THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
GIFT OF
COMMODORE BYRON MCCANDLESS
GENEKAL 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
Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates Killed or
Wounded by the Enemy, specifying the place and
Date of the Action.
103
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.
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 arms, 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 INFANTE Y.
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
X 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. XI
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 30 210 30 20 20 20
Harquebuses. Archers. Muskets. Pikes. Halberds. Pikes. Muskets. Archers. Harquebuses.
The musket carried a ball which weighed T ' 5 th of a pound ; and the
harquebus a ball which weighed ^th of a pound.
TO THE INFANTRY. XII 1
swords, and daggers ; andpikemen, 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 1764 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 Kyig 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.
t Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of
Foot.
TO THE INFANTRY. XV11
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
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-
wards 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.
HISTOEICAL RECORD
THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT,
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS.
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT
IN 1678,
AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1849.
RICHARD CANNON, ESQ.,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, HORSE GUABDS.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.
LONDON:
PARKER, FURNIVALL, & PARKER,
SO, CHARING-CROSS.
MDCCCXIIX.
London: Printed by WILMAM CLOWE, and So>s, StsmtoHl Street,
For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMES!,
THE ROYAL NORTH-BRITISH FUSILIERS,
BEARS ON THE REGIMEKTAL COLODB
THE THISTLE "
\V1THIN THE CIRCLE AND MOTTO OF SAINT ANDREW,
" Nemo me impune lacessit ; "
SURMOUNTED BT
THE IMPERIAL CROWN.
A 2
THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT,'
OB
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH REGIMENT,
CONTENTS
OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAOB
INTRODUCTION.
1678 Formation of the Regiment 1
Appointment of Charles, Earl of Mar, to the
Colonelcy ......
Armed with light muskets, and called Fusiliers 2
1679 Rebellion in Scotland, and murder of Arch-
bishop Sharp .....
Attack and defeat of the rebels at Bothwell
Bridge . . . -
1685 Death of King Charles II., and accession of
King James II. .....
Rebellion in Scotland excited by the Earl of
Argyle 3
1686 Colonel Thomas Buchan appointed to the Co-
lonelcy, in the place of the Earl of Mar . -
1688 Marched from Scotland to London, on occasion
of the expected landing of the Prince of
Orange .......
Flight of King James II. to France . . 4
Regiment marched into Oxfordshire
XXVI CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAB PAOB
1689 The Prince and Princess of Orange elevated
to the throne, by the titles of King William
III. and Queen Mary .... 4
Colonel F. F. O'Farrell appointed to the Colo-
nelcy, in place of Colonel T. Buchan . ' . ' '
Regiment embarked for Holland .
Joined the Army under the Earl of Marl-
borough ......
Engaged with the French at Walcourt .
1691 Encamped near Brussels .... 5
1692 Battle of Steenkirk
1693 Battle of Landen 6
1694 Performed many marches, and arrived at
Deinse ....... 7
Directed to take rank and precedence as the
Twenty-first Eegiment of Infantry
1695 Surrender of the town of Deinse by Brigadier-
General O'Farrell . . . . f; ,,y . 8
Appointment . of Colonel Robert Mackay, in
place of Brigadier O'Farrell, cashiered by a
General Court-Martial ....
1696 Proceeded to the camp at Marykirk, and served
with the army of Brabant . . . j f >V>, -
1697 Appointment of Colonel Archibald Row to the
Colonelcy, in succession to Colonel R. Mackay,
Treaty of Peace concluded at Ryswick .
Regiment returned to Scotland . . .
1702 Death of King William III. ., . ,^
Accession of Queen Anne . . ..,,;." -
Declaration of War with France and Spain
Embarked from Scotland for Holland . fo.
1703 Joined the allied army at Maestricht
Siege and capture of Huy . . . . 10
. of Limburg . ,, . . ; : .
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XXV11
YKAE PAGE
1704 Marched from Holland into Germany . . 10
Engaged in the Battle of Schellenberg . .
in the Battle of Blenheim . . 11
The three Field-Officers, Brigadier-General
Row, Lieut.-Colonel Dalyel, and Major
Campbell, killed in obtaining the glorious
Victory of Blenheim . . . . 12
Appointment of John, Viscount Mordaunt, to
the Colonelcy, in succession to Brigadier-
General Row ......
1705 Completed with recruits from Scotland, and
engaged in forcing the French lines at He-
lixem and Neer Hespen . . . 13
1706 Engaged in the Battle of Bamilies . .
in the capture of Ostend, Menin, and
Aeth 14
Appointment of Colonel Sampson de Lalo,
from the 28th Regiment, in exchange with
Viscount Mordaunt ,
1707 Engaged in marches, &c., in West Flanders .
The Union of Scotland and England took place ;
and certain additions and alterations were
made in consequence in the colours and titles
of Regiments .....
1708 Engaged in the Battle of Oudenarde . . -
in the siege and capture of Lisle . 15
1709 in the siege and capture of Tournay .
in the Battle of Malplaquet . .
Re-appointment of Viscount Mordaunt to the
Colonelcy, in succession to Major- General
De Lalo, killed in the Battle of Malplaquet 16
Engaged in the siege and capture of Mons .
1710 in passing the French lines at Pont-a-
Vendin . . ,.;;?. >:*' >
in siege and capture of Douay . .
XXV111 CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAOB
1710 Engaged in siege and capture of Bethune ; 16
of St. Venant .
of Aire . .
Appointment of Lieut.-General Thomas Mere-
dith to the Colonelcy, in succession to Viscount
Mordaunt . . ''' ^-.'^ . - - : 'i' : !:'-.>.
Appointment of the Earl of Orrery to the
Colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.-General
Meredith, removed ....
1711 Engaged in passing the French lines at Arleux. 17
in the siege and capture of Bouchain.
1712 Joined the Army under the command of the
Duke of Ormond . '. *. . >- .
Suspension of hostilities . '- *>. *'* -i'- .
1713 Treaty of Peace concluded at Utrecht . .
1714 Returned from Flanders to England . .
Proceeded to Scotland . . . . 18
1715 Rebellion in Scotland, excited by the Earl of
Mar, in favour of the Pretender ~i .
Encamped at Stirling, under the command of
the Duke of Argyle, and advanced to Dum-
blain . ; ; ; . ' ' J .
Engagement at Sheriff-muir between the King's
troops and the rebel forces .' .
1716 The King's troops advanced; the insurgents
retreated ; the Pretender escaped to the Con-
tinent; and the rebellion suppressed . 19
Appointment of Colonel George Macartney
to the Colonelcy, in place of the Earl of
Orrery ,' ; ^ ". ''-. . .
1727 Appointment of Brigadier-General Sir James
Wood to the Colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.-
General Macartney, removed to the Sixth
Dragoon Guards . . . . 19
1728 Embarked for Ireland .
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XXIX
YEAR PAGE
1738 Appointment of Colonel John Campbell to the
Colonelcy, in succession to Sir James Wood,
. deceased . . . . . . 19
1739 War declared against Spain .... 20
1740 Removed from Ireland to South Britain . .
1741 Encamped on Lexden Heath ...
1742 Embarked for Flanders ....
1743 Marched for Germany, and engaged at the
Battle of Dettingen
1744 Encamped at Asche and Alost
Eeturned to Ghent for winter-quarters . .
1745 Marched to the relief of Tournay . . . 21
Engaged at the Battle of Fontenoy . .
Placed in garrison at Ostend 22
Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender,
landed in Scotland .....
Regiment ordered to return from Flanders .
1746 Proceeded to Scotland, and engaged at the
Battle of Culloden "
Removed to Glasgow ..... 23
1747 Re-embarked for the Netherlands
Engaged at the battle of Yal . . .
1748 Treaty of Peace concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle
Returned to England ... .
1751 Regulations, prescribed by Royal Warrant, for
establishing uniformity in the clothing, stand-
ards, and colours of regiments, &c. &c. .
Received the commendations of the Duke of
Cumberland for good conduct in quarters and
bravery in the field 24
Embarked for Gibraltar ....
1752 Appointment of the Earl of Panmure to the
Colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.- General
Campbell, removed to the Second Dragoons,
Scots Greys .... : , ... ->'<>'
XXX CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YSAR I'AOE
1760 Returned from Gibraltar to England . . 24
1761 Embarked on an expedition to Belle-Isle. .
Capture of the island . . . * . 25
Returned to England . * * - .
1763 Proceeded to Scotland ;,; j .;,>
1765 Embarked for America, and quartered in West
Florida . ; . . . * &*<&
1770 Removed to Canada . , ,. *...- : * , .
Appointment of Major-General Hon. Alexander
Mackay to the Colonelcy, in succession to
Lieut-General the Earl of Panmure, removed
to the Scots Greys . -*i ,?> !c<r*i~* 26
1772 Returned from Canada to England , U .! . .
1775 Commencement of the American War of Inde-
pendence . . '.>.': .*-*' * * ,.
1776 Re-embarked for America, and engaged in the
relief of Quebec .....
1777 Engaged in active operations on Lake Champlain,
at Ticonderago, and other places, with the
American troops . %, .'.-. & -;. * , ,:
The British troops under Lieut. -General Bur-
goyne surrendered . ,-,* -. -.* *-. :V. ; ;.,-. 28
1 781 Returned to Europe, and stationed in Scotland
1783 Removed to Ireland . . -,; .* :.:.;.
1789 Embarked for Nova Scotia . * - ,.:*.'.,< .
Appointment of General Hon. James Murray,
from the 13th regiment, to the Colonelcy, in
succession to Lieut-General Hon. A. Mackay,
1793 Embarked for the West Indies ...
Proceeded to Martinique, to aid the French
Royalists .-;* ;- -,. ;-';. ;; .; ,. . 29
1794 Engaged in the capture of Martinique, St. Lucia,
and Guadaloupe ... . . .
Guadaloupe recaptured by the French . . 30
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAGE
1794 Appointment of Major-General James Hamilton
to the Colonelcy, in succession to General
Hon. James Murray, deceased . . . 31
1796 Returned from the West Indies ...
Proceeded to Scotland to recruit ...
1800 Embarked for Ireland, after completing its
numbers ....
1802 Received the compliments of the principal in-
habitants of Enniskillen for its excellent
conduct . .... 32
Establishment reduced in consequence of the
Peace with France concluded at Amiens .
1803 Removed to Dublin
The Establishment again augmented, in con-
sequence of a renewal of war with France .
Insurrection at Dublin ....
The Lord Chief-Justice, Viscount Kilwarden,
murdered by the populace ; his nephew, the
Rev. R. Wolfe, wounded, and many other
acts of violence committed . " . .
Regiment assembled to suppress the riots, and
Lieut-Colonel Brown murdered by the In-
surgents on his way to the station of the
regiment ......
The command of the regiment devolved on
Major Robertson .....
Received the approbation and thanks of the
Commander-in-Chief, and of the Civil Autho-
rities, in Dublin, for the exertions used in
restoring tranquillity ....
Appointment of General Hon. William Gordon,
from 71st regiment, to the Colonelcy, in suc-
cession to General Hamilton, deceased . 3tf
1804 Measures adopted for repelling the threatened
invasion of the French . .-
XXX11 CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAOE
1804 A second battalion added to the regiment, com-
posed of men raised under the " Additional
Force Act" in the counties of Ayr and
Eenfrew *--r : . ;. ,v , ' -. - . 33
1805 First battalion embarked from Ireland for Ports-
mouth . ; ' '" ,'^rc:^I. 7.* .
Removed to Weymouth, and reviewed by His
Majesty King George III., and other mem-
bers of the Eoyal Family . 'h>. <;*.. .
1805 Removed to Lewes .....
1806 Marched to London to attend the funeral of
Admiral Viscount Nelson, who was killed at
the battle of Trafalgar, and was honored with
a public funeral at St. Paul's Cathedral . 34
First battalion embarked for Sicily -. .* .
Second battalion embarked from Scotland for
Ireland. . ; *'w ; 4 ^^ ! ><~"*l 'jt 1 . .
1807 Hostilities with the Grand Seignior ; ' .
First battalion embarked from Sicily on an ex-
pedition to Egypt ; landed at Alexandria,
and marched to Aboukir . ;- v : ->-i'>-' i ' .
Peace with the Turks being restored, the batta-
lion returned to Sicily . ^ . .
1809 Flank companies engaged in the capture of the
Islands of Ischia and Procida, in the Gulf of
Naples 35
Attempt made to reduce the Castle of Scylla .
1810 The invasion of Sicily by Murat, King of Na-
ples, defeated . '-. '> ' * ' " '. . . 36
1811 Second battalion embarked from Ireland for
Scotland ''; ' : i ' ' . . . 37
1814 First battalion embarked for Italy, with a force
under Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck
Landed at Leghorn, marched to Pisa, thence to
Lucca .
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XXX111
YEAE PAOE
1814 Advanced to Genoa, and took possession of that
town and fortress . .... 37
Second battalion embarked from Scotland for
Holland 38
Employed in the attack of Bergen-op-Zoom .
Hostilities on the Continent ceased. . .
Abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte . .
Second battalion embarked for England, and
returned to Scotland
First battalion embarked for service in America 39
Defeated the American Army at Bladensburg ,
Advanced to Washington, captured the city,
and destroyed the arsenal, docks, &c. . . 40
Marched back to St. Benedict ...
Re-embarked and landed at North Point . .
Advanced towai'ds Baltimore, and engaged the
American troops .....
Major-General Robert Ross killed, and the com-
mand devolved on Colonel Brooke, 44th
regiment . . . .
Attacked and defeated the American Army at
Godly-wood ......
Colonel Paterson, 2 1st regiment, commanded a
brigade and commended in the public de-
spatches . . . . . . 41
Attack on the town of Baltimore abandoned,
and the British troops re-embarked on board
the Fleet . . . ..
Proceeded to Jamaica, and there reinforced by
a strong detachment from the second battalion
Re-embarked, and proceeded to make an attack
on New Orleans .....
1815 Major-General Hon. Sir Edward Pakenham
killed, and many other officers and soldiers
killed, wounded, or made prisoners . . 42
XXXIV CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAB PAOE
1815 The capture of New Orleans abandoned . . 43
Capture of Fort Bo wyer . , .
Peace with America concluded ...
First battalion returned to the West Indies, and
thence to Portsmouth, and proceeded to
Cork . .
Napoleon Bonaparte returned to France, and
regained possession of that kingdom . .
The Battle of Waterloo took place . .
First battalion embarked from Ireland for
Ostend, and proceeded to join the army under
the command of Field-Marshal the Duke of
Wellington 44
Formed part of the Army of Occupation in
France . . . .
1816 Second battalion disbanded at Stirling . .
Reviewed by Field-Marshal the Duke of Wel-
lington ......
Appointment of Lieut.-General Lord Forbes,
from 54th regiment, to the Colonelcy, in
succession to General Hon. William Gordon,
deceased . . . . . .
