Read Ebook: Physiology and Hygiene for Secondary Schools by Walters Francis M Francis Marion

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SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.

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HISTORICAL RECORD

OF THE

THE ROYAL COUNTY DOWN REGIMENT

FOOT.

The last twelve years of the eighteenth century form a period, remarkable in the annals of Europe, for the efforts made to overthrow the governments of Christendom, and to establish the destructive domination of atheism and democracy, upon the ruins of institutions which had elevated the inhabitants of this quarter of the globe to an height of knowledge, refinement, wealth, and power, unknown in other parts of the earth. France was the great theatre of commotion: there the war of hostile principles produced the most sanguinary results;--the cry of "equality" was raised,--the blood of princes, nobles, and citizens was shed, and democracy appeared to triumph over the rights of society. In other countries, republican principles were spreading to an alarming extent; the sovereigns of Europe were forced to engage in war to oppose the progress of destruction, and to Great Britain pertains the honour of having persevered in this contest, for twenty years, when the overthrow of that tyrannical power which sprung out of the French revolution, was accomplished.

This corps was raised by Major-General Cornelius Cuyler, who had served with reputation in North America, and also in the West Indies, where he had performed the duties of commander-in-chief; its general rendezvous was at Shrewsbury, and its designation was "GENERAL CUYLER'S SHROPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS;" but its ranks were completed with men, principally from Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire,--counties which have furnished many excellent soldiers. Major-General Cuyler's appointment was dated the 30th of October, 1793, and the royal warrants for raising recruits were issued on the following day.

In February, 1794, the following officers were holding commissions in the regiment:--

T. C. Hardy W. H. Digby Charles Byne Edward Robinson Alexander Campbell Rowland Hill Robert Bell.

Thomas Neilson Hugh Houstown W. S. Curry Edward Barnes Thos. Pickering Charles Dod Geo. Middlemore Chas. E. Jolley Daniel Gavey Wm. Semple J. C. Tuffnell.

Willm. Murray Thos. Thornhill Thomas Symes W. C. Williams James Burke Danl. McNeill Edward Fox Wm. St. Clair.

From Shrewsbury, the regiment proceeded to Park-gate, where it embarked, in April, for Ireland, and after landing at Cork, marched to Kilkenny.

After remaining in Ireland ten weeks, the regiment embarked at Cork, and was held in readiness for active service; but it landed at Frome, in Somersetshire, in September, and proceeded from thence to the Isle of Wight.

The regiment having been brought into a state of discipline and efficiency, was selected to serve on board the fleet as marines; eight officers, and four hundred and fourteen non-commissioned officers and soldiers, embarked in January, 1795, on board the "Prince of Wales," "Triumph," "Brunswick," and "Hector," line-of-battle ships, and in February, seven officers, and two hundred and seventy-six non-commissioned officers and soldiers, embarked on board the "Prince," "Saturn," and "Boyne." The "Boyne" caught fire at Spithead, and was destroyed, when the grenadier company of the regiment lost its arms, accoutrements, and baggage.

Lieut.-General Russell Manners was removed to the Twenty-sixth Light Dragoons, in March, 1795, and was succeeded by Major-General William Grinfield, from Lieut.-Colonel in the Third Foot Guards.

The head-quarters of the regiment were at Newport, in the Isle of Wight, where they were inspected by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, who expressed his approbation of their appearance; and in October the establishment was augmented to one hundred rank and file per company, its numbers being completed by drafts from the 118th and 121st Regiments; the men of the last-mentioned corps were then recently liberated from French prison. In December, the regiment was stationed at Portsmouth and Hilsea.

The regiment was stationed at the Cape of Good Hope during the years 1797 and 1798, and received drafts from the 95th, and other corps. In February, 1799, it embarked for the East Indies, and landed, on the 10th of May, at Madras, upwards of thirteen hundred strong,--a splendid body of men, whose appearance excited much admiration.

