Historical Record of the Thirty-fourth, or, the Cumberland Regiment of Foot, by Richard Cannon

His Majesty has been pleased to command that, with the view of doing the fullest justice to Regiments, as well as to Individuals who have distinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action with the Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regiment in the British Army shall be published 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 Achievement 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.

[ii]

—— The Names of those Officers who, in consideration 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-Commissioned Officers, and Privates, as may have specially signalized themselves in Action.

And,

—— The Badges and Devices which the Regiment 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.

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[iv] 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 Commanders, 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 practice (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 obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments, an authentic 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[v] long a period, being undisturbed by the presence of war, which few other countries have escaped, comparatively 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 enterprise 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 maintained their advantages against superior numbers.

In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders, 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] 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 cannot 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 unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of achievements in war,—victories so complete and surprising, gained by our countrymen, our brothers,[vii] 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 testifying 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 number, so that when the whole shall be completed, the Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.

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 contains 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 Cæsar with a Roman army, on which occasion the undaunted Britons rushed into the sea to attack the Roman soldiers as they descended from their ships; and, although their discipline and arms were inferior to those of their adversaries, yet their fierce and dauntless bearing intimidated the flower of the Roman troops, including Cæsar’s favourite tenth legion. Their arms consisted of spears, short swords, and other weapons of rude construction. They had chariots, to the[x] 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 Cæsar’s legions: in the course of time a military system, with discipline 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 Introduction 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 proportion of men appeared on foot, and, although these were of inferior degree, they proved stout-hearted Britons of stanch fidelity. When stipendiary troops were employed, infantry always constituted a considerable portion of the military force;[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 imperfect 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 acquisition to every army, even as late as the sixteenth century.

During a great part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth 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.

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 recommended by an English military writer (Sir John Smithe) in 1590 was:—the colour in the centre of the company guarded by the halberdiers; the pikemen 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 musketeers, and the harquebusiers (whose arms were much lighter than the muskets then in use) in equal proportions on each flank of the company for skirmishing.[1] It was customary to unite a number of companies into one body, called a Regiment, which frequently amounted to three thousand men: but each company continued to carry a colour. Numerous 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 seventeenth century: bows and arrows also fell into disuse, and the infantry were reduced to two classes, viz.: musketeers, armed with matchlock muskets,[xiii] swords, and daggers; and pikemen, armed with pikes from fourteen to eighteen feet long, and swords.

In the early part of the seventeenth century Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, reduced the strength of regiments to 1000 men. He caused the gunpowder, which had heretofore been carried in flasks, or in small wooden bandoliers, each containing 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 forming 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 company 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] 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 (excepting 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.[2]

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 grenades; 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[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 Bohemia, the King of Majorca, and many princes and nobles were slain, and the French army was routed and cut to pieces. Ten years afterwards, Edward Prince of Wales, who was designated the Black Prince, defeated, at Poictiers, with 14,000 men, a French army of 60,000 horse, besides infantry, and took John I., King of France, and his son[xvi] Philip, prisoners. On the 25th of October, 1415, King Henry V., with an array of about 13,000 men, although greatly exhausted by marches, privations, 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 monarchy, which commenced in 1578 and terminated in 1648, the British infantry in the service of the States-General were celebrated for their unconquerable spirit and firmness;[3] and in the thirty years’ war between the Protestant Princes and the Emperor of Germany, the British Troop in the service of Sweden and other states were celebrated for deeds of heroism.[4] 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[xvii] 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 evacuate that country; also the services of the gallant Troops during the arduous campaigns in the Peninsula, 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 Government. 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 obedience to his superiors. These qualities, united with an excellent system of order and discipline to regulate 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[xviii] arms.[5] 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 commands of their Sovereign have required them to proceed in the execution of their duty, whether in[xix] active continental operations, or in maintaining colonial 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 movements 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 character 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.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A company of 200 men would appear thus:—


20	20	20	30	20	30	20	20	20
Harquebuses.		Muskets.		Halberds.		Muskets.		Harquebuses.
	Archers.		Pikes.		Pikes.		Archers.

The musket carried a ball which weighed ¹/₁₀th of a pound; and the harquebus a ball which weighed ¹/₂₅th of a pound.

[2] 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 or Gibraltar, and in its subsequent defence in 1704; they were afterwards employed at the siege of Barcelona in 1705.

[3] 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 British Infantry during the Seventy Years’ War, see the Historical Record of the Third Foot, or Buffs.

[4] Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot.

[5] “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 consideration of every port 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 hue enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty.”—General Orders in 1801.

In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope (afterwards 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, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages 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 circumstance can appal,—and that will ensure victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.”

“ALBUHERA”—“VITTORIA”—“PYRENEES”—
“NIVELLE”—“NIVE”—“ORTHES”—
“PENINSULA,”

PLATES.

At the commencement of the eighteenth century, the British monarch witnessed his efforts to curb the ambition of Louis XIV., and to preserve the balance of power in Europe, counteracted by the virtual union of two powerful states, under a dynasty distinguished for its thirst for conquest, the King of France having procured the accession of his grandson, Philip, Duke of Anjou, to the throne of Spain. Existing treaties were thus openly violated; at the same time the liberties of Europe were invaded by the seizure of the Spanish Netherlands, by the troops of France, and the detention of the Dutch garrisons in the barrier towns; and war was resolved upon. A considerable augmentation was made to the British army, and the Thirty-fourth Regiment of Foot is one of the corps embodied on this occasion. Its first colonel was Robert Lord Lucas, from the lieutenant-colonelcy of Sir John Jacob’s Regiment, now Thirteenth Light Infantry, his commission bearing date the 12th of February, 1702.

This regiment was composed of men from Norfolk, Essex, and the adjoining counties, and was raised under[10] the authority of warrants from King William III., by Colonel Lord Lucas, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Dare, Major Garth, Captains Kitson, Edward Shadwell, E. Parsons, P. Lechire, —— Pardon, Richard Steele, and Robert Cecill, who each raised a company; and when the numbers were nearly complete, the establishment was augmented to twelve companies, of three officers and sixty-six non-commissioned officers and soldiers each: one wing of the regiment had its rendezvous at Colchester, and the other at Norwich.

While the regiment was completing its ranks, the death of King William III., and the accession of Queen Anne, occurred on the 8th of March, 1702, and the soldiers took the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty.

An expedition being fitted out against Cadiz, under the Duke of Ormond, Lord Lucas’s Regiment was ordered to send five companies to Landguard Fort, Sheerness, and Tilbury, early in May, to relieve the Buffs, who were ordered to embark on board of frigates for the Isle of Wight, to join the expedition to Spain; at the same time seven companies of Lord Lucas’s Regiment were ordered to relieve a detachment of the Foot Guards on duty at the Tower of London, of which fortress his Lordship was lieutenant-governor; two companies were afterwards detached to Dover Castle.

On the return of the expedition from Spain, the regiment was relieved from duty at the out-stations, and was quartered in the Tower, from whence it detached three hundred men to the West Indies, to complete Colonel Columbine’s Regiment, now Sixth Foot, which was ordered to proceed to that station. After the departure of this detachment, the regiment proceeded, in December, into Essex to recruit, the head-quarters being established at Chelmsford.

The ranks of the regiment were speedily completed, and in the spring of 1703 it marched to Hull, Berwick, and Carlisle; where it was stationed in the following year.

On the 31st of January, 1705, Colonel Lord Lucas died; and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment by Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Hamilton, from the Earl of Derby’s Regiment, now the Sixteenth Foot.

Meanwhile, the war which commenced on the frontiers of the Netherlands, in 1702, had taken a wider range, and Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Spain, had become the theatre of conflict; and in May, the regiment embarked on board the fleet under Sir Cloudesly Shovel, with other forces commanded by General the Earl of Peterborough, either to aid the Duke of Savoy in driving the French out of Italy, to make an attempt on Naples and Sicily, or to effect a landing on the coast of Spain, as should appear most for the interest of Her Majesty’s service. The fleet arrived at Lisbon in June, and additional forces were put on board; Archduke Charles, who was acknowledged as King of Spain, also embarked, and an attempt on the coast of Catalonia was resolved upon. From Lisbon the armament sailed, on the 28th of July, for Gibraltar, where a reinforcement joined from the garrison, and Colonel Hans Hamilton, of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, was nominated quartermaster-general of the expedition.

Leaving Gibraltar, the fleet proceeded to the Bay of Altea, in Valencia, and a number of Catalonians and Valencians throwing off their allegiance to the House of Bourbon, and acknowledging Archduke Charles as king of Spain, the British general was induced to undertake the siege of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, which was defended by upwards of five thousand men, under the viceroy of Catalonia, Don Francis Velasco. In 1697, this fortress resisted thirty thousand French troops eight weeks, and cost Louis XIV. twelve thousand men; but the Earl of Peterborough was unable to bring more than seven thousand men into[12] the lines, which gave an interesting character to the enterprise.

Landing near the river Bassoz, on the 23rd and 24th of August, the troops advanced towards the town, and after some difficulties were overcome, the siege was commenced. The native energy of British soldiers was conspicuously displayed on this occasion, and the grenadiers of the Thirty-fourth had the honor to take part in storming the detached fortress of Montjuich, situate on a hill on the west side of the town. The troops engaged on this service made a detour through the mountains during the night of the 13th of September, and stormed the outworks early on the following morning, making a lodgment, gaining the bulwark of a new fortification, and establishing themselves in the works. In a few days afterwards the garrison surrendered.

This success facilitated the siege of the city of Barcelona, in which the Thirty-fourth Regiment took an active part. The armed Catalonian and Valencian peasantry blocked up the avenues of the town; seamen were landed from the fleet to take part in the siege; the soldiers were incessant in their exertions; cannon and mortars were dragged up steep precipices by men; and a practicable breach being effected, a detachment of the regiment was in readiness to take part in storming the town; but the garrison surrendered, and saved the effusion of blood which would have attended this enterprise. A number of armed countrymen entered the city through the breach, to plunder the partisans of the house of Bourbon; but the Earl of Peterborough entered the town at the head of a troop of dragoons, and the grenadiers of the Thirty-fourth, and other regiments, put a stop to the plundering, and rescued the governor and his garrison from the vengeance of the people.

The capture of Barcelona produced great astonishment throughout Europe, and the splendour of the achievement augmented the reputation of the British arms.

This success was followed by the submission of all the province of Catalonia, and part of that of Valencia; and after a short stay at Barcelona, the Thirty-fourth Regiment was selected to form part of the garrison of the ancient town of Tortosa, situated in a pleasant fertile country, on the left bank of the Ebro, near its influx into the sea. At this town, which was called Dordosa by the Romans, and received municipal privileges from Scipio, the regiment was stationed some time: its services are consequently not immediately connected with the exploits of the Earl of Peterborough in Valencia.

As the operations of the British troops became extended, the regiment quitted its pleasant quarters at Tortosa, and was employed in several movements in the early part of 1706.

King Charles and his counsellors did not make efforts to provide for the defence of the towns which had been gained, nor to obtain the means for future conquests; but spent their time and money in diversions: the breaches of Barcelona and Montjuich were not repaired, and the garrison was unprovided for a siege. King Philip pursued a different line of conduct; he collected forces from various quarters, and assembled a numerous army, with a powerful artillery, for the re-capture of the provinces he had lost, and a formidable French and Spanish force approached the capital of Catalonia by land; at the same time a French fleet appeared before the city. The garrison being weak in numbers, corps were hurried from various places to increase its strength; and the Thirty-fourth Regiment travelled one hundred and twenty miles on mules,[14] on the 30th and 31st of March, and on the 1st of April mounted guard on the works. The regiment had not been two hours on duty when the French approached the place, and made an attack on the outworks of fort Montjuich; but were repulsed by a hundred men of the Thirty-fourth, in gallant style[6]. To the timely arrival of the regiment may be attributed, in a great measure, the preservation of the town: the soldiers repaired the breaches, and made a desperate and resolute defence.

King Charles remained in Barcelona; his presence stimulated the garrison to extraordinary efforts, and British valour was conspicuously displayed in his cause; but the troops were not sufficiently numerous for the defence of so extensive a place. When the garrison, bravely struggling against multiplied difficulties, had become exhausted; its numbers decreased by deaths, wounds, and sickness to about a thousand men, and a practical breach was ready for the enemy to attack the place by storm, the combined English and Dutch fleets approached with reinforcements; the French naval force hurried from before the town, and the garrison was relieved. Losing all hope of final success, and having had five thousand men killed and wounded before the town, the enemy made a precipitate retreat on the 12th of May, leaving two hundred brass cannon, thirty mortars, and immense stores of ammunition and provision, together with the sick and wounded of their[15] army, behind them, and hurrying to France, they thus left the allies at liberty to engage in new enterprises. Barcelona was thus preserved by British skill and valour; and the Thirty-fourth Regiment received, with the other corps in garrison, the thanks of King Charles for its heroic conduct. Its numbers were considerably reduced by casualties during the siege.

An immediate advance on Madrid was resolved upon; and the allied army on the frontiers of Portugal was requested to penetrate boldly to the capital of Spain. The Thirty-fourth Regiment embarked for Valencia to join in this enterprise; and, after landing, it furnished a number of select men towards completing the Earl of Peterborough’s Regiment of Dragoons, which was embodied on this occasion. The advance to Madrid was delayed; pernicious councils, which paid more attention to court formalities than to military operations, retarded the journey of King Charles. This gave time for the French forces to re-enter Spain, and for the arrival of additional troops to reinforce the enemy; and the allied army, after advancing to Madrid, was obliged to retreat to Valencia and Murcia.

After passing the winter in Spain, the Thirty-fourth Regiment, being much reduced in numbers, was directed to transfer its private soldiers fit for duty to other corps, in the spring of 1707, and to return to England to recruit. This took place before the army took the field; and while the officers and non-commissioned officers were waiting for transports, the battle of Almanza was fought, on the 25th of April, when the enemy gained a decisive victory. The embarkation was afterwards delayed a short period; but in the autumn the regiment arrived in England, and commenced recruiting its ranks, in which it had great success.

The regiment was stationed in the south of England in the spring of 1708, when the King of France fitted[16] out a fleet, and embarked troops, for the invasion of Scotland, in favour of the Pretender. On this occasion the regiment had so far recruited its numbers, and become efficient, that it was selected to proceed to the north, to confront the invaders; but it was ordered to halt at Leeds, in consequence of the French shipping having been chased from the British shores by the English fleet.

Having defeated the enemy’s designs of invading the United Kingdom, the British Government fitted out an armament against the French coast, and the Thirty-fourth Foot were ordered to return from Yorkshire to take part in the enterprise. They proceeded to the Isle of Wight, where they were reviewed by Major-General Erle, on the 19th of July, and afterwards embarked on board the fleet, under Admiral Sir George Byng. The expedition approached the coast of France in the early part of August, and after menacing several places, a landing was effected to create alarm, and make a diversion in favour of the allied army in Flanders. The troops subsequently returned on board the fleet, and, after menacing the coast at several points, withdrew towards England. Orders were afterwards received to proceed to Ostend, where the several regiments arrived on the 21st of September; when a body of French troops, under Count de la Motte, who was advancing to surprise the town, made a precipitate retreat towards Bruges, cutting the dikes to lay the country between Ostend and Nieuport under water. Major-General Erle landed with the Thirty-fourth and other regiments, and taking post at the village of Leffinghen, formed an intrenched position.

At this period the allied army in the Netherlands was engaged in the siege of the important fortress of Lisle, and ammunition becoming scarce, the Duke of Marlborough sent seven hundred waggons, under a[17] strong guard, to Ostend, for a supply. Major-General Erle had drained the inundations, built a bridge over the canal at Leffinghen, and opened a communication with the army, towards which the waggons laden with stores began their march on the 26th of September; and the guard having repulsed the forces under Count de la Motte, at Wynendale, the convoy arrived safe at its destination, and the army was enabled to continue the siege.

The French commanders resolved to cut off the communication of the allied army with Ostend, and the Duke of Vendosme proceeded to Oudenburg with thirty thousand men, established posts along the canal between Plassendale and Nieuport, cut the dikes in several places, and laid a great extent of country under water. The Thirty-fourth and other regiments, under Major-General Erle, pitched their tents on the high grounds of Raversein, and the Duke of Marlborough put the covering army in motion; when the Duke of Vendosme made a precipitate retreat, and the Thirty-fourth Foot took part in forwarding a supply of ammunition across the inundations in boats. The Duke of Vendosme detached a body of troops to besiege Leffinghen, which was taken after a sharp resistance. He also menaced the camp at Raversein, when Major-General Erle retreated to the outworks of Ostend.

A numerous body of the enemy marching to Brabant, under the Elector of Bavaria, the Thirty-fourth, and four other regiments, embarked from Ostend, under Brigadier-General Wynne, for Antwerp, where they were stationed when the citadel of Lisle surrendered, and the campaign was terminated by the re-capture of Ghent and Bruges.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment, being composed of young soldiers, was employed on garrison duty during the year 1709.

In April, 1710, the regiment quitted its quarters, and traversed the country towards the frontiers of France, to serve the campaign of that year with the army under the celebrated Duke of Marlborough. The regiment was engaged in the operations by which the French lines were passed at Pont-a-Vendin, and it afterwards took part in the siege of the strong fortress of Douay, where it had repeated opportunities of distinguishing itself. This fortress was defended by a numerous garrison, under General Albergotti, an officer of reputation, who made a determined resistance; and the soldiers of the Thirty-fourth Regiment were fully employed on duty in the trenches, carrying on the approaches, repulsing the sallies of the garrison, and storming the outworks, which occasioned considerable loss. The French army advanced to raise the siege, but did not hazard a general engagement; and Douay surrendered on the 27th of June. The Thirty-fourth Regiment had one subaltern, six serjeants, and seventy-five rank and file killed; two captains, three subalterns, five serjeants, and one hundred and twenty rank and file wounded, during the siege[7].

