BY COMMAND OF His late Majesty WILLIAM THE IV^TH.
and under the Patronage of
Her Majesty the Queen.

HISTORICAL RECORDS,
OF THE
British Army
Comprising the
History of every Regiment
IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE.
By Richard Cannon Esq^re.
Adjutant General's Office, Horse Guards.
London.
Printed by Authority.

HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,
OR
THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT,

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT
IN 1758,

AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1849.

COMPILED BY

RICHARD CANNON, Esq.,

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, HORSE GUARDS.

ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.

LONDON:

PARKER, FURNIVALL, & PARKER,

30, CHARING-CROSS.

MDCCCXLIX.

London: Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street,
For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,

OR

THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT,

BEARS ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR THE FIGURE OF THE

"ROYAL TIGER,"

WITH THE WORD "INDIA" SUPERSCRIBED, IN COMMEMORATION OF
ITS SERVICES IN INDIA FROM 1805 TO 1826;

ALSO THE WORD

"BARROSA,"

AS A TESTIMONY OF THE GALLANTRY DISPLAYED BY THE SECOND
BATTALION, AT THE BATTLE OF BARROSA, ON THE 5TH OF MARCH, 1811;

AND THE WORD

"PENINSULA,"

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE SERVICES OF THE SECOND BATTALION,
IN THE EAST OF SPAIN, FROM 1810 TO 1814.

[xxv]

THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,

OR

THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

CONTENTS — First Battalion

OF THE

HISTORICAL RECORD.

[xxix]

CONTENTS — Second Battalion

OF THE

HISTORICAL RECORD

OF THE SERVICES OF THE

SECOND BATTALION

OF

THE SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

[xxxii]

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS

OF

THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,

OR

THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

PLATES.

[i]

GENERAL ORDERS.

HORSE-GUARDS,

1st January, 1836.

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.:—

By Command of the Right Honorable

GENERAL LORD HILL,
Commanding-in-Chief.

John Macdonald,
Adjutant-General.

[iii]

PREFACE.

The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly depend upon the zeal and ardour by which all who enter into its service are animated, and consequently it is of the highest importance that any measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation, by which alone great and gallant actions are achieved, should be adopted.

Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this desirable object than a full display of the noble deeds with which the Military History of our country abounds. To hold forth these bright examples to the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those who have preceded him in their honorable career, are among the motives that have given rise to the present publication.

The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced in the "London Gazette," from whence they are transferred into the public prints: the achievements of our armies are thus made known at the time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute[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.

[viii]
[ix]

INTRODUCTION
TO
THE INFANTRY.

The natives of Britain have, at all periods, been celebrated for innate courage and unshaken firmness, and the national superiority of the British troops over those of other countries has been evinced in the midst of the most imminent perils. History 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.

[xii]

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 army 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 Troops 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 of 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 the 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 part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of order, discipline, and military system, which has given the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations 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 circumstances can appal,—and that will ensure victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means."

Madeley lith. 3 Wellington S^t. Strand

SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

For Cannon's Military Records

[1]

HISTORICAL RECORD
— First Battalion

OF

THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,

OR

THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.

The French Government having failed to fulfil the conditions stipulated in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and having committed certain encroachments on the British Territories in North America, and other acts of aggression, King George II. again prepared for war, which was proclaimed against France on the 18th of May, 1758. The Army and Navy were consequently increased, and, among other augmentations, fifteen of the regiments of infantry were authorised to raise second battalions from the 25th of August, 1756.[6]

[2]

In 1758, these additional battalions were formed into distinct corps, and numbered from the sixty-first to the seventh-fifth regiments. By this arrangement the second battalion of the Twentieth regiment was constituted the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, and His Majesty was pleased to confer the colonelcy on Colonel James Wolfe, on the 21st of April of that year, from the Twentieth (Kingsley's) regiment in which he had served from 1749, and which had acquired, under his command, a high character for its exactness of discipline and other useful qualities.

The SIXTY-SEVENTH, being thus formed from the Twentieth regiment, assumed the pale yellow facing as worn by the Twentieth, which it has since retained.

The following officers were appointed to commissions in the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on its formation from the 21st of April, 1758.

Captains.

Lieutenants.

[3]

Ensigns.

After its formation as a distinct regiment, the SIXTY-SEVENTH remained at various stations in England during the years 1759 and 1760. Its Colonel, James Wolfe, had been appointed, in January, 1758, Brigadier-General in North America, and afterwards distinguished himself in the operations preceding the capture of Cape Breton, which surrendered on the 26th of July, 1758, and again in the expedition against Quebec, when he died of the wounds received at the battle on the heights of Abraham, above Quebec, on the 13th of September, 1759.

On the 24th of October, 1759, His Majesty was pleased to confer the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment on Lieut.-Colonel Lord Frederick Cavendish, from the First Foot Guards, in succession to Major-General James Wolfe, deceased.

The decease of King George II. occurred on the 25th of October, 1760, and on the day following His Majesty George III., grandson of the late Sovereign, was proclaimed King of Great Britain and Ireland.

On the 30th of October, 1760, His Majesty King George III. was pleased to remove Colonel Lord Frederick Cavendish to the Thirty-fourth regiment, and to appoint Major-General Sir Henry Erskine, Bart., to succeed him as Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment.

In the spring of 1761 the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment formed part of the force selected to proceed, under the[4] command of Major-General Studholme Hodgson, against Belle-Isle, a French island in the Bay of Biscay, off the coast of Brittany. Major-General Hodgson had the undermentioned officers and regiments placed under his orders, which amounted to nearly nine thousand men:—

Major-General John Craufurd; Brigadier-Generals William Rufane, Hamilton Lambert (afterwards Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH), Guy Carleton, Honorable William Howe, Robert Douglas, and Philip Jennings; Deputy-Adjutant-General Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Spencer Wilson, Bart.; Deputy-Quartermaster-General Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Thomas.

The expedition appeared before Belle-Isle on the 7th of April, and a landing was attempted on the following day; but the whole island appeared like one vast fortress;—the little which nature had left undone by rocks and crags, having been supplied by art; so that when the grenadiers gained the shore, the enemy was discovered so strongly fortified, that no efforts of the few men which could be landed at once, were of any avail. A boat of Erskine's grenadiers (SIXTY-SEVENTH), commanded by Captain[5] Thomas Osborne, landed at a point, and drew up undiscovered. His situation flanked the enemy, but no other boat followed. The French immediately came out, and Captain Osborne advanced to meet them. Twice brought to the ground by a shot, he pressed on, and approached so close to the enemy, that he exchanged thrusts with the French officer in command. The English fired, and then charged with the bayonet. The commanders on both sides were killed, when the English, being without leaders, were unable to maintain their position.—Attempts to secure a landing on other points of the island being also unsuccessful, orders were given to desist from the attempt, and the men returned to the boats, and proceeded back to their several ships. Many of the boats were destroyed or damaged in this attempt, and about five hundred men were lost in killed, wounded, and missing.

Commodore Keppel stated in his letter, of the 13th of April, 1761, to the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Pitt, afterwards created the Earl of Chatham, that

"One of the flat boats landed sixty of Erskine's grenadiers (SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment), who got up a very difficult place to the top of the hills, where they formed with great skill, but were so immediately routed by a much more numerous body of the enemy, that all attempts to succour them were ineffectual, any further than the boats bringing from the rocks about twenty of them." On the 8th of April, 1761, the SIXTY-SEVENTH had Captain Thomas Osborne and Lieutenant John Gardner killed. Lieutenants Marmaduke Green and William Herdsman were taken prisoners. The other casualties were, two serjeants, one drummer, and six rank and file killed; and sixteen rank and file wounded.

Major-General Hodgson subsequently received the following reinforcements:—

[6]

and another attempt to effect a landing was resolved upon. Brigadier-General Hamilton Lambert, on the 22nd of April, 1761, effected a landing on the rocks near Point Lomaria, where the difficulty of ascending the precipice had made the enemy least attentive to that part. Beauclerk's grenadiers (Nineteenth foot), with Captain Patterson of that regiment, gained the summit before the enemy saw what was intended, who immediately marched a body of three hundred men to attack them; the grenadiers, however, maintained their ground till the remainder of Brigadier Lambert's troops arrived. The success, thus gained, was promptly followed up; the French were eventually repulsed, and three brass field-pieces, with a few prisoners, were captured.

