HISTORICAL RECORD
Reading edition
OF
THE THIRTY-SIXTH,
OR THE
HEREFORDSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
1700.
Charles II., King of Spain, being affected with a dangerous indisposition, the European powers, in order to prevent the contention which was expected to arise on the decease of that monarch, determined to divide the Spanish territories among the several competitors. The first “Partition Treaty” was concluded between France, England, and Holland, on the 29th of August 1698; but a second Treaty was rendered necessary, in consequence of the death of the Electoral Prince of Bavaria, who had been declared heir to the Spanish Crown; accordingly, on the 15th of March 1700, a second Treaty was entered into between the same contracting powers, by which it was arranged that Charles Archduke of Austria, the second son of Leopold Emperor of Germany, should succeed to the throne of Spain, a certain portion of the territories of that Kingdom being, as before, allotted to the Dauphin of France; and the Duke of Lorrain was to receive Milan in exchange for his own country, which was to be given to the French nation.
The long expected demise of the King of Spain occurred on the 1st of November 1700; and that Sovereign, incensed at the dismemberment of his dominions, bequeathed the Spanish monarchy to Philip Duke of Anjou, second son of the Dauphin of France; and Louis XIV., disregarding the treaties to which he had been a party, determined to support his grandson’s accession to the throne of Spain.
The French at this period overran the Spanish Netherlands and seized several strong towns, partly garrisoned by the Dutch, which compelled the States of Holland to acknowledge the Duke of Anjou’s title, with a view of obtaining their soldiers, who were not permitted to return, without difficulty.
1701.
It is a singular circumstance of the time, that King William, seeing the unwillingness of the nation to engage in a fresh war, actually acknowledged the Duke of Anjou as King of Spain, and sent him a letter of congratulation. In May 1701, however, the House of Commons unanimously resolved to assist the Dutch, and provide succours for the States General, in order to maintain the liberties of Europe. Several regiments were in the following month embarked for Holland; and additions were also made to the army and navy.
On the 28th of June 1701 a Royal Warrant was issued authorizing William Viscount Charlemont to raise a regiment in Ireland, which was afterwards numbered the Thirty-sixth.
England might have abstained from open hostilities with France had it not been for the following circumstance:—In the midst of these preparations the decease of James II. occurred at St. Germains on the 16th of September 1701, and his son, the titular Prince of Wales, was immediately proclaimed, by order of Louis XIV., as King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by the title of King James III. This indignity to the British Sovereign and Nation, added to the contemplated union of the crowns of France and Spain, made war inevitable; and King William, with the Emperor of Austria and the States General, concluded “the Grand Alliance,” the principal objects of which were to procure the Spanish Netherlands as a barrier for the Dutch, and to prevent France and Spain becoming eventually under the sway of the same Prince.
1702.
War was thus on the eve of being proclaimed, when King William met with the accident which terminated in his decease on the 8th of March 1702; the accession of Queen Anne, however, caused no alteration in the policy of her predecessor; and war was declared against France and Spain on the 4th of May following; additional forces were sent to Flanders, and the Earl of Marlborough was appointed to command the British, Dutch, and auxiliary troops, with the rank of Captain-General. The contest which ensued is known as “the war of the Spanish succession.”
Six regiments had been added to the regular army in the year 1702 as marine corps, and six other of the regular regiments of infantry (the Thirty-sixth being among the number) were appointed for sea service; as shown in the following list:—
The six regiments of marines were,—
Colonel Thomas Saunderson’s, now Thirtieth foot. Colonel George Villiers’s, now Thirty-first foot. Colonel Edward Fox’s, now Thirty-second foot. Colonel Harry Mordaunt’s, disbanded in 1713. Colonel Henry Holl’s, disbanded in 1713. Colonel Viscount Shannon’s, disbanded in 1713.
The six regiments of foot for sea service were,—
Colonel Ventris Columbine’s, now Sixth foot. Colonel Thomas Erle’s, now Nineteenth foot. Colonel Gustavus Hamilton’s, now Twentieth foot. Colonel Lord Lucas’s, now Thirty-fourth foot. Colonel Earl of Donegal’s, now Thirty-fifth foot. Colonel Viscount Charlemont’s, now Thirty-sixth foot.
The following is a copy of the Royal Warrant for levying this body of men, which was dated the 1st of June 1702.
“Anne R.
“Our pleasure is, that this establishment of six regiments of marines and six other regiments for sea service do commence and take place from the respective times of raising.
“And our further pleasure is, that the order given by our dearest brother, the late King deceased, and such orders as are, or shall be, given by us, touching the pay or entertainment of our said forces, or any of them, or any charges thereunto belonging, shall be duly complied with; and that no new charge be added to this establishment without being communicated to our High Treasurer or Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being.
“Given at our Court at St. James’s, on the first day “of June, in the first year of our reign. “By Her Majesty’s command,
“Godolphin.”
Prior to the decease of King William the reduction of Cadiz had been contemplated, after which it was resolved to embark an expedition against the possessions of Spain in the West Indies. Queen Anne following out this policy, it was arranged that a combined fleet of English and Dutch ships, consisting of fifty sail of the line, besides frigates, under Admiral Sir George Rooke, and a land force, amounting to nearly fourteen thousand men, under the command of the Duke of Ormond, should proceed to the coast of Spain. The following corps were selected for this service, namely,—
Officers and Men.
Lloyd’s dragoons, now Third light dragoons (detachment) 275
Foot guards, the Grenadier and Coldstream 755
Sir H. Bellasis, now Second foot 834
Churchill’s, now Third foot 834
Seymour’s, now Fourth foot 834
Columbine’s, now Sixth foot 724
O’Hara’s, three companies, now Seventh Royal fusiliers 313
Erle’s, now Nineteenth foot 724
Gustavus Hamilton’s, now Twentieth foot 724
Villiere’s marines, five companies, now Thirty-first foot 520
Fox’s marines, now Thirty-second foot 834
Donegal’s, now Thirty-fifth foot 724
Charlemont’s, now Thirty-sixth foot 724
Shannon’s marines 834
——
9,653
Dutch regiments commanded by Major-General Baron Sparre and Brigadier Pallandt 3,924
13,577
The Thirty-sixth regiment, having been selected as part of the force to share in this enterprise, was withdrawn from Ireland, and proceeded to the Isle of Wight in June 1702, and embarked for Cadiz in July.
In the Harleian Manuscripts at the British Museum, the embarkation return of the regiment is preserved, of which the following is a copy:—
The Right Honble ye Lord Viscount Charlemont’s Regt.
Captains. Lieutenants.
On board the Grey. ┌ Wm Lord Charlemont, Colonel. James Crofton
│ Charles Wills, Lieut.-Colonel. Wm Whitaker
│ Arthur Moore, Major Jas. Bamber
│ Thos. Alnutt Alex. Foster
└ Henry Frankland James Brough
Ensigns. Serjts. Corpls. Drs. Centinels.
Thos Caulfeild 2 3 2 43
Michl Merritt 2 3 2 42
Rogr Mosten 2 3 2 44
Wm King 2 3 2 43
—— 2 3 2 40
Captains. Lieutenants.
On board the Ruth. ┌ Hen. Fulvile Hen. Fitzhugh
│ Jno. Hutchinson Andw Dunbar
│ Medburn Smith Robt Ennis
└ Jno. Dentilly Anth. Callion
Ensigns. Serjts. Corpls. Drs. Centinels.
Wm. Cuffe 2 3 2 43
Wm. Musgrave 2 3 2 42
Wm. Airs 2 3 2 42
—— 2 3 2 44
Captains. Lieutenants.
On board the Friendship. ┌ James Brathwait Alex. Crage
│ Josias Campbell ——
└ Wm. Edwards Jno. Mabbott
Ensigns. Serjts. Corpls. Drs. Centinels.
Wm. Levinston 2 3 2 43
Jno. Lloyd 2 3 2 44
Wm. Hargrave 2 3 2 44
12 11 10 24 36 24 514
On board the Grey. Tobias Caulfeild, Chaplain. On board the Ruth. Laur. Bondelt, Surgeon.
Robt. Wilson, Adjt. & Quarter Master. Jno. Robins, Surgeon’s Mate.
Detached of ye Regt., and put on board ye Vulture Fireshipp, one Lieutenant, one Sergt, one Corpll., and twenty-six men.
(Signed) Ar. Moore.
The difference in the number embarked, as shown in the foregoing document, and that specified against the Thirty-sixth in the list of regiments ordered to proceed to Cadiz, arises from the establishment being given in the first instance, while the embarkation return has reference only to effectives.
The armament appeared off Cadiz on the 12th of August, and the Duke of Ormond summoned the place; his terms being refused, a landing was effected between Rota and Fort St. Catherine on the 15th of that month, where the troops encountered and repulsed some Spanish cavalry. St. Catherine’s fort was compelled to surrender, and Port St. Mary’s was occupied by the British troops; the expedition, however, proved not of sufficient force to capture Cadiz, which was found much stronger and better garrisoned than was expected from the information which had been received in England prior to the fitting out of the armament, and the soldiers returned on board the fleet. The Thirty-sixth regiment was afterwards detached from Cadiz to the West Indies with a division of the royal navy under Commodore Walker, and sailed on this service on the 24th of September.
1703.
A powerful armament was prepared for the attack of the French and Spanish settlements in the West Indies in 1703, but this enterprise was subsequently abandoned.
1704.
After losing several men from the effects of the climate, the regiment was withdrawn from the West Indies, and was stationed in Ireland in the year 1704.
1705.
The successes obtained by the Duke of Marlborough in Flanders and Germany led to an attempt to place the Archduke Charles of Austria on the throne of Spain by force of arms. In the former year Gibraltar had been captured by the combined English and Dutch fleets, and in connexion with these events the Thirty-sixth regiment was embarked from Ireland in April 1705, in order to proceed with the force under the Earl of Peterborough.
The design of this expedition was either to aid the Duke of Savoy in driving the French out of Italy, to make an attempt on Naples and Sicily, or to further the progress of the Archduke in Spain. The fleet arrived at Lisbon in June, and additional forces were embarked; at the same time the Archduke Charles went on board the fleet to share in the toils and dangers inseparable from the enterprise. From Lisbon the expedition proceeded to Gibraltar, where it was joined by the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt and a reinforcement from the garrison.
