THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
GIFT OF
COMMODORE BYRON MCCANDLESS
/r f^f/j ( yVtre/ <^rurl<4^/ fas
HISTORICAL RECORD
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT,
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT
IN 1758,
AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1849.
RICHARD CANNON, ESQ.,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, HORSE GUARDS.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.
LONDON:
PARKER, FURNIVALL, & PARKER,
30, CHAK ING-CROSS.
MDCCCXLIX.
London : Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street,
For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
OK
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT,
BEARS ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR THE FIGURE OF THE
"ROYAL TIGER,"
WITH THE WORD " INDIA" SUPERSCRIBED, IN COMMEMORATION OF
ITS SERVICES IN INDIA FROM 1805 TO 1826 J
ALSO THE WORD
" B A RRO S A,"
AS A TESTIMONY OF THE GALLANTRY DISPLAYED BY THE SECOND
BATTALION, AT TEE BATTLE OF BARROSA, ON THE 5TH OF MARCH, 1811
AND THE WORD
" PENINSULA,"
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE SERVICES OF THE SECOND BATTALION,
IN THE EAST OF SPAIN, FROM 1810 TO 1814.
(I 2
103
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
OK
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIKE KEGIMENT.
CONTP]NTS
OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD,
INTRODUCTION.
1758 Formation of the Regiment from second bat-
talion of the Twentieth Regiment . . 1
Appointment of Colonel James Wolfe to the
Colonelcy . 2
Uniform and Facing of the Regiment
Officers appointed ......
1759 Station of the Regiment .... 3
Appointment of Lieut.-Colonel Lord Frederick
Cavendish to the Colonelcy, in succession to
Major-General Wolfe, killed at the Battle of
Quebec
1760 Decease of King George II., and Accession of
George III. to the Throne ....
Appointment of Major-General Sir Henry Ers-
kine, Bart., to the Colonelcy, in succession
to Lord Frederick Cavendish, removed to the
34th Regiment ......
1761 Embarked with the expedition under the com-
mand of Major-General Hodgson . . . 4
Capture of Belle-Isle ...'.. 6
XXvi CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAH PAOE
1761 Congratulatory address to King George III.
from the Citizens of London ... 7
Appointment of Lieut-Colonel Hamilton Lam-
bert to the Colonelcy, in succession to Major-
General Sir Henry Erskine, removed to the
25th Regiment
1762 Embarked for Portugal ..... 8
1763 Treaty of Peace concluded at Fontainebleau .
Embarked to take possession of Minorca, on its
being restored to Great Britain ... 9
1768 Regulations, prescribed by Royal Warrant,
for maintaining uniformity in the clothing,
standards, and colours of regiments, &c. &c. .
1771 Embarked from Minorca for England . . 10
1773 Proceeded to Scotland
1774 Appointment of Lieut.-Colonel Edward Max-
well Brown to the Colonelcy, in succession to
Lieut. -General Hamilton Lambert, deceased .
1775 Embarked for Ireland
1782 Directed to assume the county title of South
Hampshire Regiment, in addition to its
numerical title ......
1785 Embarked for the West Indies .
1794 Returned to England
Proceeded to Ireland
1796 Embarked for St. Domingo to aid the planters
against the negro inhabitants ...
1798 Proceeded to Jamaica 11
1801 Re-embarked for England
1803 Appointment of Lieut.-General Francis D'Oyly
to the Colonelcy, in succession to General
Edward Maxwell Brown, deceased . .
Appointment of General Peter Craig to the
Colonelcy, in succession to Lieut-General
D'Oyly, deceased . . . -,..-.-,
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XXvii
YEAR PAOK
1803 Embarked for Ireland . V ' : -V ; ' . 12
A second battalion added to the regiment, and
formed from men raised in Ireland under the
Army of Reserve and Additional Force Acts
First battalion embarked for Guernsey . .
1804 embarked for Portsmouth . .
The regiment augmented to 1200 rank and file .
1805 The first - battalion embarked for the East
Indies .
Arrived at Bengal, and proceeded to Dinapore ;
thence to Benares, and to Ghazeepore . .
1811 Appointment of Lieut.-General Sir William
Keppel, G.C.B., to the Colonelcy, in succes-
sion to General Peter Craig, deceased . .
1813 Marched from Ghazeepore to Cawnpore . .
1815 Marched to Meerut 13
1817 Proceeded on field service, and joined the army
of reserve under Major-General Sir David
Ochterlony
1818 Embarked for Bombay
Six companies embarked for the Concan . .
Engaged in the siege and capture of Ryghur .
Four companies embarked for Surat ... 14
Capture of Nunderbar, and other towns and
forts
Embarked for the Deccan ....
Surrender of A mulneir and Behaitderpore . 15
1819 Proceeded to Asseerghur, and joined the force
under General Doveton . . . . 16
Surrender of the fortress of Asseerghur . . 18
Marched to Mallygaum 21
1820 Proceeded to Sholapore in the Deccan . .
1823 Proceeded to Poonah
1826 Embarked for Calcutta
Embarked for England 22
XXviii CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAGE
1826 Arrived at Chatham and proceeded to Windsor 22
Received the Royal Authority to bear on its
colours and appointments the figure of the
" Royal Tiger," with the word " India" su-
perscribed
1827 Marched from Windsor to Weedon ; thence to
Bolton, &c. &c
1828 Appointment of Major-General John Macdonald
to the Colonelcy, in succession to General Sir
William Keppel, removed to the 2nd Queen's
Royal Regiment
1830 Embarked for Ireland 23
1832 Formed into six service and four depot com-
panies .......
Service companies embarked for Gibraltar .
1833 Embarked for the West Indies
1840 Embarked for Canada
1842 Returned to England, and rejoined by the four
depot companies 24
1843 Proceeded from Plymouth to Weedon, and
thence to Manchester
1844 Appointment of Major-General John Clitherow
to the Colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.-
General Sir John Macdonald,G.C.B., removed
to the 42nd Regiment . . . . .
Embarked for Ireland
1846 Augmented to twelve companies, and formed into
two battalions ......
1848 The first and the reserve battalions embarked at
Cork for Gibraltar 25
Report of the Governor of Gibraltar on the
state of discipline and efficiency of the regi-
ment
Depot Company removed from Cork to the Isle
of Wight .-'. ' '. 26
( xxix )
CONTENTS
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE SERVICES OF THE
SECOND BATTALION
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT
YEAR PA OK
1803 Formed from men raised in Ireland under the
Army of Reserve Act 27
1804 Augmented by men raised under the Additional
Force Act 28
Embarked for Scotland
1807 Embarked for Guernsey and Alderney . .
1810 Six companies embarked for Gibraltar, and pro-
ceeded from thence to Cadiz ...
Four companies embarked from Guernsey for
England
181 1 The six companies formed part of the army em-
ployed on an expedition under the command
of Lieut.-General Thomas Graham . .
- Engaged in the Battle of Barrosa ... 29
Medals conferred on the general officers, and
the commanding officers of corps and detach-
ments, and on the chiefs of military depart-
ments, who were present at the Victory of
Barrosa ....... 35
XXX CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAOE
1811 Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
Barrosa on the colours and appointments . 36
- Returned to Cadiz ; - '; ' ' . . . . 37
Two companies embarked from Portsmouth, and
joined the six companies at Cadiz . .
1812 Embarked for Carthagena, and proceeded to
Alicant .......
1813 Proceeded with the army under Lieut-General
Sir John Murray against Tarragona . . 37
Capture of Fort San Philippe, in the Col de
Balaguer 38
- Siege of Tarragona raised .... 39
Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck assumed
the command of the army in the East of Spain, in
succession to Lieut.-General Sir John Murray
Re-embarked for Alicant ....
Investment and capture of Tarragona . .
Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck's services
required in Sicily; and Lieut.-General Wm.
Clinton succeeded to the command of the army 40
Marched into quarters at Vails, and thence to
Vendrills : . ^ . ., ' ~
1814 The French troops under Marshal Suchet with-
drew from Catalonia .....
The battalion marched to Barcelona, and formed
part of the force for the investment of that place
Hostilities ceased . . . .. . .
Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated the throne of
France .......
Louis XVIII. entered Paris, and ascended the
throne ,41
Order expressing the approbation of Field-
Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, of the
conduct of the division of the army employed
in the East of Spain . . . , .
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XXXI
YKAR PAOB
1814 The battalion proceeded from Barcelona to
Tarragona, and embarked for Gibraltar . 41
1815 Return of Napoleon Bonaparte from the Island
of Elba to France
War recommenced ......
Victory at Waterloo
Surrender of Napoleon Bonaparte, and his con-
veyance to St. Helena .....
The regiment received the Royal Authority to
bear the word Peninsula on the colours and
appointments ...... 42
1817 The battalion embarked from Gibraltar for
England
Arrived at Chatham, and marched to Canter-
bury, where it was disbanded on the 25th of
May, 1817
Conclusion 43
( xxxii )
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
YEAH PAGE
1758 James Wolfe . . . " ... *... .'..' - 45
1759 Lord Frederick Cavendish . ", ,,",'< ' ':*' 48
1760 Sir Henry Erskine, Bart. . . . , ; T-
1761 Hamilton Lambert 49
1774 Edward Maxwell Brown
1803 Francis D'Oyly 50
1803 Peter Craig 51
1811 Sir William Keppel. G.C.B
1828 Sir John Macdonald, G.C.B 52
1844 John Clitherow
PLATES.
Costume of the regiment .... to face page 1
Colours of the regiment 26
Death of Major-General James Wolfe, from wounds
received at the Battle of Quebec, on the 13th of
September, 1759 44
GENERAL ORDERS.
HORSE-GUARDS,
1st January, 1836.
His MAJESTY has been pleased to command that,
with the view of doing the fullest justice to Regi-
ments, as well as to Individuals who have dis-
tinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action
with the Enemy, an Account of the Services of
every Regiment in the British Army shall be pub-
lished under the superintendence and direction of
the Adjutant-General ; and that this Account shall
contain the following particulars, viz. :
The Period and Circumstances of the Original
Formation of the Regiment ; The Stations at which it
has been from time to time employed ; The Battles,
Sieges, and other Military Operations in which it has
been engaged, particularly specifying any Achieve-
ment it may have performed, and the Colours,
Trophies, &c., it may have captured from the
Enemy.
The Names of the Officers, and the number of
s Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates Killed or
Wounded by the Enemy, specifying the place and
Date of the Action.
a
11 GENERAL ORDERS.
The Names of those Officers who, in con-
sideration of their Gallant Services and Meritorious
Conduct in Engagements with the Enemy, have
been distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other
Marks of His Majesty's gracious favour.
The Names of all such Officers, Non-Com-
missioned Officers, and Privates, as may have
specially signalized themselves in Action.
And,
The Badges and Devices which the Regi-
ment may have been permitted to bear, and the
Causes on account of which such Badges or Devices,
or any other Marks of Distinction, have been
granted.
By Command of the Right Honorable
GENERAL LORD HILL,
Commanding -in- Chief.
JOHN MACDONALD,
Adjutant- General.
t ban ,?.*roffiO drfj 'lo 5'>ms*l
iBvh*! bn& e-issi&G bsnoigai
rTj S r jr ms maoa d dj 70
PREFACE.
THE character and credit of the British Army must
chiefly depend upon the zeal and ardour by which
all who enter into its service are animated, and
consequently it is of the highest importance that any
measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation,
by which alone great and gallant actions are achieved,
should be adopted.
Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment
of this desirable object than a full display of the noble
deeds with which the Military History of our country
abounds. To hold forth these bright examples to
the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to
incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those
who have preceded him in their honorable career,
are among the motives that have given rise to the
present publication.
The operations of the British Troops are, indeed,
announced in the " London Gazette," from whence
they are transferred into the public prints: the
achievements of our armies are thus made known at
the time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute
a 2
iv PREFACE.
of praise and admiration to which they are entitled.
On extraordinary occasions, the Houses of Parliament
have been in the habit of conferring on the Com-
manders, and the Officers and Troops acting under
their orders, expressions of approbation and of thanks
for their skill and bravery ; and these testimonials,
confirmed by the high honour of their Sovereign's
approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier
most highly prizes.
It has not, however, until late years, been the prac-
tice (which appears to have long prevailed in some of
the Continental armies) for British Regiments to keep
regular records of their services and achievements.
Hence some difficulty has been experienced in obtain-
ing, particularly from the old Regiments, an au-
thentic account of their origin and subsequent services.
This defect will now be remedied, in consequence
of His Majesty having been pleased to command
that every Regiment shall, in future, keep a full and
ample record of its services at home and abroad.
From the materials thus collected, the country
will henceforth derive information as to the difficulties
and privations which chequer the career of those who
embrace the military profession. In Great Britain,
where so large a number of persons are devoted to
the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures,
and commerce, and where these pursuits have, for so
PREFACE. V
long a period, being undisturbed by the presence of
war, which few other countries have escaped, com-
paratively little is known of the vicissitudes of active
service and of the casualties of climate, to which,
even during peace, the British Troops are exposed in
every part of the globe, with little or no interval of
repose.
In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which
the country derives from the industry and the enter-
prise of the agriculturist and the trader, its happy
inhabitants may be supposed not often to reflect on
the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor, on
their sufferings, and on the sacrifice of valuable life,
by which so many national benefits are obtained and
preserved.
