIXTH, -particularly the flank companies, had the honor to take part, and -in a short period this valuable island was captured by the British -arms. Sir Charles Grey stated in his despatch,--“The general and -field officers and the commanding officers of corps, have set such -an example of zeal, activity, and animation in this service, which -has been so laudably imitated by all the officers and soldiers of -this little army, that they merit the greatest praise.” - -Leaving the battalion companies at Martinico, the flank companies -proceeded with the expedition against _St. Lucia_, the grenadiers -being in the brigade under Prince Edward (afterwards Duke of Kent), -and the light company in that commanded by Major-General Dundas. -The troops employed on this service arrived at St. Lucia on the -1st of April, and the conquest of that fine island was achieved in -three days. - -The army afterwards proceeded against the island of _Guadeloupe_, -and the FIFTY-SIXTH had the honor to share in this enterprise. A -determined resistance was made by the French republicans; but the -island was captured before the end of April, and the commander of -the forces declared he could not find words to express “the high -sense he entertained of the extraordinary merit evinced by the -officers and soldiers in this service.” - -The regiment was afterwards stationed at Grenada and Martinico, -and a great loss of life having been sustained from the effects -of climate and other causes, an order was received in October, to -transfer the men of the FIFTY-SIXTH, fit for duty, to the Sixth, -Ninth, and Fifteenth Regiments. - -[Sidenote: 1795] - -On the 3rd of January, 1795, the officers, staff, and such -non-commssioned officers and soldiers as had not been transferred -to other corps embarked from Martinico, and sailed for England; -they arrived at Gravesend on the 18th of February, and were -stationed at Chatham: active measures were adopted to recruit the -ranks of the regiment. - -After commanding the regiment nearly thirty years, General Walsh -died, and was succeeded in the colonelcy by Major-General Samuel -Hulse, from the lieut.-colonelcy of the First Foot Guards, by -commission, dated the 7th of March, 1795. - -In September the regiment marched to Gravesend, where it embarked -for Cork, and landed at Spike Island on the 1st of October. - -[Sidenote: 1796] - -Great success had attended the recruiting and training of the -regiment, and although one year only had elapsed since its return -from the West Indies a skeleton, it had attained so perfect a -state of discipline and efficiency, that in the early part of 1796 -it proceeded to Barbadoes, from whence it was detached to St. -Domingo, where it served under Major-General White, by whom it was -employed at the taking of _Bombarde_ in the district of Mole, St. -Nicholas, which was captured, and the works destroyed. - -[Sidenote: 1797] - -On the 24th of January, 1797, Major-General Hulse was removed to -the Nineteenth Regiment, and the colonelcy of the FIFTY-SIXTH -was conferred on Major-General the Hon. Chapple Norton, from the -Eighty-first Regiment. - -[Sidenote: 1798] - -In this year the regiment was employed in the district of Grand -Ance in the island of St. Domingo; it took part in the attack -of _Port Jack Thomas_, and in the defence of Irois, under -Major-General Brent Spencer, also in the attack made on the town of -_St. Mary’s_, after which it returned to Port St. Nicholas. When -the island was given up, the regiment proceeded to Jamaica, where -it remained until November, 1798, when it embarked from Kingston, -for England. - -[Sidenote: 1799] - -Arriving at Gravesend on the 31st of January, 1799, the regiment -landed, and proceeded to Chatham. It was afterwards removed to -different counties in England, and active measures were adopted -with success to recruit its diminished numbers. - -At this period a favorable opportunity appeared to present itself -for rescuing Holland from the power of France, into which it had -fallen during the early part of 1795, and a plan of co-operation -was concerted between Great Britain and Russia, in the expectation -that the Dutch would rise against the French, and, aided by the -Anglo-Russian force, would exert themselves to effect their -emancipation. The FIFTY-SIXTH being selected to share in this -enterprise, joined the troops at Barham Downs on the 31st of July, -and in the middle of September embarked at Deal for Holland. - -The regiment joined the Anglo-Russian army, under His Royal -Highness the Duke of York, in time to take a distinguished part -in the attack of the enemy’s positions on the 19th of September. -On this occasion the first operations of the several columns -were successful; but the hopes, which a brilliant commencement -afforded, of a general and decisive victory, were destroyed by the -hasty valour, and the want of that precaution which the art of war -prescribes, on the part of the Russians under General Hermann, -who were repulsed by an enemy inferior to themselves in numbers -and valour, but superior in science and prudence. This disaster -rendered it necessary for the army to resume its position. The -FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment had thirty rank and file killed on this -occasion; Captains King and Gilman, Lieutenant Prater, thirty-three -rank and file, wounded; one serjeant, one drummer, and fifty-seven -rank and file, missing. The Duke of York stated in his public -despatch,--“The gallantry displayed by the troops engaged--the -spirit with which they overcame every obstacle which nature and art -opposed to them, and the cheerfulness with which they maintained -the fatigues of an action which lasted, without intermission, from -half-past three o’clock in the morning until five in the afternoon, -are beyond my powers to describe. Their exertions fully entitle -them to the admiration and gratitude of their king and country.” - -On the 2nd of October a successful attack was made on the enemy’s -positions between Bergen and Egmont-op-Zee; and the action “was[3] -sustained by the British columns under those highly-distinguished -officers, General Sir Ralph Abercromby and Lieut.-General Dundas, -whose exertions, as well as the gallantry of the brave troops they -led, cannot have been surpassed by any former instance of British -valour.” - -During the night the enemy fell back; and the British advance-posts -moved forward on the following day. On the 6th of October the -enemy’s posts were again attacked with success, and the British -maintained a forward position. - -Although the army under the Duke of York was victorious in its -engagements, yet the Dutch people were not stimulated, by these -spirited exertions, to rise in arms against their oppressors; and -several circumstances having occurred which indicated that the -expedition was not likely to be eventually successful, the Duke of -York resolved to evacuate the country. - -The regiment embarked from North Holland on the 18th of November, -landed at Yarmouth on the 20th, and marched to Chelmsford. In -December it proceeded to Horsham. - -[Sidenote: 1800] - -Leaving Horsham on the 26th of January, 1800, the regiment -proceeded to Portsmouth, where it embarked for Ireland, and landing -on the 25th of February, marched to Kilkenny, from whence it -afterwards proceeded to Clonmel, Fermoy, &c. Two companies, of one -hundred rank and file each, were added to the establishment. - -While at these stations, the regiment was conspicuous for its -correct discipline and efficiency, and after the usual inspection, -on the 29th of October, the following garrison order was -issued:--“Major-General Sir Charles Ross is happy to have this -opportunity of expressing his approbation of the steadiness and -appearance of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment this day, and returns his -thanks to the officers and men for the zeal and attention which -they have displayed on all occasions since he has had the honor of -commanding them.” - -[Sidenote: 1801] - -The regiment, after its return from the West Indies, in the -early part of 1799, had been recruited with men for limited -service in Europe; but when the glorious triumphs of the British -army in Egypt, under General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., were -made known to the corps in general orders, this announcement -of splendid victories, gained by English troops, created so -lively an interest in the regiment, that the soldiers instantly -responded with a tender of service in any quarter of the globe, -which was communicated to the general officer of the district, -Brigadier-General Champagne, by Major H. S. Keating, commanding the -regiment at the time, in the following terms: - - “SIR,--I have the honor to inclose you the offer of the - FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, of serving in any part of the world, where - His Majesty may deem it necessary; which I beg you will have the - goodness to lay before his Excellency the Commander-in-chief. - I should consider myself acting with injustice, were I not to - notice the very enthusiastic manner in which the orders of the - 16th May, 1801[4], of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, were - received, and the consequent tender of those services excited by - a contemplation of the animated conduct of our gallant army in - Egypt; and I feel a confidence in adding, that should they be - accepted, I have every reliance, that the spirit and energy of - the regiment, will support with honor the interest of its king - and country.” - -The commander of the forces in Ireland directed the -adjutant-general to convey to the non-commissioned officers and -privates of the regiment, “his thanks and approbation of their -spirited offer of general service, which is transmitted to His -Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief, to be laid before the -King.” The Duke of York also communicated “his thanks to