The fleet next proceeded to the bay of Altea, in Valencia, and there the officers and soldiers had opportunities of observing the attachment of the inhabitants of that part of Spain to the Austrian Prince. A thousand Catalonians and Valentians who had thrown off their allegiance to the house of Bourbon, and had acknowledged the Archduke Charles as the Sovereign of Spain, seized on the town of Denia, while others made demonstrations of giving effectual aid to the expedition; such a spirit of enterprise was evinced by King Charles, the Earl of Peterborough, the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, and others, that both officers and men became imbued with the ardent zeal of their superiors, and resolved to effect something great and remarkable.
Under these feelings, the celebrated city of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, and one of the most ancient towns in Spain, was selected as the scene of the first attempt. Its situation on a plain near the sea, with a mole capable of containing only galleys and small ships, defended by ten bastions, several old towers, and other works, with a strong castle and citadel named Montjuich, on a hill on the west side, and commanding the town; the garrison consisting of between five and six thousand men under the Viceroy of Catalonia, Don Francisco de Velasco, while the besieging army was unable to bring more than seven thousand men into the lines; these circumstances, with the fact that in 1697 this fortress resisted the Duke of Vendôme, with a French army of thirty thousand men, eight weeks with open trenches, and cost the French monarch twelve thousand men, gave an interesting and romantic character to the enterprise, in which the Thirty-Sixth, and other regiments employed, gained much honour. It is also to be noticed, that it was the same Prince of Hesse Darmstadt who was now engaged in capturing what he had before so nobly defended; for it was a question whether the Duke of Vendôme gained more glory by the taking, than the Prince of Darmstadt by defending Barcelona, when employed in the Spanish service.
The Earl of Peterborough landed his troops on the 23d and 24th of August near the river Bassoz, about three miles east of Barcelona. On the 28th of that month, King Charles came on shore, and several of the inhabitants of the neighbouring towns and villages greeted his landing with great acclamations. The progress of the siege was, however, retarded by opposite opinions and views entertained by the superior officers. It was at length determined to surprise the detached fortress of Montjuich, as proposed by the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt. The storming party of four hundred grenadiers, selected from the various corps employed in the siege, with a support of six hundred musketeers, commenced its march in the night of Sunday the 13th of September, round the mountains, and were followed by another detachment and a party of dragoons. The greater part of the way not being passable for above one man abreast, and the night very dark, the first detachment was nearly twelve hours on the march, and did not arrive at the foot of the mountain until break of day of the 14th of September; some Miquelets, in the service of the enemy, gave the alarm to the troops in the castle and in the town, so that the Prince of Hesse, on his arrival, found the garrison in arms, with guards in the outworks, who received the Confederates with a general discharge of artillery and small arms. Upon this the Prince of Hesse, and the Viscount Charlemont, Colonel of the Thirty-sixth regiment, (who commanded on the 14th of September as Brigadier, in consequence of the indisposition of the Dutch Brigadier Schonenberg,) ordered Lieut.-Colonel Southwell, of the Sixth foot, to commence the attack with the grenadiers; this service was performed with signal intrepidity and resolution. Upon this success the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt advanced to possess himself of a post which would prevent the enemy’s communication with the town, and in the attempt was mortally wounded. The loss of this officer damped the spirits of the soldiers;—the enemy, perceiving some disorder amongst the Confederates, called out, “Long live King Charles!” and invited the assailants to come to them; upon Colonel Allen’s advance to the fort, with about two hundred and fifty men, the Spaniards opened the gate the better to conceal their stratagem, but immediately fired upon the men, and compelled this detachment to surrender; at the same time, a large reinforcement was seen advancing from the town to aid the garrison in the castle, whereupon the troops were seized with a panic, and Lord Charlemont, with other officers, endeavoured to counteract the disorder which ensued.
Upon the Earl of Peterborough receiving this intelligence, his lordship placed himself at the head of the detachments that were retreating,—rallied them, and ultimately regained the posts they had before so nobly acquired; the Spaniards who were advancing from the town retired, and the outworks of Montjuich were gained. Batteries were then constructed, and the inner works were assailed with cannon balls, bombs, and grenades. After the action was over, the Earl of Peterborough introduced Lord Charlemont and Lieut.-Colonel Southwell to the King of Spain, as officers that had done His Majesty signal service on this occasion; for which they both received the thanks of that Prince.[6]
On the 17th of September, Lieut.-Colonel Southwell, of the Sixth regiment of foot, being on duty in the trenches, observed that the bombs thrown by a Dutch bombardier from a small mortar fell to the left of the fort, and concluding that there was a magazine in the place, he traversed the mortar himself more to the right, and fired it; the bomb fell into a small chapel where the garrison had stored their powder, which exploded, and buried a number of officers and men in the ruins. Lieut.-Colonel Southwell advanced at the head of his men, and was met by the surviving officers and men of the garrison, who immediately surrendered the fortress. The Lieut.-Colonel was made Governor of the place, in consideration of his services.
The capture of Montjuich facilitated the siege of the city of Barcelona, which was prosecuted with vigour; and on the 4th of October the garrison agreed to capitulate. The Viceroy made several extravagant demands, which occupied some days in debating, so that the capitulation was not signed until the evening of the 9th of October; it was agreed that the Angel-gate and bastion should be immediately delivered up to the Allies, and the whole city four days after, when the garrison should march out with all the honours of war. The capture of Barcelona was accompanied by the submission to King Charles of all Catalonia, with the exception of Roses.
King Charles commenced forming a Spanish army for his service; he soon had five hundred dragoons for a guard, and six regiments of infantry. He was joined by Colonel Nebot, who forsook the service of King Philip with a regiment of horse, and in a short time the province of Valencia submitted to the Austrian Prince.
1706.
The regiment continued under the immediate directions of the Earl of Peterborough, with whose achievements its services are connected; his raising the siege of San Matteo, the capture of Monviedro, his exploits in Valencia, and the relief of the capital of that province,—successes gained with a small body of soldiers over a numerous army,—carry with them the appearance of fiction and romance more than of sober reality; but being supported by abundance of collateral and direct evidence, the truth of these achievements is unquestionable. Unfortunately, no documents have been discovered to prove what particular corps his lordship left in garrison, and what he took with him in his daring enterprise in Valencia; the part taken by the First and Eighth dragoons, the Thirteenth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-fourth foot, and a few other corps, can be clearly made out from history; but whether the Thirty-sixth remained in garrison in Catalonia, or was employed in the enterprise in Valencia, has not been ascertained.
King Charles and his counsellors, instead of exerting themselves to provide for the security of the towns which had been acquired, and collecting the means for future conquests, wasted their time and money in balls and public diversions. The breaches in Barcelona and the detached fortress of Montjuich were left unrepaired, and the garrison unprovided for a siege. Meanwhile King Philip was obtaining reinforcements from the frontiers of Portugal, from Italy, Provence, Flanders, and the Rhine; and he soon appeared at the head of above twenty thousand men to recapture the provinces he had lost. A powerful French and Spanish force approached Barcelona by land, a French fleet appeared before the place, and the enemy encamped before the north side of the city on the 2nd of April 1706.
The Earl of Peterborough hastened from Valencia with a body of select troops, but found the town so closely beset that he was unable to force his way into it, when he took to the mountains, and harassed the enemy with skirmishes and night alarms. When the garrison was nearly exhausted, its numbers decreased from deaths, wounds, sickness, and other causes to about a thousand effective men, and a practicable breach was ready for the enemy to attack the place by storm, the English and Dutch fleet arrived with five regiments of foot; the French fleet withdrew from before the town, and the reinforcements were landed. Barcelona being thus relieved, the enemy, having lost six thousand men before the town, made a precipitate retreat on the 12th of May, leaving two hundred brass cannon, thirty mortars, and vast quantities of ammunition and provision behind him, together with the sick and wounded of his army, whom Marshal de Tessé recommended to the humanity of the British commander.
Barcelona was thus preserved by British skill and valour; and the Thirty-sixth, with the other regiments in garrison, received the thanks of King Charles for this important service.
On the 10th of May 1706, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Alnutt was promoted to the colonelcy of the Thirty-sixth regiment, in succession to the Viscount Charlemont, who had been removed by the Earl of Peterborough. A complaint on this subject was subsequently preferred by Lord Charlemont; and the reports made by the council of general officers, after a patient investigation, are inserted in the memoir of that nobleman, as Colonel of the Thirty-sixth regiment, at page 109. These documents are highly flattering to Viscount Charlemont, and bear ample testimony to his gallant conduct at Barcelona.
An immediate advance upon Madrid having been resolved upon, the Marquis das Minas and the Earl of Galway, who commanded a British, Portuguese, and Dutch force on the frontiers of Portugal, were requested to penetrate boldly to the capital of Spain. To engage in this service the Thirty-sixth embarked from Barcelona, and proceeded by sea to Valencia, where King Charles was expected to arrive with the cavalry by land. While in Valencia the regiment furnished a detachment of non-commissioned officers and soldiers, which, with similar detachments from other corps of infantry, were formed into a regiment of dragoons, named the Earl of Peterborough’s regiment.
Requena and Cuenza, which places lie on the line of march from Valencia to Madrid, were captured after a short resistance by the troops detached under Major-General Wyndham. Meanwhile the army from Portugal had penetrated to Madrid, and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of King Charles, who, following the pernicious advice of his Italian counsellors, delayed his journey, and eventually proceeded by way of Arragon. This afforded time for the French and Spanish troops under King Philip to re-enter Spain; and uniting with the forces under the Duke of Berwick, the enemy had a great superiority of numbers. The allies were forced to retire from their forward position, and being joined on the 17th of September at Veles, by the troops which had been detached under Major-General Wyndham, they continued their route towards the frontiers of Valencia and Murcia, where they remained during the winter.
1707.