The conduct of the British Troops, their valour,
and endurance, have shone conspicuously under great
and trying difficulties ; and their character has been
established in Continental warfare by the irresistible
spirit with which they have effected debarkations in
spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the
gallantry and steadiness with which they have main-
tained their advantages against superior numbers.
In the official Reports made by the respective Com-
manders, ample justice has generally been done to
the gallant exertions of the Corps employed; but
the details of their services and of acts of individual
VI PREFACE.
bravery can only be fully given in the Annals of the
various Regiments.
These Records are now preparing for publication,
under his Majesty's special authority, by Mr.
RICHARD CANNON, Principal Clerk of the Adjutant
General's Office ; and while the perusal of them can-
not fail to be useful and interesting to military men
of every rank, it is considered that they will also
afford entertainment and information to the general
reader, particularly to those who may have served in
the Army, or who have relatives in the Service.
There exists in the breasts of most of those who
have served, or are serving, in the Army, an Esprit
de Corps an attachment to everything belonging
to their Regiment ; to such persons a narrative of
the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove
interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions of
the great, the valiant, the loyal, have always been
of paramount interest with a brave and civilized
people. Great Britain has produced a race of heroes
who, in moments of danger and terror, have stood
" firm as the rocks of their native shore :" and when
half the world has been arrayed against them, they
have fought the battles of their Country with un-
shaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of
achievements in war, victories so complete and sur-
prising, gained by our countrymen, our brothers,
PREFACE. Vll
our fellow citizens in arras, a record which revives
the memory of the brave, and brings their gallant
deeds before us, will certainly prove acceptable to
the public.
Biographical Memoirs of the Colonels and other
distinguished Officers will be introduced in the
Records of their respective Regiments, and the
Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to
time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testify-
ing the value and importance of its services, will be
faithfully set forth.
As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record
of each Regiment will be printed in a distinct num-
ber, so that when the whole shall be completed, the
Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.
INTRODUCTION
THE INFANTRY.
THE natives of Britain have, at all periods, been
celebrated for innate courage and unshaken firmness,
and the national superiority of the British troops
over those of other countries has been evinced in
the midst of the most imminent perils. History con-
tains so many proofs of extraordinary acts of bravery,
that no doubts can be raised upon the facts which
are recorded. It must therefore be admitted, that
the distinguishing feature of the British soldier is
INTREPIDITY. This quality was evinced by the
inhabitants of England when their country was
invaded by Julius Caesar with a Roman army, on
which occasion the undaunted Britons rushed into
the sea to attack the Roman soldiers as they de-
scended from their ships ; and, although their dis-
cipline and arms were inferior to those of their
adversaries, yet their fierce and dauntless bearing
intimidated the flower of the Roman troops, in-
cluding Caesar's favourite tenth legion. Their arms
consisted of spears, short swords, and other weapons
of rude construction. They had chariots, to the
INTRODUCTION
axles of which were fastened sharp pieces of iron
resembling scythe-blades, and infantry in long
chariots resembling waggons, who alighted and
fought on foot, and for change of ground, pursuit
or retreat, sprang into the chariot and drove off
with the speed of cavalry. These inventions were,
however, unavailing against Caesar's legions : in
the course of time a military system, with dis-
cipline and subordination, was introduced, and
British courage, being thus regulated, was exerted
to the greatest advantage; a full development of
the national character followed, and it shone forth
in all its native brilliancy.
The military force of the Anglo-Saxons consisted
principally of infantry: Thanes, and other men of
property, however, fought on horseback. The
infantry were of two classes, heavy and light.
The former carried large shields armed with spikes,
long broad swords and spears ; and the latter were
armed with swords or spears only. They had also
men armed with clubs, others with battle-axes and
javelins.
The feudal troops established by William the
Conqueror consisted (as already stated in the Intro-
duction to the Cavalry) almost entirely of horse ;
but when the warlike barons and knights, with their
trains of tenants and vassals, took the field, a pro-
portion of men appeared on foot, and, although
these were of inferior degree, they proved stout-
hearted Britons of stanch fidelity. When stipen-
diary troops were employed, infantry always con-
stituted a considerable portion of the military force ;
TO THE INFANTRY.
and this arme has since acquired, in every quarter
of the globe, a celebrity never exceeded by the
armies of any nation at any period.
The weapons carried by the infantry, during the
several reigns succeeding the Conquest, were bows
and arrows, half-pikes, lances, halberds, various
kinds of battle-axes, swords, and daggers. Armour
was worn on the head and body, and in course of
time the practice became general for military men
to be so completely cased in steel, that it was
almost impossible to slay them.
The introduction of the use of gunpowder in the
destructive purposes of war, in the early part of the
fourteenth century, produced a change in the arms
and equipment of the infantry-soldier. Bows and
arrows gave place to various kinds of fire-arms, but
British archers continued formidable adversaries ;
and, owing to the inconvenient construction and im-
perfect bore of the fire-arms when first introduced,
a body of men, well trained in the use of the bow
from their youth, was considered a valuable acqui-
sition to every army, even as late as the sixteenth
century.
During a great part of the reign of Queen Eliza-
beth each company of infantry usually consisted of
men armed five different ways ; in every hundred
men forty were "men-at-arms," and sixty "shot;"
the " men-at-arms" were ten halberdiers, or battle-
axe men, and thirty pikemen ; and the " shot" were
twenty archers, twenty musketeers, and twenty
harquebusiers, and each man carried, besides his
principal weapon, a sword and dagger.
XI 1 INTRODUCTION
Companies of infantry varied at this period in
numbers from 150 to 300 men ; each company had
a colour or ensign, and the mode of formation re-
commended by an English military writer (Sir John
Smithe) in 1590 was : the colour in the centre of
the company guarded by the halberdiers ; the pike-
men in equal proportions, on each flank of the
halberdiers: half the musketeers on each flank of
the pikes ; half the archers on each flank of the mus-
keteers, and the harquebusiers (whose arms were
much lighter than the muskets then in use) in equal
proportions on each flank of the company for skirmish-
ing.* It was customary to unite a number of com-
panies into one body, called a REGIMENT, which
frequently amounted to three thousand men : but
each company continued to carry a colour. Nume-
rous improvements were eventually introduced in the
construction of fire-arms, and, it having been found
impossible to make armour proof against the muskets
then in use (which carried a very heavy ball) without
its being too weighty for the soldier, armour was
gradually laid aside by the infantry in the seven-
teenth century : bows and arrows also fell into dis-
use, and the infantry were reduced to two classes,
viz.: musketeers, armed with matchlock muskets,
* A company of 200 men would appear thus :
20 20 20 30 2K) 30 20 20 20
Harquebuses. Archers. Muskets. Pikes. Halberds. Pikes. Muskets. Archers. Harquebuses.
The musket carried a 1 all which weighed T ' th of a pound ; and the
harquebus a ball which weighed jj s th of a pound.
TO THE INFANTRY. Xlll
swords, and daggers; and pikemen, armed with pikes
from fourteen to eighteen feet long, and swords.
In the early part of the seventeenth century
Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, reduced the
strength of regiments to 1000 men. He caused the
gunpowder, which had heretofore been carried in
flasks, or in small wooden bandoliers, each contain-
ing a charge, to be made up into cartridges, and
carried in pouches; and he formed each regiment
into two wings of musketeers, and a centre division
of pikemen. He also adopted the practice of form-
ing four regiments into a brigade ; and the number
of colours was afterwards reduced to three in each
regiment. He formed his columns so compactly that
his infantry could resist the charge of the celebrated
Polish horsemen and Austrian cuirassiers ; and his
armies became the admiration of other nations. His
mode of formation was copied by the English,
French, and other European states ; but so great
was the prejudice in favour of ancient customs, that
all his improvements were not adopted until near a
century afterwards.
In 1664 King Charles II. raised a corps for sea-
service, styled the Admiral's regiment. In 1678
each company of 100 men usually consisted of 30
pikemen, 60 musketeers, and 10 men armed with
light firelocks. In this year the King added a com-
pany of men armed with hand grenades to each of
the old British regiments, which was designated the
" grenadier company." Daggers were so contrived
as to fit in the muzzles of the muskets, and bayonets,
Xiv INTRODUCTION
similar to those at present in use, were adopted about
twenty years afterwards.
An Ordnance regiment was raised in 1685, by
order of King James II., to guard the artillery, and
was designated the Royal Fusiliers (now 7th Foot).
This corps, and the companies of grenadiers, did
not carry pikes.
King William III. incorporated the Admiral's
regiment in the second Foot Guards, and raised
two Marine regiments for sea-service. During the
war in this reign, each company of infantry (ex-
cepting the fusiliers and grenadiers) consisted of 14
pikemen and 46 musketeers; the captains carried
pikes ; lieutenants, partisans ; ensigns, half-pikes ;
and Serjeants, halberds. After the peace in 1697 the
Marine regiments were disbanded, but were again
formed on the breaking out of the war in 1702.*
During the reign of Queen Anne the pikes were
laid aside, and every infantry soldier was armed
with a musket, bayonet, and sword ; the grenadiers
ceased, about the same period, to carry hand gre-
nades ; and the regiments were directed to lay aside
their third colour : the corps of Royal Artillery was
first added to the Army in this reign.
About the year 1745, the men of the battalion
companies of infantry ceased to carry swords ; during
* The 30th, 31st, and 32nd Regiments were formed as Marine corps
in 1702, and were employed as such during the wars in the reign of
Queen Anne. The Marine corps were embarked in the Fleet under
Admiral Sir George Rooke, and were at the taking of Gibraltar, and
in its subsequent defence in 1704 ; they were afterwards employed at
the siege of Barcelona in 1705.
TO THE INFANTRY. XV
the reign of George II. light companies were added
to infantry regiments ; and in 1 764 a Board of
General Officers recommended that the grenadiers
should lay aside their swords, as that weapon had
never been used during the Seven Years' War. Since
that period the arms of the infantry soldier have been
limited to the musket and bayonet.
The arms and equipment of the British Troops have
seldom differed materially, since the Conquest, from
those of other European states ; and in some respects
the arming has, at certain periods, been allowed to
be inferior to that of the nations with whom they
have had to contend ; yet, under this disadvantage,
the bravery and superiority of the British infantry
have been evinced on very many and most trying
occasions, and splendid victories have been gained
over very superior numbers.
Great Britain has produced a race of lion-like
champions who have dared to confront a host of
foes, and have proved themselves valiant with any
arms. At Crecy, King Edward III., at the head of
about 30,000 men, defeated, on the 26th of August,
1346, Philip King of France, whose army is said to
have amounted to 100,000 men ; here British valour
encountered veterans of renown : the King of Bo-
hemia, the King of Majorca, and many princes and
nobles were slain, and the French army was routed
and cut to pieces. Ten years afterwards, Edward
Prince of Wales, who was designated the Black
Prince, defeated, at Poictiers, with 14,000 men,
a French army of 60,000 horse, besides infantry,
and took John I., King of France, and his son
XVI INTRODUCTION
Philip, prisoners. On the 25th of October, 1415,
King Henry V., with an army of about 13,000
men, although greatly exhausted by marches, pri-
vations, and sickness, defeated, at Agincourt, the
Constable of France, at the head of the flower of
the French nobility and an army said to amount to
60,000 men, and gained a complete victory.
During the seventy years' war between the United
Provinces of the Netherlands and the Spanish mo-
narchy, which commenced in 1578 and terminated
in 1648, the British infantry in the service of the
States-General were celebrated for their uncon-
querable spirit and firmness;* and in the thirty
years' war between the Protestant Princes and the
Emperor of Germany, the British Troops in the ser-
vice of Sweden and other states were celebrated for
deeds of heroism. f In the wars of Queen Anne,
the fame of the British army under the great
MARLBOROUGH was spread throughout the world ;
and if we glance at the achievements performed
within the memory of persons now living, there is
abundant proof that the Britons of the present age
are not inferior to their ancestors in the qualities
* The brave Sir Roger Williams, in his Discourse on War, printed
in 1590, observes : " I persuade myself ten thousand of our nation
would beat thirty thousand of theirs (the Spaniards) out of the field,
let them be chosen where they list." Yet at this time the Spanish
infantry was allowed to be the best disciplined in Europe. For
instances of valour displayed by the British Infantry during the
Seventy Years' War, see the Historical Record of the Third Foot, or
Buffs.
f Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of
Foot.
TO THE INFANTRY. 3.vii
which constitute good soldiers. Witness the deeds
of the brave men, of whom there are many now
surviving, who fought in Egypt in 1801, under the
brave Abercromby, and compelled the French army,
which had been vainly styled Invincible, to eva-
cuate that country ; also the services of the gallant
Troops during the arduous campaigns in the Penin-
sula, under the immortal WELLINGTON; and the
determined stand made by the British Army at
Waterloo, where Napoleon Bonaparte, who had
long been the inveterate enemy of Great Britain,
and had sought and planned her destruction by
every means he could devise, was compelled to
leave his vanquished legions to their fate, and to
place himself at the disposal of the British Govern-
ment. These achievements, with others of recent
dates, in the distant climes of India, prove that the
same valour and constancy which glowed in the
breasts of the heroes of Crecy, Poictiers, Agincourt,
Blenheim, and Ramilies, continue to animate the
Britons of the nineteenth century.