After the capture of this fortress, the regiment joined the main army, which was encamped at Villers-Brulin during the siege of Bethune, which fortress was reduced before the end of August. The regiment was subsequently employed in covering the sieges of Aire and St. Venant, both of which fortresses were captured before the end of the campaign.

Quitting its winter quarters among the Walloon peasantry, in April, 1711, the regiment joined the army, and was reviewed, at the camp at Warde, on the 8th of June, by the Duke of Marlborough. It was formed in brigade with the Tenth, Twenty-first, and[19] Wynne’s (afterwards disbanded) Regiment, under Brigadier-General Hamilton, and took part in the movements by which the enemy’s formidable lines were passed at Arleux, on which occasion the superiority of the English general’s tactics was particularly conspicuous.

This splendid success was followed by the siege of the town of Bouchain, situated on both sides of the river Scheldt, and the Thirty-fourth Regiment had the honor to take an active share in the operations against this fortress, which was taken by capitulation in the middle of September. When the damaged works at Bouchain were repaired, the regiment went into winter quarters.

Early in April, 1712, the Thirty-fourth Regiment took the field, and joined the army under the command of the Duke of Ormond, who penetrated the French territory to the frontiers of Picardy, encamping at Cateau-Cambresis, while the Germans undertook the siege of Quesnoy. In the mean time the French monarch had solicited peace, and had agreed to deliver the city of Dunkirk into the hands of the British sovereign, as a pledge of his sincerity. A suspension of arms was proclaimed between the British and French, and the army under the Duke of Ormond withdrew to Ghent. On the 4th of August the regiment was detached from the camp near Ghent, with several other corps, under Lieutenant-General the Earl of Orkney, to Dunkirk, where it was stationed some time.

On the 30th of November, 1712, Queen Anne conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Chudleigh, from Brigadier-General Durell’s regiment, in succession to Brigadier-General Hamilton, who, on the death of Brigadier-General Durell, in December following, was nominated colonel of his corps,—the Sixteenth Foot.

At the conclusion of the peace of Utrecht, the regiment was withdrawn from Dunkirk, and proceeded to Great Britain. At this period a considerable reduction took place in the numbers of the regular army, and all the corps raised after the peace of Ryswick, in 1697, were directed to be taken off the establishment, except two, viz., the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth Regiments of Foot. This reduction included the Thirty-fourth Regiment, which was accordingly reduced, and the officers placed upon half-pay.

The decease of Queen Anne, and the accession of King George I., on the 1st of August, 1714, was followed by a short period of tranquillity; but in 1715 the partisans of the Pretender made efforts to procure his accession to the throne, and commotions occurred in England; at the same time the nation was threatened with invasion from abroad. The King augmented the army, and warrants were issued for the restoration of the Thirty-fourth and several other regiments of foot, in the summer of this year.

Names of the officers appointed to the Thirty-fourth Regiment, at its restoration in the summer of 1715:—

Soon afterwards the standard of the Pretender was raised in Scotland, by the Earl of Mar; but the Thirty-fourth Regiment was retained in England; and the rebellion was suppressed in the early part of 1716, by the troops under the Duke of Argyle.

In 1717, the regiment received orders to proceed to Ireland, to relieve one of the corps ordered to be disbanded in that country.

The regiment remained in Ireland until the early part of 1719, when the preparations made by the King of Spain to forward the interests of the Pretender, occasioned it to be withdrawn from that country; and it was subsequently encamped in the Isle of Wight, and held in readiness for active service. The British Government projected the capture of Corunna, in Biscay, and of Peru, in South America; and the Thirty-fourth sailed in the early part of September with the expedition, under General Viscount Cobham, for the attack of the former place; but on arriving off the coast of Gallicia, circumstances occurred which occasioned an attack on Vigo to be resolved upon. The fleet entered the harbour of Vigo on the 29th of September, seized on seven Spanish ships, and on the following day the troops landed under the fire of musketry from the mountains. Advancing towards the town, the British forced the Spaniards to abandon Vigo and Fort St. Sebastian, which were taken possession of by eight hundred men, under Brigadier-General Honeywood. A battery being opened against the citadel, the garrison was soon induced to surrender, giving up two thousand barrels of powder, eight thousand muskets, and fifteen pieces of brass artillery, which had been prepared for the invasion of Britain in favour of the Pretender. While the siege of the castle of Vigo was in progress, Rondondella was captured by a detachment from the army; and on the 12th of October a thousand[22] men proceeded, under Major-General Wade, against Pont-a-Vedra, from whence thirteen companies of Spaniards fled in a panic; the town, arsenal, barracks for two thousand men, thirteen pieces of brass and eighty-six of iron ordnance, five thousand small arms, three hundred barrels of powder, and a great quantity of other stores, were captured. The arsenal, barracks, and Fort Marine, were destroyed; the iron ordnance and the more valuable stores were removed on board the fleet.

Finding himself oppressed on every side, and his resources exhausted, the King of Spain made pacific overtures; and a treaty of peace was concluded before the expedition to Peru was undertaken. The armament returned to England, and the Thirty-fourth were again stationed in Ireland.

On the 18th of February, 1723, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Hayes, from the command of a company in the First Foot Guards, was appointed colonel of the regiment, by purchase, in succession to Colonel Chudleigh, who retired.

Few years elapsed before the Spanish monarch again violated the peace of Europe. The possessions, of which he was deprived by the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, had been relinquished with reluctance, and towards the end of 1726, he assembled an army in Andalusia, under the command of the Count de la Torres, to make a determined effort for the re-capture of Gibraltar.

In February, 1727, the garrison of Gibraltar opened its fire on the besieging army; and the Thirty-fourth Regiment was, at this period, on its way from Ireland, to share in the honor of a successful defence of this important fortress. The regiment encountered a storm at sea, and lost several companies by shipwreck; six companies proceeded to Plymouth, and afterwards continuing[23] their voyage, arrived at Gibraltar on the 26th of March, in company with the Twenty-fifth Regiment; they were followed by several other corps. The garrison made a very gallant defence of the fortress committed to their charge, against the storm of war, which raged against them with increasing fury until the thunder of one hundred cannon became almost incessant in the day time, and was partially continued throughout the night. The tremendous fire of the Spaniards produced little effect beyond the bursting of many of their own cannon, and rendering others useless; and many thousands of the besieging army perished in the attempt. In the early part of June, the fire slackened; on the 18th of that month hostilities ceased; and the fortress of Gibraltar continued to form one of the trophies of British prowess.

Peace having been concluded with Spain, the regiment was withdrawn from Gibraltar, and proceeded to Ireland, where it was conspicuous for its good conduct in quarters.

Colonel Robert Hayes died at Jamaica, on the 7th of April, 1731, and the colonelcy of the regiment remained vacant until the 8th of January 1732, when King George II. conferred the appointment on Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Cornwallis, from the command of a company in the Foot Guards.

Colonel Cornwallis commanded the regiment until 1738, when he was removed to the Eleventh Foot, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord James Cavendish.

On the commencement of the war with Spain, in 1739, the establishment of the regiment was augmented, and in the autumn it was removed to England.

Colonel Lord James Cavendish died in November,[24] 1741, and in 1742 the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on Colonel the Honorable James Cholmondeley, from the Fifty-ninth, now Forty-eighth Regiment.

During the summer of this year a British army proceeded to Flanders, to support the house of Austria, against the united efforts of the King of France and the Elector of Bavaria, who were endeavouring to deprive the Archduchess, Maria Theresa, of her hereditary dominions. In 1743, a victory was gained at Dettingen; and in the summer of 1744, the allied army confronted the forces of France in the Austrian Netherlands.

In June, 1744, the Thirty-fourth Regiment embarked for Flanders, and joining the allied army at the camp on the bank of the Scheldt, took part in several operations. It penetrated the territory subject to France to the vicinity of Lisle; and subsequently returned to Flanders, where it passed the winter.

The French monarch assembled a numerous army in the spring of 1745, and commenced operations by besieging the strong fortress of Tournay; and the Duke of Cumberland, having arrived in Flanders, assembled the allied army with the view of raising the siege. The Thirty-fourth were called from their quarters in April, to take part in this service; and when the allied army approached, the French took up a position at the village of Fontenoy.

At an early hour on the morning of the 11th of May, the allied army advanced to engage the enemy, and the Thirty-fourth Regiment entered the plain in front of the French batteries, to take part in the action. Soon after nine o’clock, the British infantry moved forward to attack the French position on the right of the village of Fontenoy, and their gallant bearing, in the face of a storm of grape and musketry,[25] excited admiration; by a resolute charge they broke the French lines; but the Dutch failed in their attack, and the British regiments were forced to retire. A second attack was made, and the heroic valour of the English infantry was conspicuous; their steady fire destroyed entire ranks of their enemy, and the determined charge with the bayonet proved irresistible; but the Dutch again failed, and a retreat was ordered. The Thirty-fourth Regiment evinced great gallantry on this occasion, and it had the honor of performing a conspicuous part in covering the retreat, and in bringing up the rear of the right wing out of the plain, to the village of Vezont. The determined bearing of the regiment, with that of the Thirty-second Foot, and the brigade of Life Guards under Major-General the Earl of Crawford, intimidated the enemy, and the retreat was effected, without serious loss, to the town of Aeth.

The regiment had one serjeant and seventeen rank and file killed; Lieutenants Cramer, Forrest, Mure, Courtenay, and Hargraves, Ensigns Donallen and Stacey, two serjeants, and fifty-three rank and file wounded; one serjeant and twenty-seven rank and file missing.

The regiment was afterwards encamped on the plains of Lessines; and was subsequently employed in operations of a defensive character; but the enemy had so great a superiority of numbers, that it was found impossible to prevent the loss of several fortified towns.

In the mean time, Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, had arrived in Scotland, and being joined by the Highland clans, he resolved to make a desperate effort to overthrow the existing government. The Thirty-fourth regiment was ordered to return to England on this occasion; it left the camp at Vilvorde on the 13th of September, embarked at Williamstadt,[26] on the 19th, and arriving in the river Thames on the 23rd, landed at Blackwall, from whence it was ordered to proceed to Newcastle, where a body of troops was assembling under Field-Marshal Wade. Having joined this force, the regiment was formed in brigade with the Buffs, the Thirteenth, and Forty-eighth Regiments, and when the clans penetrated England, it marched by Durham, Darlington, and Richmond, in order to cover Yorkshire, and eventually proceeded to Ferrybridge, where it arrived on the 8th of December. When the Highlanders quitted Derby, and made a precipitate retreat to Scotland, the regiment was engaged in the attempt to intercept their return; but the clans escaped with the loss of a few men killed in a skirmish on Clifton moor.

Early in January, 1746, the regiment marched to Edinburgh, from whence it advanced, with the troops under Lieutenant-General Hawley, to Falkirk, for the purpose of forcing the insurgents to raise the siege of Stirling castle.

The clans quitted Stirling, and on the 17th of January, they advanced to Falkirk moor; when the King’s troops marched to attack the insurgents. As the royal army diverged upon the moor, a storm was seen approaching, and as the soldiers moved forward to commence the battle, a violent hurricane, with a heavy shower of rain, beat violently in their faces, and nearly blinded them; at the same time, it beat on the backs of the Highlanders and caused them little annoyance. The engagement commenced under great disadvantages to the King’s troops, who could not see to take aim; more than half the muskets would not give fire, and the powder became wet and useless while the men were in the act of loading.

Being thus blinded and confounded by the storm, several regiments faced about and retreated. Others[27] stood firm and repulsed the clans; but during the night the whole retired. The regiment lost its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Powell, who was mortally wounded on this occasion. Its colonel, Brigadier-General the Honorable James Cholmondeley, highly distinguished himself.

The troops in Scotland were reinforced: his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland assumed the command, and on the 31st of January they again advanced; when the Pretender raised the siege of Stirling castle, and made a precipitate retreat. The Thirty-fourth were engaged in the pursuit of the clans to Perth, where the army halted in consequence of the severe weather, until the 20th of February, when the march was resumed, and in the beginning of the following month the army arrived at Aberdeen, where its progress was retarded by heavy rains and snow storms. In the early part of April, the King’s troops were again in motion towards Inverness, and on the 16th of that month, they discovered the clans in order of battle on Culloden moor, when they formed line opposite the hostile ranks; the Thirty-fourth, or Cholmondeley’s[9], five hundred men, being in the right wing of the front line, and on the left of the second battalion of the Royal regiment.

The action commenced between twelve and one o’clock, and in less than one hour the rebel army was overpowered and chased from the moor with great slaughter. This victory was decisive, and it instantly transformed the young Pretender from an imaginary monarch to a humble fugitive; an interval of hardship and suffering followed, and after wandering for some time in disguise, among the isles and mountains, he escaped to France.

The loss of the Thirty-fourth Regiment at the battle of Culloden[10] was limited to three private soldiers. After returning from the pursuit of the clans, the regiment was encamped a short time near Inverness, and it was subsequently employed in escorting prisoners towards South Britain. The rebellion being finally suppressed, the services of the Thirty-fourth were no longer required in Scotland, and they were stationed in England.

The war of the Austrian succession was terminated in 1748, by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and in 1749 the regiment was placed on a peace establishment.

Major-General the Honorable James Cholmondeley was removed to the Twelfth Dragoons, in July, 1749; and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Foot by Colonel the Honorable Henry Seymour Conway, from the Forty-eighth Regiment.

On the 1st of July, 1751, regulations were issued, under the sign manual, for establishing uniformity in the clothing, standards, and colours of the several regiments; in which the facings of the Thirty-fourth were directed to be of bright yellow. The first, or the King’s colour, was to be the Great Union; the second, or regimental colour, to be of bright yellow silk, with the Union in the upper canton; in the centre of the colour, the rank of the regiment in gold Roman characters, within a wreath of roses and thistles on the same stalk. The costume of the regiment at this period was three-cornered cocked hats, bound with white lace, and ornamented with a white loop and a black cockade; scarlet coats faced and lined with bright yellow, and[29] ornamented with white lace; scarlet waistcoats and breeches; and white gaiters.

In December of this year, Colonel the Honorable Henry Seymour Conway was removed to the Thirteenth Dragoons, and King George II. conferred the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Foot, on Colonel the Honorable Charles Russell, from major in the Second Foot Guards.

Early in the year 1752, the regiment embarked for Minorca, the second of the Balearic islands, situated in the Mediterranean, near the coast of Spain: this island had fallen successively under the dominion of the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Vandals, the Moors, the Arragonese, and the Castilians; in 1708 it was captured by the British, and it was ceded to Queen Anne at the peace of Utrecht in 1713. In this small island, which is diversified with hills and valleys, and in some parts rich in vegetation, and abounding with the necessaries and many of the luxuries of life, the Thirty-fourth were stationed several years.

Colonel the Honorable Charles Russell died on the 20th of November, 1754, and was succeeded in the command of the regiment by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Earl of Effingham, from the second troop, now second regiment, of Life Guards.

While the regiment was stationed at Minorca, the undetermined limits of the British and French territory in North America, occasioned a war between the two kingdoms; and early in 1756, the French monarch prepared a powerful armament for the capture of the island of Minorca.

The French expedition, commanded by Marshal Duke of Richelieu, arrived at Minorca in April, and effected a landing at Ciudadella; and no part of the island being fortified to resist so powerful a force, excepting Fort St. Philip, situate on a rocky promontory[30] at the entrance of the harbour of Port Mahon, the several detachments were withdrawn from the interior, and assembled in the fort, where they resolved on making a desperate defence, in the hope of being reinforced.

The Thirty-fourth mustered twenty-six officers, twenty-nine serjeants, nineteen drummers, and six hundred and sixty-five rank and file fit for duty, exclusive of thirteen sick, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Reed, for the defence of Fort St. Philip, and the officers and soldiers evinced an extent of personal bravery and resolution, which reflected honor on their country. The garrison was commanded by Lieutenant-General Blakeney.

The siege of the fort was commenced by the enemy, and the determined resistance encountered by the French commander occasioned him to send for additional forces. The conduct of the garrison became a subject of admiration, and the bravery and vigilance of the officers inspired the soldiers with increased confidence.

The British fleet was discovered on the 19th of May, and the soldiers, having become exhausted by hard duty, were stimulated to perseverance by the prospect of being speedily relieved; but were disappointed: Admiral Byng skirmished with the French squadron, and afterwards retired, for which conduct he was subsequently brought to trial, and shot. Lieutenant-General Thomas Fowke, then commanding at Gibraltar, was also brought to trial, for not sending a reinforcement to Minorca, and sentenced to be suspended for one year; the king confirmed the sentence, and directed Lieutenant-General Fowke to be dismissed the service.

Although thus abandoned to their fate, the four regiments in garrison at Fort St. Philip, (viz., the[31] Fourth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, and Thirty-fourth) defended their post with great gallantry; incessant duty and watching so exhausted the soldiers, that they frequently were overpowered by sleep under a heavy cannonade, yet they persevered with admirable resolution. During the night of the 27th of June, a general assault was made by the enemy at several points, when the garrison met the assailants with great courage, and repulsed them several times with much slaughter,—many of the sick and wounded coming out of the hospital to take part in the defence. The enemy’s superior numbers enabled him to renew the attack, and after much severe fighting he gained possession of three of the outworks. On the following day, conditions of capitulation were tendered and accepted; when the French marshal caused it to be inserted in the articles,—“The noble and vigorous defence which the English have made, having deserved all the marks of esteem and veneration which every military man ought to show to such actions, and Marshal Richelieu being desirous also to show to General Blakeney the regard due to the defence he has made, grants to the garrison all the honors of war they can enjoy under the circumstances of going out for an embarkation; to wit,—firelocks on their shoulders, drums beating, colours flying, twenty cartridges each man, and also lighted match. He consents, also, that General Blakeney and his garrison carry away all the effects that belong to them.”