1817 Proceeded to Calais, and embarked for England
1818 Marched to Portsmouth ....
Officers authorised to wear long coats . .
1819 Embarked for the West Indies ...
Received the particular thanks of Major-General
Lord Howard of Effingham, commanding at
Portsmouth, for its excellent qualities . . 45
Landed at Barbadoes, and inspected by Lieut.-
General Lord Combermere ...
1821 Proceeded to Demerara .... 46
Lieut.-Colonel J. M. Nooth died, and succeeded
by Lieut.-Colonel J. Leahy ...
1823 Insurrection among the negroes at Demerara .
CONTENTS OF THE HISTORICAL RECORD. XXXV
YEAH P AO1:
1823 Received the thanks of the Lieut.-General com-
manding in the West Indies, of His Royal
Highness the Duke of York, and of His
Majesty King George IV., for its conduct in
suppressing this revolt .... 46
Certain sums voted by the Court of Policy of
Demerara to the regiment, for its efficient
services on this occasion ....
1824 Removed to St. Vincent and Grenada . .
1827 Embarked for England .... 47
Arrived at the Isle of Wight, marched to
Windsor, and furnished the duties at the
Castle
1828 Removed from Windsor to Portmouth . .
Marched to Bath and thence to Bristol . .
Embarked for Ireland .....
1831 Marched to Dublin, and embarked for England
1832 Removed to Chatham
1833 Embarked for New South Wales, by detach-
ments, as guards over convicts ... 48
1839 Embarked from Hobart Town for the East
Indies .......
Arrived at Calcutta
1840 Removed to Dinapore ....
1843 Marched to Kamptee . . . ' .
1846 Removed to Agra .....
1847 Removed to Cawnpore, thence to Calcutta .
1 848 Embarked for England, and arrived at Gravesend 49
Marched to Canterbury ....
Proceeded to Edinburgh ....
1849 Conclusion 50
( xxxvi )
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT,
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS.
YBAB PAOK
1678 Charles, Earl of Mar . ..,.;...,.<:. . 51
1686 Thomas Buchan . . . : . * 52
1689 Francis Fergus O'Farrell . ..:..'.. .
1695 Robert Mackay . ... ' . . ...
1697 Archibald Row . . ,,' * . 53
1704 John, Viscount Mordaunt . .. ,;,.
1706 Sampson De Lalo ,, , , .. . . 54
1709 John, Viscount Mordaunt Re-appointed .
1710 Thomas Meredith 55
Charles, Earl of Orrery, K.T. . 4 - ; ; \
1716 George Macartney . . 4 , , ,.. ^ '. ... . 56
1727 Sir James Wood . ^ . . ,',.....,.-.' . .
1738 John Campbell afterwards Duke of Argyle .
1752 William, Earl of Panmure .... 57
1770 Hon. Alexander Mackay ....
1 789 Hon. James Murray . . , . ., s . . . 58
1794 James Hamilton r ; ?-,,' . . -. ->' 59
1803 Hon. William Gordon , . , . , .
1816 James, Lord Forbes
1843 Right Hon. Sir Frederick Adam, G.C.B. 60
( xxxvii )
APPENDIX.
YEAR P A9f
List of Battles, Sieges, &c., in the Netherlands, from
1689 to the Peace of Eyswick in 1697, during the
reign of King William III. . . . . 61
List of Battles, Sieges, &c., in the Netherlands and
Germany, during the Campaigns under the Duke
of Marlborough, from 1702 to 1711 . . 62
List of Battles, Sieges, &c., which occurred in Ger-
many and in the Netherlands, from 1743 to 1748,
during the " War of the Austrian Succession " . 63
List of the British Regiments which served in Flan-
ders and Germany between 1742 and 1748, during
the " War of the Austrian Succession " . 64
PLATES.
Colours of the Regiment . . . to face Page 1
Costume of the Regiment in 1742 . ,,24
Costume of the Regiment in 1849 . . 50
HISTORICAL RECORD
THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT,
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS.
TWJEOTY
THE m<0)YA]L
lor Cajmme Mddcaj Rtwrds
HISTORICAL RECORD
THE TWENTY-FIEST REGIMENT OF FOOT,
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS.
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH REGIMENT OF FUSILIERS 1678
derives its origin from the commotions in Scotland,
during the reign of King Charles II., who attempted
to establish Episcopacy in that country ; but was opposed
by the Presbyterians, who wished to adhere to their
religious institutions, and prosecutions being used in
Scotland by the Government, to enforce obedience,
collisions occurred between the inhabitants and the
military, which were sometimes attended with loss of
life. Several Highland clans were called out, in 1678,
and quartered upon the Presbyterians, and in the
autumn of the same year a regiment of foot was added
to the military establishment of Scotland, of which
Charles, Earl of Mar, was appointed Colonel, by com-
mission dated the 23rd of September, 1678 : this corps,
having been retained in the service, now bears the
title of the TWENTY-FIRST Regiment of Foot, or the
ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS.
2 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1678 Eegiments of infantry, at this period, were generally
armed with pikes and muskets ; but the practice was in-
troduced of arming every man, of a few select corps, with
a fusil, or a light musket, and these regiments were
called FUSILIERS. The EARL OF MAR'S regiment was
one of the first corps which obtained this distinction.
1679 In the following year, Archbishop Sharp, who had
become particularly obnoxious to the non-conformists,
was murdered. This event was followed by severities
against the Presbyterians, and a meeting for public
worship, at Loudon-hill, having been attacked by a
body of horse and dragoons, under Captain Robert
Graham, of Claverhouse, afterwards Viscount Dundee,
the countrymen, being numerous, and provided with
arms, gained some advantage over the military. The
persons, who had thus committed themselves, resolved
to keep together in arms, and to seek by their valour,
that redress to which they considered themselves
entitled. They were soon augmented in numbers, and
taking post behind the river Clyde, they barricaded
Bothwell Bridge. The EARL OF MAR'S regiment was
called upon to take the field against the insurgents, and
it formed part of the army, commanded by James, Duke
of Monmouth, which attacked the rebels on the 22nd
of June, and gained a decisive victory. The rebels made
a feeble resistance on this occasion ; twelve hundred foot
laid down their arms without striking a blow, and the
other divisions of their army fled in dismay ; about four
hundred were killed by the King's troops in the pursuit,
and the rebellion was suppressed. Several parties, how-
ever, kept together in arms for some time, and gave the
1680 military much trouble in that and the following year.
1685 I n th e ear ly P ar t f 1685, King Charles II. died, and
was succeeded by his brother, King James the Second
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 3
of England, and Seventh of Scotland. The King being 1685
a Roman Catholic, some disaffected persons supposed
the people would not submit to his government ; and
the Earl of Argyle and the Duke of Monmouth, who
were both in exile on the Continent, for their political
conduct, agreed to raise the standard of rebellion, the
former in Scotland, and the latter in England. The
Earl of Argyle landed in Argyleshire in May, and
assembled a body of men ; when the EARL OF MAR'S
regiment was again called into the field. The King's
troops were commanded by the Earl of Dumbarton;
and on the night of the 19th of June, the two armies
encamped in sight of each other. The rebels attempted
to avoid an engagement, by a night march ; but they
were led into a bog in the dark ; alarm and disorder
followed ; and the insurgents, proceeding some in one
direction and some in another, left the Earl of Argyle
without an army ; he was captured and executed.
The Duke of Monmouth met with a similar fate, and the
rebellion in England was suppressed without the EARL
OF MAR'S regiment being required to pass the border.
The Earl of Mar was succeeded in the colonelcy of 1686
the regiment, in 1686, by Colonel Thomas Buchan,
from a regiment of horse.
When the attempts made by King James to establish 1688
papacy and arbitrary government had alarmed his
subjects, and the Prince of Orange was preparing an
armament for the invasion of England, the regiment was
one of the corps which marched from Scotland to sup-
port the authority of the King ; and in the early part of
November, 1688, it arrived in the vicinity of London,
when it was ordered to occupy quarters in Spitalfields
and the Tower Hamlets. The Prince of Orange landed
on the 5th of November ; King James discovered that
B 2
4 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
16S8 he had alienated the affections of his subjects, both
civil and military, and he fled to France. Colonel
BUCHAN'S regiment was ordered, by the Prince of
Orange, to occupy quarters at Witney, in Oxfordshire.
1689 The Prince and Princess of Orange were elevated to the
Throne by the titles of King William and Queen Mary ;
and Colonel Buchan having adhered to the interests
of King James, King William conferred the colonelcy
of the regiment on Colonel Francis Fergus O'Farrell, by
commission dated the 1st of March, 1689.
From Oxfordshire, the regiment marched to
Gravesend, where it embarked for Holland, and
joining the Dutch army commanded by Prince
Waldeck, served the campaign of that year with the
division under the Earl (afterwards Duke) of
Marlborough. The regiment took part in a sharp
action with the French troops, commanded by Marshal
d'Humieres, at Walcourt, in the province of Namur,
on the 25th of August, on which occasion the French
were repulsed in their attacks on the allied army, with
considerable loss.
1690 The regiment passed the winter in Flanders, and in
the summer of 1690 again took the field; it was on its
march for Brussels on the 21st of June, in order to join
the allied army; but Prince Waldeck engaged the
French at Fleurus, without waiting for the arrival of the
British troops, and was defeated. This disaster occa-
sioned the services of the army to be limited to defensive
operations during the remainder of the campaign.
1691 In March, 1691, the regiment was encamped at
Halle, in South Brabant, and formed in brigade with
the second battalion of the Royals ; the French besieged
Mons, and the allies were too few in numbers to prevent
the capture of the place by the enemy. After the
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 5
surrender of Mons, the regiment was placed in quarters 1691
until May, when it encamped near Brussels, and was
formed in brigade with the Royals, and the Scots
regiments of Mackay, Ramsay, and Angus, under the
1 orders of Brigadier-General Ramsay.
In a list of the army in Flanders, printed in July,
1691, the regiment is styled "O'FARRELL'S FUSILIERS;"
and its uniform is stated to be red, faced and lined with
the same colour.
At the termination of the campaign, the regiment was
again placed in winter-quarters.
A numerous French army appeared in the Nether- 1692
lands in the spring of 1692, and besieged Namur ;
when O'FARRELL'S FUSILIERS were called from their
quarters, and advanced with the army, commanded by
King William III., to the relief of the place ; but the
march having been delayed by heavy rains, the garrison
surrendered on the 20th of June. A few days after-
wards, a detachment of the regiment was employed in
an attempt to surprise Mons ; but the garrison was
found prepared. On this occasion, Colonel Sir Robert
Douglas and Colonel O'Farrell, having proceeded a
short distance to consult with the Prince of Wirtemberg,
who commanded the party, mistook their way in the
dark, and were made prisoners by a detachment of
French cavalry : they were released on paying the
regulated ransom.
O'FARRELL'S FUSILIERS formed part of the advance-
guard at the battle of Steenkirk on the 3rd of August ; ,
and were severely engaged with the superior numbers
of the enemy under the Duke of Luxembourg. The
regiment distinguished itself on this occasion, and sus-
tained the loss of many brave officers and soldiers.
D'Auvergne states, in his history of this campaign,
6 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1692 " Our van-guard behaved in this engagement to such
" wonder and admiration, that though they received the
" charge of several battalions of the enemy, one after
" another, yet they made them retreat almost to their
" camp." The corps in advance were not supported in
time to enable them to persevere in their career of
victory; and King William commanded the army to
retreat.
The regiment had Major Keith, Captains White,
Cygnoe, Mackenzie, and Sharp, Lieutenants Charles
King and Edward Griffith killed ; and Lieutenant Newton
wounded. The regiment was not engaged in any
service of importance during the remainder of the
campaign, and it passed the winter at Ghent.
1693 Again taking the field in the summer of 1693, the
NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were formed in brigade with the
regiments of Leven (twenty-fifth), Monro (twenty-sixth),
Mackay, and Lander (afterwards disbanded), under
the command of Brigadier-General Ramsay, and, after
taking part in several manoeuvres, were engaged at the
battle of Landen on the 29th of July. At sunrise on
the morning of that day, a French force of very superior
numbers, commanded by the Duke of Luxembourg,
appeared before the position occupied by the confede-
rate army under King William III., when the NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS, and other regiments of their brigade,
were ordered to occupy some hedges and narrow roads,
beyond the village of Laer, on the right of the line.
This village, and the ground occupied by General
Ramsay's brigade, being attacked by a numerous body
of the enemy, the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were en-
gaged in a sharp musketry battle in the fields and open
grounds. At length the Third foot, and other corps in
the village of Laer, were forced to retire ; but they
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 7
rallied, and, being joined by Brigadier-General Ramsay's 1693
brigade, the whole charged, and by a gallant effort recap-
tured the village ; the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS distin-
guished themselves on the occasion. The French after-
wards carried the village of Neer-Winden, and forced the
position ; the regiments at Laer then became separated
from the main body of the confederate army; they
gallantly defended their post some time, and eventually
retired, fighting, to the Gheet, forded that river, and
joined several corps which had crossed the bridge of
Neer-Hespen. The army was retreating, and the NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS accompanied King William to the
vicinity of Tirlemont. The regiment had Captains
Campbell and Strayton, Lieutenants Douglas and Dun-
bar, and Adjutant Walle wounded; Captain Paterson
taken prisoner ; also a number of soldiers killed,
wounded, and prisoners.
At the end of the campaign, the regiment was placed
in garrison at Bruges.
During the summer of 1694, the regiment performed 1694
many long marches in Brabant and Flanders ; but was
not engaged with the enemy, and in the autumn it
marched to Deinse.
This year the King commanded a board of General
Officers to assemble and decide upon the rank of the
several corps of the army. This board gave precedence
to the English regiments, and gave the Scots and Irish
regiments rank in the English army from the date of
their first arrival in England, or from the date when
they were first placed on the English establishment.
The NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, not having entered
England until the Revolution in 1688, received rank as
TWENTY-FIRST regiment. Numerical titles were not
generally used until the reign of King George II.
8 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1695 When the army took the field to serve the campaign
of 1695, the TWENTY-FIRST were left in garrison at
Deinse, where some stores of provision were formed.
King William undertook the siege of Namur, and the
regiment was directed to join the covering army under
the Prince of Vaudemont ; but it subsequently returned
to Deinse, of which place its colonel, Brigadier-General
O'Farrell, was commandant.
The French commander, Marshal Villeroy, detached
a strong body of troops, under the Marquis of Feuqueres,
to reduce the town of Deinse where the NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS were stationed. This town was situate on the
river Lys ; it was only slightly fortified, and in many
places there was only an entrenchment and some pali-
sades as defensive works ; eight pieces of cannon were
the only ordnance in the town. Under these circum-
stances Brigadier-General O'Farrell considered it im-
possible to make a successful defence of the place, and
he surrendered on the 21st of July without having
fired a shot. The FUSILIERS became prisoners of war
on this occasion.