The Thirty-sixth, in the year 1707, joined part of the Allied army, which was composed of English, Spaniards, Portuguese, and Dutch, commanded by the Marquis das Minas and the Earl of Galway, and took the field for offensive operations in the early part of April. After destroying several of the enemy’s magazines, the siege of the castle of Villena was undertaken, and while this was in progress, a French and Spanish force, of very superior numbers, commanded by the Duke of Berwick, advanced to the plains of Almanza. As the enemy expected the arrival of reinforcements under the Duke of Orleans, the allied generals, though much inferior in numbers, resolved to attack their adversaries without delay.
The following regiments were present at the battle of Almanza, and their effective strength is taken from the weekly return dated 22nd of April, three days prior to the battle:—
Men.
Harvey’s horse, now Second dragoon guards 227
Carpenter’s dragoons, now Third light dragoons ┐ 292
Essex’s dragoons, now Fourth light dragoons ┘
Killegrew’s dragoons, now Eighth hussars 51
Pearce’s dragoons, disbanded 273
Peterborough’s dragoons, disbanded 303
Guiscard’s dragoons, disbanded 228
Foot guards 400
Portmore’s, now Second foot 462
Southwell’s, now Sixth foot 505
Stewart’s, now Ninth foot 467
Hill’s, now Eleventh foot 472
Blood’s, now Seventeenth foot 461
Mordaunt’s, now Twenty-eighth foot 532
Wade’s, now Thirty-third foot 458
Gorges’s, now Thirty-fifth foot 616
Alnutt’s, now Thirty-sixth foot 412
Montjoy’s, disbanded 508
Mackartney’s, disbanded 494
Bretton’s, disbanded 428
John Caulfeild’s, disbanded 470
Lord Mark Kerr’s, disbanded 429
Count Nassau’s, disbanded 422
Total 8,910
After a march of several hours along the rugged tracts of Murcia under a burning sun, the soldiers arrived in the presence of the enemy, at Almanza, about noon on the 25th of April. It was nearly three o’clock in the afternoon when the battle commenced. The Thirty-sixth were formed in brigade with the Ninth, Eleventh, and Lord Mark Kerr’s regiments under Colonel Hill, and Mino’s Portuguese dragoons were posted in the centre of the brigade, which was stationed in the second line; but nine of the enemy’s battalions having attacked Major-General Wade’s brigade, consisting of the Sixth, Seventeenth, Thirty-third, and Lord Montjoy’s regiments, the Ninth moved forward to their support. Great valour was displayed, but in vain, for the flight of the Portuguese squadrons had left the British and Dutch exposed to the weight and power of the enemy’s superior numbers, and no hope of victory remained. The Earl of Galway effected his retreat with the dragoons; several general officers collected the broken remains of the English infantry, which fought in the centre, into a body, and uniting them with some Dutch and Portuguese, formed a column of nearly four thousand men, which retreated two leagues, repulsing the pursuing enemy from time to time. On arriving at the woody hills of Caudete, the men were so exhausted with fatigue that they were unable to proceed further: they passed the night in the wood without food, and on the following morning they were surrounded by the enemy. Being without ammunition, ignorant of the country, and having no prospect of obtaining food, they surrendered prisoners of war.
Thus ended a battle in which the Thirty-sixth regiment behaved with great gallantry, but was nearly annihilated. Captains Musgrave and Parsons, Lieutenants Ayriss and Ballance, and Ensign Wells were killed; the following officers of the regiment were taken prisoners:—
Colonel Alnutt (wounded). Lieut.-Colonel Frankland. Lieut.-Colonel Barry (wounded). Lieutenant Hicks. Lieutenant Duckinfeild (wounded). Lieutenant Wants. Lieutenant Dancer (wounded). Lieutenant Bishop. Ensign Bennet (wounded). Ensign Erwine. Ensign Sheen (wounded). Ensign Pascal. Ensign Money.
The number of non-commissioned officers and soldiers killed, wounded, and taken prisoners at the battle of Almanza has not been ascertained; those who escaped, and were found serviceable, were afterwards transferred to other corps in Spain, and certain of the officers returned to England to recruit the regiment.
On the 15th of September 1707, orders were addressed to Colonel Alnutt to recruit and fill up the respective companies of the regiment; and the recruits were to assemble at Chester and Namptwich, which places were appointed for the rendezvous of the corps.
1708.
In the Annals of Queen Anne for the year 1708, it is stated, “Some time before, orders and commissions were delivered for new raising the regiments of—
Mordaunt’s, afterwards Twenty-eighth regiment, Wade’s, afterwards Thirty-third regiment, Gorges’s, afterwards Thirty-fifth regiment, Alnutt’s, afterwards Thirty-sixth regiment, Montjoy’s, afterwards disbanded, Mackartney’s, afterwards disbanded, Lord Mark Kerr’s, afterwards disbanded,
which suffered most at the battle of Almanza, and the officers whereof, who were prisoners in France, were supplied by others.”
1709.
Colonel Archibald Earl of Ilay, afterwards Duke of Argyle, was appointed to the colonelcy of the Thirty-sixth regiment on the 23d of March 1709, in succession to Colonel Thomas Alnutt, deceased.
1710.
On the 23d of October 1710, Colonel Henry Desaulnais (afterwards spelt Desney) from the Coldstream foot guards, was appointed to the colonelcy of the Thirty-sixth regiment, in succession to Colonel the Earl of Ilay, resigned.
During the nine years which this war had been raging in Europe, British blood and treasure had been expended in making conquests for the house of Austria. The only advantage which had accrued to Great Britain was, that the power of the House of Bourbon had been diminished, and that of Austria augmented; the new Ministry chosen by Queen Anne, in 1710, resolved to act upon a different principle. Colonel Nicholson having made a successful attack on Port Royal, in Nova Scotia, on his return to England he submitted to the Government a plan for the reduction of Placentia and Quebec, as a preparatory measure for acquiring Canada for the British crown, and for expelling the French from Newfoundland, in order to regain the fishery.
Canada is stated to have been discovered by the famous Italian adventurer, Sebastian Cabot, who sailed under a commission from Henry VII.; and as the English monarch did not make any use of the discovery, the French soon attempted to derive advantage from it. Several small settlements were established, and in the early part of the seventeenth century the city of Quebec was founded for the capital of the French possessions in this part of the world. Although the colony continued in a very depressed state for some time, and the settlers were frequently in danger of being exterminated by the Indians, yet, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, it had become of such importance that its capture was considered one of the best means of weakening the power of Louis XIV.
1711.
An expedition, consisting of about five thousand men, was accordingly ordered to proceed to North America under Brigadier-General Hill, for the purpose of making an attempt on Quebec. A large fleet formed part of the armament under Commodore Sir Hovenden Walker, and the force was to be further strengthened by troops from the North American colonies. The following regiments were employed on the expedition:—
Kirke’s regiment, now Second foot. The Queen’s, now Fourth foot. Hill’s, now Eleventh foot. Desney’s, now Thirty-sixth foot. Windress’s, now Thirty-seventh foot. Clayton’s, disbanded in 1712. Kane’s, disbanded in 1713. Churchill’s Marines, disbanded in 1713. Walton’s and Vetch’s, North American Militia, joined the expedition at Boston.
On arriving at North America the fleet called at Boston for a supply of provisions, and the troops landed and encamped a short time on Rhode Island; but on the 20th of July they re-embarked, and having been joined by two regiments of provincial troops commanded by Colonels Walton and Vetch, sailed on the 30th of July from Boston for the river St. Lawrence. The expedition did not reach the river St. Lawrence until the 21st of August, when it encountered storms, and being furnished with bad pilots, eight transports, a store-ship, and a sloop were lost by shipwreck, and twenty-nine officers, six hundred and seventy-six soldiers, and thirty-five women of the Fourth, Thirty-seventh, Colonel Kane’s, and Colonel Clayton’s regiments, perished. There was also a scarcity of provisions. It was, therefore, determined in a council of war, that further operations should be abandoned. Some of the regiments engaged in the expedition proceeded to Annapolis Royal, in Nova Scotia, but the Thirty-sixth returned to England, and arrived at Portsmouth on the 9th of October.
On the 12th of October 1711, Charles III., the claimant to the throne of Spain, was elected Emperor of Germany by the title of Charles VI., his brother Joseph having died at Vienna in the preceding April. This circumstance materially affected the war, and inclined Great Britain to agree to peace; for the consolidation of Spain with the Empire of Germany would have perilled the balance of power in Europe as much as the anticipated union of the crowns of France and Spain. The course of events had also shown, that a French and not an Austrian Prince was the choice of the Spanish nation.
Louis XIV. finding his armies defeated and dispirited, by the victorious troops under the celebrated Duke of Marlborough, at length sued for peace, negociations for which were shortly afterwards commenced.
1712.
The conditions of a Treaty of Peace having been agreed upon between Queen Anne and the French monarch, Dunkirk was delivered up to the British by Louis XIV., as a security for the performance of the stipulations, and the Thirty-sixth formed part of the force embarked under Brigadier-General Hill, to occupy that fortress. The regiment sailed from the Downs on the 7th of July 1712, with the fleet under Admiral Sir John Leake; on the following day the troops landed at Dunkirk, relieving the French guards at the citadel.
1713.
While the regiment was stationed at Dunkirk the Treaty of Utrecht was signed on the 11th of April 1713, which terminated the “War of the Spanish Succession.”
1714.
In the spring of 1714, the Thirty-sixth regiment returned to England; on the 1st of August of that year Queen Anne died, and was succeeded by King George I. The new sovereign having been quietly seated on the throne, the regiment proceeded to Ireland, and was placed on the establishment of that country.
1715.
On the 11th of July 1715, Colonel William Egerton was appointed by His Majesty King George I. to be Colonel of the Thirty-sixth regiment, in succession to Colonel H. Desney, upon whom was subsequently conferred the colonelcy of the Twenty-ninth regiment.
While the regiment was in Ireland, an insurrection was organized in England, by the partizans of the house of Stuart; at the same time the Earl of Mar summoned the Highland clans to arms, and proclaimed the Pretender King of Great Britain. On the breaking out of the rebellion, the regiment was withdrawn from Ireland, in the autumn of 1715; and it joined the troops encamped near Stirling under the Duke of Argyle.
