A HISTORY OF THE BRITISH ARMY
Reading edition
A History of The British Army BY The Hon. J. W. FORTESCUE FIRST PART—TO THE CLOSE OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR VOL. II Quæ caret ora cruore nostro London MACMILLAN AND CO., Limited NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1899 All rights reserved
CONTENTS
BOOK VII
CHAPTER I
PAGE
The Reduction of the Army3
Mischievous influence of Bolingbroke and Ormonde3
Death of Queen Anne; Return of Marlborough4
King George I.; the New Ministry4
The Jacobite Rebellion of 17155
Increase of the Army; Ninth to Fourteenth Dragoons raised6
Chelsea Pensioners recalled; Forty-first Foot raised6
Sheriffmuir and Preston7
Reduction of the Army, 1717-17188
War with Spain8
Invasion of Scotland; Action of Glenshiel9
Attack on Vigo10
Death of Marlborough10
His Funeral11
The Condition of England under George I.14
The Army the only force for Maintenance of Order15
The cry of No Standing Army15
The British Establishment Fixed by Walpole17
Attacks on the Army in Parliament17
Opposition to the Mutiny Act18
Parliament asks for the Articles of War19
Officers cashiered for Political Disobligations20
Omnipotence of the irresponsible Secretary-at-War21
Hostility of Civilians against Soldiers24
Discipline ruined by the Secretary-at-War's Supremacy26
CHAPTER II
King George's efforts to arrest Indiscipline and Peculation29
His dislike of Purchase30
General Apathy of Officers31
Bad Standard of Character among Recruits32
Desertion and Fraudulent Enlistment32
Other Scandals34
System of Imperial Defence36
The Colonies; "White Servants"37
Gradual necessity for Increasing the Regular Garrisons in the
Colonies42
Helplessness of the War Office in face of the problem42
Unpopularity of Garrison Service Abroad45
Technical Improvements in the Army48
Royal Regiment of Artillery formed49
Rise of the Forty-second Highlanders49
Contemporary Reforms in Prussia51
Their Evil Influence in England51
The Officers of the Past and of the Future53
CHAPTER III
Waning of Walpole's Popularity55
The Quarrel with Spain55
Popularity of a Spanish War57
An Expedition to the Spanish Main resolved on58
The Preparations; Cathcart and Wentworth59
Incredible Mismanagement of the War Office60
Death of Cathcart62
The British and American Contingents meet at Jamaica62
Decision to Attack Carthagena63
The Operations begun; Vernon and Wentworth64
The Attack on Fort St. Lazar68
Frightful Condition of the Troops72
The Enterprise against Carthagena abandoned73
Descent upon Cuba74
The Descent abandoned; continued Mortality among the Troops75
The Spanish War ended by Yellow Fever76
Anson's Voyage77
Wentworth's responsibility for the disasters of Carthagena77
The blame due also to the War Office and Ordnance Office78
Faction in Parliament the true secret of the catastrophe79
CHAPTER IV
Dispute over the Austrian Succession80
Aggression of Frederick the Great81
Ambitious Projects of France81
England sends aid to Queen Maria Theresa81
Army increased; Forty-third to Forty-eighth Regiments raised82
John, Earl of Stair83
His Advice and his Plans84
The Campaign of 174286
Stair's Plans for the winter rejected87
The British Army marches to the Main88
Fresh Projects of Stair rejected89
He forms new Plans90
He disobeys Orders to prove their soundness91
Desperate Peril of the Allies owing to disregard of his counsel92
Battle of Dettingen92
Stair resigns the Command102
CHAPTER V
Insufficiency of the British Preparations for 1744103
Saxe's Operations104
Wade paralysed by the Dutch and Austrians105
Stair's Plan of Campaign106
Inactivity of Dutch and Austrians; Wade Resigns107
Ligonier's proposals for a great effort in 1745108
Cumberland appointed to the Command109
The French Position at Fontenoy110
Battle of Fontenoy111
Cumberland's False Movements after Fontenoy121
Extreme Peril of his situation122
Recall of the Army to England123
CHAPTER VI
Designs of Charles Stuart124
His Landing in Scotland125
General Cope marches northward126
He Retires by Sea; Advance of the Rebels127
The "Canter of Coltbrigg"128
Cope Lands at Dunbar; Action of Prestonpans129
Charles enters Edinburgh; the Castle holds out131
Preparations in England132
Charles invades England133
He out-manœuvres Cumberland and enters Derby136
He retreats northward and besieges Stirling137
Hawley appointed to Command in Scotland138
Action of Falkirk139
Cumberland assumes Command in Scotland141
He advances northward; Charles retreats142
Battle of Culloden144