Brigadier-General O'Farrell was afterwards tried
by a general court-martial, and cashiered: and King
William conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on
Colonel Robert Mackay, from a Scots corps, which was
afterwards disbanded.
After the surrender of Namur, the regiment rejoined
the allied army, and was again stationed at Bruges.
1696 From Bruges the regiment proceeded to the camp at
Marykirk, and it served the campaign of 1 696 with the
army of Brabant : in the autumn it went into village
cantonments.
In December, Colonel Robert Mackay died; and on
1697 the 1st of January, 1697, King William conferred the
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 9
colonelcy of the regiment on Lieut.-Colonel Archibald 1697
Row, from the Sixteenth foot.
Quitting its village quarters on the 13th of March,
1697, the regiment entered upon the operations of
another campaign. While the troops were in the field,
negotiations for a general peace commenced at Ryswick,
and the treaty was signed in September. Thus the
British monarch witnessed his efforts for the liberties of
Europe, and for the preservation of the balance of power
in Christendom, attended with success.
The regiment returned to Scotland during the winter,
and was stationed there during the remainder of King
William's reign.
Queen Anne succeeded to the throne on the 8th of 1702
March, 1702 ; and the French monarch, having violated
the conditions of existing treaties, by -procuring the
accession of his grandson, Philip, Duke of Anjou, to the
throne of Spain, war was declared against France soon
afterwards. At the commencement of hostilities the
NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were selected to proceed on
foreign service, and they embarked from Scotland for
Holland, to serve with the allied army commanded by
the Earl of Marlborough. The regiment did not join
the army immediately on its arrival in Holland, but was
stationed some time at Breda, and in September it
marched towards Flanders.
Quitting its winter-quarters in April, 1703, the regi- 1703
ment marched towards Maestricht, where the allied
army was assembled, and the second battalion of the
Royals, with the Tenth, Sixteenth, TWENTY FIRST, and
Twenty-Sixth regiments, were formed in brigade, under
Brigadier -General the Earl of Derby.
The regiment took part in the operations of the
campaign, and its services were connected with the
10 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1703 reduction of Huy, a strong fortress on the Maese, above
the city of Liege, which was besieged and captured in
ten days. The regiment was afterwards detached from
the main army, to take part in the capture of Limburg,
a city of the Spanish Netherlands, situate on a pleasant
eminence near the banks of the Wesdet. The siege of
this place was commenced on the 10th of September, and
the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were employed in carry-
ing on the approaches, and in making the attacks ; and
in seventeen days the garrison surrendered at discretion.
1704 In October the regiment marched back to Holland,
where it was stationed during the winter.
From Holland the regiment marched, in the months
of May and June, 1704, to the interior of Germany, to
arrest the progress of the French and Bavarians, who
had gained considerable advantage over the Imperialists.
A junction was formed with the Germans under the
Margrave of Baden; and on the 2nd of July the NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS took part in the attack of the enemy's
position on the lofty heights of Schellenbery on the north
bank of the Danube; when the entrenchments were
carried, and the French and Bavarians, commanded by
the Count d'Arco, were driven from their post with
severe loss.
The regiment had a few private soldiers killed and
wounded ; also Captain Kygoe, Lieutenants Johnston
and John Campbell, wounded.
After this victory the regiment penetrated the Electorate
of Bavaria to the vicinity of the enemy's fortified camp
at Augsburg, which was found too strong to be attacked
with any prospect of success, and the army retired a
few stages to undertake the siege of Ingoldstadt. At
the same time a numerous reinforcement of French
troops arrived at the theatre of war.
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 11
These events were followed by the battle of Blenheim, 1704
on tbe 13th of August, when the French and Bavarians,
commanded by Marshal Tallard and the Elector of
Bavaria, were overpowered by the allies under the Duke
of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy, and a
victory was gained which reflected lustre on the British
arms. The NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were selected to
lead the attack against the French troops in the village
of BLENHEIM, and their colonel, Brigadier- General Row,
placed himself at the head of his regiment, which was
followed by four other corps. In the Annals of Queen
Anne it is stated " The five English battalions, led on
'* by Brigadier-General Row, who charged on foot at the
'* head of his own regiment with unparalleled intrepidity,
" assaulted the village of Blenheim, advancing to the
" very muzzles of the enemy's muskets, and some of the
" officers exchanged thrusts of swords through the
" palisades ;" but the avenues of the village were found
strongly fortified, and defended by a force of superior
numbers. Brigadier-General Row led the NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS up to the palisades before he gave the word
"fire," and the next moment he fell mortally wounded;
Lieut.-Colonel Daly el and Major Campbell, being both
on the spot, stepped forward to raise their colonel, and
were both instantly pierced by musket-balls ; the soldiers,
exasperated at seeing the three field officers of the regi-
ment fall, made a gallant effort to force their way into
the village, but this was found impossible, and the regi-
ment was ordered to retire. The moment the soldiers
faced about, thirteen squadrons of French cavalry gal-
loped forward to charge them, and one of the colours
of the regiment was captured by the enemy ; but the
French horsemen were repulsed by the fire of a brigade
of Hessians, and the colour was recovered.
1 2 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1704 Another attempt to capture the village of Blenheim
having failed, the firing was continued against this post,
and the army advanced against the enemy's line, which
was driven from the field with great slaughter, and
the loss of its cannon, and of many officers and soldiers
made prisoners, among whom was the French com-
mander, Marshal Tallard. Additional forces were then
brought against the French troops in Blenheim, and
they surrendered prisoners of war. The Germans, who
attacked the enemy's right, were also victorious ; and
the gallant achievements of the allied army raised on
the banks of the Danube a trophy which time cannot
destroy.
The regiment had Lieut.-Colonel Dalyel, Captain
Stratton, jun., Captain Stratton, senior, Lieutenants
Vandergracht, Hill, Campbell, and Travallion killed ;
Brigadier-General Row and Major Campbell died of
their wounds ; Captains Craufurd and Fairlee, Lieu-
tenants Dunbar, J. Douglas, Elliott, Ogilvy, Maxwell,
Stuart, Primrose, and Gordon wounded.
The number of the enemy captured on this occasion
was so great, that the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, and four
other corps, were sent to Holland in charge of prisoners.
These corps marched in charge of the captured French
and Bavarians to Mentz, where they embarked in boats
and sailed to Holland, under the orders of Brigadier-
General Fergusson ; and having delivered them into the
charge of other regiments, went into quarters.
The colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on John,
Viscount Mordaunt, who had distinguished himself at
the head of the foot guards which commenced the at-
tack on the heights- of Schellenberg. A number of
recruits from Scotland having replaced the losses of the
preceding campaign, the regiment appeared complete
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 13
and in good order when it took the field to serve the l>705
campaign of 1 705. It was employed in the expedition
up the Moselle : and returning to the Netherlands, was
afterwards engaged at the forcing of the French l^nes at
Helixem and Neer Hespen, on the morning of the' 1 8th
of July, when the superior tactics of the British Com-
mander, and the gallantry of his troops, were very
conspicuous. ,
The regiment had also the honor to take part in 1706
gaining another splendid victory over the combined
French, Spanish, and Bavarian forces, at Ramilies, on
Whit-Sunday, the 23rd of May, 1706. During the
early part of the action the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS,
the Third foot, and three regiments of cavalry, were
stationed on the heights of Foulz, where they had a view
of the field of battle. An important crisis in the battle
arriving, these corps descended from the heights, the
FUSILEERS and Third Foot forced their way through a
morass, crossed the Little Gheet, ascended the acclivity
between that river and the Jauche, and charging the
enemy's left flank, forced three French regiments into
some low grounds, where the greater part of them
were either killed or taken prisoners. The allies were
successful at every part of the field, and the legions of
the enemy were overpowered, and pursued from the
plains of Ramilies with great slaughter until tjie follow-
ing morning, by which time nearly all the enemy's
cannon, with many standards, colours, and kettle-drums,
had been captured.
This victory augmented the reputation of the British
arms ; and was followed by very important results.
Spanish Brabant, and many of the principal towns of
Flanders, were rescued from the power of the enemy.
The services of the regiment are connected with the
14 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1706 capture of Ostend, Menin, and Aeth ; and it passed the
winter in garrison in Flanders.
In June of this year Viscount Mordaunt exchanged
with Colonel Sampson de Lalo, a French gentleman of
the Protestant religion, who had been forced to quit his
native country by the Edict of Nantes ; Colonel de Lalo
had served as Lieut. : Colonel and Colonel of the Twenty-
eighth regiment several years, and had the reputation of
being an excellent officer.
1707 During the campaign of 1707, the services of the
regiment were limited to marches and occupying posi-
tions ; and it passed the winter in West Flanders.
The Union of Scotland and England took place this
year, which occasioned St. George's cross to be added
to the colours of the Scots regiments, and St. Andrew's
cross to the colours of the English regiments. The
corps, previously designated Scots regiments, took the
title of North British regiments.
1708 In May, 1708, the regiment again took the field, and
on the llth of July it had an opportunity of acquiring
fresh laurels at the battle of Oudenarde, which was
fought in the broken grounds near the river Scheldt.
On this occasion the regiment was engaged in a severe
musketry action, and it succeeded in driving the French
corps opposed to it from field to field, until the darkness
of the night put an end to the conflict. Before the fol-
lowing morning the wreck of the French army had re-
treated in disorder towards Ghent.
After this victory, the siege of Lisle, the capital of
French Flanders, was resolved upon. This fortress was
deemed almost impregnable ; it was garrisoned by
fifteen thousand men, commanded by Marshal Boufflers,
who resolved upon making a desperate defence. The
NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were selected to take part
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 15
in the attack of this important fortress, under the orders 1708
of Prince Eugene of Savoy ; the covering army was
commanded by the Duke of Marlborough. The
regiment had several men killed and wounded in
carrying on the approaches, and at the attack of the
counterscarp it had thirteen men killed ; three officers,
four Serjeants, and sixty-six rank and file wounded.
The progress of this siege was a subject of peculiar
interest throughout Europe ; and the besieging army
witnessed its extraordinary efforts for the capture of the
place, attended by complete success, on the 9th of
December, when the citadel surrendered.
Having reposed a few months in quarters, and received 1709
a body of fine recruits from Scotland, the regiment joined
the army, and was employed in covering the siege of
Tournay, in July and August, 1709. The citadel of Tour-
nay surrendered in the beginning of September, and the
army afterwards marched in the direction of Mons.
A numerous French army, commanded by Marshals
Villars and Boufflers, took up a position at Malplaquet,
and strengthened the post by entrenchments and other
works of art. The Duke of Marlborough and Prince
Eugene had confidence in the valour and perseverance
of the troops under their orders, and they attacked the
enemy's formidable position on the llth of September,
on which occasion the heroic valour of the troops was
conspicuous ; the enemy's entrenchments and abatis-de-
bois were stormed with distinguished gallantry, the deter-
mined resistance of the French was overcome, and another
trophy was acquired ; but with the loss of many brave offi-
cers and soldiers, including the Colonel of the NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS, Brigadier-General DE LALO, who
was killed at the head of a brigade, and his fall was much
regretted.
16 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
In addition to the loss of its Colonel, the regiment
had also Captains Monroe, Wemys, and Farley killed ;
Captains Montressor and Lowther wounded.
After the death of Brigadier- General de Lalo,
Viscount Mordaunt was re -appointed on the 4th of
September to the colonelcy of the NORTH BRITISH FUSI-
LIERS, from the Twenty- eighth regiment.
The regiment was afterwards employed in covering
the siege of Mons, which was terminated by the sur-
render of the garrison on the 20th of October ; when
the regiment marched into quarters.
1710 On the 14th of April, 1710, the regiment marched
out of its winter-quarters towards the frontiers of
France, and was engaged in the movements by which
the French lines were passed at Pont-a~ Vendin : it was
afterwards selected to take part in the siege of Douay,
where it performed much severe service. It was
employed in carrying on the approaches, in storming
the outworks, and other duties connected with the
siege, and sustained considerable loss in killed and
wounded. The garrison beat a parley on the 25th of
June, and afterwards surrendered the fortress.
After the capture of Douay, the regiment was employed
in covering the siege of Bethune, which place was sur-
rendered in August. The regiment was also with the
covering army during the sieges of St. Tenant and Aire;
the former place surrendered on the 30th of September,
and the latter on the 9th of November.
Viscount Mordaunt died this year, and was succeeded
in the colonelcy by Major- General Meredith, from the
Thirty-seventh regiment. This officer was succeeded,
in December, by Major- General the Earl of Orrery,
from a newly-raised regiment, which was afterwards
disbanded.
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 17
After passing the winter in quarters at Dendermond, 171 1
the regiment joined the army in May, 1711, and it took
part in the movements by which the boasted impregnable
French lines were passed at Arleux on the 5th of
August. The regiment was afterwards employed in the
siege of Bouckain, in which service obstacles of the
greatest magnitude had to be overcome, and the abilities
of the commanders, with the valour of the troops, were
put to a severe test. These qualities were found. in the
besieging army ; on more than one occasion the soldiers
fought up to their middle in water, and by a gallant
perseverance, which reflected honor on all the corps
engaged in the siege, every difficulty was overcome ;
and the garrison surrendered on the 13th of September.
The regiment joined the army commanded by the Duke 1712
of Ormoncl, in the campaign of 1712, and advanced to
the frontiers of Picardy ; but a suspension of hostilities '
was soon afterwards proclaimed, preparatory to a general
peace, when the British army marched to Ghent, and
afterwards went into quarters.
A treaty of peace was concluded at Utrecht, and the 1713
soldiers of the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS could look
back with exultation at the career of victory and honor
which had attended their corps during these memorable
campaigns. At this period the regiment is designated
by historians, and in official documents, by the title of
the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS; but the date
when this honorary distinction of "ROYAL" was con-
ferred upon it, has not been ascertained.
The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were stationed 1714
in Flanders until the decease of Queen Anne, on the 1st
of August, 1714, and the accession of King George I.,
when they were ordered to embark for England. They
18 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1714 landed at Gravesend on the 23rd of August, and were
afterwards directed to march to Scotland.
1715 In 1715 the Earl of Mar* erected the standard of
rebellion in Scotland, and summoned the Highland clans
to aid him in establishing the Pretender on the throne.
