HISTORICAL RECORD (continued 2)

A tempest dispersed the fleet, consisting of about one hundred and seventy sail, in the bay of Biscay; but the greater part of the vessels were re-collected and proceeded on the voyage. Arriving at the neutral island of Dominica, to provide wood and water, the troops sustained the loss of their gallant leader, Lord Cathcart, who died of dysentery; and the command devolved on Brigadier-General Thomas Wentworth.

1741

On arriving at Jamaica in January, 1741, the expedition was joined by Vice-Admiral Vernon; but the season of the year for active service in the West Indies was fast passing away, and several circumstances concurred to create further delay. At length an attempt on Carthagena, the capital of an extensive and wealthy province in the country of Terra Firma in South America, was resolved upon; and, although this place was found strongly fortified, and the garrison reinforced by the crews of a squadron of large ships, commanded by Don Blas de Leso; yet, the fleet having silenced several small forts, eight regiments landed on the 10th of March, on the island of Tierra Bomba, near the mouth of the harbour, and commenced the siege of the principal fort, or castle, called Bocca-chica. On the evening of the 25th of March the grenadiers mounted the breach to storm the fortress, when the Spanish garrison fled, and the place was captured without loss.

Two channels having been made through the sunk vessels with which the Spaniards had blocked up the entrance of the harbour, the troops and artillery were re-embarked, and commenced landing, on the 5th of April, near the city. The country round Carthagena was found covered with trees and herbage of the most luxuriant growth, and the interwoven branches formed a shelter impenetrable both to heat and light; as the troops, led by Brigadier-General Blakeney, advanced along a narrow defile, several men were wounded by shots from the tracts and openings into the wood; and, on diverging from the defile, six hundred Spaniards were seen advantageously posted to dispute the passage: but they were speedily driven from their ground, and the British bivouacked within a mile of the castle of St. Lazar, which commanded the town. The men passed three nights in the open air, for want of tents and tools, which could not be landed sooner, and the health of the soldiers was in consequence seriously injured.

As the men were fast diminishing in numbers from hard duty and the effects of climate, Brigadier-General Wentworth resolved to attack St. Lazar by escalade; to which dangerous experiment he was urged by Vice-Admiral Vernon, who accused him of want of resolution. Twelve hundred men, commanded by Brigadier-General Guise, stormed the enemy's intrenchments under the walls of the fort, and though assailed by a heavy fire of musketry, the grenadiers, led by Colonel Grant, rushed forward with astonishing bravery, and leaping into the lines among the thickest of their adversaries, carried the works in gallant style. The Spaniards fled over a drawbridge into the fort; the British pursued under a heavy fire, and called for the ladders to storm the works; but so hot was the fire, that the Americans who carried the ladders threw them down and fled back to the camp. Meanwhile the soldiers were exposed to a most destructive fire, and were unable to cover themselves: at length three ladders were brought forward, and a serjeant and ten grenadiers mounted the walls, but were instantly cut to pieces, excepting the serjeant, who saved himself by leaping down again. Several of the ladders were found too short; it was ascertained that, owing to a guide having been killed, the attack was made on the strongest part of the works; Colonel Grant fell mortally wounded; and after sustaining a most destructive fire for several hours with intrepidity and perseverance, the troops were ordered to retreat, having lost six hundred men in killed and wounded.

This repulse was followed by the violent periodical rains, the country was deluged with water, and the change of atmosphere (which is always attended with epidemical distempers and the climate becomes extremely unhealthy) produced the most fatal effects. The soldiers were so drenched with rain, and their health so seriously impaired, that they re-embarked, and all hope of further success immediately vanished. The admiral was blamed for not stationing four or five of his large ships within pistol-shot of the town, when the troops advanced to attack fort St. Lazar; and if this had been done (Smollett observes), "in all probability the town would have surrendered."

After re-embarking, the distempers peculiar to the climate produced great havoc among the soldiers. Smollett states,—"Nothing was heard but complaints and execrations: the groans of the dying, and the service for the dead: nothing was seen but objects of woe and images of dejection." Such are the sufferings often endured by the British soldier in the various countries to which he is called upon to proceed, and are generally borne with exemplary fortitude.

The forts and castles of the harbour of Carthagena having been demolished, the fleet sailed to Jamaica; and subsequently to the south-east part of the island of Cuba, where the soldiers landed, and a camp was formed twenty miles up one of the large rivers of this island. At this camp the Sixth were stationed some time, and it was in contemplation to form a British settlement on this part of Cuba; the country was reconnoitred, detachments were sent out, and the Spanish villages were found deserted. For a short time a plentiful supply of fresh provisions was procured; but the men were afterwards rationed with salt and damaged meat and biscuit, and their numbers were so reduced by sickness, that in November they were put on board again, and re-conveyed to Jamaica.

1742 1745

The Sixth, having suffered severely from the effects of climate, returned to England in December, 1742, and commenced recruiting their numbers. They subsequently proceeded to Scotland, where they were stationed in the summer of 1745, when Charles-Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, raised his standard in the Highlands, and asserted his father's pretensions to the throne.

The head-quarters of the Sixth were at Aberdeen; two companies were at Inverness, which has been termed the capital of the Highlands, being the only town of importance north of Aberdeen; three companies were at Fort Augustus, situated on a plain at the head of Loch Ness, between the rivers Tarff and Oich, and built at the spot where they discharge themselves into the lake; a strong party, commanded by Captain Millar, occupied Fort William, which was built in the reign of King William III., in a plain on a navigable arm of the sea, called Loch Eil, near the influx of the Lochy and Nevis, in the county of Inverness; a serjeant's party occupied a redoubt at Ruthven; and a working party was employed on the newly-constructed roads in the Highlands. While in these quarters information was received of the arrival of the Pretender's eldest son with a few Scottish and Irish adventurers on the coast of Lochabar, and of their being joined by a number of Highlanders, under their respective chiefs. The news of this bold and hazardous undertaking was at first disbelieved, but Captain Sweetman of the regiment, walking out from Fort Augustus to gain information, entered an inn in the Highlands, where he was surrounded by eight rebels and conveyed a prisoner to the young Pretender's camp. There he was civilly treated, and suffered to go away on his parole; one of the Pretender's manifestos was given him, with a passport directed to all sheriffs, sheriff-deputies, and constables in Scotland, and signed Charles Pr. Custos Reg. After his release Captain Sweetman proceeded by post to London, where he was examined by the Privy Council, and the tidings of the rebellion were no longer doubted. The working parties of the Sixth and other corps were then ordered to rejoin their regiments.

The young adventurer having assembled about fifteen hundred men, encamped in the neighbourhood of Fort William: two newly-raised companies, of the regiments of St. Clair and Murray, proceeding to Fort William, were attacked by a body of mountaineers, and after a resolute resistance, the soldiers, having expended all their ammunition, were forced to surrender. Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope, the commander-in-chief in Scotland, assembled the disposable force under his orders at Stirling, and advanced towards the road leading through the Highlands to Inverlochy, taking with him a thousand arms, in the expectation of being joined at Crieff by a body of well-affected Highlanders. A detachment of the Sixth accompanied Sir John Cope in this advance through a wild country, where the soldiers were obliged to take their provision with them, and being disappointed of the Highlanders, the spare arms were sent back for want of carriage. On arriving at Dalwhinnie,—the place where the Fort Augustus and Inverness roads meet, information was received that the rebels were in force in a position in the winding of the road up the mountain, of such difficult approach and natural strength, that it was thought impossible to force it, and the soldiers, having only two days' provision with them, retired by Ruthven to Inverness.