The capture of Seringapatam had rendered the services of the regiment at this station unnecessary, and after a month's repose at Madras, it embarked for Bombay, where it arrived on the 22nd of July, and sent detachments by sea, under Major Bell, and Captain James Richardson, to Tannah and Surat: these detachments returned to Bombay, in December following.

From Bombay, three companies sailed, towards the end of 1800, for Ceylon, in the expectation of taking part in the reduction of the Isle of France; but orders had, in the meantime, arrived for an army from India, to co-operate with a body of troops from Europe, in the expulsion of the French "ARMY OF THE EAST" from Egypt, and the detachment returned, in January, 1801, to Bombay, where Major-General Baird assumed the command, and the expedition sailed for the Red Sea.

The troops landed at Suez, and Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd, in reporting his arrival, solicited permission to cross the Desert and share in the dangers and honours of the army, which was advancing up the Nile, and approaching Cairo, the modern capital of Egypt, which it was expected the French would defend. Lieut.-General Hutchinson acquiesced in Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd's wishes, and preparations were accordingly made to pass the Desert.

After marching two hours over a hard sandy country, Captain Cuyler, Lieutenant Morse, and Lieutenant Goodfellow, were taken so ill as to be unable to proceed. At eleven the troops halted for two hours, then resumed the march until seven in the morning, when they again halted, having performed twenty-six miles of the journey. The day became so intolerably hot, that Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd ordered the tents to be pitched to shelter the men from the sun; but at ten o'clock the guides stated it was necessary to march, as the camels would be so debilitated by the heat, if they rested on the sand, as to require water before they could move again; but if kept in motion they would not be affected in so fatal a degree; adding, if the soldiers slept, the camel drivers might steal the water, which they feared would be found scarcely sufficient. The guides being responsible for the safety of the detachment, Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd acceded to their wishes; the tents were struck at eleven, and the march resumed; the thermometer being at 109. Captain Cuyler soon fainted again, and fell from his horse, and a camel and two men were left to attend him and bring him forward. The men beginning to drop fast in the rear, Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd halted about one o'clock, cut his own baggage from the camels, which example was followed by all the officers, as many men as could be carried were then mounted on the camels, and the whole proceeded. At two o'clock a camseen, or south wind began to blow, the thermometer rose to 116, and afterwards much higher; the officers and soldiers were seized with dreadful sensations:--some were affected with giddiness and loss of sight, and others fell down gasping for breath, and calling for drink. At four o'clock, Lieut.-Colonel Lloyd was forced to halt. The skins had been cracked by the sun, and the water had become of a thick consistence; the men who drank it were seized with vomiting and violent pains. The officers had brought with them some Madeira wine, which they divided among the soldiers; a proportion of spirits were mixed with the remaining water, which was issued to the men, accompanied with the warning, that every drop was in their own possession, half the journey had not been performed, and on their own prudence, in reserving a portion in their canteens, must depend whether or not they should be enabled to accomplish the remainder of the distance.

Between six and seven o'clock the wind ceased; as the sun declined, the air became more temperate, and the detachment being a little refreshed, though still a languor pervaded the whole, the order for marching was given at seven o'clock. Seventeen men, unable to travel, were left on the ground, and camels were left to bring them forward as soon as they could be moved.

During the march several officers and soldiers experienced an extraordinary sensation of seeing horses, camels, and all kinds of animals, moving with rapid transition before them, which false perception their judgment could not correct. At eleven the detachment halted; the night was excessively dark, and the officers and soldiers were so exhausted, that unconquerable sleep seized upon all.

No man had partaken of food after quitting Suez, as it would have increased the thirst, and the rations of salt pork were thrown away on the first morning. On arriving at the springs, the soldiers partook of the water with caution; but two officers' horses having broke loose drank till they died on the spot. During the march of seventy miles, no vegetation, bird, or beast, had been seen.

In April of this year, one of the four companies left in India, proceeded from Bombay to Surat, a town situate on the south bank of the river Taptee, in the province of Guzerat; and in November, two companies sailed for Dieu in the same province.