the corps -for their spirited and loyal offer to extend their service to any -part of the world.” - -[Sidenote: 1802] - -This tender of service was, however, so speedily followed by the -peace of Amiens, concluded in the early part of 1802, that no call -was made, at this period, for the regiment to proceed on foreign -service. In October it marched to Limerick. - -[Sidenote: 1803] - -Hostilities were resumed in 1803, and Bonaparte’s threat of -invading England was answered by a sudden assumption of arms -throughout the kingdom, which produced an array of military power, -that proved how highly the British people prized their constitution -and liberties, and deterred the French from quitting their own -coast. The regiment proceeded to Galway in August, and was -afterwards removed to Tuam, Loughrea, and Kinsale. - -[Sidenote: 1804] - -Among the measures adopted to repel the French invasion, an -additional force act was passed in June, 1804; and four hundred of -the men, raised under its provisions, in the county of Surrey, were -constituted the _second battalion_ of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment; -they were embodied at Farnham, and the battalion was placed on -the establishment of the army on the 25th of December, 1804: -it was augmented soon afterwards to six hundred and fifty-six -non-commissioned officers and soldiers. - -[Sidenote: 1805] - -The first battalion remained in Ireland until January, 1805, -when it embarked at Kinsale for the Isle of Wight, where its -establishment was augmented to one thousand rank and file, which -was speedily completed, and in April it embarked in three divisions -for the East Indies: it landed at Bombay in August, and was -stationed at that city several years. - -In May the second battalion left Farnham, and was stationed -a short time at the barracks at Forton and Gosport; in August -it proceeded to the Isle of Wight, where a pair of colours was -presented to it on the 28th of November. Its establishment -was augmented in December to eight hundred and sixty-six -non-commissioned officers and soldiers. - -[Sidenote: 1806] - -From the Isle of Wight the second battalion proceeded to Guernsey, -in March, 1806, and its establishment was fixed at a thousand rank -and file. - -[Sidenote: 1807] - -[Sidenote: 1808] - -After remaining at Guernsey twelve months, the second battalion -returned to the Isle of Wight: it was in a high state of discipline -and efficiency, and in June it embarked in two divisions for India. -The fleet encountered a severe gale of wind, and the vessels of the -first division parted company, and put into Simon’s Bay to refit. -They remained at the Cape of Good Hope a month, and afterwards -continued the voyage to Madras, where they arrived in December, -under convoy of the Greyhound frigate. On arrival in India the -several companies proceeded to Bombay, where both battalions were -stationed in 1808: the success which attended the recruiting of -the regiment, occasioning the establishment of the first battalion -to be augmented to thirteen hundred non-commissioned officers and -soldiers. - -[Sidenote: 1809] - -In January, 1809, the second battalion marched to Barachie, near -Surat. - -Meanwhile British commerce had experienced considerable -interruption and some loss from the French naval force stationed in -the Indian Sea, which force rendezvoused at the Island of Bourbon, -and the Isle of France (or the Mauritius). In January two hundred -men of the first battalion were detached from Bombay, to join the -troops assembling at the Island of Roderigue, under Lieut.-Colonel -Keating, of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, for the attack of the French -islands in the Indian Sea. - -While this detachment of the first battalion was on the voyage, -four companies of the second battalion marched to Baroda, under -the orders of Captain D. Daly, and joined the force assembling -at that place, under Lieut.-Colonel Walker, for the reduction of -the fort of _Mallia_, in Kattawar, which was the stronghold of -a numerous body of marauders, who plundered and devastated the -surrounding territory, and had successfully resisted the attacks -of powerful native chiefs, which had procured for their fort -the reputation of being impregnable. The position was naturally -strong, the fortifications good, the garrison, being fully aware -of the approach of the British troops, was prepared, and, to -gain additional security, had surrounded the wall with a strong -embankment of earth and thorns. - -After a long and fatiguing march the British troops arrived before -Mallia on the 6th of July; and the garrison returning a vaunting -answer to the summons to surrender, the fire of the artillery -commenced on the following day, and a practicable breach was -effected in a few hours. - -At four o’clock in the afternoon the storming party, of which -the FIFTY-SIXTH furnished a proportion of one hundred and fifty -rank and file, advanced; the forlorn hope being under the command -of Captain McKenzie, of the Bombay European Regiment, who was -gallantly supported by Lieutenant Newman of the FIFTY-SIXTH, a -volunteer on the occasion. Rushing forward with heroic valour, the -soldiers soon forced the breach, and in less than three-quarters of -an hour they were in possession of the greater part of the town. As -they advanced, the resistance became more determined; the banditti -fighting with great spirit, and eventually retiring into an inner -fort, which was inaccessible to an assault; when, the evening being -far advanced, operations ceased for the night. Before the following -morning the defenders of Mallia withdrew through a sally port, and -fled; a few men remaining to keep up an occasional fire, and these -retired before daylight; when the fort was occupied by the British -troops. - -This place having been accounted by the natives of the Kattawar as -impregnable, its early reduction, with the cool and steady valour -by which it was carried, filled with astonishment and admiration -the several vakeels of the different chieftains, who were in -attendance on Lieut.-Colonel Walker, and afforded them proof of the -irresistible effects of British discipline, skill, and prowess. -This afterwards operated beneficially in producing the organization -of so rude and uncivilized a tract of country, as the greater part -of the peninsula of Guzerat then was. - -In the general orders issued on this occasion, it was stated:--“To -Captain D. Daly, the officers and men of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, -the commanding officer returns his particular acknowledgments; -they have nobly supported the reputation of the senior battalion, -in all the characteristics of good soldiers.” ... “The commanding -officer cannot omit the expression of his warmest acknowledgments -to Captain Arnot, of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, for his exertions at -the erection of the batteries, and for his conduct at the storm; -and it would be injustice to withhold his thanks to Lieutenant -Newman, for his spirited support of Captain McKenzie in the -advanced party.” - -The casualties, amounting to eighty-two killed and wounded, prove -the arduous nature of the enterprise; and of this number the -FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment had six rank and file killed; Captain Arnot, -and twelve rank and file wounded. In December the troops were -ordered to return to their former stations, and the detachment of -the FIFTY-SIXTH rejoined the head-quarters of the second battalion -at Barachie. - -Meanwhile the party of the first battalion at the Isle -of Roderigue had sailed from thence with the forces under -Lieut.-Colonel Keating, to co-operate with the British navy in -blockading the Isles of France and Bourbon, and in attacking the -enemy’s ports. At five o’clock on the morning of the 21st of -September, six hundred men landed in three columns, seven miles -from the port of _St. Paul’s_, in the Isle of Bourbon, then called -by the French the Isle of Bonaparte, and by a forced march crossed -a causeway extending over the lake, before the enemy discovered -their disembarkation or approach to the town; they also passed the -enemy’s strongest position by seven o’clock, and gained possession -of two batteries before the enemy could form in force. Captain -Imlack, of the Bombay Native Infantry, was detached with one -hundred and fifty men to take possession of a third battery; and -on his way he encountered the French forces, concentrated behind a -stone wall, with eight field-pieces on their flanks. This post was -instantly attacked in a most gallant manner; Captain Hanna of the -FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment arrived with the third column, and charging, -captured two guns; and Captain Forbes, of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, -advancing with the reserve, the enemy was compelled to retreat with -the loss of his artillery. A few men were detached in pursuit; two -additional batteries were captured, and by half-past eight o’clock -the town, batteries, magazines, eight brass field-pieces, and one -hundred and seventeen new iron guns, were in possession of the -British troops: at the same time the enemy’s shipping were forced -to surrender to the British naval force. Thus was accomplished a -most brilliant exploit, in a few hours, and it reflected great -credit on the commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel KEATING, of -the FIFTY-SIXTH, and on all the troops engaged. The loss of the -regiment was one serjeant, and five rank and file killed; one -serjeant and twenty-six rank and file wounded. - -The town being commanded by the British naval force, the troops -returned on board the fleet; part of the enemy’s stores and the -guns were destroyed; the remainder were embarked on board the -company’s recaptured ship Streatham, which, with the Europe, were -placed under their former commanders. In October the troops sailed -for the Isle of Roderigue. The conduct of Ensign Pearce, of the -FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, was highly commended in the public despatch -of Lieut.