A veteran serjeant of the regiment, named Molloy, and twelve men were left in charge of the little fort at Ruthven, which they defended against the rebel host with such distinguished bravery, that the following letter from this brave man to Sir John Cope deserves a place in this memoir.

"Ruthven Redoubt, 30th August, 1745.

"Hon. General,

"This goes to acquaint you, that yesterday there appeared in the little town of Ruthven about three hundred of the enemy, and sent proposals to me to surrender this redoubt upon condition that I should have liberty to carry off bag and baggage. My answer was, 'I was too old a soldier to surrender a garrison of such strength without bloody noses.' They threatened hanging me and my men for refusal. I told them I would take my chance. This morning they attacked me about twelve o'clock (by my information) with about a hundred and fifty men: they attacked fore-gate and sally-port; and attempted to set sally-port on fire with some old barrels and other combustibles, which took place immediately, but the attempter lost his life by it. They drew off about half an hour after three. About two hours after they sent word to me that two of their chiefs wanted to talk to me; I admitted and spoke to them from the parapet: they offered conditions; I refused; they desired liberty to carry off their dead men; I granted. There are two men since dead of their wounds in the town, and three more they took with them, as I am informed. They went off westward about eight o'clock this morning; they did the like march yesterday in the afternoon, but came back at night-fall. They took all the provisions the poor inhabitants had in the town, and Mrs. M'Pherson, the barrack-wife, and a merchant of the town, who spoke to me this moment, and who advised me to write to your honour, and told me there were above three thousand men, all lodged in the corn-fields west of the town, last night, and their grand camp is at Dalwhinnie. They have Cluny M'Pherson with them prisoner, as I have it by the same information. I lost one man, shot through the head by foolishly holding his head too high over the parapet. I expect another visit this night, I am informed, with their pateraroes; but I shall give them the warmest reception my weak party can afford. I shall hold out as long as possible. I conclude, honourable general, with great respect,

"Your most humble servant, "J. Molloy, Serjt. 6th.[33]"

From Inverness Lieut.-General Sir John Cope marched to Aberdeen, where he embarked the troops in transports, in order to proceed by sea to Leith, to oppose the progress of the rebels southwards; and two companies of the Sixth, commanded by Captains Pointz and Holwell, were employed in this service. Arriving at Dunbar, on the 16th of September, they landed on the south side of the Firth, and, to their great mortification and disappointment, learnt that the rebel highlanders and their adventurous chief had gained possession of Edinburgh, towards which city Sir John Cope commenced his march on the 19th of September.

Information having been received of the approach of a rebel force of very superior numbers, the King's troops took up a position a short distance to the east of the village of Preston-pans, near the sea, and seven miles from Edinburgh. Several changes of ground were made as the rebels menaced various parts of the line; but the attack was delayed, and the soldiers passed the night under arms: the two companies of the Sixth, and eight companies of Lascelles' (forty-seventh) regiment, formed one battalion, and were posted in the right centre of the front line[34].

About three o'clock on the morning of the 21st of September, large bodies of rebel Highlanders were seen in motion, and before day-break a chosen band of these hardy mountaineers was discovered through the thick atmosphere, moving like a dusky phantom swiftly along the undulating grounds to attack the right. As they drew near they raised a dismal yell, fired a volley, threw down their muskets, and rushed sword in hand upon the troops which guarded the artillery. The sudden advance of the Highlanders in the dark, their superior numbers, and peculiar mode of fighting, struck with dismay the two hundred soldiers appointed to guard the artillery on the right, who saw themselves assaulted by more than three times their own numbers, and as they caught the gleam of steel flashing in their faces, they gave way and fled. The two hundred and fifty dragoons on the right, seeing the artillery lost, became disheartened; they advanced to charge a large mass of Highlanders; but observing the disparity of numbers, they were seized with a panic and galloped out of the field. Their conduct damped the courage of the infantry, and the panic spread from rank to rank; but several companies made resistance, and feats of valour were nobly displayed by individuals and small parties; all semblance of order was, however, soon lost, and a confused rout ensued. The two companies[35] of the Sixth were among the troops who resisted the Highlanders; Captain Hollwell was killed; Captain Pointz was surrounded, dangerously wounded, and taken prisoner; Lieutenants Cumming and Paton, and Ensigns Wakeman and Irwine, were also made prisoners; and the two companies had nearly every man either killed, wounded, or taken prisoner: such were the disastrous results of this battle, that of the King's forces, not more than one-half escaped from the field. The prisoners were removed to Edinburgh, and afterwards to the Highlands.

1746

With the advance of the rebels into Derbyshire, their precipitate retreat back to Scotland, and the battle of Falkirk, the services of the Sixth are not immediately connected; but in the early part of 1746, after the Duke of Cumberland had forced the young Pretender to raise the siege of Stirling castle, and to retreat to the Highlands, the three companies of the regiment stationed in Fort Augustus were besieged by the rebel army. As the young Pretender had obtained a train of artillery, and the services of a few French officers and engineers, the reduction of the fort was not a difficult operation, and the three companies were made prisoners: the works were afterwards blown up and abandoned by the enemy.

1747

A lieutenant and about fifty men of the regiment had, in the mean time, assembled at Edinburgh: some of these men had escaped from captivity, others were the remains of the two companies which had fought at Preston-pans, and they were directed to proceed, by forced marches, to Inverlochy, and throw themselves into Fort William: a drummer and three men of the regiment, who were made prisoners at Fort Augustus, also escaped from custody and took refuge in Fort William. In March, 1746, the enemy besieged the fort, and the garrison made a most resolute defence. By a well-directed fire from the works, by sallies and other devices, with the co-operation of a small naval force, the enemy was forced to raise the siege and retire. This success was followed by the overthrow of the rebel army at Culloden, which extinguished the hopes of the Pretender, and the insurrection was thus finally suppressed. The officers and men of the Sixth were liberated from captivity, the companies in garrison were relieved, and the regiment proceeded to England to recruit its numbers, where it remained for six years.

1751

In the warrant of King George II., bearing date the 1st of July, 1751, for regulating the uniform, colours, and distinctions of regiments, the facing of the Sixth was directed to be of DEEP YELLOW. "The first colour to be the great Union; and the second to be of deep yellow, with the union in the upper canton; in the centre of the colours the Antelope, being the ancient badge of the regiment, and in the three corners of the second colour the rose and crown. The front of the grenadier caps to be of deep yellow, with the antelope, as in the colours; the little flap to be red, with the white horse, and motto, Nec aspera terrent, over it; the back part of the cap to be red, and the turn-up deep yellow. The same badge of the antelope to be painted on the drums and bells of arms, with the rank of the regiment underneath."

1753 1755 1756

The Sixth were employed on home duty until the winter of 1753, when they embarked for Gibraltar to relieve the thirty-second regiment; and they were employed on garrison duty at that important fortress during the whole of the Seven years' war. Hostilities commenced in America in 1755, and in 1756 a French armament, commanded by Marshal Duke of Richelieu, invaded the island of Minorca, in the capture of which the Sixth took so distinguished a part in 1708; and a detachment of the regiment was held in readiness to proceed to Port Mahon to reinforce the garrison. This service was, however, delayed; and Lieut.-General Fowke, who commanded the forces at Gibraltar, was dismissed the service for neglecting to strengthen the troops in Minorca by a battalion from his garrison.