The cannon was afterwards landed from the ships and dragged up the rocks; the lines which covered the town of Palais were carried by assault, and the siege of the citadel was prosecuted with vigour. The garrison under their Governor, the Chevalier de St. Croix, made a gallant defence, but on the 7th of June were forced to surrender, and were permitted to march through the breach with the honours of war in consideration of their bravery. The capture of the island was thus achieved, with the loss of about eighteen hundred men killed and wounded.[9]

[7]

On the 29th of May, 1761, Major-General Sir Henry Erskine was removed to the Twenty-fifth regiment, and King George III. was pleased to promote Lieut.-Colonel[8] Hamilton Lambert, from the Thirty-first regiment, to the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, as a reward for his gallantry at the capture of Belle-Isle.

While success attended the arms of Great Britain, in various parts of the world, the Sovereigns of France and Spain were negotiating a compact, which gave a new turn to the nature of the war; and the two crowns attempted to coerce Portugal to unite in their designs against Great Britain. Portugal at this period was particularly weak; the capital, Lisbon, had been destroyed by an earthquake five years previously, when nearly thirty thousand inhabitants had been buried in its ruins. This disaster had been followed by a conspiracy against the life of the King, while the country was shaken by internal commotions; at the same time the military force of the kingdom was weak in numbers, scantily furnished with arms, and without experienced officers. Notwithstanding these adverse circumstances, the King of Portugal resolved to adhere to his ancient alliance with Great Britain; and in consequence of this decision, France and Spain declared war against him. A powerful Spanish army assembled on the frontiers, and threatened to crush the Portuguese, when a military force, with artillery, arms, stores, provisions, and money, was furnished by Great Britain to assist its faithful ally; and the SIXTY-SEVENTH, which had returned with the expedition from the coast of France, was one of the regiments selected for service in Portugal.

The regiment proceeded to Portugal, and continued in that country until the termination of hostilities by the treaty of Fontainebleau, the preliminary articles of which were signed by the Duke of Bedford at Fontainebleau, on the 3rd of November, 1762.

Peace was proclaimed in London on the 22nd of March,[9] 1763, and by its provisions it was settled that the Island of Minorca, which had been captured by the French in April, 1756, should be restored to Great Britain. The SIXTY-SEVENTH and the Third foot from Portugal, the Eleventh, Thirty-third, and Thirty-seventh regiments from Germany, and the Fifty-seventh from Gibraltar, were embarked in order to form the garrison of Minorca.[10]

In the Royal Warrant of King George III. dated 19th of December, 1768, containing regulations for the colours, clothing, &c. of the regiments of foot, it was directed that the regimental colour of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment should be pale yellow, being similar to the colours of the Twentieth regiment, from which it was formed. The SIXTY-SEVENTH remained on duty at Minorca until July, 1771, when the Third, Eleventh, and SIXTY-SEVENTH regiments embarked[10] for England, on being relieved by the Royals (second battalion), the Fifty-first and Sixty-first regiments.

In the year 1773 the regiment proceeded to Scotland, where it remained until the year 1775.

On the decease of Lieut.-General Hamilton Lambert in 1774, His Majesty was pleased to promote Lieut.-Colonel Edward Maxwell Brown, from the Twenty-first, Royal North British Fusiliers, to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 11th of March, 1774.

The regiment embarked for Ireland in 1775, to replace the Forty-second, Royal Highland regiment, and continued on duty in that country until the year 1785.

On the 31st of August, 1782, His Majesty directed that the regiment should be designated the SIXTY-SEVENTH, or the South Hampshire regiment, with a view that a connexion might be cultivated between the corps and that county, in order to promote the success of the recruiting service.

Early in the year 1785 the regiment embarked from Ireland for the West Indies, to relieve the Fifty-fifth regiment.

The regiment proceeded from Barbadoes to Antigua in the autumn of 1785.

During the years 1788, 1789, 1790, 1791, and 1792, the regiment was stationed at Grenada.

In the year 1793 the regiment was stationed at Barbadoes, and in July, 1794, returned to Great Britain: the regiment subsequently proceeded to Ireland.

On the 25th of February, 1796, the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment embarked from Ireland for the island of St. Domingo. An expedition had proceeded to St. Domingo in 1794, in order to aid the planters against the persecution of the negro inhabitants, who had imbibed the doctrines of liberty and equality, propagated at that period. The[11] distracted state of France afforded the inhabitants no prospect of relief, and they were therefore desirous of placing themselves under the protection of Great Britain. Much resistance was experienced from the negroes, and the English took possession of Port-au-Prince, the capital of St. Domingo, now the republic of Hayti; but no effectual steps could be taken for the reduction of the island, as the yellow fever destroyed the Europeans with frightful rapidity on their arrival on its fatal coast: the British evacuated the place in 1798.

Towards the end of the year 1798 the regiment proceeded from St. Domingo to Jamaica, after having suffered severely by disease at the former island.

On the 21st of October, 1801, the regiment embarked at Jamaica for England, greatly reduced in numbers from the effects of the climate of the West Indies.

During the year 1802, the regiment was stationed in South Britain.

On the 25th February, 1803, His Majesty was pleased to appoint Lieut.-General Francis D'Oyly, from Colonel Commandant of the Fifteenth foot, to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the decease of General Edward Maxwell Brown; and on the 9th of March following General Peter Craig was appointed Colonel of the regiment, in succession to Lieut.-General D'Oyly, whose decease occurred on the 4th of March, 1803.

In consequence of the renewal of war with France, and the extensive preparations made in the ports of that country, particularly at Dunkirk and Boulogne, for carrying into effect the threatened invasion of Great Britain, the most active measures were adopted by the British Government to frustrate the designs of the French ruler. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1803 for raising men for limited service in Great Britain and Ireland, which was termed the Army of Reserve Act, and[12] the men so raised were formed into additional and distinct battalions.

The SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, which had embarked for Ireland in the beginning of 1803, was authorised to receive men raised in Ireland under the Army of Reserve Act, and a Second Battalion was added to the establishment on the 9th of July, 1803.

On the 13th of October the first battalion embarked at Dundalk for Guernsey, where it arrived on the 25th of November following.

About the middle of November, 1804, the regiment was removed from the island of Guernsey to Portsmouth, where it arrived on the 30th of November.

On the 25th of March, 1805, the regiment was augmented to an establishment of 64 serjeants, 22 drummers, and 1200 rank and file.

From Portsmouth the first battalion embarked on the 22nd of April, 1805, for the East Indies, and arrived in the Presidency of Bengal on the 15th of September of the same year.

In December, 1807, the SIXTY-SEVENTH proceeded from Fort William to Dinapore, at which station the regiment arrived in March following.

The regiment marched for Benares, in January, 1810, and from thence to Ghazeepore.

In January, 1811, the regiment again proceeded to Benares, and returned to Ghazeepore in the month of February of that year.

Lieut.-General Sir William Keppel, G.C.B., Colonel Commandant of the Sixtieth, was appointed by His Majesty Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 7th of February, 1811, on the decease of General Peter Craig.

The regiment proceeded from Ghazeepore to Cawnpore in January, 1813.

On the 10th of October, 1815, the regiment marched[13] from Cawnpore to Meerut, where it arrived on the 7th of November.

The first battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment marched from Meerut on the 15th of October, 1817, on field service, and joined the army of reserve under the command of Major-General Sir David Ochterlony. On the 27th of November, the first battalion marched from Rewarree, with the reserve of the grand army, to Jeypoor, a city which derives its name from its founder Sevai Jye Singh, a celebrated Hindoo warrior and statesman.

The battalion marched from Dungurter to Oojein in the middle of February, where it joined the Bombay division of the army, under Major-General Sir William Grant Keir, on the 7th of March. It proceeded from Oojein for Baroda on the 13th of March; and on the 9th of April following, marched from Baroda to Tankaira, being the first regiment of His Majesty's army that crossed the Peninsula of India. It embarked for Bombay, where the battalion arrived on the 23rd of April.