The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were encamped at
Stirling, under the command of the Duke of Argyle, and
advanced with the Royal army to Dumblain, to defeat the
attempts of the enemy to march southward. On the
morning of the 1 3th of November the two armies con-
fronted each other on Sheriff-muir. On the approach of
the clans, was found necessary for the Royal forces to
change position, and this movement was executed at a
critical time with steadiness ; but several corps were
suddenly attacked by the clans while in the act of form-
ing, and suffered severely. The left wing of the rebel
army was overpowered, and driven from the field with
great slaughter ; and the left wing of the Royal army was
also forced to retire ; thus each commander had one wing
victorious, and one wing defeated : the rebels were pre-
* This nobleman was John (sixth) Earl of Mar, the son of Charles
(fifth) Earl of Mar, who raised the TWENTY-FIRST regiment, and
was the first colonel of that regiment. On his decease, on the 23rd
of April, 1689, his son John became Earl of Mar, and was honored
with several appointments by Queen Anne. Upon the arrival of
King George I., he was informed that his services were no longer
required as Third Secretary of State, and he retired to his estates in
Scotland where he raised a rebellion, and proclaimed the Pretender
at Kirk-Michael, in Perthshire, on the llth of September, 1715.
After the defeat of the rebels at Sheriffmuir, he escaped from Scot-
land, and in 17 16, was attainted of high treason. He followed the
Pretender to Rome, and remained in his service until 1721, when
he removed to Paris where he remained until 1 729. From Paris he
retired to Aix-la-Chapelle, where he died, in May, 1732. His son,
Thomas, Lord Erskine, enjoyed his father's forfeited estates, which
were conveyed to him in 1739 by his uncle, Mr. Erskine of Grange,
who bought them of the Commissioners for the benefit of his nephew.
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 19
vented marching southward, and retired ; and the 171*5
King's troops returned to their camp at Stirling.
The regiment had one captain, two lieutenants, three
Serjeants, and eighty-five rank and file killed ; one
captain, one serjeant, and twenty-four rank and file
wounded.
Reinforcements having arrived, the King's troops 1716
advanced, in January, 1716, to attack the insurgents,
who made a precipitate retreat. The Pretender, and
several leaders in the rebellion, escaped to the Continent,
and the clans separated. The rebellion was thus sup-
pressed.
In July of this year the Earl of Orrery was succeeded
in the colonelcy of the regiment by Colonel George
Macartney, whose regiment of foot had been disbanded
at the peace of Utrecht.
The regiment was employed on home service many 1727
years; and in 1727 it was held in readiness to embai'k
for Holland, to aid the Dutch in their approaching war
with the Emperor of Germany ; but the presence of
British troops was not required.
In the same year Colonel Macartney was removed to
the Seventh horse, now-Sixth Dragoon Guards, and the
colonelcy of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS was
conferred on Brigadier- General Sir James Wood, from
the Dutch service.
The order for embarking for Holland having been coun- 1728
termanded, the regiment afterwards proceeded tolreland, ] 729
and was placed upon the establishment of that country.
Major-General Sir James Wood died in 1738, and 1738
King George II. nominated Colonel John Campbell,
afterwards Duke of Argyle, to the colonelcy of the
ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, from the Thirty-ninth
regiment.
c 2
20 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1739 War having been declared against Spain, in the
autumn of 1739, the regiment was withdrawn from
Ireland, and landing at Liverpool, was stationed in
1740 South Britain during the year 1740; in the summer of
1741 1741 it was encamped on Lexden Heath, where seven
regiments of cavalry and seven of infantry were assem-
bled, and held in readiness for foreign service.
1742 In the summer of 1742 King George II. sent sixteen
thousand men to Flanders, to support the interest of the
House of Austria against the aggressions of France and
Bavaria : the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS formed
part of this force, and were stationed some time at Ghent.
1743 Early in 1743 the regiment commenced its march for
Germany, and after taking part in several movements in
the field, had the honor to distinguish itself, under the
eye of its Sovereign, at the battle of Dettingen, on the
27th of June, when the French troops, under Marshal
Noailles, were driven from the field of battle with great
slaughter, and the loss of a number of standards and
colours.
The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS had Lieutenant
Yonge, one serjeant, and thirty-five rank and file killed ;
Lieutenant Levingstone, one serjeant, two drummers,
and fifty-three rank and file wounded.
The regiment was afterwards encamped near Hanau ;
in August it crossed the Rhine, and was employed in
West Germany ; but in the autumn it returned to
Flanders.
1744 During the campaign of 1744 the regiment served
with the army under Field-Marshal Wade ; it was en-
camped between Asche and Alost, afterwards on the
banks of the Scheldt, and subsequently penetrated the
French territory to the vicinity of Lisle ; but returned to
Ghent for winter-quarters.
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 21
Quitting its cantonments in April, 1745, the regiment 1745
marched, with the army commanded by His Royal
Highness the Duke of Cumberland, to the relief of
Tournay, which fortress was besieged by a numerous
French army, which took up a position near the village
of Fontenoy. The enemy had a great superiority of
numbers ; but the Duke of Cumberland, trusting to the
innate bravery of his troops, resolved to hazard a general
engagement on the 1 1th of May, when the ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS had their valour and endurance put
to a severe test, and they proved themselves not un-
worthy successors of the gallant officers and soldiers who
triumphed at Blenheim and Ramilies under the great
Duke of Marlborough.
Soon after nine o'clock the British infantry advanced
in the face of a heavy fire of grape and musketry, and
by a gallant charge broke through the French lines ; but
the Dutch failed to carry the village of Fontenoy, and
a brigade under Brigadier -General Ingoldsby did not
capture the battery it was appointed to attack ; the troops,
which had forced the enemy's centre, were thus exposed
to so severe a cross fire, that they were ordered to re-
tire. A second attack was made ; British valour and
intrepidity were again triumphant ; but the failure of
the Dutch a second time, produced disastrous results,
and the British regiments, which had carried the enemy's
entrenchments, and forced the centre, were nearly
annihilated by a destructive cross fire. The ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS suffered severely on this occasion.
The Duke of Cumberland afterwards ordered a retreat,
and the army withdrew from the field of battle to Aeth.
Lieutenants Campbell, Houston, and Serjeant, of the
regiment, were killed ; Major Colville, Captains Latan,
Olivant, and Knatchbull, Lieutenants Maxwell, Colville,
22 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1745 Ballenden, Macgaken, and Townsend, wounded; Cap-
tain Sandilands, Lieutenant Stuart, and Quarter- Master
Stewart prisoners; eleven Serjeants and two hundred and
fifty-nine rank and file killed, wounded, and prisoners.
The severe loss which the regiment had experienced
occasioned it to be placed in garrison at Ostend. This
place was besieged by a numerous French force ; and
the garrison defended their post some time ; but the
works were not in repair, the stores were defective, and
the garrison not sufficiently numerous : under these cir-
cumstances the governor surrendered, on condition that
the garrison should join the allied army.
While the regiment was in Flanders, Charles Edward,
eldest son of the Pretender, arrived in Scotland, and
being joined by a number of Highland clans, he made
a desperate attempt to overturn the existing government,
and establish his father's authority in the kingdom.
The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were ordered to
return. to England; they arrived in the river Thames on
the 4th of November, and after landing, marched north-
ward : the efficiency of the regiment was increased by a
body of fine recruits enlisted in Scotland.
1 746 The regiment arrived at Edinburgh in January, 1 746,
and advanced with the army commanded by the Duke
of Cumberland, towards Stirling, when the young Pre-
tender raised the siege of Stirling castle and made a
precipitate retreat. The pursuit was retarded by severe
weather ; but the army continued its advance when the
season permitted, and on the 16th of April encountered
the clans on Culloden moor. The regiment was in the
front line on this occasion, and took part in repulsing
the attacks of the Highlanders, and in driving them from
the field of battle with great slaughter. This victory
proved decisive, and the rebellion was suppressed.
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 23
The loss of the regiment was limited to seven private 1746
soldiers killed and wounded. It was encamped a short
time at Inverness, and afterwards removed to Glasgow.
From Scotland, the regiment was again removed to 1747
the theatre of the war in the Netherlands, where it
arrived in time to take part in the operations of the
campaign of 1 747 ; and it was engaged at the battle of
Val, on the 2nd of July. On this occasion the allied
army was very inferior in numbers to the enemy, and
although the gallantry of the British infantry was very
conspicuous throughout the action, the Duke of Cumber-
land was obliged to order a retreat to Maestricht.
Eight rank and file of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS were killed ; one serjeantand fifteen rank and
file were wounded ; and five men missing.
The regiment was again in the field in the summer of 1748
1748. Hostilities were this year terminated by the
treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and during the winter the
regiment returned to England.*
In the Royal Warrant, issued on the 1st of July, 1751, 1751
for ensuring uniformity in the clothing, standards, and
colours of the army, the following directions are given
for the TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, OR THE ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS :
" In the centre of their colours, the THISTLE within
" the CIRCLE OF ST. ANDREW, and the CROWN over it ; and
" in the three corners of the second colour, the KING'S
" CIPHER AND CROWN.
" On the grenadier caps, the THISTLE as on the
" colours ; the WHITE HORSE, and motto over it, Ner.
" aspera terrent, on the flap. On the drums and bells
* A List of the British regiments which served in Flanders and
Germany, between 1742 and 1748, during the " Warof the Austrian
Succession," is given in page 64,
24 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1751 " of arms, the THISTLE and CROWN to be painted, as on
"the colours, with the rank of the regiment underneath."
During the period the regiment was stationed in
England, where it remained until 1751, it received
the commendations of His Royal Highness the Duke of
Cumberland, on account of its good conduct in quarters,
and of its former gallantry in the field.
The TWENTY- FIRST regiment embarked for Gibraltar
towards the end of the year 1751, in order to relieve the
Eighth, or King's Regiment.
1752 Lieut-General Campbell was removed to the Scots
Greys, and King George II. nominated Colonel the
Earl of Panmure, from the Twenty-fifth regiment, to the
colonelcy of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, by
commission dated the 29th of April, 1 752.
1760 The regiment remained at Gibraltar until 1760, when
it was relieved from duty at that fortress, and returned
to England.
1761 In the meantime another war had commenced between
Great Britain and France, and in 1761 the ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS, mustering eight hundred men,
under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Edward Maxwell,
sailed with the expedition under Major-General
Hodgson, for the attack of the French island in the Bay
of Biscay, called Belle-Isle. The fleet appeared before
the island on the 7th of April; but the coast was found
like a vast fortress, the little which nature had left
undone by rocks and crags, having been supplied by
art. A lauding was, however, effected on the following
day ; the TWENTY-FIRST was one of the regiments which
leaped on shore, and stormed the works of Port Andro,
under a heavy fire of cannon and musketry ; the works
were found too steep to be ascended, and although the
officers and soldiers made a gallant effort, one attempting
TTJEDE
TOMJHL IIIIISK
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 25
to lift another up, it was found impossible to succeed, 1761
and they were ordered to return on board of the fleet.
The regiment had three Serjeants, one drummer, and
eight rank and file killed ; eight rank and file wounded ;
Lieutenants Innis and Ramage, and thirty-five rank and
file, prisoners ; many of the officers and soldiers taken
prisoners were severely wounded, and were unable to
return 011 board of the fleet when the order was given
to retire.
A landing was effected on the 22nd of April at a
rugged spot near Point Lomaria, where the difficult
ascent had occasioned the enemy to be less attentive to
that part of the coast ; and the troops, under Brigadier-
General Lambert, having landed, gained the summit of
the rock, and repulsed the attempts of the enemy to
dislodge them, capturing three brass field-pieces.
The cannon was afterwards landed from the ships, and
dragged up the rocks ; the lines which covered the town
of Palais were captured, and the siege of the citadel
commenced. The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS
took part in the siege of the Citadel of Belle-Isle, which
was prosecuted with so much vigour, that the governor,
the Chevalier de St. Croix, was forced to surrender on the
7th of June. The capture of the island was thus effected,
with the loss of about eighteen hundred men killed and
wounded.
After the surrender of the Castle of Belle-Isle, the 1762
regiment returned to England, where it was stationed
in 1762; and in 1763 and 1764 it occupied quarters JJjjJJ
1764
in Scotland.
On the 6th of May, 1765, the regiment embarked 1765
for America, and was quartered five years in West
Florida; in 1770, it was removed to Canada, and was 1770
stationed some time at Quebec.
26 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1770 In November, 1770, Lieut.-General the Earl of
Panmure was removed to the Scots Greys, and was
succeeded in the colonelcy of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS by Major-General the Honorable Alexander
Mackay, from the Sixty -fifth regiment.
1772 Having been relieved from duty at Quebec, in 1 772,
1773 the regiment embarked for England, where it was
1774 stationed in 1773 and the two following years.
1775 The American war commenced in 1775, and during
the winter of that year Quebec was besieged by an
American force.
1776 In the spring of 1776, the regiment embarked for
the relief of Quebec ; on the arrival of the British
reinforcement to the garrison, the Americans raised the
siege, and made a precipitate retreat ; they were pursued
up the country, and driven from all the posts which they
occupied in that province. After these services were
performed, the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were
quartered at St. John's, where they were stationed during
the winter.
1777 The regiment was called into active operations in the
spring of 1777, with the armament commanded by
Lieut.-General Burgoyne ; it embarked in boats on
Lake Champlain, and sailed to Crown Point, where the
troops halted three days, and afterwards proceeded
against Ticonderago ; but the Americans quitted the
fort without hazarding the events of a siege. The
regiment returned on board of the flotilla, and sailing
along the lake, arrived, about three o'clock on the
afternoon of the 6th of July, within three miles of
Skenesborough, where the Americans had a stockaded
fort. The Ninth, Twentieth, and TWENTY-FIRST
regiments leaped on shore, and ascended the mountains,
to get behind the fort and cut off the retreat of the
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 27
garrison ; but the Americans made a precipitate retreat, 1777
and escaped with the loss of a few men made prisoners.
On the 8th of July, the regiment was detached towards
Fort Anne., to support the Ninth, who were attacked by
an American force of very superior numbers. The
enemy was repulsed, and retreated towards Fort
Edward.
To follow up these advantages proved a difficult
undertaking ; trees and other obstacles had to be
removed ; creeks and marshes had to be crossed ; forty
bridges had to be constructed ; but by great exertion
these difficulties were overcome, and on the 30th of
July, the army arrived at the bank of the Hudson's
River, which was crossed by a bridge of boats on the
13th and 14th of September, and on the 19th the army
advanced against the Americans, in position on an island
called Still- Water, when a severe action was fought.
Lieut-General Burgoyne stated in his public despatch,
" About three o'clock, the action began by a very
" vigorous attack on the British line, and was continued
" with great obstinacy until after sunset ; the enemy
" being constantly supplied with fresh troops. The
" stress lay upon the Twentieth, TWENTY-FIRST, and
" Sixty-second regiments, most parts of which were
" engaged nearly four hours without intermission. . . .
" Just as night closed, the enemy gave ground on all
" sides, and left us completely masters of the field of
" battle."
Several other actions occurred, and the regiment
sustained considerable loss in killed and wounded;
among the former were Lieutenants Currie, Mackenzie,
Robertson, and Turnbull ; and among the latter Captain
Ramsay, and Lieutenant Richardson.
