HISTORICAL RECORD (continued 2)

In the subsequent battle of Vimiera, fought on the 21st of August, the first battalion of the Fifth forming, with the Ninth and Thirty-eighth Regiments, the first brigade, was posted on the mountain on the right of the village. The enemy was defeated, and the regiment was rewarded by royal permission to inscribe the word "Vimiera" also upon its colours.

These successes being followed by the Convention of Cintra, and the evacuation of Portugal by the French, the first battalion of the Fifth was afterwards stationed in Lisbon, where it remained several weeks.

Portugal being now free from the presence of an enemy, an army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, was sent up the country in the autumn, to assist the Spaniards in their resistance to the armies of France, and the first battalion of the Fifth Regiment was selected to form part of this expedition.

1809

Passing through Portugal by a rapid march, the troops traversed four hundred miles in a short time, and were soon engaged in operations in Spain; but the Spaniards, who were to have co-operated, had in the mean time been defeated and dispersed; and the little British army was eventually obliged to retire before the superior numbers of the enemy. The Fifth Regiment took its full share in the disasters and privations of the retreat from Sahagun to Corunna, as well as in the glories of the 16th of January, 1809, when the steady firmness of the British army, by repulsing at all points an assailant, superior in numbers and artillery, and commanded by one of the ablest generals[39] that France could boast, proved to the world that even a forced retreat of two hundred and fifty miles, made under circumstances the most disheartening, and accompanied by privations the most appalling, though it might wear the sinews and exhaust the physical strength of the British soldier, had no power to shake his resolution or daunt his courage.

In the battle of Corunna, Colonel Mackenzie particularly distinguished himself: after having one horse shot under him, he remounted another, and was at length mortally wounded, whereupon the command of the battalion devolved on Major Emes, who received a medal for this service, while the regiment itself acquired another honorary inscription for its colours, 'Corunna' being by royal permission borne upon them. The number of killed and wounded of the first battalion of the Fifth, in the battle of Corunna, has never been exactly ascertained; but on mustering after its return to England, one serjeant, two corporals, three drummers, and one hundred and twenty-six rank and file were found to be missing.

The first battalion landed in February, 1809, at Ramsgate, and after a halt of a few days at Margate, was ordered to Steyning, in Sussex, where it was fully equipped and completed to upwards of one thousand rank and file, and embarked in July following at Portsmouth, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, to form part of the expedition under the Earl of Chatham designed to effect the destruction of the enemy's shipping and arsenal on the Scheldt.

During the siege of Flushing, on the Island of Walcheren, the first battalion of the Fifth was very actively employed, and although bivouacked without tents during the whole time (with the exception of one week that it was in garrison in Flushing, after its surrender) had very few sick; but on being embarked to proceed up the Scheldt for the projected attack upon Antwerp, the Walcheren fever broke out in its ranks with dreadful violence, attacking about six hundred men. In the active operations it lost one captain (Talbot) killed, and Captain M. Hamilton and Lieutenant Galbraith were wounded, the former losing a leg: its loss from disease was much more severe, for before its return to England, in December following, two captains (Philips and William Hamilton), and three lieutenants (Brown, MacDonough, and Cary) and many men had been carried off by the fever. On its return to England, the battalion was stationed at Bexhill.

In the mean time a detachment of the regiment left in Portugal, when the first battalion advanced into Spain, had been added to a battalion of detachments under Lieutenant-Colonel Copson of the Fifth, and warmly engaged at the battle of Talavera, on the 27th and 28th of July, for which Lieutenant-Colonel Copson received a medal.

The second battalion had been removed from Fermoy, in April of this year, to Coloony in the King's County, and from thence in June to Cork, and, embarking at Cove, landed on the 4th of July at Lisbon; and on the 3rd of August marched, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry King, to join the army in the field under Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, and take its share in the subsequent operations of the campaign. About the end of September it was reinforced by nearly one hundred men of the first battalion, who had been left behind as before stated, and it passed the winter in quarters near the Portuguese frontiers.

1810

The immense preparations of the enemy for the ensuing campaign induced Lord Wellington[40] to limit his operations in 1810 to the defence of Portugal. The second battalion of the Fifth formed part of Major-General Lightburn's brigade of the third (Sir Thomas Picton's) division of the army, and was stationed for some time behind the Mondego river, from whence it advanced to Pinhel behind the Coa to support the light division; and was afterwards employed in a series of operations to retard the advance of the overpowering numbers of the enemy. At length Lord Wellington made a stand on the rocks of Busaco; and the third division had its post on the heights near the village of St. Antonio de Cantara. Here the second battalion of the Fifth was first under fire, and its light company, under Lieutenant Shadwell Clerke, was thrown out to repulse the advancing skirmishers of the enemy, a service which it most promptly and gallantly performed.

The French, after astonishing efforts, gave way before the superior valour and tactics of the British troops. For this victory, Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry King, commanding the battalion, received a medal, and the word "Busaco" was authorized, on the 31st of December, 1825, to be inscribed upon the colours of the regiment. Its loss in the battle of Busaco was one killed and seven wounded.

After the battle, the French having made a flank movement, Lord Wellington retired to the celebrated lines of Torres Vedras, where he posed an insurmountable barrier to the further progress of the enemy; and the second battalion of the Fifth passed the remainder of the year in these stupendous works.

The first battalion remaining on home service was removed, in March, 1810, from Bexhill to Lewes, and on the 12th of August was, with several other corps, reviewed on Brighton Downs by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, attended by his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, (afterwards King William IV.,) who expressed themselves in terms of approbation of its appearance and discipline. Two days afterwards the battalion marched to Portsmouth, where it embarked for Ireland, and on its arrival was quartered at Fermoy.

1811

During the early part of 1811, the second battalion remained in the lines of Torres Vedras, where Major-General the Honourable Charles Colville took command of the brigade. The enemy, defeated in his purpose, reduced in numbers by sickness, and in want of provisions, was obliged to retreat; and the second battalion of the Fifth, moving with its division from the lines, was employed in the pursuit of Marshal Massena towards the frontiers of Portugal. It was frequently engaged with the enemy's rear guards, and on the 12th of March had a sharp affair at Redinha, where, descending from the woody heights on the enemy's left, it cleared the grounds in its front in fine style, and forded a deep and rapid river, under the fire of the enemy, when Lieutenant Clerke, already mentioned as commanding the light company at Busaco, was severely wounded in the leg, which he lost in consequence.

The battalion continued to take an active part in the pursuit; and in the action at Sabugal, on the 3rd of April, it forded the river Coa, and immediately afterwards, on ascending the heights, and while the brigade was forming on one of the centre companies of the Fifth, the skirmishers were rapidly driven in. The Fifth, commanded by Major Ridge, suddenly found itself in presence of a strong French column, upon which it instantly advanced, opening at the same time a heavy fire; the enemy was repulsed with severe loss, and driven precipitately, and in the greatest disorder, down the hill. In this affair Lieutenant Sinclair was killed, and Ensign Williams, one serjeant, and five rank and file, wounded.

Almeida having been blockaded by the British, the French advanced to relieve the place, and crossed the frontiers of Portugal on the 2nd of May. On that day the battalion of the Fifth was again in sight of the enemy, and on the 5th of the same month it was present, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel King (who had rejoined), at the battle of Fuentes d'Onor, where the enemy was defeated, and his design to relieve Almeida frustrated. In this action the battalion had four rank and file wounded.