On the 30th of April, 1818, six companies embarked from Bombay for the southern Concan,[11] and were present at the siege and surrender of the strong fortress of Ryghur on the 10th of May following. This important stronghold is situated upon the Ghauts which bound the eastern frontier of the Concan, in a line between Poonah and Bancoote, and was one of the fortresses which the Peishwah, Bajee Rao, had surrendered on the 8th of May, 1817, as a pledge of his sincerity. Notwithstanding the stupendous height and extensive area on the top of the fortress, shells were thrown into every part of it, and the palace set on fire, which greatly tended to[14] determine the enemy to surrender. The garrison held out a flag for terms, and after three days of communication and treaty, Lieut.-Colonel David Prother, C.B., of the Ninth Native Infantry, was induced to allow the garrison honorable terms, permitting them to march out with their arms and private property, on the 10th of May. The wife of His Highness the late Peishwah was found in the fort on taking possession, and public property, in specie, to the amount of five lacs.

Lieut.-Colonel Prother stated in Brigade Orders on the 12th of May—

"The surrender of the fortress of Ryghur having closed the operations, the Commanding Officer has peculiar pleasure in offering a public acknowledgment to the merits of those by whom this event has been so much accelerated....

"Although Major Benjafield and the detachment of His Majesty's SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, did not arrive until nearly the end of the siege, yet the share taken by them fully deserves the Commanding Officer's thanks."

The six companies of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment returned to head-quarters on the 26th of May.

On the 11th of May, four companies embarked from Bombay for Surat, and were present on the 8th, 18th, 21st, and 28th of June, when possession was taken of the towns and forts of Nunderbar, Cokermundaye, Toulodah, and Kopriel.

In the middle of September the first battalion embarked in three divisions for the Deccan, and arrived at Seroor on the 5th of October following; on the 30th of October the regiment marched from Seroor, and arrived at Mallygaum, the head-quarters of the troops in Candeish, on the 11th of November. Colonel Huskinson,[12][15] of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, being the senior officer, assumed the command of the troops.

His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, was pleased, on the 24th of October, 1818, to appoint Lieut.-Colonel John Frederick Ewart, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, to which he had exchanged from half-pay of the Fifth West India regiment, on the 5th of February, 1818, a Companion of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath.

The force commanded by Colonel S. Huskinson, of which the SIXTY-SEVENTH formed part, marched on the 25th of November for the attack of the towns and forts of Amulneir and Behauderpore, which surrendered at discretion on the 30th of November and the 1st of December, and of which possession was taken, the first place by the flank companies of the regiment, and the latter by the auxiliary horse under Captain Swanton.

Colonel Huskinson, commanding the troops at Candeish, in his despatch to the Resident, the Honorable Mountstuart Elphinstone, dated Camp before Amulneir, 30th of November, 1818, stated,—

"It gives me the greatest satisfaction to have to announce to you, for the information of the Most Noble the Governor-General in India, that the fort of Amulneir surrendered unconditionally to the force I have the honor to command, about noon this day, where, as soon after as possible, Brevet Major Owen, of His Majesty's SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, by my orders, occupied the whole of the gates and fort with part of the flank companies of that regiment. This service, I am happy to say, was effected without firing a shot. May I request your orders respecting the disposal of Ally Jemadar and his followers, who are now prisoners in camp."

[16]

Here the four companies, which left head-quarters in May, rejoined the regiment.

Leaving Amulneir on the 4th of December, the SIXTY-SEVENTH proceeded to Malligaum, where the battalion arrived on the 14th of that month.

The SIXTY-SEVENTH marched for Amulneir, with the force under the command of Colonel Huskinson, on the 25th of February, 1819. On the 3rd of March eight companies of the regiment, under Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell,[13] proceeded to Asseerghur, and joined the force under Brigadier-General Doveton, before the fortress of Asseerghur,[14] which, on account of its strength, has been designated the "Gibraltar of the East."

The fortress of Asseerghur, which had been held by one of Scindiah's refractory chiefs, is situated on a detached hill between the rivers Nerbudda and Tapty: it consists of an upper and lower fort; the upper one is of an irregular form, about 1100 yards from east to west, and about 600 from north to south; it crowns the top of the hill, which is about 750 feet in height; a perpendicular precipice from 80 to 120 feet, surmounted with a low wall full of loopholes, surrounds it, with the exception of one place, which is strongly fortified. Below are two lines of works, the outer one forming the lower fort, which rises directly above the Pettah,[15] and the entrance to which is protected by strong gateways and flanking works. Immense labour and great skill had been employed to render this naturally strong post almost impregnable; [17]and at the siege of which the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment was present.

The Hyderabad division was encamped at Neembolah, about seven miles from Asseerghur, and negotiations having failed, about twelve o'clock on the night of the 17th of March five companies of the Royal Scots (First regiment of foot) with the flank companies of the Thirtieth, SIXTY-SEVENTH, and Madras European regiment, five companies of native infantry, and a detachment of sappers and miners, the whole commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser, of the Royal Scots, and a reserve commanded by Major Dalrymple, of the Thirtieth, assembled at the camp for the attack of the pettah of Asseer; another party was also directed to co-operate in this service from Brigadier-General Sir John Malcolm's division.

The column commenced its march between one and two o'clock, advancing up the bed of a deep nullah, or small river, nearly dry at the time; the assaulting party arrived unobserved within five hundred yards of the pettah, then rushed upon the gate with the greatest ardour and steadiness, the Royal Scots leading the way. The enemy was surprised, and, after discharging a few rounds of grape, retired. The head of the attacking column forced the gate, and proceeding up the main street, encountered an advanced piquet of the enemy, which retired to the lower fort, firing occasionally at the head of the column. Major Charles MacLeod, of the East India Company's service, Deputy-Quartermaster-General, acted as guide on the occasion; by his direction the leading files of the Royal Scots pursued the enemy close under the walls of the fortress, from whence an incessant fire of artillery and matchlocks was kept up; a few ill-directed rockets were also discharged.

[18]

The leading sections of the Royal Scots, which had pursued the enemy up the hill, were joined by one or two files of the Thirtieth and SIXTY-SEVENTH regiments, the whole amounting to about 25 or 30 men. As soon as the enemy saw the small force before which he had so precipitately fled, he immediately rallied, and came shouting down the hill with augmented numbers to attack this small party, but was repulsed by a spirited charge with the bayonet, which, with a few rounds of musketry, obliged him to retreat within the works, some of which were within about fifty yards of this handful of men, leaving the Chief, who was shot in the melée, and several men on the field.

The pettah of Asseerghur was thus captured on the morning of the 18th of March, with trifling loss; but on the evening of the following day a desperate sally was made by a part of the garrison on the advanced post of the troops in the pettah, on which occasion Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser, of the Royal Scots, was unfortunately killed, while gallantly rallying the party under his command, and keeping the advance in their position. The enemy was, however, immediately driven back, and compelled to retire into the fort.

During the progress of constructing new batteries on elevated and commanding situations, the dragging of ordnance into many of them was performed by the European soldiers, who literally worked like horses; during the whole of the time they were annoyed by a constant fire of matchlocks from the walls of the upper fort (the lower fort had been taken possession of on the 30th of March, by part of Brigadier-General Sir John Malcolm's division), but which was too distant to prevent the execution of this Herculean labour, which was performed with that[19] ardour and cheerfulness so characteristic of British soldiers, when necessity demands from them any extraordinary exertions.

On the 31st of March, part of the Bengal army, consisting of 2200 native troops, with 22 pieces of heavy ordnance, commanded by Brigadier-General Watson, joined the besieging force; and these guns were soon placed in battery, and opened on the fort. The storm of war now raged furiously round Asseerghur, and a breach was soon effected in the outer wall at the only assailable part of the fort; at the same time two batteries were directed against the inner wall. This unremitting fire was continued until the 6th of April, when the garrison forced the Killedar to sue for terms, namely, "liberty to preserve their arms, and to depart with their personal property."

These conditions were refused, and hostilities recommenced; the Killedar, however, accepted the terms offered on the 8th, and agreed to surrender the fort on the morning of the 9th, when the firing ceased; but as he stated that he could not answer for the garrison, the control of which he had lost, preparations were made for renewing operations in case of refusal.

The garrison surrendered unconditionally on the 9th of April, and five hundred men of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, under the command of Major Benjafield, with the 7th Madras light cavalry, and the second battalion of the 13th Madras native infantry, took possession of the fortress, on the garrison marching out and laying down their arms on the public parade.