On this subject, Beatson observes in his Naval and Military Memoirs,—“Thus did four regiments, and one company of artillery, maintain the fort against such numbers of the enemy, by sea and land, for such a length of time, as can, perhaps, scarcely be paralleled in history. The terms on which the fort was at last[32] surrendered by a handful of men, so distressed, so shattered, and so neglected, remains a lasting monument to their honor.”

The regiment had Captain Hobby, Lieutenant Armstrong, and twelve rank and file killed during the siege; also Captain Sir Hugh Williams, Bart., and seventy-seven non-commissioned officers and soldiers wounded; seven men died of their wounds, and two of diseases produced by excessive exertion: at the general assault the regiment only lost four men.

Immediately after the surrender of Fort St. Philip, the regiment embarked for Gibraltar, and after a short stay at that fortress, proceeded to England, where its arrival was hailed with acclamations by the inhabitants of the towns through which it passed, who were proud of the honor acquired by the regiments which defended the principal fortress of Minorca.

Soon after its arrival in England the regiment was augmented to two battalions, and in the summer of 1757, both battalions were encamped on Barham downs, under the Duke of Marlborough: the second battalion afterwards served on board the fleet as marines.

In June, 1758, the second battalion was constituted the Seventy-third Regiment, under the command of Colonel Browne. This regiment was disbanded at the peace in 1763.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment proceeded to the Isle of Wight, where it was formed in brigade with the Twenty-fourth and Seventy-second Regiments, under the orders of Major-General Granville Elliott, and sailed with the armament, under the Duke of Marlborough, for the purpose of reducing the maritime power of France, and making a diversion in favour of the allied army in Germany. A landing was effected on the coast of Brittany on the 5th of June, and the[33] French infantry and cavalry assembled to oppose the debarkation were quickly dispersed. On the 7th of June the army advanced in two columns towards St. Maloes, and encamping about a mile from the town, sent a strong detachment to the harbour, to set fire to the shipping, magazines, and maritime stores, when a grand and dreadful scene of conflagration illuminated the coast, and was seen for many miles. Having destroyed a valuable fleet, and extensive magazines of maritime stores, the troops re-embarked, and preparations were afterwards made for a descent at Granville, on the coast of Normandy, and afterwards at Cherbourg; but the weather being severe, the fleet returned to England.

This success was followed by the preparation of another expedition of a similar character, in which the Thirty-fourth Regiment was also employed; and on the 6th of August a landing was effected in the Bay des Marées, in the face of a body of French troops. On the following day Cherbourg was taken possession of, with the harbour, forts, magazines, and about two hundred pieces of ordnance; the iron guns were destroyed, and twenty-two fine brass cannon and two brass mortars, were sent to England as trophies. These guns were seen by King George II., in Hyde Park, and afterwards conducted by a cavalcade to the Tower.

After remaining in France ten days, the troops returned on board the fleet, and a second descent was made on the coast of Brittany on the 4th of September, when the batteries in the Bay of St. Lunaire were destroyed, and the troops afterwards penetrated the country a considerable distance; but no advantage resulted from this enterprise, and when the troops re-embarked at St. Cas, the enemy attacked the rear guard with superior numbers, and occasioned severe loss. The Thirty-fourth Foot returned to England,[34] and landed at Portsmouth towards the end of September.

In the summer of 1759, the Thirty-fourth were encamped at Sandheath, with the Fifth, Eighth, and Thirty-third Regiments, under the Earl of Ancram; and in the summer of 1760, they pitched their tents at Winchester, where five battalions of militia were encamped with them, the whole under the colonel of the Thirty-fourth,—Thomas Earl of Effingham.

On the 30th of October, King George III. nominated the Earl of Effingham to the command of the first troop of Horse Grenadier Guards, (which was incorporated in the First Regiment of Life Guards in 1788,) and his Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth on Lord Frederick Cavendish, from the Sixty-seventh Regiment[11].

During the summer of 1761, the regiment was encamped, with the Seventy-second Foot, at Sandheath, under Lieutenant-General Cornwallis.

Meanwhile the conduct of the Spanish Government had led to an interruption of the amicable relations existing between the two countries, and in the early part of 1762 an attack on the Havannah, in the island of Cuba, which was looked upon as a key to the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, was resolved upon by the British Government; and the Thirty-fourth Regiment, mustering one thousand officers and soldiers, under Lieutenant-Colonel John Reed, embarked for this service; the expedition being under General the Earl of Albemarle. On arriving at the West Indies, the regiment was formed in brigade with[35] the Thirty-fifth, Forty-third, and Seventy-fifth Regiments, under Brigadier-General Reed; and proceeding with the armament through the Straits of Bahama, arrived in the vicinity of the Havannah on the 6th of June. On the following day a landing was effected, and the siege of the Moro Fort was commenced by a body of troops under Major-General the Honorable William Keppel. In the attack of this fortress, the troops evinced that courage and patient perseverance under severe toil and privation, for which British soldiers have been distinguished, and united with the cordial co-operation of the royal navy, overcame all difficulties. Batteries were erected, the sallies of the Spaniards repulsed, and the Moro Fort captured by storm on the 30th of July. This success facilitated the attack on the Havannah, and a series of batteries opened so well-directed a fire on the works of the town, and on the shipping in the harbour, on the 11th of August, that in a few hours the guns of the garrison were silenced, and the Spaniards solicited terms of capitulation, which were speedily agreed upon. The wealthy city of the Havannah, with a valuable fleet of Spanish men-of-war, and numerous stores, were thus captured by British skill and valour, and prize money to a large amount was afterwards distributed to the army and navy. “This conquest was, without doubt, in itself the most considerable, and in its consequences the most decisive, of any we had made since the beginning of the war; and in no operation were the courage, steadiness, and perseverance of the British troops, and the conduct of their leaders, more conspicuous. It was a military achievement of the highest class[12].”

The regiment was commanded, on this occasion, by[36] Major Robert Farmar, (Lieutenant-Colonel Reed being at the head of the brigade,) and after taking part in this splendid conquest, it was stationed a short time at the Havannah.

In the following year a treaty of peace was concluded, and the Spaniards ceded to Great Britain the country of Florida, in North America, on condition of having the Havannah restored to them, which was agreed to; and the Thirty-fourth Regiment was one of the corps which proceeded to North America, to take possession of the ceded territory.

In the pleasant and fertile country of West Florida, the regiment was stationed some time; in 1768 it was relieved from duty in North America, and returned to Europe, and in 1769 it was stationed in Ireland.

The regiment was quartered in Ireland seven years; and was equally conspicuous for good conduct on home service, as it had been for gallantry when confronting the enemies of its country abroad.

In 1775, the misunderstanding between Great Britain and her North American provinces, on the subject of taxation, attained a character which produced hostilities, and the Thirty-fourth Regiment was augmented to the war establishment. The American Congress sent a body of troops, under Colonel Montgomery, to invade Canada, where Major-General Carleton, afterwards Lord Dorchester, commanded, and the English general, having very few troops to oppose to the enemy, evacuated Montreal, and retired to Quebec. The Americans detached a division of troops, under Colonel Arnold, to surprise Quebec; but this enterprise failed, through the activity and vigilance of Major-General Carleton, who defended that fortress against the united provincial forces, and repulsed an assault made on the works, during a snow storm, in the depth of winter.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment embarked from Ireland early in the spring of 1776, for the relief of Quebec; and on the arrival, in the river St. Lawrence, of the expected succours from the United Kingdom, in May, the Americans quitted the vicinity of that fortress, and made a precipitate retreat. The Thirty-fourth Regiment advanced up the country in pursuit of the provincial troops, and took part in the movements by which the Americans were driven out of Canada. The regiment was stationed in Canada during the winter.

In the spring of 1777, the flank companies of the regiment were detached from Canada, with the army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, which was destined to proceed, by Lakes Champlain and George, to Hudson’s river, with the view of forcing its way to Albany, and co-operating with the army at New York, in the reduction of the revolted states. The troops employed on this service embarked on board a flotilla, and, after a pleasant voyage along Lake Champlain, landed at Crown Point, from whence they advanced towards Ticonderago, and forced the Americans to abandon the fort. This conquest achieved, the troops proceeded to Skenesborough, and drove the enemy from a stockaded fort on the 6th of July, and pursued them towards Castletown. On the 8th of July the Americans were repulsed in an attack on the Ninth Regiment, and driven from Fort Anne. After this success, preparations were made for a forward movement; but extraordinary difficulties had to be encountered; felled trees had to be removed from the roads,—creeks and marshes had to be passed,—forty new bridges had to be constructed, and others to be repaired; one made of log-work crossed a morass two miles in extent. These difficulties were overcome by the soldiers with cheerful alacrity, and on the 30th of[38] July the troops arrived on the banks of the Hudson’s river, when they took post at Fort Edward, awaiting the arrival of provisions. The river was crossed in September, and a forward movement was made; but the expedition proved of insufficient force for the enterprise, and the means for supplying the troops inadequate. Having penetrated into the heart of the revolted provinces, Lieutenant-General Burgoyne found himself encompassed by difficulties and dangers which he was unable to overcome. After a series of hard toil, incessant effort, and severe privation, the Indian warriors, who formed part of the expedition, deserted, and many of the Canadians followed their example; and after several stubborn engagements, in which the British regiments fought gallantly against an immense superiority of numbers, and the flank companies of the Thirty-fourth Foot had repeated opportunities of distinguishing themselves, Lieutenant-General Burgoyne found himself on the banks of the Hudson’s river, with an army diminished in numbers to three thousand five hundred men,—reduced in physical power by incessant toil and want of provisions,—invested by an army of sixteen thousand Americans,—disappointed of co-operation from other armies,—and without provision. Under these dismal circumstances, a convention was concluded with the American General Gates, at Saratoga, in which it was agreed that the troops should lay down their arms, on condition of being sent to England, and of not serving in America during the remainder of the war. These articles were violated by the American government, and the brave soldiers who had fought so gallantly, and who did not submit until surrounded by five times their own numbers, were detained prisoners in America.

The battalion companies of the regiment, which had remained in Canada, were not involved in this occurrence.

In the several actions between the Americans and the troops under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, the flank companies of the Thirty-fourth had a number of men killed and wounded; also Captains Harris and Ross, and Lieutenant Richardson, wounded.

The battalion companies furnished a detachment of one hundred men, for the expedition to the Mohawk, under Brigadier-General Barry St. Leger. This detachment was engaged in the unsuccessful siege of Fort Stanwix.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment formed part of the force to which the protection of Canada was confided during the remainder of the American war, which was terminated in 1782, by a treaty of peace, in which the independence of the United States was acknowledged.

A letter, dated the 31st of August, 1782, conveyed to the regiment His Majesty’s pleasure that it should assume the title of the Thirty-fourth, or Cumberland Regiment of Foot, and that a connection and mutual attachment between the corps and that county should be cultivated, in order to promote the success of the recruiting service.

The regiment remained in Canada until 1786, when it was relieved, and returned to Europe. In 1787 it was stationed in England.

On the breaking out of the French revolutionary war, the establishment of the regiment was augmented. In 1793 a British army proceeded to Flanders; but the Thirty-fourth remained in Great Britain until the middle of February, 1795, when they embarked for the West Indies.

Previous to this date the revolutionary principles, which had involved France in anarchy and crime, had extended to the French West India islands; but the planters of these colonies had been delivered from the power of the republicans by a British armament, under[40] General Sir Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey; the Thirty-fourth Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, proceeded to St. Lucia, which island had been captured from the French in April, 1794.

The National Convention which governed France, although employed in extending revolutionary power in Europe, paid so much attention to the colonial interests of that nation, as to send an expedition to the West Indies, for the recovery of the conquered islands; and the doctrines of liberty and equality, which were disseminated in the islands, occasioned multitudes of mulattoes, blacks, and Charibbees to array themselves under the standard of republicanism, which led to a frightful catalogue of outrages and depredations. St. Lucia, where the Thirty-fourth were stationed, was among the colonies attacked by the enemy, and the regiment was engaged a short period in its defence, in which it lost several men, and Captain Dodsworth was taken prisoner, on the 18th of June. The British troops not being sufficiently numerous for the defence of the island, it was evacuated, the Thirty-fourth Regiment proceeding to St. Vincent, where republican emissaries from France had organised a rebellion, and many whites, mulattoes, blacks, and native Charibbees, were in arms against the British Government, which occasioned the regiment much severe service[13].

Early in 1796, additional forces arrived at the West Indies, where Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby assumed the command of an armament to complete the deliverance of the West India islands from the power of the republicans, and to reduce to obedience the insurgents of St. Vincent and Grenada.

On the 8th of June, a body of troops landed at the[41] island of St. Vincent, and were joined by the Thirty-fourth Foot, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, who had the honour of taking a distinguished part in the reduction of the colony, which was accomplished in a few days. Part of the regiment evinced signal gallantry at the assault and capture of the insurgent camp, on, the 10th of June, when Sir Ralph Abercromby stated in orders,—“Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, and the troops who served under him, are entitled to a great share of praise.” The regiment had two serjeants, one drummer, and six rank and file killed; Volunteer Gordon died of his wounds; Lieutenants O’Donoughue and Georges, nine serjeants, three drummers, and sixteen rank and file wounded.

The hostile spirit long shown by the Charibbees towards the European inhabitants, occasioned the British Government to determine to remove them from the island; and the execution of the orders received for this purpose was attended with much harassing duty to the troops, in which the Thirty-fourth took part, and sustained some loss. The regiment afterwards received the thanks of Major-General Hunter, and of the principal inhabitants of the colony, for its conduct in the brigand and Charibbee war.

On the 15th of July, the regiment embarked for England, where it arrived on the 8th of October, and was stationed at Poole, in Dorsetshire, from whence recruiting parties were detached to various towns in South Britain.

In the spring of 1797[14], the regiment proceeded to York, where the non-commissioned officers and soldiers evinced their loyalty and zeal for the preservation of the constitution of their country, by a contribution in[42] aid of the war, for which they received the thanks of Lieutenant-General Scott, commanding the district. In the autumn the regiment marched to Lincoln.

Field-Marshal Lord Frederick Cavendish was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment in July by George Frederick Lord Southampton, from captain and lieutenant-colonel Second Foot Guards.

The regiment remained in England during the years 1798 and 1799, and, having been brought into a high state of discipline and efficiency, it was selected to proceed on colonial service.

In January, 1800, the regiment marched from Hilsea barracks, and embarking on board an Indiaman, sailed to the Cape of Good Hope, where it landed on the 21st of May, and occupied barracks at Cape Town until September, when it pitched its tents at Wynberg, where a numerous force was encamped under Major-General Dundas.

After remaining two years and a half at the Cape of Good Hope, that colony was restored to the Dutch, at the peace of Amiens, in 1802, and the regiment embarked for the East Indies, where it arrived in January, 1803, and landed at Madras on the 2nd of February.

The regiment was stationed at Madras several months, during which period the conduct of the officers and soldiers on the occasion of an alarming fire, elicited the following communication to Colonel Dickens, from the merchants of that place:—“Impressed with a grateful sense of the extraordinary exertions manifested by the officers and men of His Majesty’s Thirty-fourth Regiment, under your command, on the occasion of the late calamitous fires, we feel it incumbent upon us to offer you and them our public acknowledgements for the service rendered to the commercial interests in particular, and at the same[43] time to request you will be assured of our sincere respect for the public spirit which uniformly animates the British military on every emergency.”

The peace of Europe was violated by the ambitious projects of Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France, and the war was resumed in 1803, in July of which year two companies of the regiment embarked, under Captain Everard, for the island of Ceylon, which had been captured from the Dutch, and they were followed by two additional companies, under Captain Roberts, in October.

In 1804 the head-quarters were removed from Madras to Wallajabad, where they arrived on the 21st of August. In December a detachment returned to Madras, where it embarked for Vizagapatam, to protect the shipping.

In the mean time the menace of invading England, made by Napoleon Bonaparte, had been followed by a simultaneous appeal to arms throughout the United Kingdom, and an array of military power was manifested which proved the attachment of the British people to their sovereign and constitution. On this memorable occasion a second battalion was added to the Thirty-fourth Regiment, and was embodied at Ashford, in Kent. It was formed of volunteers from the First East York, Third West York, First Lancashire, South Lincoln, and East Essex Regiments of Militia, and was placed on the establishment of the army on the 25th of April, 1805.

Bonaparte obtained the dignity of Emperor from the French nation, was crowned King of Italy, and added Genoa to his dominions; he afterwards marched his army from Boulogne to crush the coalition forming against his interests in Germany; at the[44] same time the French troops were withdrawn from Hanover, which country they had seized soon after the resuming of hostilities in 1803. A body of troops was sent to Hanover under Lieutenant-General Lord Cathcart, to co-operate with the continental powers; and on the 28th of November the second battalion of the Thirty-fourth Regiment marched to Ramsgate for embarkation for Germany, under the orders of Major Broomhead. The battle of Austerlitz established the preponderance of French power; in a subsequent treaty it was stipulated that Hanover should be occupied by the Prussians, and the British troops, under Lord Cathcart, withdrew to the coast and embarked for England. On its return from this expedition, the battalion was quartered on the coast of Sussex.