Immediately after the battle of Fuentes d'Onor, the second battalion of the Fifth was detached to the south to join the forces under Marshal Beresford, and it was employed in the second siege of Badajoz, where it was one of the first corps to break ground. In the operations of this siege, which was raised on the morning of the 17th of June, Lieutenant Sedgwick of the Fifth (acting as engineer) and three rank and file were killed, and one serjeant and three rank and file were wounded.

Returning to the north, the battalion commanded by Major Ridge was stationed, during the month of August and part of September, in the village of Fuente Guinaldo, then the head-quarters of Lord Wellington: it was the only British corps in the village, and was considered such a favourite as to have acquired the nom de guerre of "Lord Wellington's body-guard."

It was afterwards employed in the blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo; and on the 24th of September it was ordered to a position on the heights near the village of El Bodon, on the left of the Agueda and within a few miles of Ciudad Rodrigo. The enemy, having assembled an immense force to relieve the place, advanced on the morning of the 25th, and the second battalion of the Fifth sustained an attack from a vastly superior French force, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, in so distinguished a manner, that its conduct was held up in General Orders as an example to the whole army. The behaviour of the battalion on this proud occasion is described by Lord Wellington in his public despatch as follows:—

"The enemy's attention was principally directed during this day (the 25th) to the portion of the third division on the hills between Fuente Guinaldo and Pastores. About eight in the morning they moved a column, consisting of between thirty and forty squadrons of cavalry, and fourteen battalions of infantry, and twelve pieces of cannon, from Ciudad Rodrigo, in such a direction that it was doubtful whether they would attempt to ascend the hills by Encina, El Bodon, or by the direct road towards Fuente Guinaldo, and I was not certain by which road they would make their attack till they actually commenced it upon the last. As soon as I saw the direction of their march, I had reinforced the second battalion of the Fifth regiment, which occupied the post on the hill, over which the road passes to Guinaldo, by the Seventy-seventh regiment, and by the Twenty-first Portuguese regiment, under the command of Major-General the Honourable Charles Colville, and Major-General Alten's brigade, of which only three squadrons remained, which had not been detached, drawn from El Bodon, and I ordered there a brigade of the fourth division, from Fuente Guinaldo, and afterwards from El Bodon the remainder of the troops of the third division, with the exception of those at Pastores, which were too distant. In the mean time, however, the small body of troops at this post sustained the attack of the enemy's cavalry and artillery. One regiment of French dragoons succeeded in taking two pieces of cannon, which had been posted on a rising ground on the right of our troops; but they were charged by the second battalion of the Fifth regiment, under the command of Major Ridge, and the guns were immediately re-taken.

"While this operation was going on on the flank, an attack was made on the front by another regiment, which was repulsed in a similar manner by the Seventy-seventh regiment, and the three squadrons of Major-General Alten's brigade charged repeatedly different bodies of the enemy, which ascended the hill on the left of the two regiments of British infantry, the Portuguese regiment being posted in the rear of their right.

"At length the division of the enemy's infantry, which had marched with the cavalry from Ciudad Rodrigo, was brought up to the attack on the road to Fuente Guinaldo. The second battalion of the Fifth regiment, and the Seventy-seventh regiment, were formed into one square, and the Twenty-first Portugese regiment into another, supported by Major-General Alten's small body of cavalry and the Portuguese artillery.

"The enemy's cavalry immediately rushed forward, and obliged our cavalry to retire to the support of the Portuguese regiment, and the Fifth and Seventy-seventh regiments were charged, on three faces of the square, by the French cavalry, but they halted and repulsed the attack with the utmost steadiness and gallantry. We then continued the retreat, and joined the remainder of the third division, also formed in squares, on their march to Fuente Guinaldo; and the whole retired together in the utmost order, and the enemy never made another attempt to charge any of them, but were satisfied with firing upon them with their artillery, and with following them.

"I cannot conclude this report of the occurrence of the last week, without expressing to your Lordship my admiration of the conduct of the troops engaged in the affair of the 25th instant. The conduct of the second battalion of the Fifth regiment, commanded by Major Ridge, in particular, affords a memorable example of what the steadiness and discipline of the troops, and their confidence in their officers, can effect, in the most difficult and trying situations. The conduct of the Seventy-seventh regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Bromhead was equally good; and I have never seen a more determined attack than was made by the whole of the enemy's cavalry, with every advantage of the assistance of a superior artillery, and repulsed by these two weak battalions."

The following are extracts from General Orders issued by command of Lord Wellington on this memorable occasion.

"Head-Quarters, Regidsa, 2nd October, 1811.

No. 3. "The commander of the forces is desirous of drawing the attention of the army to the conduct of the second battalion of the Fifth regiment, and Seventy-seventh regiment, and Twenty-first Portuguese regiment, and Major Arentschildt's Portuguese artillery, under the command of the Honourable Major-General Colville, and of the Eleventh Light Dragoons and First Hussars, under Major-General Alten, in the affair with the enemy on the 25th of September ultimo. These troops were attacked by between thirty and forty squadrons of cavalry, with six pieces of cannon, supported by a division, consisting of fourteen battalions of infantry, with cannon."

No. 4. "The Portuguese artillery-men were cut down at their guns before they would quit them; but the second battalion of the Fifth regiment attacked the cavalry, which had taken their guns, and retook them; at the same time the Seventy-seventh regiment was attacked in front by another body of cavalry, upon which body they advanced, and repulsed them."

No. 5. "While those actions were performed, Major-General Alten's brigade, of which there were only three squadrons on the ground, was engaged on the left with numbers infinitely superior to themselves. These squadrons charged repeatedly, supporting each other, and took about twenty prisoners, and, notwithstanding the immense superiority of the enemy, the post would have been maintained, if the commander of the forces had not ordered the troops to withdraw from it, seeing that the action would have been still more unequal, as the enemy's infantry were likely to be engaged in it before the reinforcements ordered to support the post could arrive."

No. 6. "The troops then retired with the same determined spirit, and in the same good order, with which they had maintained their post—the second battalion of the Fifth and Seventy-seventh regiments in one square, and the Twenty-first Portuguese in another, supported by Major-General's Alten's cavalry, and the Portuguese artillery. The enemy's cavalry charged three faces of the square of the British infantry, but were beaten off; and, finding from their fruitless efforts that those brave troops were not to be broken, they were content with following them at a distance, and firing upon them with artillery, till the troops joined the remainder of the third division, and were afterwards supported by a brigade of the fourth division. Although the Twenty-first Portuguese regiment was not actually charged by the enemy's cavalry, their steadiness and determination were conspicuous, and the commander of the forces observed with pleasure the order and regularity with which they made all their movements, and the confidence they showed in their officers."

No. 7. "The commander of the forces has been particular in stating the details of this action in the general orders, as in his opinion it affords a memorable example of what can be effected by steadiness, discipline, and confidence. It is impossible that any troops can be exposed at any time to the attack of numbers relatively greater than those which attacked the troops under Major-General Colville and Major-General Alten, on the 25th of September; and the commander of the forces recommends the conduct of these troops to the particular attention of the officers and soldiers of the army, as an example to be followed in all such circumstances."

No. 8. "The commander of the forces considers Major-General Alten and Major-General Colville, and the commanding officers of regiments under their command respectively, viz. Lieutenant-Colonel Cummins, Lieutenant-Colonel Arentschildt, Lieutenant-Colonel Bromhead, Major Ridge, and Colonel Bucella, of the Twenty-first Portuguese, and the officers and soldiers under their command, to be entitled to his particular thanks, and assures them that he has not failed to report his sense of their conduct, in the action of the 25th of September, to those by whom he trusts that it will be duly appreciated and recollected."