The British Soldier is distinguished for a robust
and muscular frame, intrepidity which no danger
can appal, unconquerable spirit and resolution,
patience in fatigue and privation, and cheerful obe-
dience to his superiors. These qualities, united with
an excellent system of order and discipline to regu-
late and give a skilful direction to the energies and
adventurous spirit of the hero, and a wise selection
of officers of superior talent to command, whose
presence inspires confidence, have been the leading
causes of the splendid victories gained by the British
b
XV111 INTRODUCTION
arms.* The fame of the deeds of the past and
present generations in the various battle- fields where
the robust sons of Albion have fought and conquered,
surrounds the British arms with a halo of glory;
these achievements will live in the page of history to
the end of time.
The records of the several regiments will be found
to contain a detail of facts of an interesting character,
connected with the hardships, sufferings, and gallant
exploits of British soldiers in the various parts of the
world where the calls of their Country and the com-
mands of their Sovereign have required them to
proceed in the execution of their duty, whether in
* " Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes
the successes which have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt to
that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons ; but His Majesty
desires it may be most solemnly and forcibly impressed on the considera-
tion of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of
order, discipline, and military system, which has given the full energy to
the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert
the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncom-
monly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty." General
Orders in 1801.
In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope (after-
vards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the successful result
of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January, 1809, it is stated : " On
no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more
manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, ren-
dered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and
which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disad-
vantages were to be encountered. These have all been surmounted by
the conduct of the troops themselves: and the enemy has been taught,
that whatever advantages of position or of numbers he may possess, there
is inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows not
how to yield, that no circumstances can appal, and that will ensure
victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.
TO THE INFANTRY. XIX
active continental operations, or in maintaining colo-
nial territories in distant and unfavourable climes.
The superiority of the British infantry has been
pre-eminently set forth in the wars of six centuries,
and admitted by the greatest commanders which
Europe has produced. The formations and move-
ments of this arme, as at present practised, while
they are adapted to every species of warfare, and to
all probable situations and circumstances of service,
are calculated to show forth the brilliancy of military
tactics calculated upon mathematical and scientific
principles. Although the movements and evolutions
have been copied from the continental armies, yet
various improvements have from time to time been
introduced, to insure that simplicity and celerity by
which the superiority of the national military cha-
racter is maintained. The rank and influence which
Great Britain has attained among the nations of the
world, have in a great measure been purchased by
the valour of the Army, and to persons who have the
welfare of their country at heart, the records of the
several regiments cannot fail to prove interesting.
SIXTT
KJitl*.**
Mn^
Fer Cantum,<i Military Rtceriis
HISTORICAL RECORD
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
THE French Government having failed to fulfil the con- 1756
ditions stipulated ia the Treaty of A A- 1 - Chapelle,
and having committed certain encroachments on the British
Territories in North America, and other acts of aggres-
sion, King George II. again prepared for war, which was
proclaimed against France on the 18th of May, 1758.
The Army and Navy were consequently increased, and,
among other augmentations, fifteen of the regiments of
infantry were authorised to raise second battalions from
the 25th of August, 1756.*
* 3rd Foot, 2nd Battalion, constituted the Gist Regiment.
4th
62nd Regiment.
8th
63rd Regiment.
llth
64th Regiment.
12th
65th Regiment.
19th
f 66th Regiment.
20th
67th Regiment.
23rd
68th Regiment.
24th
69th Regiment.
31st
, 70th Regiment.
32nd
71st Regiment.
33rd
^
72nd Regiment.
34th
t 73rd Regiment.
36th
>
74th Regiment.
37th
75th Regiment.
The 71st
72nd, 73rd, 74th, and 75th regiments, were disbanded
after the peace of Fontainebleau in 1763.
2 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1758 In 1758, these additional battalions were formed into
distinct corps, and numbered from the sixty-first to
the seventh-fifth regiments. By this arrangement the
second battalion of the Twentieth regiment was con-
stituted the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, and His Majesty
was pleased to confer the colonelcy on Colonel James
Wolfe, on the 21st of April of that year, from the Twen-
tieth (Kingsley's) regiment in which he had served from
1749, and which had acquired, under his command, a high
character for its exactness of discipline and other useful
qualities.
The SIXTY-SEVENTH, being thus formed from the
Twentieth regiment, assumed the pale yellow facing as
worn by the Twentieth, which it has since retained.
The following officers were appointed to commissions
in the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on its formation from the
21st of April, 1758.
Colonel, . . . James Wolfe . . . from 20th Regt.
Lieut. -Colonel, . Robert Robinson . . from 20th Regt.
Major, . . . Thomas Bowyer . . from 14th Foot.
Captains.
Chas. Veaitch, from 20th Regt.
Edw. Goodenough, ditto
William Delaune, ditto
James Dunne, ditto
Lieutenants.
Thos. Osborne, from 20th Regt.
John Baldwin, from 51st Regt.
Geo. Sherwin, from 20th Regt.
James Nesbitt, from 20th Regt.
George Smith, from 20th
William Dughe, ditto
William Yorke, ditto
William Edwards, ditto
Philip Hales, ditto
Francis Raper, ditto
Henry Nesbit, ditto
Freeheville Dykes, ditto
Thos. Wilkinson, ditto
Marmaduke Green, ditto
Alexander Rose, ditto
John Gardner, ditto
John Matson, ditto
John Cane, ditto Despard Croasdale, ditto
Richard Faulkner, ditto
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
Ensigns.
Wm. Massey, from 20th Regt.
Thomas Barker, ditto
George Sladdan.
Robert Griffiths.
Thomas Lowe.
Joseph Collings, ditto
Iloyston Barton, ditto
Quarter- Master, . James Kirkman.
Chaplain', . . . George Carleton.
Surgeon, . . . Joseph Harris, from 20th Regiment.
Adjutant, . . . James England, ditto
After its formation as a distinct regiment, the SIXTY- 1759
SEVENTH remained at various stations in England during
the years 1759 and 1760. Its Colonel, James Wolfe, had
been appointed, in January, 1758, Brigadier- General in
North America, and afterwards distinguished himself in
the operations preceding the capture of Cape Breton,
which surrendered on the 26th of July, 1758, and again
in the expedition against Quebec, when he died of the
wounds received at the battle on the heights of Abraham,
above Quebec, on the 13th of September, 1759.
On the 24th of October, 1759, His Majesty was pleased
to confer the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment
on Lieut.-Colonel Lord Frederick Cavendish, from the
First Foot Guards, in succession to Major- General James
Wolfe, deceased.
The decease of King George II. occurred on the 25th
of October, 1760, and on the day following His Majesty
George III., grandson of the late Sovereign, was proclaimed
King of Great Britain and Ireland.
On the 30th of October, 1760, His Majesty King 1760
George III. was pleased to remove Colonel Lord Frede-
rick Cavendish to the Thirty-fourth regiment, and to ap-
point Major-General Sir Henry Erskine, Bart., to succeed
him as Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment.
In the spring of 1761 the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment 1761
formed part of the force selected to proceed, under the
4 HISTORICAL KECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1761 command of Major-General Studholme Hodgson, against
Belle-Isle, a French island in the Bay of Biscay, off the
coast of Brittany. Major-General Hodgson had the
undermentioned officers and regiments placed under his
orders, which amounted to nearly nine thousand men :
Major-General John Craufurd ; Brigadier- Generals
William Rufane, Hamilton Lambert (afterwards Colonel
of the SIXTY-SEVENTH), Guy Carleton, Honorable William
Howe, Robert Douglas, and Philip Jennings ; Deputy-
Adjutant- General Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Spencer
Wilson, Bart. ; Deputy -Quarter master- General Lieu-
tenant Colonel Lewis Thomas.
REGIMENTS. COMMANDING OFFICERS. MEN.
16th Light Dragoons
Lieut.-Col. Burgoyne
200
9th Foot
R. Phillips . . .
800
19th ditto
R. Douglas . . .
800
21st ditto
Edw. Maxwell . .
800
30th ditto
,, John Jennings .
800
67th ditto
,, Thomas Shirley .
800
69th ditto
,, Christopher Teesdale
800
76th ditto*
., D. Erskine . . .
1300
85th ditto, 1st Batt.
,, Viscount Pulteney .
700
90th ditto* . . .
,, Hugh Morgan .
500
97 th ditto* Lieut.-Col. Commandant J. Stuart . . . .
600
98th ditto* , Major Purcell . .
600
8,700
The expedition appeared before Belle- Isle on the 7th of
April, and a landing was attempted on the following day ;
but the whole island appeared like one vast fortress ; the
little which nature had left undone by rocks and crags,
having been supplied by art ; so that when the grenadiers
gained the shore, the enemy was discovered so strongly
fortified, that no efforts of the few men which could be
landed at once, were of any avail. A boat of Erskine's
grenadiers (SIXTY-SEVENTH), commanded by Captain
* Disbanded in 1763.
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 5
1761
Thomas Osborne, landed at a point, and drew up un-
discovered. His situation flanked the enemy, but no
other boat followed. The French immediately came out,
and Captain Osborne advanced to meet them. Twice
brought to the ground by a shot, he pressed on, and
approached so close to the enemy, that he exchanged
thrusts with the French officer in command. The English
fired, and then charged with the bayonet. The com-
manders on both sides were killed, when the English,
being without leaders, were unable to maintain their
position. Attempts to secure a landing on other points
of the island being 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 this attempt,
and about five hundred men were lost in killed, wounded,
and missing.
Commodore Keppel stated in his letter, of the 13th of
April, 1761, to the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Pitt,
afterwards created the Earl of Chatham, that
" One of the flat boats landed sixty of Erskine's
" grenadiers (SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment), who got up a
" very difficult place to the top of the hills, where they
" formed with great skill, but were so immediately
" routed by a much more numerous body of the enemy,
" that all attempts to succour them were ineffectual, any
" further than the boats bringing from the rocks about,
" twenty of them." On the 8th of April, 1761, the
SIXTY-SEVENTH had Captain Thomas Osborne and Lieu-
tenant John Gardner killed. Lieutenants Marmaduke
Green and William Herdsman were taken prisoners.
The other casualties were, two Serjeants, one drummer, and
six rank and file killed ; and sixteen rank and file wounded.
Major-General Hodgson subsequently received the fol-
lowing reinforcements :
6 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1761 REGIMENTS. COMMANDING OFFICERS. MEN.
3rd Foot .... Major J. Biddulph 800
36th ditto .... Lieut.-Col. W. Preston . . . . 800
75th ditto*. ... C. Parry .... 800
85th ditto, 2nd Batt.* . Major Sir Hugh Williams . . . 600
3000
and another attempt to effect a landing was resolved upon.
Brigadier-General Hamilton Lambert, on the 22nd of
April, 1761, effected a landing on the rocks near Point
Lomaria, where the difficulty of ascending the precipice
had made the enemy least attentive to that part. Beau-
clerk's grenadiers (Nineteenth foot), with Captain Pat-
terson 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 gre-
nadiers, however, maintained their ground till the re-
mainder 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.f
* Disbanded in 1763.
t On the 17th June, 1761, the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council
assembled, waited on His Majesty, and the Recorder, Sir William
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 7
On the 29th of May, 1761, Major-General Sir Henry 1761
Erskine was removed to the Twenty-fifth regiment, and
King George III. was pleased to promote Lieut.-Colonel
Moreton, spoke the following address, referring to the capture of
Belle-Isle;
To the King's most excellent Majesty. The humble Address of the
Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in
Common Council assembled,
Most Gracious Sovereign,
With reverential awe and gratitude to the Supreme Giver of all
victory, we, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the
Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of your City of London, in
Common Council assembled, humbly approach your Royal Presence,
to express our joy and exultation on the entire reduction of the im-
portant island of Belle-Isle, by the conduct, intrepidity, and per-
severance of your Majesty's land and naval forces : a conquest
which, after more than one fruitless attempt in former times, seems
to have been reserved by Divine Providence to grace the auspicious
beginning of your Majesty's reign, and confirms our hopes of a long
continuance of wise, steady, and successful measures.
A blow so humiliating to the pride and power of France, cannot
but impress that haughty nation with a due sense of the superiority
of a Patriot King ruling over a free, brave, and united people, and
will, we trust, convince them of the danger of delaying to accept
such terms of peace as Your Majesty's equity, wisdom, and modera-
tion shall think fit to prescribe.
What therefore have we more to wish, but that Your Majesty
may long, very long, continue the guardian and protector of the
religious, civil, and commercial rights of Great Britain and her
Colonies; and that Your Majesty's wisdom may ever be seconded
by equally faithful arid spirited councils ; and your commands
executed with no less ardour, emulation, and success.
On our part, permit us humbly to assure Your Majesty, that
your faithful citizens of London will, with unwearied zeal and cheer-
fulness, contribute to support a vigorous prosecution of this just and
necessary war ; until Your Majesty, having sufficiently vindicated the
honor of your Crown, and secured the trade, navigation, and pos-
sessions of your subjects, shall enjoy the blessing and the glory of
giving repose to Europe, of wholly attending to and promoting the
virtue and happiness of your people, and of cultivating all the softer
arts of peace.
Signed by Order of the Court,
JAMES HODGES.
8 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY- SEVENTH,
1761 Hamilton Lambert, from the Thirty-first regiment, to the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, as a reward for his gallantry at
the capture of Belle- Isle.