1763

After the peace of Fontainebleau the Sixth were relieved from duty at Gibraltar, and returned to England, where they arrived in the summer of 1763. Two years afterwards they proceeded to Scotland.

1765

On the 14th of June, 1765, the colonelcy was conferred by King George III. on Major-General William Rufane, from the half-pay of the seventy-sixth foot (a corps raised in 1756, and disbanded after the peace in 1763), in succession to General Guise, deceased.

1769 1772

The regiment left Scotland in 1769, and was stationed in England during the three succeeding years: in October, 1772, it embarked for the West Indies, to assist in reducing to submission to the British government the refractory Charibbees in St. Vincent. This island was ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of 1763, and was found to contain two tribes of natives, called the red and black Charibbees; the former being the aborigines, and the latter having sprung from a cargo of African slaves who escaped from a vessel which was wrecked on the island. The Charibbees were found devoted to the French interest, and were dangerous and troublesome neighbours to the English planters. A resolution was taken to restrain their ambulations to a smaller range in the island, and to enforce obedience to several necessary regulations: and if this was found impracticable, to remove them to some other island, or to the continent of Africa. The Charibbees were, however, of a resolute spirit: they possessed many thickly-wooded fastnesses, and they resisted the attempt to restrict the indulgence of their roving propensities and mode of life so powerfully, that it was found necessary to augment the military force on the island.

1773

Soon after arriving at St. Vincent the Sixth lost their colonel, Lieut.-General Rufane, who died on the 14th of February, 1773, and was succeeded by Lieut.-General John Gore from the sixty-first regiment: this officer died in November following, when his Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the Sixth on Lieut.-General Sir William Boothby, Baronet, from the fiftieth foot.

1774

The regiment was employed in operations against the Charibbees of St. Vincent; several skirmishes occurred among the thickly-wooded parts of the country, and a few men were killed and wounded in the bush-fighting which took place daily. At length the natives were reduced to submission, and an agreement was concluded with their chiefs in February, 1774, by which further hostilities were prevented.

Having reduced the two refractory tribes to submission, the Sixth and forty-eighth regiments were stationed at the Charibbee islands until after the breaking out of the war of independence in North America.

1775 1776 1777

Hostilities commenced in 1775, when the establishment of the Sixth was augmented from ten companies of thirty-eight private men each, to twelve companies of fifty-six private men each. In the following year they were withdrawn from the West Indies, and joined the army commanded by Lieut.-General Sir William Howe at New York. The health of the soldiers had, however, been impaired by their residence in a tropical climate, and after transferring a few men to other corps, they returned to England, where they arrived in March, 1777.

1778 1779 1780

During the summer of 1778, the regiment was encamped, with the twenty-fifth, sixty-ninth, seventy-ninth, and ten militia corps, at Warley, under the orders of Lieut.-General Pierson. In the following year the regiment was encamped at Coxheath, with the fourteenth, fiftieth, sixty-fifth, sixty-ninth, and sixteen corps of militia; and in 1780 it was encamped at Rye, under Major-General Sloper.

1782

In 1782 county titles were given to regiments, in order to facilitate the procuring of recruits; and the Sixth were designated the First Warwickshire regiment: at the same time the officers were directed to cultivate a connection with that division of the county, so as to create a mutual attachment between the inhabitants of Warwickshire and the regiment.

1783

The Sixth had previously proceeded to the islands of Jersey and Guernsey, from whence they were removed to Ireland in the autumn of 1783.

1786

On the 5th of May, 1786, the regiment embarked from Ireland for North America, to relieve the seventeenth at Nova Scotia, and was stationed in that island for several years.

1787 1792

General Sir William Boothby, Baronet, died at Bath on the 15th of April, 1787, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the Sixth by Lieut.-General Lancelot Baugh, from the fifty-eighth regiment; after whose decease in 1792, Sir Ralph Abercromby was appointed colonel of the Sixth, from the sixty-ninth regiment.

1793

While the regiment was stationed in Nova Scotia a revolution took place in France, and in 1793 the King and Queen were beheaded. The dangerous doctrines of liberty and equality extended to the French West India islands, and the Sixth were withdrawn from Nova Scotia and employed in delivering these valuable possessions from the power of the republican government.

1794

The forces engaged in this enterprise rendezvoused at Barbadoes in January, 1794, under the orders of General Sir Charles Grey, K.B. (afterwards Earl Grey), and the battalion companies of the Sixth constituted part of the third brigade, the flank companies being formed in grenadier and light infantry battalions. A landing was effected at three different points on the island of Martinico in the early part of February, and after some sharp fighting, in which the Sixth had about half a dozen men killed and wounded, this valuable possession was delivered from the power of republicanism. Sir Charles Grey observed in his public despatch:—"The spirit, unanimity, and perseverance of the navy and army never were more conspicuous; nor has more cordial co-operation ever been manifested between his Majesty's naval and land forces. In a word, 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."

From Martinico the grenadiers under Prince Edward (afterwards Duke of Kent), the light infantry under Major-General Thomas Dundas, with the Sixth, ninth, and forty-third regiments, commanded by Colonel Sir Charles Gordon, re-embarked on the 30th of March, and arriving at St. Lucia on the 1st of April, completed the conquest of that fine island in three days. A detachment of the regiment was next employed in the reduction of the island of Guadaloupe: a determined resistance was made by the enemy, but the island was captured before the end of April, and Sir Charles Grey declared in his public despatch, that he "could not find words to convey an adequate idea, or to express the high sense he entertained, of the extraordinary merit evinced by the officers and soldiers in this service."

Although the extension of revolutionary power in Europe engaged the attention of the regicide government of France, yet the loss of these valuable colonial possessions was not regarded with indifference, and an expedition was fitted out at Brest for the recovery of the conquered islands. In June a body of French troops arrived at Guadaloupe, and the doctrines of liberty and equality were so successfully disseminated among the mulattoes and blacks, that they quickly flocked to the republican standard. The posts occupied by the British were attacked, and in October the whole island, except Fort Matilda, was re-captured by the French. This fort was defended by the troops under Major-General Prescott until December, when it was evacuated. The Sixth had several men killed and wounded in the defence of Guadaloupe, and had also Lieutenant Ekins wounded.

1795

The regiment having sustained considerable loss from the effects of climate, transferred its service-men to the ninth foot, and embarked for England, where it arrived in July, 1795, and landed at Portsmouth, from whence it proceeded into Warwickshire to recruit. In this service it was not, however, very successful, in consequence of having transferred a number of Warwickshire men to the ninth regiment in the West Indies.

The regiment marched to Southampton in September, for the purpose of embarking for Gibraltar; but the order was subsequently countermanded, and it returned to Warwickshire to re-commence recruiting.

In November of the same year Sir Ralph Abercromby was removed to the seventh dragoon guards, and the colonelcy of the Sixth was conferred on Prince William Frederick, afterwards Duke of Gloucester.