Good service rendered by Cumberland146
CHAPTER VII
French Capture Antwerp; British base shifted149
Saxe's Plan of Campaign and Operations150
Battle of Roucoux153
Futile Expedition to L'Orient156
The Campaign of 1747156
Battle of Lauffeld159
Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle164
BOOK VIII
CHAPTER I
The Mohammedan Conquest of India167
The Mahrattas168
European Voyages to India168
The English East India Company169
First British Troops sent to India171
The first Military Establishment in Bombay171
The French East India Company172
Settlements of the Rival Companies in 1701173
Skill of the French in handling natives174
Death of Aurungzebe; virtual Independence of the Deccan175
Joseph François Dupleix175
La Bourdonnais; Dumas176
Native Disputes in the Carnatic176
Dumas raised to rank of Nabob178
War between France and England declared179
Siege and Capture of Madras180
Quarrel of Dupleix and La Bourdonnais181
Paradis at St. Thomé183
French invest Fort St. David185
Stringer Lawrence at Cuddalore187
Boscawen arrives and besieges Pondicherry188
Misconduct of the Siege189
The Siege raised; Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle190
CHAPTER II
British Interference at Tanjore192
Dupleix's Schemes for French Predominance in the Deccan193
Bussy installed at Aurungabad197
Zenith of French Rule in India197
The British resolve to Oppose the French198
The Contest centres about Trichinopoly198
The British shut up in Trichinopoly199
Clive proposes a diversion against Arcot200
His Operations200
Action of Covrepauk204
Lawrence Marches to relieve Trichinopoly209
The French retire to Seringham210
Surprise of Clive's Force at Samiaveram211
Surrender of the French Force214
CHAPTER III
Intrigues of Dupleix; British Successes Neutralised215
Defeat of Major Kinnear216
Lawrence's Victory at Bahoor217
Clive at Chingleput and Covelong218
Contest for Trichinopoly renewed221
Perilous Situation of the British223
Lawrence's First Victory before Trichinopoly224
His Second Victory226
His Third Victory230
Dupleix's attempt to surprise Trichinopoly fails233
His Proposals for Peace rejected233
Lawrence's situation at Trichinopoly still critical234
Suspension of Arms; Recall of Dupleix236
BOOK IX
CHAPTER I
French Explorers in North America241
The English Settlements243
Predominance of Massachusetts in the North244
New York Captured by the British245
French Explorations in the West246
Their Design to confine the British to a strip of the Sea-board246
Governor Dongan; the Iroquois248
French and English Settlers and Military Systems249
English Regular Troops in America251
The War of 1689; Peril of New York251
Failure of the Colonial Counterstroke on Canada252
Massachusetts appeals to England for help252
War of the Spanish Succession; Colonial Operations254
Capture of Nova Scotia; British failure before Quebec255
The Building of Louisburg256
French Forts at Crown Point and Niagara257
Colonial Apathy257
War of the Austrian Succession; Colonists Capture Louisburg257
Projected Operations for 1746259
Neglect of America by Newcastle's Government260
CHAPTER II
Reduction of the Army at Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle261
Foundation of Halifax262
British and French on the Ohio263
Obstinacy of the Virginian Assembly264
Washington's Mission; Apathy of the Colonies265
Washington's First Skirmish with the French266
Continued Apathy of the Colonies267
General Braddock sent from England268
His difficulties and their Causes270
Boscawen's Action with French Ships; War inevitable272
Braddock's March to the Monongahela273
Dispositions of the French274
Action of the Monongahela275
Braddock and the School of Cumberland278
CHAPTER III
Monckton's Capture of Fort Beauséjour282
Johnson's Advance against Crown Point283
Shirley's failure against Niagara284
Close of the Campaign285
Feebleness of the English Administration286
New Treaties and New Ministers287
Fiftieth to Fifty-ninth Regiments raised288
The Sixtieth Regiment289
Ill faith of the Government towards Soldiers290
Germans imported to defend Britain290
The French besiege Minorca291
Fall of Minorca294
Rage of the Nation; Byng; Newcastle295
Lord Loudoun sent to Command in America296
Inadequacy of his Force296
Montcalm Captures Oswego297
Close of American Campaign of 1756298
Outbreak of the Seven Years' War298
Pitt made Secretary-of-State299
His Measures; Highland Regiments300
The Militia Bill301
Cumberland sent to Command in Hanover303
Dismissal of Pitt303
Restoration of Pitt304