In March of this year, the detachment of the first battalion was withdrawn from Ceylon, and joined the head-quarters at Wallajabad; and in April four companies proceeded to the fortress of Vellore, which had been chosen for the residence of the captive princes of the race of Hyder and Tippoo, with the two hostages given up to Lord Cornwallis. In October, the battalion was united at Bellary.

During the year 1806, the first battalion was in garrison at the fortresses of Gooty and Bellary. Lieutenant-Colonel Fancourt of the Thirty-fourth Regiment was commandant of Vellore, and was killed in the mutiny which took place among the Sepoys and Moormen, on the morning of the 10th July, 1806.

In April, the second battalion embarked for the island of Jersey, where it remained until May, 1807, when it was removed to the Isle of Wight, in order to its embarkation for the island of Ceylon; but while waiting for shipping, its destination was changed, and it proceeded to Cork, to join a secret expedition ordered to rendezvous at that place, under Brigadier-General[45] Beresford. The expedition sailed to Madeira, and took possession of that island; but the Thirty-fourth landed in Ireland, were stationed at Bandon barracks, and placed under orders to proceed to India.

In December they embarked from Cork, and sailed to Spithead, where they arrived on the 18th of January, 1808; but circumstances had occurred which occasioned their embarkation for India to be countermanded; they landed and marched to Steyning barracks, where they remained until May, when they returned to the island of Jersey.

The second battalion was stationed at Jersey until the summer of 1809, when it was completed to a thousand rank and file by volunteers from the militia, and embarked for the Peninsula, to join the British army, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, and take part in the deliverance of Portugal and Spain from the tyrannical domination of the Emperor Napoleon, who was attempting to bring those kingdoms under his despotic sway. After landing at Lisbon, on the 4th of July, the battalion was encamped near that place, with the brigade under Brigadier-General James Catlin Craufurd, for three weeks, and afterwards proceeded in boats up the river Tagus, under Lieutenant-Colonel Maister, to Santarem, from whence it marched into Spain, to co-operate with the troops under Lieutenant-General Lord Wellington, who had driven the French from Portugal, and repulsed the army under Joseph Bonaparte (titular King of Spain) at Talavera, a short time before. After several movements, the brigade joined the army under Lord Wellington in Spanish Estremadura; and the Thirty-fourth were placed in village cantonments on the right bank of the Guadiana, near Badajoz, where the battalion suffered from the epidemic fever which thinned the British ranks.

When Lord Wellington marched northward, the Thirty-fourth were left in Portuguese Estremadura, under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill.

In the mean time, the disaffection to the civil authorities of Madras, which occurred in the native army in India, particularly among the European officers, had occasioned the first battalion to be withdrawn from garrison, and to be employed in services necessary to bring the disaffected to submission; at the same time four captains and eight lieutenants were attached to the Company’s artillery, and to the Seventh, Ninth, Twenty-second, and Twenty-fifth Regiments of native infantry, in the place of the suspended officers: officers of the Thirty-fourth were also appointed to perform the duties of assistant adjutant-general, fort-adjutant, and deputy judge advocate.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment performed many long marches with the field force, under Colonel Conran, of the First, or the Royal Regiment of Foot, in October, November, and December, 1809, and it was also frequently in motion during the first four months of 1810. On the 8th of May it encamped at Jaulnah, and was in tents during the periodical heavy rains: in October it moved into temporary barracks. Previous to this period, the arrival of Lord Minto, Governor-General of India, had been followed by happy results, and the authority of the civil government of Madras had been restored.

In the Peninsula, the immense preparations of the French for the campaign of 1810, induced Lord Wellington to limit his operations to the defence of Portugal; and the second battalion of the Thirty-fourth was employed, with the division under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill, on the Alemtejo frontier, in opposition to the French under General Reynier. Portugal being invaded by a powerful French army, under Marshal Massena, Prince of[47] Esling, the British forces withdrew before the superior numbers of the enemy. The movements of the Thirty-fourth were the same as those of the second division of the army, and after passing the Mondego river, early on the morning of the 26th of September, they took post on the right of the position on the rocks of Busaco, where an array of British power was prepared to resist the torrent of invasion. The Prince of Esling assailed this position on the 27th of September, when the furious attacks of the veteran legions of Napoleon were repulsed by British valour. After astonishing efforts, the French fell back; and they subsequently turned the left of the position by a flank movement; when the British commander withdrew to the lines of Torres Vedras, where a series of works, along a range of lofty mountains, opposed a formidable barrier to the progress of the enemy. The Thirty-fourth had their post in the lines, and were stationed at Calendrix, and afterwards at Bucellas.

The French commander viewed the stupendous works of Torres Vedras with surprise, and being unable to accomplish his menace of driving the English into the sea, and planting the eagles of France on the towers of Lisbon, he withdrew to Santarem in the middle of November. On the retrograde movement of the enemy taking place, the division of which the Thirty-fourth formed part, was ordered to cross the Tagus, and move upon Abrantes, to succour that place, or head the march of the enemy. The battalion passed the river on rafts; but when the enemy was found in position at Santarem, Sir Rowland Hill’s division was ordered to halt at Chamusca.

The battalion passed the winter in village cantonments on the left bank of the Tagus, and the country being low and marshy, the health of the soldiers suffered from agues.

On the decease of Lord Southampton, in the summer of this year, the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote, from the Sixty-second Foot.

The first battalion suffered from the effects of the climate at Jaulnah, in the East Indies, and was removed in May, 1811, to Secunderabad; when it left one hundred and thirty men in hospital.

To the second battalion was appointed the duty of watching the movements of the enemy, to prevent the passage of the Tagus by the French. On one occasion an island in the river was taken possession of by a detachment of the enemy; but the light companies of the brigade, of which the Thirty-fourth formed part, dislodged the French, and the island was occupied by a company of the regiment, until the 5th of March, when the Prince of Esling quitted his position and retreated.

The Thirty-fourth pursued the retreating enemy towards the confines of Portugal, witnessing scenes of slaughter, devastation, and confusion, produced by the French army, beyond description; the battalion was afterwards detached, with other forces, under Field-Marshal Sir William Carr Beresford, to the relief of Campo Mayor, which fortress was besieged by a detachment from the French army, commanded by Marshal Soult. This place surrendered before the troops marching to its relief arrived, and as the British approached, the French, having dismantled the works, were marching out of the town, when some fighting occurred, in which the Thirteenth Light Dragoons evinced great gallantry.

The fortress of Olivenza was afterwards captured; and the siege of Badajoz was commenced, in which the Thirty-fourth were employed and sustained some loss.

While the siege of Badajoz was in progress, Marshal Soult assembled a numerous force, and advanced to the relief of that fortress, when Marshal Beresford moved forward to meet him, and took up a position at Albuhera, where he was joined by a Spanish division under General Blake. The Thirty-fourth, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Fenwick, were in position, and were formed in brigade with the first battalion of the Twenty-eighth and the second battalion of the Thirty-ninth Regiments, under Lieutenant-Colonel the Honorable Alexander Abercromby.

On the morning of the 16th of May, the enemy made a slight attack on the village of Albuhera, and on the bridge, to draw attention to that point; and soon afterwards powerful columns of infantry, supported by a numerous force of cavalry and artillery, assailed the heights on the right, from which the Spaniards were forced to retire. Lieutenant-Colonel Colborne’s brigade of the second division, under Lieutenant-General Stewart, rushed up the heights with great gallantry; but was nearly annihilated by a charge of the enemy’s Polish lancers and hussars on its rear. Major-General Hoghton reached the heights with the third brigade, under a heavy cannonade, and was soon engaged in a furious contest in which many officers and soldiers fell, and Major-General Hoghton was shot in the act of cheering his men: the battle raged with dreadful fury, and this brigade was nearly destroyed.

At a critical moment the Fusiliers mounted the hill on the right of the remnant of the third brigade, at the same time the Twenty-eighth, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-ninth passed on its left; and this gallant line arrested the progress of the French columns, which were pressing forward in anticipation of victory. The heads of the enemy’s masses were broken by the steady fire of the British soldiers, who closed on their[50] numerous adversaries, and sternly contended for victory. The Thirty-fourth were severely engaged; many officers and soldiers fell, and Ensign Sarsfield, bearing the regimental colour, was shot; the colour was seized by another officer, and the battalion pressed forward upon its opponents, who, by a determined and continued attack, were driven from the heights, and the British soldiers stood victorious on the contested hill.

Marshal Soult, finding that his French soldiers could not force the position, withdrew beyond the river, and the battle was thus won by the divisions of the allied army, under Marshal Sir William Carr Beresford, who stated in his public despatch,—“It is impossible to enumerate every instance of discipline and valour shown on this severely contested day; but never troops more valiantly or more gloriously maintained the honor of their respective countries.”

Captain George Gibbons, Lieutenant Thomas Castle, and Ensign Sarsfield, with three serjeants, and twenty-seven rank and file of the Thirty-fourth were killed; and Captains G. J. Widdrington and John Wyatt, Lieutenants John Hay, and —— Walsh, with six serjeants, and eighty-five rank and file wounded.

The word “Albuhera,” displayed by royal authority, on the colours of the regiment, commemorates the distinguished gallantry of the second battalion on this occasion; and a medal was conferred on its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel William Fenwick.

After the victory at Albuhera, the siege of Badajoz was resumed; but the advance of two powerful French armies, under Marshal Massena and Marshal Soult, occasioned the British commander to raise the siege and take post behind the Caya, where the superior numbers of the enemy did not venture to attack him,[51] and in a short time the French retired. Lord Wellington marched the main body of the army to the province of Beira, leaving ten thousand infantry, with a proportion of cavalry and artillery, in the Alemtejo, under Sir Rowland Hill; and the Thirty-fourth formed a part of this force.

General Girard’s division of the Fifth French corps having taken post at Caceres, Sir Rowland Hill advanced, on the 22nd of October, to drive the enemy from thence, and on the approach of the British troops, the French retired, halting at Arroyo de Molinos, a village situate in a plain at the foot of a ridge of rocks rising in the form of a crescent. An opportunity presenting itself to effect the surprise of this corps, the British performed a forced march in cold, wet, stormy weather, and arrived at the vicinity of the village at daybreak on the morning of the 28th of October, their approach being concealed by a thick mist with heavy rain. The French infantry were assembling outside the village to commence their march, the baggage was being loaded, and General Girard was waiting at his quarters for his horse, when suddenly the Seventy-first and Ninety-second British Regiments charged into the village, capturing much baggage and many prisoners; at the same time the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-fourth made a detour, supported by the Thirty-ninth, to cut off the enemy’s retreat. The French formed two squares, and commenced retreating; the British pressed resolutely upon their opponents; the Thirteenth Light Dragoons captured the French artillery, the Ninth Light Dragoons and Second Hussars King’s German Legion overpowered the enemy’s cavalry, and the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-fourth Foot cut off the retreat of the French infantry by the main road. Thus beset on every side, the French soldiers dispersed, and rushed with[52] great speed up the steep mountain by an unfrequented path; when the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-fourth British Foot passed a ploughed field at a running pace, and ascended the difficult precipice in pursuit, chasing the enemy among the rugged heights, and capturing many prisoners; a battalion of the French Thirty-fourth Regiment being made prisoners on this occasion by the second battalion of the British Thirty-fourth Regiment[15]. The French General Brun, and Colonel the Prince d’Aremberg, were among the prisoners.

Sir Rowland Hill, speaking of the troops employed in this service, stated in his despatch,—“No praise of mine can do full justice to their admirable conduct; the patience and goodwill shown by all ranks during forced marches, in the worst of weather; their strict attention to the orders they received; the precision with which they moved to the attack; and their obedience to command during the action; in short, the manner every one has performed his duty from the commencement of the operation, merits my warmest thanks.” The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick, of the Thirty-fourth, was particularly commanded.

Towards the end of December the Thirty-fourth again advanced into Spain, and were employed in operations to surprise a body of French troops at Merida,[53] under General Dombrouski. On arriving at La Nava, the British cavalry found three hundred French infantry and a party of hussars in the town, and this body of troops, effecting its retreat to Merida with little loss, informed General Dombrouski of the approach of the British troops, and he retreated during the night.

In January, 1812, the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo was undertaken, and the Thirty-fourth and other corps, under Sir Rowland Hill, made a movement to co-operate in covering the troops employed in this enterprise, which ended in the capture of the besieged fortress by storm on the 19th of January.

When the siege of Badajoz was undertaken, the Thirty-fourth formed part of the covering army, and were stationed some time at Merida. The two divisions of the covering army, under Sir Rowland Hill and Sir Thomas Graham, afterwards advanced upon Almendralejos and Llerena, the Thirty-fourth moving towards the former town. Marshal Soult collected a numerous force and advanced to relieve Badajoz; but learning that on the 6th of April that fortress was captured by storm, he retraced his steps.

After the capture of Badajoz, Lord Wellington proceeded towards the northern frontiers of Portugal, leaving the Thirty-fourth in Estremadura, under Sir Rowland Hill; and in May the battalion was employed in an enterprise for the destruction of the enemy’s communication across the Tagus at Almaraz. After a march made with great secrecy, amidst various divisions of the enemy, the troops approached the bridge, the Thirty-fourth being with the left column, which was prepared with ladders to capture the fort of Mirabete by escalade; but the difficulties of the march had retarded the progress of the troops, and as the attack could not be made before daylight, they remained concealed in the mountains until the evening of the 18th[54] of May, when they moved forward. At daybreak, on the following morning, the left column, of which the Thirty-fourth formed part, commenced a slight attack on the castle of Mirabete, at the same time another column captured the forts, which covered the bridge, by storm.

Speaking of the Thirty-fourth, and other corps which operated on the Mirabete, Sir Rowland Hill stated in his despatch, “I regret much that the peculiar situation of Mirabete should have prevented my allowing the gallant corps to follow up an operation which they had commenced with much spirit, and were anxious to complete.”

The bridge having been destroyed, and the communication between the several divisions of the French army rendered more difficult, the British troops retired.

After the victory gained by the army under Lord Wellington at Salamanca, the troops under Sir Rowland Hill penetrated the Spanish provinces, and eventually advanced upon Madrid: they afterwards occupied a line from Toledo to Aranjuez. The Thirty-fourth took part in these movements; and when the concentration of the enemy’s forces rendered a retrograde movement necessary, the battalion suffered, in common with the other corps, the fatigues and privations consequent upon this retreat;—the soldiers were not able to procure any other food besides acorns, chesnuts, and berries from the hedges, for nineteen days together; and the inclemency of the weather augmented the sufferings endured on this occasion. The retreat was continued to the frontiers of Portugal, where the army went into winter quarters.

During this year the first battalion was stationed at Secunderabad, in the East Indies.

After passing several months in quarters in Estremadura,[55] the second battalion of the Thirty-fourth advanced, in May, 1813, with the troops under Sir Rowland Hill, upon Salamanca, thus taking part in the comprehensive movements by which the enemy’s position on the Douro was turned, and the French divisions forced to retreat. The Thirty-fourth followed the enemy in his retrograde movements, advancing upon Valladolid, and afterwards upon Burgos, and on the 12th of June the battalion took part in forcing a strong body of French troops from Hormaza; which was followed by the destruction of Burgos Castle, and the retreat of the enemy behind the Ebro river. The battalion took part in the movement through the wild and beautiful regions towards the source of the Ebro, and after traversing rocks, and mountains, and narrow defiles, it crossed the Ebro; when the enemy again fell back, and Joseph Bonaparte concentrated his force in the valley of Vittoria, to arrest the progress of the British arms.

After taking part in these brilliant operations, the Thirty-fourth had the honor to contribute to the complete overthrow of the French army on the 21st of June. On this occasion the battalion formed part of the column under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill, which advanced at day-break, and seizing the bridge of Puebla, crossed the Zadora river; the Spaniards under General Morillo attacking the heights of La Puebla, and the British advancing along the Vittoria road. The French commander sent a strong body of troops to regain the heights, and two British battalions were detached to aid the Spaniards. Before the fighting at this point had ceased, Sir Rowland Hill’s column issued fiercely from the defiles of Puebla, and captured the village of Sabijana de Alava. The heights at this point, some thickly wooded ground, and the village, became the theatre of a severe contest, in[56] which the Thirty-fourth, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick, were warmly engaged. The troops advanced under a heavy cannonade; but undismayed by the determined countenance of the foe, and regardless of a shower of bullets, the British infantry rushed forward, dislodged the enemy, and drove him back on his reserve. In vain the French endeavoured to recover the lost ground; columns of attack were formed, and repeated efforts made; but all without success. The other columns of the allied army were also victorious at their several points of attack, and the legions of Napoleon sustained a decisive overthrow; they were driven from the field with the loss of their artillery, baggage, and military chest, and were pursued until dark.

The Thirty-fourth had ten rank and file killed; Lieutenants T. G. Ball, Edward Mogridge, and Alan B. Cairnes, four serjeants, and fifty-nine rank and file wounded.

Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick received a clasp, in addition to his medal for the battle of Albuhera; and the royal authority was afterwards given for the word “Vittoria” to be inscribed on the regimental colours, to commemorate the gallantry of the second battalion on this occasion.

The Thirty-fourth followed the retreating enemy to the foot of the Pyrenean mountains, and were some time employed in the blockade of Pampeluna. While on the march for this place, the battalion was exposed, on the 24th of June, to a violent thunder-storm, when Lieutenant Masterman, an officer of approved gallantry and of great promise, was killed by lightning: his horse was also killed under him.