The two companies at Dieu returned to Bombay in February, 1802, and in March they sailed to Cambay, under the command of Captain Richardson, and joined the company from Surat, which had arrived there a short time previously. They encamped at Cambay, with part of the Seventy-fifth, five companies of the Eighty-fourth, a battalion of native infantry, and some artillery, under Colonel Sir William Clarke.

The six companies of the regiment in Egypt remained at Gheeza until May, when they traversed the Desert to Suez, and from thence to "Moses' Well," or the "Font of Moses," on the Arabian side of the Gulf of Suez. While at Gheeza they received two hundred and seven volunteers from the Twentieth, Thirty-fifth, Forty-eighth, and Sixty-third Regiments; Major Henry Torrens joined at that station.

While at Moses' Well, several soldiers died of the plague, when the men's clothing, bedding, and tents were burnt, and the six companies embarked for India; no other cases of the plague occurring, the companies landed at Bombay on the 4th of July. In November, the three companies arrived from the province of Guzerat, and the regiment was once more united at Bombay.

Towards the end of this year, the usurpations of Jeswunt Rao Holkar, one of the Mahratta chiefs, forced the Peishwah to abandon his capital, and to seek British aid, when a treaty was concluded with him; and the refractory chiefs persisting in aggression, hostilities were commenced to reinstate the deposed chieftain.

On the same day five companies of the regiment, under Captain Cuyler, marched from Baroda to reinforce Major Holmes' detachment, leaving two companies behind under Captain Grant.

From Keira the regiment marched to Nerriade, where it was joined by two companies left at Baroda under Captain Grant; but the rains setting in, the operations were suspended.

Information having been received that a body of the enemy was levying contributions about thirty miles from the quarters of the regiment, Captain Grant performed a forced march with four companies and some sepoys, and making a night attack with great success, killed and took prisoners many of the enemy, and captured some horses, &c. Lieutenant Procter and a few men of the regiment were wounded on this occasion.

A body of Canojee's troops threatening to cross the river about fifteen miles above Baroach, and plunder the country, four hundred rank and file of the regiment, with a battalion of sepoys, and four guns, under Captain James Richardson, advanced, on the 14th of July, during the heavy rains, in search of the enemy. The gun-bullocks failed, and the country being inundated by the rains, the soldiers had to drag the guns, up to their waists in water; but by extraordinary efforts they arrived at the bank of the river on the 16th of July, and attacking a number of Canojee's troops which had crossed the stream, routed them, and forced them into the water, where many lost their lives, the river being full and rapid.

The river having fallen considerably during the night, the soldiers passed the stream on the following day, under cover of the fire of the guns, and assaulting the breast-works of the main body of Canojee's legions, carried them at the point of the bayonet, and pursued the routed enemy two miles with great slaughter. A body of Arabs disdaining to seek their safety in flight, fought with great desperation until overpowered.

Captain Richardson and Lieutenant Lanphier distinguished themselves on this occasion; and the enterprise being accomplished with the loss of a few men killed and wounded, the troops returned to Baroda.

A schooner and gun-boat having arrived with cannon and ammunition, the troops advanced on the 25th of August, and arriving within two miles of the fortress, discovered a numerous body of hostile cavalry, infantry, and Arabs, in order of battle on the plain. These opponents were speedily routed with the loss of their flag and a number of killed and wounded; and the armament soon afterwards attacked, and carried, the pettah with great gallantry; Ensign D'Aguilar distinguished himself on this occasion.

Thus was captured a fortress of great importance to the commercial interests of Britain, with a territory yielding a considerable revenue, which were added to the British dominions. In his public despatch, Lieut.-Colonel Woodington highly commended the conduct of Major Cuyler and Captain Richardson, and added,--"The whole of the officers and men employed on this service have conducted themselves so much to my satisfaction, that I cannot express myself too strongly in their commendation."