The circumstances under which the troops commanded
28 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1777 by Lieut. -General Burgoyne eventually became placed,
assumed a desperate character ; their numbers were re-
duced to about three thousand five hundred men able
to bear arms ; they were environed by sixteen thousand
Americans ; their retreat cut off, and they were short of
provisions. Under these accumulated difficulties, they
agreed to lay down their arms on condition of being sent
to England, and of not serving again in North America
during the war. These conditions were, however,
violated by the American Congress, and the troops were
detained some time in the provinces.
The TWENTY-FIRST regiment having been liberated
1781 returned to Europe, and in 1781 it was stationed in
Scotland, recruiting its numbers.
1782 At the termination of the American war, in 1782, the
regiment was placed on the peace establishment ; and in
1 783 it proceeded to Ireland.
1789 The regiment remained in Ireland until the spring of
1789, when it embarked from Cork for Nova Scotia,
and landing at Halifax, was stationed in the British
provinces in North America nearly four years.
Lieut-General the Honorable Alexander Mackay
died in 1789, and the colonelcy of the ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS was conferred on General the
Honorable James Murray, from the Thirteenth re-
giment.
1793 While the regiment was in North America a revolu-
tion took place in France, and republican principles
were extended to the French West India islands, where
the inhabitants of colour rose in arms against the Euro-
pean settlers, many of whom sought protection from
Great Britain. Under these circumstances the ROYAL
NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were removed to the West
Indies in the spring of 1 793.
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 29
The French royalists of Martinique sent pressing appli- 1793
cations for assistance, and Major-General Bruce, com-
manding the British troops in the "West Indies, was
induced to proceed with a small force to their aid. The
TWENTY-FIRST were employed on this service ; they
landed at Caise de Navire on the 14th of June ; the other
corps landed on the 16th, and eleven hundred British,
and eight hundred French loyalists, advanced to attack
the town of St. Pierre : but the Royalists were undis-
ciplined ; they got into confusion, fired by mistake on one
another, and so completely disconcerted the plan of
attack, that the English General, not having a force
sufficiently numerous for the purpose without them,
ordered the British troops to return on board of the
fleet.
General Sir Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey assembled 1794
a body of troops at Barbadoes, in January, 1794, for
the attack of the French islands, and the flank companies
of the TWENTY-FIRST were employed on this service.
A landing was effected on the island of Martinique in
the early part of February, and after some sharp fighting,
in which the regiment had several men killed and
wounded, this valuable possession was delivered from
the power of the republicans.
From Martinique the grenadiers, under Prince Edward
(afterwards Duke of Kent), the light infantry, under
Major-General Dundas, and three other corps, embarked
on the 30th of March for St. Lucia, where they arrived
on the 1st of April, and the conquest of that fine island
was completed in three days.
The flank companies of the TWENTY-FIRST were after-
wards employed in the reduction of the island of
Guadaloupe. A determined resistance was made by the
enemy ; but the island was captured before the end of
SO HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1794 April. The regiment had several men killed and
wounded ; Captain Macdonald was also wounded on the
12th of April.
After the reduction of Guadaloupe, the flank com-
panies of the regiment were removed to Antigua.
The loss of so many valuable colonial possessions was
not regarded with indifference by the republican govern-
ment of France, and in June a French armament
arrived at Guadaloupe for the recovery of that island.
The negroes and other men of colour flocked to the
standard of republicanism ; they were instantly armed
and clad in uniforms ; the doctrines of liberty and equality
were disseminated among this motley crowd, which led to
a frightful catalogue of crime and bloodshed. The flank
companies of the TWENTY-FIRST were called from
Antigua to aid in the defence of Guadaloupe ; they
arrived on the 10th of June in the Winchelsea ship of
war, landed on the 19th, at Ance Canot, and were en-
gaged in several arduous services, in which Lieute'nants
Harry Foley Price, Samuel Knollis, and J. S. Colepeper
were wounded ; also several private soldiers killed and
wounded : but the British troops were not sufficiently
numerous to contend with the republican forces.
Lieut.- Colonel Colin Graham of the TWENTY-FIRST
was appointed to the command of the troops in Basse
Terre, and he defended Seville camp until the 6th of
October, when he was forced to surrender, his force
having become reduced to one hundred and twenty -five
rank and file fit for duty.
Three companies of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS were engaged in the defence of fort Matilda,
under Lieut.-General Prescott, and the garrison made a
resolute resistance, until the place became so much in-
jured by the enemy's fire that it was not tenable, when
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 31
it was evacuated during the night of the 10th of Decem- 1794
her. One company of the TWENTY- FIRST occupied the
rampart, the light company, under Lieutenant William
Paterson, was stationed on the right of the breach, and
the third company, under Captain Mackay, was posted
along the Gallion river ; they thus covered the em-
barkation of the garrison and stores, and afterwards
retired on board of the fleet. The three companies
were reduced by casualties to one captain, three lieu-
tenants, six Serjeants, and ninety-two rank and file.
Lieut. General Prescott stated in his despatch, " During
" the whole progress of this long and painful siege, the
" officers and men under my command have conducted
" themselves in such a manner as to deserve my warmest
" praise ; bearing their hardships with the utmost
" patience, and performing their duty with alacrity."
General the Honorable James Murray died in this
year, and King George III. nominated Major-General
James Hamilton from the Fifteenth regiment, to the
colonelcy of the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS.
In addition to the casualties in action, the regiment 1795
also sustained, during its services in the West Indies,
severe loss from the yellow fever, and in 1796 it returned 1796
to England much reduced in numbers ; it landed at
Portsmouth, and proceeded from thence to Scotland,
where it commenced active measures for completing its
ranks with recruits.
The regiment occupied various stations in Scotland 1800
until June, 1800, when it embarked from Portpatrick
for Ireland, where its numbers were increased to eight
hundred rank and file by volunteers from the Scots
fencible regiments then in that country.
In October of the same year, the regiment marched to
Enniskillen, where it was quartered nearly two years,
32 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1800 during which time its numbers were increased to a
1801 thousand men by recruits. The good conduct of the
regiment, during its stay at this place, occasioned it to
stand very high in the estimation of the inhabitants ;
1802 and on its removal, in 1802, a hundred gentlemen and
respectable persons sent a memorial to the Commander-
in-chief, requesting that it might be again quartered at
Enniskillen, and offered to defray the expense of removal.
On the 15th of July, 1802, the regiment arrived at
Londonderry, where its establishment was reduced in
consequence of the peace of Amiens having been con-
cluded with France.
1803 From Londonderry the regiment was removed to
Dublin, in February, 1803; its establishment was again
augmented in the summer of this year after the renewal
of hostilities with France.
An alarming insurrectionary spirit was manifested at
Dublin in the summer of this year ; and on the evening
of the 23rd of July an immense number of persons
assembled with fire-arms and pikes, dragged the Lord
Chief-Justice, Viscount Kilwarden, out of his carriage,
and murdered him ; also wounded his nephew, the Rev.
Richard Wolfe, and committed numerous other acts of
outrage and violence. At this period the regiment was
quartered in Cork Street, Thomas Street, and Coombe
Barracks, and it quickly assembled to suppress the riots.
Lieut. -Colonel Brown was murdered by the insurgents
as he was proceeding from his quarters to head the re-
giment. The command devolved on Major Robertson,
under whose orders the regiment was actively employed
in restoring tranquillity, in which service it had twelve
men killed and wounded. The regiment received the
thanks and approbation of the Commander-in-chief in
Ireland, Lieut-General the Honorable H. E. Fox, for
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 33
its conduct on this occasion. Also the thanks of the 1803
city of Dublin. Lieutenant Douglas, who commanded
the light company, and Adjutant Brady, particularly
distinguished themselves, and were each presented with
a piece of plate by the city of Dublin, accompanied with
the expression of the gratitude and admiration of the
citizens, for their gallant exertions.
On the decease of General Hamilton, in this year, he
was succeeded in the colonelcy by General the Honor-
able William Gordon, from the Seventy-first regiment.
Leaving Dublin in July, 1804, the regiment proceeded
to Loughrea.
Napoleon Bonaparte, whom the French had elevated 1804
to the dignity of Emperor, having made preparations
for the invasion of England, his menace was met by a
meritorious display of loyalty and patriotism by the
British people, who armed to repel the threatened inva-
sion. Among the precautionary measures adopted at
this period, an " Additional Force Act " received the
Royal Assent in July, 1804. The men raised for limited
service, under the provisions of this Act, in the counties
of Ayr and Renfrew, were added to the ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS, and were formed into a second batta-
lion, which was embodied at Ayr, and placed on the esta-
blishment of the army on the 25th of December, 1804.
On the 30th of April, 1805, the first battalion em- 1805
barked from Monkstown for England; it landed at
Portsmouth, and was subsequently encamped at Wey-
mouth, where several corps were assembled, and were
repeatedly reviewed by the King, and other members of
the Royal Family, who expressed their high approbation
of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS on every occasion
on which the corps appeared before them. In the
autumn the battalion marched to Lewes.
34 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1806 From Lewes the first battalion marched to London,
in January, 1806, to attend the funeral of Vice Ad-
miral LORD VISCOUNT NELSON, who was killed at the
battle of Trafalgar, where the British navy gained a
decisive victory over the combined fleets of France and
Spain. The remains of this highly distinguished naval
commander were honored with a public funeral, which
was conducted with great state. The interment took
place on the 9th of January, in St. Paul's Cathedral : the
ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS afterwards marched to
Colchester.
At this period the French arms were triumphant in
Germany ; and the Court of Naples having displeased
the Emperor Napoleon, the Neapolitan territory was
seized by the armies of France, and Joseph Bonaparte
was proclaimed King of Naples. The British preserved
the island of Sicily in the interest of the dethroned
family : and in April the first battalion of the TWENTY-
FIRST embarked from Tilbury for Sicily, and landed at
Messina on the 26th of July.
On the 15th of August the second battalion embarked
from Portpatrick for Ireland, where it was stationed
during the following five years.
1807 The Court of the Grand Seignior having become
involved in hostilities with Great Britain, the first batta-
lion embarked from Sicily on the 17th of May, 1S07, and
joined the expedition to Egypt under Major-General
Alexander Mackenzie Fraser. The battalion landed
at Alexandria, and marched to the camp at Aboukir.
Peace having been concluded with the Turks, the batta-
lion returned to Sicily, where it arrived in October.
1808 The first battalion occupied quarters in Sicily during
the year 1808.
1809 In June, 1809, Lieut.-General Sir John Stuart, com-
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 35
man ding in chief in the Mediterranean, resolved to 1809
menace the capital and kingdom of Naples, as a diver-
sion in favour of the Austrians, who were contending
against numerous difficulties in their war with France.
The flank companies of the TWENTY-FIRST were em-
ployed on this service ; and after menacing a considerable
extent of coast, which produced much alarm, the roman-
tic and fruitful island of Ischia, celebrated for the beauty
of its scenery, and situate in the Bay of Naples, about
six miles from the coast, was attacked. A landing was
effected in the face of a formidable line of batteries, from
which the enemy was speedily driven ; Lieut. Cameron
of the TWENTY-FIRST, who was attached to the British
flotilla, attacked the enemy's gun-boats with great gal-
lantry, and captured twenty-four of their number ; but
was mortally wounded at the moment of victory. The
siege of the castle was undertaken, and in a few days
the garrison was forced to surrender. The island of
Procida surrendered on being summoned. Two valu-
able islands were thus rescued from the power of
General Murat, whom the Emperor Napoleon had
nominated King of Naples, in succession to Joseph
Bonaparte, upon whom the Emperor had conferred the
crown of Spain ; and one thousand five hundred regular
troops, with one hundred pieces of ordnance, were
captured.
An attempt was, at this period, made to reduce the
castle of Scylla; but the large force, which the enemy
possessed in Calabria, rendered this impracticable. The
battalion companies of the regiment were employed in
this service, and had Captain Hunter killed, eight rank
and file killed and wounded,
A detachment of the regiment was sent, at the request
36 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY- FIRST,
1809 of the inhabitants, to the town of Valmi, for the pro-
tection of the place ; but was intercepted by the enemy,
and Captains Mackay and Conran, Lieutenants M'Nab
andMackay, four Serjeants, two drummers, and seventy-
six rank and file, were made prisoners.
1810 In the summer of 1810, General Murat assembled
upwards of one hundred heavy gun-boats, a number of
others more lightly armed, and about four hundred
transport-boats, and brought thirty thousand troops to
the coast of Calabria for the purpose of invading Sicily.
The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS were employed
on the coast watching the approach of the enemy, and
were at the alarm-post, under arms, every morning, two
hours before daylight, for several months. During a
dark night between the 17th and 18th of September,
four thousand men, under General Cavaignac, made good
their passage, and commenced landing about seven miles
to the southward of Messina. The alarm being given,
the TWENTY- FIRST regiment, commanded by Lieut-
Colonel Adam (now General the Right Honorable Sir
Frederick Adam, G.C.B., Colonel of the TWENTY-FIRST
ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS), hurried to the spot,
accompanied by two field-pieces which were attached to
the regiment, and prevented several of the boats from
reaching the shore : as the boats were retiring, a few of
them were sunk by the fire of the field-pieces. The
regiment next turned towards that portion of the enemy
which had landed, and had taken post on two hills.
The flankers were thrown out, and a fire of musketry
was kept up until daylight, when the enemy, being cut
off from the boats and surrounded, surrendered prisoners
of war, delivering up one stand of colours. The prisoners,
amounting to about one thousand officers and soldiers,
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 37
were marched to Messina. This repulse, with the de- 1810
struction of many of the enemy's gun-boats, by the
British and Sicilian flotillas, disconcerted the plans of
Murat, and no further attempts were made against Sicily.
In September, 1811, the second battalion embarked 1811
from Belfast for Scotland ; and in this year it sent a
strong detachment, with a number of volunteers from
the militia, to Sicily, which increased the strength of
the first battalion to twelve hundred rank and file.
Meanwhile the British army, commanded by Lord 1812
Wellington, now Field- Marshal the DUKE OF WELLING-
TON, was fighting the battle of Spanish and Portuguese
independence in the Peninsula; and in November, 1812,
the grenadier company of the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS
proceeded, with the grenadier battalion, to the eastern
coast of Spain, to take part in the war. It arrived at
Alicant, on the 2nd of December ; but circumstances
occurred soon afterwards, which occasioned its return
to Sicily, where it arrived in the spring of 1813.
Two companies proceeded, in 1813, to the island of 1813
Ponza ; and in the same year, a strong detachment,
commanded by Captain Renny, joined from the second
battalion.