Further eulogium, or even comment, on the brilliant conduct of the second battalion of this regiment at El Bodon it must be felt, is unnecessary, and would be supererogatory: its loss was five rank and file killed, and Captain Ramus, one serjeant, and twelve rank and file, wounded. The army moved forward on the 26th to occupy other positions, and the battalion, for the remainder of 1811, was posted in the village of Payo, near the pass of Perales.

1812

The first operation of the year 1812 was the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, in the storming of which fortress, on the 19th of January, the second battalion of the Fifth had another glorious opportunity of distinguishing itself and earning one more honourable inscription for the regimental colours. On this occasion, moving from its post behind the convent of Santa Cruz, it entered the ditch at the extremity of the counterscarp, then, after escalading the wall and scouring the fausse braye to the great breach, it rushed forward in the face of a thundering discharge of shells, grape, and musketry, which thinned the ranks; yet, continuing its course with unabated fury, it drove the French, with fixed bayonets, behind the entrenchments. Here the enemy rallied, some hard fighting occurred, but at length the British, by a mighty effort, burst through the entrenchment. In the mean time the other attacks had also succeeded. The garrison fought for a moment in the streets; but eventually fled to the castle and surrendered. The Commander-in-Chief, in his despatch to the Earl of Liverpool, dated Gallegos, 20th of January, 1812, says:—

"Major Ridge, of the second battalion, Fifth regiment, having escaladed the fausse braye wall, stormed the principal breach in the body of the place, together with the Ninety-fourth regiment[41], commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, which had moved along the ditch at the same time, and had stormed the breach in the fausse braye, both in front of Major-General Mackinnon's brigade. Thus these regiments not only effectually covered the advance from the trenches of Major-General Mackinnon's brigade by their first movements and operations, but they preceded them in the attack.

"The conduct of all parts of the third division in the operations which they performed with so much gallantry and exactness, on the evening of the 19th in the dark, affords the strongest proof of the abilities of Lieutenant-General Picton and Major-General Mackinnon, by whom they were directed and led; but I beg particularly to draw your lordship's attention to the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel O'Toole, of the second Caçadores; of Major Ridge, second battalion Fifth Foot; of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, Ninety-fourth regiment; of Major Manners, of the Seventy-fourth; and of Major Grey, second battalion Fifth Foot, who has been twice wounded during the siege."

The loss of the battalion during the siege, and at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, was heavy, Captain McDougal, one serjeant, and thirty-four rank and file, being killed, and Major Grey, Captain Dubourdieu, Lieutenants Wylde, McKenzie, D. E. Johnson, Fitzgerald, and Fairtclough, Ensigns Ashford and Canch (who carried the colours at the assault), and Volunteer Hillyard, with three serjeants, and fifty-five rank and file, wounded. Major Ridge obtained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and the words 'Ciudad Rodrigo' are authorized, under date October the 25th, 1817, to be borne on the colours of the regiment.

As soon as the breaches in Ciudad Rodrigo were repaired, and the place put in a state of defence, the Earl of Wellington undertook, for a third time, the siege of Badajoz, and on the 16th of March the second battalion of the Fifth, with the remainder of Sir Thomas Picton's division, having marched to the Alentejo, crossed the Guadiana, and took up its position in the investing force. In the assault, which took place at ten o'clock on the night of the 6th of April, General Picton's division was directed to file out of the trenches, cross the Rivillas river, and scale the castle walls, which were from eighteen to twenty-four feet high; furnished with all means of destruction, and so narrow at the top that the defenders could easily overturn the ladders. The second battalion of the Fifth led the brigade to which it belonged, and, passing the Rivillas by a narrow bridge under a hot fire of musketry, the troops reared their ladders against the lofty castle, and with undaunted courage ascended amidst a shower of heavy stones, logs of wood, and bursting shells from the parapet, while the enemy plied a heavy fire from the flanks, and with pikes or bayonets stabbed the leading assailants in front, or pushed the ladders from the wall. Yet, amidst the deafening noise of musketry, the crash of breaking ladders, and the sound of falling weights, the men were seen striving who should first ascend, until, all being overturned, a pause ensued, and the French shouted "Victory."—A vain shout:—for in a few moments the heroic Lieutenant-Colonel Ridge, who commanded the Fifth, springing forward, and calling on his men to follow, raised a ladder against the castle on the right of the former attack, Ensign Canch raised a second, and the next moment these two, with Colonel Campbell of the Ninety-fourth (commanding the brigade), followed by the grenadiers, were on the rampart. The remainder of the men followed cheering, and, when a sufficient number had succeeded in gaining the summit of the wall, the gallant Ridge, calling out "Come on, my lads, let us be the first to seize the governor," led them along the ramparts and drove the garrison before them with terrible slaughter through the double gate into the town. The enemy sent a reinforcement, but it was driven back. Thus the castle was nobly won, and the grenadiers of the Fifth had the honour of having led the successful escalade, under circumstances which gave an interesting character to this daring exploit. A shot in the breast unfortunately closed the mortal career of Lieutenant-Colonel Ridge even in the moment of victory, and deprived the regiment, and the service in general, of a most valuable officer[42]. His family had the melancholy satisfaction of receiving the medal which, had he survived, would have graced his own breast: another medal was given to Major Bishop, who, on the death of his Lieutenant-Colonel, succeeded to the temporary command of the battalion; and, in reward and commemoration of its services on this occasion, the word "Badajoz" is, by authority dated July the 4th, 1818, borne on the colours. During the siege and assault, the battalion lost, besides its lamented Lieutenant-Colonel, one Lieutenant (Fairtclough), one serjeant, and sixteen rank and file, killed; and two captains, Bennett (aide-de-camp to Major-General Kempt) and Doyle, Lieutenant John Pennington, and Ensign Hopkins, with three serjeants, and twenty-seven rank and file, wounded.

After the capture of Badajoz, the second battalion accompanied the army towards the north of Portugal and into Spain; it was in position on the heights of St. Christoval until after the capture of the forts at Salamanca. It was afterwards in position on the Douro, and was for a time posted, with the remainder of the third division, to observe the ford of Pollos, while the opposite bank of the river was occupied by the French army; and it was occasionally under the enemy's fire in the course of the movements which preceded the battle of Salamanca.

During this period, the first battalion, which had embarked at Cork in May, landed at Lisbon, and, advancing by forced marches, joined the army about the 20th of July, a few leagues in front of Salamanca, taking the right of that brigade of the third division which had been hitherto formed by the second battalion of the Fifth, the Eighty-third, and the Ninety-fourth regiments.