1762 While success attended the arms of Great Britain, in
various parts of the world, the Sovereigns of France and
Spain were negotiating a compact, which gave a new
turn to the nature of the war; and the two crowns
attempted to coerce Portugal to unite in their designs
against Great Britain. Portugal at this period was
particularly weak ; the capital, Lisbon, had been
destroyed by an earthquake five years previously, when
nearly thirty thousand inhabitants had been buried in its
ruins. This disaster had been followed by a conspiracy
against the life of the King, while the country was shaken
by internal commotions ; at the same time the military
force of the kingdom was weak in numbers, scantily
furnished with arms, and without experienced officers.
Notwithstanding these adverse circumstances, the King of
Portugal resolved to adhere to his ancient alliance with
Great Britain ; and in consequence of this decision,
France and Spain declared war against him. A powerful
Spanish army assembled on the frontiers, and threatened
to crush the Portuguese, when a military force, with
artillery, arms, stores, provisions, and money, was
furnished by Great Britain to assist its faithful ally ; and
the SIXTY-SEVENTH, which had returned with the
expedition from the coast of France, was one of the
regiments selected for service in Portugal.
The regiment proceeded to Portugal, and continued in
that country until the termination of hostilities by the
treaty of Fontainebleau, the preliminary articles of which
were signed by the Duke of Bedford at Fontainebleau, on
the 3rd of November, 1762.
1763 Peace was proclaimed in London on the 22nd of March,
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 9
1763, and by its provisions it was settled that the Island 1763
of Minorca, which had been captured by the French in
April, 1756, should be restored to Great Britain. The
SIXTY-SEVENTH and the Third foot from Portugal,
the Eleventh, Thirty-third, and Thirty -seventh regiments
from Germany, and the Fifty-seventh from Gibraltar,
were embarked in order to form the garrison of
Minorca.*
In the Royal Warrant of King George III. dated 19th of 1768
December, 1768, containing regulations for the colours,
clothing, &c. of the regiments of foot, it was directed that the
regimental colour of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment should
be pale yellow, being similar to the colours of the Twentieth
regiment, from which it was formed. The SIXTY-SEVENTH
remained on duty at Minorca until July, 1771, when the
Third, Eleventh, and SIXTY-SEVENTH regiments embarked
* Minorca, an island in the Mediterranean, on the eastern coast
of Spain, is about thirty miles in length and twelve in breadth, arid
is chiefly valuable for the excellent harbour of Port Mahon. In
September, 1708, Minorca was taken by Admiral Leake and a land
force under Lieut. -General Stanhope, after a siege of about three
weeks. The island was ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of
Utrecht, and remained in its possession until 1756, when, in April of
that year, it was besieged by the French, under Marshal the Duke
de Richelieu. After a brave defence by the Governor, General
Blakeney, the garrison surrendered, and in consideration of their
gallantry were permitted to march out with all the honours of war.
At the peace of Fontainebleau, in 1763, Minorca was restored to the
English in exchange for Belle-Isle. In February, 1782, the gar-
rison, under the Governor, Lieut. -General the Honorable James
Murray, after suffering severely from sickness, surrendered to the
Duke de Crillon, the Commander-in-Chief of the combined French
and Spanish forces, and Minorca was retained by Spain by the
treaty of peace of 1783. Minorca again surrendered to a British
force under General the Honorable Charles Stuart, on the 15th of
November, 1798; and at the peace of Amiens, in 1802, Minorca
was restored to the Spaniards, under whose sway it remains at the
present period.
10 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1771 for England, on being relieved by the Royals (second
battalion), the Fifty-first and Sixty-first regiments.
1773 In the year 1773 the regiment proceeded to Scotland,
where it remained until the year 1775.
1774 On the decease of Lieut-General Hamilton Lambert
in 1774, His Majesty was pleased to promote Lieut.-
Colonel Edward Maxwell Brown, from the Twenty-first,
Royal North British Fusiliers, to the colonelcy of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the llth of March, 1774.
1775 The regiment embarked for Ireland in 1775, to replace
the Forty-second, Royal Highland regiment, and continued
on duty in that country until the year 1785.
17b2 On the 31st of August, 1782, His Majesty directed that
the regiment should be designated the SIXTY-SEVENTH,
or the SOUTH HAMPSHIRE regiment, with a view that a
connexion might be cultivated between the corps and that
county, in order to promote the success of the recruiting
service.
1785 Early in the year 1785 the regiment embarked from
Ireland for the West Indies, to relieve the Fifty-fifth
regiment.
The regiment proceeded from Barbadoes to Antigua
in the autumn of 1785.
1788 During the years 1788, 1789, 1790, 1791, and 1792,
the regiment was stationed at Grenada.
1793 In the year 1793 the regiment was stationed at
Barbadoes, and in July, 1794, returned to Great Britain :
the regiment subsequently proceeded to Ireland.
1796 On the 25th of February, 1796, the SIXTY-SEVENTH
regiment embarked from Ireland for the island of St.
Domingo. An expedition had proceeded to St. Domingo
in 1794, in order to aid the planters against the persecution
of the negro inhabitants, who had imbibed the doctrines
of liberty and equality, propagated at that period. The
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 11
distracted state of France afforded the inhabitants no 1796
prospect of relief, and they were therefore desirous of
placing themselves under the protection of Great Britain.
Much resistance was experienced from the negroes, and
the English took possession of Port-au-Prince, the capital
of St. Domingo, now the republic of Hayti ; but no
effectual steps could be taken for the reduction of the
island, as the yellow fever destroyed the Europeans with
frightful rapidity on their arrival on its fatal coast : the
British evacuated the place in 1798.
Towards the end of the year 1798 the regiment pro- 1798
ceeded from St. Domingo to Jamaica, after having
suffered severely by disease at the former island.
On the 21st of October, 1801, the regiment embarked at 1801
Jamaica for England, greatly reduced in numbers from
the effects of the climate of the West Indies.
During the year 1802, the regiment was stationed in 1802
South Britain.
On the 25th February, 1803, His Majesty was pleased 1803
to appoint Lieut.-General Francis D'Oyly, from Colonel
Commandant of the Fifteenth foot, to the colonelcy of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the decease of General
Edward Maxwell Brown ; and on the 9th of March fol-
lowing General Peter Craig was appointed Colonel of the
regiment, in succession to Lieut.-General D'Oyly, whose
decease occurred on the 4th of March, 1803.
In consequence of the renewal of war with France,
and the extensive preparations made in the ports of that
country, particularly at Dunkirk and Boulogne, for
carrying into effect the threatened invasion of Great
Britain, the most active measures were adopted by the
British Government to frustrate the designs of the French
ruler. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1803 for
raising men for limited service in Great Britain and
Ireland, which was termed the Army of Reserve Act, and
12 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY- SEVENTH,
1803 the men so raised were formed into additional and dis-
tinct battalions.
The SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, which had embarked
for Ireland in the beginning of 1803, was authorised to
receive men raised in Ireland under the Army of Reserve
Act, and a Second Battalion was added to the establish-
ment on the 9th of July, 1803.
On the 13th of October the first battalion embarked
at Dundalk for Guernsey, where it arrived on the 25th
of November following.
1804 About the middle of November, 1804, the regiment
was removed from the island of Guernsey to Portsmouth,
where it arrived on the 30th of November.
1805 On the 25th of March, 1805, the regiment was aug-
mented to an establishment of 64 Serjeants, 22 drum-
mers, and 1 200 rank and file.
From Portsmouth the first battalion embarked on the
22nd of April, 1805, for the East Indies, and arrived in
the Presidency of Bengal on the 15th of September of
the same year.
1807 In December, 1807, the SIXTY-SEVENTH proceeded
from Fort William to Dinapore, at which station the
regiment arrived in March following.
1810 The regiment marched for Benares, in January, 1810,
and from thence to Ghazeepore.
1811 In January, 1811, the regiment again proceeded to
Benares, and returned to Ghazeepore in the month of
February of that year.
Lieut-General Sir William Keppel, G.C.B., Colonel
Commandant of the Sixtieth, was appointed by His Ma-
jesty Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 7th
of February, 181 1, on the decease of General Peter Craig.
1813 The regiment proceeded from Ghazeepore to Cawnpore
in January, 1813.
1815 On the 10th of October, 1815, the regiment marched
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 13
from Cawnpore to Meerut, where it arrived on the 7th 1815
of November.
The first battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment 1817
marched from Meerut on the 15th of October, 1817, on
field service, and joined the army of reserve under the
command of Major-General Sir David Ochterlony. On
the 27th of November, the first battalion marched from
Rewarree, with the reserve of the grand army, to Jeypoor,
a city which derives its name from its founder Sevai Jye
Singh, a celebrated Hindoo warrior and statesman.
The battalion marched from Dungurter to Oojein in 1818
the middle of February, where it joined the Bombay
division of the army, under Major-General Sir William
Grant Keir, on the 7th of March. It proceeded from
Oojein for Baroda on the 13th of March ; and on the
9th of April following, marched from Baroda to Tankaira,
being the first regiment of His Majesty's army that crossed
the Peninsula of India. It embarked for Bombay, where
the battalion arrived on the 23rd of April.
On the 30th of April, 1818, six companies embarked
from Bombay for the southern Concan,* and were
present at the siege and surrender of the strong fortress of
Ryghur on the 10th of May following. This important
stronghold is situated upon the Ghauts which bound the
eastern frontier of the Concan, in a line between Poonah
and Bancoote, and was one of the fortresses which the
Peishwah, Bajee Rao, had surrendered on the 8th of May,
1817, as a pledge of his sincerity. Notwithstanding
the stupendous height and extensive area on the top
of the fortress, shells were thrown into every part of it,
and the palace set on fire, which greatly tended to
* The Concan is the territory situated between the range of hills
which bounds the Deccan on the west and the sea-coast, and is now
under the Bombay Government.
14 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1818 determine the enemy to surrender. The garrison held
out a flag for terms, and after three days of communica-
tion and treaty, Lieut. -Colonel David Prother, C.B., of the
Ninth Native Infantry, was induced to allow the garrison
honorable terms, permitting them to march out with their
arms and private property, on the 10th of May. The wife
of His Highness the late Peishwah was found in the fort
on taking possession, and public property, in specie, to
the amount of five lacs.
Lieut.-Colonel Prother stated in Brigade Orders on
the 12th of May
" The surrender of the fortress of Ryghur having closed
" the operations, the Commanding Officer has peculiar
" pleasure in offering a public acknowledgment to the
" merits of those by whom this event has been so much
" accelerated. . .
" Although Major Benjafield and the detachment of
" His Majesty's SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, did not arrive
*' until nearly the end of the siege, yet the share taken by
" them fully deserves the Commanding Officer's thanks."
The six companies of the SIXTY- SEVENTH regiment
returned to head-quarters on the 26th of May.
On the llth of May, four companies embarked from
Bombay for Surat, and were present on the 8th, 18th,
21st, and 28th of June, when possession was taken of the
towns and forts of Nunderbar, Cokermundaye, Toulodah,
and Kopriel.
In the middle of September the first battalion embarked
in three divisions for the Deccan, and arrived at
Seroor on the 5th of October following; on the 30th
of October the regiment marched from Seroor, and
arrived at Mallygaum, the head-quarters of the troops in
Candeish, on the 1 1th of November. Colonel Huskinson,*
* Now Lieut.-General Samuel Huskinson.
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 15
of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, being the senior officer, assumed 1818
the command of the troops.
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name
and on the behalf of His Majesty, was pleased, on the
24th of October, 1818, to appoint Lieut.-Colonel John
Frederick Ewart, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, to
which he had exchanged from half-pay of the Fifth West
India regiment, on the 5th of February, 1818, a Companion
of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.
The force commanded by Colonel S. Huskinson, of
which the SIXTY- SEVENTH formed part, marched on the
25th of November for the attack of the towns and forts of
Amulneir and Behauderpore, which surrendered at discre-
tion on the 30th of November and the 1st of December, and
of which possession was taken, the first place by the flank
companies of the regiment, and the latter by the auxiliary
horse under Captain Swanton.
Colonel Huskinson, commanding the troops at Candeish,
in his despatch to the Resident, the Honorable Mount-
stuart Elphinstone, dated Camp before Amulneir, 30th
of November, 1818, stated,
" It gives me the greatest satisfaction to have to
" announce to you, for the information of the Most Noble
" the Governor- General in India, that the fort of Amulneir
"surrendered unconditionally to the force I have the
" honor to command, about noon this day, where, as soon
" after as possible, Brevet Major Owen, of His Majesty's
" SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, by my orders, occupied the
" whole of the gates and fort with part of the flank
" companies of that regiment. This service, I am happy
" to say, was effected without firing a shot. May I
" request your orders respecting the disposal of Ally
" Jemadar and his followers, who are now prisoners in
" camp."
16 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1818 Here the four companies, which left head-quarters in
May, rejoined the regiment.
Leaving Amulneir on the 4th of December, the SIXTY-
SEVENTH proceeded to Malligaum, where the battalion
arrived on the 14th of that month.
1819 The SIXTY-SEVENTH marched for Amulneir, with the
force under the command of Colonel Huskinson, on the
25th of February, 1819. On the 3rd of March eight
companies of the regiment, under Brevet Lieut.-Colonel
Maxwell,* proceeded to Asseerghur, and joined the force
under Brigadier-General Doveton, before the fortress of
Asseerghur^ which, on account of its strength, has been
designated the " Gibraltar of the East."