In the early part of November, the rebel army advanced towards the Forth, with the view of penetrating to England, and the Duke of Argyle marched from Stirling to Dumblaine, near Sheriffmuir, for the purpose of opposing the progress of the insurgents. On the morning of Sunday, the 13th of November, the enemy, ten thousand strong, was seen advancing in order of battle; and the King’s troops, not mustering four thousand men, moved forward to engage their opponents. The Thirty-sixth regiment was in the left wing of the royal army. At a critical moment it was ordered to make a change of position, and, while in the act of re-forming, it was attacked by an immense body of Highlanders, the élite of the insurgent host. The soldiers were unable to withstand the very superior numbers of their opponents, and the left wing became separated from the main body of the army, and retired beyond Dumblaine, to gain possession of the passes leading to Stirling. In the meantime, the right wing of the royal army had overpowered the left wing of the rebels, and chased it from the field. Thus both generals had one wing victorious, and one wing defeated: both in consequence claimed the victory. The insurgents were, however, prevented penetrating southward, and were defeated in their object. The Thirty-sixth had one serjeant and twenty-one rank and file killed; Captain Danoer, and fourteen rank and file, were wounded. From the field of battle the troops proceeded to Stirling, where they again encamped.
1716.
Towards the end of December the Pretender arrived in Scotland, and assumed all the ensigns of royalty. He held his court at Scone, and his head-quarters were at Perth: but the Highland chieftains finding it impossible to resist the royal forces, resolved to abandon the enterprize. They, however, burnt several villages, to distress the Duke of Argyle in his march, who, in January 1716, obliged them to abandon Perth, whence they retired to Montrose, where the Pretender escaped on board a French ship, together with the Earl of Mar and other adherents. After this the rebels dispersed to the Highlands.
The Thirty-sixth regiment was subsequently stationed at Dumbarton.
1718.
In the year 1718 the Thirty-sixth regiment proceeded to Ireland. In July 1718, the King of Spain having taken Sardinia and invaded Sicily, the “Quadruple Alliance” was formed between Great Britain, France, Germany, and Holland. War was declared against Spain in December by England and France.
1719.
The King of Spain afterwards made preparations in favour of the Pretender, and the Thirty-sixth regiment embarked, in March 1719, at Cork for Great Britain.
Brigadier-General Sir Charles Hotham, Bart., was appointed Colonel of the Thirty-sixth regiment on the 7th of July 1719, in succession to Colonel Egerton, removed to the Twentieth regiment.
1720.
In January 1720 the King of Spain accepted the conditions of peace, and acceded to the “Quadruple Alliance,” which had been formed two years previously between Great Britain, France, Germany, and Holland; in consequence of which the regiment returned to Ireland, where it remained for several years.
On the 2d of December 1720 Colonel John Pocock was appointed to the colonelcy of the Thirty-sixth regiment, in succession to Brigadier-General Sir Charles Hotham, Bart., removed to the Eighth, or the King’s regiment of foot.
1721.
Lieut.-Colonel Charles Lenoe was promoted from the Coldstream guards to be colonel of the Thirty-sixth regiment, on the 21st of April 1721, in succession to Colonel John Pocock, removed to the Eighth, or the King’s regiment of foot.
1732.
On the 14th of May 1732, Brigadier-General John Moyle was appointed Colonel of the Thirty-sixth regiment, upon the removal to the Eighth, or the King’s regiment of foot, of Colonel Charles Lenoe.
1737.
Lieut.-Colonel Humphrey Bland, from the Second horse, now the First dragoon guards, was promoted to the rank of Colonel of the Thirty-sixth regiment on the 27th of June 1737, in succession to Major-General John Moyle, removed to the Twenty-second regiment.
1739.
The claim of the Spanish Government to the right of search, and the aggressions committed by that power on the commerce of Great Britain, in the West Indies, by the guarda-costas and other ships acting by authority of the King of Spain, contrary to the existing treaties, led to a Convention between the two Crowns, which was concluded on the 14th of January 1739. This Convention stipulated, that compensation should be made by Spain to the English Government, in reparation for the hostilities committed on the British subjects in the American seas. The Court of Madrid, however, violated the Convention, and hostilities being on the eve of commencing, the Thirty-sixth regiment was removed from Ireland to Great Britain in September 1739. On the 23d of October following, war was proclaimed by Great Britain against Spain.
1740.
A formidable armament was prepared for the attack of the Spanish colonies in the West Indies, and the land forces were placed under the command of General Lord Cathcart. On the 12th of June 1740 the Thirty-sixth regiment was ordered to proceed to Portsmouth for embarkation, but only a portion of the corps subsequently proceeded on this service. Some delay occurred by the fleet being twice driven back by contrary winds. On the 26th of October it sailed a third time, and was dispersed by a tempest 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 commander, Lord Cathcart, (then Colonel of the Sixth dragoon guards, or Carabineers,) who died of dysentery; the command, in consequence, devolved on Brigadier-General Thomas Wentworth, Colonel of the Twenty-fourth regiment.
1741.
Lieut.-Colonel James Fleming was promoted from the Seventh Royal fusiliers to the colonelcy of the Thirty-sixth regiment on the 9th of January 1741, in succession to Colonel Humphrey Bland, removed to the Thirteenth dragoons.
Upon 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 a wealthy province in the country of Terra Firma, in South America, was resolved upon. This place was found strongly fortified, and the garrison was reinforced by the crews of a squadron of large ships. A landing was effected on the island of Terra Bomba, near the mouth of the harbour, on the 10th of March, and the siege of the principal fort or castle, named Bocca-chica, was commenced. 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 openings into the wood; 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 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. The siege of the castle was commenced, but 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. The attempt was made on the 9th of April before day-break, but without success, although the assailants evinced distinguished gallantry. After sustaining a most destructive fire for several hours with intrepidity and perseverance, the troops were ordered to retire, having sustained a severe loss in killed and wounded.
Violent periodical rains commenced, the country was deluged with water, and the change of atmosphere produced fatal effects on the health of the men, who were drenched with rain. All hope of further success immediately vanished, and the troops returned on board the fleet, where numbers died from the distempers incidental to the climate.
The forts of the harbour of Carthagena having been demolished, the fleet sailed for Jamaica, and the portion of the Thirty-sixth regiment which had formed part of the expedition subsequently returned to Great Britain.
1743.
During the year 1743 the Thirty-sixth regiment was stationed in Great Britain.
1744.
In the year 1744 France and Great Britain, from being auxiliaries in the “War of the Austrian Succession,”[7] became principals in the contest. On the 20th of March 1744 France declared war against England, and on the 29th of that month a counter-declaration was made by Great Britain, in which the French Monarch was accused of violating the “Pragmatic Sanction,”[8] and of assisting the son of the Pretender in his designs on the British throne.
In the spring of 1744 the Thirty-sixth and other regiments were embarked to join the troops in Flanders; but the operations of the British army during that year were confined to the defensive, and no general engagement occurred.
1745.
In the spring of 1745 a French army, commanded by Marshal Saxe, invested Tournay, and the Duke of Cumberland, who had assumed the command of the allied army of British, Dutch, and Austrians, advanced to the relief of the town. The Thirty-sixth regiment was left in garrison at Ghent, and was consequently not at the battle of Fontenoy, which was fought on the 11th of May. The Duke of Cumberland having failed in the attempt to relieve Tournay, retreated and encamped his army at Lessines. In the meantime events were transpiring in Scotland which occasioned the Thirty-sixth and other regiments to be embarked for England.
Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, having arrived at a remote part of Scotland, was joined by many of the Highland clans, when he proceeded to assert his father’s pretentions to the throne. The young adventurer and his hardy mountaineers made considerable progress, and advanced as far as Derby, but subsequently retreated towards Scotland. Upon the arrival of the Thirty-sixth regiment in England, it formed part of the army assembled at Newcastle under Field-Marshal Wade, and upon the young Pretender’s advance into England, was employed in several movements designed to cover Yorkshire. On the retreat of the insurgent clans from England, the regiment returned to Newcastle, and was afterwards ordered to proceed to Edinburgh.
1746.
The regiment arrived at Edinburgh in January 1746, and was placed under the orders of Lieut.-General Hawley, the commander of the forces in North Britain. Meanwhile the young Pretender being joined by new levies, and having procured artillery and ammunition, obtained possession of the town of Stirling and commenced the siege of the castle. In order to raise the siege Lieut.-General Hawley advanced from Edinburgh, and an encampment was formed near the village of Falkirk. On the 17th of January, as the King’s troops were at dinner in the camp, the advance of the enemy was discovered; the royal forces seized their arms and proceeded along some rugged and difficult grounds to a large moor, where the rebel army appeared in order of battle.
Success or failure in the hour of battle has sometimes been found to depend upon accidental circumstances over which the commanders of armies have no control. Such was the case at the battle of Falkirk,[9] at which a tempest of wind and rain beat so violently in the faces of the royal forces at the moment when they engaged their adversaries, that their ammunition was spoiled in the act of loading; the soldiers could not see their opponents, and several regiments gave way, while others maintained their ground. At night both parties withdrew from the field of battle, and the King’s troops proceeded to Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland arrived in Scotland to command the army, and on the 31st of January the troops were again in motion towards the enemy, who instantly raised the siege of Stirling Castle, and made a precipitate retreat to Inverness. The royal forces followed in pursuit, but were delayed in their advance by severe weather. The Thirty-sixth regiment was engaged in the operations of the army until the battle of Culloden on the 16th of April, on which occasion it composed part of the second line under Major-General Huske. The following return shows the number of officers and men in each regiment of infantry on the morning of the battle:—
Officers. Serjeants, drummers, and rank and file.