Loudoun's Campaign of 1757304
Montcalm Captures Fort William Henry305
Defeat of Cumberland at Hastenbeck307
The Expedition against Rochefort307
BOOK X
CHAPTER I
Ligonier made Commander-in-Chief313
Preparations for 1758; Amherst314
The Plan of Campaign for America315
The Expedition against Louisburg316
The Siege opened319
Fall of Louisburg321
The Operations of General Abercromby322
Lord Howe; New Views as to Equipment of Troops323
Embarkation of Abercromby's Army324
The Skirmish by Lake Champlain; Death of Howe326
Montcalm's Plan of Defence327
Action of Ticonderoga328
Retreat of Abercromby331
Bradstreet's Capture of Fort Frontenac332
Forbes's Operations on the Ohio333
Defeat of Major Grant335
French evacuate Fort Duquêsne336
Burial of Braddock's dead337
CHAPTER II
The Allied Army in Germany339
Ferdinand of Brunswick339
Expedition to Cancalle Bay340
British Troops sent to Germany341
Expedition against Cherbourg342
The Reverse of St. Cast344
Observations on Raids on the French Coasts345
The Expedition to Senegal346
The Expedition to Martinique347
The Army leaves Martinique for Guadeloupe349
Sickness among the Troops350
Death of General Hopson351
Barrington resolves on Active Operations351
His Plan of Campaign352
Successes of Crump and Clavering353
Surrender of Guadeloupe356
CHAPTER III
Establishment of the Army for 1759358
Pitt's Designs against America; Wolfe359
Strength of Wolfe's Army361
The Defences of Quebec362
The British arrive before the City363
Wolfe's Difficulties364
His Abortive Attack366
He shifts Operations to west of the City368
Amherst's Designs against Canada368
Prideaux and Johnson at Niagara369
Fall of Niagara370
Amherst's Advance to Ticonderoga and Crown Point371
His Operations closed371
Discouragement of the British before Quebec372
Wolfe's Brigadiers suggest New Plans373
The Operations undertaken in consequence373
The British climb to the Heights of Abraham375
Wolfe's Order of Battle377
Distraction of Montcalm378
His Order of Battle379
Battle of Quebec380
Death of Wolfe383
Energetic Operations of Townsend383
Capitulation of Quebec384
General Survey of the Operations in Canada385
CHAPTER IV
Sufferings of the British in Quebec389
French Preparations for Recapture of Quebec390
Advance of Lévis391
Action of Sainte Foy392
The Siege of Quebec394
Relief of Quebec395
Amherst's Designs on Canada395
Advance of Murray and Haviland397
Advance of Amherst398
Surrender of Montreal400
Expedition against the Cherokee Indians400
Occupation of Canada401
Amherst402
CHAPTER V
India: Hollowness of the Truce of 1755406
It is infringed by both sides407
Bussy408
Surajah Dowlah409
His Advance against Calcutta; the Black Hole410
Madras sends aid to Bengal411
Clive surprised at Budge Budge412
Surajah Dowlah again Advances on Calcutta413
Clive surprises his Camp414
Alliance of Surajah Dowlah and the British415
Capture of Chandernagore415
Conspiracy against Surajah Dowlah415
Clive Advances on Moorshedabad416
Anxiety of his position; he Advances to Plassey417
Battle of Plassey418
Death of Surajah Dowlah; Meer Jaffier installed in his place424
CHAPTER VI
Southern India426
Arrival of French Reinforcements under Lally428
Admiral Pocock's First Action with d'Aché429
Lally besieges Fort St. David430
Fall of Fort St. David; Capture of Devicotah431
Lally's disastrous March to Tanjore432
Pocock's Second Action against d'Aché434
Lally's Preparations against Madras435
Counter-preparations of the British435
Bussy recalled from Hyderabad436
Lally Advances upon Madras437
Abortive Sortie of the British438
Lally's difficulties during the Siege439
The Siege raised440
Clive's counter-stroke against the Northern Sirkars441
Forde's Advance against Conflans442
Battle of Condore442
Forde delayed in his Advance on Masulipatam445
He lays Siege to the Fort447
His desperate Position447
Storm of Masulipatam449
The Fruits of the Victory453
CHAPTER VII
British Operations in the Carnatic454
Lally's difficulties with his Troops455
Alarm of Dutch Aggression in Bengal456
Third Engagement of Pocock and d'Aché457
Defeat of Brereton at Wandewash457
Lally turns to the Court of the Deccan457
His diversion in the South; British Operations in the Carnatic458
The Dutch in Bengal459
Forde defeats them at Chandernagore460
Battle of Badara461
Lally Advances upon Wandewash462
Coote follows him; the French position463
Coote's Manœuvres463
Battle of Wandewash464
Coote's Movements after the Victory470
Siege of Pondicherry472
Fall of Pondicherry473
CHAPTER VIII