-Colonel Keating. - -In the beginning of this year, a detachment of the regiment, under -Lieutenant John Elliot Cairnes, performed duty as marines, in -the Indian Sea, on board of His Majesty’s ship Psyche, which was -engaged in the war with the Rajah of Travancore, who governed a -populous province at the south-west extremity of Hindoostan. This -province was indebted for its independence to the valour of British -troops, who rescued it from the power of Tippoo Sultan, when the -forces of the Mysore had overrun the country, in 1790; and in 1795 -a treaty of alliance was concluded with the rajah, who engaged to -subsidize three battalions of British Sepoys for the defence of -his dominions. Some disputes arising from the payments to be made -in consequence of this treaty, produced war; the British Sepoys -stationed at Quilon were menaced with annihilation; the house of -the resident, Colonel C. Macauly, at Cochin, was attacked; and the -Twelfth and Nineteenth British regiments were suddenly ordered to -the scene of contest. A detachment of the FIFTY-SIXTH, on board -the Piedmontaise frigate, were employed in services connected with -the safety of the troops at Quilon, and the preservation of the -life of the British resident. This frigate cannonaded the port of -Aleppi, where a party of the Twelfth Foot had been treacherously -seized, their wrists broken with a heavy piece of iron, their -hands tied behind them, and after lying several days in a dungeon, -were precipitated from a rock into the sea. This detachment of -the FIFTY-SIXTH landed at Quilon, under Lieutenant Warren, to -co-operate in the preservation of the life of the British resident, -who had escaped from Cochin. The services of the detachment under -Lieutenant Cairnes, on board of the Psyche, were connected with the -operations of the army under Brigadier-General the Honorable A. St. -Leger; and under the cover of the frigate’s broadside, the soldiers -of the regiment stormed and captured a strong battery, commanding -_Colatchi Bay_; thus co-operating in the capture of _Travandrum_, -the capital, which reduced the refractory Rajah of Travancore to -submission. - -Measures for enforcing a system of economy, having interfered with -the emoluments which British officers in the command of native -regiments had been accustomed to receive, from the contract for -supplying their corps with camp equipment, the civil and military -authorities of Madras became opposed to each other; from this -misunderstanding resulted serious disaffection and disobedience of -orders in the native army; and the head-quarters and companies of -the first battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH at Bombay, were suddenly -ordered to Madras. They embarked on board the Cornwallis frigate -and two transports, on the 30th of July, under secret orders, and -landed at Madras on the 11th of August, before any disclosure -of the approach of this reinforcement had reached the army of -that presidency. The governor addressed a communication to the -regiment on this occasion, in which he stated he felt--“particular -satisfaction that the selection for this delicate service had -fallen to the first battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, whose -distinguished and characteristic zeal for the maintenance of -professional subordination to the authority of legal government, -must so powerfully tend to recall the misguided to a sense of their -duty.” - -The regiment proceeded to the Marmalong camp immediately, and -after the return of the native corps to their duty, it received -the thanks of the Governor in Council, in general orders,--“for -the manner in which His Majesty’s officers and soldiers, who -rallied round the cause of government, loyalty, and duty, conducted -themselves.” In October the battalion proceeded to Bellary. - -[Sidenote: 1810] - -These troubles being suppressed, the governor-general conceived -the idea of clearing the Indian Ocean of all that was hostile -to Great Britain, and a considerable force was placed under the -orders of Lieut.-Colonel Keating, of the FIFTY-SIXTH, including a -strong detachment of the first battalion of the regiment, for the -capture of the Island of _Bourbon_. On this occasion Lieut.-Colonel -Keating resolved to make his first attack on the capital, in the -expectation that, with its capture, the reduction of the island -would be accomplished. A landing was effected at Grand Chaloupe -on the 7th of July, 1810; and Captain Hanna was detached with two -companies of the FIFTY-SIXTH to _La Possessime_, “the batteries of -which place he took by assault in the most gallant manner[5];” and -with the trifling loss of two men killed, and two wounded: thus -proving the advantage of making attacks with spirit and resolution. -All the troops of the expedition conducting themselves with heroic -ardour, the opposition of the enemy was speedily overcome, and the -conquest of the island accomplished in so short a period of time, -that Lieutenant-Colonel Keating stated in his public despatch,--“In -all the operations the troops evinced the native energy and -gallantry of Britons, and in a few hours this rich, extensive, and -valuable colony was added to the British dominions.” Lieutenant -Mallet and a party of the regiment, proceeded with the French -troops which had surrendered, to the Cape of Good Hope. - -Additional troops arriving at this part of the Indian Ocean, -Major-General J. Abercromby assumed the command, and an expedition -proceeded against the _Isle of France_, which was afterwards -restored to its original designation of the _Mauritius_, and the -detachment of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment had the honor to serve -in this enterprise; the party which proceeded, under Lieutenant -Mallet, in charge of French prisoners to the Cape, arriving in time -to take part in this service. A landing was effected in the Bay -of Mapon on the 29th of November, and the troops advanced through -a thick wood, when some skirmishing occurred, and Lieut.-Colonel -Keating, of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, and twelve men of the piquet, -were wounded. Penetrating the open country on the following day, -the troops experienced great inconvenience from the want of water, -and halted at the streams of the powder-mills, five miles from Port -Louis. After passing the night at this place, they resumed the -march, and were opposed in their progress by a strong body of the -enemy, when some severe fighting occurred, in which the British -soldiers were triumphant: the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment had five men -killed and several wounded. - -Pursuing their victorious career, the British troops advanced -to the enemy’s lines; and on the following morning the French -Commander, General de Caen, proposed to capitulate; thus was this -valuable colony wrested from the enemy, and it has continued to -form part of the possessions of the British crown to the present -time. - -During this year the star of Britain shone bright on the naval and -colonial affairs of this great maritime power, whose enemies were -deprived of the last establishment which they had possessed beyond -the Cape of Good Hope, and the Pompadours had the honor of sharing -in these brilliant adventures. - -The second battalion remained at Barachia; and so successful was -the recruiting of the regiment, under the influence and zealous -efforts of its colonel, Lieut.-General the Hon. Chapple Norton, -that the establishment of the second battalion was augmented to -one thousand three hundred and six non-commissioned officers -and soldiers; making the number of the two battalions in India, -two thousand six hundred and twelve, and, notwithstanding the -casualties of war and climate, the effectives approximated the -establishment. A strong detachment of volunteers from the militia, -to the FIFTY-SIXTH, arriving in India in May, was stationed at the -Portuguese establishment at Goa. - -The detachment under Lieutenant Cairnes continued to serve as -marines. - -[Sidenote: 1811] - -In March, 1811, the party from Goa joined the head-quarters of -the first battalion at Bellary; and towards the close of the -year, Lieut.-Colonel Keating returned with the detachment from -the capture of Bourbon and the Mauritius. The Honorable the East -India Company expressed its sense of the valuable services of the -regiment, by presenting the first battalion with a pair of new -colours, during its stay at Bellary. - -This year the second battalion returned to Bombay. - -[Sidenote: 1812] - -In May, 1812, Lieut.-Colonel Kingscote arrived from England, and -took the command of the second battalion; which, in October, -marched from the town barracks, Bombay, to the pendals on Colabah. - -The first battalion quitted Bellary, and in September joined the -field-force assembled in the southern Mahratta country, under the -command of Colonel Dowse, of the East India Company’s Service, -for the purpose of enforcing the payment of the arrears of the -customary tribute, withheld by the Ranee of Raree; and took part in -all the operations consequent upon the performance of this duty. - -[Sidenote: 1813] - -Two companies of the second battalion were ordered to garrison -Surat, in February, 1813; and the head-quarters embarked for the -Guzerat, where they arrived at the Dutch Bundes in Surat on the -9th of March; and owing to the bad and unhealthy state of these -quarters, the battalion was removed in April, to Domus, where it -was encamped: but re-occupied the Dutch Bundes in June, with two -companies at Surat. - -Four companies were detached, in the same month, under the command -of Captain Barrington, to join the Guicwar’s subsidiary force, -under the orders of Colonel Holmes, of the East India Company’s -service. On the third day the four companies marched from Khim to -Oclasceer, a distance of eighteen miles, the last six of which -were across an arid plain, destitute of shelter, and exposed -to an unusual degree of heat, when many men fell from complete -exhaustion; three died where they fell; and seven others expired -during the day, after they had been removed to quarters by the -natives. These four companies were followed, in September, by two -others, under Lieut.