The following was the return of ordnance, &c. taken in the fortress of Asseerghur by the troops under the command of Brigadier-General Doveton. Brass and iron ordnance, 128; about 36,000 stone and iron shot, of[20] different sizes; two hundredweight of gunpowder; 2000 wall-pieces, of different sizes; and about four hundredweight of grape-shot.

During the siege the SIXTY-SEVENTH had Lieutenants J. Adair and John Hannah severely wounded; Lieutenant Adair[16] was twice severely wounded by matchlock balls in the left arm and right side, on the 19th of March, in repulsing the sortie of the garrison of Asseerghur:—one serjeant, one drummer, and eleven rank and file were wounded.

Major Owen, who commanded the flank companies of His Majesty's SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, was particularly mentioned in Orders by Brigadier-General Doveton, who also reported that "the fall of Asseer leaves to the Brigadier-General only the pleasing task of recording his sense of the merits and exertions of the officers and troops, and of bringing them to the notice of superior authority, where they can alone be fully and properly appreciated.

"To the means placed at the Brigadier-General's disposal, by the rapid advance of the division under the personal command of Brigadier-General Sir John Malcolm, K.C.B., as well as of the troops from the Nerbudda field force and from Saugur, under the personal command of Brigadier-General Watson, C.B., to the science and skill of the engineer and artillery branches, and finally to the distinguished gallantry and persevering exertions of the whole of the officers and troops whom the Brigadier-General has the honor to command, are principally to be attributed the fall of so stupendous a fortress in eleven days from the opening of the trenches....

"He requests also that Lieutenant-Colonels MacDowell, Dewar, Ewart (Lieut.-Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH[21] regiment), Greenstreet, and Pollock, commanding brigades of infantry, will be fully persuaded of the high estimation in which he holds the eminent services rendered by them, as well as by the officers and men of their several brigades"....

Brigadier-General Sir John Malcolm also reported:—

"I have to state my sense of the zeal and activity of my Aide-de-Camp, Ensign G. Pasley, of His Majesty's Fourteenth foot, and extra Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant J. Pasley, of His Majesty's SIXTY-SEVENTH foot."

On the 12th of April, the SIXTY-SEVENTH marched from Asseerghur, and arrived at Mallygaum on the 26th of the same month.

The decease of Major Nathaniel Benjafield, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, occurred on the 2nd of June, 1819.

The regiment proceeded on the 6th of December, 1820, from Mallygaum, in Candeish, and arrived at Sholapore, in the Deccan, on the 29th of that month.

Colonel Samuel Huskinson, the Lieut.-Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, was promoted on the 19th of July, 1821, to the rank of Major-General, and on the 10th of January, 1837, was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

Marching from Sholapore on the 23rd of April, the regiment arrived at Poonah on the 10th of May, 1823.

On the 2nd of January, 1826, the first battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment embarked in three divisions at Bombay for Calcutta, and arrived there on the 2nd of March following. On the 13th of March the battalion proceeded to Rangoon, and arrived opposite the town on the 27th of the same month. The battalion returned to Calcutta on 5th of April following.

Major S. B. Taylor, Captain W. Webster, and Lieutenant[22] J. Hassall, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, died at Fort William during April and May of this year.

The SIXTY-SEVENTH embarked for England in the ships Zenobia, Caroline, and Catherine Stewart Forbes, under the command of Major Poyntz on the 9th of June, 1826. The head-quarters and second division arrived at Gravesend on the 28th of November following, after an absence of twenty-one years in India; the remainder of the regiment arrived at Gravesend on the 16th of April, 1827.

On the 20th of December, 1826, the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment was authorised by His Majesty King George IV. to bear on its colours and appointments, in addition to any other badges or devices heretofore granted, the figure of the Royal Tiger, with the word "India" superscribed, in commemoration of its services in that part of the world from the year 1805 to 1826.

The regiment marched from Chatham to Windsor in December, 1826.

In March, 1827, the regiment proceeded from Windsor to Weedon, and in October the head-quarters were stationed at Bolton, in Lancashire.

Towards the end of July, 1828, the regiment proceeded to Manchester, and in October it marched to Liverpool.

His Majesty King George the Fourth was pleased to appoint Major-General John Macdonald, C.B. (Deputy Adjutant-General to the Forces) to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 25th of August, 1828, in succession to General Sir William Keppel, removed to the Second or Queen's Royal regiment of foot.

The regiment marched from Liverpool to Stockport in January, 1829, and in May following proceeded to Chester.

Major the Honorable H. R. Molyneux was promoted[23] to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel in the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 9th of April, 1829, Lieut.-Colonel Nathaniel Burslem having retired from the service.

On the 18th of May, 1830, the regiment proceeded from Chester to Liverpool, and embarked for Dublin, from whence it proceeded to Mullingar.

On the 23rd of December, 1830, the regiment proceeded from Mullingar to Newry, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel the Honorable Henry R. Molyneux.

On the 14th of January, 1832, the SIXTY-SEVENTH, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel the Honorable H. R. Molyneux, embarked at Dublin in the Stentor and Prince Regent transports for Gibraltar, and the service companies arrived at that fortress on the 25th of February. The depôt companies of the regiment remained in Ireland.

The service companies embarked in His Majesty's ship Revenge, from Gibraltar, on the 28th of February, 1833, for the West Indies, and arrived at Barbadoes on the 29th of March.

In May, 1834, the service companies proceeded to St. Christopher's; and in May, 1836, were removed to Demerara.

The depôt companies were removed from Cork to Sheerness, in August, 1836, and in September, 1839, proceeded from Gosport to Cork.

The service companies remained at Demerara during the year 1837.

In January, 1838, the service companies proceeded to Berbice, but returned to Demerara in June following.

The service companies proceeded from Demerara to Barbadoes, in June, 1839.

On the 21st of April, the service companies, consisting of 30 serjeants, 8 drummers, and 449 rank and file, embarked, under the command of Brevet Major T. C.[24] Harpour, from Barbadoes for North America, in Her Majesty's ships Sapphire and Athol. The regiment disembarked at Chambly, in Canada, on the 21st of May.

During the year 1840 the depôt companies were stationed at Buttevant and Galway.

The service companies proceeded from Chambly to Drummondville, in May, 1841.

In June, 1841, the depôt companies were removed from Galway to Templemore.

The head-quarters, under the command of Major E. B. Brooke, marched from Drummondville on the 19th of May, and arrived at St. Helen's, Montreal, on the 25th of May, 1842. On the 3rd of November, 1842, the service companies embarked in the Pestonjee Bomonjee transport at Quebec, and disembarked at Plymouth on the 15th of December following.

The depôt companies joined the regiment on the 15th of December, 1842, having been removed from Ireland to Plymouth in October.

In May, 1843, the regiment proceeded from Plymouth to Weedon, and in July marched to Manchester.

Lieutenant-General John Clitherow was appointed by Her Majesty to be Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 15th of January, 1844, upon Lieutenant-General Sir John Macdonald, G.C.B. (Adjutant-General to the Forces), being removed to the Forty-second, Royal Highland, regiment.

In December, 1844, the regiment was removed from Manchester to Dublin.

During the year 1845 the regiment continued to be stationed at Dublin.

In January, 1846, the regiment marched to Limerick, and in May proceeded to Cork.

At this period the regiment was augmented to twelve[25] companies, consisting of 67 serjeants, 25 drummers, and 1200 rank and file, and was subsequently organised into two battalions, preparatory to embarking on foreign service.

On the 9th of November, 1846, Colonel Thomas Bunbury, K.H., commanding the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and Major Edward Basil Brooke was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, vacant by the promotion of Major-General Bunbury.[17]

During the year 1847 the SIXTY-SEVENTH continued at Cork.

The first battalion embarked at Cork, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Edward Basil Brooke, in the Herefordshire freight-ship, on the 8th of January, 1848, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 19th of that month.

On the 20th of January, 1848, the reserve battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel William Nesbitt Orange, embarked at Cork, in the Bombay freight-ship, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 8th of February following.

General Sir Robert Wilson, then Governor of Gibraltar, in his report, dated the 18th of May, 1848, on the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, remarked,

"It is a corps composed of a superior body of men, well regulated and well conducted, having had since its arrival but nine courts-martial.

"Its interior economy is carefully superintended by Lieutenant-Colonel Brooke.

"Her Majesty's Regulations are strictly observed in all the prescribed cases.