Royal Scots, now First foot 26 455
Lieut.-General Howard’s, now Third foot 16 448
Lieut.-General Barrell’s, now Fourth foot 20 353
Major-General Edwd Wolfe’s, now Eighth foot 22 352
Major-General Pulteney’s, now Thirteenth foot 22 352
Brigadier-General Price’s, now Fourteenth foot 23 336
Brigadier-General Bligh’s, now Twentieth foot 20 447
Major-General Campbell’s, now Twenty-first foot 19 393
Brigadier-General Lord Semple’s, now Twenty-fifth foot 23 392
Major-General Blakeney’s, now Twenty-seventh foot 20 336
Brigadier-General Cholmondeley’s, now Thirty-fourth foot 24 435
Brigadier-General Fleming’s, now Thirty-sixth foot 26 389
Colonel Battereau’s, since disbanded 27 396
Colonel Dejean’s, now Thirty-seventh regiment 23 468
Colonel Conway’s, now Forty-eighth regiment 24 362
Total 335 5,914
After a sharp cannonade several select clans of mountaineers sprang forward, and with shouts and dismal yells attacked the King’s forces sword in hand. In less than an hour after the commencement of the action the enemy’s forces were overthrown and a decisive victory was obtained, which effectually suppressed the rebellion.
The Thirty-sixth regiment sustained but small loss, having only six men wounded on this occasion.
After halting a short time at Inverness the army advanced into the highlands, and encamped in the gloomy valley, surrounded by rugged precipices, near Fort Augustus, from whence detachments were sent out to search for arms, and for persons who had been engaged in the rebellion. Prince Charles, after enduring many hardships, succeeded in escaping to France in September.
1747.
Meanwhile hostilities had been continued on the Continent, and in the beginning of 1747, the Thirty-sixth regiment re-embarked at Gravesend for Flanders. After having joined the army commanded by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, the regiment was engaged in several operations near the frontiers of Holland, which led to the battle of Laffeld, or Val, fought on the 2d of July 1747, in the villages in the vicinity of Maestricht. On this occasion the allied army was very inferior in numbers to the enemy, and although the British infantry were conspicuous throughout the action for the gallantry with which they fought, the Duke of Cumberland was obliged to order a retreat. His Royal Highness passed the highest encomiums on the British troops for their conduct in this battle; and according to the “London Gazette,” there was not a squadron or battalion which did not charge and beat the enemy more than once.
The loss of the Thirty-sixth regiment in this battle was Major Petrie, Lieutenant Brodie, two serjeants, and twenty-two rank and file, killed; with Lieut.-Colonel Jackson, Captains Morgan, Pechell, Dod, and Gore, Lieutenant Ackland, Ensigns Vaughan, Duncan, Elrington, Strong, and Porter, three serjeants, two drummers, and seventy-four rank and file, wounded; and eighty-two men missing.
After withdrawing from the field of battle, the army continued its retreat to Maestricht, where it arrived on the same evening. The Thirty-sixth regiment was subsequently employed in various parts of the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant.
1748.
The regiment again took the field in the spring of 1748, and was employed in several operations, but no general engagement occurred. Hostilities were at length terminated by a treaty of peace, which was signed at Aix-la-Chapelle on the 7th of October 1748. During the winter the Thirty-sixth returned to England.
1749.
On its arrival from Holland, the establishment of the regiment was reduced, and it was ordered to proceed to Gibraltar, in which fortress it was stationed during the five following years.
1751.
Colonel Lord Robert Manners was appointed by His Majesty King George II. to the colonelcy of the Thirty-sixth regiment on the 13th of March 1751, in succession to Major-General James Fleming, deceased.
In the Royal Warrant, dated the 1st of July 1751, for ensuring uniformity in the clothing, standards, and colours of the army, and regulating the numerical title and rank of regiments, the facings of the Thirty-sixth were directed to be green. The first, or King’s colour, was the great union; the second, or regimental colour, was of green silk, with the union in the upper canton; in the centre of the colour the number of the rank of the regiment, in gold Roman characters, within a wreath of roses and thistles on the same stalk.
1754.
In 1754 the Thirty-sixth regiment returned to England from Gibraltar, and was subsequently stationed in North Britain.
1755.
Towards the end of the year 1755 the Thirty-sixth regiment was removed from Scotland to South Britain.
1756.
The peace of Aix-la-Chapelle was at length interrupted by the aggressions of the French on the British territory in North America; and early in 1756 the King of France prepared a powerful armament for the capture of the island of Minorca. In consequence of this attack on Minorca, hostilities became inevitable on the part of Great Britain, and on the 18th of May war was declared against France. At this period the army and navy were increased; and, among other augmentations, fifteen of the regiments of infantry, including the Thirty-sixth, were authorized to raise second battalions from the 25th of August 1756.
From the 17th of June to the 12th of October 1756, the Thirty-sixth and other regiments were encamped at Chatham under Major-General Lord George Sackville.
1757.
In the year 1757 the Thirty-sixth regiment, consisting of two battalions, and other corps were encamped under General Charles Duke of Marlborough at Barham Downs.
1758.
The second battalions, which had been added two years previously to fifteen of the regiments of infantry, were, in 1758, formed into distinct corps, and numbered from the Sixty-first to the Seventy-fifth regiment. By this arrangement the second battalion of the Thirty-sixth was constituted the Seventy-fourth regiment, which was disbanded after the peace of Fontainebleau.[10]
The Government resolved upon making a descent on the French coast, by which it was expected to create such a diversion in favour of the British allies in Germany as would obviate the necessity of sending them a reinforcement of troops. The Thirty-sixth formed a part of the army selected for this service, which amounted to fourteen thousand men, and was commanded by General Charles Duke of Marlborough. The Thirty-sixth proceeded to the Isle of Wight, where it was formed in brigade with the Fifth, Twenty-fifth, and Seventy-fourth regiments (the latter corps since disbanded), under Major-General John Mostyn. The embarkation commenced on the 24th of May; the expedition sailed on the 1st of June, and on the 5th of that month a landing was effected, without loss, about two leagues to the eastward of St. Maloes, towards which place the army advanced in two columns on the 7th of June, and encamped within a mile from the town: here the Commander-in-Chief reconnoitred, and having observed several houses filled with naval and military stores, which were not protected by the guns of the town, the Thirty-sixth, in common with the other regiments, furnished a detachment, which was sent after dark to set fire to them, a service which was most effectually performed, thirteen vessels of war, besides several merchantmen, and vast quantities of stores being destroyed. St. Maloes, though incapable of making an effectual resistance against a regular siege, was considered too strong to be attempted by a coup-de-main; the troops were accordingly re-embarked, and preparations were afterwards made for a descent at Granville, on the coast of Normandy, and afterwards at Cherbourg; but, the weather being severe, the fleet returned to England.
In August of the same year the Thirty-sixth was engaged in a second expedition to the coast of France, when Cherbourg was captured, and the harbour, forts, magazines, and ordnance, consisting of 173 pieces of iron cannon and three mortars were destroyed; at the same time, 22 pieces of fine brass cannon and two brass mortars were brought off as trophies, and sent to England, when, after being viewed by King George II. in Hyde Park, they were conducted in procession through the City to the Tower of London.
Another descent was made on the coast of Brittany on the 4th of September, when the batteries in the bay of St. Lunaire were destroyed, and the troops marched into the interior, while the fleet proceeded to the bay of St. Cass, thus alarming the country with the view of producing the return of the French army from Germany. Upon the troops being re-embarked at St. Cass, the enemy attacked the rear-guard and occasioned considerable loss. Towards the end of September the regiment landed at Cowes, and, having encamped a short period near Newport, went into winter quarters.
1759.
During the summer of 1759 the regiment was encamped at Chatham under Lieut.-General John Campbell, afterwards Duke of Argyle.
1760.
In the course of the year 1760 the Thirty-sixth regiment was encamped at Sandheath under Lieut.-General the Earl of Ancram.
1761.
In the spring of 1761 a force proceeded under the command of Major-General Studholme Hodgson against Belle-Isle, a French island in the Bay of Biscay, off the coast of Brittany. The expedition appeared before Belle-Isle on the 7th of April, and a landing was attempted on the following day, but without success;—other endeavours to secure a landing on different points of the island proving also unsuccessful, orders were given to desist from the attempt, and the men returned to the boats, and proceeded back to their several ships. Many of the boats were destroyed or damaged in these efforts, and about five hundred men were lost in killed, wounded, and missing.
Major-General Hodgson subsequently received the following reinforcements, of which the Thirty-sixth formed part:—
Regiments. Commanding Officers. Men.
Third foot, Major J. Biddulph 800
Thirty-sixth foot, Lieut.-Colonel W. Preston 800
Seventy-fifth foot (afterwards disbanded) Lieut.-Colonel C. Parry 800
Eighty-fifth foot, Second battalion, (afterwards disbanded), Major Sir Hugh Williams 600
3,000
A landing was effected by Brigadier-General Hamilton Lambert on the 22d of April, on the rocks near Point Lomaria, where the difficulty of ascending the precipice had made the enemy least attentive to that part. Beauclerk’s grenadiers (Nineteenth foot), with Captain Patterson, of that regiment, gained the summit before the enemy saw what was intended, who immediately marched a body of three hundred men to attack them; the grenadiers, however, maintained their ground till the remainder of Brigadier Lambert’s troops arrived. The success thus gained was promptly followed up; the French were eventually repulsed, and three brass field-pieces, with a few prisoners, were captured.
The cannon was afterwards landed from the ships and dragged up the rocks; the lines which covered the town of Palais were carried by assault, and the siege of the citadel was prosecuted with vigour. The garrison, under their governor, the Chevalier de St. Croix, made a gallant defence; but on the 7th of June were forced to surrender, and were permitted to march through the breach with the honours of war, in consideration of their bravery. The capture of the island was thus achieved, with the loss of about eighteen hundred men killed and wounded.
This conquest was regarded with great pride by the British nation; but the island was restored to France, at the peace of Fontainebleau in 1763, in exchange for Minorca, which had been taken by the French at the commencement of the war.
During the remainder of the year 1761 the Thirty-sixth regiment was stationed in South Britain.
1762.
The Thirty-sixth regiment during 1762 continued to be quartered in South Britain. In January war was declared against Spain, and in the summer of that year the regiment was encamped at Sandheath under Lieut.-General Edward Carr. Negociations for peace were shortly afterwards commenced, and the preliminary articles were signed at Fontainebleau by the Duke of Bedford on the 3d of November 1762.
1763.