The fortress of Asseerghur, which had been held by
one of Scindiah's refractory chiefs, is situated on a detached
hill between the rivers Nerbudda and Tapty : it consists
of an upper and lower fort ; the upper one is of an
irregular form, about 1100 yards from east to west, and
about 600 from north to south ; it crowns the top of the
hill, which is about 750 feet in height ; a perpendicular
precipice from 80 to 120 feet, surmounted with a low
wall full of loopholes, surrounds it, with the exception of
one place, which is strongly fortified. Below are two
lines of works, the outer one forming the lower fort,
which rises directly above the Pettah,| and the entrance
to which is protected by strong gateways and flanking
works. Immense labour and great skill had been em-
ployed to render this naturally strong post almost im-
* Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell died at Asseerghur, on the 5th
of April, 1819.
f Named after its founder Assa, a celebrated Hindu zemindar, or
landholder, of the Aheer tribe, which has been corrupted from Assa
Aheer, to Asseer.
J Pettah, the suburbs of a fortified town.
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 17
pregnable ; and at the siege of which the SIXTY-SEVENTH 1819
regiment was present.
The Hyderabad division was encamped at Neembolah,
about seven miles from Asseerghur, and negotiations
having failed, about twelve o'clock on the night of the
17th of March five companies of the Royal Scots (First
regiment of foot) with the flank companies of the Thirtieth,
SIXTY-SEVENTH, and Madras European regiment, five
companies of native infantry, and a detachment of sappers
and miners, the whole commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Fraser, of the Royal Scots, and a reserve commanded by
Major Dalrymple, of the Thirtieth, assembled at the camp
for the attack of the pettah of Asseer ; another party was
also directed to co-operate in this service from Brigadier-
General Sir John Malcolm's division.
The column commenced its march between one and
two o'clock, advancing up the bed of a deep nullah, or
small river, nearly dry at the time ; the assaulting party
arrived unobserved within five hundred yards of the pet-
tah, then rushed upon the gate with the greatest ardour
and steadiness, the Royal Scots leading the way. The
enemy was surprised, and, after discharging a few rounds
of grape, retired. The head of the attacking column forced
the gate, and proceeding up the main street, encountered
an advanced piquet of the enemy, which retired to the
lower fort, firing occasionally at the head of the column.
Major Charles MacLeod, of the East India Company's
service, Deputy-Quartermaster-General, acted as guide
on the occasion ; by his direction the leading files of the
Royal Scots pursued the enemy close under the walls of
the fortress, from whence an incessant fire of artillery and
matchlocks was kept up ; a few ill-directed rockets were
also discharged.
18 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1819 The leading sections of the Royal Scots, which had
pursued the enemy up the hill, were joined by one or two
files of the Thirtieth and SIXTY-SEVENTH regiments, the
whole amounting to about 25 or 30 men. As soon as
the enemy saw the small force before which he had
so precipitately fled, he immediately rallied, and came
shouting down the hill with augmented numbers to attack
this small party, but was repulsed by a spirited charge
with the bayonet, which, with a few rounds of musketry,
obliged him to retreat within the works, some of which
were within about fifty yards of this handful of men, leaving
the Chief, who was shot in the melee, and several men on
the field.
The pettah of Asseerghur was thus captured on the
morning of the 18th of March, with trifling loss ; but on
the evening of the following day a desperate sally was
made by a part of the garrison on the advanced post of
the troops in the pettah, on which occasion Lieutenant-
Colonel Fraser, of the Royal Scots, was unfortunately
killed, while gallantly rallying the party under his com-
mand, and keeping the advance in their position. The
enemy was, however, immediately driven back, and com-
pelled to retire into the fort.
During the progress of constructing new batteries on
elevated and commanding situations, the dragging of
ordnance into many of them was performed by the
European soldiers, who literally worked like horses ; during
the whole of the time they were annoyed by a constant fire
of matchlocks from the walls of the upper fort (the lower
fort had been taken possession of on the 30th of March,
by part of Brigadier-General Sir John Malcolm's divi-
sion), but which was too distant to prevent the execution
of this Herculean labour, which was performed with that
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 19
ardour and cheerfulness so characteristic of British 1819
soldiers, when necessity demands from them any extra-
ordinary exertions.
On the 31st of March, part of the Bengal army, con-
sisting of 2200 native troops, with 22 pieces of heavy
ordnance, commanded by Brigadier-General Watson,
joined the besieging force ; and these guns were soon
placed in battery, and opened on the fort. The storm of
war now raged furiously round Asseerghur, and a breach
was soon effected in the outer wall at the only assailable
part of the fort ; at the same time two batteries were
directed against the inner wall. This unremitting fire
was continued until the 6th of April, when the gar-
rison forced the Killedar to sue for terms, namely, " liberty
" to preserve their arms, and to depart with their personal
" property."
These conditions were refused, and hostilities recom-
menced ; the Killedar, however, accepted the terms
offered on the 8th, and agreed to surrender the fort on
the morning of the 9th, when the firing ceased ; but as he
stated that he could not answer for the garrison, the
control of which he had lost, preparations were made for
renewing operations in case of refusal.
The garrison surrendered unconditionally on the 9th of
April, and five hundred men of the SIXTY-SEVENTH,
under the command of Major Benjafield, with the 7th
Madras light cavalry, and the second battalion of the 13th
Madras native infantry, took possession of the fortress, on
the garrison marching out and laying down their arms on
the public parade.
The following was the return of ordnance, &c. taken
in the fortress of Asseerghur by the troops under the
command of Brigadier-General Doveton. Brass and
iron ordnance, 128 ; about 36,000 stone and iron shot, of
c2
20 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1819 different sizes ; two hundredweight of gunpowder ; 2000
wall-pieces, of different sizes ; and about four hundred-
weight of grape-shot.
During the siege the SIXTY-SEVENTH had Lieutenants
J. Adair and John Hannah severely wounded ; Lieu-
tenant Adair* was twice severely wounded by matchlock
balls in the left arm and right side, on the 19th of March,
in repulsing the sortie of the garrison of Asseerghur :
one serjeant, one drummer, and eleven rank and file
were wounded.
Major Owen, who commanded the flank companies of
His Majesty's SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, was particularly
mentioned in Orders by Brigadier-General Doveton, who
also reported that " the fall of Asseer leaves to the
" Brigadier-General only the pleasing task of recording his
" sense of the merits and exertions of the officers and troops,
" and of bringing them to the notice of superior authority,
" where they can alone be fully and properly appreciated.
"To the means placed at the Brigadier-General's
" disposal, by the rapid advance of the division under the
"personal command of Brigadier-General Sir John
" Malcolm, K.C.B., as well as of the troops from the
"Nerbudda field force and from Saugur, under the
" personal command of Brigadier-General Watson, C.B.,
" to the science and skill of the engineer and artillery
" branches, and finally to the distinguished gallantry and
" persevering exertions of the whole of the officers and
" troops whom the Brigadier-General has the honor to
" command, are principally to be attributed the fall of so
" stupendous a fortress in eleven days from the opening
" of the trenches
"He requests also that Lieutenant-Colonels Mac
" Dowell, Dewar, Ewart (Lieut.-Colonel of the SIXTY-
* Now major in the regiment.
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 21
" SEVENTH regiment), Greenstreet, and Pollock, com- 1823
" manding brigades of infantry, will be fully persuaded
" of the high estimation in which he holds the eminent
" services rendered by them, as well as by the officers
" and men of their several brigades " . . . .
Brigadier-General Sir John Malcolm also reported :
" I have to state my sense of the zeal and activity of
" my Aide-de-Camp, Ensign G. Pasley, of His Majesty's
" Fourteenth foot, and extra Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant
" J. Pasley, of His Majesty's SIXTY-SEVENTH foot."
On the 12th of April, the SIXTY-SEVENTH marched from
Asseerghur, and arrived at Mallygaum on the 26th of the
same month.
The decease of Major Nathaniel Benjafield, of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, occurred on the 2nd of June,
1819.
The regiment proceeded on the 6th of December, 1820, 1820
from Mallygaum, in Candeish, and arrived at Sholapore,
in the Deccan, on the 29th of that month.
Colonel Samuel Huskinson, the Lieut.-Colonel of the 1823
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, was promoted on the 19th of
July, 1821, to the rank of Major-General, and on the 10th
of January, 1837, was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-
General.
Marching from Sholapore on the 23rd of April, the
regiment arrived at Poonah on the 10th of May, 1823.
On the 2nd of January, 1826, the first battalion of the 1826
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment embarked in three divisions at
Bombay for Calcutta, and arrived there on the 2nd of
March following. On the 13th of March the battalion
proceeded to Rangoon, and arrived opposite the town on
the 27th of the same month. The battalion returned to
Calcutta on 5th of April following.
Major S..B. Taylor, Captain W. Webster, and Lieu-
22 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1826 tenant J. Hassall, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, died at
Fort William during April and May of this year.
The SIXTY-SEVENTH embarked for England in the ships
Zenobia, Caroline, and Catherine Stewart Forbes, under
the command of Major Poyntz on the 9th of June, 1826.
The head-quarters and second division arrived at
Gravesend on the 28th of November following, after an
absence of twenty-one years in India ; the remainder of
the regiment arrived at Gravesend on the 16th of April,
1827.
On the 20th of December, 1826, the SIXTY-SEVENTH
regiment was authorised by His Majesty King George
IV. to bear on its colours and appointments, in addition
to any other badges or devices heretofore granted, the
figure of the ROYAL TIGER, with the word " INDIA " su-
perscribed, in commemoration of its services in that part
of the world from the year 1805 to 1826.
The regiment marched from Chatham to Windsor in
December, 1826.
In March, 1827, the regiment proceeded from Windsor
to Weedon, and in October the head-quarters were
stationed at Bolton, in Lancashire.
1828 Towards the end of July, 1828, the regiment pro-
ceeded to Manchester, and in October it marched to
Liverpool.
His Majesty King George the Fourth was pleased to
appoint Major-General John Macdonald, C.B. (Deputy
Adjutant-General to the Forces) to the colonelcy of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 25th of August, 1828, in
succession to General Sir William Keppel, removed to
the Second or Queen's Royal regiment of foot.
1829 The regiment marched from Liverpool to Stockport in
January, 1829, and in May following proceeded to Chester.
Major the Honorable H. R. Molyneux was promoted
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 23
to the rank of Lieut-Colonel in the SIXTY-SEVENTH 1829
regiment, on the 9th of April, 1829, Lieut.-Colonel
Nathaniel Burslem having retired from the service.
On the 18th of May, 1830, the regiment proceeded 1830
from Chester to Liverpool, and embarked for Dublin,
from whence it proceeded to Mullingar.
On the 23rd of December, 1830, the regiment proceeded
from Mullingar to Newry, under the command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel the Honorable Henry R. Molyneux.
On the 14th of January, 1832, the SIXTY- SEVENTH, 1832
under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel the Honorable
H. R. Molyneux. embarked at Dublin in the Stentor and
Prince Regent transports for Gibraltar, and the service
companies arrived at that fortress on the 25th of February.
The depot companies of the regiment remained in Ireland.
The service companies embarked in His Majesty's 1833
ship Revenge, from Gibraltar, on the 28th of February,
1833, for the West Indies, and arrived at Barbadoes on
the 29th of March.
In May, 1834, the service companies proceeded to St. 1834
Christopher's ; and in May, 1836, were removed to 1836
Demerara.
The depot companies were removed from Cork to 1836
Sheerness, in August, 1836, and in September, 1839,
proceeded from Gosport to Cork.
The service companies remained at Demerara during 1837
the year 1837.
In January, 1838, the service companies proceeded to 1838
Berbice, but returned to Demerara in June following.
The service companies proceeded from Demerara to 1839
Barbadoes, in June, 1839.
On the 21st of April, the service companies, consisting 1840
of 30 Serjeants, 8 drummers, and 449 rank and file,
embarked, under the command of Brevet Major T. C.
24 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1840Harpour, from Barbadoes for North America, in Her
Majesty's ships Sapphire and Athol. The regiment
disembarked at Chambly, in Canada, on the 21st of May.
During the year 1840 the depot companies were
stationed at Buttevant and Galway.
1841 The service companies proceeded from Chambly to
Drummondville, in May, 1841.
In June, 1841, the depot companies were removed
from Galway to Templemore.
1842 The head-quarters, under the command of Major E.
B. Brooke, marched from Drummondville on the 19th
of May, and arrived at St. Helen's, Montreal, on the 25th
of May, 1842. On the 3rd of November, 1842, the
service companies embarked in the Pestonjee Bomonjee
transport at Quebec, and disembarked at Plymouth on
the 15th of December following.
The depot companies joined the regiment on the 15th
of December, 1842, having been removed from Ireland
to Plymouth in October.
1843 In May, 1843, the regiment proceeded from Plymouth
to Weedon, and in July marched to Manchester.
1844 Lieutenant-General John Clitherow was appointed by
Her Majesty to be Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regi-
ment, on the 15th of January, 1844, upon Lieutenant-
General Sir John Macdonald, G.C.B. (Adjutant-General
to the Forces), being removed to the Forty-second, Royal
Highland, regiment.
In December, 1844, the regiment was removed from
Manchester to Dublin.
1845 During the year 1845 the regiment continued to be
stationed at Dublin.