"It discharges every duty commendably, and is an efficient portion of the Garrison for every service."

[26]

The depôt company was removed from Cork to the Isle of Wight, in February, 1848.

On the 1st of May, 1849, the period to which this Record has been continued, the two battalions of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment were stationed at Gibraltar.

1849.

Madeley lith. 3 Wellington S^t. Strand

SIXTY-SEVENTH
REGIMENT.

For Cannon's Military Records

[27]

HISTORICAL RECORD
— Second Battalion

OF

THE SECOND BATTALION

OF

THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,

OR

THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.

Europe gained a short cessation from hostilities by the Treaty of Amiens, and the interval of peace was employed by Napoleon Bonaparte in furthering his views for the aggrandizement of France, to enable him to become the dictator of Europe. The British Government and people, suspicious of Napoleon's projects, and roused to active measures by the threat of invasion, were enthusiastic in devising means to frustrate his designs, and the "Army of Reserve Act" was passed, for raising men for home service by ballot, while numerous volunteer and yeomanry corps were formed in every part of the kingdom.

To these circumstances the Second Battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment owes its origin, and the battalion was formed of men raised in Ireland, for limited service under the provisions of the "Army of Reserve Act," which was passed in June, 1803; the battalion was placed on the establishment from the 9th of July following.

The Second Battalion was also authorised to receive[28] men raised in Ireland, for limited service, under the "Additional Force Act," which was passed on the 14th of July, 1804.

The battalion was stationed in Ireland until the 20th of January, 1804, when it embarked at Warren's Point, and arrived at Greenock on the 23rd of the same month.

On the 29th of February, 1804, the battalion proceeded to Guernsey, where it remained until the 17th of November, 1807, when it was removed to Alderney.

From Alderney the battalion returned to Guernsey in July, 1810.

Six companies of the battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Prevost, embarked for Gibraltar on the 29th of July, 1810, at which station they arrived on the 24th of September.

The four companies left at Guernsey, embarked for England in August, 1810, where they continued to be stationed during the remainder of that year.

The six companies of the second battalion remained at Gibraltar until the 22nd of November, 1810, when they embarked for Cadiz, to join the army under the command of Lieutenant-General Thomas Graham, afterwards Lord Lynedoch.

The six companies arrived at Cadiz on the 9th of December, 1810, which was at that period besieged by a powerful French army, under Marshal Soult, who subsequently proceeded on an expedition into Estremadura, leaving Marshal Victor to blockade Cadiz.

The SIXTY-SEVENTH remained at Cadiz until the 18th of February, 1811, when they proceeded with the army under the command of Lieutenant-General Thomas Graham, which consisted of a British force of about three thousand, and a body of seven thousand troops commanded by General La Pena. The design of the expedition[29] was to make a combined attack on the rear of the French army blockading Cadiz. The forces disembarked at Algesiras on the 23rd of February, and being all united at Tarifa, marched from thence on the 28th of February.

General Zayas pushed a strong body of Spanish troops across the river Santi Petri, near the coast, on the 1st of March, threw a bridge over, and formed a tête-de-pont. This post was attacked by the enemy on the nights of the 3rd and 4th of March, who was repulsed, though the Spaniards sustained considerable loss.

On the 5th of March, 1811, Lieutenant-General Graham and the army under his command arrived on the low ridge of Barrosa, where a brilliant victory was gained over the French army under Marshal Victor, composed of the two divisions of Generals Rufin and Laval.

Lieutenant-General Graham in his despatch to the Earl of Liverpool, dated Isla de Leon, March 6th, 1811, stated:—

"The circumstances were such as compelled me to attack this very superior force. In order as well to explain to your Lordship the circumstances of peculiar disadvantage under which the action was begun, as to justify myself from the imputation of rashness in the attempt, I must state to your Lordship, that the allied army, after a night march of sixteen hours from the camp near Veger, arrived, on the morning of the 5th, at the low ridge of Barrosa, about four miles to the southward of the mouth of the Santi Petri river. This height extends inland about a mile and a half, continuing on the north the extensive heathy plain of Chiclana. A great pine forest skirts the plain, and circles round the height at some distance, terminating down to Santi Petri; the intermediate space between[30] the north side of the height and the forest being uneven and broken.

"A well-conducted and successful attack on the rear of the enemy's lines near Santi Petri, by the vanguard of the Spanish army, under Brigadier-General Ladrizabel, having opened the communication with the Isla de Leon, I received General La Pena's directions to move down from the position of Barrosa to that of the Torre de Bermesa, about half-way to the Santi Petri river, in order to secure the communication across the river, over which a bridge had been lately established. This latter position occupies a narrow woody ridge, the right on the sea cliff, the left falling down to the Almanza creek on the edge of the marsh. A hard sandy beach gives an easy communication between the western points of these two positions.

"My division, being halted on the eastern slope of the Barrosa height, was marched about twelve o'clock through the wood towards the Bermesa, cavalry patrols having previously been sent towards Chiclana, without meeting with the enemy. On the march I received notice that the enemy had appeared in force on the plain, and was advancing towards the heights of Barrosa.

"As I considered that position as the key of that of Santi Petri, I immediately countermarched in order to support the troops left for its defence, and the alacrity with which this manœuvre was executed, served as a favourable omen. It was, however, impossible in such intricate and difficult ground to preserve order in the columns, and there never was time to restore it entirely.

"But before we could get ourselves quite disentangled from the wood, the troops on the Barrosa Hill were seen returning from it, while the enemy's left wing was[31] rapidly ascending. At the same time his right wing stood on the plain, on the edge of the wood, within cannon-shot. A retreat in the face of such an enemy, already within reach of the easy communication by the sea-beach, must have involved the whole allied army in all the danger of being attacked during the unavoidable confusion of the different corps arriving on the narrow ridge of Bermesa nearly at the same time.

"Trusting to the known heroism of British troops, regardless of the numbers and position of their enemy, an immediate attack was determined on. Major Duncan soon opened a powerful battery of ten guns in the centre. Brigadier-General Dilkes with the brigade of Guards, Lieut.-Colonel Browne's (of the Twenty-eighth) flank battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Norcott's two companies of the second Rifle corps, and Major Acheson with a part of the SIXTY-SEVENTH foot (separated from the regiment in the wood) formed on the right.

"Colonel Wheatly's brigade, with three companies of the Coldstream Guards, under Lieut.-Colonel Jackson (separated likewise from his battalion in the wood) and Lieut.-Colonel Barnard's flank battalion, formed on the left.

"As soon as the infantry was thus hastily got together, the guns advanced to a more favourable position, and kept up a most destructive fire.

"The right wing proceeded to the attack of General Rufin's division on the hill, while Lieut.-Colonel Barnard's battalion, and Lieut.-Colonel Bushe's detachment of the twentieth Portuguese, were warmly engaged with the enemy's tirailleurs on our left.

"General Laval's division, notwithstanding the havoc made by Major Duncan's battery, continued to advance in very imposing masses, opening his fire of musketry, and was only checked by that of the left wing. The[32] left wing now advanced firing; a most determined charge by the three companies of Guards and the eighty-seventh regiment, supported by all the remainder of the wing, decided the defeat of General Laval's division.

"The eagle of the eighth regiment of light infantry, which suffered immensely, and a howitzer, rewarded this charge, and remained in possession of Major Gough,[18] of the Eighty-seventh regiment. These attacks were zealously supported by Colonel Belson with the Twenty-eighth regiment and Lieut.-Colonel Prevost with a part of the SIXTY-SEVENTH.

"A Reserve formed beyond the narrow valley, across which the enemy was closely pursued, next shared the same fate, and was routed by the same means.

"Meanwhile the right wing was not less successful; the enemy, confident of success, met General Dilkes on the ascent of the hill, and the contest was sanguinary: but the undaunted perseverance of the brigade of Guards, of Lieut.-Colonel Browne's battalion, and of Lieut.-Colonel Norcott's, and Major Acheson's detachment, overcame every obstacle, and General Rufin's division was driven from the heights in confusion, leaving two pieces of cannon.

"No expressions of mine could do justice to the conduct of the troops throughout. Nothing less than the almost unparalleled exertions of every officer, the invincible bravery of every soldier, and the most determined devotion to the honor of His Majesty's arms, in all, could have achieved this brilliant success, against such a formidable enemy so posted.