On the 10th of February 1763 the treaty of Fontainebleau was concluded at Paris, the ratifications were exchanged on the 10th of March, and peace was proclaimed in London on the 22d of that month.
1764.
The Thirty-sixth regiment embarked on the 17th of March 1764 for Jamaica, in which island it was stationed for some years.
1765.
Major-General Richard Pierson was removed from the Sixty-third to the Thirty-sixth regiment on the 11th of September 1765, in succession to Lieut.-General Lord Robert Manners, appointed to the Third dragoon guards.
1773.
In 1773 the Thirty-sixth returned home from Jamaica, and the regiment arrived in England in June of that year.
1774.
On the 6th of August 1774, the light infantry companies of the Third, Eleventh, Twenty-first, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-second, Thirty-sixth, and Seventieth regiments assembled at Salisbury, where they were formed into a brigade, and disciplined under the command of Major-General the Honourable Sir William Howe until the 4th of October following, when they were reviewed by His Majesty King George III. in Richmond Park, and were afterwards ordered to rejoin their respective regiments.
1775.
The war with the American colonies commenced in April 1775, but the Thirty-sixth regiment did not proceed to that country; on the 10th of September following it embarked at Portsmouth for Ireland, where it was stationed for the seven following years.
1778.
Colonel the Honourable Henry St. John, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty-seventh regiment, was appointed Colonel of the Thirty-sixth on the 27th of November 1778, in succession to Lieut.-General Richard Pierson, removed to the Thirteenth dragoons.
1782.
A letter, dated the 31st of August 1782, conveyed to the regiment His Majesty’s pleasure that county titles should be conferred on the infantry, and the Thirty-sixth was directed to assume the designation of the Herefordshire regiment, in order that a connexion between the corps and that county should be cultivated, which might be useful in promoting the success of the recruiting service.
On the 6th of September 1782, the Thirty-sixth regiment was brought from Ireland, and placed on the British establishment, and occupied Hilsea barracks, near Portsmouth.
The contest with the American colonists had involved Great Britain in war with France, Spain, and Holland; but on the 30th of November 1782, the preliminary articles of peace were signed at Paris between Great Britain and the United States of America, and the treaty was concluded in the ensuing February.
1783.
In the year 1783, peace was concluded between England, France, Spain, and Holland. A new field of service was about to open for the Thirty-sixth, that regiment having been selected to proceed to the East Indies, for which country it embarked at Portsmouth on the 10th of March 1783, and arrived at Madras in July following, while the British were engaged in hostilities against the powerful Sultan of the Mysore, Tippoo Saib, who, on the death of his father, Hyder Ali, in December of the preceding year, had succeeded to the dominions of that soldier of fortune.
The regiment, being thirteen hundred strong, was immediately transferred from the Indiamen into King’s ships, and proceeded, under the command of Brevet-Colonel Allan Campbell, to the relief of Mangalore, on the Malabar coast, which had been invested by Tippoo Saib on the 18th of May 1783, and was gallantly defended by the second battalion of the Forty-second regiment (afterwards numbered the Seventy-third regiment) and some native corps. Meanwhile the general peace, which had been entered into with the European Powers, deprived Tippoo of his French allies, and the Sultan entered into negotiations for terminating the war between Mysore and the British. The troops under Brigadier-General Macleod appeared in sight of Mangalore on the 24th of November 1783, but on the 1st of December, in consequence of the following circumstances, the ships sailed to the southward.
Some boats with Sepoys having at this period been wrecked near Cannanore, upon the Malabar coast, about two hundred of them were seized and detained by Ali Rajah Biby, the Queen of that country; repeated applications were made for their release, but without success, and Brigadier-General Norman Macleod determined to take satisfaction for these injuries, immediately after the relief of Mangalore. Tippoo Saib desired him to desist, and claimed the ruler of the Cannanore country as his ally.
The Thirty-sixth regiment proceeded under the command of Major the Honourable John Knox to Cannanore, which was captured by the troops under Brigadier-General Macleod in December 1783.
1784.
On the 11th of March 1784 peace was concluded with Tippoo Saib, the Sultan of Mysore; one of the articles of the treaty stipulated, that the fort and district of Cannanore should be evacuated and restored to Ali Rajah Biby, the Queen of that country.
1785 to 1788.
During the years 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788, the Thirty-sixth regiment occupied cantonments at Poonamallee, Arcot, Vellore, and Wallahabad.
1789.
The insatiable ambition of Tippoo Saib, the Sultan of the Mysore territory, soon involved the British Government of India in another war; he appeared near the confines of the country of Travancore, at the head of a powerful army, made unreasonable demands on the Rajah, a British ally, and commenced hostilities towards the end of December 1789.
1790.
A force was consequently directed to be assembled, in March 1790, at Wallahabad, under the orders of Colonel Thomas Musgrave of the Seventy-sixth regiment; it was put in movement on the 29th of that month, and proceeded towards Trichinopoly, at which place the troops arrived on the 29th of April, where the following corps had been collected under the command of Colonel Bridges:—Two King’s regiments, the Thirty-sixth and Seventy-second; the Second and Fifth Native cavalry; the First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Sixteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-third Coast sepoys. At the same time Colonel Deare, with three companies of Bengal artillery, joined, the whole being under the orders of Major-General Musgrave, to which rank he had been promoted on the 28th of April 1790.
On the 24th of May Major-General (afterwards Sir William) Medows assumed the command, and reviewed the army, which was directed to proceed towards the Coimbatore country.
Advancing from Trichinopoly on the 26th of May, and penetrating the enemy’s country, the army arrived, after a march of about fifty miles, on the 15th of June, at the fort of Caroor, where the troops encamped eighteen days, while provisions were being collected and a magazine formed. Leaving this place on the 3d of July, the army marched to Daraporam, which was abandoned by the enemy; a garrison was left at this place, and the army marched through a beautiful country to the city of Coimbatore, where the British arrived on the 22nd July; here the army halted, and detachments were sent off to reduce Dindigul, Errode, and Palghautcherry. About the end of July, Colonel, afterwards General Sir John Floyd, of the Nineteenth light dragoons (since disbanded), with the Cavalry of the army and a brigade of Native infantry, was ordered to take possession of the small and weak fort of Sattimungulum, in which, after its capture, he placed a battalion of sepoys. At this period the army was separated in three divisions, one at Coimbatore, one at Sattimungulum, sixty miles in advance, and one besieging Palghautcherry. Tippoo resolved to attack, and if possible destroy, the division in advance before the main body could arrive to its support. The troops from Coimbatore were accordingly ordered to march, to reinforce Colonel Floyd.
In the beginning of September a detachment of troops under Colonel Oldham, of which the Thirty-sixth formed part, marched from Errode to join Colonel Floyd at Sattimungulum, which place was reached in three days. Colonel Floyd’s entire force now consisted of His Majesty’s Nineteenth light dragoons and sixteen troops of Native cavalry, His Majesty’s Thirty-sixth regiment and five battalions of Native infantry, eleven guns, and a due proportion of artillerymen and officers. Detachments of cavalry were sent almost every day to scour the country towards the Gudzelhetty Pass, and they generally brought in a few of the enemy’s horse, belonging to Syde Saib’s party, stationed at the foot of the Ghauts, who were much distressed for provisions and forage, his people having been constantly obliged to cross the Boovany, in order to procure grain in the different villages, in which places they were generally taken prisoners; their horses were very small and bad. A deposit of grain and provisions was in the meantime formed in this frontier station for the use of the army under Major-General Medows, which was destined to ascend to Mysore by the Gudzelhetty Pass early in October. On the 11th and 12th of September it was reported in camp that Tippoo, in person, had descended the Gudzelhetty Pass with a large army of cavalry and infantry, with several pieces of artillery. On the morning of the 12th of September Tippoo’s army, estimated at about thirty thousand cavalry, infantry, and artillery, descended the Gudzelhetty Pass, and crossed the Boovany river at daybreak of the following morning. A reconnoitring party of British cavalry, under Major Child, encountered the enemy’s advance guard of cavalry on the 13th, and compelled it to recross the river. On the 12th at night orders had been given to Major Darley to march with his regiment of Native cavalry towards the Pass early in the morning, to support Major Child, and he had not proceeded three miles, when he perceived a large body of cavalry advancing, and was immediately charged by them; being so much pressed on all sides, he was obliged to take post and keep off the enemy while his ammunition lasted, which was nearly expended, when Colonel Floyd, with the remainder of the cavalry, came to his support, to whom he had sent information on first perceiving the enemy; this reinforcement fortunately arrived just in time, as Major Darley’s regiment was in a very dangerous situation.
Colonel Floyd, unperceived by Tippoo’s forces, charged them in flank with three troops of the Nineteenth light dragoons, supported by the remainder of the regiment, entirely routed them, and pursued them to the river; it was supposed that the enemy had nearly five hundred killed on the ground, and a great number drowned in endeavouring to recross the river, which was fordable in very few places, while those were deep and dangerous.
The infantry moved about two miles from the camp in order to give support if necessary. The encampment being confined, and change of situation requisite, orders had been already issued for a change of ground, which was situated about a mile from the position then occupied, near to Damicotta; the tents were accordingly struck early on the 13th of September.
Colonel Floyd, having dispersed the body of cavalry, the troops were ordered to return to camp, which they had not reached a quarter of an hour, when some guns were opened from the opposite side of the river, whose shot came direct into the lines: the lines immediately turned out, and the tents, which were scarcely pitched, were ordered to be struck. The enemy was perceived in great force on both sides of the river; and three columns, two of infantry and one of cavalry, on the same side of the river with the British detachment, could be distinguished marching with rapidity round the left flank, which the foe seemed endeavouring to penetrate; the opening of the guns on the opposite side, and showing force there, being intended to withdraw attention from his intended attack, Colonel Floyd moved out the infantry to a commanding ground, with the British right towards the river, and the left extended so as to cover Sattimungulum, and prevent the enemy getting on his flank.
The first line consisted of the First Native battalion on the right; the Thirty-sixth King’s regiment, the Fifth and Twenty-fifth Native battalions on the left; the cannon consisted of one eighteen-brass-pounder, two twelve-pounders, and eight sixes.