-Colonel Kingscote who assumed the command -of the six companies with the force under Colonel Holmes, which -was employed in operations for the re-establishment of the -rightful heir to the throne, which had been usurped by the uncle. -On the 15th of November this force took possession of the fort -of _Palampore_, which the Scindians had evacuated early in the -morning. The troops remained in the neighbourhood of this place -until the end of the year, when the companies of the FIFTY-SIXTH -marched back to the camp at Domus, where the Guzerat fever deprived -the corps of many valuable soldiers. - -Notwithstanding its numerous losses, the recruiting of the regiment -was conducted with great success, under the influence and zealous -efforts of its colonel, and its ranks received a constant supply -of young men, many of them from the county of Surrey. At this -period the war in Europe had attained a crisis: the British forces -had triumphed in Portugal and Spain, and had forced the barrier -of the Pyrenees and penetrated France; the Emperor Napoleon had -lost a numerous army in the north; the forces of Russia, Austria, -Prussia, and the German States, were in arms against him; and a -powerful effort promised complete success to the cause of the -allies. Measures were adopted to augment the British army at this -interesting period; and the facility with which the FIFTY-SIXTH had -been recruited, holding out the prospect that its establishment -might be increased, a warrant was issued by the Prince Regent in -the early part of November, for adding a _third battalion_ to the -corps. This battalion was embodied at Horsham, its establishment -was six hundred and fifty non-commissioned officers and soldiers, -and its ranks were so speedily completed with disciplined men, by -volunteers from the militia, &c., that in one month from the date -of the order for its formation, it was ready for foreign service. -At this period a body of British troops proceeded to Holland, under -Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Graham (late Lord Lynedoch), to -co-operate with the forces of the allied sovereigns, and the third -battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH embarked for this service at Ramsgate, -on the 9th of December, under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel John -Frederick Brown; it was posted to the third brigade, commanded -by Major-General Sir Herbert Taylor; the British troops were -concentrated in and near Williamstadt. - -[Sidenote: 1814] - -About the same period the first battalion took the field in India, -and formed part of the force assembled at Goute, from whence -it proceeded against _Canool_, where it arrived on the 25th of -December, and batteries were erected during the night, but a flag -of truce being sent out on the following morning, hostilities -ceased. The battalion was also at the reduction of the fort -of _Raree_, Goosecull; and passed the monsoon in quarters at -Cataubaugy; afterwards returning to Goute, it was relieved in the -field by the second battalion of the Royals; it had lost three -hundred and fifty men from disease, and was so reduced, that it was -ordered to return to Bellary; it subsequently marched to Fort St. -George, Madras. - -The third battalion did not remain many days in quarters in Holland -before it was employed in active operations, in consequence of a -request of the Prussian general, Bulow, that the British would make -a forward movement upon _Antwerp_, to favour his operations; the -English general accordingly advanced to make a reconnoissance, and -approaching that fortress on the 13th of January, attacked a body -of French troops at the village of _Merxem_. On this occasion the -FIFTY-SIXTH supported the Seventy-eighth Highlanders, in a charge -with the bayonet, on a French column, which was driven from its -ground. The FIFTY-SIXTH were engaged in a sharp skirmish, and had -four men killed and fourteen wounded. The object of this movement -having been accomplished, the British troops marched to Rosendael. - -A serious attack on Antwerp was afterwards concerted, and General -Bulow engaged to support the British with his Prussian corps. -An advance was accordingly made, and on the 2nd of February the -English again approached the village of Merxem, where a numerous -body of French troops were stationed, and had fortified their post. -The light troops commenced skirmishing about nine o’clock in the -morning; and the FIFTY-SIXTH, having cleared the wood on the right -and left, formed line and advanced; when they were ordered by Sir -Thomas Graham, in person, to move to the right,--charge through -the village,--ford the dike on the other side,--take the enemy’s -battery,--and attack them on the left of their line. These orders -were gallantly executed, and two guns, which had annoyed the -advance, were captured. The FIFTY-SIXTH sustained some loss from -the enemy’s fire, and had several men drowned in crossing the dike; -but they succeeded in gaining the left flank of the enemy, and were -warmly engaged until the French retired under the guns of Antwerp, -when they pursued until recalled, and ordered to take post under -the embankment of St. Ferdinand’s dike, which was not accomplished -before several round shot had passed through the ranks. The -regiment had thirteen rank and file killed; Ensign Sparks, and -twenty-four rank and file wounded. Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham -stated in his despatch,--“All the troops engaged behaved with the -usual spirit and intrepidity of British soldiers;” and the conduct -of Lieut.-Colonel Brown of the FIFTY-SIXTH was particularly noticed. - -After this success the British troops were employed in constructing -a breastwork and battery, and the FIFTY-SIXTH took their share in -this labour, the men working all night. On the 3rd of February, -several pieces of heavy ordnance opened upon the city of Antwerp, -and on the French shipping in the Scheldt, and the cannonade was -continued until the 6th, the FIFTY-SIXTH taking their turn in the -trenches, and being under fire each day; but General Bulow having -received orders to march southward, to act with the grand army -of the allies, it became necessary to relinquish the attack on -Antwerp, when the British retired towards Breda,--the FIFTY-SIXTH -halting a few days at Rysburg, ten miles from Breda. - -In the beginning of March the battalion again moved towards -Antwerp, and was employed in services connected with preventing the -enemy throwing a relief into _Bergen-op-Zoom_, which fortress Sir -Thomas Graham had resolved to attack; and the battalion afterwards -made a forced march towards that place, where it arrived in time to -witness the failure of the attack. The services of the battalion -were afterwards connected with the operations against Antwerp, and -preventing supplies of provision and troops joining the garrison. - -In the mean time Napoleon was pressed on every side by overwhelming -numbers, which he was not able to withstand, and he was forced -to abdicate the throne of France. Peace was restored, and the -battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH marched into Antwerp; from whence it -proceeded to Ostend, where it embarked for England in September, -and landing at Deal, marched to Sheerness. - -The army being reduced on the restoration of peace, the third -battalion was disbanded at Sheerness on the 24th of October; its -men fit for service being transferred to the first and second -battalions in India, for which country they embarked about three -months afterwards. - -The second battalion continued to suffer severely from disease at -the camp at Domus; its loss from March 1813, to December 1814, -amounting to three hundred and twenty-nine non-commissioned -officers and soldiers. The conduct of the men, during this -distressing period, called forth the approbation of the commander -of the district, expressed in division orders, in the strongest -terms. During the year, it proceeded to Barachia, subsequently -embarked for Bombay, and after occupying the pendals at Colabah a -short period, marched into Fort George barracks. - -[Sidenote: 1815] - -Considerable improvement having taken place in the health of the -men, the second battalion embarked for Panwell in January, 1815, -and mustered upwards of nine hundred non-commissioned officers -and soldiers; it joined the Poonah subsidiary force under Colonel -Lionel Smith, encamped on the celebrated plain of Assaye, where -the troops remained until the 27th of February, when they marched -northward. In May they entered cantonments at Jaulna, where -they remained during the monsoon, and in August marched in three -divisions to Seroor, from whence the grenadier and rifle companies -proceeded to Poonah under Colonel Smith, who left Lieut.