1846 In January, 1846, the regiment marched to Limerick,
and in May proceeded to Cork.
At this period the regiment was augmented to twelve
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 25
companies, consisting of 67 Serjeants, 25 drummers, and 1846
1200 rank and file, and was subsequently organised into
two battalions, preparatory to embarking on foreign service.
On the 9th of November, 1846, Colonel Thomas Bun-
bury, K.H., commanding the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment,
was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and Major
Edward Basil Brooke was promoted to the lieutenant-
colonelcy, vacant by the promotion of Major-General
Bunbury.*
During the year 1847 the SIXTY-SEVENTH continued 1847
at Cork.
The first battalion embarked at Cork, under the 1848
command of Lieut. -Col on el Edward Basil Brooke, in the
Herefordshire freight ship, on the 8th of January, 1848,
and arrived at Gibraltar on the 19th of that month.
On the 20th of January, 1848, the reserve battalion
of the SIXTY SEVENTH regiment, under the command of
Lieut.-Colonel William Nesbitt Orange, embarked at
Cork, in the Bombay freight-ship, and arrived at Gibraltar
on the 8th of February following.
General Sir Robert Wilson, then Governor of Gibraltar,
in his report, dated the 18th of May, 1848, on the SIXTY-
SEVENTH regiment, remarked,
" It is a corps composed of a superior body of men, well
" regulated and well conducted, having had since its
" arrival but nine courts-martial.
" Its interior economy is carefully superintended by
" Lieutenant-Colonel Brooke.
" Her Majesty's Regulations are strictly observed in
" all the prescribed cases.
" It discharges every duty commendably, and is an
" efficient portion of the Garrison for every service."
* Now commanding the troops at Jamaica and its dependencies.
26 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH.
1848 The depot company was removed from Cork to the Isle
of Wight, in February, 1848.
1849 On the 1st of May, 1849, the period to which this
Record has been continued, the two battalions of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment were stationed at Gibraltar.
1849.
SIXTT- SEVENTH
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE SECOND BATTALION
OF
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
OR
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
EUROPE gained a short cessation from hostilities by the 1803
Treaty of Amiens, and the interval of peace was employed
by Napoleon Bonaparte in furthering his views for the
aggrandizement of France, to enable him to become the
dictator of Europe. The British Government and people,
suspicious of Napoleon's projects, and roused to active
measures by the threat of invasion, were enthusiastic in
devising means to frustrate his designs, and the " Army
of Reserve Act " was passed, for raising men for home
service by ballot, while numerous volunteer and yeomanry
corps were formed in every part of the kingdom.
To these circumstances the SECOND BATTALION of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment owes its origin, and the bat
talion was formed of men raised in Ireland, for limite
service under the provisions of the " Army of Reserve
Act," which was passed in June, 1803 ; the battalion
was placed on the establishment from the 9th of July
following.
The Second Battalion was also authorised to receive 1804
28 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1804 men raised in Ireland, for limited service, under the
" Additional Force Act" which was passed on the 14th of
July, 1804.
The battalion was stationed in Ireland until the 20th
of January, 1804, when it embarked at Warren's Point,
and arrived at Greenock on the 23rd of the same month.
1807 On the 29th of February, 1804, the battalion pro-
ceeded to Guernsey, where it remained until the 17th of
November, 1807, when it was removed to Alderney.
1810 From Alderney the battalion returned to Guernsey in
July, 1810.
Six companies of the battalion, under the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel William Prevost, embarked for
Gibraltar on the 29th of July, 1810, at which station
they arrived on the 24th of September.
The four companies left at Guernsey, embarked for
England in August, 1810, where they continued to be
stationed during the remainder of that year.
The six companies of the second battalion remained at
Gibraltar until the 22nd of November, 1810, when they
embarked for Cadiz, to join the army under the command
of Lieutenant-General Thomas Graham, afterwards Lord
Lynedoch.
The six companies arrived at Cadiz on the 9th of
December, 1810, which was at that period besieged by
a powerful French army, under Marshal Soult, who
subsequently proceeded on an expedition into Estrema-
dura, leaving Marshal Victor to blockade Cadiz.
1811 The SIXTY-SEVENTH remained at Cadiz until the 18th
of February, 1811, when they proceeded with the army
under the command of Lieutenant-General Thomas
Graham, which consisted of a British force of about three
thousand, and a body of seven thousand troops com-
manded by General La Pena. The design of the expe-
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 29
dition was to make a combined attack on the rear of the 1811
French army blockading Cadiz. The forces disem-
barked at Algesiras on the 23rd of February, and being
all united at Tarifa, marched from thence on the 28th of
February.
General Zayas pushed a strong body of Spanish troops
across the river Santi Petri, near the coast, on the 1st of
March, threw a bridge over, and formed a tete-de-pont.
This post was attacked by the enemy on the nights of the
3rd and 4th of March, who was repulsed, though the
Spaniards sustained considerable loss.
On the 5th of March, 1811, Lieutenant-General
Graham and the army under his command arrived on
the low ridge of Barrosa, where a brilliant victory was
gained over the French army under Marshal Victor, com-
posed of the two divisions of Generals Rufin and Laval.
Lieutenant-General Graham in his despatch to the
Earl of Liverpool, dated Isla de Leon, March 6th, 1811,
stated :
" The circumstances were such as compelled me to
" attack this very superior force. In order as well to
" explain to your Lordship the circumstances of peculiar
" disadvantage under which the action was begun, as to
" justify myself from the imputation of rashness in the
" attempt, I must state to your Lordship, that the allied
" army, after a night march of sixteen hours from the
" camp near Veger, arrived, on the morning of the 5th, at
" the low ridge of Barrosa, about four miles to the south-
" ward of the mouth of the Santi Petri river. This
" height extends inland about a mile and a half, con-
" tinuing on the north the extensive heathy plain of
" Chiclana, A great pine forest skirts the plain, and
" circles round the height at some distance, terminating
" down to Santi Petri ; the intermediate space between
30 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1811 " the north side of the height and the forest being uneven
" and broken.
" A well-conducted and successful attack on the rear
" of the enemy's lines near Santi Petri, by the vanguard
" of the Spanish army, under Brigadier-General Ladri-
" zabel, having opened the communication with the Isla
" de Leon, I received General La Pena's directions to
" move down from the position of Barrosa to that of the
" Torre de Bermesa, about half-way to the Santi Petri
" river, in order to secure the communication across the
" river, over which a bridge had been lately established.
" This latter position occupies a narrow woody ridge, the
" right on the sea cliff, the left falling down to the
" Almanza creek on the edge of the marsh. A hard
" sandy beach gives an easy communication between the
" western points of these two positions.
" My division, being halted on the eastern slope of the
" Barrosa height, was marched about twelve o'clock
" through the wood towards the Bermesa, cavalry patrols
" having previously been sent towards Chiclana, without
" meeting with the enemy. On the march I received
" notice that the enemy had appeared in force on the
" plain, and was advancing towards the heights of Bar-
" rosa.
" As I considered that position as the key of that of
" Santi Petri, I immediately countermarched in order to
" support the troops left for its defence, and the alacrity
" with which this manreuvre was executed, served as a
" favourable omen. It was, however, impossible in such
" intricate and difficult ground to preserve order in the
" columns, and there never was time to restore it entirely.
" But before we could get ourselves quite disentangled
" from the wood, the troops on the Barrosa Hill were
" seen returning from it, while the enemy's left wing was
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 31
" rapidly ascending. At the same time his right wing 181 1
" stood on the plain, on the edge of the wood, within
" cannon-shot. A retreat in the face of such an enemy,
" already within reach of the easy communication by
" the sea-beach, must have involved the whole allied
" army in all the danger of being attacked during the
" unavoidable confusion of the different corps arriving on
" the narrow ridge of Bermesa nearly at the same time.
" Trusting to the known heroism of British troops,
" regardless of the numbers and position of their enemy,
" an immediate attack was determined on. Major
" Duncan soon opened a powerful battery of ten guns in
" the centre. Brigadier-General Dilkes with the brigade
" of Guards, Lieut.-Colonel Browne's (of the Twenty-
" eighth) flank battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Norcott's two
" companies of the second Rifle corps, and Major Acheson
" with a part of the SIXTY-SEVENTH foot (separated
" from the regiment in the wood) formed on the right.
" Colonel Wheatly's brigade, with three companies of
" the Coldstream Guards, under Lieut.-Colonel Jackson
" (separated likewise from his battalion in the wood) and
" Lieut.-Colonel Barnard's flank battalion, formed on
" the left.
" As soon as the infantry was thus hastily got together,
" the guns advanced to a more favourable position,
" and kept up a most destructive fire.
" The right wing proceeded to the attack of General
" Rufin's division on the hill, while Lieut.-Colonel
" Barnard's battalion, and Lieut.-Colonel Bushe's
" detachment of the twentieth Portuguese, were warmly
" engaged with the enemy's tirailleurs on our left.
" General Laval's division, notwithstanding the havoc
" made by Major Duncan's battery, continued to advance
" in very imposing masses, opening his fire of musketry,
* and was only checked by that of the left wing. The
32 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
181 1 " kft wm g now advanced firing ; a most determined charge
" by the three companies of Guards and the eighty-seventh
" regiment, supported by all the remainder of the wing,
'* decided the defeat of General Laval's division.
" The eagle of the eighth regiment of light infantry,
" which suffered immensely, and a howitzer, rewarded
" this charge, and remained in possession of Major
" Gough,* of the Eighty-seventh regiment. These attacks
" were zealously supported ty Colonel Belson with the
" Twenty-eighth regiment and Lieut-Colonel Prevost
" with a part of the SIXTY-SEVENTH.
" A Reserve formed beyond the narrow valley, across
" which the enemy was closely pursued, next shared the
" same fate, and was routed by the same means.
" Meanwhile the right wing was not less successful ;
" the enemy, confident of success, met General Dilkes
" on the ascent of the hill, and the contest was sanguinary :
" but the undaunted perseverance of the brigade of
" Guards, of Lieut.-Colonel Browne's battalion, and of
" Lieut-Colonel Norcott's, and Major Acheson's detach-
" ment, overcame every obstacle, and General Rufin's
" division was driven from the heights in confusion, leaving
" two pieces of cannon.
" No expressions of mine could do justice to the conduct
" of the troops throughout. Nothing less than the almost
" unparalleled exertions of every officer, the invincible
" bravery of every soldier, and the most determined
" devotion to the honor of His Majesty's arms, in all,
" could have achieved this brilliant success, against such
" a formidable enemy so posted.
" In less than an hour and a half from the commence-
" ment of the action, the enemy was in full retreat.
" The retiring division met, halted, and seemed inclined
* Now General Lord Gough, G.C.B., and Colonel of the Eighty-
seventh, Royal Irish Fusiliers.
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 33
" to form; a new and more advanced position of our 1811
" artillery quickly dispersed them. \ '
" The exhausted state of the troops made pursuit
" impossible. A position was taken on the eastern side
" of the hill ; and we were strengthened on our right
" by the return of the two Spanish battalions that had
" been attached before to my division, but which I had
" left on the hill, and which had been ordered to retire.
" These battalions (Walloon Guards and Ciudad Real)
" made every effort to come back in time, when it was
" known that we were engaged. ....
" When all have so distinguished themselves, it is
" scarcely possible to discriminate any as the most
" deserving of praise. Your Lordship will, however,
" observe how gloriously the brigade of Guards under
" Brigadier- General Dilkes, with the commanders of the
" battalions, Lieut. -Colonel the Honorable C. Onslow
" and Lieut.-Colonel Sebright (wounded), as well as
" the three separated companies under Lieut.-Colonel
" Jackson, maintained the high character of His Majesty's
" household troops. Lieut.-Colonel Browne, with his
" flank battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Norcott, and Major
" Acheson deserve equal praise.
" I must equally recommend to your Lordship's notice,
" Colonel Wheatly, with Colonel Belson, Lieut.-Colonel
" Prevost, and Major Gough, and the officers of the
" respective corps composing his brigade.
" The assistance I received from the unwearied ex-
" ertions of Lieut.-Colonel Macdonald,* and the officers
" of the Adjutant-General's department, of Lieut-Colonel
" the Honorable C. Cathcart, and the officers of
* Now Lieut. -General Sir John Macdonald, G.C.B., Adjutant-
General to the Forces.
34 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1811 " the Quartermaster-General's Department, of Captain
" Birch and Captain Nicholas, and the officers of the
" Royal Engineers, of Captain Hope, and the officers of
" my Personal Staff, (all animating by their example,)
" will ever be most gratefully remembered
" I cannot conclude this despatch without earnestly
" recommending to His Majesty's gracious notice for pro-
" motion, Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Browne, Major of the 28th
" foot, Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Norcott, Major of the 95th
" Rifle Regiment, Major Duncan, Royal Artillery, Major
" Gough of the 87th, Major the Honorable E. Acheson of
" the SIXTY-SEVENTH, and Captain Birch of the Royal
" Engineers, all in the command of corps or detachments on
" this memorable service ; and I confidently trust that the
" bearer of this despatch, Captain Hope, (to whom I refer
" your Lordship for further details,) will be promoted, on
" being permitted to lay the Eagle at His Majesty's feet."
Such are the details of the battle of Barrosa, in which
the enemy lost about three thousand men in killed,
wounded, and prisoners, while that of the English amounted
to 1243 killed and wounded.