The two battalions of the Fifth were thus united in time for the whole regiment to share in the honours and triumphs of the 22nd of July, 1812, the glorious victory of Salamanca. In the course of this day, while the French were manœuvring, the third division, being suddenly ordered to cross their line of march, sprang forward with an energy and force which broke the half-formed French lines into fragments, and drove them in confusion upon the support. The shock of this gallant and unexpected attack threw the enemy into confusion; and the division continuing its spirited advance, the right flank of the first battalion of the Fifth was threatened by a charge of cavalry, when three companies were thrown back en potence, and, coolly allowing the enemy's horse to advance so close that every shot would tell, opened so steady and well-directed a fire, that they were instantly repulsed, and they fled in disorder. The division again bearing onwards in its victorious course, its attack was rendered decisive by a brilliant charge of the heavy cavalry; and finally the enemy sustained an entire overthrow. Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, of the first battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable Henry King, of the second (who in the course of the day succeeded to the temporary command of the brigade), and Captain Bishop (on whom at the same time the temporary command of the second battalion devolved), obtained medals; and the good conduct of the regiment in general was rewarded by authority, under date October the 25th, 1817, to bear the word "Salamanca" inscribed on its colours. Its loss amounted to one serjeant and ten rank and file killed; and Captain Simcocks, Lieutenants Bird, McPherson, O'Dell, Gunn, Hamilton, and Hillyard, Ensign Pratt, and eleven serjeants, one drummer, and one hundred and nineteen rank and file, wounded.

The loss of the second battalion in the brilliant but severe service in which it had now for three years[43] been constantly engaged was so serious, that, on the arrival of the army in Madrid, the capture of which capital was the first fruit of the victory of Salamanca, it was ordered to England to recruit its thinned ranks. After transferring the effective privates to the first battalion, it took leave of the army at Madrid on the 3rd of September, embarked at Lisbon in November, and on the 1st of December landed at Plymouth, from whence it marched, on the following day, to Kingsbridge, to join its depôt, and finally, in January, 1813, took up its quarters in Exeter. The estimation in which this battalion was held by the Earl of Wellington will be best shown by the following extracts from general orders, dated Arcala, July 27th, 1812.

"The Commander of the Forces cannot part with the officers and non-commissioned officers of the second battalion of the Fifth regiment, without again requesting them to accept his thanks for their uniform good conduct and brilliant and important services since they have been under his command."

The first battalion remained stationary in Madrid, while the Marquis of Wellington marched with part of the army and commenced the siege of Burgos; and, when the advance of the enemy's immense force rendered a retreat necessary, the battalion marched on the 24th of October, with the rest of the third division, to join the army, then retiring from the siege, and, returning with it into Portugal, was stationed for the winter in the villages of Ferrerina and Faya.

Lieutenant-General Richard England died on the 7th of November this year, and on the 27th of the same month Major-General William Wynyard, from the Royal West India Rangers, was appointed to the Colonelcy of this regiment.

1813

On the 16th of May, 1813, the first battalion of the Fifth broke up from its cantonments, and (brigaded with the Eighty-third, Eighty-seventh, and Ninety-fourth, under the Honourable Sir Charles Colville,) advanced with the rest of the army into Spain. At the memorable and decisive battle of Vittoria, it forded the river, and advancing against the right of the French army at Margarita and Hermanded, displayed its usual spirit and intrepidity, driving in a superior force of the enemy in gallant style. The Marquis of Wellington, in his despatch, notices the conduct of the brigade in these terms:—"Major-General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville's brigade of the third division was seriously attacked in its advance by a very superior force, well formed, which it drove in, supported by Major-General Inglis's brigade of the seventh division, commanded by Colonel Grant, of the Eighty-second. These officers, and the troops under their command, distinguished themselves." In this battle, the battalion had Captain Adams, Lieutenant Higgins, Ensign Bolton, Volunteer Rees, and twenty-two rank and file, killed; with Captain Bateman, Lieutenants Galbraith, Welch, and Arthur Johnson, six serjeants and one hundred and twenty-seven rank and file, wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt obtained a medal, and by authority, dated October the 25th, 1817, the word "Vittoria" is borne upon the colours of the regiment.

After the battle of Vittoria, the Fifth pursued the enemy in the direction of Pampeluna; if was subsequently sent against a French force under General Clausel, which however escaped to France. The battalion afterwards proceeded to Pampeluna, and was engaged towards the end of July near the village of Hörte del Reigen in front of that fortress. Having advanced along the gloomy passes of the lofty Pyrenean mountains, the regiment was stationed a short time at Olaque, in the pass of Roncesvalles, from whence it retired, on the advance of the enemy under Marshal Soult, to a position in the Pyrenees, in front of Pampeluna. Here the troops were attacked by the enemy, and after much hard fighting had occurred, the third division advanced across the heights in its front to turn the enemy's left flank, when the French were driven from their ground and pursued along the defiles in the mountains.

After passing through the Pyrenees the troops crossed the frontiers, and the interior of France resounded to the firm tread of the conquering British soldier. At the battle of Nivelle, on the 10th of November, the third division, under Major-General Colville (in the absence of Sir Thomas Picton), formed the right centre of the combined army, and advancing by the left of the village of Sarré carried the redoubts on the left of the enemy's centre, driving the French from their ground, and afterwards moving by the left of the river Nivelle upon St. Pé; in which affairs, the usual gallant conduct of the battalion earned a medal for its Lieutenant-Colonel Pratt, and permission by authority, dated October the 25th, 1817, for the word "Nivelle" to be borne on the colours. In this battle, its loss consisted of one serjeant and fourteen rank and file, killed; Captain Clarke, Lieutenant Bird, three serjeants, and one hundred and nine rank and file, wounded; and Captain John Hamilton taken prisoner.

The regiment was afterwards employed in the operations connected with the passage of the river Nive; and was partially engaged in the action, on the 13th of December; after which it was cantoned in and about Hasparen, a town in the south of France, 13 miles from Bayonne.

1814

On the 14th of February, 1814, the battalion broke up from its cantonments, and on the 24th, it was sharply engaged with the enemy. Captain Culley, of the Fifth, with the light companies of his own battalion, the Eighty-seventh, and Ninety-fourth, was ordered to force a deep ford of the river Gave d'Oleron; he effected the passage, but, being attacked by superior numbers, was driven back with considerable loss. Captain Culley, and Lieutenant R. Pennington, of the Fifth, were severely wounded on this occasion, and the battalion lost seven rank and file, killed, and thirteen taken prisoners.

The battalion took part in the battle of Orthes, on the 27th of February; also in frequent and successful skirmishes with the French rear guard during its retreat through the vineyards between Pau, Vicq, and Tarbes, and finally, in the battle of Toulouse, the closing struggle and crowning victory of the Peninsular war, on which occasion the first battalion of the Fifth behaved with its usual gallantry; its commanding officer, Colonel Pratt, received medals for the battles of Orthes and Toulouse, and by authority, dated July the 4th, 1818, the names of these battles are inscribed upon the colours. The loss of the battalion in the battle of Orthes was one Lieutenant, Hopkins, and eleven rank and file, killed; and thirty-three wounded: in subsequent actions it had one rank and file, killed, and twelve wounded.

The gallant exploits of the British troops having caused the overthrow of the tyrannical power of Buonaparte, hostilities ceased on the continent: the regiments went into quarters of refreshment, and the veterans of the Fifth could now look back with exultation at the scenes of victory and triumph which had attended their career in this war. They could reflect with delight on the fame they had acquired, but especially at the glorious result, that their valour had preserved their native land from the presence of war, and their efforts had acquired peace for Europe.

On the extension of the most honourable military order of the Bath in 1815, Colonel Charles Pratt, of the Fifth, was nominated a Knight-Commander, and Colonels the Honourable Henry King, and Edward Copson, Companions of the Order. The regiment also, in reward and commemoration of its services throughout the Peninsular war, received permission by authority, dated April the 22nd, 1815, to inscribe, in addition to its other distinctions, the word "Peninsula" upon its colours.