"In less than an hour and a half from the commencement of the action, the enemy was in full retreat. The retiring division met, halted, and seemed inclined[33] to form; a new and more advanced position of our artillery quickly dispersed them.

"The exhausted state of the troops made pursuit impossible. A position was taken on the eastern side of the hill; and we were strengthened on our right by the return of the two Spanish battalions that had been attached before to my division, but which I had left on the hill, and which had been ordered to retire. These battalions (Walloon Guards and Ciudad Real) made every effort to come back in time, when it was known that we were engaged....

"When all have so distinguished themselves, it is scarcely possible to discriminate any as the most deserving of praise. Your Lordship will, however, observe how gloriously the brigade of Guards under Brigadier-General Dilkes, with the commanders of the battalions, Lieut.-Colonel the Honorable C. Onslow and Lieut.-Colonel Sebright (wounded), as well as the three separated companies under Lieut.-Colonel Jackson, maintained the high character of His Majesty's household troops. Lieut.-Colonel Browne, with his flank battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Norcott, and Major Acheson deserve equal praise.

"I must equally recommend to your Lordship's notice, Colonel Wheatly, with Colonel Belson, Lieut.-Colonel Prevost, and Major Gough, and the officers of the respective corps composing his brigade....

"The assistance I received from the unwearied exertions of Lieut.-Colonel Macdonald,[19] and the officers of the Adjutant-General's department, of Lieut.-Colonel the Honorable C. Cathcart, and the officers of[34] the Quartermaster-General's Department, of Captain Birch and Captain Nicholas, and the officers of the Royal Engineers, of Captain Hope, and the officers of my Personal Staff, (all animating by their example,) will ever be most gratefully remembered....

"I cannot conclude this despatch without earnestly recommending to His Majesty's gracious notice for promotion, Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Browne, Major of the 28th foot, Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Norcott, Major of the 95th Rifle Regiment, Major Duncan, Royal Artillery, Major Gough of the 87th, Major the Honorable E. Acheson of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, and Captain Birch of the Royal Engineers, all in the command of corps or detachments on this memorable service; and I confidently trust that the bearer of this despatch, Captain Hope, (to whom I refer your Lordship for further details,) will be promoted, on being permitted to lay the Eagle at His Majesty's feet."

Such are the details of the battle of Barrosa, in which the enemy lost about three thousand men in killed, wounded, and prisoners, while that of the English amounted to 1243 killed and wounded.

The SIXTY-SEVENTH had Lieut.-Colonel Prevost, Captain Patrickson, Lieutenant W. Ronald, and Ensign Sutherland wounded; ten men of the regiment were killed; and one serjeant and thirty rank and file were wounded.

The British captured an Eagle, six pieces of cannon, and among the prisoners were the General of Division Rufin, the General of Brigade Rosseau; the Chief of the Staff, General Bellegrade; an Aide-de-Camp of Marshal Victor, the Colonel of the eighth regiment, and several other officers. The prisoners amounted to two General Officers, one field-officer, nine captains, eight subalterns, and 420 rank and file.

[35]

Both Houses of Parliament unanimously voted their thanks to Lieut.-General Graham, and the officers and men under his command, for this victory, and their valour and ability were highly applauded by the nation. On the 11th of November following, His Majesty's commands were communicated in the subjoined memorandum:—

Horse Guards, November 11th, 1811.

MEMORANDUM.

The Prince Regent having been graciously pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to command that, in commemoration of the brilliant victory obtained over the enemy by a division of His Majesty's army under the command of Lieut.-General Thomas Graham, at Barrosa, on the 5th of March, 1811, the undermentioned officers of the army, present upon that occasion, should enjoy the privilege of bearing a Medal, and His Royal Highness having approved of the medal which has been struck, is pleased to command, that it should be worn by the General Officers, suspended by a riband, of the colour of the sash, with a blue edge, round the neck, and by the Commanding Officers of corps and detachments, and the Chiefs of Military Departments, attached by a riband of the same colour to the button-hole of their uniform:—

"By the command of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty.

"Frederick, Commander-in-Chief.

"Henry Torrens, Lieut.-Colonel and Military Secretary."

Major the Honorable Edward Acheson, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, was promoted to the brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel in the army on the 30th March, 1811, for his gallantry at Barrosa, as particularly noticed in Lieut.-General Graham's despatch.

On the 26th May, 1817, the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment received the Royal Authority to bear the word "Barrosa" on the regimental colour and appointments, to commemorate the gallantry of the second battalion on that occasion.

Lieut.-General Graham, after this conflict, remained some hours at the Barrosa heights, without being able to procure any supplies for the exhausted troops, in consequence of the commissariat mules having been dispersed on the enemy's first attack of the hill. Major Ross, with the detachment of the third battalion of the Ninety-fifth Rifle regiment, was left, while the remainder of the division was withdrawn, and early the next morning crossed the Santi Petri river.

The favourable opportunity gained by British valour was not improved by the Spanish General, who did not strike a severe blow at the remains of the French army[37] retreating in disorder. The inactivity of the Spaniards continuing, the English army returned to Cadiz.

On the 11th of December, 1811, two companies embarked at Portsmouth for Spain, and joined the six companies at Cadiz, in January, 1812.

In January, 1812, the battalion embarked at Cadiz for Carthagena, and shortly afterwards proceeded to Alicant, to join the troops under the command of Major-General Andrew Ross. On the 21st of August the SIXTY-SEVENTH returned to Carthagena, where they remained until the 20th of April, 1813, when they again embarked for Alicant.

On the 31st of May, 1813, the battalion proceeded with the army, under Lieut.-General Sir John Murray, intended for the reduction of Tarragona, and on arrival formed part of the force detached under Lieut.-Colonel Prevost, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, for the purpose of investing the fort of San Philippe, in the Col de Balaguer, which blocks the direct road from Tortosa to Tarragona.

The fort of San Philippe is situated upon the eastern extremity of an insulated village, in the centre of the Col de Balaguer, commanding completely the great road through the pass. It was a square fort with some bastions, and commanded on two sides by almost inaccessible mountains.

Lieut.-Colonel Prevost and the brigade under his command, consisting of the second battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, the battalion of Roll Dillon, and a detachment of royal artillery, landed, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 3rd of June, about one mile to the eastward of the entrance to the pass from Tarragona, where he was joined by the Spanish regiments of Barcelona and Palma, under the command of Don Jose Charles. On the 3rd of June the fort was invested, and on the day following a[38] summons was sent to the commanding officer to surrender, offering favourable terms, which were, however, rejected.

On the 5th of June the batteries continued a heavy fire upon the fort, which was returned by the enemy, who kept up a heavy and galling fire of shells, round and grapeshot, during the whole of the night, which occasioned some loss.

About ten o'clock a most violent storm of thunder and lightning commenced, which impeded the works greatly, and as the seamen and troops were quite exhausted, it became expedient to delay bringing the guns upon the platforms, and to keep the embrasures masked. In the evening of the 6th of June a battery of two eight-inch mortars was placed upon the road, within a few hundred yards of the Castle, under the breaching battery; one four-pounder was likewise placed upon the heights to the right, where the riflemen were stationed.

At daybreak on the 7th, three batteries opened to protect the working party at the breaching battery, and kept up a tremendous fire until six o'clock, when that of the Castle having ceased, their magazines upon the batteries having been blown up by the shells from the mortars, the white flag was hoisted upon the Castle, and the garrison offered to surrender upon conditions of marching out and grounding their arms upon the glacis, with permission to carry off the personal baggage, which terms were granted, as Marshal Suchet's approach was hourly expected, and Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost would be enabled to put the fort in a good state of defence. Possession was taken of the Castle on the 7th of June.

Lieutenant-General Sir John Murray, in his despatch to the Marquis of Wellington, stated—

"This capture, in the present situation of our affairs, is[39] of great importance, as it blocks up the nearest and most accessible road from Tortosa to Tarragona....

"The troops of both nations bore their fatigue, and performed their duty with the greatest alacrity and spirit, and deserve every commendation. Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost has in a former despatch particularly noticed the gallantry and good conduct of Ensign Nelson, of the SIXTY-SEVENTH, and Ensign John Dermot, of Roll Dillon's battalion."

The SIXTY-SEVENTH had two rank and file killed, and eight rank and file wounded.