The SIXTY-SEVENTH had Lieut.-Colonel Prevost,
Captain Patrickson, Lieutenant W. Ronald, and Ensign
Sutherland wounded ; ten men of the regiment were
killed ; and one serjeant and thirty rank and file were
wounded.
The British captured an Eagle, six pieces of cannon,
and among the prisoners were the General of Division
Rufin, the General of Brigade Rosseau ; the Chief of the
Staff, General Bellegrade ; an Aide-de-Camp of Marshal
Victor, the Colonel of the eighth regiment, and several
other officers. The prisoners amounted to two General
Officers, one field-officer, nine captains, eight subalterns,
and 420 rank and file.
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 35
Both Houses of Parliament unanimously voted their 1811
thanks to Lieut-General Graham, and the officers and
men under his command, for this victory, and their valour
and ability were highly applauded by the nation. On the
1 1th of November following, His Majesty's commands
were communicated in the subjoined memorandum:
Horse Guards, November llth, 1811.
MEMORANDUM.
The Prince Regent having been graciously pleased, in
the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to command
that, in commemoration of the brilliant victory obtained
over the enemy by a division of His Majesty's army
under the command of Lieut.-General Thomas Graham,
at Barrosa, on the 5th of March, 181 1, the undermentioned
officers of the army, present upon that occasion, should
enjoy the privilege of bearing a Medal, and His Royal
Highness having approved of the medal which has been
struck, is pleased to command, that it should be worn by
the General Officers, suspended by a riband, of the colour
of the sash, with a blue edge, round the neck, and by the
Commanding Officers of corps and detachments, and the
Chiefs of Military Departments, attached by a riband of
the same colour to the button-hole of their uniform :
Lieutenant-General Thomas Graham.
Major-General William Thomas Dilkes.
Colonel William Wheatley, 1st Foot Guards.
Lieut.-Colonel Charles P. Belson, 28th Foot.
William Augustus Prevost, SIXTY-SEVENTH Regt.
the Hon. T. Cranley Onslow, 3rd Foot Guards.
Andrew F. Barnard, 95th Rifle Regt.
John Macdonald, Deputy- Adjutant-General.
Edward Sebright, 1st Foot Guards.
John Frederick Brown, 28th Regt.
Amos Godsill Norcott, 95th Rifle Regt,
D2
36 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1811 Lieut.- Colonel the Hon. Charles M. Cathcart,
Deputy- Quartermaster- General.
Richard Bushe, 20th Portuguese Regt.
Alexander Duncan, Royal Artillery.
Hugh Gough, 87th Regt.
Major A. F. Baron Bussche, 2nd Light Dragoons, King's
German Legion.
" By the command of His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, in the name and on the
behalf of His Majesty.
" FREDERICK, Commander-in- Chief.
" HENRY TORRENS, Lieut.-Coloml
and Military Secretary."
Major the Honorable Edward Acheson, of the SIXTY-
SEVENTH regiment, was promoted to the brevet rank
of Lieut.-Colonel in the army on the 30th March, 1811,
for his gallantry at Barrosa, as particularly noticed in
Lieut-General Graham's despatch.
On the 26th May, 1817, the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment
received the Royal Authority to bear the word "Barrosa "
on the regimental colour and appointments, to commemo-
rate the gallantry of the second battalion on that occasion.
Lieut. -General Graham, after this conflict, remained
some hours at the Barrosa heights, without being able to
procure any supplies for the exhausted troops, in conse-
quence of the commissariat mules having been dispersed
on the enemy's first attack of the hill. Major Ross, with
the detachment of the third battalion of the Ninety -fifth
Rifle regiment, was left, while the remainder of the divi-
sion was withdrawn, and early the next morning crossed
the Santi Petri river.
The favourable opportunity gained by British valour
was not improved by the Spanish General, who did not
strike a severe blow at the remains of the French army
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 37
retreating in disorder. The inactivity of the Spaniards 1811
continuing, the English army returned to Cadiz.
On the llth of December, 1811, two companies em-
barked at Portsmouth for Spain, and joined the six com-
panies at Cadiz, in January, 1812.
In January, 1812, the battalion embarked at Cadiz 1812
for Carthagena, and shortly afterwards proceeded to
Alicant, to join the troops under the command of Major-
General Andrew Ross. On the 21st of August the SIXTY-
SEVENTH returned to Carthagena, where they remained
until the 20th of April, 1813, when they again embarked
for Alicant.
On the 31st of May, 1813, the battalion proceeded with 1813
the army, under Lieut.-General Sir John Murray, intended
for the reduction of Tarragona, and on arrival formed part
of the force detached under Lieut.-Colonel Prevost, of
the SIXTY-SEVENTH, for the purpose of investing the fort
of San Philippe, in the Col de Balaguer, which blocks
the direct road from Tortosa to Tarragona.
The fort of San Philippe is situated upon the eastern
extremity of an insulated village, in the centre of the
Col de Balaguer, commanding completely the great road
through the pass. It was a square fort with some bastions,
and commanded on two sides by almost inaccessible
mountains.
Lieut-Colonel Prevost and the brigade under his
command, consisting of the second battalion of the SIXTY-
SEVENTH, the battalion of Roll Dillon, and a detachment
of royal artillery, landed, about eleven o'clock in the
forenoon of the 3rd of June, about one mile to the eastward
of the entrance to the pass from Tarragona, where he was
joined by the Spanish regiments of Barcelona and Palma,
under the command of Don Jose Charles. On the 3rd of
June the fort was invested, and on the day following a
38 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH, i
J813 summons was sent to the commanding officer to sur-
render, offering favourable terms, which were, however,
rejected.
On the 5th of June the batteries continued a heavy
fire upon the fort, which was returned by the enemy, who
kept up a heavy and galling fire of shells, round and
grapeshot, during the whole of the night, which occasioned
some loss.
About ten o'clock a most violent storm of thunder
and lightning commenced, which impeded the works
greatly, and as the seamen and troops were quite exhausted,
it became expedient to delay bringing the guns upon the
platforms, and to keep the embrasures masked. In the
evening of the 6th of June a battery of two eight- inch
mortars was placed upon the road, within a few hundred
3'ards of the Castle, under the breaching battery ; one
four-pounder was likewise placed upon the heights to the
right, where the riflemen were stationed.
At daybreak on the 7th, three batteries opened to pro-
tect the working party at the breaching battery, and kept
up a tremendous fire until six o'clock, when that of the
Castle having ceased, their magazines upon the batteries
having been blown up by the shells from the mortars,
the white flag was hoisted upon the Castle, and the
garrison offered to surrender upon conditions of marching
out and grounding their arms upon the glacis, with per-
mission to carry off the personal baggage, which terms
were granted, as Marshal Suchet's approach was hourly
expected, and Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost would be en-
abled to put the fort in a good state of defence. Possession
was taken of the Castle on the 7th of June.
Lieutenant-General Sir John Murray, in his despatch
to the Marquis of Wellington, stated
" This capture, in the present situation of our affairs, is
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 39
" of great importance, as it blocks up the nearest and 1813
" most accessible road from Tortosa to Tarragona. . .
" The troops of both nations bore their fatigue, and
" performed their duty with the greatest alacrity and
" spirit, and deserve every commendation. Lieutenant-
" Colonel Prevost has in a former despatch particularly
" noticed the gallantry and good conduct of Ensign
" Nelson, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, and Ensign John Der-
" mot, of Roll Dillon's battalion."
The SIXTY-SEVENTH had two rank and file killed, and
eight rank and file wounded.
Marshal Suchet advancing with an army of superior
numbers, the siege of Tarragona, which had been invested
by Lieutenant-General Sir John Murray on the 3rd of
June, was raised, and on the 12th of that month the troops
embarked for the Col de Balaguer.
Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck assumed
the command of the troops in the East of Spain, in suc-
cession to Lieutenant-General Sir John Murray. His
Lordship joined the army at the Col de Balaguer on the
17th of June, and re-embarked with it for Alicant, at which
place the SIXTY-SEVENTH and the rest of the troops
arrived about the 24th of June.
The battle of Vittoria, on the 21st of June, 1813,
gained by the army under the Marquis of Wellington,
changed the aspect of affairs in Spain, and the troops
under Marshal Suchet made some retrograde movements.
The Anglo-Sicilian army, under Lieut.-General Lord
William Bentinck, advancing into Catalonia, proceeded
to invest Tarragona.
On the 4th of July the army, under the command of
Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck, marched for
Tarragona. The SIXTY-SEVENTH were employed in the
subsequent operations, and were present at the occupation
40 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1813 of Tarragona by the British, which place was blown up by
the French under Marshal Suchet on the night of the
18th of August, after which the enemy retired towards
Barcelona.
Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck continued
in command of this division of the army until the 23rd of
September, 1813, when his Lordship embarked for
Sicily, where fresh changes injurious to the British policy
required his presence, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-
General William Clinton. Previously to his embarkation
his Lordship issued the following General Order, dated
Tarragona, 23rd of September, 1813 :
" The Commander of the Forces deeply laments that
" he is compelled to leave the army. It is a pleasing
" part of his duty to express his perfect satisfaction with
" the subordination and perseverance displayed by the
" troops upon all occasions.
" He only regrets that the part assigned to this army
" in the plan of the campaign has not permitted the troops
" to partake in those brilliant triumphs which would have
" been the just recompense of their valour and discipline."
In September the battalion marched into quarters at
Vails, and in October it was removed to Vendrills.
1814 Napoleon's reverses in Germany, and the brilliant suc-
cesses of the allied army under the Marquis of Wel-
lington, had a great effect upon the war in Catalonia,
and the troops under Marshal Suchet withdrew from
several posts. The SIXTY-SEVENTH marched, in February,
1814, to the vicinity of Barcelona, and formed part of
the force employed in the investment of that place.
Hostilities were terminated in April by a treaty of
peace. Napoleon abdicated the throne of France, and the
island of Elba was ceded to him in full sovereignty with
the imperial title for life, and a pension payable from the
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 41
revenues of France ; and on the 3rd of May, 18] 4, Louis 1814
XVIII. entered Paris, and ascended the throne of his
ancestors.
Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, in his
despatch dated Toulouse, 19th of April, 1814, alluded
to the conduct of the troops under Lieutenant General
William Clinton in the following terms :
" Upon the breaking up of this army, I perform a
" most satisfactory duty in reporting to your Lordship my
" sense of the conduct and merit of Lieutenant-General
" William Clinton, and of the troops under his command
" since they have been employed in the Peninsula. Circum-
" stances have not enabled those troops to have so brilliant
" a share in the operations of the war as their brother-
" officers and soldiers on this side of the Peninsula ; but
" they have not been less usefully employed ; their con-
" duct, when engaged with the enemy, has always been
" meritorious ; and I have had every reason to be satisfied
" with the General Officer commanding, and with them."
The SIXTY-SEVENTH withdrew from Barcelona, marched
to Tarragona, and embarked at that port on the 24th of
April for Gibraltar, where they arrived on the 4th of May.
Peace was of short duration. The return of Bonaparte 1815
to France, and his enthusiastic reception at Paris, caused
Louis XVIII. to retire to Ghent. The Allied Powers,
however, refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of
Napoleon, and he was obliged to trust once more to the
chances of war. The campaign was brief; totally
defeated in the celebrated battle of Waterloo, on the
18th of June, 1815, Bonaparte was subsequently com-
pelled to surrender himself a prisoner to Captain Mait-
land, commanding the Bellerophon ship of war ; and the
island of St. Helena was afterwards appointed for his
future residence.
42 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
1815 On the 6th of April, 1815, the second battalion of the
SIXTY- SEVENTH regiment received the royal authority to
bear on its colours and appointments the word " PENIN-
SULA," in commemoration of its services in Spain.
During this period the SIXTY-SEVENTH remained at
Gibraltar, from which station the battalion embarked for
1817 England, on the 25th of March, 1817, under the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. Davison, and arrived at
Chatham on the 14th and 15th of May following.
All apprehensions that the peace of Europe would be
disturbed having ceased, the Government decided on
making certain reductions in the army, and the second
battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment was disbanded
at Canterbury on the 25th of May, 1817.
1817.
OR THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. 43
CONCLUSION.
THE details contained in the foregoing pages show, that
the reputation acquired by the Twentieth Regiment in the
wars during the reigns of King William III. and of Queen
Anne, in the defence of Gibraltar in 1727, and at the
battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy, has been preserved
unsullied by the SECOND BATTALION of that corps since
the year 1758, at which period it was constituted the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment.
In the rocky and almost impregnable position of Belle-
Isle may be traced an analogy between its capture, and
that of Quebec, although in the acquisition of the former
the Nation had not to regret the loss of such a Commander
as MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, the first Colonel of
the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, whose death cast a gloom
over the triumphs of the British Arms in the conquest of
Canada.
The Royal Tiger, and the word " India " superscribed,
borne on the regimental colour, record the services of the
FIRST BATTALION in the East during a period of twenty-
one years from 1805 to 1826 ; while the inscriptions of
" Barrosa" and " Peninsula" denote the share taken by
the SECOND BATTALION in support of Spanish Independ-
ence from 1810 to 1814.