Notwithstanding the enemy had withdrawn his right and left into France, he maintained his centre in force in the rich valley of Bastan, which afforded[57] numerous strong positions; and the troops, under Sir Rowland Hill, having been relieved from the blockade of Pampeluna, advanced to dislodge the enemy. On penetrating the mountains, in the early part of July, the left wing of the Thirty-fourth was engaged in dislodging the enemy from one of the villages in the pass. The battalion also took part in forcing the French from the valley of Bastan, and being in advance, on the 7th of July, it drove the enemy’s piquets from the heights of Maya: it was afterwards attacked by a strong line of French troops; but the Thirty-ninth coming up, the two battalions repulsed the enemy by a few well-directed volleys.

One private soldier of the Thirty-fourth was killed, and ten rank and file were wounded; Lieutenant Ball, who had recovered of the wounds received at Vittoria, was again severely wounded.

After taking part in forcing the enemy from the valley of Bastan, the Thirty-fourth were employed in guarding the Col-de-Maya, one of the entrances to the valley; they were encamped in the Arestesque Pass, about two miles from the summit of the mountain, and furnished a piquet on the lofty rock of Arestesque.

Marshal Soult, having been appointed to the command of the troops on the Pyrenees frontier of France, assembled a numerous force to break through the mountains, and relieve Pampeluna and St. Sebastian. Captain Moyle Sherer, of the Thirty-fourth Foot, commanded the piquet on the Arestesque rock, on the morning of the 25th of July, and a glimpse of cavalry and infantry advancing having been obtained at dawn, the light companies were ordered to support the piquet. These companies had just formed, with their left at the rock, when three French divisions ascended the rock and attacked the piquet, which defended its ground with great gallantry, against overwhelming numbers,[58] until Captain Sherer was taken prisoner, and many men had fallen, when the survivors fell back on the light companies; and these troops sustained the assault of the enemy with difficulty. The din of war echoed through the valley, and the brigade, consisting of the Twenty-eighth, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-ninth, hurried to the scene of conflict. The Thirty-fourth ascended the rock first, by companies, at a running pace, and arrived breathless from the length and ruggedness of the ascent. The grenadier company was in front, under Captain John Wyatt, who urged his men to make a desperate effort, and fell pierced with many bullets the instant he gained the summit; nearly every man of the leading section experienced the same fate. The other companies of the battalion rushed forward in the face of a storm of musketry, and a determined, but unavailing, effort was made. The commanding officer, the adjutant, and many other brave officers and soldiers, were struck by the tempest of balls. After fighting with great desperation some time, the Thirty-fourth, the light companies, and the piquet were forced back by superior numbers, and the enemy established his columns on the ridge of the position. The British, however, retained possession of a rock, which was the key of the pass, and the progress of the enemy was arrested.

The Thirty-fourth had five hundred and thirty officers and soldiers engaged on this occasion, and their loss was Captain John Wyatt, Ensign T. W. Phillips, one serjeant, and thirty-six rank and file killed; Adjutant John Day mortally wounded and prisoner; Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick, Lieutenants P. S. Barron and M. Simmons, Ensign S. Pickett, four serjeants, and fifty-one rank and file wounded; Captain Moyle Sherer, Lieutenant F. Hovenden, Ensigns F. Russell and John Norman, one serjeant, one drummer, and seventy-seven rank and file prisoners: many of the prisoners[59] were wounded. Total loss, one hundred and eighty-two.

Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick had his right leg amputated above the knee; and the command of the battalion devolved on Major Henry Worsley.

The enemy’s attacks being developed, and other points of the position in the mountains forced, Sir Rowland Hill retired during the night fifteen miles, to a post in the rear of Irueta. The Thirty-fourth halted on the heights of Irueta until the evening of the 27th, and marched during the night through the pass of Villate, upon the town of Lanz, and afterwards upon Lizasso: the British army went into position to cover the blockade of Pampeluna, and the troops under Sir Rowland Hill formed on the left of the line. Some severe fighting occurred on the 28th of July, and the resolute attacks of the enemy were repulsed with great gallantry.

The Thirty-fourth were not engaged on this occasion. On the 30th of July Marshal Soult moved a strong force against the troops under Sir Rowland Hill, and a sharp combat took place, in which the Thirty-fourth were engaged. During this contest Lord Wellington directed an attack to be made at another part of the enemy’s line, which proved decisive, and the French were forced to make a precipitate retreat through the mountains. Five rank and file of the Thirty-fourth were killed on this occasion; Lieutenant A. Orrell, one serjeant, and fifteen rank and file wounded.

Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill was directed to pursue the retreating enemy, on the road to Donna Maria, and about ten o’clock on the morning of the 31st of July, the French rear-guard was overtaken beyond Lizasso. The enemy gained a wood on the summit of the pass, and there facing about, and[60] throwing out a number of skirmishers, offered formidable resistance; the first brigade of the British second division was repulsed, and Lieutenant-General the Honorable William Stewart wounded; when the second brigade, commanded by Colonel the Honorable R. W. O’Callaghan, was ordered forward, and the Thirty-fourth took the lead on this occasion. Passing the retreating troops, and advancing steadily up the hill, the Thirty-fourth soon gained the edge of the wood, when the soldiers raised a loud and confident shout, and rushed among the trees to decide the contest with cold steel; but when the French saw a line of British bayonets come sparkling through the foliage, they fled in confusion along a defile, followed by the Thirty-fourth, who killed and wounded many of the fugitives, and took some prisoners. The pursuit was not continued above half a mile, in consequence of a thick fog rendering any further advance dangerous. The loss of the battalion was limited to two men killed, thirteen wounded, and two made prisoners.

Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Worsley received a honorary distinction for commanding the battalion in the several actions in the mountains, and the word “Pyrenees” on the regimental colours, commemorates the distinguished conduct of the officers and soldiers on this occasion.

The British troops resumed their positions in the Pyrenees, awaiting the capture of St. Sebastian, and Pampeluna, and the Thirty-fourth were encamped in Roncesvalles, &c., until the end of October, when a heavy snow storm obliged the battalion to leave the mountains.

On the 10th of November, the troops descended from the Pyrenees by moon-light, to transfer to France the calamities of war, and the allied army drove the[61] forces of Napoleon from a fortified position on the river Nivelle, capturing many guns and prisoners. The Thirty-fourth did not sustain any loss on this occasion: they passed the night in the huts left by the enemy, and afterwards advanced towards the Nive; but operations were retarded by heavy rains, and the battalion went into cantonments.

The Thirty-fourth were afterwards honored with the word “Nivelle” on their regimental colours, as a mark of royal approbation of their conduct; and Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley received a second honorary distinction.

The passage of the Nive river was effected on the 9th of December; the Thirty-fourth were at their post two hours before daylight—the stream was nearly five feet deep, and rapid; a mill stream of equal depth also opposed the advance; and the mill, with the village beyond the river, were occupied by the enemy; but the soldiers moved forward in defiance of all opposition, forded the streams under a sharp fire of musketry, and after some fighting, in which the Thirty-fourth had one man killed and seven wounded, the troops established themselves beyond the river; the French retreating into an intrenched camp in front of Bayonne.

On the following morning, the battalion took post on a ridge commanding the communication of the right wing with the river Nive; this wing was in position with its right towards the Adour river, and its left at Ville Franche, and it was not attacked by the enemy on the 10th, 11th, or 12th of December; but on the 13th a number of French corps assailed the troops under Sir Rowland Hill with great spirit; when the Thirty-fourth maintained their important post during the day, with the loss of five men wounded. The enemy was repulsed with severe loss, and pursued[62] to the camp in front of Bayonne: the brigade to which the Thirty-fourth belonged, followed the French until it arrived within musket shot of the works, and took post in a ravine, where it remained until night, when it was relieved by the third division.

The battalion earned another honorary distinction for its colours on this occasion, and the word “Nive” inscribed thereon by royal authority, commemorates its gallantry; Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley also received a third distinction.

Leaving their cantonments at the village of St. Pierre, near Bayonne, the Thirty-fourth advanced, with the troops under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill, in the middle of February, 1814, when the French corps under General Harispe, were driven from Hellete, and afterwards forced from a position in front of Garris. The Thirty-fourth continued to follow the retreating enemy, and their gallant bearing on the 27th of February, was afterwards rewarded with the royal authority to bear the word “Orthes” on the regimental colours; Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley also received the usual honorary distinction conferred on commanding officers of battalions distinguishing themselves in action.

Pursuing the retreating enemy in the direction of Aire, the battalion took part in forcing the French to quit that town, where immense magazines were captured.

The Thirty-fourth were stationed at Aire several days, and afterwards took part in forcing the French back upon Toulouse. Two or three attempts to throw a bridge of boats across the Garonne were not attended with success; but the river was eventually passed, and the enemy driven from his positions on the 10th of April. On this occasion the troops under Sir Rowland Hill, in whose column the Thirty-fourth served, drove the enemy from his exterior works in the[63] suburb, on the left of the Garonne, within the ancient wall. The Thirty-fourth, under Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley, took part in forcing the enemy from his redoubts, and from the houses which he occupied in force, and afterwards formed a lodgment in the ditch surrounding the suburb. The battalion had two men killed; Captain James H. Baker mortally wounded; one drummer, and ten rank and file wounded.

The enemy having quitted Toulouse, the Thirty-fourth moved through the town, and followed the retiring army some distance; but hostilities were soon afterwards terminated. Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to abdicate the imperial throne, and the Bourbon dynasty was restored to France.

Thus the gallant soldiers of the Thirty-fourth completed their career of victory and honor; and the British arms triumphed over the tyrannical power which had sprung out of the French revolution, and aimed at universal dominion.

The conquering arms of Britain had rescued nations from bondage, and restored to Europe the blessings of peace. The word “Peninsula” on the colours of the Thirty-fourth, commemorates the distinguished part the second battalion took in the achievement of these splendid results; and its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley, was afterwards honored with the dignity of Companion of the Order of the Bath.

The first battalion remained at Secunderabad until the 19th of June, 1814, when it commenced its march for the island and fortress of Seringapatam, where it arrived on the 10th of August, and relieved the first battalion of the Sixty-ninth Regiment.

After reposing in quarters a short time at the city of Toulouse, the second battalion marched to Bordeaux, where it embarked for Ireland, on the 17th of[64] July, and landing at Cork, was stationed at Middleton, Fermoy, &c., until November, when it proceeded to Dublin, under the command of Major Barlow.

The climate of the garrison of Seringapatam not proving favourable to the health of the soldiers of the first battalion, they were moved out of that fortress a short time, and in August, 1815, commenced their march for Vellore, where they arrived on the 9th of October.

The second battalion remained in garrison at Dublin, until September of this year, when it was suddenly ordered to march into Tipperary, in consequence of the insurrectionary proceedings of the inhabitants of that part of Ireland.

In February, 1816, thirteen officers, and three hundred and thirty non-commissioned officers and soldiers, of the first battalion, proceeded from Vellore to the sea-coast, and were stationed at Cuddalore six months, for the benefit of their health.

General Sir Eyre Coote was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment by Lieutenant-General the Honorable Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, G.C.B., from the Seventieth Foot, by commission, dated the 21st of May, 1816.

The incursions of the barbarous people called Pindarees, who infested the British territory in India at this period, and committed dreadful ravages wherever they appeared, occasioned the first battalion to take the field early in 1817, when it left a detachment at Vellore, under Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley, and joined the division commanded by Major-General Browne, assembled to guard the passes near Naggerry. In February the battalion returned to Vellore.

In the mean time, the peace of Europe appearing to be established upon sound and durable principles, the second battalion was ordered to be reduced, which took[65] place in April, 1817, when the following brigade order was issued:—

“Major-General Doyle having received the warrant for the disbandment of the second battalion of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, and carried the orders of the commander of the forces into effect, it now only remains for the major-general to express, in the most unqualified manner, his perfect approbation of the sober, orderly, and soldier-like conduct of the corps in quarters, for a period of upwards of one year and a half, during which it has been under his immediate command.

“Major-General Doyle feels it his duty as well as inclination to mark particularly the zeal and attention with which Major Barlow has conducted the discipline of the corps, and in which he has been ably supported by the officers under his command, and in case the service should be deprived of so valuable an officer, the major-general trusts it may be only for a short time.

“The major-general requests the commanding officer will convey to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, his best thanks, and his good wishes for their individual welfare. He is confident that the uniform good conduct, for which the Thirty-fourth have always been conspicuous, both in the field and in quarters, will be the same, in whatever part of His Majesty’s dominions the service of the corps may be required.”

At this period a confederacy of the native princes in India was formed against the British authority, and extensive preparations for war were made by the coalesced Mahratta States. Their designs were partly discovered and disconcerted by the governor-general, the Marquis of Hastings; but hostilities could not be avoided, and the British took the field for the preservation[66] of their territory from unjust aggression. On this occasion the flank companies of the Thirty-fourth, mustering eight officers, eight serjeants, six drummers, and two hundred rank and file, under the command of Captain Tew, marched from Vellore, to the frontiers, and joining a division of the army assembling for field service at Adoni, were formed in a flank battalion, with the companies of the Sixty-ninth and Eighty-fourth Regiments. This battalion penetrated the southern Mahratta country, with the division under Brigadier-General Munro, to whom the fortresses of Dummul, Kooshgúl, and Darwar surrendered in succession; and the division halted during the rainy season at Darwar, where the flank companies of the Fifty-third joined the flank battalion, which was commanded by Major Giles. Leaving Darwar in October, the division penetrated the Sundoor valley, and afterwards advanced into the interior of the southern Mahratta country, Brigadier-General Pritzler commanding. The division skirmished with the enemy at Bejapoor; and overtook the rear of the Peishwa’s army at the Salpée Pass, on the 8th of January, 1818, when the Mahratta troops fled in every direction, over a difficult country, which prevented any great loss being inflicted on them. The division pursued by forced marches, under a burning sun, until the Peishwa’s army separated, and passing the flanks, marched to the north.

The battalion companies were relieved from garrison duty at Vellore, and proceeding to Bangalore, joined a division of the field force, on the banks of the Toombudra, under Major-General Long, and remained at this station during part of the Mahratta and Pindaree war; but suffering severely from dysentery, they were removed into garrison at Bellary.

Meanwhile the flank companies had joined part of the Bombay army; but after the surrender of the hill-fort[67] of Sattarah they separated from that force, and again proceeded, with the division under Brigadier-General Pritzler, to the Salpée Pass, taking part in the siege and capture of the hill-fort of Singhur, the reduction of the fortified pagoda and village of Sassoor, the hill-forts of Uizaghur, and Poorunder, and afterwards returning through the pass, the operations of the division were followed by the surrender of a number of small fortified places. Then proceeding by Sattarah to the western ghauts and forests, the division captured the hill-fort of Woossottah, restored the family of Sevajée to its ancient dignity, and joining the division under Brigadier-General Munro, took part in the defeat of a body of hostile troops at Sholapoor, the capture of the enemy’s artillery, and the reduction of the fortress, which surrendered on the 15th of May. The flank companies of the Thirty-fourth distinguished themselves on the 10th of May, and a gallant charge made by them greatly contributed to the capture of the enemy’s artillery.

After forcing the fortress of Nepaunee to capitulate, the division was cantoned, during the remainder of the year, at Hoobly, where the soldiers suffered from cholera.

In September the battalion companies left Bellary for Bangalore, and being attacked by cholera on the march, lost thirty-seven men in nine days.

Quitting Hoobly in the beginning of 1819, the flank companies proceeded to Belgaum, and after taking part in several movements, they were engaged in the siege of the hill-fort of Copaul Droog, which was invested on the 10th of May, and captured by assault three days afterwards, after an obstinate resistance from the enemy. The following paragraph appeared in general orders, dated Madras, 22nd June, 1819.

“The conduct of three troops of His Majesty’s[68] Twenty-second Light Dragoons, with the Artillery troop under Captain Mills, and the flank battalion commanded by Captain Tew, of His Majesty’s Thirty-fourth Regiment, employed during the siege of Capaul Droog, was such as to draw from me, (Brigadier-General Pritzler), the highest encomiums, particularly that of the Artillery troops of the Twenty-second Dragoons, which served in the batteries, and the flank battalion which protected the batteries, and led the assault of the place, in which the services of Captains Tew, Thirty-fourth; Cuppaidge, Fifty-third; Jenour and Jones, Sixty-ninth Regiment; and Lieutenant Silver, Fifty-third, were most conspicuous.”

The flank companies of the Thirty-fourth were again stationed at Belgaum, until October, when they marched, with a small native force, against Sanglee, which place they forced to submit, and afterwards returned to Belgaum.

On the 25th of May, 1820, the head-quarters and battalion companies of the regiment marched from Bangalore, on route for Madras, where they arrived on the 2nd of July, and were joined by the flank companies from Belgaum on the 29th of December. These companies had been absent three years and eight months, and had lost one subaltern and eighty-one rank and file. On the breaking up of the flank battalion, it was stated in orders,—

“From the period of the battalion joining the force to the present Colonel Pritzler has, in no instance, had the slightest cause of complaint, and has never had occasion to bring a non-commissioned officer or private to a court-martial; but he has had frequent opportunities of bearing testimony of the excellent conduct of this corps, which has been equally conspicuous for its gallantry in the field, as[69] for its order and regularity in camp, and which he attributes to the unwearied attention of Major Giles, and the officers under his command, and to the excellent disposition and discipline of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers. Colonel Pritzler cannot therefore, but regret the departure of the corps from under his command.

“It has frequently fallen to Captain Tew to command the battalion, in the absence of Major Giles on other duties, which gave him an opportunity of showing that he was, in every way, competent to fill the situation, with great credit to himself and advantage to His Majesty’s service.”

The conduct of the battalion was also commended in general orders, by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Hislop, Bart., G.C.B.