1796

Ireland being, at this period, in a state bordering on rebellion, the Sixth, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Colin Campbell, were ordered to proceed to that country. They embarked at Bristol in February, 1796, landed at Waterford, and in May proceeded to Kilkenny. The French directory cherished a decided antipathy to the British government, and sent a body of troops to Ireland to aid the malcontents in an appeal to arms. In December, when the French armament appeared in Bantry Bay, the Sixth marched to oppose the enemy, who returned to France without effecting a landing.

1797 1798

The regiment returned to Kilkenny in January, 1797, from whence it marched in April to Loughlinstown, near Dublin, where a considerable force was assembled in huts: it was subsequently encamped in Phœnix Park, Dublin, and being very weak in numbers, it was united to the first light infantry battalion in October it returned to its huts at Loughlinstown; and in the early part of 1798, marched to Nenagh, and subsequently to Galway.

The long-suppressed rebellion broke out in May, 1798, and Ireland became the scene of conflagration, rapine, and bloodshed, the conduct of the insurgents being of the most cruel and inhuman character. The Sixth, and light battalion attached to them, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Colin Campbell, were employed in suppressing this unnatural warfare. Scarcely was this accomplished, when the French directory endeavoured to revive the contest by sending General Humbert with about a thousand men to Ireland; and Major Macbean, with eighty men of the Sixth (who were not attached to the light battalion) formed part of the force sent against the French. In the action at Castlebar, on the 27th of August, the eighty men of the Sixth were the last that quitted their ground; their commanding officer, Major Macbean, was taken prisoner by the French and very cruelly treated; but he escaped a few days afterwards and joined the regiment at Tuam. The French having been surrounded and made prisoners, the rebellion was finally suppressed, and the regiment passed the winter at Moate and Athlone, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bowes.

1799

Tranquillity having been restored in Ireland, the regiment embarked at Cork in June, 1799, for Canada, and landed on the 14th of October at Quebec, where its ranks were completed by a draft from the third battalion of the sixtieth regiment.

1803

The Sixth remained at Quebec until 1803, when they proceeded, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bowes, up the country to Montreal, Kingston, and St. John's.

1804 1806

In 1804 a second battalion was added to the regiment, and was embodied at Liverpool, under the superintendence of the colonel, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. It was formed of men raised in the county of Lancaster for limited service, under the additional force act, passed on the 29th of June, 1804; and was placed on the establishment of the army from the 25th of December, 1804. In the same year the first battalion returned to Quebec, from whence it embarked, in 1806, for England: it landed at Portsmouth on the 7th of September, and marched to Deal barracks, where it was joined by the second battalion.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester was removed in May, 1806, to the third foot-guards; and the colonelcy of the Sixth was conferred on Major-General Sir George Nugent, Baronet, from the sixty-second regiment.

1807

The first battalion having been completed to the war-establishment by drafts from the second, marched, in October, to Dover Castle; and in January, 1807, returned to Deal. In April following it embarked for Gibraltar, where it arrived on the 2nd of June, in a very complete and efficient state, and it passed the succeeding twelve months at that important fortress.

1808

While the Sixth were in garrison at Gibraltar, the tyrannical proceedings of Bonaparte in Portugal and Spain, and the resistance which he met with in those countries, induced the British Government to aid the patriots in their endeavours to shake off the French yoke; and in June, 1808, this regiment, mustering upwards of eleven hundred men, was placed under the orders of Major-General Brent Spencer, with the view of being employed in this service. For some time, however, the point at which a landing should take place was not decided, and the troops appeared first off Ceuta, then proceeded to Cadiz, subsequently to Lisbon, and back to Cadiz. At length circumstances occurred which induced Major-General Spencer once more to proceed to the vicinity of Lisbon, where he learnt that Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley had arrived, with eight thousand men from Ireland, in the Mondego river, and immediately proceeded thither to join him.

Having landed on the shores of Portugal, the Sixth were formed in brigade with the thirty-second regiment, under Brigadier-General Bowes; the advanced guard quitted the banks of the Mondego river, on the 9th of August, and on the 17th attacked the French under General Laborde in their position at Roleia.

On the morning of this day, which is memorable for being the first of a series of victories gained by the British troops in the Peninsula, the Sixth issued from Obidos, a town with a Moorish castle, built on a gentle eminence in the middle of a valley, and, directing their march to the left, gained the ridge of heights on the enemy's right. They formed part of the left column of attack under Major-General Ferguson, destined to turn all the enemy's posts on the left of the valley, and the right of his post at Roleia; also to oppose the efforts of a body of French troops under General Loison, should they arrive from Rio Major during the action. The heights were cleared, the column descended from the higher grounds in the rear of the centre, and joining Brigadier-General Fane's brigade, were directed through the mountains to outflank the French right. Meanwhile the troops which attacked the enemy's centre were triumphant; the Sixth and other corps in the left column turned his right flank, and he fell back fighting to the Quinta de Bugaliera, and soon after four o'clock the action had ceased. The Sixth were not seriously engaged: their only loss was Captain John Currey and two men wounded, and one man missing; but their gallant bearing, and eagerness to engage their adversaries were conspicuous, and they were rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "Roleia" inscribed on their colours.

On the 19th of August the Sixth marched into position at Vimiera, a village near the sea-coast, and situate in a valley through which runs the little river Maceira; and the regiment was one of the corps posted on a large mountain which commenced at the coast. At seven o'clock on the morning of the 21st of August a cloud of dust was observed beyond the nearest hills, and soon afterwards the French army, commanded by Marshal Junot, was seen advancing in order of battle.

The Sixth, and several other corps, were directed to cross the valley behind the village, and to take post on another height, which overtopped the hill in front of the village; and, before the regiment reached the summit, the battle had commenced. A sternly contested action among rugged rocks and broken grounds ended in an entire defeat of the French army; and the Sixth were rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "Vimiera" inscribed on their colours.

These successes were followed by the convention of Cintra, and the British soldiers saw their gallant efforts succeeded by the deliverance of Portugal from the power of the enemy. On the departure of the French, the Sixth marched up the country to the strong fortress of Almeida, situate on the river Coa, in the province of Beira, where they remained in garrison four months.

1809

In the mean time reports were circulated of the insurrection against the French, and it was affirmed that enthusiastic multitudes of Spaniards were pressing forward from every quarter to complete the destruction of the legions of Napoleon, which were stated to be baffled, dispirited, and on the eve of quitting Spain. Although the accounts given by the Spaniards of their own strength and power were absurdly exaggerated, yet the British government, placing some confidence in the immense numbers of the patriots, and in the goodness of their cause, sent Lieut.-General Sir John Moore with an army into Spain to aid them in their laudable exertions to effect their emancipation; and the Sixth were withdrawn from Almeida to take part in this hazardous enterprise. After passing the frontiers of Portugal and pushing forward boldly into Spain, the British troops met with disappointment and disaster. Bonaparte had passed the Pyrenees with a powerful army, and rushing like a tempest upon the undisciplined multitudes of patriots, he quickly broke, destroyed, and dispersed them; then bending his course to Madrid, entered the capital in triumph. Little remained to be done to complete the conquest of Spain, but the destruction of the army of Britons, who, by long and toilsome marches through a difficult country, had ventured to menace his lines, and were the only troops in Spain capable of resisting his veteran legions. Quitting Madrid, he advanced with an immense army capable of enveloping and of swallowing up the handful of British troops; but Sir John Moore, with his characteristic energy and skill, withdrew towards the coast, and escaped the toils of his adversary. The Sixth were nearly eight hundred strong; they were commanded by Major Gordon, and were brigaded with the ninth, twenty-third, and forty-third regiments, under Major-General Beresford: they suffered most severely in the long and harassing retreat over mountains and rivers, through narrow defiles, and along roads covered with snow; but on arriving at Corunna, the men obtained shelter in the neighbouring villages and recruited their wasted strength. While the troops were waiting the arrival of transports, the French army approached, and, on the 16th of January, 1809, was fought the hard-contested battle of Corunna, in which British valour and endurance were conspicuously displayed, and this disastrous expedition was terminated by a glorious victory, which reflected lustre on the British arms; but the officers and soldiers had to lament the loss of their gallant leader, Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, who was mortally wounded during the heat of the action.