-Colonel -Kingscote in command at Seroor: these companies returned in October. - -In the mean time occurrences in Europe had occasioned the -removal of the first battalion from Madras. The sudden return of -Bonaparte to France, and the astonishing facility with which he -regained temporary possession of the throne of that kingdom, was -followed by a manifested disposition to revolt on the part of the -French settlers at the Mauritius, and the first battalion of the -FIFTY-SIXTH, which had been joined by three hundred men from the -third, embarked on board the Salsette frigate, and the company’s -ships Rose and Streatham, to reinforce the garrison at that -station, on which occasion the following general order was issued:-- - - “His Majesty’s FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment being under orders to embark - on service at a considerable distance from the presidency, the - Right Honorable the Governor cannot refrain expressing his - warmest approbation of the uniform good conduct of the regiment, - while it remained in garrison at Fort St. George, under the able - command of Colonel Barclay, assisted by the zealous exertions of - a distinguished corps of officers; and the Right Honorable the - Governor begs leave to assure Colonel Barclay, and the officers - of the regiment, that he participates in the sentiments of - regret, felt by the settlement at large, for the loss sustained, - in the circles of social life, by their departure.” - -During the voyage the ships were separated by a violent hurricane, -and each supposed the other lost; but they arrived safe at Port -Louis, where they were stationed until November, when they marched -to Mahebourg. The overthrow of Bonaparte on the field of Waterloo, -and the restoration of peace, removed all cause of apprehension for -the tranquillity of the Mauritius at that period. - -[Sidenote: 1816] - -The second battalion again took the field with the Poonah -subsidiary force, in the early part of 1816; and in May it went -into cantonments at Jaulna; from whence Lieut.-Colonel Kingscote, -of the FIFTY-SIXTH, was detached in September, with a light -battalion, comprising part of the regiment, in pursuit of a native -chief, called Trimbuckjee Dainglia, who had murdered the minister -of state of Guzerat, escaped from prison, and was suspected of a -design to assemble a force on the frontiers of the dominions of -his late sovereign, the Peishwa. The pursuit of this chieftain -occasioned the soldiers many fatiguing marches, and on one occasion -the fortified village of Nimgaum, on the banks of the Peera, was -surrounded in the expectation that the chief was there; but when, -on the advance of the artillery, the inhabitants opened the gates, -he could not be found: the pursuit was afterwards discontinued, and -the detachment re-joined the Poonah subsidiary force at Seroor, -whither it had been removed from Jaulna in October. At the close of -active operations, Colonel Lionel Smith expressed the high opinion -he entertained of the battalion, in division orders, dated Seroor, -31st of October, in the following terms:--“There is no language of -praise, or thanks, Colonel Smith could feel to be too strong in -describing the merits of such a corps.” - -In August the first battalion returned to Port St. Louis; and -about a month afterwards so serious a conflagration occurred at -that place, that the destruction of the town appeared inevitable; -but this calamity was averted by the efforts of the soldiers of -the FIFTY-SIXTH, who prevented the fire communicating to the -government buildings, and thus saved the town: two men of the -regiment lost their lives, in attempting to arrest the progress -of the flames. The daring conduct of Serjeant JAMES HASTY was -particularly conspicuous and successful in checking the progress -of the flames; and the governor expressed the following opinion -of his merits in a letter to Colonel Barclay:--“I conscientiously -believe, that it was in a great measure owing to Serjeant HASTY, of -your regiment, that the whole town of Port Louis was not swallowed -by the flames. His persevering fortitude and intrepid confidence -enabled him to save the government house, by remaining among the -flames when most others had despaired; and it is universally -allowed, that had the government house been burned, the remainder -of the town must immediately have followed, and the whole -population of Port Louis left houseless among the smoking ruins[6].” - -The peace of Europe appearing to be established upon a sound -foundation, a considerable reduction was made in the strength of -the British army, and the second battalions of regiments were -directed to be disbanded: the second battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH -was consequently ordered to march to Bombay in November. - -[Sidenote: 1817] - -On the 7th of January, 1817, the following general order was -issued:--“His Majesty’s second battalion of the FIFTY-SIXTH -Regiment, being under orders for embarkation for Europe, affords -an opportunity to the Right Honorable the Governor in Council, of -expressing his approbation of the conduct of that valuable corps, -whilst serving on the establishment of this presidency, and as a -testimonial of the sense entertained of its important services -in this country, is pleased to allow three months full batta to -be issued to the officers of the battalion, previous to their -departure from India.” - -Four hundred men volunteered to remain in India, and transferred -their services to the Sixty-fifth Regiment: and on the 9th of -January, the battalion companies embarked for England. They landed -at Liverpool in May, marched to Rochester, and were disbanded at -that place on the 25th of June. The flank companies left Bombay -in July, landed at Portsmouth on the 10th of December, and were -disbanded at Chatham on the 29th of that month. - -The regiment left Port Louis on the 1st of March, for Flacq, and in -July to Mahebourg, where it received the colours of the late second -battalion. It was employed in patrolling and other duties for the -suppression of the slave trade. - -[Sidenote: 1818] - -After commanding the regiment twenty-one years, General the -Honorable Chapple Norton died; and was succeeded in the colonelcy -by Lieut.-General Sir John Murray, Baronet, from the third West -India Regiment, by commission dated the 31st of March, 1818. - -[Sidenote: 1819] - -In July, 1819, the regiment returned to Port Louis, where it was -inspected by Major-General Darling, who stated in orders dated the -16th of August,--“The inspection has afforded the Major-General -much real satisfaction. A finer body of men than compose this -regiment is perhaps nowhere to be seen; they are clean and -soldier-like in appearance, well appointed, and in no respect -deficient: in short, the care and attention of Lieut.-Colonel -Barclay, and of the officers, and the good disposition of the men, -are evident, and could alone have led to the state in which the -FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment now is.” - -[Sidenote: 1820] - -[Sidenote: 1826] - -The regiment was stationed successively at Port Louis and Mahebourg -until 1826, when, after upwards of twenty years’ service abroad, it -embarked at Port Louis for England, on which occasion the governor -stated in general orders, dated the 27th March,--“If circumstances -should again call for his Excellency’s services in the field, he -will feel happy in having the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment placed under -his orders, as experience has fully proved to him, that a corps -distinguished for good conduct in quarters, is always to be the -most depended upon in the presence of the enemy.” - -After landing at Portsmouth in June, the regiment marched to -Cumberland Fort; in September it embarked at Portsmouth for Hull, -where it joined the depôt companies. - -[Sidenote: 1827] - -In January, 1827, the regiment quitted Hull for Manchester, and in -October it marched to Liverpool, where it embarked for Dublin. - -On the 29th of October Sir John Murray died, and King George the -Fourth was pleased to confer the colonelcy of the regiment on -Lieut.-General Matthew Lord Aylmer. - -[Sidenote: 1828] - -New colours bearing the words “MORO” and “GIBRALTAR;” with the -device of a CASTLE and KEY, and the motto _Montis Insignia Calpe_, -(which had been confirmed to the corps on the 27th of December, -1827, in consequence of an application from Colonel Barclay,) were -presented to the regiment, with the usual solemnities, on the 4th -of April, 1828. - -[Sidenote: 1829] - -In May the regiment marched to Londonderry; in the autumn the -head-quarters were removed to Newry; and in August, 1829, to Birr. - -In the year 1829, His Majesty’s government deemed it necessary to -direct courts of inquiry to be instituted in the several regiments, -in consequence of numerous frauds having been committed by certain -soldiers, who, on being discharged, had given false statements of -their ages, dates of enlistment, and of the periods of their former -services, by which many had obtained undue rates of pension, and -had thus imposed on their commanding officers, and on the bounty of -their sovereign and country. - -The court held to investigate the books of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment -reported, that the description-book had been well kept, and -afforded a practical example of a system which it was proposed to -adopt generally, namely, to give each man on joining a regiment _a -number_, to be marked on his attestation, and placed against his -name in the description, and other record-books of the regiment; -that the book of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment contained nearly two -thousand names, the plan and arrangement of which were highly -creditable to the zeal and industry of Colonel Barclay, and that -few instances of error, or of fraud, had been detected. - -The court concluded their report with a well-merited compliment -to Colonel Barclay, whose long service in the regiment had been -characterized by zeal and attention to his duties. This report -was submitted to the Secretary at War, and Sir Henry Hardinge -signified to the General Commanding in Chief, Lord Hill, his -cordial concurrence in the observations made by the court, so -highly honourable to Colonel Barclay, and his lordship directed it -to be announced, that, in the midst of the irregularities which had -been made manifest by the investigations of these courts of inquiry -in the several corps, it was peculiarly gratifying to him to bear -testimony to the successful and unremitting exertions of Colonel -Barclay, which, while they reflected credit upon him, proved that, -with diligence and a due adherence to regulations, the disreputable -errors and frauds, which had been discovered in other regiments, -could not have been effected[7]. - -[Sidenote: 1830] - -[Sidenote: 1831] - -[Sidenote: 1832] - -In March, 1830, the regiment proceeded to Limerick; in June, 1831, -to Fermoy; and in November to Cork, where arrangements were made -for transferring its services to Jamaica, for which island six -service companies embarked in the first week of December under -Lieut.