On the departure of the regiment from Madras, for Wallajabad, in 1821, when arrangements were in progress for its return to England, it was stated in general orders,—

“The Honorable the Governor cannot permit His Majesty’s Thirty-fourth Regiment to quit the garrison without expressing his entire approbation of the discipline and exemplary conduct manifested, on all occasions, by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of that corps, ever since its arrival at Fort St. George, now a period of nearly two years, and his Excellency requests Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, and the officers under his command, to accept his best thanks for the very satisfactory manner in which they have performed their respective duties.”

During the year 1822 the regiment was stationed at Wallajabad; and in January, 1823, it returned to Madras, preparatory to its embarkation for England. The prompt and active exertions of the corps on the breaking out of a fire in the Company’s stores, on the[70] 7th of January, preserved property to a considerable amount.

Five hundred and thirty-seven non-commissioned officers and soldiers having volunteered to remain in India, and transfer their services to other corps, the remainder of the regiment, amounting to one hundred and sixteen officers and soldiers, embarked on board the Company’s ship “Coldstream,” on the 9th of March, and sailed for England under Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens. The regiment called at St. Helena, where it remained about a week, and arrived in the river Thames, in the early part of July, after an absence from England of upwards of twenty-three years, landed at Gravesend, from whence it marched to Chatham, where the establishment was fixed at six hundred and fifty officers and soldiers.

The depôt joined from Portsmouth on the 19th of July; recruiting parties were sent to various towns in the United Kingdom: and in December the regiment marched to Windsor.

After remaining two months at Windsor the regiment proceeded to Portsmouth, where it embarked for Ireland in May, 1824, and landing at Dublin, marched to Enniskillen, sending detachments to Maguires-bridge, Cavan, Killishandra, Kings-court, and Bally James Duff.

In the summer of 1825 the regiment proceeded to Boyle, and furnished nine detachments to stations in that part of the country; in August the head-quarters were removed to Longford, and in October to Athlone. At this period the establishment was augmented to eight hundred and thirty-six officers and soldiers, and the regiment was divided into six service and four depôt companies: but the service companies did not proceed abroad at this period.

From Athlone the regiment marched to Dublin, in[71] May, 1826; and furnished a detachment of grenadiers to Hacketstown, to mount guard at the residence of the Lord-Lieutenant, during his stay in that part of the country.

Lieutenant-General the Honorable Sir G. Lowry Cole, G.C.B., was removed to the Twenty-seventh, or the Inniskilling Regiment, of Foot, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth, by Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, Bart, G.C.B., G.C.H., by commission, dated the 16th of December, 1826.

After remaining twelve months at Dublin, the head-quarters were removed to Templemore, in May, 1827, and in September to Galway, furnishing twelve detachments to military stations in that neighbourhood. In April, 1828, the regiment was removed to Buttevant; and in July to Cork.

During the six years which had elapsed from the date of the arrival of the regiment from India, it had recruited its ranks and attained a state of discipline and efficiency, and its turn to proceed abroad having arrived in August, 1829, the service companies embarked from Cork for North America; they sailed in two divisions, the first under Major the Honorable H. S. Fane, and the second under Captain Tew, and arriving at Nova Scotia in October, landed at Halifax, where they remained nine months.

In July, 1830, the head-quarters were removed from Halifax to Fort Charlotte, and detachments were sent to Prince Edward’s Island, Annapolis, Windsor, York Redoubt, Sydney, Cape Breton, and St. Andrews, New Brunswick.

The regiment remained detached until August, 1832, when the head-quarters, consisting of one field officer, two captains, five subalterns, two staff, twenty-three serjeants, nine drummers, and three hundred and[72] sixty-seven rank and file, embarked on board His Majesty’s ship “Winchester” for New Brunswick, disembarked at St. John’s, and proceeded to Fredericton, having left at the former station one field officer, one captain, two subalterns, six serjeants, one drummer, and a hundred and seven rank and file, which followed them on the 1st of September, in His Majesty’s brig “Arachne,” and arrived at St. John’s, New Brunswick, on the 4th September, 1832.

In 1834, on retiring from the command of the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Kelly presented to the officers’ mess, a handsome snuff-box.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly was succeeded in the command of the regiment by Lieutenant-Colonel the Honorable Henry Fane.

The regiment remained in New Brunswick until July, 1835, when it returned in two divisions to Halifax.

In May, 1836, detachments were sent to Cape Breton, Annapolis, York Redoubt, and Prince Edward’s Island.

In this year, the red and white tuft, which had been previously worn by the battalion companies, was allowed by the following letter to be resumed.

“Horse Guards, 23rd May, 1836.

“Sir,

“I have the honor, by direction of the General Commanding in Chief, to acquaint you, in reply to your letter, of the 4th of March last, that the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the battalion companies of the Thirty-fourth Regiment resuming the tuft worn by those companies, in commemoration of the action at Arroyo de los Molinos, on the 28th of October, 1811.

“I have &c.,
“(Signed) John Macdonald, A. G.

“Lieutenant-Colonel Honorable H. S. Fane,

“Commanding 34th Regiment.”

The two flank companies, consisting of two captains, two subalterns, eight serjeants, two drummers, and one hundred and fifty rank and file, marched, under Captain Byron, for New Brunswick, 19th December, 1837.

On the 24th and 25th of December, they marched from St. John’s, New Brunswick, for Quebec, Lower Canada; they were conveyed on the ice of the St. John river, to the junction of the river Madawaska with the St. John, then up the river to the head of the Timiscouta Lake, in two-horse sleighs, each sleigh carrying eight men, with their arms and accoutrements: from the head of the Lake Timiscouta, they were conveyed in carioles, two men with their arms, &c., in each, across the Portage to the river St. Lawrence, and on reaching the village of St. André, they followed the course of the river to Point Levi, opposite Quebec, where they crossed in canoes, having suffered little from the severity of the weather, and the inhabitants aiding their progress in every way. The few men left at different places sick, were treated with every kindness, and were all sufficiently recovered to proceed with the head-quarters on their marching up, except two men left at Fredericton, but whose complaints were quite unconnected with the exposure of the march.

On the regiment being ordered to proceed to Canada, the following general order was issued by his Excellency Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, K.C.B., &c., Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.

“(General order.)

“Head-Quarters,

“Halifax, N. S., 8th January, 1838.

“The Major-General commanding cannot allow the Thirty-fourth Regiment to quit the command, without expressing his perfect satisfaction with the discipline and regularity with which the corps has[74] uniformly conducted itself; and his Excellency desires that Major Ruxton will convey to the officers and soldiers, under his command, his best wishes for their future welfare, assured as he is, that in whatever service the corps may be employed, they will continue to display those qualities which have secured to them so high a character as soldiers.

“(Signed) J. S. Snodgrass,

“A. D. A. General.”

This year the regiment lost a valuable officer, Major Mark McLeod Tew, whose many excellent qualities occasioned him to be highly esteemed by the officers and soldiers of his corps. He entered the regiment as ensign in 1800, was promoted lieutenant in the same year, captain in 1809, major by brevet in 1830, and major in the regiment in 1837. His distinguished services with the flank battalion, during the Mahratta and Pindaree war, from 1817 to 1820, are set forth in the record of his regiment. The state of his health occasioned him to retire from the service in August, 1837; but his decease occurred in October, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, before he could embark for England.

In transmitting to his brother, Captain J. McLeod Tew, Twenty-second Regiment, an account of his effects, &c., Captain E. Broderick expressed himself in the following affectionate terms:—“One of the snuff-boxes found among his effects, has been retained by the officers, as a memento of him who had been so long the father of the regiment, and who was so deservedly loved and respected by us all: it is a wooden box, presented to him by Mr. Markham, which the officers intend to place in a case, with a suitable inscription.

“The officers intend to erect a monument to our[75] respected friend, to be placed in one of the churches. The men of the regiment have also subscribed to the erection of this monument, and I can assure you, that every officer and soldier feels that in your late brother he has lost a friend.”

On the 8th January, 1838, the head-quarters, and remaining four companies, consisting of one field officer, three captains, four subalterns, three staff, twenty-two serjeants, eight drummers, and two hundred and eighty-one rank and file, under Major Ruxton, embarked in Her Majesty’s ship “Cornwallis,” and sailed the following day for St. John’s, New Brunswick, where they landed on the 14th of the same month.

The regiment marched from St. John’s for Quebec by companies, which were conveyed in the same manner as the flank companies had been, and were equally fortunate in escaping without casualties of any importance; they reached Quebec on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th February.

The flank companies and Nos. 1 and 2, were detached to Three Rivers: they took part in various movements made in the disturbed districts, adjoining the river Richelieu; and were quartered in different villages in the neighbourhood.

The regiment next moved by detachments to Montreal. The head-quarters then proceeded to Kingston, but were not disembarked there, proceeding on to Toronto, where they arrived on the 4th of June. In July the head-quarters, under Lieutenant-Colonel Airey, proceeded to Amherstberg.

In December a company, consisting of one captain, two subalterns, three serjeants, and fifty rank and file, under Captain Broderick, proceeded to Sandwich, in expectation of that place being attacked by brigands from the state of Michigan, from whence it returned on the 25th of that month.

The regiment remained at Amherstburg until May, 1840, when it returned in three divisions to Toronto, detaching three companies to Kingston, at which station it remained until May, 1841, when the head-quarters moved to Montreal.

On the 31st May, 1841, orders having been received for the return of the regiment to England, four serjeants, nine corporals, two drummers, and two hundred and one privates, volunteered to serve permanently in North America.

At Montreal, the head-quarters were joined by the left wing on the 3rd June, 1841, and on the 20th of that month the regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Airey, sailed from Quebec in the “Cornwall” transport for England, where it arrived on the 22nd July, 1841, and landed at Gosport and occupied Forton Barracks. In September, the head-quarters moved over to Portsmouth, where they remained until August, 1842, during which time the efficiency of the regiment, which had been impaired, to a certain degree, by the number of recruits which had taken the place of those who had volunteered to remain in Canada, was completely restored.

On the 13th August, 1842, the regiment received a sudden order at half-past seven o’clock P.M., to proceed to London by an early train the following morning. Accordingly, on the 14th of August, the head-quarters, consisting of one lieutenant-colonel, one major, nine captains, ten subalterns, three staff, twenty-seven serjeants, eleven drummers, and five hundred and twenty-four rank and file, left Portsmouth at eight A.M., and proceeding by the South Western Railway to London, arrived at the Nine Elms Station, marched to the Birmingham Railway Station, and proceeded forthwith to Weedon, where it arrived at twelve at night; sudden disturbances in the manufacturing districts were the cause of this unexpected movement.

On the 16th August, three companies left Weedon for the disturbed districts, and on the 17th two more companies proceeded in the same direction. These were detached at Newcastle-under-Lyme, Wolverhampton, and Stafford; other companies were detached to Birmingham, and during the autumn of 1842, the head-quarters were moved to Northampton, all the ten companies being on detachment at Newcastle-under-Lyme, Burslem, Hanley, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Bilston, Birmingham, and Coventry.

The companies were subsequently withdrawn from Bilston and Stafford; but the others remained as above described until the 4th August, when the entire regiment was collected together at Weedon. At this period the strength of the regiment was as follows, viz:—One colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, two majors, ten captains, twelve lieutenants, eight ensigns, one paymaster, one adjutant, one quartermaster, one surgeon, one assistant-surgeon, forty-seven serjeants, fourteen drummers, and eight hundred and one rank and file.

During the year 1843, political agitation was carried to such an extent in Ireland, as to induce Her Majesty’s Government to take measures for putting down the demonstrations of physical force which had been made in that country.

For this purpose, additional corps were ordered from Great Britain to Ireland. The Thirty-fourth Regiment, on this emergency, was ordered on the 4th of October to be removed by railroad to Liverpool. The regiment quitted its station at Weedon early in the morning of the 6th of October, and arrived at Liverpool on the same day. It was embarked on the afternoon of the 7th of October in steam-vessels for Dublin, where it arrived on the following morning, and being disembarked,[78] it marched to Clontarf[16] (a village situated about two miles from the capital, on the Bay of Dublin), where a numerous public meeting had been advertised to be held, but which was prohibited by Government proclamation as illegal. A large body of troops had been concentrated in the neighbourhood in apprehension of a breach of the peace; but the assemblage having separated without disturbance, the troops returned to their quarters in the evening.

The foregoing pages record the bravery, endurance, and uniformly good conduct of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, both at home and abroad: its early services during the wars in Spain and Flanders in the reign of Queen Anne; its subsequent achievements on various expeditions in Europe, Africa, America, and the West Indies; its employment, for a period exceeding twenty years, in the East Indies; and its gallantry in Portugal, Spain, and France, to the conclusion of the Peninsular War in 1814, afford the best proofs of the zealous and honorable conduct of its officers and men, who, under severe trials, have evinced a steady adherence to the rules of discipline, and a gallant bearing whenever they have been brought into contact with the enemies of their country: nor has the conduct of the regiment been less conspicuous on home, than on foreign, service; but has been, at all times, such as to merit the approbation of the Sovereign, and the gratitude of the kingdom.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] “About nine o’clock in the morning, the enemy made an attack with a body of foot, supported by two bodies of horse, on the weakest and most westerly part of the outworks, and where were only one hundred English of Hamilton’s (Thirty-fourth) Regiment, who had that very morning come upon duty, from travelling forty leagues in the two foregoing days, upon mules; notwithstanding all which, they fairly repulsed the enemy.” Journal of the Siege of Barcelona.

[7] Boyer’s Annals of Queen Anne.

[8] Afterwards colonel of the regiment.

[9] History of Scotland by Sir Walter Scott, Bart.

[10] Strength of the Thirty-fourth Regiment at the battle of Culloden, 16th April, 1746:

2 field officers, 7 captains, 15 subalterns, 21 serjeants, 15 drummers, and 399 rank and file—459 total.

[11] On being appointed to the colonelcy of the regiment in 1760, Lord Frederick Cavendish presented to the officers’ mess two handsome silver vases, which still ornament the mess-table of the corps.

[12] Beatson’s Naval and Military Memoirs.

[13] On the 22nd January, 1796, Private John Perry was promoted to serjeant for gallant conduct before the enemy.

[14] In this year Lieutenant-Colonel Cunyngham presented a handsome silver side dish to the officers’ mess, which is still in their possession.

[15] The brass drums and the drum-major’s staff of the French Thirty-fourth Regiment were captured on this occasion, and are now used by the British Thirty-fourth Regiment; and Serjeant Moses Simpson, the individual who actually took the staff from the drum-major of the French Thirty-fourth Regiment, is, at the period of completing this historical record, (September, 1843,) in the situation of barrack-serjeant at Northampton, and has been presented by the officers of the Thirty-fourth Regiment with a handsome medal, in commemoration of his gallant conduct.

[16] The “Conquer Hill” of Clontarf is celebrated in Irish history as the scene of a victory gained by the Irish over the Danes.

Robert Lord Lucas was distinguished for his attachment to the interests of civil and religious liberty; and at the revolution in 1688, when King James II. had fled in disguise, and London was in great confusion, his Lordship was nominated, by a committee assembled for the preservation of tranquillity, to take the charge of the Tower. This appointment was confirmed to Lord Lucas by King William III., who gave his Lordship a commission of Governor of the Tower of London.

Lord Lucas entered the army, and served under King William in Flanders; and he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Thirteenth Regiment, commanded by Sir John Jacobs. On the breaking out of the war of the Spanish succession, his Lordship took great interest in raising a regiment of foot, now the Thirty-fourth, of which he was appointed colonel by King William, in February, 1702.

Queen Anne superseded his Lordship’s commission as Governor of the Tower, and appointed the Earl of Abingdon to that dignity, with the title of Constable.

Lord Lucas retained the colonelcy of his regiment until his decease, on the 31st of January, 1705; when the dignity of Baron Lucas of Shenfield, in Essex, became extinct.

Hans Hamilton served in the wars of King William III., and acquired the reputation of a brave and meritorious officer: he was afterwards nominated to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Earl of Derby’s Regiment, now Sixteenth Foot, with which corps he proceeded to the Netherlands in the summer of 1701. He served under the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough, during the campaigns of 1702 and 1703, in the Netherlands, and also in Germany in 1704, when the victories at Schellenberg and Blenheim exalted the reputation of the British arms. In February, 1705, he was rewarded with the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth; and in the same year he was nominated quartermaster-general to the expedition to Spain, under General the Earl of Peterborough, and he served at the capture of Barcelona; also in other important transactions until 1706. He subsequently proceeded to Flanders, and having been promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in 1710, he commanded a brigade, under the Duke of Marlborough, during the campaign of 1711, when the enemy’s celebrated lines were passed at Arleux, and the fortress of Bouchain was besieged and captured. In 1713 he was removed to the Sixteenth Regiment, with which corps his early services were connected: and in 1715 he was succeeded by Richard Viscount Irwing. He died on the 24th of October, 1721.

The early services of Colonel Chudleigh were connected with the Sixteenth Regiment of Foot, with which corps he served with reputation, under the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough, and his meritorious conduct was rewarded with the lieutenant-colonelcy of his regiment; from which he was promoted in 1712, to the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth[81] Regiment, with which corps he proceeded to Ireland in 1717. In 1723, he retired from the service, selling his commission. He died on the 14th of April, 1726.

This officer served in the First Foot Guards, in which corps he rose to the rank of captain and lieutenant-colonel, and in February, 1723, he obtained the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, by purchase. He proceeded with his regiment to the relief of Gibraltar, when that fortress was besieged by the Spaniards, in 1727: and subsequently sailed from Gibraltar in command of a body of troops, for Jamaica; where he died on the 7th of April, 1731.