Serjeant Bills was rewarded with the appointment of serjeant-major; Serjeant Moore received a donation of five hundred rupees from the Government for his gallantry, and Private Brierly was promoted corporal, and afterwards serjeant.

The loss of the regiment was Captain William Semple, killed in the breaching battery on the 25th of August--an excellent officer, whose fall was much regretted; also two serjeants and ten rank and file killed; Major Cuyler, Captain Richardson, Captain Maclaurin, and twenty-three rank and file wounded.

The district of Champaneer, the only territory remaining to Scindia, in the province of Guzerat, had thus been reduced, and annexed to the British dominions. Lieut.-Colonel Murray, of the Eighty-fourth regiment, assumed the command of the troops at Baroda, and advanced towards Scindia's territories, in the province of Malwa, in quest of Holkar's forces, but it was found impossible to bring the armed bands of that chieftain to action. On the 18th of October the city and fortress of Godera was taken possession of, the enemy retiring as the British approached. At this place information was received of the victory of Assaye, gained by the troops under Major-General the Hon. Arthur Wellesley, on the 23rd of September, which was followed by the submission of two of the hostile chiefs, Scindia and the Rajah of Berar, leaving Holkar, Canojee, and some minor chiefs in the field.

From Indore, the flank companies of the regiment, and a battalion of Sepoys, advanced with scaling ladders, under Captain Richardson, twenty miles, to surprise a fort, which was reported to be full of troops and provisions; but when the soldiers scaled the walls, they found the place empty; the enemy having fled a few hours previously.

The capture of Bhurtpore without additional means, being found impracticable, the British withdrew from before that fortress, and proceeded to Dhoolpore; negotiations for peace having been concluded, the army was broken up in May; the Bengal troops proceeding to Muttra, and the Bombay division to Tonk, where they remained during the monsoon in huts.

After the rainy season, the Bombay force commenced its march, proceeding through the territories of the Rajah of Jeypore, in pursuit of the forces of Holkar, who was still in the field. Having been chased to the banks of the Hyphasis river, on the borders of the great desert, the Mahratta chieftain was forced to submit, and the war was terminated by a treaty of peace.

In orders dated Riapoora Ghaut, on the left bank of the Hyphasis, 13th December, 1805, General Lord Lake returned thanks to Major-General Jones, the officers, and soldiers, of the division of the army from Bombay, for the important services rendered by them during the war; and, alluding to the period they had been under his immediate command, added, "His Lordship has been proud to witness, on every occasion on which they have been employed, the steady conduct and gallantry in action of all the troops composing the division."

From the banks of the Hyphasis, near the spot where Alexander the Great crossed that river when he invaded India, the regiment commenced its march for Bombay, where it arrived on the 29th of March, 1806, and embarking for Goa, landed on the rock of Aguada on the 3rd of April, after a most active and harassing service of more than five years, during which period it had sailed up the Red Sea, crossed the desert twice, served a campaign in Egypt, traversed the north and western provinces of India from Bombay to Bhurtpore, and received the thanks of Lord Lake on the banks of the Hyphasis; having sustained a loss of Lieut.-Colonel Robinson, Captains Maclaurin and Macquarrie, Lieutenants Harvey, Price, and Wilson, Ensigns Massey, Ellison, McKay, Leovick, and upwards of a thousand non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

At Goa, the regiment was joined by a detachment, consisting of Lieutenant Michael Creagh, Ensigns Blackall, Hillhouse, Paymaster Cope, and thirty non-commissioned officers and soldiers. This detachment was employed under Major-General Sir David Baird, at the capture of the Cape of Good Hope, in January, 1806, when Lieutenant Creagh was wounded. The strength of the regiment was also augmented with two hundred and thirteen volunteers from the Seventy-seventh, on that corps embarking from England.

Lieut.-Colonel Hastings Fraser, having arrived in India, overland from Europe, assumed the command, and Major Cuyler embarked for England.

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