The Establishment of the Army for 1759475
Fifteenth Hussars raised476
Purport of Ferdinand's Operations in Germany477
He opens the Campaign of 1759480
Movements of Contades and Broglie481
Critical position of Ferdinand482
Continued success of the French483
Ferdinand Occupies Bremen; Contades's position at Minden484
Ferdinand's Manœuvres before Minden485
Their success; Battle of Minden487
Sackville496
Recovery of Cassel and Minden497
Subsequent Operations497
Close of the Campaign498
CHAPTER IX
Increase of the Army for 1760499
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Lancers raised500
Thurot's Descent on Carrickfergus501
Reinforcements for Ferdinand501
Opening of the Campaign502
Imhoff's Disobedience mars Ferdinand's Plans502
Defeat of the Hereditary Prince at Sachsenhausen503
The Prince's Counter-stroke; Action of Emsdorff504
Broglie sends De Muy to cut off Ferdinand from Westphalia507
Action of Warburg; Defeat of De Muy508
Evacuation of Cassel by the Allies512
Embarrassing position of Ferdinand513
Ferdinand makes a Diversion against Wesel514
Action of Kloster Kampen; Defeat of the Allies515
The Hereditary Prince and British Troops518
Close of the Campaign519
CHAPTER X
Accession of King George III520
Increase of the Army521
The Expedition to Belleisle521
The War in Germany522
Ferdinand's Fruitless Winter March through Hesse523
Great Preparations and Designs of the French524
Supineness of Soubise525
The Campaign opens; Ferdinand's March round Soubise's rear526
Ferdinand's Position at Vellinghausen527
Action of Vellinghausen528
Ferdinand's skilful Manœuvres from July to November531
Close of the Campaign533
CHAPTER XI
Rise of Lord Bute to power535
Trouble with Spain; Pitt advocates War536
Resignation of Pitt; Bute compelled to Declare War536
The Expedition against Martinique537
Fall of Martinique, Grenada, St. Vincent and St. Lucia541
Expedition to Havanna541
Mortality among the Troops543
Expedition to Manilla544
The War in Portugal545
Burgoyne and the Sixteenth Light Dragoons546
Ferdinand's Last Campaign547
The Position of Wilhelmsthal548
Action of Wilhelmsthal549
The Race for Cassel553
Position of the opposing Armies in the Ohm554
Action of the Brückemühle555
Fall of Cassel; Conclusion of the War557
Ferdinand of Brunswick557
His Difficulties with the British Troops558
CHAPTER XII
Decay of the Army's Unpopularity562
Inefficiency of the War Office and Ordnance Office563
Defects in the Colonial Stations564
Reformers in the Army; Cumberland566
Pitt; the New School of Officer568
The Recruiting of the Army572
Depots and Drafts576
Recruiting in America578
Condition of the Private Soldier579
Nicknames; Bands; Medals583
Reforms in the Cavalry; Increase of Dragoons584
Light Dragoons585
Reforms in the Artillery587
Reforms in the Infantry589
German Models and British Experience592
APPENDIX A.595
APPENDIX B.598
INDEX607
MAPS AND PLANS
Carthagena, 1741To face page78
Main Country: Campaign of 1743"122
Dettingen, 1743"122
Fontenoy, 1745"122
Roucoux, 1746"164
Lauffeld, 1747"164
Monongahela, 1755"338
Region of Lake George, 1755"338
Ticonderoga"338
Amherst's Flotilla, 1759"338
Covrepauk, 1752"474
Trichinopoly"474
Plassey, 1757"474
Masulipatam, 1759"474
Wandewash, 1760"474
Minden, 1759"494
Martinique, 1762"544
Guadeloupe, 1759"544
Belleisle, 1761"544
Havanna, 1762"544
Part of Hesse-Cassel"560
Warburg, 1760"560
Vellinghausen, 1761"560
Wilhelmsthal, 1762"560
Canada and the North American Colonies, 1680-1760
(with Plans of Louisburg and Quebec): Map 1End of volume
Louisburg: see Map 1
Quebec: see Map 1
Siege of Quebec, 1759: see Map 1
Hindostan, the Deccan, and the Carnatic
(with Plans of Calcutta and Madras): Map 2End of volume
Calcutta, 1757: see Map 2
Madras, 1758: see Map 2
Note.—Maps of the British Isles and Northern France for 1745-1746; of the Low Countries for the Campaigns of 1743-1748; of Spain and Portugal; and of Germany for the Campaigns of 1759-1762, will be found at the end of the First Volume.
ERRATA
Page 160, line 4 for "left" read "right."
Page 192, line 13, delete the words "the capital of Tanjore."
Page 195, line 10, for "Deccan" read "Southern India."
Page 203, line 13, for "southward" read "westward."
Page 247, line 29, for "Erie" read "Michigan."
Page 463, line 34, for "In advance of their left front was another smaller tank which had been turned into an entrenchment," etc., read "In advance of their left front were two smaller tanks, of which the foremost had been turned into an entrenchment," etc.