After this victory the troops embarked for England: the Sixth were one of the last corps which went on board the transports, having lined the walls of Corunna during the embarkation; and, on arriving in England, it was ascertained that they had lost about four hundred men in this arduous enterprise, in which they earned the honorary distinction of bearing the word "Corunna" inscribed on their colours.

The regiment remained in England until the middle of July, when the first battalion, having been completed to its establishment by drafts from the second, embarked with the expedition against Holland commanded by Lieut.-General the Earl of Chatham. In the siege and capture of Flushing and the reduction of the island of Walcheren, the regiment had only Ensign Addison and a few men wounded; but when the Walcheren fever broke out among the troops, its ranks were thinned by the ravages of that pestilential disease. The object of the expedition having been frustrated by delays, the island was evacuated; and in December the Sixth returned to England so reduced in numbers, and the sick men so numerous, as to be unable to furnish the usual reliefs of the ordinary regimental guard.

1810 1811 1812

In August, 1810, the first battalion embarked at Dover, for Ireland, and was stationed at Cork and Kinsale until October, 1812, when it embarked for the Peninsula. Previous to going on board the transports it was inspected by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope, the Commander of the Forces in Ireland, who was pleased to express himself much gratified at witnessing the high state of discipline, and the general appearance and efficiency of the corps.

The Sixth, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Archibald Campbell, arrived at Corunna on the 28th of October; but as the allied army, commanded by Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, had evacuated Madrid, and was retiring from Burgos upon Salamanca, the transports again put to sea, and proceeded to Lisbon, where the regiment landed on the 15th of November, on which day it was joined by four hundred men from the second battalion at Jersey.

1813

After halting a short period at the capital of Portugal, the regiment marched up the country to join the allied army; and taking the field in May, 1813, had the honour of serving in one of the most brilliant campaigns on record, in which the legions of Buonaparte were overthrown in a pitched battle, the barrier of the Pyrenees was forced, and the victorious British soldiers trod the soil of France in triumph. The Sixth, with a provisional battalion (formed of the second battalions of the Twenty-fourth and Fifty-eighth regiments), and the light infantry of the Brunswick Oels, composed the brigade of Major-General Edward Barnes, in the seventh division commanded by Lieut.-General the Earl of Dalhousie.

The Marquis of Wellington appeared at the head of a magnificent and well-appointed army, and, after passing the frontiers of Portugal, the tide of war, directed by the comprehensive mind of so able a commander, flowed onwards with majestic violence: formidable positions were turned; the rivers Esla, Tormes, Carion, Pisuerga, Arlanzan, and Ebro, were crossed in succession; and the obstructions of rocks, mountains, and deep ravines were overcome with a facility which bespoke the ability of the commander and the excellent quality of the troops serving under his directions. As the allied army advanced, the enemy fell back in tumult and disorder, evacuating strong posts without firing a shot, destroying defensive works, and calling in detachments with precipitation, until his forces were concentrated in the valley of Vittoria, where he prepared to make a resolute stand.

On the morning of the memorable 21st of June, 1813, the Sixth moved from their camp on the river Bayas, and traversed the mountains in the direction of Vittoria, to engage in the attack of the enemy's formidable position; but so rugged was the country, and the tracts along the hills so difficult, that the battle was raging with great violence when the division, led by the Earl of Dalhousie, arrived at their appointed station. They were, however, in time to take part in forcing the passage of the Zadora; and the seventh division, with one brigade of the third, having passed the river, formed the left of the British line, and were engaged with the French right in front of the villages of Margarita and Hermandad. Finally a complete and most decisive victory was gained. The conduct of the Earl of Dalhousie and his division was commended in the public despatch; the commanding officer of the Sixth, Lieut.-Colonel Archibald Campbell, was presented with a gold medal, and the gallantry of the regiment was rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "Vittoria" inscribed on its colours.

The Sixth moved forward in pursuit of the wreck of the French army in the direction of Pampeluna; but were subsequently detached against a division of the enemy under General Clausel, who was not at the battle, and had taken post at Logroño, from whence he made a precipitate retreat to Saragossa, and effected his escape by the pass of Jaca.

After returning from this enterprise the regiment penetrated the Pyrenean mountains; and the light and seventh divisions occupied the heights of Santa Barbara, the town of Vera, and the Puerto de Echalar, and communicated with the troops in the valley of Bastan. The French army, having been re-organised under Marshal Soult, attacked the British posts on the 25th of July. The Sixth, with the remainder of their brigade, moved forward to support two brigades of the second division which had been forced from their ground at the head of the valley of Bastan, and the enemy was driven back with loss. But the brigades in Roncesvalles having been obliged to retire, the troops in the valley of Bastan also fell back to a very strong post in the mountains behind Irueta. The regiment lost several men on this occasion, and had Major Gomm and Ensign Radcliff wounded. Its conduct, with that of the other corps engaged, was commended by the Marquis of Wellington, who observed in his despatch:—"Notwithstanding the enemy's superiority of numbers, they acquired but little advantage over these brave troops during the seven hours they were engaged. All the regiments charged with the bayonet."

From Irueta the Sixth retired with their division to the Lizasso, and on the 29th of July took post in the mountains near Marcolain, to connect the operations of the main body of the army with Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill's corps. Some sharp fighting took place in the mountains on the following day. The Sixth were engaged in carrying the height which separated the enemy's right flank, and had Lieutenant Sandys and several men wounded.

When Marshal Soult found himself frustrated in his attempt to relieve Pampeluna, and retired with the main body of his army, leaving a strong corps in an excellent position in the pass of Donna Maria, the Sixth moved forward in pursuit, and, with the remainder of the seventh division and Sir Rowland Hill's corps, ascended the two flanks of the mountain on the 31st of July, and dislodged the enemy in gallant style.