Marshal Suchet advancing with an army of superior numbers, the siege of Tarragona, which had been invested by Lieutenant-General Sir John Murray on the 3rd of June, was raised, and on the 12th of that month the troops embarked for the Col de Balaguer.

Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck assumed the command of the troops in the East of Spain, in succession to Lieutenant-General Sir John Murray. His Lordship joined the army at the Col de Balaguer on the 17th of June, and re-embarked with it for Alicant, at which place the SIXTY-SEVENTH and the rest of the troops arrived about the 24th of June.

The battle of Vittoria, on the 21st of June, 1813, gained by the army under the Marquis of Wellington, changed the aspect of affairs in Spain, and the troops under Marshal Suchet made some retrograde movements. The Anglo-Sicilian army, under Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck, advancing into Catalonia, proceeded to invest Tarragona.

On the 4th of July the army, under the command of Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck, marched for Tarragona. The SIXTY-SEVENTH were employed in the subsequent operations, and were present at the occupation[40] of Tarragona by the British, which place was blown up by the French under Marshal Suchet on the night of the 18th of August, after which the enemy retired towards Barcelona.

Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck continued in command of this division of the army until the 23rd of September, 1813, when his Lordship embarked for Sicily, where fresh changes injurious to the British policy required his presence, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-General William Clinton. Previously to his embarkation his Lordship issued the following General Order, dated Tarragona, 23rd of September, 1813:—

"The Commander of the Forces deeply laments that he is compelled to leave the army. It is a pleasing part of his duty to express his perfect satisfaction with the subordination and perseverance displayed by the troops upon all occasions.

"He only regrets that the part assigned to this army in the plan of the campaign has not permitted the troops to partake in those brilliant triumphs which would have been the just recompense of their valour and discipline."

In September the battalion marched into quarters at Valls, and in October it was removed to Vendrills.

Napoleon's reverses in Germany, and the brilliant successes of the allied army under the Marquis of Wellington, had a great effect upon the war in Catalonia, and the troops under Marshal Suchet withdrew from several posts. The SIXTY-SEVENTH marched, in February, 1814, to the vicinity of Barcelona, and formed part of the force employed in the investment of that place.

Hostilities were terminated in April by a treaty of peace. Napoleon abdicated the throne of France, and the island of Elba was ceded to him in full sovereignty with the imperial title for life, and a pension payable from the[41] revenues of France; and on the 3rd of May, 1814, Louis XVIII. entered Paris, and ascended the throne of his ancestors.

Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, in his despatch dated Toulouse, 19th of April, 1814, alluded to the conduct of the troops under Lieutenant-General William Clinton in the following terms:—

"Upon the breaking up of this army, I perform a most satisfactory duty in reporting to your Lordship my sense of the conduct and merit of Lieutenant-General William Clinton, and of the troops under his command since they have been employed in the Peninsula. Circumstances have not enabled those troops to have so brilliant a share in the operations of the war as their brother-officers and soldiers on this side of the Peninsula; but they have not been less usefully employed; their conduct, when engaged with the enemy, has always been meritorious; and I have had every reason to be satisfied with the General Officer commanding, and with them."

The SIXTY-SEVENTH withdrew from Barcelona, marched to Tarragona, and embarked at that port on the 24th of April for Gibraltar, where they arrived on the 4th of May.

Peace was of short duration. The return of Bonaparte to France, and his enthusiastic reception at Paris, caused Louis XVIII. to retire to Ghent. The Allied Powers, however, refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of Napoleon, and he was obliged to trust once more to the chances of war. The campaign was brief; totally defeated in the celebrated battle of Waterloo, on the 18th of June, 1815, Bonaparte was subsequently compelled to surrender himself a prisoner to Captain Maitland, commanding the Bellerophon ship of war; and the island of St. Helena was afterwards appointed for his future residence.

[42]

On the 6th of April, 1815, the second battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment received the royal authority to bear on its colours and appointments the word "Peninsula," in commemoration of its services in Spain.

During this period the SIXTY-SEVENTH remained at Gibraltar, from which station the battalion embarked for England, on the 25th of March, 1817, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. Davison, and arrived at Chatham on the 14th and 15th of May following.

All apprehensions that the peace of Europe would be disturbed having ceased, the Government decided on making certain reductions in the army, and the second battalion of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment was disbanded at Canterbury on the 25th of May, 1817.

1817.

[43]

CONCLUSION.

The details contained in the foregoing pages show, that the reputation acquired by the Twentieth Regiment in the wars during the reigns of King William III. and of Queen Anne,—in the defence of Gibraltar in 1727,—and at the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy, has been preserved unsullied by the SECOND BATTALION of that corps since the year 1758,—at which period it was constituted the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment.

In the rocky and almost impregnable position of Belle-Isle may be traced an analogy between its capture, and that of Quebec, although in the acquisition of the former the Nation had not to regret the loss of such a Commander as Major-General James Wolfe, the first Colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, whose death cast a gloom over the triumphs of the British Arms in the conquest of Canada.

The Royal Tiger, and the word "India" superscribed, borne on the regimental colour, record the services of the FIRST BATTALION in the East during a period of twenty-one years from 1805 to 1826; while the inscriptions of "Barrosa" and "Peninsula" denote the share taken by the SECOND BATTALION in support of Spanish Independence from 1810 to 1814.

Services like these, combined with arduous duties in the Colonies of Great Britain, have acquired for the regiment the confidence of the Nation and the approbation of the Sovereign, while its orderly conduct in quarters has obtained the commendation of the Military Authorities under whom it has been employed.

Benjamin West Pinx^t.

Madeley lith. 3 Wellington S^t. Strand

THE DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, THE FIRST COLONEL OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT;
KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF QUEBEC ON THE 13^TH. SEPTEMBER 1759.
For Cannon's Military Records

[44]
[45]

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS

OF

THE SIXTY-SEVENTH,

OR

THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.

James Wolfe.

Appointed 21st April, 1758.

Major-General James Wolfe, son of Lieut.-General Edward Wolfe, was born at Westerham, in Kent, on the 11th of January, 1726, and entered the army as a second lieutenant in Colonel Edward Wolfe's First regiment of Marines, on the 3rd of November, 1741. On the 27th of March, 1742, he was removed to the Twelfth foot, in which regiment he was promoted lieutenant on the 14th of July, 1743. He was appointed to a company in the Fourth foot on the 23rd of June, 1744, and obtained his majority in the Thirty-third regiment on the 5th of February, 1747. The war of the Austrian Succession afforded him many occasions to show the bravery and decision of his character; and at the battle of Val, or Laffeld, on the 2nd of July, 1747, when only twenty-one years of age, his masterly exertions, at a critical juncture, procured his appointment as a major of brigade, and the highest encomiums from His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, then at the head of the army. He was removed to the Twentieth regiment on the 5th of January, 1749, in which he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-colonel on the 20th of March, 1750. After the peace he cultivated the arts[46] of war, and introduced such exactness of discipline into his corps, that as long as the six British battalions[20] on the plains of Minden are recorded in the annals of Europe, so long will Kingsley's (Twentieth) stand amongst the foremost of that day. He received the brevet rank of colonel on the 21st of October, 1757, and in January, 1758, was appointed brigadier-general in America. He was appointed colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH on the 21st of April, 1758, on the second battalion of the Twentieth being constituted the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. In July following he distinguished himself at the capture of the island of Cape Breton. On his return to England he was appointed to command the important expedition against Quebec, with the local rank of major-general. This was an expedition of considerable difficulty and danger. He was to sail up the St. Lawrence and capture Quebec, which is situated on its shores. The place was, by its natural formation, very strong, and succours of all kinds had been thrown into the town; and the garrison, consisting of French, Canadians, and Indians, was prepared at all points for the attack. Major-General Wolfe on landing at the Isle of Orleans found it necessary to seize and to fortify Point Levi, and the western parts of the isle, as the Canadians might otherwise prevent a ship approaching Quebec. These points having been attained, he ordered works to be constructed there for the bombardment of the town. The French endeavoured to prevent the construction of these works, and crossed the river for that purpose, but in vain. Finding, however, that an attack on the city from the river side would be of small effect, Major-General Wolfe resolved to carry on the attack on the land side. To effect this, he first attempted to land his troops some miles below the town near the falls of Montmorenci; here he was repulsed by a large division of the French forces, with loss. Undismayed by his repulse near the falls of Montmorenci, on the 31st of July, 1759, he saw, in this reverse, the necessity of greater efforts, and conceived the bold design of drawing the French from their unassailable position by scaling the heights of Abraham. The soldiers clambered up the heights with great difficulty, and the guns were hauled up by means of ropes and pulleys fixed[47] round the trees, which covered the banks from top to bottom. At the top the plain commences, and extends close under the walls of the city. By this arrangement he forced the French to come out of the city. The Marquis de Montcalm was thus compelled to abandon his camp, and risk a battle for the protection of Quebec. While bravely animating his troops on the 13th of September, 1759, and at the moment when victory was almost within his grasp, he received a wound in the wrist, and another in the breast, which rendered it necessary to bear him to the rear. There, roused from fainting, in the agonies of death, by the cry of "They run! they run!" he eagerly, asked "Who run?" and being told the French, and that they were defeated, he exclaimed, "Then I thank God, and die contented;" and almost immediately expired.[21] He was in the thirty-fourth year of his age. Brigadier-Generals Monckton and Townshend, after the loss of their commander, completed the victory. On the 18th of September Quebec surrendered; and, like Gibraltar, conquered by a similar bold exploit, has, to the present time, continued an appendage to the crown of Great Britain. The remains of Major-General Wolfe were conveyed to Portsmouth, and at night on the 20th of November were deposited in the family vault at Greenwich. A handsome monument was also erected, by order of Government, to his memory in Westminster Abbey. The Major-General is represented as endeavouring to close, with his hand, the wound made in his breast, and is supported by a grenadier. An angel is seen in the clouds, holding a wreath ready to crown the expiring hero. On the pyramid is represented, in relief, the faithful Highland serjeant who attended him; and his sorrow at witnessing the agonies of his dying master is so pathetically expressed,[48] that a spectator can scarcely view the sculpture unmoved. In the front, in alto-relief, is depicted the landing at Quebec, with a view of the precipices the troops had to ascend before the enemy could be attacked. The inscription is as follows:—
"To the memory of James Wolfe, Major-General and Commander-in-Chief of the British Land Forces on an expedition against Quebec, who, after surmounting, by ability and valour, all obstacles of art and nature, was slain in the moment of victory, on the 13th of September, 1759, the King and the Parliament of Great Britain dedicate this monument."