-Colonel H. H. Prichard. They were detained some time by -contrary winds; but sailed on the 26th, and arriving at Port Royal -in February, 1832, landed and were stationed at Up Park Camp. - -Lord Aylmer was removed to the Eighteenth (Royal Irish) Foot on the -23rd of July, and King William the Fourth was pleased to nominate -Lieut.-General Sir Hudson Lowe, K.C.B., from the Ninety-third -Highlanders to the colonelcy of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment. - -[Sidenote: 1833] - -[Sidenote: 1834] - -[Sidenote: 1835] - -[Sidenote: 1836] - -[Sidenote: 1837] - -In April, 1833, the regiment proceeded to Spanish Town, with two -companies to Fort Augusta; in May, 1834, it embarked for Falmouth, -at the north side of the island; and was stationed at that place, -with detachments at Phenix Park, Sans Souci, and Montego Bay, -during the years 1835 and 1836; and in January, 1837, it quitted -the north side of the island, and was stationed at Up Park Camp, -where it sustained the loss of three officers and sixty men from -yellow fever. - -[Sidenote: 1838] - -[Sidenote: 1839] - -The head-quarters were removed to Fort Augusta in March, 1838, -and the health of the men was much improved; in January, 1839, -they were removed to Spanish Town; but returned to Fort Augusta in -August, and furnished detachments at Port Antonio, Up Park Camp, -Port Royal, &c. - -[Sidenote: 1840] - -Leaving Jamaica in March, 1840, the regiment sailed on board Her -Majesty’s ship Apollo, for North America, passing within sight -of the Havannah,--the scene of its former gallant exploits,--and -arriving at Halifax, where it was detained ten days in consequence -of the navigation of the river St. Lawrence being closed by -the ice. On the 24th of April it again put to sea, and arrived -at Quebec, on the 7th of May. At this period the Maine and New -Brunswick boundary question affected the amicable relations between -Great Britain and the United States; and the extensive system of -aggression pursued by the people of the State of Maine, rendered -certain defensive arrangements necessary for the protection of -the interests of the British subjects. The ship conveying the -FIFTY-SIXTH to Quebec had not been at anchor two hours when -Lieutenant Turner and thirty men landed at Point Levi, and were -sent forward in caleshes, with orders to proceed by forced marches -to the disputed territory, and relieve a detachment of the Eleventh -Regiment at Lake Temiscouata. This party was followed by three -companies under Major Palmer, on the 9th of May, to occupy Rivière -du Loup, Fort Ingall on Lake Temiscouata, and Degelé. The march -of the detachment from Rivière du Loup to the two latter places -by the Grand Portage, a dreary pass of thirty-six miles through a -dense forest, across an uninhabited country, by a road in the worst -possible order, consequent on the breaking up of a Canadian winter, -with mud and water frequently up to the knees, proved very trying -to soldiers just arrived from a tropical climate, and having been -fifty-six days on board of ship. The remainder of the regiment -proceeded up the river Saint Lawrence to Sorel, leaving the light -company at Three Rivers. On the third of June Lieut.-Colonel -William H. Eden arrived with a strong detachment from the depôt -companies, and assumed the command of the regiment. - -[Illustration: FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.] - -On the 27th of November, the light company, mustering one hundred -men, marched for the Madawaska settlement, under Lieut.-Colonel Wm. -H. Eden, in consequence of the Americans having offered insults to -the warden and magistrates there, and intimated a design to take -forcible possession of that part of the country. After traversing -two hundred miles of bleak country, covered with snow, in cars, -sleighs, &c., the thermometer varying from zero to twenty below, -the company arrived at its destination without a casualty. - -[Sidenote: 1841] - -The head-quarters were removed to Chambly, in June, 1841, and -in August, the detachments from the disputed territory, having -been relieved by the Sixty-eighth light infantry, arrived at -head-quarters[8]. - -[Sidenote: 1842] - -The period having arrived for the return of the regiment to the -United Kingdom, its strength was reduced to three hundred and -thirty-three men, by volunteers to remain in the country and to -join other corps. In the beginning of July 1842 it proceeded to -Quebec, where it embarked in Her Majesty’s troop-ship Resistance, -and after an extraordinarily quick passage of seventeen days, -arrived at Cork on the 22nd of July. It was joined by the depôt -companies on the 3rd of August. In the autumn the regiment -proceeded to Birr, with detachments to Kilkenny, Banagher, Carlow, -and Shannon-bridge. - -On the 17th of November, Lieut.-General Sir Hudson Lowe was removed -to the Fiftieth Regiment, and the colonelcy of the FIFTY-SIXTH was -conferred on Lieut.-General the Earl of Westmorland. - -[Sidenote: 1843] - -In March, 1843, the several detachments were ordered to head -quarters at Birr; but the regiment had been collected little more -than a week, when it was again found necessary to detach four -companies to Cashel, Tipperary, Bansha, and Dungarvon. In April, -the head-quarters marched to Fermoy, and from thence to Cork, where -the regiment was concentrated, in expectation of being removed -to England. The public service, however, required that it should -remain in Ireland, and it has since furnished detachments to -Ballincollig, Bandon, Buttevant, Mallow, Dummanway, Skibbereen, -Millstreet, &c., in order to be in readiness to aid the civil -power, if its services should be required, in consequence of -meetings of large masses of the people, to agitate the repeal of -the union between Great Britain and Ireland. - -At the close of 1843, to which this Record is brought, the -head-quarters were at Cork, with four companies, under the command -of Major Norman, detached to Clonmel, and one company at Millstreet. - -[Sidenote: 1844] - -The FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment is distinguished for its career of -valuable service to the crown and kingdom; and it was conspicuous -for its pre-eminent efficiency in point of numbers and discipline -during the war from 1803 to 1815, during which period it was -augmented to three battalions, which were all employed on foreign -service. It was a favourite corps in England, particularly in the -county of Surrey; and although many men were lost by casualties -abroad, yet its effectives generally amounted to two thousand rank -and file. Its gallantry in the field, and its conduct on colonial -service, and in the United Kingdom, have enhanced the value of this -corps in the estimation of the government and country. - - -1844. - - NOTE. _In producing the foregoing details of the services of the - FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, the compiler of the Records of Regiments - deems it incumbent to acknowledge the very able assistance he has - received from Lieut.-Colonel Eden, and from Captain T. Johnes - Smith, who have been most anxious to collect and arrange whatever - circumstances they have considered would do justice, and reflect - honor on the Regiment to which they belong_. - - - - -SUCCESSION OF COLONELS - -OF - -THE FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT - -OF - -FOOT. - - -LORD CHARLES MANNERS. - -_Appointed 26th December, 1755._ - -LORD CHARLES MANNERS, ninth son of John, second Duke of Rutland, -was many years an officer in the Third Regiment of Foot Guards, -in which corps he was promoted to the rank of captain and -lieutenant-colonel, on the 27th of May, 1745. On the breaking out -of the seven years’ war, he was commissioned to raise, form, and -discipline a regiment of foot, now the FIFTY-SIXTH, of which he was -appointed colonel in December, 1755. In 1759 he was promoted to the -rank of major-general. He died on the 5th of December, 1761. - - -THE HONORABLE WILLIAM KEPPEL. - -_Appointed 17th December, 1761._ - -THE HONORABLE WILLIAM KEPPEL, fourth son of William-Anne, second -Earl of Albemarle, was gentleman of the horse to His Majesty King -George II.; and was nominated captain and lieutenant-colonel in -the First Regiment of Foot Guards, on the 28th of April, 1751; -in July, 1760, he was promoted to second major, with the rank of -colonel. On the 17th of December, 1761, His Majesty appointed him -to the colonelcy of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, with which corps he -embarked with the expedition against the Havannah, in the island of -Cuba, with the local rank of major-general. He commanded the troops -which besieged the fort of Moro, which was captured by storm on -the 30th of July, 1762; and his own regiment having evinced signal -gallantry on this service, he afterwards obtained the King’s -permission for it to bear the word “Moro” on its colours. On the -day after the capitulation of the Havannah, he took possession -of the fort La Punta; and he was subsequently left in command of -the garrison of that city, which he restored to the Spaniards in -July, 1763, according to the articles of peace concluded a few -months before. In 1765 he was removed to the Fourteenth Foot; in -1772 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general; and in -December, 1773, he was nominated commander-in-chief in Ireland; in -October, 1775, he was appointed colonel of the Twelfth Dragoons. He -was representative in parliament for the borough of Windsor. His -decease occurred in March, 1782. - - -JAMES DURAND. - -_Appointed 13th June, 1765._ - -This officer served many years in the First Regiment of -Foot Guards, in which corps he was appointed captain and -lieutenant-colonel, in 1748, and was advanced to the majority, -with the rank of colonel, in 1753. He obtained the rank of -major-general, in 1759, and the lieutenant-colonelcy of the First -Foot Guards in 1760. In the following year he was promoted to -the rank of lieutenant-general; and, in 1765, King George III. -conferred on him the colonelcy of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment. He died -in 1766. - - -HUNT WALSH. - -_Appointed 22nd May, 1766._ - -After a progressive service in the subordinate commissions, this -officer was appointed major in the Twenty-eighth Foot, in August, -1753, and promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment on -the 2nd of February, 1757. He commanded the 28th in America during -the Seven years’ war, when that corps had the honor to serve at -the capture of Louisburg, in 1758; at the reduction of Quebec, in -1759, under Major-General Wolfe; and at the conquest of Canada, in -1760. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1762, and in 1766 -his services were rewarded with the colonelcy of the FIFTY-SIXTH -Regiment. He attained the rank of major-general in 1772; that of -lieutenant-general in 1777; and of general in 1793. He died in 1795. - - -SAMUEL HULSE. - -_Appointed 7th March, 1795._ - -This officer was appointed ensign in the First Foot Guards in -1761, and rose to the commission of captain and lieutenant-colonel -in 1776. In 1780 he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of -his regiment, and was employed in suppressing the riots in London -in that year. At the commencement of the French revolutionary -war he was called into active service, and commanded the first -battalion of his regiment in Flanders, in 1793. He served at the -siege of Valenciennes; and distinguished himself on the 18th of -August, in the action at Lincelles, for which he was thanked in -orders by the Duke of York. He shared in the operations before -Dunkirk, and in the subsequent movements until October, when he was -promoted to the rank of major-general, and returned to England. -In May of the following year he again proceeded to Flanders, and -commanded a brigade in several partial actions near Tournay, and -in the retreat to Holland. Returning to England early in 1795, he -was appointed colonel of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment, and placed on -the home staff, where he continued three years; in 1797 he was -removed to the Nineteenth Foot. On the 1st of January, 1798, he -was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general; and during the -troubles in Ireland, in the summer of that year, his services were -extended to that part of the kingdom; but he returned to England -in November, and resumed his command on the staff. He served in -Holland under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, in 1799, and was -at the several engagements from the 19th of September to the 6th of -October. On returning to England he was appointed to the command -of the southern district, in which he continued until the peace in -1802. He was advanced to the rank of general in 1803; appointed -lieutenant-governor of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, in 1806, and -removed to the Sixty-second Foot in 1810. - -He was one of the earliest servants placed by King George III. on -the establishment of the Prince of Wales; was many years His Royal -Highness’s treasurer and receiver-general; and on the accession of -the Prince to the throne, General Hulse was nominated treasurer of -the household, and governor of Chelsea Hospital. In 1821 he was -knighted. He was also appointed ranger of Windsor Home Park; a -privy councillor; and knight grand cross of the royal Hanoverian -Guelphic Order. On the accession of King William IV., General Hulse -was promoted to the rank of field-marshal by commission, dated the -22nd of July, 1830. He died at his apartments in Chelsea Hospital, -in 1837, at the advanced age of ninety years. - - -THE HONORABLE CHAPPLE NORTON. - -_Appointed 24th January, 1797._ - -CHAPPLE NORTON, third son of Sir Fletcher Norton, who was many -years Speaker of the House of Commons, and afterwards created -Lord Grantley, entered the army in the reign of King George II., -and was appointed captain in the Nineteenth Foot in June, 1763. -He served with his regiment at Gibraltar; and, in 1769, purchased -a majority in the First, the Royal Regiment of Foot, from which -he was promoted to captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Second -Foot Guards in 1774. He served with the brigade of Foot Guards in -North America, and took part in most of the principal occurrences. -He particularly distinguished himself in February, 1780, and -was thanked in orders in the following terms:--“His Excellency -Lieutenant-General Knyphausen desires his thanks may be given in -public orders to Lieutenant-Colonel Norton of the Guards, for -his good conduct and gallant behaviour in attacking and forcing -a considerable body of rebels, advantageously posted at Young’s -house, in the neighbourhood of White Plains.” In November following -he was promoted to the rank of colonel; and, in 1786, he obtained -a majority in his regiment; in 1787 he was advanced to the rank of -major-general; in 1797 to that of lieutenant-general, and at the -same time he received the colonelcy of the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment; -in 1802 he was promoted to the rank of general, and he was -afterwards appointed governor of Charlemont. He took great interest -in everything connected with his regiment: having considerable -influence in the county of Surrey, where the estates of his family -were situated, his corps received many recruits from that part of -the country; he represented Guildford in Parliament many years. He -was a generous and good man, and was honored with the favor of the -Duke of York. He died on the 19th of March, 1818, at Wonersh in -Surrey, the seat of Lord Grantley. - - -SIR JOHN MURRAY, BARONET. - -_Appointed 31st March, 1818._ - -SIR JOHN MURRAY, a baronet of Nova Scotia, entered the army as -ensign in the Third Foot Guards in 1788, and rose to the rank -of lieutenant and captain in 1793. He served in Flanders as -aide-de-camp to Field-Marshal Freytag, and afterwards to His Royal -Highness the Duke of York; and was at the actions of St. Amand -and Famars, and the siege of Valenciennes; also at the siege of -Dunkirk, and the engagements at Maubege and near Cambresis. In the -spring of 1794 he was promoted to the rank of major, and a few -weeks afterwards to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Eighty-fourth -Regiment. He was present at the various actions near Tournay, in -the same year, and in the retreat to Holland. He afterwards served -under General Sir Alured Clarke, and was at the capture of the Cape -of Good Hope in September, 1795. In 1799 he commanded a body of -troops on the Red Sea; and, in 1800, he was promoted to the rank -of colonel. He performed the duties of quarter-master-general to -the troops which proceeded from India to Egypt under Major-General -Sir David Baird; and afterwards, returning to India, commanded -the Bombay division of the army which joined Major-General the -Honorable Arthur Wellesley, at Poonah, during the Mahratta war, -in 1803. He also commanded a body of troops during the subsequent -hostilities with Scindeah and Holkar. Having been promoted to the -rank of major-general in 1805, and returned to Europe, he served -on the staff of the eastern district, from December of that year -to April, 1808; and he subsequently commanded the King’s German -Legion in the expedition to the Baltic, &c., under Sir John Moore, -whom he accompanied to Portugal. Remaining in that country, he -served under Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, in the -operations against the French under Marshal Soult, and took a -conspicuous part in the expulsion of the French from Oporto. On -the 27th of May, 1809, he was appointed colonel of the Third West -India Regiment; and on the 1st of January, 1812, he was promoted to -the rank of lieutenant-general. Early in 1813 he took the command -of the Anglo-Sicilian army in the south of Spain, and was engaged -in operations to create a diversion in favour of the grand allied -army under Lord Wellington, and to prevent Marshal Suchet detaching -troops to Castille. His proceedings on this occasion did not -realize the expectations which had been entertained, and a general -court-martial, assembled after his return to England, found him -guilty of error of judgment. In 1818 he was appointed colonel of -the FIFTY-SIXTH Regiment; and, in 1825, promoted to the rank of -general. His honorary distinctions were those of knight grand cross -of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic order, and the first class of the -order of St. Januarius of Naples. He died in 1827. - - -MATTHEW, LORD AYLMER, K.C.B. - -_Appointed 29th October, 1827._ - -Removed to the Eighteenth or the Royal Irish Regiment, in 1832. - - -SIR HUDSON LOWE, K.C.B. - -_Appointed 23rd July, 1832._ - -Removed to the Fiftieth Regiment in 1842. - - -THE EARL OF WESTMORLAND, K.C.B. & G.C.H - -_Appointed 17th November, 1842._ - - - - -SUCCESSION OF LIEUTENANT-COLONELS - -OF THE - -FIFTY-SIXTH, OR WEST ESSEX, REGIMENT OF FOOT. - - - +-----------------------+--------------+-------------------------------+ - | Names. | Dates of | Date of Removal, &c. | - | | Appointment. | | - +-----------------------+--------------+-------------------------------+ - |Peter Parr |Dec. 26, 1755|{Removed to Fourth Foot, | - | | |{ June 30, 1760. | - |John Doyne |June 30, 1760|Retired February 20, 1762. | - |James Stewart. |Feb. 20, 1762|Died September 1, 1762. | - |Alexander Monypenny |Sep. 1, 1762|Retired October 3, 1776. | - |John Caulfield |Oct. 3, 1776|Retired November 6, 1778. | - |Henry Johnson |Nov. 6, 1778|{Removed to Seventeenth Foot | - | | |{ in 1778. | - |Peter Craig |Jan. 9, 1779|{Removed to Sixty-second Foot, | - | | |{ November 25, 1799. | - |William Earle Bulwer |Sep. 1, 1795|{Placed on half-pay, November | - | | |{ 18, 1795. | - |John Whitwell |Nov. 18, 1795|Died in 1796. | - |Thomas Picton |May 1, 1796|{Promoted to the colonelcy of | - | | |{ Seventy-seventh Foot, | - | | |{ October 15, 1811. | - |P. K. Skinner |Dec. 11, 1799|Removed July 25, 1814. | - |Samuel Keating |Aug. 1, 1804|{Promoted to Bourbon regiment, | - | | |{ March 5, 1812. | - |Fletcher Barclay |June 27, 1811|Retired April 26, 1831. | - |Boyle Travers |Jan. 2, 1812|Removed July 25, 1814. | - |Nigel Kingscote |Oct 17, 1811|{Placed on half-pay, December | - | | |{ 25, 1818. | - |J. Frederick Brown |March 5, 1812|{Exchanged to Twenty-eighth | - | | |{ Foot, May 9, 1816, with | - | | |{ Sir Charles Belson. | - |Henry Sullivan |July 1, 1813|{Placed on half-pay, on the | - | | |{ reduction of second | - | | |{ battalion, on September | - | | |{ 6, 1817. | - |John William Mallet |Nov. 6, 1813|{Placed on half-pay, December | - | | |{ 25, 1814, on the reduction. | - |Sir Charles P. Belson,}|May 9, 1816|{Placed on half-pay, on | - | K.C.B. }| |{ September 6, 1817, on the | - | | |{ reduction of second | - | | |{ battalion. | - |H. H. Prichard |April 26, 1831|Retired May 20, 1836. | - |G. M. Eden |May 20, 1836|{Removed to Scots Fusilier | - | | |{ Guards, on July 5, 1839. | - |Robert O’Hara |July 5, 1839|{Exchanged to the Eighty-eighth| - | | |{ on August 16, 1839, with | - | | |{ Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Eden. | - |William Hassel Eden |Aug. 16, 1839|At present in command. | - +-----------------------+--------------+-------------------------------+ - - - - -SUCCESSION OF MAJORS - -OF THE - -FIFTY-SIXTH, OR WEST ESSEX, REGIMENT OF FOOT. - - - +---------------------+--------------+--------------------------------+ - | NAMES. | Dates of | REMARKS. | - | | Appointment. | | - +---------------------+--------------+--------------------------------+ - |John Doyne |Dec. 26, 1755|{Promoted to Lieut.-Colonel, | - | | |{ June 30, 1760. | - |James Stewart |June 30, 1760|{Promoted to Lieut.-Col., | - | | |{ February 20, 1762. | - |John Heighington |Feb. 20, 1762|Resigned September 9, 1762. | - |Alexander Milbanke |Sep. 9, 1762|Died November 4, 1762. | - |William Forbes |Nov. 4, 1762|{Removed to Thirty-fifth Foot, | - | | |{ October 31, 1762. | - |Thomas Johnston |Oct. 31, 1762|Resigned September 11, 1765. | - |Henry Pringle |Sep. 11, 1765|{Promoted to Lieut.-Colonel | - | | |{ Fifty-first Foot, August | - | | |{ 16, 1770. | - |John Caulfield |Aug. 16, 1770|{Promoted to Lieut.-Col., | - | | |{ October 3, 1776. | - |Bulleine Fancourt |Oct 3, 1776|Retired August 6, 1783. | - |Hon. Vere Poulett |Aug. 6, 1783|{Promoted to Lieut.-Colonel | - | | |{ Sixtieth Regiment, August | - | | |{ 31, 1793. | - |Patrick Tytler |Aug. 31, 1793|Retired October 8, 1794. | - |John Alexander |Oct. 8, 1794|Retired March 10, 1797. | - |James Barrington |Sep. 1, 1795|Resigned September 3, 1800. | - |Robert Douglas |March 10, 1797|{Promoted Lieut.-Colonel | - | | |{ Eighteenth Foot, July | - | | |{ 9, 1803. | - |Henry S. Keating |Sep. 3, 1800|{Promoted August 1, 1804, | - | | |{ by Augmentation. | - |Robert Owen |Aug. 27, 1803|{Placed upon half-pay, | - | | |{ February 21, 1805. | - |George Andrew |Aug. 1, 1804|{Exchanged to half-pay, | - | Armstrong | |{ January 5, 1805. | - |Robert O’Neill } |Aug. 2, 1804|{Exchanged to half-pay, | - | {Augmen- } | |{ June 23, 1808, with | - | {tation. } | |{ Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Walsh. | - |Fletcher Barclay } |Aug. 27, 1804|Promoted June 27, 1811. | - |William Brooke |Jan. 5, 1805|{Exchanged to Fifth Dragoon | - | | |{ Guards, July 25, 1805. | - |John McLeod |Feb. 21, 1805|{Promoted Lieut.-Colonel Ninth | - | | |{ Garrison Battalion, May | - | | |{ 5, 1808. | - |Henry R. Knight |July 25, 1805|Exchanged to half-pay, July | - | | |{ 17, 1806. | - |Boyle Travers |July 17, 1806|Promoted January 2, 1812. | - |Samuel Bayley |June 9, 1808|Died in 1810. | - |Thomas Walsh |June 23, 1808|Died in 1810. | - |John William Mallett |Aug. 29, 1810|Promoted November 6, 1813. | - |Sir Charles Wyndham }|Nov. 29, 1810|Retired July 26, 1821. | - | Burdett, Bart. }| | | - |Robert Grant |June 27, 1811|{Exchanged to Eighty-second | - | | |{ Foot, April 12, 1821. | - |Joseph Hanna |Jan. 2, 1812|Died in 1816. | - |William S. Forbes |Nov. 6, 1813|}Placed on half-pay on September| - |Henry Capadose |Oct. 17, 1816|} 6, 1817, on the disbandment | - | | |} of second battalion. | - |George Wroughton |April 12, 1821|{Promoted to Lieut.-Colonel | - | Montagu | |{ unattached, May 19, 1825. | - |John Gualey |July 26, 1821|Cancelled. | - |Howell Harris |July 26, 1821|{Promoted to Lieut.-Colonel, | - | Prichard | |{ April 26, 1831. | - |John Elliot Cairnes |May 26, 1825|{Promoted to Lieut.-Colonel | - | | |{ unattached, March 29, 1827. | - |John Peddie |March 29, 1827|{Promoted to Lieut.-Colonel | - | | |{ unattached, August 28, 1827. | - |William Gun |Aug. 28, 1827|Retired October 11, 1831. | - |William Mitchell |April 26, 1831|{Exchanged to half-pay, | - | | |{ June 13, 1834. | - |George Morton Eden |Oct. 11, 1831|{Promoted to Lt.-Colonelcy, | - | | |{ May 20, 1836. | - |John Wilson |June 13, 1834|Died at Jamaica, July 14, 1837. | - |Forrester Owen |May 20, 1836|Retired September 12, 1843. | - | Leighton | | | - |Peter Shadwell |July 15, 1837|} | - | Norman | |} Now serving. | - |Edmund Wm. Wilton |Sep. 12, 1843|} | - | Passy | |} | - +---------------------+--------------+--------------------------------+ - - - - - LONDON: - HARRISON AND CO., PRINTERS, - ST. MARTIN’S LANE. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Afterwards General SIR DAVID DUNDAS, K.B., author of a valuable -work on the principles of military movements, which became the -basis of regulations for the field exercises of the British army. - -[2] Strength of the garrison of Gibraltar, at the commencement of -the blockade, 21st June, 1779. - - +----------------------------+--------+------+-------+-------+-------+ - | BRITISH. |Officers|Staff.| Ser- | Drum- | Rank &| - | | | |jeants.| mers. | File.| - | +--------+------+-------+-------+-------+ - |Royal Artillery | 25 | 0 | 17 | 15 | 428 | - |Royal Engineers | 8 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 106 | - |12th Regiment | 26 | 3 | 29 | 22 | 519 | - |39th ” | 25 | 4 | 29 | 22 | 506 | - |56th ” | 23 | 4 | 30 | 22 | 506 | - |58th ” | 25 | 3 | 29 | 22 | 526 | - |72nd, or, Royal Manchester |} | | | | | - | Volunteers (disbanded 1783)|} 29 | 4 | 47 | 22 | 944 | - | | | | | | | - | HANOVERIANS. | | | | | | - | | | | | | | - |Hardenberg’s Regiment | 16 | 13 | 42 | 14 | 367 | - |Reden’s ” | 15 | 12 | 42 | 14 | 361 | - |De la Motte’s ” | 17 | 16 | 42 | 14 | 367 | - | +--------+------+-------+-------+-------+ - | Total | 209 | 59 | 313 | 169 | 4,632 | - +----------------------------+--------+------+-------+-------+-------+ - - _Governor_, General GEORGE A. ELIOTT, afterwards LORD HEATHFIELD. - - _Lieut.-Governor_, Lieut.-General R. Boyd. - - _Commanding the Hanoverian Brigade_, Major-General De la Motte. - -[3] The Duke of York’s despatch. - -[4] These orders are printed in the Record of the Second or Queen’s -Royal Regiment of Foot, page 81. - -[5] Lieut.-Colonel Keating’s despatch. - -[6] Serjeant HASTY was afterwards discharged and appointed to -a situation in the service of the governor. He proved a man of -talent, and was selected to take charge of, and educate in the -English language, two of the princes of Ova, in Madagascar, where -Radam was king. He was afterwards nominated British Resident at -Madagascar; and on a visit to the Mauritius, he was received by a -guard of honour of his old corps, commanded by his former captain. -He died at Madagascar. - -[7] Colonel Fletcher Barclay was appointed Ensign in the -FIFTY-SIXTH on the 30th of June, 1791, and served in the West -Indies, in Holland, and in the East Indies. In 1804, he was -promoted to the rank of Major, and in 1811, to Lieutenant-Colonel. -In 1831, he retired, after a diligent and faithful service of forty -years, having passed through the several grades, and attained the -rank of Colonel in the Army. - -[8] While detachments of the regiment were in the disputed -territory, several desertions occurred, and in the beginning of -March, 1841, Lieutenant T. Johnes Smith evinced signal energy and -discretion in the apprehension of a deserter from the party under -his orders, who had taken refuge in the American Block Houses at -Fish River, for which he received the thanks of Major-General Sir -James Macdonell, commanding at Quebec. - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - The roman page numbering at the front of the book goes from iii to viii, - then from v to viii again; this has not been changed. - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, - and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. - - Pg v: ‘1700 Returns to’ replaced by ‘1760 Returns to’. - Pg v: ‘Guadaloupe’ replaced by ‘Guadeloupe’. - Pg 24: ‘Guadaloupe’ replaced by ‘Guadeloupe’. - Pg 35: ‘tend to recal’ replaced by ‘tend to recall’. - Pg 57: ‘a d in 1766’ replaced by ‘and in 1766’. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE -FIFTY-SIXTH, OR THE WEST ESSEX REGIMENT OF FOOT : CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF -THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT IN 1755, AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES TO -1844. *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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