The army continued to press on the rear of the French, and the fourth and seventh divisions proceeded by the valley of the Bidassoa towards the frontiers of France. The Sixth, with the remainder of the Earl of Dalhousie's division, marched on the morning of the 2nd of August a distance of ten miles over mountains and ridges, along paths frequented only by shepherds and wild goats, from Sumbilla towards the Puerto de Echalar, where two French divisions were found in a formidable position on the height, with nearly the whole of their army posted behind the Puerto. The division was in advance, and the enemy appeared in force. But military ardour, with confidence in the prowess of the officers and men, occasioned the prudential caution of waiting the arrival of additional troops to be disregarded, and Major-General Barnes formed his brigade for the attack. The Sixth composed more than half the brigade: having received drafts regularly from the second battalion on home service, they appeared a fine and gallant body of men, all eager to engage their opponents. The provisional battalion and Brunswickers forming the remainder of the brigade, though inferior in numbers, were animated with the same spirit as the Sixth, and the gallant Major-General Barnes led the three battalions up a ridge which it appeared almost madness to have attacked. The officers and men, ascending the heights with cheerful alacrity, confronted, with firm and steady ranks, their numerous opponents, and advanced to the charge with that determined resolution for which Britons have been celebrated, and which occasioned a distinguished officer to say, "Barnes set at the French as if every man had been a bull-dog, and himself the best bred of all." It was a moment of trial: the innate bravery of the officers and men was put to the test; but by a powerful effort, in which the national character was eminently displayed, they forced the two divisions of the enemy from these formidable heights, and were pursuing their victorious career, when orders were received to halt. The Marquis of Wellington witnessed this brilliant achievement with feelings of exultation, and expressed his admiration in terms which occasioned the following order to be issued immediately.

"Heights above Echalar, half-past three o'clock, 2nd August, 1813.

"Division Order.—The Lieutenant-general has just been desired by Lord Wellington to say to the brigade under Major-General Barnes' command, that 'Their attack on the enemy is the most gallant, and the finest thing he ever witnessed.' These were the words of the Commander of the forces, and Lord Dalhousie feels the highest satisfaction in communicating them to Major-General Barnes, the officers, and men."

In his public despatch, the Marquis of Wellington observed:—"Major-General Barnes's brigade was formed for the attack, and advanced before the fourth and light divisions could co-operate, with a regularity and gallantry which I have seldom seen equalled, and actually drove the two divisions of the enemy, notwithstanding the resistance opposed to them, from those formidable heights. It is impossible that I can extol too highly the conduct of Major-General Barnes and these brave troops, which was the admiration of all who were witnesses of it."[36]

On this memorable occasion, of which every officer and soldier of the Sixth may be justly proud, the regiment had Captain William Brownlow, two serjeants, and thirteen rank and file killed; Major Guy Campbell, Lieutenants Everest, Tarleton, and Addison, four serjeants, and one hundred and thirty-six rank and file wounded. Majors Guy Campbell, Hugh Maurice Scott, and Henry Gomm were promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and the regiment was rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "Pyrenees" inscribed on its colours.

The Sixth were stationed several weeks in the lofty Pyrenean mountains: the corps at Roncesvalles and Maya stood in a most commanding situation, and the Marquis of Wellington resolved to place his left in an equally menacing position, by dispossessing the enemy of some strong ground on the right of the Bidassoa, the key of which was a steep mountain, called La Rhune. The attack was commenced on the 7th of October, and completely succeeded. A detachment of the Sixth, sent forward through the Puerto de Echalar, was partially engaged, and had Captain Shawe and one man killed; Captain Rogers, one serjeant, and five rank and file wounded.

In the attack of the enemy's position on the Nivelle, on the 10th of November, the Sixth were in the column under Marshal Sir William Beresford, which carried the redoubts on the left of the enemy's centre; advanced on the left of the river upon St. Pé; crossed the stream at that place, and drove a body of French from the heights beyond the village: in which service the regiment had one man killed and six wounded; and its gallant bearing was rewarded with the privilege of displaying the word "Nivelle" on its colours.

In the passage of the Nive, and the actions of the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of December, the regiment co-operated, but was not brought into contact with the enemy; and the army afterwards went into quarters until the severity of the weather was abated.

1814

Operations were, however, recommenced in February, 1814, and the regiment formed part of the corps under Sir William Beresford, who attacked, on the 22nd of that month, the fortified posts at Hastingues and Oyergave, and obliged the enemy to retire within the tête de pont at Peyrehorade.

The enemy being in position at Orthes, the Sixth, and other corps under Sir William Beresford, crossed the Gave de Pau on the morning of the 26th of February, and moved along the high road from Peyrehorade towards Orthes. On the following day they advanced to attack the enemy's right, on the heights on the high road to Dax, and at the village of St. Boes. The village was carried by the fourth division; and the Sixth advanced in column to turn the head of a ravine between themselves and the enemy; but on emerging from the village they were ordered to form line. Colonel Ross's brigade of horse artillery came up at full speed and unlimbered in the rear of the regiment, when sections were thrown back to permit the fire of the artillery to pass through the line. The ground was, however, so low that the troops could not deploy to attack the heights. The Sixth moved forward, and in the after descent of the back of the ravine the French fire told heavily on the regiment. Several officers and many men fell; Lieut.-Colonel Gardiner, of the Sixth[37], who commanded the brigade on this occasion, had his horse killed under him while leading the regiment forward, and as a serjeant and a private were extricating him from under the animal, the private was shot through the chest and died instantly, and the serjeant's hands were both pierced by musket-balls: one of the colour-staves was also damaged by a ball. At this moment the Marquis of Wellington came galloping past the regiment, and cried, "Sixth, incline to your right;" which was obeyed; but the ground was so rugged, and the enemy's fire so heavy, that some confusion took place: the road was, however, boldly gained; and from a ditch and earthen bank the regiment opened a destructive fire on the enemy, who were in line on each flank, and, some kneeling and others lying on the ground, kept up a heavy cross fire. Meanwhile the left of the height on which the enemy's right stood had been carried; Sir Rowland Hill had also forced the passage of the Gave above Orthes; and the troops opposed to the Sixth eventually gave way, when the regiment moved forward in pursuit.

The regiment lost, on this occasion, Lieutenants Patullo and Scott, five serjeants, and nineteen rank and file killed; Captains Rogers, Thompson, Smith, and Fitzgerald, Lieutenants Jones, Craufurd, and Gilder, with Ensigns St. Clair and Blood, sixteen serjeants, one drummer, and a hundred and four rank and file wounded. Colonel Gardiner, who commanded the brigade, and Lieut.-Colonel Scott, who commanded the regiment, were presented with gold medals; and the word "Orthes" was inscribed on the regimental colours as a testimony of its gallantry.

On the 8th of March the regiment was detached, with other forces under Sir William Beresford, towards Bourdeaux: the French troops in garrison withdrew to the right of the Garonne, and on the 12th of that month, as the British approached the town, they were met by the civil authorities and population of the place, and were received into the city with acclamations; the magistrates and city-guards removing the tri-coloured and displaying the white cockade.

The Sixth were subsequently employed against the French troops on the Garonne and Dordogne; and on the 5th of April two companies attacked the rear of a column of the enemy and took many prisoners. The regiment was afterwards employed in investing the fort of Blaye, which commanded the navigation of the Garonne; in which service it was engaged when Buonaparte abdicated the throne of France, and the Bourbon dynasty was restored, which gave peace to Europe.