Although peace had been restored to Europe, war was continued in America, and the first battalion of the Fifth was allowed but a few days repose, before it was ordered to the scene of conflict. It marched out of quarters on the 11th of May, and arrived on the 20th at Bourdeaux, from whence, after a halt of eleven days, it embarked, and sailed for Canada, disembarking on the 7th of August at Sorel, on the river St. Lawrence, about one hundred miles above Quebec. From Sorel it marched to Chambly to join the troops encamped there under Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, and formed, with the Third, Twenty-seventh, and Twenty-eighth regiments, the brigade of Major-General Sir Manley Power. It was present at the unsuccessful attack made by Sir George Prevost on the Americans near Plattsburg, in the early part of September, and afterwards went into barracks at La Prairie; in November it marched to Montreal, detaching five companies to Coteau du Lac.

1815

Early in February, 1815, the first battalion moved from Montreal to Upper Canada, where three companies were stationed at Johnstown, and the remaining seven quartered at the farmers' houses along the St. Lawrence, and scattered over a space of nearly twenty-eight miles. But in May, these seven companies and head-quarters were re-assembled in Fort Wellington. Peace having been concluded with the Americans, early in June the battalion marched to Montreal, and sailing down the St. Lawrence in steam vessels to Quebec, it embarked on the 8th in four transports for Europe.

In the mean time the return of Buonaparte to France, in violation of the treaty of 1814, had rekindled the war on the continent, and the first battalion of the Fifth was immediately ordered to France. After touching at Portsmouth, it disembarked on the 11th of July at Ostend; proceeded by the canal to Ghent, and marching from thence to Paris, joined the British troops encamped at St. Denis on the 24th of August, thus missing being present at the glorious and decisive victory of Waterloo, which, to a regiment, that had so conspicuously shared in all the peninsular campaigns, was at once a disappointment and a misfortune.

1816 1817 1818

Peace having again been concluded, an army of occupation was directed to remain in France for a few years; and in January, 1816, the first battalion of the Fifth formed part of the garrison of the fortified city of Valenciennes; in July, August, and September it was encamped in the vicinity of that town, but returned to Valenciennes in October, and remained there till the month of April, 1817, when it went to Bapaume and the adjacent villages, and thence in July into camp at Cambray. In October it returned to Bapaume, and in June 1818, again joined the camp near Cambray, where the army was reviewed by the allied sovereigns. In October the first battalion of the Fifth marched to Calais, and having embarked on the 31st for England, landed at Dover on the 1st of November, and marched for Winchester, where it arrived on the 10th of the same month.

In the mean time the second battalion, after recruiting to nearly its full numbers, in Exeter barracks, marched in November, 1813, to Chelmsford, and thence in the following month to Windsor, where it remained till October, 1815, when it was ordered to Gosport, and was there finally disbanded on the 24th of June, 1816.

1819

On the 4th of February, 1819, the regiment, now reduced to one battalion, embarked at Portsmouth for the West Indies; arrived on the 3rd of April in Carlisle bay, Barbadoes, and sailed again on the 5th (after being reviewed on the 4th by Lieutenant-General Lord Combermere) for the following destinations, viz., five companies and head-quarters to Antigua, four to St. Christopher's, and one company to Montserrat.

On the 10th of July, 1819, Lieutenant-General Wynyard died, and on the 12th General Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., G.C.B., was appointed Colonel of the Fifth.

1820 1821

The regiment occupied the stations before mentioned, until March, 1821, when five companies with head-quarters were ordered to St. Vincent's, three to Dominica, and two to St. Lucia. On the 25th of October this year, the establishment of the regiment was reduced from ten to eight companies.

1822 1823 1824

After remaining on the above station until January, 1824, two more companies with head-quarters were ordered to Dominica, and the remainder to St. Lucia.

The privilege which the corps for a long series of years enjoyed, of wearing a distinguishing feather, was this year confirmed to it by a letter from the Adjutant-General of the army, of which the following is a copy.

"Horse-Guards, 2nd July, 1824.

"Sir,

"I have had the honour to receive and submit to the Commander-in-Chief, your letter of 28th ultimo, and enclosure, and in reply am directed to signify to you, that under the circumstances therein stated, His Royal Highness has been pleased to approve of the White Feather, which for a long series of years has been worn as a mark of distinction by the Fifth Regiment of Foot, being continued to be used by that corps.

"I have, &c. (Signed) "H. Torrens, Adj.-Gen.

"Colonel Sir C. Pratt, K.C.B., "5th Foot."

1825

On the 25th March, 1825, the regiment was augmented from eight to ten companies.

In May, 1825, Colonels the Honourable Henry King, C.B., and Sir Charles Pratt, K.C.B., who during the Peninsular war had led the corps in so many days of glory and of victory, were promoted to the rank of Major-Generals in the army: Sir Charles Pratt had been at the head of one or other of the battalions since 1808, and was succeeded in the command of the regiment by Lieutenant-Colonel William Sutherland, from the second West-India Regiment.

1826

On the 16th of March, 1826, the head-quarters embarked at Dominica for England. The regiment landed at Portsmouth on the 12th and 22nd of April and 3rd of June, according as the transports arrived: marched in three divisions on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of June, from Cumberland Fort, and arrived on the 29th, 30th, and 31st, at Weedon, in Northamptonshire, where it was joined on the 24th of July by the depôt, consisting of four captains, four subalterns, one surgeon, one serjeant, and sixty-nine rank and file, from Tynemouth Castle. The corps remained at Weedon during the remainder of the year, and was joined during its stay in Northamptonshire, by one hundred and fifty-six recruits from its different recruiting parties.

1827

The Fifth regiment marched from Weedon barracks in three divisions, on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th of January 1827, by route, to Hull, in Yorkshire, where it arrived on the 10th, 12th, and 13th of the same month, detaching one company to Bradford, one to Halifax, and on the 27th, one company to Brigg. At Hull one hundred and twenty-four men joined as recruits.

On the 28th and 29th of March, and 4th of April the regiment marched from Hull and the detached stations, and arrived on the 5th of April at Bolton, in Lancashire, having one field-officer and three companies detached at Blackburn, one company at Haslington, and one company at Accrington. During its stay at Bolton, the regiment received seventy-seven recruits from its parties, &c., and arrived at its full establishment, having recruited nearly five hundred men during the eleven months which had elapsed since its return from the West Indies.

1828

On the 10th and 17th of September, the regiment marched from Bolton, on route to Liverpool, and on the 19th and 20th the detached companies marched into Liverpool, in which town the regiment remained in billets until the morning of the 25th, when it embarked on board the "Britannia" and the "Birmingham" steam vessels for Ireland, and landed on the 26th at Dublin, where it was quartered in Richmond barracks. On the 15th of October it moved from the Richmond to the Royal barracks, and there remained until it was ordered to Athlone, for which station it marched on the 5th, 7th, and 17th of May, 1828, detaching one company to Shannon Bridge, from which a subaltern and twenty-five men were sent to Tullamore, one company to Ballymahon, (sending small parties to Ballinacarrig and Abbeyshrule,) and one company to Roscommon, having a subaltern and thirty rank and file at Strokestown. The detachment at Tullamore was ordered to head-quarters on the 6th of July.

1829

A party of one hundred men under Major Tovey, marched from Athlone on the 6th of October to Shannon Bridge, and remained there during the fair at Ballinasloe. The detachment at Strokestown joined head-quarters on the 18th of October, and was again sent out on the 26th of January, 1829. On the 22nd of the same month, the company at Ballymahon was withdrawn, and joined the head-quarters at Athlone.