Stephen Cornwallis was appointed to a commission in the Second Foot Guards, in March, 1719; and in 1723, he was promoted captain in the Ninth Dragoons; he was afterwards nominated captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Third Foot Guards, and procured the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment in 1732: in 1738 he was removed to the Eleventh Foot. On the commencement of the war with Spain in 1739, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and in 1742 he accompanied the army to Flanders, under Field-Marshal the Earl of Stair: in February, 1743, he was promoted to the rank of major-general. He died in Germany, in May, 1743; at which period he was a member of parliament for Eye.

Lord James Cavendish, second son of William (second) Duke of Devonshire, was many years an officer in the Third Foot Guards, in which corps he rose to the rank of captain[82] and lieutenant-colonel in 1730, and in 1738, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment: he was a member of parliament for Molton. His decease occurred in November, 1741.

The Honorable James Cholmondeley, third son of George (second) Earl of Cholmondeley, obtained the commission of guidon and major in the Second Troop, now Second Regiment, of Life Guards, in 1725; in 1731, he was nominated lieutenant and lieutenant-colonel in the third troop of Life Guards; and in 1741 he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Forty-eighth, from which he was removed, in 1742, to the Thirty-fourth Regiment. Accompanying his regiment to Flanders in 1744, he served the campaign of that year, under Field-Marshal Wade. He was at the battle of Fontenoy in 1745; and was afterwards promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. On the breaking out of the rebellion in Scotland, he returned to England with a brigade of infantry, and afterwards took the charge of two battalions which had arrived from Ireland, with which he joined the army under Field-Marshal Wade. On the flight of the rebels from Derby, he was detached to Scotland; and he commanded a brigade of infantry at the battle of Falkirk, on the 17th of January, 1746, when he highly distinguished himself; but the excessive fatigue he underwent, with continued exposure to severe weather, deprived him of the use of his limbs for some time. In 1747, he was promoted to the rank of major-general; and he was removed in 1749, to the Twelfth Dragoons. He was again removed, in November of the same year, to the Third Irish Horse (now Sixth Dragoon Guards); and in 1750, to the Sixth Dragoons. In 1754, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general; and he was many years lieutenant-governor of Chester. He died in 1775.

The Honorable Henry Seymour Conway, second son of Lord Conway, and brother of Francis Earl of Hertford, was appointed lieutenant in the First Foot Guards in 1737, captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1741, and in 1746 he was appointed aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland, and promoted to the colonelcy of the Fifty-ninth (now Forty-eighth) Foot. He was removed to the Thirty-fourth Regiment in 1749, to the Thirteenth Dragoons in 1751, and to the Fourth Horse (now Eighth Dragoon Guards) in 1754. In 1756 he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and in 1759 to that of lieutenant-general: he was removed to the Royal Dragoons in the same year. He commanded a division of the allied army in Germany, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, in 1761; and the British forces in Germany were placed under his orders during the absence of the Marquis of Granby. He was also one of the grooms of the bedchamber to His Majesty, and a member of parliament; and having voted against ministers on the great question of military warrants, in 1764, he resigned his court appointment and military commands; but in 1768 he was appointed colonel of the Fourth Dragoons. In 1770 he was removed to the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards; in 1772, he was promoted to the rank of general; in 1782, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the army, and in 1793 he was promoted to the rank of field-marshal. He died in 1795; at which period he was eldest general officer and first field-marshal in the army.

Charles Russell was many years an officer in the Foot Guards; he rose to the rank of captain and lieutenant-colonel in the First Regiment, and was promoted to major, with the rank of colonel, in the Second, or Coldstream, Regiment, in 1745; in 1751 he was nominated colonel of the Thirty-fourth Regiment of Foot. He died on the 20th November, 1754.

Lord Thomas Howard succeeded to the title of Earl of Effingham in February, 1743, and on the 11th of April following he was nominated lieutenant-colonel in the Second Troop, now Second Regiment, of Life Guards. In 1749 he was appointed one of His Majesty’s aides-de-camp, with the rank of colonel; and in 1754 he obtained the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth Regiment. His lordship was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1758; and was removed to the colonelcy of the First Troop of Horse Grenadier Guards in 1760. His decease occurred in November, 1763.

Lord Frederick Cavendish, third son of William (third) Duke of Devonshire, was honored with having the Prince of Wales, (father of King George III.,) for his godfather. Choosing the profession of arms, he entered the army as ensign in the First Foot Guards, and was appointed lieutenant and captain in the Second Foot Guards in 1752; in 1755 he was nominated lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-ninth Regiment; he was honored with the appointment of aide-de-camp to King George II., with the rank of colonel, in 1758, and in 1759 he obtained the colonelcy of the Sixty-seventh Regiment, from which he was removed in 1760 to the Thirty-fourth. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1761,—to that of lieutenant-general in 1770,—general in 1782,—and field-marshal in 1796. In 1797 he resigned the colonelcy of his regiment. He died in October, 1803.

The Honorable George Ferdinand Fitzroy, eldest[85] son of Charles (first) Lord Southampton, son of the Duke of Grafton, was appointed captain in the Forty-first Regiment on the 25th of December, 1787, and was promoted to the majority of the Fifty-first Foot on the 25th of April, 1792; in February, 1793, he was advanced to the commission of captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Second Foot Guards, and he received the brevet rank of colonel in May, 1796. On the decease of his father in March, 1797, he succeeded to the title of Lord Southampton; and in July following he was nominated colonel of the Thirty-fourth Regiment. His lordship obtained the rank of major-general in 1801, and of lieutenant-general in 1808. He died in June, 1810.

This officer was appointed ensign in the Thirty-seventh Regiment on the 15th of April, 1774, and proceeding to North America at the commencement of the American war, he had repeated opportunities of distinguishing himself. He served at the capture of Long Island, and carried the regimental colour of his corps at the battle of Brooklyn, on the 27th of August, 1776. He also served at the capture of New York, and at the reduction of Fort Washington, and subsequently accompanied the expedition to Rhode Island; in the same year he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He proceeded with the expedition to Pennsylvania, and served at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, in 1777, and of Monmouth in 1778; also at the reduction of Mud Island. On the 10th of August, 1778, he was promoted to captain of a company in his regiment, in which rank he was present at the attack of Washington’s dragoons, in New Jersey. He proceeded with the expedition to South Carolina, and served at the siege of Charlestown, in 1780. He also shared in the fatigues, privations, and engagements of the campaign, under Major-General Earl Cornwallis, in the Carolinas and in Virginia, and was made prisoner at the surrender of York Town, on the 18th of October, 1781. On being liberated, Captain Coote returned to England, and was[86] appointed major of the Forty-seventh Regiment in February, 1783. After serving five years in Ireland, he was nominated lieutenant-colonel of the Seventieth, in March, 1788; and in 1793 he was selected to command the first battalion of light infantry, in the expedition to the West Indies, under General Sir Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey, who captured the islands of Martinique, St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe. Lieutenant-Colonel Coote had opportunities of distinguishing himself at the reduction of these colonies, and being afterwards sent to England with despatches, he was nominated aide-de-camp to King George III., with the rank of colonel, in 1795. In 1796 he was appointed brigadier-general on the staff of Ireland; in 1798 he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and removed to the staff of South Britain; and after commanding at Dover a short period, he proceeded to Flanders, in charge of an expedition for the destruction of the sluices and works of the canal near Ostend, which was accomplished; but before the troops could re-embark, they were attacked by superior numbers, and forced to surrender. Major-General Coote was wounded on this occasion. After his exchange, he returned to his command at Dover. In 1799 he commanded a brigade in the expedition to Holland, under his Royal Highness the Duke of York; and after the return of the army, he resumed the command of the troops at Dover. In 1800 he proceeded with the expedition against Ferrol, and when the attack on that fortress was relinquished, he joined the armament in the Mediterranean, and accompanied General Sir Ralph Abercromby to Egypt. He commanded the leading division of the army which effected a landing in the Bay of Aboukir, on the 8th of March, 1801, and distinguished himself on that occasion, for which he was thanked, in orders, by Sir Ralph Abercromby. He commanded a brigade in the actions before Alexandria, and when the advance to Cairo was undertaken, he was left in command of the troops before Alexandria. After taking a distinguished part in delivering Egypt from the power of France, he returned to England, where he received the thanks of both houses of parliament, the approbation of his Sovereign, and was honored with the dignity of Knight of the Bath, and the first class of the Turkish Order of the Crescent.

On the 1st of January, 1805, Sir Eyre Coote was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and nominated lieutenant-governor of Jamaica, where he resided upwards of three years. Returning to England, he was appointed to the command of a division of the army sent, in the summer of 1809, against Holland, under the Earl of Chatham. He was appointed colonel of the Sixty-second Regiment in 1806, and removed to the Thirty-fourth in 1810: in 1814, he was promoted to the rank of general. He was removed from the service on the 21st May, 1816.

The Honorable Galbraith Lowry Cole, son of the Earl of Enniskillen, entered the army a short time before the commencement of the French revolutionary war, and the contest which followed afforded him frequent opportunities for the display of professional ability. He was appointed captain in the Seventieth Foot, on the 30th of November, 1792, major of the Hundred and Second regiment on the 31st of October, 1793, lieutenant-colonel of Ward’s Regiment in November, 1793, and lieutenant-colonel of Villette’s corps in April, 1799; on the 1st of January, 1801, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. He served in Sicily, under Major-General Stuart,—was engaged in the invasion of Calabria, and had the honor of commanding a brigade at the battle of Maida, on the 4th of July, 1806, when the superiority of British courage and discipline was fully proved.

He was promoted to the rank of major-general in April, 1808, and was subsequently placed on the staff of the army in the Peninsula, where he commanded a division in numerous battles and skirmishes, in which the reputation of the British arms was exalted, and the enemies of England were overthrown by the superior prowess of the British troops. He received the local rank of lieutenant-general in Portugal and Spain in 1811,—the colonelcy of the One Hundred and Third Regiment in 1812,—the rank of lieutenant-general in 1813,—and the colonelcy of the Seventieth Regiment in[88] January, 1814. After taking a conspicuous part in delivering Portugal and Spain from the power of the Emperor of France, he led his division through the Pyrenees, and shared in the struggle for the liberties of Europe, until the final overthrow of the power of Napoleon, and the restoration of the Bourbon family to the throne of France. He was rewarded with the honor of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and received a cross and four clasps for commanding a brigade at the battle of Maida, and a division at the battles of Albuhera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse.

The Honorable Sir G. Lowry Cole, G.C.B., was nominated governor of the Mauritius; in 1816 he was appointed colonel of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, and in 1818 he obtained the government of Gravesend and Tilbury Fort. He was removed to the Twenty-seventh Regiment in 1826, and promoted to the rank of general in 1830. He died at Highfield Park, Hartford Bridge, on the 5th of October, 1842.

Names.	Dates of Appointment.		Dates of Removal, &c.

Thomas Dore	Feb.	12, 1702
Thomas Garth	March	24, 1705
Richard Visct. Irwin	Jan. 11, 1714-15
Thomas Whitney	July	22, 1715
James Paterson	Jan.	20, 1731	{ Died on ____ and succeeded
James Paterson	Jan.	20, 1731	{ on December 15, 1738.

John Hely	Dec.	15, 1738	{ Died on ____ and succeeded
John Hely	Dec.	15, 1738	{ on August 12, 1741.

Maurice Powell	Aug.	12, 1741	{ Died on ____ and succeeded
Maurice Powell	Aug.	12, 1741	{ on February 17, 1745-6.

Charles Jeffreys	Feb. 17, 1745-6		{ Promoted to be colonel-commandant
			{ of Sixty-second Foot,
			{ on February 17, 1745-6.

John Reed	Jan.	7, 1756	Retired on May 5, 1769.

Hezekiah Fleming	April	27, 1758	{ Removed to Seventy-third
Hezekiah Fleming	April	27, 1758	{ regiment, on April 27, 1758.

Samuel Townshend	May	5, 1769	{ Retired on half-pay on May
Samuel Townshend	May	5, 1769	{ 20, 1775.

Barry St. Leger	May	20, 1775	Retired on May 20, 1785.

Robert Hoyes	May	20, 1785	{ Exchanged to half-pay Seventy-second
			{ regiment with Lieutenant-Colonel
			{ Hastings, on January 4, 1786.

Charles Hastings	Jan.	4, 1786	{ Placed on half-pay Sixty-fifth
			{ regiment, as captain, on November
			{ 11, 1789.

Aubrey Earl of Burford	Nov.	11, 1789	Retired on October 22, 1794.
Richd. Mark Dickens	Oct.	22, 1794	Died on December 14, 1808.
Dennis Mil Woodward	Sep.	1, 1795	Retired on November 23, 1796.

Francis Cuninghame	Nov.	23, 1796	{ Exchanged into Second Foot
			{ Guards with Lieut.-Colonel
			{ Gascoyne, on January 24, 1799.

Isaac Gascoyne	Jan.	24, 1799	{ Exchanged into Sixteenth
			{ Foot, on March 9, 1803, with
			{ Lieut.-Colonel Fancourt.

St. John Fancourt	March	9, 1803	Died in July, 1806.
David Parkhill	Dec.	12, 1805	Retired on August 20, 1807.
George Dodsworth	July	10, 1806	Died on May 17, 1809.

John Maister	Aug.	20, 1807	{ Placed on half-pay June 25,
			{ 1817, on the reduction of the
			{ army.

William Fenwick	Dec.	15, 1808	Retired on January 27, 1814.

Thomas Bradford	May	18, 1809	{ Exchanged to Eighty-second
			{ regiment with Lieut.-Colonel
			{ McDonnell on December 21, 1809.

Chichester McDonnell	Dec.	21, 1809	Died on July 31, 1811.

William Thornton	Aug.	1, 1811	{ Removed to Greek regiment
			{ of Light Infantry, on January
			{ 23, 1812.

John M. Everard	Jan.	23, 1812	{ Exchanged to Seventy-seventh
			{ regiment with Lieut.-Colonel
			{ Dunkin, on March 5, 1818.

Henry Roberts	Jan.	27, 1814	Died on April 1, 1816.
Henry C. Dickens	April	2, 1816	Retired on October 28, 1824.

John H. Dunkin	March	5, 1818	{ Placed on half-pay September
John H. Dunkin	March	5, 1818	{ 26, 1823.

Thomas Faunt	Oct.	28, 1824	Retired on June 28, 1827.
Colin Campbell	June	28, 1827	Retired May 8, 1828.

Henry R. Ferguson	May	8, 1828	{ Exchanged to half-pay, unattached,
			{ with Lieut.-Colonel
			{ Fox, on July 23, 1829.

Charles Richard Fox	July	23, 1829	{ Removed to the Grenadier
Charles Richard Fox	July	23, 1829	{ Guards on October 8, 1830.

Richard Kelly	Oct.	8, 1830	Retired on May 9, 1834.

Honorable Henry Sutton Fane	May	9, 1834	{ Exchanged to half-pay, unattached,
			{ on February 9, 1838,
			{ with Lt.-Colonel Drummond.

W. C. Drummond	Feb.	9, 1838	Retired on February 10, 1838.

Richard Airey	Feb.	10, 1838	Now in command of the regiment.

Names.	Dates of Appointment.		Dates of Removal, &c.

Thomas Garth	Before	1704	Promoted March 24, 1705.
Robert Parsons	Before	1708
Richard Coles	Before	1708
Michaell Fleming	Jan. 11, 1714-15
Charles Douglas	July	22, 1715
John Hely	May	12, 1731	Promoted December 15, 1738.
Maurice Powell	Dec.	15, 1738	Promoted August 12, 1741.
Michael Studholm	April	21, 1743	Retired on October 25, 1744.

Henry Hart	March	3, 1750	{ Lieut.-Governor of Sheerness.
			{ Resigned his majority in
			{ Thirty-fourth Regiment,
			{ February 2, 1757.

John Dundas	Feb.	2, 1757	Retired February 28, 1759.
Hezekiah Fleming	Sep.	5, 1756	Promoted April 27, 1758.

Thomas Shirley	Feb.	28, 1759	{ Promoted to Sixty-seventh
Thomas Shirley	Feb.	28, 1759	{ regiment, on June 2, 1761.

Robert Farmar	June	2, 1761	Retired on November 23, 1768.

William Ogle	Nov.	23, 1768	{ Exchanged to half-pay with
			{ Major Brownrigg, on September
			{ 7, 1771.

Henry Brownrigg	Sep.	7, 1771	Retired on November 28, 1771.

John Lind	Nov.	28, 1771	{ Promoted to Twentieth regiment,
John Lind	Nov.	28, 1771	{ on January 6, 1776.

Alexander Dundas	Jan.	6, 1776	{ Promoted to Eighth Foot, on
Alexander Dundas	Jan.	6, 1776	{ November 1, 1780.

Robert Hoyes	Nov.	1, 1780	Promoted on May 20, 1785.
John Ross	May	20, 1785	Retired on February 17, 1789.
Aubrey, Earl of Burford	Feb.	17, 1789	Promoted on November 11, 1789.
William Ancram	Nov.	11, 1789	Retired July 25, 1792.
Robert Wood	July	25, 1792	Retired November 22, 1797.
Francis Cuninghame	Sep.	1, 1795	Promoted on November 23, 1796.
George Dodsworth	Nov.	23, 1796	Promoted on July 10, 1806.
George Anderson	Nov.	22, 1797	Retired on May 9, 1800.
Robert Gordon	May	9, 1800	Retired on July 17, 1806.
William Fenwick	May	15, 1805	Promoted on December 15, 1808.

John Bromhead	May	16, 1806	{ Promoted to Seventy-seventh
John Bromhead	May	16, 1806	{ regiment, on August 3, 1809.

Richard Diggens	July	17, 1806	{ Exchanged into Eleventh
			{ Light Dragoons, with Major
			{ Browne, on August 14, 1806.