The ground between the British and that occupied by the forces of Tippoo Saib was low and intersected with thick hedges; the British left was covered by stony rugged ground, difficult of approach; the enemy formed his line nearly parallel to the British, having his left extended to the river at about twelve hundred yards distance. Before the troops had well taken up their position, the enemy opened some guns; the ground was exceedingly stony, as was most of the county adjacent, which in a great manner prevented Tippoo making use of his cavalry during the day. The British cavalry formed a second line, about half a mile in the rear; the baggage was moved under the cover of some hills about the same distance in the rear and on the right flank of the cavalry; the enemy kept firing from three or four guns from the opposite side of the river during the whole of the day, the British right being within shot of them, to which one battalion was fronted to hinder him from crossing the river, as it was fordable in that part. One native battalion (the sixteenth) remained in the fort, where it had been stationed some time.
When the cannonade first commenced it was about eleven o’clock, A.M. Soon after the British had taken up their ground the enemy opened about sixteen guns, and in a short time had the range of the line very exactly. Colonel Deare, of the Bengal Artillery, who was on the right giving some necessary directions, was shot through the body shortly after the commencement of the action. At about one o’clock the axletrees of the two twelve-pounders broke, and rendered those two guns useless; these were the best the British had for the purpose.
Finding that the men were beginning to suffer very much, as nearly every ball struck the line, Colonel Floyd, not wishing to give up his advantageous position, ordered the men to lie down, which preserved the lives of several. The troops obeyed these directions, and sustained with the greatest coolness and fortitude the galling fire of the enemy. The cannonade continued without the least intermission until it was quite dark, about eight at night. Tippoo’s forces, supposing from the inactivity of the British during the day that a night attack was meditated, withdrew about six miles back on the road by which they had advanced that morning.
The British were not able to do the enemy much injury, for the six-pounders scarcely reached his line; the slaughter among the draught cattle was very great, nearly two-thirds of them being killed. The Thirty-sixth had Lieutenant Dennis Kelly Armstrong and twenty-five men killed; Lieutenant John Vallancy and about forty men were wounded.
When the cannonade ceased, every assistance was given to the wounded; from the situation of the baggage and stores no refreshment could be procured for the men except a dram of arrack, the cattle carrying water for the men having been mostly killed, and the drivers fearing to come to the lines, water was much wanted. A council of war was held during the night, in which it was agreed to force a way through the enemy’s lines about three o’clock in the morning of the 14th of September, and join Major-General (afterwards Sir William) Medows, to whom information had been sent on the night of the 12th or morning of the 13th. Every endeavour was made to repair the two twelve-pounders, and settle the other guns so as to move; the want of cattle was so great that it was impossible to draw all the guns; the baggage was searched, and all the private draught bullocks that could be obtained were brought to the lines, but on trial would not move the guns. The necessary instructions were given for the march, which was to take place, from the left, in the following manner:—The grenadiers of the Thirty-sixth regiment to lead, provided with instruments for spiking the enemy’s guns; the Twenty-fifth Native battalion next, then the Fifth battalion; the battalion companies of the Thirty-sixth regiment; the Sixteenth and First Native battalions; the light company of the Thirty-sixth regiment in the rear. The cavalry were to march in a separate column on the left. The sixteenth battalion of sepoys was ordered to be withdrawn from the fort about twelve at night, but did not arrive until five, to which may be attributed the engagement on the 14th, as the troops would otherwise have been two hours’ march in advance of the enemy. It was only found possible to repair one of the twelve-pounders, and that with much exertion; upon collecting all the bullocks that could be obtained, the eighteen-pounder, two six-pounders, and two tumbrils were obliged to be left on the ground, besides the broken down twelve-pounder; one wheel of the eighteen-pounder had been much damaged, as was the timber, and one of the six-pounders; unfortunately the followers, the people with the baggage, and the wounded, who were moved behind one of the hills in the rear, being out of danger, were not properly informed of the intended march, and were left almost to the mercy of the enemy’s horse. The first they knew of the movement was seeing the line in motion, and every one then endeavoured to make the best of his way to it; some of the dooly-men ran off, as did most of the followers, leaving the sick and a great portion of the baggage on the ground; when it was sufficiently light, it was perceived that the enemy had left the position occupied by him during the night. The British line moved off about five o’clock, and was obliged to lift the guns on by hand, which caused the troops to get on very slowly. Before the ground had been well quitted, it was covered by the enemy’s troops, who could be seen cutting down every straggler they met; they came close on the rear, annoying it as much as they could; all the wounded and sick as were able to make their way to the line were placed on the guns, and such officers’ horses as could be found; in a short time the guns were laden with them as much as could by any method be placed on them, which much increased the difficulty of moving, the soldiers being chiefly obliged to drag the guns. The march was continued unmolested except by small parties of horse, until the troops arrived within about four miles of Shawoor, five miles from Sattimungulum. The country was very close, and there being but one road between two rugged hills, the British formed one column, the cavalry leading; these moving faster than the infantry had reached Shawoor, and were most of them dismounted collecting forage, when Tippoo’s forces were perceived on some rising ground on the right flank, gaining on the British with great rapidity. The centre of the line had just reached some rising ground, when the enemy opened two guns; the second shot killed and wounded four men of the Thirty-sixth regiment. The line kept still moving forward, the enemy closing on it in all directions, his cavalry making several charges in front, and particularly on the rear; some of his infantry had by this time got very close without being perceived, as the country was much intersected with hedges, and annoyed the line greatly with musketry and rockets, particularly the centre and rear. The line halted, and fronted the enemy. When the British musketry commenced, the enemy’s horse had formed completely round the troops, and were making constant charges at the line in all directions, several times coming close to the ranks; the most numerous attacks were on the rear flank; the light company of the Thirty-sixth was much pressed, and several were killed and wounded; this company continued the arduous conflict until the ammunition was expended, when charging with the bayonet Captain William Hartley of the Thirty-sixth was killed.
The light company was immediately relieved by a battalion company of the Thirty-sixth, which was again relieved by another company on the ammunition being expended.
In this cool and spirited manner the engagement was carried on for about two hours and a half with the same regularity as on a common field day, when the enemy’s cavalry, consisting of about two thousand, in two dense columns, made a circuit and charged the grenadier company, commanded by Captain Robert Burne, of the Thirty-sixth, but were effectually checked by a steady and well-directed fire from the company, which caused them to wheel off to the south. During the engagement, and immediately after this event, an officer of the British artillery, seeing a chief of the enemy’s army mounted on an elephant encouraging his troops on to the attack, directed his fire against him, and killed him with the third shot. This chief proved to be Bunham-ud-deen, the commander of the army, and a near relative of the Sultan Tippoo Saib.
This event, in addition to the discouraging circumstance of having been repulsed with considerable loss in every attempt to break the British line, decided the fate of the day; the enemy retired from the contest, and by four o’clock in the afternoon left his opponents complete masters of the field of battle.
Colonel Floyd, with the cavalry, being a few miles in advance, on the sudden appearance of the enemy’s cavalry, and hearing from Colonel Oldham the situation of the infantry, immediately formed line, and charged the foe, who, dreading to come in contact with the troops that had, in the early skirmish on the previous day, given him such a severe specimen of their prowess, moved off at too rapid a rate to be overtaken; a pursuit was, however, kept up for some time, and, after scouring the country for a distance round, the troops were enabled to rest quietly during the night at the village of Shawoor, where they arrived about seven o’clock in the evening.
Colonel Floyd having during the action received intelligence of the arrival of Major-General Medows at Vellady that day, a distance of about twenty miles from Shawoor, the march of the entire detachment was in consequence directed to that village; and, moving off at three o’clock in the morning of the 15th of September, arrived there at sunset in the evening, quite overcome by fatigue, thirst, and hunger.
The Thirty-sixth regiment, which had borne the brunt of the contest, had no refreshment from the evening of the 13th until late on that of the 15th of September, excepting a supply of tobacco procured by Lieutenant William Chambers, of the Thirty-sixth, immediately after the action, from a cabin in the neighbourhood of the line. The good qualities of this plant are well known to soldiers and sailors, and under these circumstances this timely supply proved a matter of great importance to the men. It allayed their hunger and thirst, revived their spirits, and afforded infinite relief during the remainder of their long and fatiguing march.
It is to be observed that Tippoo’s regular troops, called the “Tiger Infantry,” were the attacking force on this occasion, and were so named from their jackets having the emblem stripe of the royal tiger woven in the cloth. A report was also current, that after the battle Tippoo asked the officers why they had not destroyed the Feringhee battalion; to which they replied, that “they had done their best, but the battalion wearing the colour of their prophet (the facings of the Thirty-sixth being green), could not be vanquished by any troops in the world.”
The army returned to Coimbatore on the 23d of September. The Sultan, disappointed in his object of destroying the divisions of the British army in detail, resolved to attack the chain of depôts; he gained possession of Errode and the stores at that place, and afterwards marched southwards. The British troops advanced from Coimbatore on the 29th of September, and, arriving at Errode on the 4th of October, found the place abandoned, and Tippoo’s army gone. He had marched in the direction of Coimbatore; but, hearing that the garrison was augmented, he advanced rapidly upon Darraporam, against which the Sultan opened his batteries on the 8th of October. The fort had no cannon mounted, and the garrison, consisting of a hundred Europeans and two hundred sepoys, capitulated on honourable terms, to which the enemy strictly adhered.
The British army moved on the 5th of October, and on the 15th of that month encamped in the neighbourhood of Coimbatore, where Lieut.-Colonel Stuart joined from Palghautcherry, after having taken the place, and left it in a tolerable state of defence. The pursuit of the Sultan was continued, the troops traversing extensive tracts of country, and undergoing much fatigue under an Indian sun. In the middle of November the army traversed the difficult pass of Tappoor, winding through deep valleys, and dragging the guns over precipices. Here the advance fell in with the rear of Tippoo’s force, but could make no impression. The Sultan resolved to leave the British troops in his own country, and to invade the Carnatic, which would bring the English back for the defence of Trichinopoly. Major-General Medows was about to carry offensive plans into execution, when the movements of Tippoo rendered it necessary to return to the Carnatic, and the army arrived at the vicinity of Trichinopoly in the middle of December.