The colours of the regiment having been worn out in the course of its long and honourable service, a new set, after being solemnly consecrated in St. Peter's Church at Athlone, was presented on parade with the usual ceremonies, and a suitable address by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B., commanding the Connaught district. The General was pleased on this occasion to speak in the most flattering terms of the distinguished gallantry of the regiment in the field, and its good and orderly conduct in quarters.

The regiment marched to Castlebar, in the county of Mayo, on the 30th and 31st of March, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 9th of April, detaching two companies to Westport, under a field-officer; one company to Foxford, sending a subaltern and eighteen rank and file to Ballaghadareen, and one company to Dunmore. On the 2nd of May, two companies proceeded, per route, to Ballinrobe.

The distinction of wearing a white or grenadier feather, which the Fifth regiment had proudly won for itself, having become extinct by the regulations of the 10th of February of this year (1829), which directed a white feather to be worn by the whole of the infantry of the army, rifle regiments and light infantry excepted, the commanding officer (Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland) lost no time in applying, through General Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., G.C.B., the Colonel of the regiment, for an equivalent; this was graciously conceded by his Majesty, George the Fourth, and the distinction of wearing a feather different from the rest of the army, was continued to the corps in the following handsome terms in a letter from Lieutenant-General Sir Herbert Taylor, G.C.H., Adjutant-General of the Forces.

"Horse Guards, July 11, 1829.

"Sir,

"I have had the honour to receive and lay before the General Commanding-in-Chief your letter of the 6th of May last, with its enclosures, representing the anxiety felt by the officers and men of the Fifth regiment, of which you are Colonel, to be allowed some distinction, as an equivalent for that which the regiment has lost in consequence of the regulations of the 10th of February last, prescribing a white feather to be worn by the whole of the infantry of the army, rifle regiments and light infantry excepted.

"On this occasion, Lord Hill commands me to say, that his Lordship enters fully into the feelings of the Fifth regiment, and adverting to the gallantry of the exploits which obtained for that corps its original distinction, his Lordship has been pleased to submit to His Majesty, that the Fifth regiment shall, in future, wear a feather half red and half white, the red uppermost, instead of the plain white feather worn by the rest of the army, as a peculiar mark of honour, whereby its former services will still be commemorated, and a perpetual incitement be afforded to a continuance of its good conduct.

"I have, &c. (Signed) "H. Taylor, Adj.-Gen.

"General Sir H. Johnson, Bart., G.C.B. "&c. &c."

1830

From Castlebar, Westport, and Foxford, the regiment marched on the 10th and 11th of September, agreeably to routes received, for Galway. Two companies, under a field-officer, were stationed at Oughterard; one company at Tuam, one at Ballinasloe, detaching one subaltern, one serjeant, and twenty rank and file to Mount Shannon, and a similar party to Kinavara. The company at Dunmore did not move on this change of the quarters of the regiment. On the 17th of November, the detachment at Kinavara joined the company at Ballinasloe, and on the 5th of April, 1830, one company from Oughterard proceeded to Banagher.

In August, 1830, whilst the regiment was stationed in Galway, a general election took place, and the representation of both the town and county was keenly contested; during the fortnight the elections lasted, the corps was constantly under arms and patrolling, and performed the harassing duty of that period with so much temper, conduct, and forbearance, that a public meeting was held, composed of the most respectable inhabitants of the town and its vicinity, including the several candidates and their supporters, and the following resolution, declaratory of their grateful sense of the good conduct of the regiment unanimously passed:—

"Resolved,

"That having witnessed the prompt, active, and efficient exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the Fifth Regiment, in preserving peace and good order during the late contested election for the representation of this town, we deem it an act of justice thus to put upon public record the high value we entertain of their services; and that our worthy chairman is requested to convey to the gallant Commander of our garrison this expression of our warmest gratitude and thanks, and we request he will convey these sentiments to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the corps."

It may not be irrelevant to mention, that the Fifth Regiment has always been remarkable for the good feeling that has subisted between it and the inhabitants of the different stations at which it has been quartered.

The regiment being ordered to Cork, the head-quarters and detachments marched from their respective stations on the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd of October, and on the 26th it was countermanded to Buttevant barracks, where the several divisions arrived on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of the same month.

1831

A detachment was furnished by the corps to Mitchelstown on the 14th of February, 1831, and being removed on the 2nd of May to Galbally, it rejoined at Buttevant on the 15th of June.

On the 14th of March, the head-quarters, with four companies,—and on the 16th, four more companies, marched per route to Clare Castle, where they arrived to preserve order during the Clare election on the 17th and 19th, detaching one company to Kilrush, one to Corrofin, and subalterns' parties to Kildysart, Quinn, Kilkeshan, and Six Mile Bridge. The head-quarters marched to Ennis on the 30th of March; and the detachments at Quinn, Kilkeshan, and Six Mile Bridge, to the same place on the 6th of April. On the 5th of May the head-quarters returned to Buttevant, leaving eight companies detached in various directions (some being afterwards encamped) in the county of Clare, which was then, and had for some months been, in a very disturbed state—in fact, bordering on open rebellion. A small party of fifteen, half military (of the Fifth) and half police, who were almost unarmed, having only a pistol and five rounds of ammunition each (being employed on a particular service), were attacked on the morning of the 8th of May, by some hundreds of the turbulent peasantry of the parish of Clondegad, in the county of Clare, and, in the course of a running fight, which was bravely sustained by these few men for several miles, Colour-Serjeant James Robinson of the grenadier company, was basely and barbarously murdered. His remains were buried at Ennis, and a handsome tomb with an appropriate inscription, placed over them by the regiment.

While the counties of Clare and Galway were in this disturbed state many of the magistrates declined to act. Under these circumstances, Lieutenant-Colonel Tovey and Captains McDonald and Spence, of the Fifth regiment, were selected as gentlemen in whose firmness, prudence, and discretion, the Government could confide, and they received Commissions of the Peace for the above counties. The judicious conduct of those gentlemen as magistrates reflected credit on the regiment; their exertions were followed by happy results;—the two counties became tranquil, and the inhabitants returned to their peaceful and industrious habits[44].

On the 20th of September these companies were all concentrated at Buttevant; and a letter conveying the high sense entertained by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot of the good conduct of the regiment, of which the following is a copy, was received with the notification of their march from Clare:—

"Ennis, September 6th, 1831.

"Sir,

"In transmitting you the annexed notification of the arrival at Buttevant of several of your detachments from Clare, I am directed by Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot to express to you the very great pleasure he feels in having to assure you, that both the officers and men of the Fifth Regiment performed their duty, under most trying circumstances, during the disturbances in this county, to his perfect satisfaction in every respect.

"I have, &c. (Signed) "W. Vincent, Lt.-Col., A.Q.M.G.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, "Commanding Fifth Foot."

On the 16th of September, orders were received at Buttevant to hold the six service companies in readiness to embark for Gibraltar, and in consequence, the reserve, or depôt, was with great promptitude formed on the same day. On the 23rd the regiment was reviewed by Lieutenant-General Sir Hussey Vivian, K.C.B., Commander of the Forces in Ireland; and on the 29th it was inspected by Major-General Sir George Bingham, K.C.B., commanding the district, when both these distinguished officers expressed their unqualified approbation of its appearance, movements, and interior economy.