The brilliant success of the British troops in the 1814
Peninsula, and of the armies of the Allied Sovereigns
on the Continent of Europe, was followed by the em-
barkation of a body of troops for Italy, under Lieut.-
General Lord William Bentinck and Major-General H,
T. Montresor. The TWENTY-FIRST regiment embarked
for this service, in February, 1814, under Major Whitaker
(Colonel Paterson commanding a brigade), and landed at
Leghorn on the 13th of March ; on the 23rd it marched
to Pisa, and on the 25th to Lucca. In April, the battalion
advanced upon Genoa ; on the 12th of that month, the
38 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1814 enemy was driven from Mount Facia and Nervi, and the
British took post at Sturla. On the 17th of April, at
daybreak, the French position in front of Genoa was
attacked, the enemy was driven from the strong position
he occupied, and afterwards evacuated the town, which
was taken possession of on the 1 9th of April, by the
TWENTY-FIRST, and other corps. The regiment had
Lieutenant Sabine wounded ; one serjeant and fourteen
rank and file killed and wounded.
In the meantime the second^ battalion had been
withdrawn from Scotland, to take part in the war on
the Continent; it embarked from Fort George, on the
30th of December, 1813, landed in Holland on the
10th of January, 1814, and was employed in the attack
of Bergen-op-Zoom, on the night of the 8th of March.
One portion of the battalion formed part of the third
column, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel ROBERT
HENRY, of the TWENTY-FIRST, who was directed to draw
the enemy's attention by an attack near Steenbergen
gate ; the flank companies were attached to the fourth
column, under Brigadier-General Gore. Some severe
fighting took place, and advantages were gained in the
first instance ; but the attack failed, and a number of
officers and men, who had penetrated the works, were
forced to surrender prisoners of war. The battalion
had a number of men killed and wounded on this
occasion : Lieutenant John Bulteel died of his wounds ;
Lieut. -Colonel Henry, Captains Durrah and Donald
Mackenzie, Lieutenants the Honorable F. Morris,
H. Pigou, D. Moody, D. Rankin, and Sir William
Crosby, were wounded. Hostilities were soon after-
wards terminated ; Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated the
throne of France ; and in September the second battalion
embarked from Ostend for England it landed at Deal,
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 39
and in October embarked from Gravesend for Scotland, 1814
where it arrived in the beginning of November, and
landed at Leith.
The war in Europe having terminated, the first batta-
lion of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS was selected
to proceed to America, in consequence of Great Britain
having become involved in war with the United States ;
it embarked from Genoa dn the 12th of May, and
arrived at Gibraltar on the 7th of June ; and on the
1 1 th, sailed with the Twenty-ninth and Sixty-second
regiments, for the West Indies, where it joined the
corps under Major-General Robert Ross. The fleet,
with the troops on board, sailed from Bermuda on the
3rd of August, and proceeded to the Bay of Chesapeake,
when the American flotilla fled for refuge up the
Patuxent river. To ensure the capture or destruction
of this flotilla, the troops landed at the village of St.
Benedict, from whence they advanced to the delightful
village of Upper Marlborough, when the Americans
destroyed their flotilla to prevent its falling into the
hands of the British. The object of the expedition had
thus been accomplished ; but the army had advanced
within sixteen miles of Washington, and the enemy's
force was ascertained to be such as would authorise an
attempt to carry the capital. The troops accordingly
advanced on the 23rd of August ; routed some detach-
ments on the road, and encountering the American
army under General "Winder, at the village of Bladens-
burg. gained a decisive victory over a force more than
twice their own numbers, and occupying a position ]
deliberately chosen. The light company of the regi-
ment distinguished itself on this occasion ; it had two
men killed ; Captain Robert Rennie, Lieutenant James
Grace, and eleven rank and file wounded.
40 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1814 Advancing from the field of battle, the regiment
moved towards Washington, and was the first corps
which entered that city ; it was fired upon by the
Americans, and had sixty-eight men killed and wounded ;
but all resistance was soon overcome : the arsenal, docks,
and other public property were set on fire, and the
conflagration of burning buildings illuminated the sky
during the night, while the exploding magazines shook
the city, and threw down houses in their vicinity.
Having completed this service, the British troops
marched back to St. Benedict, and re-embarked on board
of the fleet.
Early on the morning of the 12th of September, the
troops landed at North Point, and advancing towards
Baltimore, a division of Americans fled from an en-
trenched position which they were preparing across a
neck of land. Continuing to advance, the troops
entered a closely wooded country, where they en-
countered a party of Americans, and Major -General
Robert Ross, mixing among the skirmishers, was mor-
tally wounded,* when the command of the army devolved
on Colonel Brooke.
Six thousand Americans, with six pieces of artillery
and a corps of cavalry, were discovered in position in
Godly wood. The light brigade extended and drove in
the American skirmishers ; the Forty-fourth, a party of
Marines, and a body of seamen from the fleet, formed
line behind the light infantry; the TWENTY-FIRST,
commanded by Major Whitaker, (Colonel Paterson
commanding a brigade,) and the second battalion of
Marines, formed column in reserve, and the Fourth
regiment made a flank movement to turn the enemy's
* See Memoir of Major-General Kobert Ross at page 75 of the His-
torical Record of the Twentieth Regiment.
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 41
left. The signal was given, the British troops rushed 1814
to the attack, and in fifteen minutes the American army
was driven from the field with severe loss.
The regiment had Lieutenant James Gracie and
fifteen rank and file killed ; Major Robert Kenny,
Lieutenant John Leavock, two Serjeants, and seventy-
seven rank and file wounded.
Colonel Paterson was commended in the public de-
spatch, for the steady manner in which he brought the
brigade into action.
At two o'clock 011 the following morning the march was
resumed, and in the evening the troops arrived at the
foot of the range of hills in front of Baltimore, where
fifteen thousand Americans occupied a chain of palisaded
redoubts, connected by breastworks, and defended by a
numerous artillery. Trusting to the innate valour of his
little army, which did not amount to one-third of the
numbers of the enemy, Colonel Brooke made preparations
for storming the hills after dark ; but having received
intimation from the fleet, that the entrance of the har-
bour was closed up by vessels sunk for that purpose,
and that a naval co-operation against the town and camp
was impracticable, the enterprise was abandoned. The
troops retreated three miles on the following day, and
then halted to see if the Americans would venture to
descend from the hills ; but, though so superior in
numbers, they had no disposition to quit their works ;
and the British returned on board the fleet.
The season for active operations having passed, the
fleet quitted the American coast, and the TWENTY-FIRST
proceeded to Jamaica, where they were joined by a strong
detachment from the second battalion, commanded by
Major Alexander James Ross.
An attempt on New Orleans was afterwards resolved
42 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1814 upon. The fleet again put to sea, and on the 10th of De-
cember anchored off the coast of Louisiana, opposite the
Chandeleur Islands, from whence the troops were re-
moved in boats to Pine Island, in Lake Borgne, where
they were stationed, exposed to heavy rain by day and
frosts by night, until the 22nd of December, when the
first division proceeded in open boats to a desert spot
about eight miles from New Orleans, where the regiments
landed, and marched to a field on the banks of the Missis-
sippi. The TWENTY-FIRST followed, and arrived in
time to take part in repulsing a night attack of a very
superior force of Americans, when the regiment had
Captain William Conran and two rank and file killed ;
one Serjeant, two drummers, and eight rank and file
wounded ; two men missing.
The army afterwards moved forward, but encountered
many local difficulties. The Americans assembled a
numerous force, in extensive fortified lines and batteries,
with armed vessels on the river : the advance was checked,
and some loss sustained. The ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS had Lieutenant. John Leavock wounded ;
also several men killed and wounded.
1815 Arrangements were made for attacking the enemy's
fortified lines on the 8th of January, 1815, and the
TWENTY- FIRST were appointed to take part in this
service : several circumstances occurred to delay the
attack, which was made under numerous disadvantages.
The troops, however, rushed forward with great gal-
lantry, and a detachment of the Fourth, TWENTY-FIRST,
and Ninety-fifth (now Kifle-Brigade), captured a battery ;
but the .troops were exposed to a dreadful fire, which
brought them down by hundreds. Major-General the
Honorable Sir Edward Pakenham was killed; Major-
Generals Gibbs and Keane were dangerously wounded ;
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 43
and success being found impracticable, the surviving 1815
officers and men withdrew from the unequal contest.
Many officers and soldiers, who had been foremost in the
attack, were made prisoners.
Major J. A. Whitaker, Captain Robert Kenny (Lieut. -
Colonel), Lieutenant Donald M c Donald, two Serjeants,
and sixty-five rank and file of the TWENTY-FIRST, were
killed; Colonel William Paterson, Major Alexander
James Ross, Lieutenants John Waters and Alexander
Geddes, six Serjeants, and one hundred and forty-four
rank and file wounded; Lieutenants James Brady,
Ralph Carr, and Peter Quin wounded and taken
prisoners ; Major James M c Haffie, Captain Archibald
Kidd, Lieutenants James Stewart, Alexander Arm-
strong, John Leavock, and J. S. M. Fonblanque, eight
Serjeants, two drummers, and two hundred and seventeen
rank and file, prisoners : total loss, 451 officers and
soldiers.
The capture of New Orleans appearing to be im-
practicable, the troops returned on board of the fleet.
Fort Bowyer was afterwards captured, but hostilities
were terminated by a treaty of peace, and the regiment
returned to the West Indies, from whence Major Pringle
sailed for England, on leave of absence, and the com-
mand devolved on Major Quin.
After a short stay at Bermuda, the regiment sailed for
Europe ; it arrived at Portsmouth in May, and afterwards
sailed to Cork, where it landed in June.
In the spring of this year Bonaparte had returned to
France and gained temporary possession ofthat kingdom '
but his numerous veteran legions were overpowered by
British valour at Waterloo on the 18th of June. The
British army had, however, sustained severe loss, and
the first battalion was selected to proceed to the Con-
44 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1815 tinent. It embarked from Monkstown on the 5th of
July, landed at Ostend on the 17th, and proceeding up
the country under Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell, joined the
army, commanded by Field- Marshal the Duke of Wel-
lington, at Paris.
1816 Having been appointed to remain on the Continent,
and to form part of the Army of Occupation in France, the
regiment marched to Compiegne, and occupied several
villages in the neighbourhood of that place, where it was
joined, on the 9th of January, 1836, by a detachment
from the second battalion.
On the 13th of January, 1816, the second battalion
was disbanded at Stirling ; transferring the men fit for
duty to the first battalion.
Towards the end of January, the regiment was re-
moved to Valenciennes, and in October was reviewed,
with the Army of Occupation, by Field- Marshal the
Duke of Wellington.
On the death of General the Honorable William
Gordon, Lieut.-General James Lord Forbes was ap-
pointed Colonel of the regiment, from the Fifty-fourth
foot, by commission dated the 1st of June, 1816.
1817 A considerable reduction being made in the British
contingent of the Army of Occupation, the regiment pro-
ceeded to Calais, where it embarked for England, and
landed at Harwich on the 2nd of April, 1817.
1818 In May, 1818, the regiment marched to Portsmouth.
In June, the officers were authorised to wear a long
coat, of a pattern approved of by His Royal Highness
the Duke of York.
1819 The regiment embarked from Portsmouth, in March,
1819, for the West Indies, when Lieut.-Colonel Nooth,
C.B., received the following communication from Major-
General Lord Howard of Effingham, then commanding
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 45
at Portsmouth, and Lieutenant-Go vernor of that fortress : 1819
" I am not in the habit of giving out orders of thanks to
" regiments on quitting my district, because these things
" are apt to degenerate so much into words of course,
" that they lose any value they might otherwise possess;
" my orders likewise to corps on their half-yearly inspec-
" tions enable me to convey to them my opinion on their
*' state of discipline, &c. ; but I cannot, however, allow
" the TWENTY-FIRST regiment, under your command, to
" embark without expressing the sense I have of the
" good conduct of the regiment since it has been under
" my orders, and that its interior discipline, mode of
" doing duty, and external appearance, have been such as
" to merit my perfect approbation, and amply testify the
" strict attention paid by you to those under your com-
" mand, that you are properly supported by the officers
" and non-commissioned officers, in their respective
" stations, in carrying into effect the regulations of the
" service." His Lordship was also pleased to express
his admiration of the conduct of the corps on the day
of embarkation, adding, '' The regiment is more like
" one parading for inspection or review, than for em-
" barkation for the West Indies."
The regiment landed at Barbadoes in April, without
a single casualty, and was inspected by Lieut.-General
Lord Combermere, who requested Major Meyrick to
return the officers his lordship's thanks, for the very
great attention they must have paid to those under their
orders, to have brought them to the very high state of
discipline in which his lordship found them.
In September, 1820, a detachment of one hundred 1820
rank and file proceeded to Tobago, where it remained
until January, 1821, during which period it lost four 1821
officers and thirty-seven men by an epidemic disease.
46 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1821 The regiment left : Barbadoes in March, 1821, when
seven companies proceeded to Demerara, under Major
Leahy, and three to Berbice, under Major Champion.
Previous to its quitting Barbadoes, Major-General Main-
waring expressed in orders, " the high sense he enter-
" tained of the zeal and ability of Major Leahy, of the
" steady conduct of the officers and non-commissioned
" officers, and of the good and orderly behaviour of
" the men."
In August, the regiment sustained a severe loss in the
death of Lieut.-Colonel John M. Nooth, C.B.: he was
succeeded in the command by Lieut.-Colonel John
Thomas Leahy.
1823 Insurrectionary movements having been made by the
negroes in the district of Mahaica, in the island of De-
merara, in August, 1823, the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS,
under Lieut.-Colonel Leahy, were employed in reducing
the revolted slaves to obedience, in which they suc-
ceeded. For their excellent conduct on this occasion,
the TWENTY-FIRST received the thanks of Lieut. -General
Sir Henry Ward, K.C.B., commanding in the Windward
and Leeward Islands ; of the Court of Policy of the
Colony ; of His Royal Highness the Duke of York,
the Commander-in-chief; and of His Majesty King
George IV.
1824 From Demerara the head-quarters were removed to
St. Vincent, in January, 1824, and received the thanks
of Major-General Murray, previous to embarking. At
the same time the Court of Policy voted, as a special
and permanent mark of the high estimation in which the
inhabitants of the Colony held the services of Lieut.-
Colonel Leahy, the officers and soldiers, " FIVE HUNDRED
GUINEAS TO BE LAID OUT IN THE PURCHASE OF PLATE
FOR THE REGIMENTAL MESS," and TWO HUNDRED GUINEAS
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 47
FOR THE PURCHASE OF A SWORD FOR LIEUT.-COLONEL 1824
LEAHY ; also FIFTY GUINEAS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A
SWOKD FOR LIEUTENANT BRADY, who commanded a
detachment at Mahaica, and whose cool, steady, and
intrepid conduct, aided by the courage and discipline
of his men, gave an early and effectual check to the
progress of revolt in that quarter.