The distinguished part which the Sixth had taken in the splendid achievements by which the kingdoms of Portugal, Spain, and France had been delivered from the despotic rule of Buonaparte was rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "Peninsula" on their colours. Soon after the termination of the contest in Europe they were destined to transfer their services across the Atlantic, to take part in the war between Britain and the United States of America, which commenced in 1812, in consequence of the resistance of the Americans to the British orders in council respecting the trade of neutral nations, and to the impressing of British seamen on board of American ships. The regiment embarked from Bourdeaux on the 5th of May, arrived in Canada in the beginning of July, and proceeded to Montreal, from whence it was removed to the Niagara frontier to reinforce the division commanded by Lieut.-General Gordon Drummond, who was engaged in the siege of Fort Erie. Having joined this division of the army, the Sixth formed part of the reserve brigade; and on the 6th of September the eighth company, commanded by Captain Pattison, cut off a strong piquet of Americans close under the walls of the fort, in a manner very creditable to the discipline, spirit, and enterprise of the officers and men. On the 17th of the same month the regiment was engaged in repelling a very bold sortie made by a numerous body of Americans, with the view of carrying by assault, and afterwards destroying, the British works and batteries; on which occasion the following order was issued:—

"Camp before Fort Erie, 18th September, 1814.

"District General Order.—Lieut.-General Drummond, having received the report of the general officer in the immediate direction of the troops engaged yesterday, begs to offer his best acknowledgments for their very gallant conduct in repulsing the attack made by the enemy on our batteries with his whole force, represented as consisting of not less than five thousand men, including the militia.

"The brilliant style in which the battery No. 2 was recovered, and the enemy driven beyond our entrenchments by seven companies of the Eighty-second, under the command of Major Proctor, and three companies of the Sixth regiment, detached under Major Taylor, excited Lieut.-General Drummond's admiration, and entitle those troops to his particular thanks."

Thus the Sixth were triumphant in the interior of France and on the frontiers of Canada in the same year, and their gallantry on the last occasion procured for them the royal permission to bear the word "Niagara" inscribed on their colours. This honour was, however, purchased with the loss of many lives: Captain Pattison was numbered among the slain; Captain Smith and Lieutenant Andrews were wounded, and the last-mentioned officer died of his wounds.

A treaty of peace having been concluded with the Americans, hostilities ceased, and the Sixth reposed a short period in quarters.

1815

In the summer of 1815, the return of Buonaparte to France having rekindled the flame of war in Europe, the Sixth were directed to embark from America, in order to engage once more in actual warfare. They left Canada in the beginning of July, landed at Ostend on the 10th of August, and proceeded to Ghent, from whence they continued their march to Paris, and joined the army commanded by Field-Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington, encamped near that city. The Sixth, sixteenth, fifty-eighth, and eighty-second regiments formed the fifteenth brigade, and were posted in the seventh division, commanded by Major-General Thomas Brisbane.

When the definitive treaties between France and the allied powers were settled, the Sixth were selected to form part of the army of occupation in France, and constituted, with the twenty-ninth and seventy-first regiments, the sixth brigade of infantry, under Major-General Sir Thomas Bradford, in the second division, commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton. The Sixth were quartered at Versailles, from whence they marched, in December, to Ecouen, a village on the road from Paris to Luzarches.

On the 24th of December, 1815, the second battalion was disbanded at Winchester.

1816

The Sixth remained in the neighbourhood of Ecouen until the 23rd of January, 1816, when they marched for St. Pol in the Pas de Calais, and in February three companies occupied Lillers, and seven the adjacent villages.

In August, 1816, the regiment proceeded to the vicinity of St. Omer, and encamped, with the remainder of the second division of the British contingent of the army of occupation, on Helfant Heath. In October it proceeded to the plains of Denain, near Valenciennes, where the British contingent was reviewed by Field-Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington on the 22nd of that month. After the review the regiment returned to its former cantonments at Lillers and the neighbouring villages.

1817 1818

The Sixth were again encamped on Helfant Heath in July, 1817; in September they pitched their tents on the glacis of Valenciennes, near the Quesnoy gate; and on the 6th of that month were reviewed, with the remainder of the British infantry, by the King of Prussia. They removed in October to the plains of Denain, where the British contingent was reviewed by the Duke of Wellington on the 15th of October; on the 20th the Sixth returned to their former quarters at Lillers, &c. In these quarters they remained until June, 1818, when they once more pitched their tents on Helfant Heath, where they were reviewed by Lieut.-General Lord Hill on the 24th of June, and by the Duke of Wellington on the 31st of July. In August they again pitched their tents on the glacis at Valenciennes. On the 10th of September the British, Saxon, Danish, and Hanoverian armies, commanded by the Duke of Wellington, were reviewed by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent; and on the 23rd of October, the same troops, and also the Russian contingent, were reviewed by the Emperor of Russia, King of Prussia, &c. After the review, the army of occupation was withdrawn from France. The Sixth embarked at Calais on the 29th of October, landed on the morning of the 30th at Dover, and marched to Romford in Essex, where the establishment was reduced to ten companies, of thirty-nine officers, thirty-five serjeants, thirty corporals, twenty-two drummers, and six hundred and twenty private men.

1819 1820

From Romford the Sixth marched in November to Sunderland and Carlisle, and in June, 1819, to Edinburgh Castle, with one company detached to Stirling, another to Aberdeen, and in the autumn a company was detached to Berwick. In consequence of the disturbed state of the northern counties of England, seven companies were ordered into Yorkshire—four companies proceeding to Leeds, and three to Halifax: the company left at Berwick arrived at Halifax, and the two companies left at Edinburgh at Leeds, in January, 1820. At an inspection on the 27th of April following, Lieut.-General Sir John Byng expressed his approbation of the appearance, discipline, and interior economy of the regiment; and also at the inspection on the 22nd of May, 1821.

1821

The Sixth remained at Leeds and Halifax until June, 1821, when they proceeded to Hull, and embarked for the island of St. Helena. Two companies had sailed for their destination when information arrived of the death of Napoleon Buonaparte in exile at St. Helena. The remainder of the regiment then proceeded to the Downs, where its destination was changed to the Cape of Good Hope, and after a tedious voyage arrived on the 3rd of November at Table Bay, where it was joined by the two companies from St. Helena. Having landed, the regiment was inspected by Lieut.-General Sir Rufane Donkin, K.C.B., at Cape Town, and was commended for its appearance, conduct, and efficient state—its effectives being only one man less than on its embarkation from England. After remaining a few days on shore, five companies, under Brevet-Major Rogers, re-embarked and sailed to Algoa Bay, from whence they proceeded to Graham's Town, and marched from thence to several posts and forts along the frontier line. The establishment had, in the mean time, been reduced to eight companies of thirty-three officers and six hundred and eighteen non-commissioned officers and private soldiers.

1822

In January, 1822, the head-quarters, under Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Scott, embarked from Cape Town, and arrived at Graham's Town towards the end of the same month; at the same time Lieut.-Colonel Scott took the command of the troops on the frontier line of Caffreland. The regiment was stationed along the frontiers, and was much employed in patrolling and other duties to prevent the aggressions of the natives. When not thus occupied, the men were engaged as labourers and artificers at the government works.

1823

In October, 1823, the flank companies proceeded to Cape Town, and were followed by the head-quarters in November. Colonel Mark Napier, having arrived at the Cape, assumed the command of the regiment; Lieut.-Colonel Scott was nominated commandant at Simonstown, and the command of the six companies left on the frontiers of Caffreland devolved on Captain Cox.

1824 1825

In August and September, 1824, four companies were withdrawn from the frontiers and joined the head-quarters: in January, 1825, the regiment was inspected at Cape Town by Lieut.-General Lord Charles Henry Somerset, who was pleased to express himself much gratified at witnessing its good appearance after being so long detached, and the men employed in working parties.