1832

The reserve marched on the 7th of November to Fermoy, being destined to remain for the present in Ireland, which continued in a very disturbed state; and the service companies moved to Cork towards the end of the month, and there embarked under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, on the 29th of November and 5th and 6th of December, on board the "Marquis of Huntley," (head-quarters,) "William Harris," and "Sylvia," transports; sailed from Cove on the 26th of December, arrived in the bay of Gibraltar, after a very quick but boisterous passage, on the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, and disembarked on the 9th, 10th, and 12th of January, 1832, to do duty in that far-famed fortress.

Previous to the embarkation of the Fifth from Ireland, the circumstance of the regiment having an "Order of Merit," a privilege established in this regiment in the year 1767 (as explained in page 37), attracted the attention, and elicited the representations, of the local military authorities. The commanding officer, after the arrival at Gibraltar, was in consequence called upon by the General Commanding-in-Chief, Lord Hill, to explain under what regulations and arrangements the Order was conferred, candidates selected, medals provided and distributed, and other particulars connected with this most laudable institution. The required information was promptly afforded, proved satisfactory, and the following gratifying letter was the result, viz.:—

"Horse-Guards, 20th June, 1832.

"Sir,

"I have had the honour to submit to the General Commanding-in-Chief, your letter of the 4th instant, with its enclosure, on the subject of the 'Order of Merit' existing in the Fifth Foot, and am directed to acquaint you, that the explanation afforded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, shows that the order in question is dispensed under the most laudable regulations, and has been productive of the best effects, during the long period since its original establishment in the regiment.

"It is considered highly desirable, however, that both officer and soldier should, under all circumstances, be taught to expect professional honours from the sovereign alone; and under this impression, Lord Hill has been induced to recommend to the king to give the royal authority for the confirmation and continuance of this regimental Badge of distinction, an arrangement, which, while it bestows upon it legitimate existence, will, at the same time, no doubt, enhance its value in the estimation of those on whom it is conferred.

"You will, therefore, be pleased to communicate this decision to Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, and acquaint him, that he is at liberty to proceed in the distribution of the medals and badges as heretofore.

"I have, &c. (Signed) "John Macdonald, "Adjutant-General.

"Lieutenant-General "Sir William Houstoun, G.C.B., and G.C.H., &c. &c. &c., "Commanding at Gibraltar."

The "Order of Merit," which has been so long held by the regiment, consecrated and enhanced by purity and justice of distribution, and the real worth of the meritorious though humble individuals who earn so honourable a mark of good conduct, and brightened by the numerous distinguished services of the Fifth Regiment since its foundation, is thus confirmed by the sanction of the Sovereign, the legitimate fount of honour, distinction, and reward.

1833

On the 27th of July, in this year (1832), the reserve companies of the regiment marched from Fermoy to Kilmallock, and in August to Bruff, where they continued until the 24th of January, 1833, when they proceeded to Nenagh: and from thence, in October to Templemore.

On the night of the 24th of April, 1833, whilst at Gibraltar, the roof of the Line Wall House, in which were the mess-rooms and the quarters of Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, suddenly burst out into an immense blaze of fire, in consequence of one of the wooden wall-plates, which had been carelessly built into the flue of a chimney, imperceptibly igniting the joists, lathing, couples, and lining of the roof over the ceiling: from the quantity of timber used in its construction, the house burnt with such fierceness and rapidity, that the ceilings of the rooms, almost instantly falling in, it was found impossible, notwithstanding the utmost exertions of the garrison, to save even the colours of the regiment, which were thus unfortunately, although accidentally, consumed.

1834

In June and July, 1834, that scourge, the cholera, attacked the garrison with such violence that the Fifth lost one officer, two serjeants, one drummer, forty-one privates, three women, and four children, in all fifty-two souls, some of the former being among the finest and best-conducted young men in the regiment, whilst it may be mentioned, as a somewhat singular fact, that during the whole period of its ravages, not one case of cholera occurred in the Provost prison, at that time crowded with the most dissipated characters of the garrison, although it raged in the Artillery barracks, and the civil habitations in its immediate vicinity—an undeniable proof of the efficacy of abstemiousness and temperance, even though forced, on such occasions.

In the autumn of this year, the regiment having received orders to be prepared for removal to Malta, on the eve of embarkation the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William Houstoun, G.C.B. and G.C.H., expressed his approbation of its conduct whilst under his command, in the following flattering terms:—

"Head-Quarters, Gibraltar, 14th October, 1834.

Garrison Orders.

No. 1. "His Excellency, the Lieutenant-General Commanding, cannot suffer the Fifth Regiment to embark from hence, without expressing his approval of the general conduct of this corps, during the period it has been under his command in this garrison, and he desires to offer his thanks to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of this regiment, and more particularly, he begs to acknowledge his sense of the zealous and constant exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, which have so essentially contributed to maintain the discipline and good order of the corps under his command."

The regiment embarked in His Majesty's troop ship, "Romney," on the 15th October,—sailed on the next day,—and anchored on the 26th, after a very stormy passage, in the harbour of Valetta, under those stupendous fortifications which had been rendered famous by the prowess of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and had for some generations been designated by the proud title of "the Bulwarks of Christendom:"—it disembarked without any accident or casualty on the 27th of the same month,—and for a short time occupied Fort Manoel.

The colour of the regimental facings was this year authorized by the subjoined letter to be changed to a handsome and lively green, viz.:—

"Horse-Guards, 30th June, 1834.

"Sir,

"With reference to the correspondence that has taken place respecting the Colour of the Facing of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, of which you are Colonel, I have now the honour to acquaint you, that the Colour of the pattern exhibited by Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, with your sanction, has been approved by the King, and the General Commanding-in-Chief desires that the clothing of the regiment for the ensuing year may therefore be prepared accordingly.

"I have, &c. (Signed) "John Macdonald, "Adjutant-General.

"General Sir Henry Johnson, Bt., and G.C.B. "Colonel of the Fifth Foot."

In September of this year (1834) the reserve companies marched from Templemore to Cork, where they remained ten months.

1835

General Sir Henry Johnson, Bart., G.C.B., having died on the 18th of March, 1835, at a very advanced age, was succeeded in the Colonelcy of the regiment, on the 25th of the same month, by Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville, G.C.B. and G.C.H., who with much distinction, and especially in the affair at El Bodon, commanded the brigade in which the Fifth served during a considerable period of the Peninsular war.

New colours having been received early this year to replace those accidentally consumed with the Line Wall House at Gibraltar, as before narrated, Major-General Sir Frederick Ponsonby, K.C.B., the Lieutenant-Governor, was requested to present them, but, a question having arisen relative to an additional banner[45] which the regiment had long carried, the subject was, after some discussion and correspondence, submitted to the decision of His Majesty, whose commands and pleasure on this head will be found in the following letter:—

"Horse-Guards, 31st July, 1835.

"Sir,

"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 4th April last, which I have laid before the General Commanding-in-Chief, and by his Lordship's command the same has been submitted to the King.

"In reply to which, I am directed to acquaint you, that His Majesty considers it quite contrary to the established regulations, for any regiment to bear a third Colour, and on that ground he cannot consent to a flag or banner, which is stated to have been borne by the Fifth Regiment since the year 1762, and which was accidentally destroyed by a fire at Gibraltar on the 24th of April, 1833, being replaced.