In May, two companies were removed to Grenada. 1827
In December, 1826, and January, 1827, the regiment
embarked from St. Vincent and Grenada, for England,
after eight years' service in the "West Indies, during
which period it had lost, by disease, fourteen officers
and four hundred men. Previous to quitting those
colonies, it received the expression of the approbation
and thanks of Admiral Sir Charles Brisbane, G.C.B.,
Governor of St. Vincent ; of the Council of that island ;
and of the Commander of the forces in the Windward
and Leeward Islands. It landed at Cowes, in the Isle
of Wight, in January, February, and March, and was
removed to Windsor, where it had the honor of doing
duty during His Majesty's residence at that place.
From Windsor the regiment was removed to Win- 1828
chester, in the spring of 1828, and afterwards to Ports-
mouth ; it was subsequently stationed at Bath, and in
October embarked from Bristol for Ireland : it landed
at Waterford, from whence it proceeded to Fermoy.
The regiment was removed to Mullingar, in June,
1829 ; and in May, 1830, the head-quarters proceeded 1829
to Kilkenny, with parties at Car low, Athy, Mary- 1830
borough, and Wexford. r * a
In September, 1831, the regiment marched for Dublin, 1831
where it embarked for England in October, and landing
at Liverpool, afterwards proceeded to Weedon. In
1832 it was removed to Chatham. 1832
48 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST,
1833 During the years 1832 and 1833, the regiment em-
barked,, by detachments, in charge of convicts, for New
South Wales, and it was stationed in Australia and
Van Diemen's Land until the year 1839.
1839 Five companies and head-quarters embarked from
Hobart Town, in February, 1839, for the East Indies,
and arriving at Calcutta in May, afterwards proceeded
to Chinsurah. They were followed by two companies
from Hobart Town in March, 1840 ; and two from the
Swan River settlement in July.
1840 In April, 1840, the head-quarters were removed to
Calcutta ; and in August, the regiment embarked for
Dinapore, where it arrived in September.
1841 The regiment was stationed at Dinapore during the
year 1841.
1842 Leaving Dinapore in November, 1842, the regiment
commenced its march for Agra: but on arriving at
Mirzapoor, its destination was changed to Kamptee, at
1843 which place it arrived on the 6th of February, 1843.
1844 During the year 1844, the regiment remained at
' Kamptee.
1845 The regiment commenced its march from Kamptee
en route to the north-western provinces of Bengal on the
6th of December, 1 845, and arrived at Jubbulpore on
the 30th of that month.
1846 The regiment resumed its march on the 1st of
January, 1846, and arrived at Agra on the 7th of
February, where it was stationed during the remainder
of the year.
1847 Leaving Agra on the 15th of January, 1847, the
regiment arrived at Cawnpore on the 1st of February.
From Cawnpore the regiment proceeded, in November,
to Calcutta, at which place it arrived on the 30th of
December.
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 49
Orders were at this period given for the return to
England of the TWENTY-FIRST, ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS, and three hundred and ninety -three soldiers
transferred their services to other regiments remaining
in India.
In January, 1848, the regiment, under the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel John Thomas Hill, embarked at
Calcutta, and arrived at Gravesendon the llth of May.
The regiment was, in the first instance, stationed at
Canterbury, from which city it proceeded to Edinburgh
in July, 1848.
On the 1st of June, 1849, the period to which this
Record has been continued, the regiment continued to
be stationed at Edinburgh Castle, under the command of
Lieutenant 'Colonel Thomas Gore Browne.
1849.
50 HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST.
CONCLUSION.
The foregoing pages contain numerous instances of
the valuable qualities of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS. The campaigns of King William III., and the
victories obtained by the Duke of Marlborough, afforded
many opportunities for the TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT
to evince its bravery. In subsequent years the battles
of Dettingen, Fontenoy, Culloden, and Val, enhanced its
former renown; at the capture of Belle-Isle in 1761
the regiment sustained its previous character ; and the
several actions during the American war increased its
fame. Its services in Naples and Sicily in 1809 and
1810; and the arduous duties on which it was em-
ployed in America in 1814, gave additional proofs of its
capabilities.
The Regimental Record contains also many instances
6f the expression of commendation by the General Offi-
cers, under whose command the Regiment has served,
for its activity, discipline, and good conduct, when em-
ployed on home or colonial duties, and when occa-
sions have occurred where military force has been
required in aid of the Civil Power, and where judg-
ment, temper, and firmness have been the means of
subduing the most violent commotions.
These qualities, which have been evinced for the long
period of one hundred and seventy years, have rendered
the TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, Or THE ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS, an ornament in the British Army,
and have acquired the Approbation of the Sovereign
and the Confidence of the Country.
HOTAIL
FCTT Canncnti MtUurr ~Reccrelj.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT,
OB
THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS.
CHARLES, (FIFTH) EARL OP MAR.
Appointed 23rd September, 1678.
CHARLES, LORD ERSKINE, succeeded to the title of EARL OP
MAR, in 1668, on the decease of his father, John, fourth
Earl of Mar; and in September, 1678, he raised a regiment
of foot, now the TWENTY-FIRST, or the ROYAL NORTH
BRITISH FUSILIERS. He was a member of the Privy Council
of Scotland, in the reign of King Charles II., and also of
King James II. In 1686, he was succeeded in the command
of his regiment by Colonel Buchan.
The Earl of Mar disapproved of the measures of King
James II., and was about to embark for the Continent, in
November, 1688, when the Prince of Orange landed in Eng-
land. He appeared at the Convention of the Estates assem-
bled by the Prince of Orange ; but joining the disaffected
party, he was arrested. He died on the 23rd of April, 1689,
and was succeeded in the title by his son John, sixth Earl of
Mar, whose estates were forfeited in consequence of his having
erected the Standard of Rebellion in Scotland, in 1715, in
favor of the Pretender, as narrated at page 18 of the Histori-
cal Record of the TWENTY-FIRST, ROYAL NORTH BRITISH,
FUSILIERS.
E2
52 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT.
THOMAS BUCHAN.
Appointed 29th July, 1686.
THOMAS BUCHAN was an officer in the Scots army, in
the time of King Charles II., and rose to the rank of lieut.-
colonel in the Royal Regiment of Scots Horse, which was
disbanded in 1689. King James II. promoted him to the
colonelcy of the TWENTY-FIRST regiment ; and he adhered
to the interests of the Stuart family at the Revolution in 1688.
He served in Ireland under King James, and was detached
with a few men to Scotland, to support the Highland clans
in their resistance to the government of King William III.
The clans were, however, not successful in their enterprises,
and they submitted to the authority of King William ; when
he retired to France.
FRANCIS FERGUS O'FARRELL.
Appointed 1st March, 1689.
THIS officer was a decided advocate for the principles of the
Revolution of 1688, and King William nominated him to the
colonelcy of the SCOTS FUSILIERS, which corps he com-
manded in the Netherlands, under Prince Waldeck, and
afterwards under the British monarch, who promoted him to
the rank of brigadier-general. He served at the head of a
brigade of infantry during the campaign of 1694; and was
appointed governor of Deinse. He commanded the garrison
of Deinse when that place was besieged, in July, 1695; and
was dismissed the service, by sentence of a general court-
martial, for surrendering without firing a shot.
ROBERT MACKAT.
Appointed 13th November, 1695.
ROBERT MACKAY, third son of John, Lord Reay, was an
officer in the Scots Brigade in the Dutch service, and accom-
panied the Prince of Orange to England in 1 688. He was
promoted captain of the grenadier company in Major-
General Hugh Mackay's regiment, and served in Scotland in
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 53
1689. He distinguished himself at the battle of Killicrankie,
where he received several wounds, and was left for dead on
the field of battle. He, however, showed some signs of life
and was removed to a cottage by the enemy, and eventually
recovered. He was soon afterwards promoted to the rank of
lieut.-colonel, and King William gave him the colonelcy of a
newly raised Scots regiment (afterwards disbanded), from
which he was removed, in 1695, to the TWENTY-FIRST FUSI-
LIERS. His constitution had become debilitated by severe
service and numerous wounds, and he died at Tongue, the
seat of his family, in December, 1696.
ARCHIBALD Row.
Appointed 1st January, 1697.
THIS officer entered the army in the reign of King James II.,
and at the Revolution in 1688 he joined the Prince of Orange,
who promoted him to the lieut.-colonelcy of the Sixteenth
regiment, with which corps he served in the Netherlands, and
acquired the reputation of a brave and skilful officer. He
served at the battles of Steenkirk and Landen, and at the
siege of Namur ; and was rewarded, in 1697, with the
colonelcy of the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS. He served
under the great Duke of Marlborough in 1703, and in 1704
he commanded a brigade at the battles of Schellenberg and
Blenheim ; on the last-mentioned occasion his brigade led the
attack on the village of Blenheim, and he headed his own
regiment with distinguished gallantry, advancing up to the
enemy's palisades before he gave the word " fire." In a
moment afterwards he was shot, and thus closed a life of
honor with a death of glory. His valour has rendered his
name immortal in the history of his country.
JOHN, VISCOUNT MORDAUNT.
Appointed 25th August, 1704.
JOHN, VISCOUNT MORDAUNT, son of Charles, Earl of Peter-
borough, was an officer in the first regiment of Foot Guards,
in which corps he rose to the rank of captain and lieut.-
54 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT.
colonel. He evinced great gallantry at the battle of Schel-
lenberg, where he headed fifty grenadiers, at the storm of the
enemy's works, and of that number, only himself and ten
grenadiers escaped. At the memorable battle of Blenheim,
he lost his left arm. His services were rewarded with the
colonelcy of the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS, from which he
exchanged to the Twenty-eighth regiment ; but on the death
of Major-General de Lalo, who was killed at the battle of
Malplaquet, in 1709, Viscount Mordaunt was re-appointed to
the TWENTY-FIRST regiment. He was promoted to the rank
of brigadier- general on the 1st of January, 1710 ; and died of
the small-pox in April following.
SAMPSON DE LALO.
Appointed 26th June, 1706.
SAMPSON DE LALO was a French gentleman of the Protestant
religion, whom the Edict of Nantes forced to quit his native
country. He found an asylum from persecution in England,
and entering the British army, proved an efficient and merito-
rious officer. After a distinguished career of service in the
subordinate commissions, he was appointed lieut.-colonel of
the Twenty-eighth regiment, and was promoted to the colonelcy
of the same corps, in February, 1704 ; in June, 1706, he ex-
changed to the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS. He commanded
a brigade under the great Duke of Marlborough, served at
several battles and sieges, and was promoted to the rank of
major-general in January, 1 709. During the siege of the castle
of Tournay, he was nominated by the Duke of Marlborough
to negotiate the terms of capitulation with the governor.
He evinced great gallantry at the battle of Malplaquet, where
he was mortally wounded. In the Annals of Queen Anne
it is stated, that " he was in great favor and esteem in the
" British army."
JOHN, VISCOUNT MORDAUNT.
He-appointed 4</i September, 1709.
Died in 1710.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 55
THOMAS MEREDITH.
Appointed }st May, 1710.
THIS officer served in the wars of King William III., who
promoted him to the commission of captain in the Third Horse,
now Second Dragoon Guards. On the augmentation of the
army in 1702, he was nominated colonel of the Thirty-seventh
regiment, then newly raised, and he accompanie'd that corps
to Holland in 1703. In 1704, he served at the battles of
Schellenberg and Blenheim, and was promoted to the rank of
brigadier-general on the 25th of August, 1704. In 1705 he
commanded a brigade at the forcing of the French lines at
Helixem and Neer-Hespen. He was advanced to the rank of
major-general in 1706, and to that of lieut.-general in 1707 ;
in 1710 he was removed to the TWENTY-FIRST regiment, and in
1714 to the Twentieth. He died in 1719.
CHARLES, EARL OF ORRERY, K.T.
Appointed 8tk December, 1710.
THE EARL OF ORRERY took an active part in raising a
regiment of foot (afterwards disbanded), of which he war. ap-
pointed colonel, on the 1st of May, 1703 ; in 1705 he wat
nominated Knight of the Thistle, and in 1706 he was re-
moved to another regiment, afterwards disbanded. He was
promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in 1709, and served
at the battle of Malplaquet, at the head of a brigade of in-
fantry, and evinced great gallantry. In 1710 he was ad-
vanced to the rank of major-general, nominated Envoy ex-
traordinary and Plenipotentiary to the States of Brabant and
Flanders, and removed to the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS ;
in 1711 he was created a peer of Great Britain, by the title
of Baron Boyle, of Marston, in Somersetshire; and in 1712
he served under the Duke of Ormond. He was sworn a
member of the Privy Council in 1713. On the arrival of
King George I. in England, in the autumn of 1714, the
EARL OF ORRERY was appointed one of the Lords of the
Bedchamber ; he was afterwards sworn a member of the Privy
Council. In 1722, he was committed a prisoner to the Tower
of London, on a charge of high treason ; but no crime was
proved against him. He died on the 28th of August, 1731.
56 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT.
GEORGE MACARTNEY.
Appointed }2th July, 1716.
THIS officer entered the army in the reign of King William
III., and was promoted, in April, 1703, to the colonelcy of a
newly raised regiment of foot (afterwards disbanded), with
which he served three campaigns on the Continent, under the
great Duke of Marlborough. He afterwards proceeded to
Spain, and commanded a brigade of infantry at the battle of
Almanza, where he distinguished himself, and was taken
prisoner. In 1709 he was promoted to the rank of major-
general, and in 1710 to that of lieut.-general. His regiment
having been disbanded at the peace of Utrecht, he was ap-
pointed to the colonelcy of the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH
FUSILIERS in 1716, and removed in 1727 to the Seventh
Horse, now Sixth Dragoon Guards. He died in July, 1730.
SIR JAMES WOOD.
Appointed 9th March, 1727.
SIR JAMES WOOD served many years in the army of the
States- General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands.
His first commission was dated the 31st of December, 1688,
and he rose to the rank of brigadier-general in 1704, in
which rank he was admitted into the British service, in con-
sequence of his reputation ; and in 1727, he was appointed
colonel of the TWENTY-FIRST regiment. In 1735 he was
promoted to the rank of major-general. His decease occurred
on the 18th of May, 1738.
JOHN CAMPBELL.
Appointed 1st November, 1738.
JOHN CAMPBELL, of Mamore, was an officer in the army in
the reign of Queen Anne, and attained the rank of lieut.-
colonel. During the rebellion in 1715 and 1716, he was aide-
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 57
de-camp to the Duke of Argyle : and in June, 1737, he
obtained the colonelcy of the Thirty-ninth regiment, from
which he was removed in the following year to the ROYAL
NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. He commanded a brigade at
the battle of Dettingen, in 1743 ; was appointed major-
general in the following year ; and during the rebellion in
1745 and 1746, he held a command in Scotland. He was
advanced to the rank of lieut.-general in 1747 ; removed
from the Fusiliers to the Scots Greys in 1752 ; and in 1761
he was appointed governor of Limerick ; and also succeeded to
the title of Duke of Argyle. The Order of the Thistle was
conferred upon his Grace in 1765. He died in 1770.