Lord Frederick Cavendish.

Appointed 24th August, 1759.

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

Sir Henry Erskine, Bart.

Appointed 30th October, 1760.

Sir Henry Erskine was an officer of the Royal regiment, in which corps he was appointed captain on the 12th of March, 1743; in April, 1746, he was promoted to the rank[49] of lieutenant-colonel, and held the appointment of Deputy-Quartermaster-General to the expedition under Lieutenant-General St. Clair, which made a descent on the French coast, in which service he was wounded. In June, 1759, he was promoted to the rank of major-general; and in October, 1760, he obtained the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, from which he was removed in 1761 to the Twenty-fifth regiment, and in 1762 to the colonelcy of the Royals. He was a Member of Parliament, and Secretary to the Order of the Thistle, and died in August, 1765.

Hamilton Lambert.

Appointed 29th May, 1761.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton Lambert, of the Thirty-first regiment, was promoted to the rank of colonel in the army on the 1st of March, 1761. Shortly afterwards he proceeded with the expedition for the attack of Belle-Isle, in the Bay of Biscay, under Major-General Hodgson. Colonel Lambert received the rank of brigadier-general on this expedition, and highly distinguished himself in the capture of Belle-Isle, which surrendered on the 7th of June, 1761. Brigadier-General Lambert's services at Belle-Isle are narrated at pages 5 and 6 of the Historical Record of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, the colonelcy of which was conferred upon him by His Majesty King George III., on the 29th of May, 1761. On the 10th of July, 1762, he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and was advanced to that of lieutenant-general, on the 25th of May, 1772. Lieutenant-General Lambert died in the year 1774.

Edward Maxwell Brown.

Appointed 11th March, 1774.

The early services of this officer are connected with the Twenty-first, Royal North British Fusiliers, which regiment served in Germany during the war of the Austrian Succession,[50] and was present at the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy. At the battle of Fontenoy, on the 11th of May, 1745, Lieutenant Maxwell was wounded. On the 7th of August, 1749, he was promoted to a company in the Twenty-first regiment; and on the 17th of September, 1757, was advanced to the rank of major. Major Maxwell was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the same regiment on the 27th of April, 1758. In the year 1761, Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Maxwell commanded the Twenty-first Fusiliers in the expedition under Major-General Hodgson, for the attack of Belle-Isle. The island was captured with much difficulty, but was restored to the French at the peace in 1763, in exchange for Minorca. Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell obtained the rank of colonel in the army on the 25th of May, 1772; and on the 11th of March, 1774, was appointed by His Majesty King George III. to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. He was further advanced to the rank of major-general on the 29th of August, 1777; and to that of lieutenant-general on the 20th of November, 1782. In 1786, Lieutenant-General Edward Maxwell was permitted to assume the additional surname of Brown. On the 3rd of May, 1796, he was promoted to the rank of general. The decease of General Edward Maxwell Brown occurred in the year 1803.

Francis D'Oyly.

Appointed 25th February, 1803.

The regimental services of Lieutenant-General Francis D'Oyly are associated with the First regiment of foot guards, in which he obtained a company, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, on the 27th of April, 1780. On the 18th of November, 1790, he received the rank of colonel in the army; and on the 3rd of October, 1794, was advanced to that of major-general. On the 11th of October, 1797, he became lieutenant-colonel in the First foot guards; and on the 25th of November, 1799, was appointed, by His Majesty King George III., colonel-commandant of the Fifteenth regiment of foot. Major-General D'Oyly was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general on the 1st of January, 1801; and on[51] the 25th of February, 1803, was appointed by the King to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. The decease of Lieutenant-General D'Oyly took place suddenly on the 4th of March, 1803, at his residence in Half-moon Street, Piccadilly.

Peter Craig.

Appointed 9th March, 1803.

General Peter Craig commenced his military career as ensign in the Thirtieth foot, on the 28th of May, 1762; and on the 1st of June, of the following year, obtained his lieutenancy. He was promoted to a company in the Fifty-seventh regiment, on the 25th of March, 1768; and was advanced to the rank of major in that corps, on the 14th of December, 1774. On the 9th of January, 1779, he became lieutenant-colonel of the Fifty-sixth regiment, then stationed at Gibraltar, which had the honour of forming part of the garrison in the successful and gallant defence of Gibraltar against the combined power of France and Spain, from 1779 to 1783. On the 20th of November, 1782, he obtained the brevet rank of colonel; and on the 12th of October, 1793, Colonel Craig was promoted to the rank of major-general; on the 1st of January, 1798, he was advanced to that of lieutenant-general. His Majesty King George III. appointed Lieut.-General Craig colonel-commandant of the Sixty-second regiment, on the 25th of November, 1799; and on the 9th of March, 1803, he was nominated colonel of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment. On the 25th of September, 1803, he obtained the rank of general. His decease occurred in the year 1810.

Sir William Keppel, G.C.B.

Appointed 7th February, 1811.

This officer served fifty-six years in the army, having entered the service in the year 1778. He served in North America and the West Indies, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general in the year 1803; and colonel-commandant[52] of the Sixtieth regiment, on the 24th of April, 1806; he was appointed by the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty King George III., to the colonelcy of the SIXTY-SEVENTH regiment, on the 7th of February, 1811, on the decease of General Peter Craig. His Majesty King George IV. removed General the Right Honorable Sir William Keppel to the colonelcy of the Second, or Queen's Royal regiment, in the year 1828, on the decease of Major-General Sir Henry Torrens. In 1813 Sir William Keppel was raised to the rank of general in the army; and was for many years Groom of the Bedchamber and Equerry to His Majesty King George IV., who bestowed on him the appointment of Governor of Guernsey, when it became vacant by the death of the Earl of Pembroke, in 1827. The Right Honorable General Sir William Keppel, G.C.B., died at Paris, on the 11th of December, 1834.

Sir John Macdonald, G.C.B.

Appointed 25th August, 1828.

Removed to the FORTY-SECOND, ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT, on the 15th of January, 1844.

John Clitherow.

Appointed 15th January, 1844.

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For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.