1791.
On the 1st of January 1791, the army arrived at Terrimungulum, and on the 12th at Arnee. During this long and fatiguing march the Anglo-Indian troops frequently encamped upon the ground from which the enemy had removed in the morning; but the efforts made to overtake him were not successful. The sick and heavy guns having been placed in the fort of Arnee, on the 14th of January the advance and right wing marched for Velhout, where they arrived on the 27th, followed by the left wing.
On the 29th of January the army was reviewed by General Charles Earl Cornwallis, K. G., who had arrived from Bengal to assume the command, and who expressed great satisfaction at the appearance of the troops. His Lordship was at this period Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies, and had quitted Bengal on the 6th of December of the previous year, and landed at Fort St. George, Madras, on the 30th of the same month.
The army arrived in the vicinity of Vellore on the 11th of February 1791, and the troops were ordered into the fort. Tippoo was prepared to oppose any attempt to penetrate into the country under his dominion by the easiest passes; but Earl Cornwallis contrived the appearance of a march towards Amboor, which completely deceived the Sultan; and then turning suddenly to the north, traversed the difficult pass of Muglee, without the enemy having power to offer the least obstruction, and arrived on the 20th of February on the table-land of the Mysore country. Two days afterwards the troops commenced their march towards the strong fortress of Bangalore.
The following graphic description of the Fort of Bangalore is extracted from Colonel Mark Wilks’s History of the South of India:—
“The Fort of Bangalore, entirely rebuilt of strong masonry by Hyder and his son Tippoo, is nearly of an oval form, with round towers at proper intervals, and five powerful cavaliers, a fausse-braye, a good ditch and covered way without palisades, and some well-furnished places of arms; but the glacis is imperfect in several places; no part was entirely destitute of the support of reciprocal fire, but in no part was there a perfect flanking defence. There were two gateways, one named the Mysore, the other the Delhi gate; the latter opposite the pettah, overbuilt by the projection of traverses, common to Indian forts. The pettah, or town, of great extent, to the north of the fort, was surrounded by an indifferent rampart, and excellent ditch, with an intermediate berm, if such it may be called, of nearly a hundred yards wide, planted with impenetrable and well-grown thorns; and this defence was only intermitted exactly opposite the fort, where there was a slight barrier, and an esplanade of insufficient extent. The pettah had several gates, protected by a sort of flêche at the end of each sortie outside the ditch. Neither the fort or pettah had drawbridges.”
An attack on the Delhi gate of the pettah was made early in the morning of the 7th of March 1791 by the Thirty-sixth regiment, commanded by Captain Andrew Wight, supported by the Third brigade of sepoys, under Lieut.-Colonel Cockerell, and a few six-pounders under Colonel Moorehouse. The zigzag approach to the gate was scarcely twenty feet wide; two field-pieces were opened on the gate, but that being supported behind by a piece of masonry-work, three feet high and three feet thick, the shot, penetrating through the gate above, had no effect in bringing it down.
All this time the troops were exposed to a destructive shower of musketry from the turrets, on which a heavy fire was kept up by the assailants, when two pieces of ordnance were advanced, and their fire being directed at the lower part of the gate and masonry work, shattered it so much that, with the assistance of the troops, a sufficient opening was made to admit one person to enter, which happened to be Lieutenant John Eyre of the light company of the Thirty-sixth regiment. The soldiers continuing their exertions, at length pulled down the gate, and immediately entered, when the enemy fled with precipitation to the fort.
Lieutenant Eyre had received a sabre blow from a cavalry soldier, which cut through his cap, wounded his forehead, and knocked him down, but recovering his feet immediately, he joined his company in pursuit of the enemy. Shortly afterwards the enemy made a great effort to retake the pettah, but being immediately charged with the bayonet from street to street, were driven back with considerable loss, and the British were left in undisturbed possession of the town. In this attack, Captain Jeremiah Delany, of the Thirty-sixth, was killed.
The efforts of the troops were now directed to the reduction of the fort,—and every preparation for the approaching siege was carried on with diligence and activity. On the 15th of March, the batteries being completed, opened a fire upon Bangalore, and on the 17th the lines were cannonaded by the enemy, while at night the camp was much disturbed by his rockets.
Forage became very scarce, and none could be procured beyond the advanced piquets. The siege, however, proceeded, and the enemy continued to harass the British until the 21st of March, when the breach being considered practicable, an attack was ordered.
The storming party consisted of the grenadiers of the Thirty-sixth, Fifty-second, Seventy-first, Seventy-second, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-sixth regiments, followed by their respective light companies, and led by Lieutenant James Duncan of the Seventy-first, and Lieutenant John Evans of the Fifty-second, with a forlorn hope of thirty chosen men; the whole supported by the battalion companies of the Thirty-sixth, Seventy-second, and Seventy-sixth, with some battalions of Bengal sepoys. The corps of attack were commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell of the Seventy-fourth, the flankers immediately by Major Skelly; Major-General Medows was present on the occasion.
The troops proceeded on this enterprise at eleven o’clock on a fine moonlight night on the 21st of March, and after a sharp conflict, by one o’clock in the morning they became masters of the important fortress of Bangalore.
In the Orders issued on the following day, it was stated:—
“Lord Cornwallis feels the most sensible gratification in congratulating the officers and soldiers of the army on the honourable issue of the fatigues and dangers they have undergone during the late arduous siege. Their alacrity and firmness[11] in the execution of their various duties, has, perhaps, never been exceeded, and he shall not only think it incumbent on him to represent their meritorious conduct in the strongest colours; but he shall ever remember it with the sincerest esteem and admiration.
“The conduct of all the regiments which happened, in their tour, to be on duty that evening, did credit in every respect to their spirit and discipline; but his Lordship desires to offer the tribute of his particular and warmest praise to the European grenadiers and light infantry of the army, and to the Thirty-sixth, Seventy-second, and Seventy-sixth regiments, who led the attack and carried the fortress, and who, by their behavior on that occasion, furnished a conspicuous proof, that discipline and valour in soldiers, when directed by zeal and capacity in officers, are irresistible.”
On the 28th of March the army quitted Bangalore to join the forces of the Nizam, amounting to about fifteen thousand cavalry, sent to co-operate with the English in this war, and the junction was effected on the 13th of April. The army afterwards returned to Bangalore, where preparations were made for the siege of Seringapatam; the troops advanced upon the capital of the Mysore on the 4th of May, and on the 13th of that month arrived at Arakerry, on the Cavery, about eight miles below Seringapatam, which derived its name from the god Serung, to whom one of the pagodas was dedicated. The enemy was discernible in front, with his right resting on the river, and his left on a high hill named the Carighaut.
During the night of the 14th of May, the troops marched with a view to surprise the enemy; but owing to the badness of the weather and roads, together with the jaded state of the gun-bullocks, little or no progress was made during the night; but on the following day, after having undergone great fatigue, they were brought into action, when the enemy was driven from his strong position, and forced across the river into the island upon which the capital, Seringapatam, is situated, where he was protected by his batteries. In this affair Lieutenant John Turner was severely wounded, which caused his death.
The army rested upon the field of battle, and was again in movement on the 18th of May, and arrived on the 20th at Canambaddy, situated on the Cavery, some miles above Seringapatam. It was now ascertained that the season was too far advanced for undertaking immediately the siege of Tippoo’s capital, and it was determined accordingly to withdraw. The battering train was destroyed; all the ammunition and stores were buried which could not be removed, and on the 26th of May the army marched in the direction of Bangalore.
Before commencing their retreat the soldiers were thanked in orders for their conduct throughout these services, and it was added:—
“So long as there were any hopes of reducing Seringapatam before the commencement of the heavy rains, the Commander-in-Chief thought himself happy in availing himself of their willing services; but the unexpected bad weather for some time experienced having rendered the attack of the enemy’s capital impracticable until the conclusion of the ensuing monsoons, Lord Cornwallis thought he should make an ill return for the zeal and alacrity exhibited by the soldiers, if he desired them to draw the guns and stores back to a magazine, where there remains an ample supply of both, which was captured by their valour; he did not, therefore, hesitate to order the guns, and stores which were not wanted for field service, to be destroyed.”
In the course of this retreat the British were joined by the Mahratta army, under Hurry Punt and Purseram Bhow, consisting of about thirty-two thousand men, chiefly cavalry, and thirty pieces of cannon. Of the approach of this large force the British had been kept in total ignorance by the active manner in which the communications were interrupted by Tippoo’s irregular troops. Captain Little, having under his orders two battalions of Bombay sepoys, joined with the Mahratta army, and the supplies were now abundant.
The army arrived at Bangalore on the 11th of July, and the enemy made no attempt whatever to interrupt the march. By this time the Nizam’s cavalry had become unfit to keep the field, and were allowed to return to their own country. Purseram Bhow also, with a large detachment of the Mahrattas, proceeded into the Sera country; but Hurry Punt, with the remainder, continued attached to the British army. On the 15th of July the whole of the sick and one-half of the tumbrils belonging to the field-pieces were sent into the fort of Bangalore, and the army moved towards Oussoor, where it arrived on the 11th of the following month—the fort at that place being abandoned by the enemy after he had blown up the angles thereof.
On the 12th of August the army moved from Oussoor and on the 23d arrived at Bayeur. About this period Major Gowdie, of the Honorable East India Company’s service, was detached with some troops for the reduction of the strong hill fort of Nundydroog, which it was found required regular approaches. Major Gowdie arrived before the place on the 22d of September.
Nundydroog, the capital of a large and valuable district, was built on the summit of a mountain about one thousand seven hundred feet in height; three-fourths of its circumference were absolutely inaccessible, and the only face on which it could be ascended was protected by two excellent walls and an outwork which covered the gateway, and afforded a formidable flank fire. The foundation for a third wall had been dug, but the Sultan had not been able to have the plan completed.
The flank companies of the Thirty-sixth and Seventy-first regiments, under the command of Captain James Robertson of the latter corps, marched on the 17th of October to join the detachment under Major Gowdie, and, upon their arrival, were immediately placed in the last parallel.