The regiment had in the mean time been placed on the India establishment; and the usual augmentation of officers arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in March, 1825. On the 22nd of March it embarked at Table Bay on board the Windsor and Vansittart, Indiamen, and landed on the 31st of May at Bombay. It occupied the barracks at Fort George, and, Colonel Napier having been appointed commandant of the fort and garrison, it was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Scott. It was inspected on the 9th of June by Major-General Samuel Wilson, of the Hon. East India Company's service, who expressed himself much pleased with the steady and veteran appearance of the men, and particularly commended its interior economy.

In June, 1825, the establishment was augmented to a thousand and eight rank and file. During that and the following months the regiment suffered severely from the cholera morbus, which carried off many of the finest and strongest men: the mortality was particularly great among the women and children.

At the close of the rainy season, in September, the regiment was suddenly ordered from Bombay to form part of a field-force assembling at Cutch, with a view to the invasion of Scinde, between the umeers of which country and the Bombay government serious differences had arisen, in consequence of the incursions of a tribe of Mayanas on the Cutch frontier. The regiment embarked from Bombay on the 21st of September, four hundred and sixty-eight strong, landed at Mandavie, in the gulf of Cutch, between the 10th and 15th of October, and marched towards Bhooj, the capital, beyond which city it pitched its tents, on the 2nd of November, near the village of Juruck, where eight thousand men were assembled under the command of Colonel Mark Napier of the Sixth. It was formed in brigade with the Twenty-first regiment of Sipahees and the flank companies of the second Bombay European regiment, under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Scott of the Sixth; and the command of the regiment devolved on Major Algeo.

On the 3rd of December the troops moved from Juruck to the neighbourhood of Raddiapoor, and, Colonel Napier being obliged to leave the army from indisposition, the command devolved on Lieut.-Colonel Scott of the Sixth. While at this camp six officers and seventy-seven fine recruits, from Yorkshire and Lancashire, joined the regiment.

1826

In January, 1826, the army removed to Madapoor; in February it encamped near the fort and city of Bhooj; and, in March, the umeers of Scinde having yielded to the demands of the Bombay government, the regiments were ordered back to their different stations. The Sixth embarked from Mandavie on the 20th and 21st of March, in pattimars (small craft with open decks); arrived at the presidency on the 26th and 30th of that month, and occupied the barracks on the little island of Colaba. Its loss from sickness, during the first six months after its arrival in India, was one officer and sixty-nine men, and forty-one invalided.

Brevet-Major Thompson, Lieutenant Gordon, and one hundred and forty-six recruits, joined from England in the beginning of May; and, at the inspection on the 18th of that month, Major-General Wilson commended the appearance and orderly conduct of the regiment in quarters, which he repeated at the inspection on the 14th of December. During the year 1826 the regiment lost four officers and fifty men.

1827

Lieut.-Colonel Scott, commandant of the fort and garrison of Bombay, inspected the regiment on the 3rd of May, 1827, and expressed his satisfaction at its appearance and condition. On the 8th of that month six officers and one hundred and eighty men joined from England. The decease of Lieut.-Colonel Scott occurred in October following, and Major Algeo of the Sixth assumed the command of the fort and garrison of Bombay, until the arrival of Colonel Henry Sullivan in November, when Major Algeo resumed the command of the regiment. Colonel Sullivan inspected the regiment on the 15th of December, and every department met with his approval. During the year 1827 the regiment lost two officers and forty men; and invalided twenty-three men.

1828

Seven officers and two hundred and eleven men joined from England in May, 1828. During the heavy rains many men were carried off by the cholera morbus; in the month of July alone the Sixth lost fifty-eight men from this disease. This was a year of general sickness all over India; but at no station did any regiment suffer so much as the Sixth on Colaba island; their loss being two officers and one hundred and twenty one men, and they sent sixty-two invalids to England.

1829

The very sickly state of the regiment, from its having been stationed during four monsoons at Bombay, occasioned it to be removed to the more healthy station of Poona in the Deccan: it embarked from Colaba on the 6th of February, 1829, landed at Panwell on the opposite coast in the evening, and marched for Poona, where it arrived on the 17th, and was stationed in the lines then recently occupied by the twentieth regiment. The health of the men began to improve rapidly, and in a few months the Sixth were one of the most healthy and efficient corps in India. In May one hundred and thirty-five volunteers from the forty-seventh regiment joined the Sixth in camp at Poona; and at the inspection, on the 10th of June, Major-General Sir Lionel Smith, K.C.B., expressed himself much gratified with the appearance and efficiency of the corps. The loss from disease during this year was thirty-two men.

1830

The condition of the regiment was also much commended by Sir Lionel Smith at the inspections in January and June, 1830. In July the flank companies were ordered to be completed to one hundred rank and file each, under the command of Captain Murphy, with the second or Queen's royal, and flank companies of the eleventh and thirteenth native infantry, the whole to be commanded by Colonel Willshire, to march against Ukkulcote; but this fort having surrendered to the troops under the President of Sattara (Lieut.-Colonel A. Robertson, the Resident at the court), the march was countermanded. In December the strength of the regiment was increased by the arrival at the camp at Poona of fourteen volunteers from the first, or the royals, and ninety-two from the eighty-ninth regiment. Its loss from disease this year was three officers and twenty-four men.

1831

At the inspections in January and June, 1831, Colonel Henry Sullivan, commanding the Poona division, expressed his unqualified approbation of the condition of the regiment. This year it was particularly healthy, its loss being only one officer and eight men; and when inspected in November, by Major-General Sir James Stevenson Barns, K.C.B., commanding the forces in the Bombay presidency, its appearance, discipline, efficiency, and general good conduct in quarters, were commended.

1832

The regiment remained at Poona during the year 1832, and on the 24th of May, 1832, His Majesty King William IV. was graciously pleased to confer upon it the title of Sixth, or Royal First Warwickshire Regiment of Foot[38]; at which time its facings were changed from yellow to blue.

1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838

In January, 1833, the regiment was at Panwell, in February it was encamped near Dungah, and in March at Deesa, where it remained during that and the two succeeding years, when it proceeded to Colaba. It was stationed at Colaba during the years 1836 and 1837[39]; and in the beginning of 1838 returned to cantonments at Poona, where it has remained until the end of the year; which brings this record to a conclusion.

The formation of the Sixth, or Royal First Warwickshire Regiment, in 1674, to support the cause of civil and religious liberty in Holland against the power of the ambitious Louis XIV. of France, gives an interesting character to its origin, and also to its early services in support of the Protestant interests. At the Revolution, in 1688, it had the honour to compose part of the army which appeared in England to rescue the country from the dangers by which it was menaced. It aided in delivering Ireland from the power of papacy, and afterwards fought under King William III. in the Netherlands. In the war of the Spanish succession it performed much sharp fighting and arduous duty in Spain. Its services at home, and in the West Indies, have been of an important character. It had the honour to gain laurels under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, and also under the Duke of Wellington, in Portugal, Spain, and France, and acquired distinction on the distant shores of Lake Erie in North America. During the last eighteen years it has been employed in protecting the British colonial possessions in Africa and Asia, a service from which important commercial advantages are derived by the country.

SIXTH (THE ROYAL FIRST WARWICKSHIRE) REGIMENT OF FOOT, M DCCC XXXIX.

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