"His Lordship has received the King's commands to direct it to be made known to the officers and men of the Fifth Regiment, that His Majesty has the strongest reason to be satisfied with the general conduct of the regiment, and, although His Majesty feels that he cannot comply with the request made on this occasion, by authorizing the additional flag, or banner, being retained by the corps, which, it must be stated, has never been sanctioned either by the Royal warrant of the 19th of December, 1768, or by any subsequent grant, yet his Majesty is desirous of conferring a mark of distinction on the regiment, which shall tend to perpetuate the record of its services at Wilhelmsthal in June, 1762: with this view his Majesty has commanded, that the regiment shall be distinguished by wearing grenadier caps, with the King's Cipher, W. R. IV., in the front, and the ancient badge of the regiment, viz. St. George killing the Dragon, on the back part.

"I have, &c. (Signed) "John Macdonald, "Adjutant-General.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland, "Commanding the Fifth Regiment, Malta."

The reserve companies embarked from Cork on the 1st of August, 1835, and proceeded to Dover, where they passed the succeeding fifteen months, and in October, 1836, marched to Gosport.

FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT (NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS), M DCCC XXXV.

1836

His Majesty King William IV. having been pleased, in 1836, to approve of the corps being equipped as Fusiliers, and designated the "Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers;" commissioned the Ensigns as second Lieutenants accordingly, and gave his Royal permission that the word "Wilhelmsthal," in commemoration of the field on which it originally took its grenadier caps from the enemy, should be borne on its colours and appointments, as will appear by the subjoined copies of letters.

"Horse-Guards, 4th of May, 1836.

"Sir,

"I have the honour to acquaint you, by direction of the General Commanding-in-Chief, that his Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of the Fifth or Northumberland Regiment of Foot, being in future equipped as a Fusilier Regiment, and being styled the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers.

"I have, &c. (Signed) "John Macdonald, "Adjutant-General.

"Officer commanding the Fifth Regiment of Foot, "or Northumberland Fusiliers."

"Horse-Guards, 14th of May, 1836.

"Sir,

"I have the honour to acquaint you, by direction of the General Commanding-in-Chief, that his Majesty has been graciously pleased to permit the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers, to bear on its colours and appointments, in addition to any other badges or devices which may have heretofore been authorized, the word 'Wilhelmsthal,' in commemoration of the gallantry displayed by the regiment while serving with the allied army, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, at the battle of Groebenstein, on the 24th of June, 1762, particularly in the capture of a great number of prisoners belonging to the grenadiers of France, and the regiment d'Aquitaine, in the woods of 'Wilhelmsthal.'

"I have, &c. (Signed) "John Macdonald, "Adjutant-General.

"Officer commanding Fifth Foot, "or Northumberland Fusiliers, "Malta."

On the 14th of December, 1836, the Governor of Malta, Major-General Sir Henry Bouverie, presented the new colours to the regiment, drawn up for the purpose in review order on the Florian Parade.

His Excellency, on arriving in front of the line, was received with a general salute, the band playing and drums beating, after which the company on the right flank closed ranks, and was marched by its Captain in quick time (the band playing the grenadier's march) to the point in the front of the line, where the new colours were stationed, under a guard, and an escort of colour-serjeants; on arriving at which the company was halted, its ranks opened, and the colours, which appeared for the first time displayed, were saluted with presented arms, the music playing "God save the King."

The march was then resumed in open order, and the colours escorted in slow time towards the left flank of the line, and thence to their appointed station in front of the centre, whilst the band and escort filed through the ranks to their posts on the right; the colours were received by a general salute from the regiment; arms were then shouldered, three sides of a square, open to the front, formed, and the service of consecration read in a most appropriate and impressive manner by the Rev. J. T. H. Le Mesurier, Chaplain to the Forces; the children of both sexes of the soldiers of the regiment, attired in uniform suits of new clothes that had lately been presented to them, repeating the responses.

Prayers being ended, His Excellency Sir Henry Bouverie handed the colours to the Lieutenants, under a general salute from the square, and then addressed the regiment in nearly the following terms:—

"Officers and Soldiers of the Fifth Fusiliers,

"I am happy that it has fallen to my lot to present to you these colours. I do it in the full confidence that they will never be disgraced by insubordination, by loss of discipline, or misconduct in garrison, or in the field.

"The glorious deeds which are recorded in your annals, and inscribed upon these colours, will serve to incite in you the determination to equal them; to surpass them I believe to be impossible.

"The inspection, which I shall this day finish, of your regiment, will, I have no doubt, furnish me with the opportunity of reporting my entire satisfaction with the interior economy and management of the regiment, as well as with your movements in the field; and I trust that I shall never have occasion to alter the high opinion I have formed of you, not only here, but in scenes on service, of which I was myself a witness."

His Excellency having concluded his appropriate address, Lieutenant-Colonel Sutherland replied to the following purport.

"Permit me, Sir, on behalf of myself and the regiment, to return our best thanks for the very kind and flattering terms in which you have been pleased to present these colours. It must be a great additional source of gratification to all ranks to receive so honourable a charge from the hand of a distinguished officer, who, having personally witnessed the regiment in conflict with the enemy, can therefore duly appreciate its conduct; and this will doubtless prove a strong incitement to such a discharge of their duty, whenever they may have the good fortune to be similarly circumstanced, as will emulate those deeds to which your Excellency has so handsomely alluded."

The square was then reduced, and his Excellency having rode down the line, ranks were closed, open column formed, and the review commenced by marching past in slow and quick time, and in column at quarter distance. The manual and platoon exercises (the latter also kneeling as light infantry) were then performed, under the orders of Brevet Major Johnson, after which the Lieutenant-Colonel put the regiment through a variety of manœuvres and firings, in close, extended, and skirmishing order, of which his Excellency expressed his unqualified approbation.

In the evening his Excellency dined with the officers of the regiment at the mess, where a large party of about fifty persons, consisting of Vice-Admiral Sir Josias Rowley, the Captains of the squadron, commanding officers of corps, heads of departments, and staff, was assembled to meet him.

On the following Sunday the colours were, according to custom on such occasions, taken with the regiment to church; when the duties of soldiers, both as men and Christians, were inculcated by the chaplain to the forces in the most impressive manner.

1837

The regiment embarked from Malta on the 28th of March, 1837, and arrived on the 4th of April following at Corfu, where it has continued until the end of the year 1837, which brings this memoir to a conclusion.

The foregoing pages show that the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers, has preserved by its conduct in time of peace, untarnished, the laurels which it has acquired in war. Soon after its formation it availed itself of the opportunities which then occurred of acquiring a reputation for gallantry in action; and, under the influence of zealous officers and an excellent esprit de corps, it has conducted itself, in the various situations in which it has been placed during a period of more than one hundred and sixty years, so as to preserve its character and acquire additional honour. The distinctions which have, from time to time, been conferred on this corps, show the estimation in which its services are held:—the inscriptions which it bears on its colours are memorials of its gallantry in battles and sieges, where the British troops have acquired never-fading laurels, and have elevated the military character of their country, to the admiration of the nations of Europe.

The Compiler of the Records of the Army feels it his duty to state, that Colonel Sutherland, of the Fifth Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers, has evinced great zeal and devotedness in procuring information on all subjects in which the honour of his regiment is concerned, and furnished a statement of its services which has facilitated the preparation of this narrative for publication. The most effective assistance has also been afforded by Captain John Spence, of the same regiment, in the completion of this memoir.

FIFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT (NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS), M DCCC XXXVII.

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