WILLIAM, EARL OF PANMURE.
Appointed 29th April, 1752.
WILLIAM MAULE, who had been several years an officer in
the Scots Foot Guards, and a Member of Parliament, was
created a peer of Ireland on the 6th of April, 1 743, by the
title of Earl of Panmure. He served at the battle of Dettin-
gen in the same year ; also at the battle of Fontenoy in 1745 ;
and on the 1st of December, 1747, was promoted to the
colonelcy of the Twenty -fifth foot ; from which he was removed,
in 1752, to the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. The
rank of major-general was conferred upon his Lordship in
1755. In the following year he was second in command at
Gibraltar; and in 1758 he was promoted to the rank of
lieut.-general. He was further advanced to the rank of ge-
neral in 1770 ; and obtained the colonelcy of the Scots
Greys in November of the same year. He died on the 4th
of January, 1782.
THE HONORABLE ALEXANDER MACKAY.
Appointed 10th May, 1770.
THE HONORABLE ALEXANDER MACKAY, son of George,
third Lord Reay, was appointed ensign in the Twenty-fifth
regiment, in 1737, and in 1745 he obtained the commission
of captain, in the Earl of Loudoun's newly raised regiment
58 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT.
of Highlanders, afterwards disbanded. He served against
the rebels in the same year, and was taken prisoner at the
battle of Preston -pans. In 1750 he \vas nominated major in
the Third foot, and on the 21st of December, 1755, he was
promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of the Fifty-second regiment,
then newly raised, from which he exchanged, in March,
1760, to the Thirty-ninth : in 1761, he was elected a
Member of Parliament for Sunderland. In August, 1762,
he was promoted to the colonelcy of the 122nd regi-
ment, which was disbanded at the peace of Fontainebleau ;
and in March, 1764, he obtained the colonelcy of the
sixty-fifth. He served in America, in which country he
obtained the local rank of major-general in 1768; in 1770
he received the same rank in the army, and was removed to
the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS in the same year. In
1772 he received the appointment of Governor of Tynemouth,
and Clifford's Fort ; in 1777 he was promoted to the rank of
lieut.-general, and in the following year appointed Governor
of Landguard Fort, from which he was afterwards removed
to the government of Stirling Castle. In 1780 he was
nominated Commander-in-chief in Scotland. He died in
May, 1789.
THE HONORABLE JAMES MURRAY.
Appointed 5th June, 1789.
THE HONORABLE JAMES MURRAY served in the Fifteenth
regiment, in which corps he attained the rank of major, and
was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy on the 5th of January,
1751. He commanded the Fifteenth in the expedition
against Rochefort, under Lieut. -General Sir John Mordaunt,
in 1757, and at the capture of Louisbourg, in 1758 ; in 1759
he commanded a brigade at the battle and capture of Quebec,
under the renowned Major-General James Wolfe; in 1760
he led a division up the river St. Lawrence, and contributed
to the reduction of Montreal, which completed the conquest
of Canada from the French. He was promoted to colonel-
commandant of a battalion of the Sixtieth regiment in 1759,
and to the local rank of major-general in America in 1760.
In 1 762 he was advanced to the rank of major-general ; and
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 59
in 1767 he was removed to the colonelcy of the Thirteenth
regiment. He was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general in
1772, and to that of general in 1783 ; in 1789 he was removed
to the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. He died in 1794.
JAMES HAMILTON.
Appointed 20th June, 1794.
AFTER a progressive service in the subordinate commissions,
this officer was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of the
TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS, on the llth of March, 1774. He
served in North America during two campaigns of the war of
independence, was promoted to the rank of major-general in
1787, and was appointed colonel of the Fifteenth foot in 1792,
from which he was removed to the TWENTY-FIRST FUSILIERS
in 1794. He obtained the rank of lieut.-general in 1797,
and that of general in 1802. His decease occurred in 1803.
THE HONORABLE WILLIAM GORDON.
Appointed 6th August, 1803.
THE HONORABLE WILLIAM GORDON was appointed captain
in the Sixteenth Light Dragoons, when that corps was raised
in the year 1759 ; in October, 1762, he was appointed
lieut.-colonel of the 105th regiment, and in 1777 he was
promoted to the colonelcy of the Eighty-first regiment,
which was afterwards disbanded. In 1781 he was promoted
to the rank of major-general, and in 1789 was nominated
colonel of the Seventy-first Highlanders. He was advanced
to the rank of lieut.-general in 1793, to that of general in
1798, and was removed to the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSI-
LIERS in 1803. He died in 1816.
JAMES, LORD FORBES.
Appointed 1st June, 1816.
JAMES, LORD FORBES, was appointed ensign in the Second
Foot Guards, in 1781. In 1793 he served in Flanders,
under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, and commanded
60 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT.
a company at the battle of Famars. He served at the siege
of Valenciennes, and led a portion of his regiment at the
storm of the outworks. He was engaged at the re- capture
of the post of Lincelles, where the Foot Guards distinguished
themselves ; also served at the siege of Dunkirk. In 1 794
he served at the actions of Vaux, Gateau, Tournay, and
Mouvaux, at the defence of Nimeguen and Fort St. Andre,
and in the retreat through Holland to Germany. Afte,r the
action of Lincelles, in 1793, he was promoted to the rank of
captain and lieut. -colonel, in succession to Lieut -Colonel
Bosville, who was killed on that occasion. In 1796, he ob-
tained the rank of colonel ; and in 1799 he served in the
expedition to the Helder, and was present at every action of
that short campaign in Holland, excepting one. In 1802
Lord Forbes was promoted to the rank of major general, and
nominated to the command of the troops stationed at Ash ford,
in Kent, and subsequently of the garrison at Dover, and he
occasionally commanded the Kent District in the absence of
Lieut.-General Sir David Dundas and of Lord Ludlow. He
was appointed second in command of the troops stationed on
the island of Sicily, in 1808, and promoted to the rank of
lieut. -general. On his return to England in 1811, he was
placed on the Staff of Ireland.
Lord Forbes was elected one of the representative peers of
Scotland, in 1 806, and held that distinguished situation many
years. The colonelcy of the Third Garrison Battalion was
conferred upon his Lordship in 1806 ; he was removed to the
Ninety-fourth regiment in 1808, to the Fifty-fourth in 1809,
and to the ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS in 1816:
in 1819 he was promoted to the rank of general. He died
in 1843.
THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR FREDERICK ADAM,
G.C.B., G.C.M.G.
Appointed 31st May, 1843.
APPENDIX..
List of Battles, Sieges, Sfc., in the Netherlands, during the
reign 0/KmG WILLIAM III., from 1689 to the Peace of
Ryswick in 1697.
Battle of Walcourt 25 August, 1689
Fleurus 1 July, 1690
MODS surrendered to the French .... 10 April, 1691
Namur ditto ditto 20 June, 1692
Battle of Steenkirk 3 August,
Fumes and Dixmude captured .... Sept.,
The French lines at D'Otignies forced . . 10 July, 1693
Battle of Landen 29 July,
Surrender of Huy 17 Sept., 1694
Attack on Fort Kenoque 9 June, 1695
Dixmude surrendered to the French. . . 16 July,
Deinse surrendered to the French . . . 21 July, 1695
Namur retaken by King William III. . . 25 July,
Citadel of Namur surrendered .... 5 Sept.,
Treaty of Ryswick signed 11 Sept., 1697
62 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF FOOT,
List of Sieges, Battles, $c., in the Netherlands and Ger-
many, during the Campaigns under the DUKE OF MARL-
BOROUGH, from 1702 to 1711.
Invested. Surrendered.
Siege of Kayserswerth .... 16 April, . 17 June, 1702
Skirmish near Nimeguen 11 June,
Siege of Venloo 29 Aug., . 25 Sept.,
Capture of Fort St. Michael 18 Sept.,
Siege of Stevenswaert 3 Oct.,
Kuremonde 6 Oct.,
Capture of Liege Citadel . 23 Oct.,
Siege of Bonn 24 April, . 15 May, 1703
Huy 16 Aug., . 25 Aug.,
Limburg 10 Sept., . 28 Sept.,
Battle of Schellenberg 2 July, 1704
Blenheim 13 Aug.,
Siege of Landau 12 Sept., . 24 Nov.,
Huy captured by the French May, 1705
Re-capture of Huy 11 July,
Forcing the French Lines at Helixem, near Tirlemont 1 8 July,
Skirmish near the Dyle 21 July,
Siege of Sandvliet 26 Oct, . 29 Oct,
Battle of Ramilies 23 May, 1706
Siege of Ostend 28 June, . 8 July
Menin 25 July, . 25 Aug.,
Dendennond 29 Aug., . 5 Sept.,
Aeth 16 Sept., . 3 Oct.,
Battle of Oudenarde 11 July, 1708
Siege of Lisle 13 Aug., . 23 Oct.,
Capture of the Citadel 9 Dec.,
Battle of Wynendale 28 Sept,
Passage of the Scheldt 27 Nov.,
Siege of Ghent 18 Dec., . 30 Dec.,
Tournay 27 June, . 29 July, 1709
Capture of the Citadel 3 Sept.,
Battle of Malplaquet 11 Sept.,
Siege of Mons 21 Sept, . 20 Oct,
Passage of the French lines at Pont a Vendin . 21 April, 1710
Siege of Douay 25 April, . 27 June,
Bethune .... . . . 15 July, . 29 Aug.,
Aire 6 Sept., . 9 Nov.,
St Venant 6 Sept., . 30 Sept,
Passage of the French lines at Arleux . . . . 5 Aug., 1711
Siege of Bouchain 10 Aug., . 13 Sept.,
Treaty of Utrecht signed 30 March, 1713
OR THE ROYAL NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS. 63
Battles, Sieges, $c., which occurred in Germany and in the
Netherlands from 1743 to 1748, during the " War of the
Austrian Succession"
Battle of Dettingen (Germany) 27 June, 1743
Menin invested by the French 18 May, and captured . 5 June, 1744
Ypres ditto 7 June, and captured 14 June,
Fort Knocque surrendered to the French .... June,
Fumes, ditto 5 July,
Friburg (Germany) invested by the French . . .21 Sept.
Citadel of Friburg captured by ditto 28 Nov.
Tournay invested by ditto 23 April, 1745
Battle of Fontenoy 11 May,
Citadel of Tournay surrendered to the French . . . 21 June,
Skirmish near Ghent 9 July,
Ghent captured by the French 30 June,
Bruges, ditto July,
Oudenarde, ditto 21 July,
Dendermond, ditto Aug.
Osteiid invested by the French on 14 July, and captured 23 Aug.
Nieuport captured by the French 26 Aug.
Aeth, ditto ' 28 Sept.
Brussels invested by the French 24 Jan., and captured 20 Feb. 1 746
Mechlin captured by ditto May,
Antwerp, ditto 20 May,
Citadel of Antwerp, ditto 31 May,
Mons invested by the French on 7 June, and captured 1 1 July,
Fort St. Ghislain captured by the French . . . .21 July,
Charleroi invested by the French on 25 July, and
captured 2 Aug.
Huy captured by ditto Aug.
Namur invested by ditto 26 August, and citadel captured 19 Sept.
Battle of Roucoux, near Liege 11 Oct.
Sluys surrendered to the French 11 April, 1747
Fort Sandberg in Hulst, and Axel, surrendered to the
French 28 April,
Sandvliet captured by the French ...... June,
Battle of Val, or Laffeld, near Maestricht .... 2 July,
Bergeu-op-Zoom invested by the French 13 July, and
captured 16 Sept.
Forts Lillo, Frederick Henry, and Croix .... 2 Oct.
Limburg captured by the French March, 1 748
Maestricht invested by the French 3 April,
Maestricht surrendered to ditto 3 May,
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle 7 Oct.
64
HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST.
LIST of the BRITISH REGIMENTS which served in FLANDERS and GERMANY
between 1742 and 1748, during the " War of the Austrian Succession."
CAVALRY.
Year
in
which
barifed
for
Flan-
ders.
Returned to Great
Britain in conse-
quence of the Re-
bellion in favor of
the Pretender.
inFlI-
ders, after
the sup-
pression
the Rebel-
REGIMENTS.
COLONELS.
3rd Troop Horse)
Guards . . ./
Earl of Albemarle.
1742
1746
..
4th ditto ditto . Earl of Effingham .
1742
1746
2n nadr Guards^ 16 ."} Earl f Craufiird
1742
1746
..
Royal Regiment )
Horse Guards . J
Earl of Hertford .
1742
1746
..
1st Horse (1st Dra-1
goon Guards) . . J
Earl of Pembroke .
1742
1746
..
4th Irish Horse (7th \
Dragoon Guards) J
1st Dragoons . .
Sir John Ligonier .
Hawley . . .
1742
1742
1746
1746
2nd ditto . . .
Campbell . . .
1742
Remd. in Flanders
3rd ditto .... JHoneywood. . .
1742
1746
4th ditto .... |Rich
1742
1746
1747
6th ditto (Inniskilling) Lord Cadogan . .
1742
(Remained in )
7th ditto .... jCope ....
1742
Flander*. ]
FOOT GUARDS.
1 %IShTu UardS lSt .} Duke of Cumberland
1742
1746
1747
2nd ditto ditto .
Duke of Marlborough
1742
1746
3rd ditto ditto .
Earl of Dunmore .
1742
1746
1747
INFANTRY.
1st Foot 1st Batt. .
St. Clair . . .
1744
1746
> .
3rd ditto (Bufis) .
Howard . . .
1742
1746
1747
4th ditto . . .
Barrel ....
1744
1746
8th ditto . . .
Onslow ....
1742
1746
1747
llth ditto . . .
Cornwallis . . .
1742
Remd. in Flanders
12th ditto . . .
Duroure . .
1742
1746
13th ditto . . .
Pulteney . . .
1742
1746
1747
18th ditto . . .
Mordaunt .
1743
1746
19th ditto (Green) .
Howard . . .
1744
Remd. in Flanders
20th ditto
"Rl i crh
1746
1747
21st ditto, Royal Nth.) ramt)bell
British Fusiliers . J r a
1742
1746
1747
23rd ditto, Royal \
Welsh Fusiliers ./
Peers
1742! 1746
1747
25th ditto .
Earl of Rothes . .
1744J 1746
1747
28th ditto
Bragg ....
1744 1746
3 1st ditto . . Handasyd . . .
1742 1746
32nd ditto |Sk6lton
1 74*} > !? -: A :- 1
33rd ditto . ! 1 Johnson . . . 1742 / Flandere - J
34th ditto . . iCholmondeley . . 1744 1746
. .
36th ditto . . ! Fleming . . . j!744 1746
1747
37th ditto . . Ponsonby . . .1742; 1746
1747
42nd ditto .
48th ditto .
Lord Semphill
LordHarryBeauclerk
1744 1746
1744) 1746
1747
LONDON : Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Str
For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
University of California
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