Services like these, combined with ardous duties in the
Colonies of Great Britain, have acquired for the regiment
the confidence of the Nation and the approbation of the
Sovereign, while its orderly conduct in quarters has
obtained the commendation of the Military Authorities
under whom it has been employed.
m . '
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
JAMES WOLFE.
Appointed 2\st April, 1758.
MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, son of Lieut.-General
Edward Wolfe, was born at Westerham, in Kent, on the llth
of January, 1726, and entered the army as a second lieutenant
in Colonel Edward Wolfe's First regiment of Marines, on
the 3rd of November, 1741. On the 27th of March, 1742,
he was removed to the Twelfth foot, in which regiment lie
was promoted lieutenant on the 14th of July, 1743. He was ap-
pointed to a company in the Fourth foot on the 23rd of June,
1744, and obtained his majority in the Thirty-third regiment
on the 5th of February, 1747. The war of the Austrian
Succession afforded him many occasions to show the bravery
and decision of his character ; and at the battle of Val, or
Laffeld, on the 2nd of July, 1747, when only twenty-one
years of age, his masterly exertions, at, a critical juncture,
procured his appointment as a major of brigade, and the
highest encomiums from His Royal Highness the Duke of
Cumberland, then at the head of the army. He was removed
to the Twentieth regiment on the 5th of January, 1749, in
which he was promoted to the rank of lieut. -colonel on the
20th of March, 1750. After the peace he cultivated the arts
4G SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
of war, and introduced such exactness of discipline into his
corps, that as long as the six British battalions* on the plains
of Minden are recorded in the annals of Europe, so long will
Kingsley's (Twentieth) stand amongst the foremost of that
day. He received the brevet rank of colonel on the 21st of
October, 1757, and in January, 1758, was appointed briga-
dier-general in America. He was appointed colonel of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH on the 2lst of April, 1758, on the second
battalion of the Twentieth being constituted the SIXTY-
SEVENTH regiment. In July following he distinguished him-
self at the capture of the island of Cape Breton. On his
return to England he was appointed to command the impor-
tant expedition against Quebec, with the local rank of major-
general. This was an expedition of considerable difficulty
and danger. He was to sail up the St. Lawrence and capture
Quebec, which is situated on its shores. The place was, by
its natural formation, very strong, and succours of all kinds
had been thrown into the town ; and the garrison, consisting
of French, Canadians, and Indians, was prepared at all points
for the attack. Major-General Wolfe on landing at the Isle
of Orleans found it necessary to seize and to fortify Point
Levi, and the western parts of the isle, as the Canadians
might otherwise prevent a ship approaching Quebec. These
points having been attained, he ordered works to be con-
structed there for the bombardment of the town. The French
endeavoured to prevent the construction of these works, and
crossed the river for that purpose, but in vain. Finding,
however, that an attack on the city from the river side would
be of small effect, Major-General Wolfe resolved to carry on
the attack on the land side. To effect this, he first attempted
to land his troops some miles below the town near the falls of
Mommorenci ; here he was repulsed by a large division of
the French forces, with loss. Undismayed by his repulse
near the falls of Montmorenci, on the 31st of July, 1759, he
saw, in this reverse, the necessity of greater efforts, and con-
ceived the bold design of drawing the French from their un-
assailable position by scaling the heights of Abraham. The
soldiers clambered up the heights with great difficulty, and
the guns were hauled up by means of ropes and pulleys fixed
* Twelfth, twentieth, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, thirty-seventh, and
fifty-first regiments.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 47
round the trees, which covered the banks from top to bottom.
At the top the plain commences, and extends close under the
walls of the city. By this arrangement he forced the French
to come out of the city. The Marquis de Montcalm was
thus compelled to abandon his camp, and risk a battle for the
protection of Quebec. While bravely animating his troops
on the 13th of September, 1759, and at the moment when
victory was almost within his grasp, he received a wound in
the wrist, and another in the breast, which rendered it neces-
sary to bear him to the rear. There, roused from fainting,
in the agonies of death, by the cry of " They run ! they run !"
he eagerly, asked " Who run ?" and being told the French,
and that they were defeated, he exclaimed, " Then I thank
God, and die contented ;" and almost immediately expired.*
He was in the thirty-fourth year of his age. Brigadier-Gene-
rals Monckton and Townshend, after the loss of their comman-
der, completed the victory. On the 18th of September
Quebec surrendered ; and, like Gibraltar, conquered by a
similar bold exploit, has, to the present time, continued an
appendage to the crown of Great Britain. The remains of
Major-General Wolfe were conveyed to Portsmouth, and at
night on the 20th of November were deposited in the family
vault at Greenwich. A handsome monument was also erected,
by order of Government, to his memory in Westminster
Abbey. The Major-General is represented as endeavouring
to close, with his hand, the wound made in his breast, and is
supported by a grenadier. An angel is seen in the clouds,
holding a wreath ready to crown the expiring hero. On
the pyramid is represented, in relief, the faithful Highland
serjeant who attended him ; and his sorrow at witnessing
the agonies of his dying master is so pathetically expressed,
* The engraving prefixed to this memoir is from West's celebrated
picture, and represents the moment when news is brought that the vic-
tory is in favour of the English. This picture attracted extraordinary
notice, not only for the event it represents, but also for its general excel-
lence, and from the circumstance of the characters being dressed in ap-
propriate costume, and not habited as Greeks or Romans, which was
considered the classic dress in historical pictures of this period. It is
one of the best of our historical pictures, and the painter has happily and
poetically introduced the Indian -warrior, who is watching the dying
hero, to see if he equalled in fortitude the warriors of his own savage
race.
48 SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
that a spectator can scarcely view the sculpture unmoved.
In the front, in alto-relief, is depicted the landing at Quebec,
with a view of the precipices the troops had to ascend before the
enemy could be attacked. The inscription is as follows:
" To the memory of James Wolfe, Major- General and
11 Commander-in- Chief of the British Land Forces on an
" expedition against Quebec, who, after surmounting, by
" ability and valour, all obstacles of art and nature, was
" slain in the moment of victory, on the 1 3th of September,
" 1759, the King and the Parliament of Great Britain de-
11 dicate this monument"
LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH.
Appointed 24th August, 1759.
LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH, third son of William (third)
Duke of Devonshire, was honoured with having the Prince of
Wales (father of King George III.) for his godfather.
Choosing the profession of arms, he entered the army as
ensign in the First foot guards, and was appointed lieutenant
and captain in the Second foot guards in 1752 ; in 1755 he
was nominated lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-ninth regi-
ment; he was honoured with the appointment of aide-de-
camp to King George II., with the rank of colonel, in 1758,
and in 1759 he obtained the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH
regiment, from which he was removed in 1760 to the Thirty-
fourth. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in
1761, to that of lieutenant-general in 1770, general in
1782, and field-marshal in 1796. In 1797 he resigned the
colonelcy of his regiment. He died in October, 1803.
SIR HENRY ERSKINE, Bart.
Appointed 30th October, 1760.
SIR HENRY ERSKINE was an officer of the Royal regiment,
in which corps he was appointed captain on the 12th of
March, 1743; in April, 1746, he was promoted to the rank
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 49
of lieutenant-colonel, and held the appointment of Deputy-
Quartermaster- General to the expedition under Lieutenant-
General St. Clair, which made a descent on the French
coast, in which service he was wounded. In June, 1759,
he was promoted to the rank of major-general ; and in Octo-
ber, 1760, he obtained the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH
regiment, from which he was removed in 1761 to the Twenty-
fifth regiment, and in 1762 to the colonelcy of the Royals.
He was a Member of Parliament, and Secretary to the Order
of the Thistle, and died in August, 1765.
HAMILTON LAMBERT.
Appointed 29th May, 1761.
LIEUTENANT- COLONEL HAMILTON LAMBERT, of the Thirty-
first regiment, was promoted to the rank of colonel in the
army on the 1st of March, 1761. Shortly afterwards he
proceeded with the expedition for the attack of Belle-Isle,
in the Bay of Biscay, under Major-General Hodgson.
Colonel Lambert received the rank of brigadier-general
on this expedition, and highly distinguished himself in the
capture of Belle- Isle, which surrendered on the 7th of June,
1761. Brigadier-General Lambert's services at Belle-Isle
are narrated at pages 5 and 6 of the Historical Record of
the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, the colonelcy of which was
conferred upon him by His Majesty King George III., on
the 29th of May, 1761. On the 10th of July, 1762, he was
promoted to the rank of major-general, and was advanced to
that of lieutenant-general, on the 25th of May, 1772.
Lieutenant-General Lambert died in the year 1774.
EDWARD MAXWELL BROWN.
Appointed llth March, 1774.
THE early services of this officer are connected with the
Twenty-first, Royal North British Fusiliers, which regiment
served in Germany during the war of the Austrian Succession,
50 SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
and was present at the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy.
At the battle of Fontenoy, on the llth of May, 1745,
Lieutenant Maxwell was wounded. On the 7th of August,
1749, he was promoted to a company in the Twenty-first
regiment; and on the 17th of September, 1757, was advanced
to the rank of major. Major Maxwell was promoted to the
rank of lieutenant-colonel in the same regiment on the 27th
of April, 1758. In the year 1761, Lieutenant-Colonel
Edward Maxwell commanded the Twenty-first Fusiliers in
the expedition under Major-Generai Hodgson, for the attack
of Belle -Isle. The island was captured with much difficulty,
but was restored to the French at the peace in 1763, in
exchange for Minorca. Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell obtained
the rank of colonel in the army on the 25th of May, 1772 ;
and on the llth of March, 1774, was appointed by His
Majesty King George III. to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-
SEVENTH regiment. He was further advanced to the rank of
major-general on the 29th of August, 1777; and to that of
lieutenant-general on the 20th of November, 1782. In
1786, Lieutenant-General Edward Maxwell was permitted to
assume the additional surname of Brown. On the 3rd of May,
1796, he was promoted to the rank of general. The decease
of General Edward Maxwell Brown occurred in the year 1803.
FRANCIS D'OYLY.
Appointed 25th February, 1803.
THE regimental services of Lieutenant-General Francis
D'Oyly are associated with the First regiment of foot guards,
in which lie obtained a company, with the rank of lieutenant-
colonel, on the 27th of April, 1780. On the 18th of
November, 1790, he received the rank of colonel in the
army ; and on the 3rd of October, 1794, was advanced to that
of major-general. On the llth of October, 1797, he became
lieutenant-colonel in the First foot guards ; and on the 25th
of November, 1799, was appointed, by His Majesty King
George III., colonel-commandant of the Fifteenth regiment
of foot. Major-General D'Oyly was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant-general on the 1st of January, 1801; and on
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 51
the 25th of February, 1803, was appointed by the King to
the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. The decease
of Lieutenant-General D'Oyly took place suddenly on the
4th of March, 1803, at his residence in Half-moon Street,
Piccadilly.
PETER CRAIG.
Appointed 9th March, 1803.
GENERAL PETER CRAIG commenced his military career as
ensign in the Thirtieth foot, on the 28th of May, 1762 ; and
on the 1st of June, of the following year, obtained his
lieutenancy. He was promoted to a company in the Fifty-
seventh regiment, on the 25th of March, 1768 ; and was
advanced to the rank of major in that corps, on the 14th of
December, 1774. On the 9th of January, 1779, he became
lieutenant-colonel of the Fifty-sixth regiment, then stationed
at Gibraltar, which had the honour of forming part of the
garrison in the successful and gallant defence of Gibraltar
against the combined power of France and Spain, from 1779
to 1783. On the 20th of November, 1782, he obtained the
brevet rank of colonel ; and on the 12th of October, 1793,
Colonel Craig was promoted to the rank of major-general ;
on the 1st of January, 1798, he was advanced to that of
lieutenant-general. His Majesty King George III. appointed
Lieut.-General Craig colonel-commandant of the Sixty-
second regiment, on the 25th of November, 1799; and on the
9th of March, 1803, he was nominated colonel of the SIXTY-
SEVENTH regiment. On the 25th of September, 1803, he
obtained the rank of general. His decease occurred in the
year 1810.
SIR WILLIAM KEPPEL, G.C.B.
Appointed 1th February, 1811.
THIS officer served fifty-six years in the army, having
entered the service in the year 1778. He served in North
America and the West Indies, and was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant-general in the year 1803; and colonel-commandant
52 SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
of the Sixtieth regiment, on the 24th of April, 1806 ; he was
appointed by the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf
of His Majesty King George III., to the colonelcy of the
SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 7th of February, 1811, on
the decease of General Peter Craig. His Majesty King George
IV. removed General the Right Honorable Sir William
Keppel to the colonelcy of the Second, or Queen's Royal
regiment, in the year 1828, on the decease of Major-General
Sir Henry Torrens. In 1813 Sir William Keppel was
raised to the rank of general in the army ; and was for
many years Groom of the Bedchamber and Equerry to His
Majesty King George IV., who bestowed on him the appoint-
ment of Governor of Guernsey, when it became vacant by
the death of the Earl of Pembroke, in 1827. The Right
Honorable General Sir William Keppel, G.C.B., died at
Paris, on the llth of December, 1834.
SIR JOHN MACDONALD, G.C.B.
Appointed 25th August, 1828.
REMOVED to the FORTY-SECOND, ROYAL HIGHLAND REGI-
MENT, on the 15th of January, 1844.
JOHN CLITHEROW.
Appointed 15th January, 1844.
London ; IVinted by WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, Stamford Street,
For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
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