Thomas Browne	Aug.	14, 1806	{ Exchanged to half-pay Ninth
			{ Foot, with Lieut.-Colonel Bodkin,
			{ on October 16, 1806.

Thomas Bodkin	Oct.	16, 1806	Retired on July 10, 1806.
John M. Everard	July	10, 1806	Promoted on January 23, 1812.
James Tomlinson Terrewest	April	30, 1807	Retired on February 1, 1810.
Henry Roberts	Jan.	19, 1809	Promoted on January 27, 1814.
Henry C. Dickens	June	26, 1809	Promoted on April 2, 1816.
Walter Hovenden	Feb.	1, 1810	Retired on March 26, 1812.

Henry Worsley	Jan.	23, 1812	{ Died at Newport, Isle of Wight,
Henry Worsley	Jan.	23, 1812	{ on May 13, 1820.

George Edwd. Pratt Barlow	March	26, 1812	{ Promoted to Sixty-first regiment,
George Edwd. Pratt Barlow	March	26, 1812	{ on December 4, 1823.

Jas. Harrison Baker	March	10, 1814	Died on April 11, 1814.

Chas. Ramus Forrest	June	2, 1814	{ Placed on half-pay, on June
			{ 25, 1817, upon the reduction
			{ of the army.

Thomas Faunt	May	25, 1820	Promoted October 28, 1824.
Edward Broderick	Dec.	4, 1823	Retired on December 18, 1828.

Timothy Davies	Oct.	28, 1824	{ Exchanged to half-pay,
			{ unattached, with Major Ferguson,
			{ on December 28, 1826.

Henry R. Ferguson	Dec.	28, 1826	Promoted May 8, 1828.

Richard Greaves	May	8, 1828	{ Exchanged to half-pay,
			{ unattached with Major Tew, on
			{ January 21, 1837.

Honorable Henry Sutton Fane	Dec.	18, 1828	Promoted on May 9, 1834.
Richard Airey	May	9, 1834	Promoted on February 10, 1838.
Mark M‘Leod Tew	Jan.	21, 1837	Retired on August 4, 1837.

George Ruxton	Aug.	4, 1837	{ Exchanged to half-pay,
			{ unattached, with Major Ogilvy,
			{ on August 20, 1841.

Henry Deedes	Feb.	23, 1838	Now serving with the regiment.
Walter Ogilvy	Aug.	20, 1841	Retired August 20, 1841.

Charles Baillie Brisbane	Aug.	20, 1841	{ Exchanged to half-pay,
			{ unattached, with
			{ Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel Mair,
			{ on December 13, 1842.

Cornelius Cuyler P. Mair	Dec.	13, 1842	Retired December 13, 1842.
James John Best	Dec.	13, 1842	Now serving with the regiment.

General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, Bart., G.C.B. and G.C.H., having arrived in Dublin from his seat, Makerstoun, near Kelso, reviewed this regiment (of which he is Colonel) in Richmond Barracks. After having received the general salute, he proceeded down the line, making a most minute inspection, and marking out and questioning every old soldier in the corps. The regiment then went through various movements, and concluded by forming square, when the General addressed the men in a most soldier-like and impressive manner, stating, that through a very long period of service, it had been his duty to inspect many Corps, and that he could safely aver that he had never seen one in better order, or in a higher state of discipline, than the Thirty-fourth. He adverted to the importance of sobriety, and the advantages of education, as the means of any one belonging to the regiment attaining the rank which he himself held, instances of which, the General observed, were afforded by the British Army. He concluded by expressing his wish, that in order to commemorate his visit to the regiment, all prisoners, not under sentence of Courts Martial, might be allowed to return to their duty without further punishment.

Upon the regiment being dismissed, the men proceeded to their Barrack-room, where a most excellent dinner, including everything except spirits, had been prepared, at the expense of Sir Thomas Brisbane, for the whole of the non-commissioned officers, privates, women, and children, in the corps. During the repast the messes were visited by the General in person It is needless to observe, he was received with the most marked enthusiasm. He afterwards saw the Hospital, and the Boys[94] and Girls’ School, with which he expressed himself much pleased.

General Sir Thomas M. Brisbane, during his stay in Dublin, attended several of the garrison field-days, consisting of three regiments of cavalry, five regiments of infantry, and two troops of horse artillery. The gallant General, as well as the Lord Lieutenant, and Sir Edward Blakeney, the Commander-in-Chief, who were present, expressed their warmest satisfaction at the manner in which the troops performed their various movements. The fine appearance of the Thirty-fourth in particular was highly extolled. On one of these occasions, General Sir Thomas Brisbane, at the express desire of Sir Edward Blakeney, had the honour to receive a salute from the whole of the troops under arms.

The following is the effective strength of the regiment:—Head-Quarters, Dublin, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Airey. Total Effectives,—1 Lieutenant-Colonel, 1 Major, 10 Captains, 10 Lieutenants, 7 Ensigns, 5 Staff, 47 Serjeants, 14 Drummers, 788 rank and file.

General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, Bart., gave a magnificent entertainment at Morrisson’s Hotel, Dublin, on Tuesday evening, the 25th June, 1844, to the Officers of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, of which corps the gallant General is Colonel. Every delicacy in season, and every variety of the choicest wines were supplied in profusion. The distinguished entertainer, and his guests, were pleased to express themselves in the highest terms of the entire arrangements made by Mr. Baker for the occasion. The fine band of the regiment played during the evening some of the newest and most admired pieces of music.

Sir Thomas gave the health of Colonel Airey and the Officers of the Thirty-fourth Regiment. In introducing the toast, the gallant General spoke nearly as follows:—Colonel Airey and Officers of the Thirty-fourth Regiment,—I beg most unfeignedly to assure you, that this is a most gratifying occasion to me; and I have looked forward to it with the greatest pleasure. Ever since the regiment returned from foreign service, I have been most anxious to meet with the Officers of so gallant a corps, which has distinguished itself on every occasion, and in various quarters of the globe; although I never had the good fortune to have the regiment immediately under my command, yet I have fought with it in many of the same battles. Even as far back as 1796, I fought with it at the capture of the island of St. Lucia. I also served with it in the Peninsula, and[96] in all the battles which they proudly bear upon their colours, with the exception of Albuhera. We fought together at Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, and Orthes; and I consider that the regiment ought to have had Toulouse added to the others, and I regret that the high authorities decided otherwise. But the Thirty-fourth Regiment occupied a most important situation during that action, of which I was an eye-witness, being the nearest division to that of Lord Hill’s; and the returns of the killed and wounded on these various occasions, amounting to nearly 1800 men, proclaim that the regiment had borne the brunt of many a severe and hard-fought battle. I assure you, gentlemen, it is a source of great gratification to me that I have been enabled to record all these gallant deeds, and more particularly that of Arroya de Molinos. In that brilliant affair the Thirty-fourth Regiment took the French Thirty-fourth Regiment prisoners, together with its brass drum, and Drum-Major’s Staff, &c.; and in consequence, the gallant corps to which you belong is permitted to enjoy a distinction that has fallen to the lot of no other regiment—that of wearing the white and red tufts in their caps. But this and the other heroic deeds will be imperishably recorded in the History of the Regiment, a copy of which I intend to present to every Officer, and also some copies to the library, that when any officer or soldier joins the regiment, he may, on reading all these gallant exploits, be animated with the desire of upholding that esprit de corps which has happily ever subsisted in the regiment, and which I hope will ever continue. I cannot here omit to notice how much we are indebted to Mr. Cannon, of the Adjutant-General’s Office, for the pains and labour he has bestowed, to enable us to print these records, and to give a faithful detail of all our early operations, deduced from the most authentic sources. Next to the bravery before the enemy, I admire the conduct which has marked the regiment, wherever it has been quartered; and it is with a feeling of pride I say, that in every place in which it has been, both Officers and men have left with the high opinion of the inhabitants. Gentlemen, I assure you this visit associates itself with many remote and pleasing recollections, as I consider[97] myself one of the few connecting links left which unite the army of the last century with that of the present; and I am happy to think, in drawing a parallel betwixt the two, the contrast is all in favour of the latter. In the first place, we are now a much more scientific army; next, we are an infinitely better educated body, and much more sober, as relates both to Officers and soldiers; and thirdly, as to our movements,—When I first joined the army, there was no officer to be found in a regiment who could give a sketch of a country, or delineate a position; now, in consequence of the establishment at Sandhurst, there are few regiments without several of the officers who are qualified, not only to give a sketch of a country, or delineate a position, but to construct field-works, or to undertake the siege if necessary. With regard to education, it was then difficult to find even a serjeant who could read and write, or keep accounts; whereas, now, almost every soldier in a regiment is so far educated, and there are 700 out of the 800 men of which the Thirty-fourth is composed, who can read and write. The period that I allude to was when I was quartered in this city, in 1792 and a part of 1793. Dundas’s system was then introduced into the service. Before that time no uniformity existed in our military movements, nor even in the words of command; for if an officer was sent from one regiment to another, he would not have understood them, since regiments moved according to the fancy of their respective commanding officers. Now, as the Thirty-fourth, about the time I am speaking of, had been long in America, its movements were principally those of light troops; and a favourite one was that of moving from the centre and flanks of companies by files. I have had the advantage of serving in the first and second campaigns of the war with the Austrian and Prussian armies; and I may say I have seen almost the whole of the European armies in motion upon a large scale; and I consider that the British, in point of quickness and accuracy, stands foremost; and nobody will doubt that their physical strength and moral courage are superior to that of any other nation. It is all one to the British soldier where his enemy may be,—whether in his front, flanks,[98] or rear,—he will fight him as long as his officer orders him, as at Waterloo, where whole faces of the squares were swept away with round shot, still the British soldier was found immovable. And although you may characterise the British soldier as the lion in the field, yet the most noble of all his traits, according to my estimation, is his humanity after a battle, when the lion suddenly changes to the lamb; and I never saw an instance in all my service in which the British soldier committed an act of cruelty upon his fallen enemy[17]. Next to the British soldier, I consider the Russian the most formidable while placed in position, although he cannot move[18]; and I may instance the fact in support of this, that at the battle of Borodino, the redoubts were five times taken by the French, and as often retaken by the Russians. Napoleon, finding he could make no impression on their iron front, made a flank movement with his army during the night, and got betwixt them and Moscow. It is too much the idea amongst the continental armies, that if their centre is pierced, or their flanks are turned, the battle is lost, as at the[99] unfortunate battle of Jena, which the Prussians lost, and which decided the fate of their country. The same may be said with regard to the Austrians, at the battles of Wagram and Asperne, which led to the occupation of Vienna by the French, and to peace. How widely different with the British soldier! While in Paris, in the year 1815, I had many conversations with French officers of high rank, who argued strongly, that by all the laws of war, the English had lost the Battle of Waterloo, as their centre had been pierced, their flanks turned, and their artillery were in possession of the French. Could these gentlemen have possibly paid a higher compliment to the British army, although they wished to turn that compliment to their own account. When Napoleon saw the English army drawn up in position for the Battle of Waterloo, he remarked to Marshal Soult, “There are the English, I have got them at last, and I think it is nine chances out of ten that I have them all before night.” The Marshal, who had had a great deal of experience of the English, while opposed to them in Spain and in the South of France, replied to the Emperor, “Your Majesty certainly sees the English army, but you will find them like trees, rivetted to the ground.” I may here mention, in confirmation of this, that when the Kremlin was re-occupied by the Russians, the portfolio of Berthier, the War Minister, was found, giving a return of the French army in Russia, amounting to 400,000 infantry, and 80,000 cavalry. There were also found secret reports from the French Marshals opposed to the English in Spain, and addressed to Napoleon himself, stating that the French army could not be got to withstand the English when they came in close quarters! I have been long anxious to get the regiment to come to Scotland, that I might have an opportunity of uniting the bond of friendship and good understanding with myself and with the Officers more closely, and particularly as it is now ninety-eight years since it was in that country. In the year 1746, the regiment fought at the Battle of Culloden, and by a singular and rather extraordinary coincidence, my father fought with it in that action as Aide-de-Camp to the Earl of Home. I felt exceedingly gratified in examining into the interior economy of the[100] regiment, to find that it is perfect and complete, both as to barracks, hospitals, and school; and I regret that my right honourable friend, Sir Edward Blakeney, the Commander-in-Chief, is not here to receive the report, as also in reference to its movements in the field: It is impossible for me to express too high an opinion of Colonel Airey, and the hearty co-operation he must have received from his officers to have enabled him to have brought the regiment to its present state of perfection; he could only have accomplished it by establishing a chain of responsibility throughout all ranks, where every individual discharged his proper duty, and to which we may ascribe the brilliant victories we always obtained under our great and invincible leader, who strictly enforced this amongst all ranks of his army, and which enabled him to declare to me his conviction, after the battle of Toulouse, when the army was about to be broken up, that he had commanded the most perfect army that ever was in existence. In conclusion, I fear I have occupied a good deal of your time, but I was anxious that you should hear many of these important military facts, from an individual who has passed above fifty years in the service, and who, in following up his profession, has crossed the tropics twelve times, the equinoxial line twice, and circumnavigated the globe, besides having been in America and other parts of the world.

Colonel Airey, in reply to the toast, took occasion to remark, that it was owing entirely to the hearty co-operation and assistance he had derived from every officer in the regiment, he had been enabled to bring it to the state of perfection in which the gallant General, who was then Colonel, had found it.

Many other toasts were afterwards given, and the meeting broke up at a late hour, but not before health and long life to Sir Thomas had been drunk with at least nine times nine in the most cordial manner.

FOOTNOTES:

[17] There is no parallel in history of an army like the English marching through the South of France, then an enemy’s country, observing such rigid discipline and order that everything was paid for as scrupulously as if it had been in England; and that even the French officers and soldiers told the inhabitants not to quit their houses on the absence of the English army, as they had nothing to fear. I may be induced to make this remark, as none of the authors who have written on these campaigns have sufficiently dwelt on this important feature of the British army. It is a fact, that commissaries were left behind to pay for every article consumed by our army.

[18] In confirmation of this it may be mentioned, that when the late Emperor Alexander of Russia gave a grand review to the Duke of Wellington, at Vertus, about eighty miles from Paris, of 130,000 Russians, picquets were driven into the ground at every wheeling point. How widely different are the movements of the British army! Some time afterwards, when the whole army under the command of his Grace were reviewed in presence of the allied Sovereigns, Field-Marshals, and Commanders, he moved the whole of his forces from the position they had taken, to nearly a quarter of a mile in the rear, no doubt with the view of showing that there were no picquets driven into the ground to direct the movements of the troops.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

The roman page numbering at the front of the book goes from i to xix, then from v to viii; this has not been changed.

Several illustrations have a printer’s note in the caption that says “(To face page n)”; this page number n is sometimes incorrect but has not been changed.

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

Pg v: ‘Returns to England 5’ replaced by ‘Returns to England 15’.
Pg viii: Entries for the first two Plate illustrations in the book have been inserted in the list of Plates.
Pg viii: ‘Colours and Uniform of Officers’ replaced by ‘Uniform of Officers’.
Pg 41: ‘sland of St.’ replaced by ‘island of St.’.
Pg 63: ‘to Bourdeaux,’ replaced by ‘to Bordeaux,’.
Pg 89: blank space for a missing date replaced by ‘____’.
Pg 98 Footnote 17: ‘as scruulously as’ replaced by ‘as scrupulously as’.
Pg 100: ‘the the brilliant’ replaced by ‘the brilliant’.
Pg 100: ‘had been drank’ replaced by ‘had been drunk’.

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Colonel, Thomas Chudleigh.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Thomas Whitney.
Major, Charles Douglas.
Captains.	Lieutenants.	Ensigns.
Robert Hayes[8]	— Saubergues	Henry Sirck
Samuel Daniels	Walter Yard	Roger Sterne
Richard Doige	Edward Cooksey	John Sutton
Michael Moore	— Brereton	John Spaddy
Francis Mutys	William Hamilton	Thomas Kitson
Henry Skelton	John Tremaigne	Thomas Parker
Richard Pyott	Thomas Batten	Thomas Price
	Christopher Philips	John Brushfield
	Timothy White	William Wickham
	William Hayes
	Thomas Ford

Lieut.-Colonel Richard Airey.		Lieutenant R. C. Packe.
Major H. Deedes.		”	T. A. M. Brisbane.
Captain R. W. Byron.		”	James Maxwell.
”	N. R. Brown.	”	H. H. Oxley.
”	J. H. Mathews.	”	W. L. Talbot.
”	E. Heathcote.	”	E. F. Agnew.
”	H. J. Hutton.	Ensign E. W. Sitwell.
”	R. D. Kelly.	”	C. W. G. Burrill.
”	A. C. Goodenough.	”	C. W. Randolph.
”	F. H. Lang.	”	D. M. Fyfe.
”	Jno. Simpson.	”	Sir Geo. Douglas, Bt.
”	C. A. Schreiber.	”	M. G. Best.
Lieutenant C. F. Hervey.		”	W. Warry.
”	T. Bourke.	”	Jno. Robinson.
”	J. Gwilt.	Paymaster C. B. Roche.
”	A. C. Robertson.	Adjutant E. Talbot.
”	F. C. Harvey.	Surgeon Wm. Bain.
”	J. T. Still.	Assistant Surgeon R. W. Fraser.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Historical Record of the Thirty-fourth, or the Cumberland Regiment of Foot

HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE THIRTY-FOURTH,
OR,
THE CUMBERLAND REGIMENT
OF
FOOT:

GENERAL ORDERS.

PREFACE.

INTRODUCTION
TO
THE INFANTRY.

FOOTNOTES:

CONTENTS.

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.

PLATES.